Conclusion - Need to Book FP+ as soon as possible

[ArwenMarie]

App was always different from what we saw in the parks, but really not sure on that process.

Yeah, it seems like there are two different buckets of FPs.

 

[mom2rtk]

Under the new FP+ system they are locked out of making up for their mistake for their entire vacation. Under the legacy system all they had to do was get up early the next day.

The loss of the clean slate every day really is a big deal for some.

 

[ArwenMarie]

The loss of the clean slate every day really is a big deal for some.

Me!

Other than the tiering at Epcot and DHS, the loss of a clean slate is my biggest issue with it. We were never huge re-riders.

 

[mom2rtk]

Hmm, I dunno. I'm not sure the goal of FPP is to keep people in the parks longer overall. I think the goal is to make the park visit efficient... give prebooked rides/experiences, supplement with shows/parades and perhaps an ADR or QS meal and then get visitors out to enjoy their WDW resort. I do see your point though about the times in between FPs...spending money is definitely welcome but that was always the case.

I lean toward believing this as well. They bragged last year about how many bodies they were able to get into the MK every day over Christmas week.

If that's the case then they are playing a dangerous game. The less people feel they get for the money, the less likely they are to feel like making a return trip.

 

[momof2n2]

The loss of the clean slate every day really is a big deal for some.

Me!

Other than the tiering at Epcot and DHS, the loss of a clean slate is my biggest issue with it. We were never huge re-riders.

I tell you, we were separated at birth, ladies.
(except I am a re-ride junkie, AM.)

 

[mom2rtk]

I tell you, we were separated at birth, ladies.
(except I am a re-ride junkie, AM.)

And re-ride is one of my top issues as well.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Adding my two cents.

Going during Christmas, we plan our trip down to the hour... sometimes minute! We're type A's and what works for my family may not work for others - that's fine. But during Christmas and other crowded times of the year, I do recommend having some sort of semblance of order to your trip.

Add all of your plans to MDE. In making reservations, MDE will often try and book the FP+ times around your ADRs. It's not perfect. If you have a 7pm reservation, it may give you a FP+ time from 8pm-9pm, which is very difficult to accomplish - but it tries.

Another thing. Let's say we wanted to ride Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain and POC. We put our selections into MDE and it spits out the following choices:
A: Thunder in the morning, Space in the afternoon, POC in the evening
B: Thunder in the late afternoon, Space in the evening, POC at night
C: Thunder in the afternoon, POC in the afternoon, Peter Pan at night

Option C doesn't give us Pirates, so that's out. Option B wouldn't work. We plan on leaving the park at 2pm and have dinner at 6pm. Option A is close, but we plan on leaving the park by 2pm, so Pirates wouldn't work. A lot of people will refresh and try again, only to find that they miss out on Space Mountain or one of their ride selections - ESPECIALLY during crowded times. Keep in mind, you're competing with people. Think of it as Ticketmaster back in the day. Remember when you'd go to Tower Records and ask for the best available? The guy would say "how's section 105?" and you'd say.. "try again." Then he'd look up and say "there's nothing left." Think of it like that!

Select Option A. At least you have two of your rides at a time that work for you. It's a lot easier to change the time of your attraction rather than refresh and risk losing one or more of your rides. Select the first choice that pops up with all three of your selections and times that are close to working for you - even if one time is way off. You can go in and change the time. We've booked reservations that were Space (10am), Thunder (11am) and Buzz at 6pm. You can then go in and edit Buzz to a time that meets your needs. It may not pop up right away, but we usually find one and have. Last Christmas we moved Buzz from 6pm to 1pm. We left the park at 2 and the day went according to plan!

 

[WillAustin]

This site shows some nice FP+ info on what is available.

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/fastpass_plus_availability.php

 

[jade1]

Now that's what I'm talking about.
Add in grabbing a Legacy FP just before going on TSMM for a return at 10:05 and you've described our last trip!

You know what's funny-we grabbed 4 for TSM/Frozen and ST at the kiosk between TSM and RNR, then after TOT 2 of us decided to instead clear ours and went to EPCOT-we still landed Soarin for 1:55. They did ST, GMR and Frozen-went back for lunch/swim/rest, then back that night for another TSM and Fantasmic. We did the TSM/RNR/TOT, went to EPCOT and got Soarin and went to brunch at Cape May, then back for Soarin.

 

[jade1]

Here is our DHS SB April 8.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I never book immediately and it works out fine for me. Everybody is going to have a different outlook. There is no one procedure that will be the best for everybody. Whether any specific thread says so or not.

Read an article about MM+ which said it was brought about because guests didn't like waiting in all sorts of lines for everything and crisscrossing all over the park. they didn't do it to keep people in the park. They did it to examine where guests were congregating and how they went from place to place.

