Any Reformed FP- Uber Users Who Have Embraced FP+ ?

[SeanTomorrow]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I have yet to see an article with data on longer wait times. Most of the increases are around 5 minutes or less.

http://blog.touringplans.com/2014/02/19/fastpass-affecting-your-wait-in-line-disney-world/


Articles like the one above are calling it a wash. I realize that over the course of a day 5 minutes will add up to less rides but unless you've got your stop watch running would you even notice?

Right. Though depending on touring style, some folks are going to experience a bigger change. Their experience is totally valid, and FP+ might have broken their system. But on the other hand, other families are going to wait less with the new approach.

 

[DisneyKidds]

This is not a reasonable question. There is no touring plan that would be recommended for everyone. Everyone likes different things. Perhaps if you tell about your situation and what you would like to get done in a day, I, and many others, would be happy to talk about ways to make it happen.

Fuzzy......he knows that. Just trying to "trap" me. I try to oblige him, with appropriate qualifications, but it will take a while to do so, and would be tonight.

Funny thing is.....he's asking me to do something I've asked him over and over to do, tell me what YOUR touring plan was.....which he won't do.

 

[HollieS]

That article is almost a year old now, and was composed shortly after the legacy system was still available. The data it used is stale and conditions have changed much since then.

That same site offers the ability (thru manipulation of the URL itself) to compare year-over-year wait times of specific attractions. I do remember one specific example - Spaceship Earth, if I recall - where the difference was substantially more than just 5 or 10 minutes. Likewise with such attractions like Figment, Nemo, POTC, HM, etc......

CURSE YOU!!You've opened up a whole new data comparing treasure trove.

 

[jade1]

Jtown, I'm glad you posted that - we are considering another trip this summer, it's been years since we've gone during those months. But we are considering either the first two full weeks of June (6/6-6/20) or the middle of August (8/8-8/22) simply because of when school ends and when it starts again.

Of those two, is there one you would recommend over the other?

LT

We have done both-back when the kids were in school as well.

We did mid to end of August more often because it was a bit less busy, and DBIL had more time off then. This was at least 10 years ago and longer though, so capacity could be up.

June may have been a hair less humid, but really not near enough to matter to us anyway.

These were the days of go asap in the AM, take a break at noon or 1PM-then it rained every day at 4 or 5PM, and the evenings were steamy but nice.

Anyway, the August visit can be really draining with the get up early and stay out kinda late-so the break needs to include rest if possible. Peak weeks kinda force you to pick early AM or later PM (such as midnight fireworks ect) so FP+ can help for those of us picking later visits, not sure what to recommend for August split visits-unless you plan to power through early AM and call it a day when it rains.

But then again with FP+, I think I would reserve that for every evening-then knock what I can at RD. With a whole 2 weeks I may try a few late AM FP+, then see what we can get that eve as well, if even just for experiment sake.

And seriously-don't forget the change on the fly-as you know even XMAS exe we made XMAS Day FP+ for DHS-and good ones. I can't believe August won't have nightly success.

Lastly-that's a long way away yet, who is to say they won't offer 4 a day, or at least 4 at MK-or more, or more depending where you stay etc.

 

[Laketravis]

Anyone find it interesting that after such horrible, low value two week experiences a couple years running......he is planning another one this summer?

Kidd, you seriously miss the point. I haven't complained about spending two weeks at WDW, and I certainly didn't state that I didn't enjoy them. I simply explained why I felt it was necessary to spend more time at WDW, and that was so we could justify the value for us.

I've never stomped my feet and said I wasn't going back, I certainly haven't complained about the duration of my visits, I've commented many times of what our future plans are and what factors they are based on, etc. Instead, you suggest that there is something wrong with the way we spend our time while there and that two weeks isn't required.

You draw way too many conclusions to use as springboards for your comments to maintain credibility with me. Either that or you simply can't grasp some of these concepts because they aren't your own and I don't know how else to explain them for you.

 

[Jennasis]

What's so hard to understand? HE DOESN'T LIKE IT. Who cares why? Why invest so much energy trying to prove/disprove (on both sides). Just get over it already. Use it, don't use it, like it, don't like it...whatever. Just let go of the bone already.

 

[Laketravis]

LT

We have done both-back when the kids were in school as well.

We did mid to end of August more often because it was a bit less busy, and DBIL had more time off then. This was at least 10 years ago and longer though, so capacity could be up.

June may have been a hair less humid, but really not near enough to matter to us anyway.

These were the days of go asap in the AM, take a break at noon or 1PM-then it rained every day at 4 or 5PM, and the evenings were steamy but nice.

Anyway, the August visit can be really draining with the get up early and stay out kinda late-so the break needs to include rest if possible. Peak weeks kinda force you to pick early AM or later PM (such as midnight fireworks ect) so FP+ can help for those of us picking later visits, not sure what to recommend for August split visits-unless you plan to power through early AM and call it a day when it rains.

