Changes to Tiers for FP+ at Epcot and Hollywood Studios from 16th June

[PinkBudgie]

Since Maelstrom is now a tier 2 you can only change it for other tier 2 rides, but the opposite goes for LWTL or GRM, they can now be traded for tier 1. I had a FP+ for GRM and LWTL. I was able to trade them for RNRC and TT so on both those days I now have two tier 1 FP+. But on the day I had Maelstrom I now have 3 tier 2 rides. I think if you schedule all new rides for that day you can change to the new tiers and get a tier 1 back. We have not done it because the M&G moved to tier 2 and that allowed us to pick up that which my DD8 us happy about.

That makes sense.

I was able to do the same and end up with 2 Tier-1 rides in a day - I traded my GMR for RNRC (in addition to the TSMM that I already had!) Meanwhile...I never thought I'd be kicking myself for not booking Living with the Land

I would suggest that someone who is now stuck with 3 Tier-2 rides should clear them all for that day and start over from scratch rather than just try to swap out individual attractions since then it will only offer other rides within the same tier.

Yes, I guess I will have to clear everything and start over.

What would anyone suggest for tier 2 choices? One will be Maelstrom. What should the other be? I'm looking at SE, MS, or Figment. I don't know what the lines at any of these look like.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

I'd pick Living with the Land as my Tier 1.
Soarin' and Test Track both have neck injury advisories. I HATE fireworks.

Just because YOU wouldn't pick it, doesn't mean it shouldn't be offered. And it will probably be walk on or a very short wait for those who don't have FP, so what's the harm?
If anything, people who like Soarin' and TT should be glad Maelstrom is out of the tier, since most people like riding that; and now they can ride one of Soarin' and Test Track and still also get a FP for Maelstrom.

To me "Tier 1" doesn't necessary state "these rides are better than Tier 2". They could have called them Tier Yellow and Tier Green and it wouldn't be a ranking problem. It's just that capacity means guests can FP one of these things and one of these things. I mean, if it was "best rides" in Tier One, what the heck is Tower of Terror doing in Tier 2? It's clearly just an exercise in capacity control.

For me it matters b/c I was going to have soarin' as fp+ 9-10 and then LWTL right after it from 10-11 even tho I'm sure I wouldn't really need it. However, I'm sure I would have been able to move up LWTL as soon as I got off Soarin' and ridden it sooner. Which means I also would have been able to move up my 3rd FP+. My plan to move rides up is so I can use them quickly and get my 4th FP+ and hopefully another ride on Soarin' with a short wait. Now I'll still ride LWTL and have fp+ for Nemo and turtle talk but I probably won't be able to pull number 4 as early which means I have less of a chance for a reride on Soarin'. Then again if the PP is correct and they are going to move to a rolling 3rd, I'll be ok. Also my trip isn't til Oct so I'm sure the system will change 5 more times from now til then.

 

[opal]

It almost seems like we have come full circle. By tiering the rides, it feels like we are returning to the original ticketing of the 70's. A book of tickets with rides designated A through E with the E tickets being for the "headliner" rides. What's next? Will we be able to add "Tier 1" attractions to our Magic Bands for a fee? In 1971, an additional "E ticket" cost $.90, adjusted for inflation that works out to about $5.25 today.

Disney seems to be heavily focused on enhancing their technology right now and that is a costly investment. While there have been additions to Fantasyland and the construction of Avatar at AK, you no longer hear much about the development of new lands or parks the way we did just a few years back.

We started going yearly in 1990 and have lived in FL for the last number of years. When we made annual trips, there was always something new to look forward to that was not there the previous year. It was how we justified going back year after year when everyone around us thought we were crazy.

No doubt, the crowds will keep coming and keep spending because it is an experience like no other. But will it once again become a once or twice in a lifetime experience?

 

[kakiegirl]

Living with the Land and Great Movie Ride Tier 1? That just makes it even harder to plan my 3 fast pass at these parks especially HS with the exception of Star Tours there is really nothing in that group that we do I feel I need a Fast Pass for.

 

[mom2rtk]

It almost seems like we have come full circle. By tiering the rides, it feels like we are returning to the original ticketing of the 70's. A book of tickets with rides designated A through E with the E tickets being for the "headliner" rides. What's next? Will we be able to add "Tier 1" attractions to our Magic Bands for a fee? In 1971, an additional "E ticket" cost $.90, adjusted for inflation that works out to about $5.25 today.

