Curious about walking up and buying tickets

[RedAngie]

The FP limit has been lifted? Did I miss something or am I reading this wrong?

Sorry for the confusion; you didn't miss anything or read it wrong. I didn't state it very well.

It was my understanding that for the first several months after FP+ went live, there was a limit of 3 ONLY; no additional were available after those three were used. I was furious at that news . I'm never going to Disney again, blah blah blah.

Fortunately, they lifted that restriction after a few months, so we decided to try it out and bought the one day tickets at AK. We got a total of 5 FPs, and the last one really wasn't necessary as the park had cleared out by about 430pm. Not that it was very busy to begin with that day.

As for buying one-day tickets, that seems to be our M.O. these days. I've only done single-day visits since FP+ came about; two were last minute walk up purchases and the other was a MNSSHP that we bought and picked 4 to 7pm FPs for about 14 days in advance.

We'll be in Florida again in three weeks, and if we go to WDW, it will again be a last minute decision. It works for us.

 

[miamimi]

You could make ADRs without tickets. Those aren't linked to resorts or tickets. But not much will be available to those that suddenly decide to go to Disney.

I remember Tom Staggs trying to convince guests that you could be spontaneous with FP+. I don't think clueless guests who purchase their tickets at the gate would agree, unless they weren't interested in the E-ticket attractions.

Lately most of the people who claim they love FP+are the ones who borrow someone else's AP and have lots of MB's from previous trips. Or when the parks are slow and FP+ isn't needed. I would absolutley adore FP+ under these circumstances, but alas my family has only visited with 3 FP+ reservations and it was not spontaneous.

 

[AngiTN]

I remember Tom Staggs trying to convince guests that you could be spontaneous with FP+. I don't think clueless guests who purchase their tickets at the gate would agree, unless they weren't interested in the E-ticket attractions.

Lately most of the people who claim they love FP+are the ones who borrow someone else's AP and have lots of MB's from previous trips. Or when the parks are slow and FP+ isn't needed. I would absolutley adore FP+ under these circumstances, but alas my family has only visited with 3 FP+ reservations and it was not spontaneous.

I'm in the minority in that we do prefer FP+ and that includes when we visit in the summer when it's busy and all of us go so just the same number of FP as everyone else.
I like to know before hand that time we'll be able to ride the important rides. We did DL without last summer and it was a bummer to try and work around the random times on our FP tickets, not to mention it was impossible to plan to pull a FP so we could ride Cars ride at night.
Sure, some trips it's just DH and I and we have the other 2 AP to give us 6 FP a day but as you said, those are the slow times and we don't need the 6.
And we don't have any problems with rearranging our days and changing plans even on our summer trips. There are a few FP you can't get day of very easy but that's an exception, vs. a rule.
I think FP+ can be very flexible if one is willing to give it a shot. There are some out there that are going to hate it and will never give it a chance to actually work in their benefit.
One other benefit that works for us is we get to sleep in, skip Rope Drop and still ride our favorites without waits. On most trips we never even use a stand by line, for any ride with a FP line at least.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'd probably feel a lot better about FP+ if I was visiting several times a year and could just catch what we miss this time when we get back again in a few months.

I'm helping my friend plan her November trip and she is so frustrated trying to figure out how their family can ride all of their favorites, some more than once like they used to. It's been several years since they visited, and will likely be several years before they get back again.

 

[wilkeliza]

I'm still shocked at people I know who go to Disney and think they got a great deal from their TA for getting FP+ for free and how we must have paid for it! They are shocked when I tell them everyone gets that haha.

I've also had family friends who have gone by just driving and showing up with no hotel, no tickets, nothing at all. Cool great but seriously you think your just going to show up in the middle of the summer because that's how your parents did it? To each their own I guess.

With FP+ (and even legacy FP) Disney could smack people upside the head with the information and a small group of people would still assume it was an extra charge no matter how much you say included, complementary, free. They are accustom to that product costing so hear "You can prebook a ride" and tune out thinking it is like Flashpass at their local Six Flags.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Forgive me, but some of the posts this thread come off a bit smug, and yet a bit myopic a time.

