Could FP+ Ruin my experience?

[Mad Hattered]

I think this can sum up FP+ for some of us on this side of the fence...

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Had to register just for this thread.

Am I the only one who has no idea what rides I'm going to be riding 60 days in advance?

I generally don't even know what park I'm going to be in the next day until the night before, let alone when I want to do what rides!

The spontaneity of saying, "Yea, I think I feel like going to Epcot today", or "I think I'm going to go ride Tower of Terror for an hour tonight" or "I think today I'm going to lounge by the pool for the morning" is the only way of keeping Disney somewhat relaxing and stress-free while enjoying all the great things there, IMO. I don't want to be tied down to my own plans on vacation!!!

Is Disney purposefully trying to make vacations to Disney World more stressful?

This is Disney's answer to your concern.

FastPass+  Frequently Asked Questions
Q.
Why is so much advanced planning necessary with FastPass+ service? With so much to do at Walt Disney World Resort, how can I be expected to make these kinds of decisions so early?

A.
MyMagic+ allows you to plan as much or as little as you wish. Either way, your vacation should be as leisurely and enjoyable as everactually, we hope, more than ever!

If you change your mind while at the park and FastPass+ attraction arrival times are still available, you can modify your selections online with your mobile phone or at a FastPass+ kiosk.

While FastPass+ service is a convenient option to help make your vacation experience better than ever, if you wish, you can still use the standby queues available at all operating attractions.

So they seem to be saying that IF there are FP+s left you can get them the day of. But there are reports that all FP+ will be released at 60 days so hard to know for sure what will be left. OR you can just use the standby line.

Doesn't sound great for our family either even though we are planners!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Had to register just for this thread.

Am I the only one who has no idea what rides I'm going to be riding 60 days in advance?

I think most visitors (from out of town anyway) usually do know what-park-what-day. Kind of goes along with the ADR planning in a way. So I think most people have a general outline before they get there.

But I do know from experience those plans can go out with window with one sick kid, one bad night sleep, etc. That's where FP+ is going to be a pain. No switching park days easily.

 

[One Hit Wonder]

Agreed. I would also like to point out that I come from Canada, meaning that changing FP+ reservations on my phone is a no-go... roaming charges are crazy!!!

 

[lazer]

Agreed. I would also like to point out that I come from Canada, meaning that changing FP+ reservations on my phone is a no-go... roaming charges are crazy!!!

Then you can change them at a kiosk...can't wait to see the lines at those things! haha

 

[delmar411]

Then you can change them at a kiosk...can't wait to see the lines at those things! haha

A little FYI, changing at the kiosks were you scan your band, only changes your FP+, it all has to be done 1 by 1 after scanning each band. Only discovered that on accident. Thank goodness I only had 1 of the kids with me or else we'd have been there forever.

 

[MichiganDVC]

I am still holding out hope for vast day-of availability for fast passes. If they don't have day-of FPs available, they are making a mistake. And I'm not sure I'm totally sold on "Robert the CM's" information, but we can add it to the collection of anecdotal evidence from CMs.
Or, and this is an ongoing point of speculation, but if FP+ is limited to 3 per person, per day, one-park only and no repeats, perhaps Disney HAS figured that even if a substantial amount of visitors make FP+ ride reservations, there will be plenty left because it is so restricted. For example, I can't reserve Space Mountain for myself 17 times per day, 60 days in advance. I could only reserve it once on one day.
I wish someone smarter than me would play with the numbers a bit and try to figure it out (or point me to a thread where FP numbers are well-speculated...)

 

[mattsdragon]

I am still holding out hope for vast day-of availability for fast passes. If they don't have day-of FPs available, they are making a mistake. And I'm not sure I'm totally sold on "Robert the CM's" information, but we can add it to the collection of anecdotal evidence from CMs.
Or, and this is an ongoing point of speculation, but if FP+ is limited to 3 per person, per day, one-park only and no repeats, perhaps Disney HAS figured that even if a substantial amount of visitors make FP+ ride reservations, there will be plenty left because it is so restricted. For example, I can't reserve Space Mountain for myself 17 times per day, 60 days in advance. I could only reserve it once on one day.
I wish someone smarter than me would play with the numbers a bit and try to figure it out (or point me to a thread where FP numbers are well-speculated...)