With one minor difference. When the park opened, they did not have all access pricing. So it seems we have gone back to ride limitations while maintaining all access pricing.

Yes, you can get additional FPs, but access to headliners at 4th and beyond appears to be hit or miss.

 

[helenb]

That makes sense.
What would anyone suggest for tier 2 choices? One will be Maelstrom. What should the other be? I'm looking at SE, MS, or Figment. I don't know what the lines at any of these look like.

Our Tier 2 choices were Mission Space and Spaceship Earth (until I was able to get Maelstrom as Tier 2). We love Mission Space, and I just can't understand why it isn't a more popular ride. The sensation of going into space is very real, and exhilarating! And if your stomach can't handle it, the mild version has none of the 'significant' movement, but you still get the same experience. Well worth doing.

Spaceship Earth is more because it's an old favorite from when I was a kid. Unfortunately, it's a bit sad and dated now. But we still ride it once per trip.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

OPAL, at least you can get the Florida Resident rates on their cruises!

Still jealous!

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

We love Mission Space, and I just can't understand why it isn't a more popular ride. The sensation of going into space is very real, and exhilarating! And if your stomach can't handle it, the mild version has none of the 'significant' movement, but you still get the same experience. Well worth doing.

Spaceship Earth is more because it's an old favorite from when I was a kid. Unfortunately, it's a bit sad and dated now. But we still ride it once per trip.

I love both of these, but we ended up burning our Mission Space FP because it was only 10 min anyway. We couldn't even get any takers on Space Race, which is my FAVORITE! We begged people to play with us and no one would. There's no time to play a fun game anymore.

The only thing we used our FP for was Soarin, and even though we used it at Nemo, it was only 10-15 min anyway (so a wash).

 

[Disney_Princess83]

That's YOUR vision of what Tier one should be. But Disney clearly doesn't agree. For Disney, tiers are a means of capacity control. At Epcot the Tiers clearly exist to seperate Soarin' and Test Track. It doesn't matter what else is in that tier because MOST guests will choose between those two things. But Disney has to offer choices to people who can't choose either of those things.

Or Disney should offer unlimited picks from lower tiers; but as it stands right now the program makes you pick one from each tier. So something sucky has to be in Tier 1.

FP is promoted as a "free inclusion" with your park ticket as a service to "avoid waiting in the line" Many rides at WDW don't require this service because there isn't a line. For years these rides included Pirates, It's A Small World, Captain EO (seriously? why is this still there? And this is coming from someone who loves MJ) Figment, Nemo and the list goes on. You don't need "FastPass" for it simply because the ride is basically a walk on all the time(or under a 5 minute wait). Before Magic Bands and MDE, fewer rides at Legacy FP. The rides that actually needed it simply because the waits could get very long.

Having a ride that consistently has no wait as Tier 1 is basically doing one of two things.

1. Taking advantage of people who don't know what to choose. They don't know Soarin' and TT have the longest waits. So they choose Living with the Land and then yell at CM's when it's a walk on and Soarin (which has run out of FP's) has an 80 minute wait (We have seen this happen. Different rides, same problem) I'm in NO way suggesting it's acceptable to yell at CM's but it's setting up this situation to happen.

2. So Disney can say "Well Soarin, TT and Illuminations are fully booked. However Living with the Land is available. You'll board 10 seconds before the rest of the people on your boat."

Yes some people will choose Living with the Land deliberately. That will be a small number compared to those who choose it by "mistake". It's an identical situation over at DHS with the Great Movie Ride.

I agree with you, I think you should be able to pick all 3 from Tier 2. Some people don't want the other rides which is more than fair. I also wish you could pick 1 from Tier 1 and not be "forced" to make Tier 2 at all (we have wasted more Nemo, Captain EO and Figment FP's than I can remember)

 

[Iowajes]

FP is promoted as a "free inclusion" with your park ticket as a service to "avoid waiting in the line"

It doesn't say waiting in LONG lines... you still skip whatever line is there.

 

[helenb]

I love both of these, but we ended up burning our Mission Space FP because it was only 10 min anyway. We couldn't even get any takers on Space Race, which is my FAVORITE! We begged people to play with us and no one would. There's no time to play a fun game anymore.