As for WDW repeatedly saying the same thing, I attribute it to CYA (cover your...). A guest who hears something twice won't get mad. We recently stayed at CR. The CM who checked us in asked if we had stayed there before. We said yes, many times. She still told us how to find the pool and other amenities.

I should also add, it is STILL possible to tour Universal with an unlimited Express Pass and very minimal planning. You get a discount if you buy your tickets and passes in advance. You can actually eat in table service restaurants without ANY planning. If you do want a reservation, you can usually get them just a few hours before you plan to eat! If you don't have a dining reservation, there are ample options available. It is one of the thgins we appreciate about Universal.

 

[mrzrich]

Lately most of the people who claim they love FP+are the ones who borrow someone else's AP and have lots of MB's from previous trips. Or when the parks are slow and FP+ isn't needed. I would absolutley adore FP+ under these circumstances, but alas my family has only visited with 3 FP+ reservations and it was not spontaneous.

I kinda resent this comment. I like FP+ and I don't scam the system. I have planned trips as little as 48 hours in advanced. The only rides I have trouble planning are 7DMT and Frozen. Those can both be rides at rope drop or near the end of the night.

You can actually eat in table service restaurants without ANY planning. If you do want a reservation, you can usually get them just a few hours before you plan to eat! If you don't have a dining reservation, there are ample options available. It is one of the thgins we appreciate about Universal.

Again, despite the hype on these boards, there are plenty of same day ADRs available at Disney. Just now at 5:30 pm looked for ADRs 30 minutes from now at 6pm for 4 people. Many choices including Ohana at 6pm or 7:25, 50's PTC, Hollywood and Vine, Brown Derby, BOMA, Tusker House, Yak n Yeti, Cape May, Garden Grill, Coral Reef, LTT, and much much more

 

[wilkeliza]

Forgive me, but some of the posts this thread come off a bit smug, and yet a bit myopic a time.

As for WDW repeatedly saying the same thing, I attribute it to CYA (cover your...). A guest who hears something twice won't get mad. We recently stayed at CR. The CM who checked us in asked if we had stayed there before. We said yes, many times. She still told us how to find the pool and other amenities.

I should also add, it is STILL possible to tour Universal with an unlimited Express Pass and very minimal planning. You get a discount if you buy your tickets and passes in advance. You can actually eat in table service restaurants without ANY planning. If you do want a reservation, you can usually get them just a few hours before you plan to eat! If you don't have a dining reservation, there are ample options available. It is one of the thgins we appreciate about Universal.

You can do simialr at Disney. The express pass to me isn't the same as FP because you have to pay. You can't really compair the two. You either pay by staying on site or pay out of pocket.

However with restraunts at Disney I've never been when there wasn't somehwere you could eat. Heck I went in the middle of the summer and was able to get a CRT same day.

My post was not to say you can't have a great vacation just winging it, it was to say I can't believe people do wing it. Heck I don't even wing a trip to Universal because I can't imagine crossing state lines with out at minimum a hotel reservation.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I remember Tom Staggs trying to convince guests that you could be spontaneous with FP+. I don't think clueless guests who purchase their tickets at the gate would agree, unless they weren't interested in the E-ticket attractions.

Lately most of the people who claim they love FP+are the ones who borrow someone else's AP and have lots of MB's from previous trips. Or when the parks are slow and FP+ isn't needed. I would absolutley adore FP+ under these circumstances, but alas my family has only visited with 3 FP+ reservations and it was not spontaneous.

We really like FP+. We go every other year. We do not use "ghost" MBs. We do not have APs.

FP+ worked for us. We rode everything we wanted to ride multiple times on our 7 day trip. We changed our choices on the fly. We changed park days on the fly. We were spontaneous and used it at the same time.

It is possible.

 

[Accident]

This is a rough one but I think a good example of where disney could improve the guest experience with just a minor bit of improvement and change.

I would solve this with:

"are you familiar with our fastpass+ system that you get free with your ticket?" and if no, "It's a way to avoid some lines for attractions and entertainment. Please ask a cast member after your in the park for where to find a fastpass+ kiosk and a cast member at the kiosk will be more than happy to help you get setup and give you more information about it. ". of course whever the normal have a nice day ending for the transaction is.