But then again with FP+, I think I would reserve that for every evening-then knock what I can at RD. With a whole 2 weeks I may try a few late AM FP+, then see what we can get that eve as well, if even just for experiment sake.

And seriously-don't forget the change on the fly-as you know even XMAS exe we made XMAS Day FP+ for DHS-and good ones. I can't believe August won't have nightly success.

Lastly-that's a long way away yet, who is to say they won't offer 4 a day, or at least 4 at MK-or more, or more depending where you stay etc.

Thanks Jade! We are gravitating towards maybe two weeks in Orlando and a week in the Islamorada area so there's some flexibility with how we can split it all up.

 

[MrInfinity]

Fuzzy....he knows that. Just trying to "trap" me. I try to oblige him, with appropriate qualifications, but it will take a while to do so, and would be tonight.

Funny thing is.....he's asking me to do something I've asked him over and over to do, tell me what YOUR touring plan was.....which he won't do.

Well, LT has voiced in broken posts somewhat about his touring plan.

A) he does not like to rope drop.
B) he hops out to other parks mid-day.
C) he goes during busy times - holidays / summer.

So I gathered that, he likes to arrive late, leave early, and only be there for the busiest part of the day. Given this, I would like to know what he used to get done during these most-awful-of-all-hours to possibly be at the parks. I can't imagine he ever got on a lot of rides touring like this.

I would like to hear A) his strategy, to see why it worked so poorly. And B) what he would like to get done in a day, so that I could dream up a great plan. I love doing this stuff, and just thinking about ways to puzzle a trip together is fun for me. I do it all the time for the families we go with.

To put together a good plan takes getting to know the person and what they want to do. This is something I'd enjoy sitting down for a few beers with LT and pouring over.

 

[Shaden]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I have yet to see an article with data on longer wait times. Most of the increases are around 5 minutes or less.

http://blog.touringplans.com/2014/02/19/fastpass-affecting-your-wait-in-line-disney-world/


Articles like the one above are calling it a wash. I realize that over the course of a day 5 minutes will add up to less rides but unless you've got your stop watch running would you even notice?

Indeed I think this was posted in February of 2014 ? Maybe earlier ? When FP+ was really just coming online.

Note another article in march, with much more detail and some quite obvious increases in SB wait times.

Important to note this was still before offsite guests were able to pre-book, before spring breaks, and before the hard media push Disney has used to promote FP+.

http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorized/how-fastpass-is-affecting-wait-times-at-disney-world-attractions/

 

[Suvadoo]

I've been wondering the same thing. Essentially, how are people "controlling" for increasing park attendance and it's effect on lines?

It doesn't invalidate anyone's experience of longer lines. But if overall attendance is increasing, it does make me wonder what's really due to fastpass.

As an engineer, I liked Len Testa's approach. He said, controlling for increasing overall attendance, FP+ seemed to increase some SB lines and decrease others. The movement was generally +/- 10 minutes or less. You might not believe his methodology, but it sounds reasonable to me.

Len Testa also said that park attendence over the past year has only increased by 5% at most. The "increased crowds" are due to the re-distribution of guests out of attraction lines.

 

[Suvadoo]

Now I leave the parks in surrender.

Why tho? I don't see why you're leaving the parks in surrender. You can get so much done. See my previous post. I rode all the headliners at HS multiple times, plus did a boatload of other stuff. At all 4 parks. How can we use the same system but you leave in surrender while others are able to get on tons?

Why do I have to defend how I feel? I'm glad it works for you, but it doesn't for me. What am I saying that is so hard to understand?

 

[MrInfinity]

Why do I have to defend how I feel? I'm glad it works for you, but it doesn't for me. What am I saying that is so hard to understand?

You don't have to defend how you feel.

But you keep going back to: I'm glad it works for you, but it doesn't for me.

It works the same for both of us. We can both use it exactly the same. It does not systematically work better for me than anyone else. It is just a system. If it was malfunctioning the day you were there, then yes that would be one thing. Then you could say the system did not work for you. But it was there, and open to be used by you - to the same full extent that it was there to be used by me.

If you are leaving in Surrender, is your goal to simply keep going to WDW, and keep leaving in Surrender? Is that what you want? Do you not want to get to the root of why some people can ride headliners multiple times but you are leaving in surrender? I don't really care. But you're posting in a strategies forum. So you have to expect people to offer strategies on how to improve touring the attractions.

And if you assert that because you didn't get on a lot, that one cannot get on a lot and that FP+ is the reason, then I will challenge it, because FP+ can get you on a lot, if you choose to do so instead of leaving in surrender.

It is not a board to just posit "I don't like it, and I don't care to improve it or get more out of it I just want to voice that I don't like it". Especially if you reiterate the same sentiment in several threads talking about how to get more out of FP+.