The only thing we used our FP for was Soarin, and even though we used it at Nemo, it was only 10-15 min anyway (so a wash).

True, it doesn't save you *much* time, but it does save you *some* time. And it's an attraction we'd be going to anyway, unlike Captain Eo (and probably Figment).

 

[Disney_Princess83]

It doesn't say waiting in LONG lines... you still skip whatever line is there.

Yes but who would want to skip a line that isn't there? I understand what you are saying but it's hardly a good selling point

"If there was a line, you could skip it with this FP you arranged 60 days ago. However there is no line and no one else here but you can board right now. By the way, as you exit Soarin' has an 80 minute wait and it's FP's are sold out until September. Have a Magical Day."

In my opinion, it's setting up for guests to be angry and disappointed, especially those who don't really understand the process. Paper FP was easy to understand the "ins and outs"

"Soarin has an 80 minute wait. We can grab a FP and come back in 2 hours time. Living with the Land is a walk on. Lets do that, eat at Sunshine Seasons, waste money in the gift shop and the penny press. Oh our Soarin FP is ready to be used."

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

True, it doesn't save you *much* time, but it does save you *some* time. And it's an attraction we'd be going to anyway, unlike Captain Eo (and probably Figment).

Oh I agree, better to be safe than sorry, but its just a weird bag in general. There's no harm in having them, but the other EP ones besides Soarin were wasted for us. We went to go to Maelstrom because it said 15 min wait on the APP and when we got there, it was over 50 min. Had we known that, we might have gotten that one a FP instead. That's the point. No one knows (except for Tier 1) WHAT you will need it for. Dining reservations I get. Ride reservations, I don't.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Our Tier 2 choices were Mission Space and Spaceship Earth (until I was able to get Maelstrom as Tier 2). We love Mission Space, and I just can't understand why it isn't a more popular ride. The sensation of going into space is very real, and exhilarating! And if your stomach can't handle it, the mild version has none of the 'significant' movement, but you still get the same experience. Well worth doing.

Spaceship Earth is more because it's an old favorite from when I was a kid. Unfortunately, it's a bit sad and dated now. But we still ride it once per trip.

I love both of these, but we ended up burning our Mission Space FP because it was only 10 min anyway. We couldn't even get any takers on Space Race, which is my FAVORITE! We begged people to play with us and no one would. There's no time to play a fun game anymore.

The only thing we used our FP for was Soarin, and even though we used it at Nemo, it was only 10-15 min anyway (so a wash).

Thanks. I ended up doing TT, Maelstrom, and SE. I have SP at 9:30am since I heard that one is often more crowded first thing in the morning. Then I guess we don't have to worry about rushing to be in front for rope drop. Soarin was never a consideration for us since we've been on it a zillion times at DCA (we do love it though) and we want to concentrate on new things.

 

[abk96]

I already have my FP+'s for July. Am I supposed to change them now(or June 16) or can I leave them alone? Will they change without me knowing?

 

[Cloudless Nights]

I already have my FP+'s for July. Am I supposed to change them now(or June 16) or can I leave them alone? Will they change without me knowing?

You don't have to change them at all if you don't want to. If you now have two Tier 1s, for example, since you made them before the change, they will remain the same (i.e. you'll be grandfathered in).

 

[heathsf]

Yes, I guess I will have to clear everything and start over.

What would anyone suggest for tier 2 choices? One will be Maelstrom. What should the other be? I'm looking at SE, MS, or Figment. I don't know what the lines at any of these look like.

In terms of lines - SE or MS will probably save you the most time. I enjoy Figment but I doubt you would ever need a FP for it.

If you look at Easywdw.com 's cheat sheets - he lists FP+ in order of which will save the most to least amount of time waiting in line.

 

[lizzyb]

I like the changes.. going to adjust my fastpasses!

 

[Anjelica]

"Great Movie Ride (originally Tier 2)"

Tier 1!?!?!? So, does that mean they are NOT gonna tear it down? I'm sure others will feel differently, but this is the worst attraction in all of WDW IMO.

I completely disagree - Captain EO is the worst attraction in all of WDW!!!

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I already have my FP+'s for July. Am I supposed to change them now(or June 16) or can I leave them alone? Will they change without me knowing?

No, you can leave them as they are. The tiers are already uploaded on the MDE site. From June 16th, the new tiers are there.