Anyone else miss the challenge of the old fast passes?

[Laketravis]

Btw- looks like we can take Wishes off the hard to get list now that they've opened both viewing areas. There is availability as soon as next week.

What a smart move on Disney's part - rather than build a new attraction that would add resources to the FP+ pool and take the load off other attractions, simply allocate additional reserved seating for an existing fireworks display.

Brilliant. For every FP that goes to Wishes, an FP is freed up for something else.

Any idea how many people the new area will seat? Hopefully it's quite large and the "Wishes" FP+ can accommodate hundreds. Heck, build a stadium that seats 10,000 people for Wishes FP+ and there may be availability for 7DMT all day long.

 

[cakebaker]

What a smart move on Disney's part - rather than build a new attraction that would add resources to the FP+ pool and take the load off other attractions, simply allocate additional reserved seating for an existing fireworks display.

If you've viewed wishes lately, you'd know that it's very close to being unsafe in the hub area as it was. The additional space both within the reserved area as well as outside the area was needed more than anything else I can think of.

Building more attractions would not fix that. I'm all for doing what needs done most, first. And building an attraction that will only bring more people into the parks isn't it.

But I also firmly believe that for some, it doesn't matter what Disney does, it's going to be the wrong choice.

 

[Laketravis]

If you've viewed wishes lately, you'd know that it's very close to being unsafe in the hub area as it was. The additional space both within the reserved area as well as outside the area was needed more than anything else I can think of.

Building more attractions would not fix that. I'm all for doing what needs done most, first. And building an attraction that will only bring more people into the parks isn't it.

But I also firmly believe that for some, it doesn't matter what Disney does, it's going to be the wrong choice.

Whatever.

They built more reserved FP+ seating for a fireworks show. I hope it seats a lot of people and they build even more because every time someone takes a Wishes FP that's more FP's left over for other things.


,

 

[DisneyFive]

What a smart move on Disney's part - rather than build a new attraction that would add resources to the FP+ pool and take the load off other attractions, simply allocate additional reserved seating for an existing fireworks display.

Brilliant. For every FP that goes to Wishes, an FP is freed up for something else.

Any idea how many people the new area will seat? Hopefully it's quite large and the "Wishes" FP+ can accommodate hundreds. Heck, build a stadium that seats 10,000 people for Wishes FP+ and there may be availability for 7DMT all day long.

Plus, since it's such a late FP, it keeps people from going to a kiosk for a 4th same day FP, thus opening up more availability.

Dan

 

[Jocelynred]

My in-laws are 66/67 now. They have gone to Disney every year for the last 10 years. They pulled out of a 35K contract for DVC because of FP+. They love the magic bands, but the FP process is too much for them. They have a laptop and Disney login and the understand how to use it, but they dont like all of the planning ahead if they want fastpasses. Looks like Disney went out to Message Boards, like this, and read comments by all of these people who plan everything down to their poop break and made the assumption that is how everybody does Disney. First time visitors leave saying it was a horrible vacation because they didn't know ahead of time (more room for us planners, right? ), people who are not tech savvy dont like it for the obvious reason and others say it is too much planning to book rides, meals, characters, etc. It is great for those who like it, but truly, outside of the percentage on these boards, I wonder how many really think it is a great tool??

I agree. I'm on this board, Dis Mom's Panel, etc. I'm tech Davy enough to figure things out. But, I'm not sure I like the FP+ idea. We are planning a trip the week before July 4 th. I'm sure it will be busy that week. But, we prefer to take it easy on vacation. I feel like this is going to take some of the flexibility out of our days. It also bugs me that you can't walk up to a restaurant and get a table any more.

 

[hookedonears]

I miss the debates over the honesty of the entire program. The good ole days.

 

[DisneyFive]

I miss the debates over the honesty of the entire program. The good ole days.

When people were up in arms about others using FP's after the stated time window! (typically the same people that didn't know about it, and hence didn't get to do it). I remember those arguments... "It's against the rules!" "It's wrong!" "You're a scammer!" "You're deceitful!" "You should be ashamed!"

Dan

 

[JimmyV]

When people were up in arms about others using FP's after the stated time window! (typically the same people that didn't know about it, and hence didn't get to do it). I remember those arguments... "It's against the rules!" "It's wrong!" "You're a scammer!" "You're deceitful!" "You should be ashamed!"

Dan

Bless me father, for I have sinned. I used a Fast Pass after its expiration time. I sat at a table at Pecos Bill's before my husband collected our food...

 

[Cormoran]

Plus, since it's such a late FP, it keeps people from going to a kiosk for a 4th same day FP, thus opening up more availability.

Dan

But not if you have additional Magic Bands! With each extra magic band, some guests can book 3 additional FP's at the kiosks.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

This is where FP- lovers aren't being honest.. Most of us use crowd calendars to avoid parks with larger crowds so we where always picking which park which day in advance. Most of the time we where picking which park which day when the disney released the times schedule.

So im calling shenanigans on not deciding what park before rolling out of bed.