Doconeil needs to sound off on the math. Me, I was told there would be no math.

My other fear is that if you don't have a smart phone to get your FP+'s, boy those Kiosks are going to make the line for TSMM look short and orderly.

 

[mommajo143]

Right that's what I mean...the wasted ones will be fed back into the system..

I'm thinking FP+ will go unused just as much as FP- People are going to book & not show... IMHO i doubt unused FP+ will be fed back to the system - if i understand what you are suggesting, by the time disney knows a person isn't going to show the FP+ return window will have passed & adding more FP+ to the system for hours later in the day defeats the purpose (as far as disney is concerned). I suppose at say 1145 if you haven't come through the turnstiles & you have a FP+ for 11-12 return window one could reasonably assume you aren't going to make it to XYZ ride but at that point feeding a FP+ back is kinda pointless.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards ... 09/2010 CBR Pirate Room ; 11/2012 POR Royal Room ; Early 2014 CS in planning process'

 

[PaulaVonSchweetz]

Further thinking into it....... Heres what I got:

Im THAT girl who is constantly checking wait times on my phone app - Yes - even when im not in Disney. We are not peak disney travelers, but I've noticed with the Fantasyland expansion the MK has seriously been spread out. The visitors are in other newer attractions and the only truly crazy wait times ive seen this summer were for Space Mountain at 60+ min. All of the others have been between 20 and 45 min - which in reality is totally doable if you just stick with SB lines.

The true problems lie with HS/AK/EP for TSMM, TOT, RnR / Safari, EE / TT/Soarin...... I think that the early risers will see no problems with getting these attractions in quickly in their day and will be able to experience all that the parks have to offer throughout the rest of their days.
Those who prefer to do things more liesurely in the morning - big breakfasts, sleeping in later, not getting to the parks until 10:30am will be the ones who have the biggest problem. Although if they utilize the FP+ system in some way, it may work out for them.

Everyone will need to educate themselves and just figure out a way to make it work for them. People in general just dont like change. While Im not totally happy about the new system, I will take my next trip to learn its ins and outs, see if its necessary for my family, and go with it.
Heck, if it saves me the long *** run to TSMM to acquire a FP then I welcome it!

Again - Im usually in Disney when CMs are begging us to come on their ride, so this whole thing may not even affect me very much. Eh - you win some, you lose some.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

A little FYI, changing at the kiosks were you scan your band, only changes your FP+, it all has to be done 1 by 1 after scanning each band. Only discovered that on accident. Thank goodness I only had 1 of the kids with me or else we'd have been there forever.

Oh my!! This is NOT good news for those of us without smart phones!! What a pain it would be to find once you get to the 3rd or 4th MB scanned to find the FP+ time slot gone! Were you able to see how many were in the system? Would there be no way to knowing there were only 3 there before you get to the 4th band in your party of 6 if you have to use the kiosks?? This could be a nightmare!!

Let's hope Disney makes a way to scan several bands at a time to change all at once!

 

[delmar411]

Oh my!! This is NOT good news for those of us without smart phones!! What a pain it would be to find once you get to the 3rd or 4th MB scanned to find the FP+ time slot gone! Were you able to see how many were in the system? Would there be no way to knowing there were only 3 there before you get to the 4th band in your party of 6 if you have to use the kiosks?? This could be a nightmare!!

Let's hope Disney makes a way to scan several bands at a time to change all at once!

I couldn't see that and I only realized it only changed mine because when I clicked on itinerary it had a time overlap alert because the kids bands hadn't been changed. Now this is the only time I used a kiosk to change all our times, I normally do it at home or use the iPad stations in which you log into your MDE account and it is the web platform.

The CM standing there to help knew that just mine had been changed when I asked if all our times had been changed or just mine.