 

[Shaden]

It works the same for both of us. We can both use it exactly the same. It does not systematically work better for me than anyone else. It is just a system.

By that "Fuzzy logic" most of the people who advocate FP+ have nothing to go on.

Their complaints about legacy FP are pointless, because that's how they chose to use the system, not how the system worked. The reasons they say FP+ is superior are also pointless because its just how they choose to use the system.

The system works differently in practice for different people.

 

[Laketravis]

A) he does not like to rope drop

False. Never said that.

B) he hops out to other parks mid-day.

True, sometimes multiple parks depending on current park conditions, ADR's, FP's, weather, etc.

So I gathered that, he likes to arrive late, leave early, and only be there for the busiest part of the day.

False. I've already stated I have no problem getting up at 6am and can close the parks down with the best of them. I do not currently expect to accomplish much mid-day (11a-4p) in any park but am currently reconsidering that as the current recommended strategy everywhere seems to be to avoid the parks during those times, and as more accept that practice the more likely we might find it reverses the condition.

I can't imagine he ever got on a lot of rides touring like this.

I can't imagine either, but like I've pointed out that's not how we roll.

I would like to hear A) his strategy, to see why it worked so poorly.

I never said my strategy worked poorly. Quite the opposite - I think it works quite well. It just takes longer now.

I love doing this stuff, and just thinking about ways to puzzle a trip together is fun for me. I do it all the time for the families we go with.

To put together a good plan takes getting to know the person and what they want to do. This is something I'd enjoy sitting down for a few beers with LT and pouring over.

Geee, I'm so excited at the offer of expert assistance! Here's a copy of our itinerary we used last month. In terms of what we want to do, that would be to accomplish a fairly reasonable amount without unreasonable wait times. I'm anxiously awaiting your recommendations!

 

[Shaden]

And if you assert that because you didn't get on a lot, that one cannot get on a lot and that FP+ is the reason, then I will challenge it, because FP+ can get you on a lot, if you choose to do so instead of leaving in surrender.

And you COULD have gotten a lot MORE done under legacy FP. I would actually wager that this is universally true. Anyone could have gotten more done under legacy FP than they currently do under FP+.

They just chose not to, or didn't enjoy it as much, but hey, their fault right ? No reason to prefer the new system over the old.

 

[SeanTomorrow]

Len Testa also said that park attendence over the past year has only increased by 5% at most. The "increased crowds" are due to the re-distribution of guests out of attraction lines.

Interesting, thanks. Does +5% seem small? If that's the average yearly growth, then my goodness the place will be 20% more crowded than the last time I went! I'd be especially thankful for the chance to pre-schedule rides.

 

[MrInfinity]

By that "Fuzzy logic" most of the people who advocate FP+ have nothing to go on.

They have plenty to "go on" but the title of this thread is for reformed users who have embraced FP+. If you disliked FP+ and still do, that's fine. Not my business. But it's not relevant to the discussion topic. You wouldn't go to a football game and talk about how football sucks right? (subtle difference - not how much you dislike football, specifically how much football actually does suck to other people who are talking about specific aspects of football)

I don't get why you think that voicing how much you dislike FP+ is relevant to the discussion. We know you don't like it. You don't want to go into further details of why or what you could do differently, so the interesting conversational aspects of why you don't like it or what you could do differently to grow to like it, kind of die there.

The system works differently in practice for different people.

You mean to say in practice people use the same system differently.

 

[Suvadoo]

Interesting, thanks. Does +5% seem small? If that's the average yearly growth, then my goodness the place will be 20% more crowded than the last time I went! I'd be especially thankful for the chance to pre-schedule rides.

I think you have to take into account the economic depression/ recession and it's impact on the parks. I don't think the parks saw an increase in attendance for several years.

 

[Shaden]

If you disliked FP+ and still do, that's fine. Not my business. But it's not relevant to the discussion topic...

I don't get why you think that voicing how much you dislike FP+ is relevant to the discussion.

Ummmm doesn't the topic ask if there are any reformed FP- super users who have embraced FP+ ?

Doesn't ask you to explain why, or how, just ... IF. As an previous FP- super user, I am quite certain my dislike or like of the system is precisely relevant to the topic of this thread.

I am confused as to how you would think otherwise though ... logically.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think you have to take into account the economic depression/ recession and it's impact on the parks. I don't think the parks saw an increase in attendance for several years.

Plus you have to consider that even if park attendance is up by 5%, that doesn't mean that it happened evenly across every week of the year.

I contend that the greatest change that has happened in recent years has been the redistribution of crowds (to a certain degree) from higher (more expensive) seasons into the formerly slow (less expensive) seasons.

That seems very consistent with many of us who previously went at slow times complaining about how much worse it all is, while people going during the busiest seasons coming back saying "what's all the fuss about?"