Never used a touring plan to pick my parks. Don't think I ever will. I've been going to WDW since LONG before touring plans existed! I've been posting here since before they existed!

Um, Disney sells an option called "park hopping."

Before DDP, our only rule was avoid Mk on a Saturday. Even with DDP, usually only our Epcot/World Showcase dinner day was really 'locked in,' because we mostly eat/ate at resorts.

If you look back, you'll see me raise concerns about touring plans many times. I would not pay for one.

I've also posted a number of times how fun it used to be to hop on the first bus that arrived.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Never used a touring plan to pick my parks. Don't think I ever will. I've been going to WDW since LONG before touring plans existed! I've been posting here since before they existed!

Um, Disney sells an option called "park hopping."

Before DDP, our only rule was avoid Mk on a Saturday. Even with DDP, usually only our Epcot/World Showcase dinner day was really 'locked in,' because we mostly eat/ate at resorts.

If you look back, you'll see me raise concerns about touring plans many times. I would not pay for one.

I've also posted a number of times how fun it used to be to hop on the first bus that arrived.

With that though, it means all this planning stuff has been a morphing process over the years.

I am a bit surprised about all the blame on FP+ when these boards have been plagued with folks planning the minutia of their trip.

Playing park bus roulette still sounds like a fun option. FP+ *could* still be used same day or not at all as guests have chosen to do.

 

[JacknSally]

Haha NOPE! My mom was the runner in our group and since I'm not going with her this fall, and I do not run, I'm glad I don't have to worry about it.

 

[Sammie]

Basically, bands that you have that are NOT associated with the MDE account of the band you used for park admittance will work at the FP+ Kiosks to get same-day FP's.


.

Aren't all Magicbands associated to the same MDE account? I only have one account. Why would anyone have more than one?

 

[cakebaker]

Whatever.

They built more reserved FP+ seating for a fireworks show. I hope it seats a lot of people and they build even more because every time someone takes a Wishes FP that's more FP's left over for other things.


,

Agreed, for many guests at least that's true. Not so much us as it works right into how we tour the parks. We'd schedule a Wishes FP fp+ for a day when the MK is our evening park. We'd do a morning park without fp+ anyway.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

With that though, it means all this planning stuff has been a morphing process over the years.

I am a bit surprised about all the blame on FP+ when these boards have been plagued with folks planning the minutia of their trip.

Playing park bus roulette still sounds like a fun option. FP+ *could* still be used same day or not at all as guests have chosen to do.

I suppose, but if I can't FP headliners, it ain't worth it. Sorry. (especially at the NEW, improved prices!)
When the new system was first discussed, I actually thought it had great potential.

We started our family trips to WDW in 1972. I can't say we've gone every year since then, but I can say I've been every year since 1999, usually more than once per year.

As others have said, my extended family knows Disney very well, but when I explained the new systems- they did not want to believe touring had suddenly become so different and pre-planned.

I also think the new system is daunting for newcomers.

Time will tell.

 

[Mickey&Mouse]

We'll definitely miss the old FP on our next trip; however, I view the new system as the more challenging of the two. We'll miss the freedom and spontaneity that Legacy provided.

 

[hookedonears]

When people were up in arms about others using FP's after the stated time window! (typically the same people that didn't know about it, and hence didn't get to do it). I remember those arguments... "It's against the rules!" "It's wrong!" "You're a scammer!" "You're deceitful!" "You should be ashamed!"

Dan

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh excuse me. A little pent up frustrations here.

 

[mom2rtk]

Whatever.

They built more reserved FP+ seating for a fireworks show. I hope it seats a lot of people and they build even more because every time someone takes a Wishes FP that's more FP's left over for other things.


,

I hope they built so much FP+ viewing that there's nobody left to stand in the hub and I have it all to myself!

Or maybe instead of building a viewing area, they should have just issued blindfolds to anyone who did not select a FP for wishes. 10 minutes before the show, everyone not possessing the golden ticket would be required to cover their eyes and can't remove the blindfold until the show is over. That's one way to get people to hem themselves into a 9 PM third FP.

 

[spinandmarty]

i never found it a challenge, walk up to kiosk, see if return time worked for you, if so put in ticket get a fast pass, nothing could be simpler.. Never ran for fast pass, used one after time expired, hoarded them. In ten trips over the last 19 years...

 

[cakebaker]

We've decided that since the AK works so well in the mornings with no FP+, that most likely will be the park we choose to do on the day we get a Wishes FP+. We'll schedule 3 attractions at the MK with Wishes being the last one. We're thinking arrive at MK around 6, eat dinner, ride the 2 fp+ rides, and then if there's time, see what's available with little wait or just let the little one play in the water fountain area. That's more than enough activity to keep us busy until fireworks.

We'll have to take a look at the schedules, would be nice to time it with an EMH evening so we could ride with little or no wait later in the evening. But we don't find the wishes fp to be at all restricting, just have to plan around it and make it work.

Best of all, we see no need to do the dessert buffet and will cancel that as soon as we can actually get the Wishes FP+!