And actually I was at AK yesterday waiting on DH so I tried to make FP+ selections at the kiosk in Dinoland and it never gave me the option to add those FP+ to my whole party. It was just me and it offered me up a quick pick that I then had to alter individually which equals 4-5 steps for every single FP selection per person.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I couldn't see that and I only realized it only changed mine because when I clicked on itinerary it had a time overlap alert because the kids bands hadn't been changed. Now this is the only time I used a kiosk to change all our times, I normally do it at home or use the iPad stations in which you log into your MDE account and it is the web platform.

The CM standing there to help knew that just mine had been changed when I asked if all our times had been changed or just mine.

And actually I was at AK yesterday waiting on DH so I tried to make FP+ selections at the kiosk in Dinoland and it never gave me the option to add those FP+ to my whole party. It was just me and it offered me up a quick pick that I then had to alter individually which equals 4-5 steps for every single FP selection per person.

I am international so no mobile phone for us either. Or cell phone I think you call them? I wonder why the kiosks don't let you sign in to MDE? Would it not be easier to provide computer terminals so us without phones can do this? Just a thought. Too late now I guess lol..

 

[delmar411]

I am international so no mobile phone for us either. Or cell phone I think you call them? I wonder why the kiosks don't let you sign in to MDE? Would it not be easier to provide computer terminals so us without phones can do this? Just a thought. Too late now I guess lol..

Some kiosks are just iPads and you can do that, the 'permanently' installed ones in Town Hall, and at the rides are different. If you see an iPad, that's what you want to use. Like at MK Town Hall has the kiosk but across the street at the Theater (where Mickey and Princesses are) it is all iPads.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Some kiosks are just iPads and you can do that, the 'permanently' installed ones in Town Hall, and at the rides are different. If you see an iPad, that's what you want to use. Like at MK Town Hall has the kiosk but across the street at the Theater (where Mickey and Princesses are) it is all iPads.

Oh good tip thanks! I will head for the ipads! very helpful!

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Some kiosks are just iPads and you can do that, the 'permanently' installed ones in Town Hall, and at the rides are different. If you see an iPad, that's what you want to use. Like at MK Town Hall has the kiosk but across the street at the Theater (where Mickey and Princesses are) it is all iPads.

Is this the only place in MK you have seen the iPads so far?

 

[delmar411]

Is this the only place in MK you have seen the iPads so far?

Yes. MK is the worst with these kiosks. They are so spread out that I had to travel to the front of the park to use one. I did not see the one in the circus area or the one at splash but I'd guess they are also the free standing kiosks.

They are supposed to install kiosks at the adventure land breezeway, tomorrowland DVC booth and fantasy faire(not sure where/what this is) so hopefully some of these will be the iPads.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Yes. MK is the worst with these kiosks. They are so spread out that I had to travel to the front of the park to use one. I did not see the one in the circus area or the one at splash but I'd guess they are also the free standing kiosks.

They are supposed to install kiosks at the adventure land breezeway, tomorrowland DVC booth and fantasy faire(not sure where/what this is) so hopefully some of these will be the iPads.

I hope so too. Once we come through the gates we don't go back to the front of the park until we get ready to leave. I understand we may have to do some extra walking but somewhere more central would be much easier to handle.

 

[mommajo143]

This is part of how we would likely offset the limitation of having only 3-4 FP+ per day.

It would make RD all the more important to my family. RD & hit all the big attractions at one park then use Hoppers/FP+ in the evening at another park after a midday break.

Exactly what we are generally thinking we will do since we are scheduled for February '14 and not sure how all of this will shake out or how much we can plan it out based on general lack of solid info right now for that time...

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards ... 09/2010 CBR Pirate Room ; 11/2012 POR Royal Room ; Early 2014 CS in planning process'

 

[Angel Ariel]

Or, and this is an ongoing point of speculation, but if FP+ is limited to 3 per person, per day, one-park only and no repeats,

How is this speculation when it's what's been written in the terms & conditions and what's been true in the testing?

Yes, Disney could change any of it if they want to at any time...but that doesn't make it speculation now. The speculation is that they could/will change it...