I don't really love fp+ but I don't hate it either.

 

[jade1]

I never book immediately and it works out fine for me. Everybody is going to have a different outlook. There is no one procedure that will be the best for everybody. Whether any specific thread says so or not.

Exactly-actual feedback is required to make decisions, all types should be out there and available.

 

[CookiesNcream]

This site shows some nice FP+ info on what is available.

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/fastpass_plus_availability.php

Thank you! That gives a lot of useful information and it's easier than my logging into our Disney account!

 

[CookiesNcream]

You know what's funny-we grabbed 4 for TSM/Frozen and ST at the kiosk between TSM and RNR, then after TOT 2 of us decided to instead clear ours and went to EPCOT-we still landed Soarin for 1:55. They did ST, GMR and Frozen-went back for lunch/swim/rest, then back that night for another TSM and Fantasmic. We did the TSM/RNR/TOT, went to EPCOT and got Soarin and went to brunch at Cape May, then back for Soarin.

Hun, all those secret codes have my head spinning!!!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Here is our DHS SB April 8.

So at 8:00 in the morning, you were able to get a FP+ for TSM for early that evening? Under the legacy FP+ system, I was able to get a FP at 9:00 for 9:40, another one at 9:40 for 1:00ish, and final one at 1:00 for that evening. And you wonder why some of us preferred the old way.

I'm also not really understanding how these experiences fit in with your "we don't RD we only go in the evenings" touring strategy that you've been touting. Clearly you were there in person, at RD to be at the kiosks to get these FP+s. You went all the way to Epcot to book FP+s there (I'm not sure why you didn't just use your phone?). I'm not really seeing what you're proving here. To me, you're only proving that same day FPs for headliners will only be available for much later in the day even at the beginning of the day. And you're also showing that RD is extremely beneficial, which I think we all agree on.

 

[momof2n2]

So at 8:00 in the morning, you were able to get a FP+ for TSM for early that evening? Under the legacy FP+ system, I was able to get a FP at 9:00 for 9:40, another one at 9:40 for 1:00ish, and final one at 1:00 for that evening. And you wonder why some of us preferred the old way.

Yeah. Well said.
I don't want to be locked into
something MUCH later that I used to be able to do a LITTLE later...
But I guess that's not this thread...

 

[JanaDee]

Hun, all those secret codes have my head spinning!!!

Here's a list of the most frequently used abbreviations. http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm
I know I'm guilty of sometimes posting lots of abbreviations, assuming everyone knows what I am talking about.

 

[WillAustin]

So at 8:00 in the morning, you were able to get a FP+ for TSM for early that evening? Under the legacy FP+ system, I was able to get a FP at 9:00 for 9:40, another one at 9:40 for 1:00ish, and final one at 1:00 for that evening. And you wonder why some of us preferred the old way.

Add 2 standby rides at RD after getting the first FP and we could ride enough times to make our arms fall off. And that was on a high crowd day.

 

[RachealM]

Booking FP+ reservations ASAP has definitely made our monthly trips much more pleasant! This is the method I use now and it really works for us:

1. I book FP+ attractions immediately at the earliest availability mark (with hotel reservation).
2. I make sure I pick an option that has the 3 rides we definitely want, but I don't stress over the time slots. Personally, I think it's easier to adjust the time slot of your ride than to try and change the ride selection to what you're trying to find.
3. I adjust the time slot for each ride to move it up as early in the day as possible. (We don't mind doing a roller coaster at 9 am )
4. After we use our 3rd FP, we visit a kiosk and grab another FP.
5. We see a show (since they are not things we'd use a FP on) or eat in between the wait time for the next FP ride.
6. Repeat alternating FP pick-up, show, or low wait-time attraction

On average, we use about six FP timeslots a day. (That's with leaving the park for a while for a break) It's a nice trade to wait 5 minutes in a FP Kiosk line to be able to shave 30+ minutes off of a Stand-By entrance line. There are definitely some rides we will never do at peak hours without a FP again.

 

[cakebaker]

So at 8:00 in the morning, you were able to get a FP+ for TSM for early that evening? Under the legacy FP+ system, I was able to get a FP at 9:00 for 9:40, another one at 9:40 for 1:00ish, and final one at 1:00 for that evening. And you wonder why some of us preferred the old way.

.

I don't think many of us who have been discussing this for any length of time wonder why some preferred the old way. We know why.

And the reason you like it is exactly why we didn't. While you got your 3 rides, I got none because I arrived at the park later in the afternoon.

Now we can both have a chance to ride regardless of when we choose to go to a particular park.