 

[wilkeliza]

This is a rough one but I think a good example of where disney could improve the guest experience with just a minor bit of improvement and change.

I would solve this with:

"are you familiar with our fastpass+ system that you get free with your ticket?" and if no, "It's a way to avoid some lines for attractions and entertainment. Please ask a cast member after your in the park for where to find a fastpass+ kiosk and a cast member at the kiosk will be more than happy to help you get setup and give you more information about it. ". of course whever the normal have a nice day ending for the transaction is.

Or when selling tickets at the window give the paper they use to have explaining FP+. Just hand it to them and say here are your tickets and here is a paper explaining our free service called FP+ that lets you skip the line at select attractions. CMs inside can offer further assistance as well. That way the guest has the information and knows where to get even more.

 

[Accident]

Or when selling tickets at the window give the paper they use to have explaining FP+. Just hand it to them and say here are your tickets and here is a paper explaining our free service called FP+ that lets you skip the line at select attractions. CMs inside can offer further assistance as well. That way the guest has the information and knows where to get even more.

I'm all for less paper but if something could be added to the receipt that wouldn't bother me

 

[wilkeliza]

I'm all for less paper but if something could be added to the receipt that wouldn't bother me

Oh on the recipient isn't a bad idea. They use to have the papers and I know still do at the resorts.

Workings FP+ roll out was the worst role I ever had as a CM. I picked up a shift at DHS the week it went live for off site guest. One of the few shifts I left in tears. So many people said we ruined their vacations, grown adults acted like toddlers over a change. It was crazy. New Years at Epcot at least had some positives to it. That shift was all just guest after guest after guest treating us like garbage all for holding a sign and offering directions to the kiosks.

 

[miamimi]

Sure, some trips it's just DH and I and we have the other 2 AP to give us 6 FP a day but as you said, those are the slow times and we don't need the 6. .

But you do take advantage of extra FP+ on some trips, so you do go with more that the pre-booked 3 FP+.s That's the point. This is true for a lot of people.

I kinda resent this comment. I like FP+ and I don't scam the system. I have planned trips as little as 48 hours in advanced. The only rides I have trouble planning are 7DMT and Frozen. Those can both be rides at rope drop or near the end of the night.

I'm sorry you resent my comment, but I only said "most" of the people, I did not say everyone who likes FP+ scams the system. I'm glad it works for you. I just miss the old days, so when I want to visit Disney I go to DLR.
But with the crowds decreasing at WDW, FP+ may not have as big of an impact , which would be great.

 

[IrishNYC]

I think for amusement parks in general the onus is on the buyer to figure out what exactly they're entitled to, or how to pay extra to get more. It's been a long time since I've bought a one day ticket spontaneously to any Disney property (it was for Disneyland in 1992 when a friend and I happened to be in the area that day with nothing else to do). We do go to Hersheypark every year, and have for the last few years. We've bought tickets directly from Hershey, from ticketsatwork.com, from our hotel at a discount, and this year through DD's school as a fundraiser. Hp has some kind of FP-like option, but I have no idea how it is obtained. I do know there's a cost for it. It's never been explained to us at the gate, or by anyone else, nor is it obvious on their website.

I just looked, without being logged in, for information for WDW tickets. Googling takes you directly to the page to purchase tickets. There is no direct mention of FP+, even once you've put tickets in your cart and are ready to click buy. The only mention is if you scroll down to the bottom, under My Disney Experience. So, it's fair to say that Disney doesn't make FP+ obvious at all. But, neither do other amusement parks in my experience.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I remember Tom Staggs trying to convince guests that you could be spontaneous with FP+. I don't think clueless guests who purchase their tickets at the gate would agree, unless they weren't interested in the E-ticket attractions.

Lately most of the people who claim they love FP+are the ones who borrow someone else's AP and have lots of MB's from previous trips. Or when the parks are slow and FP+ isn't needed. I would absolutley adore FP+ under these circumstances, but alas my family has only visited with 3 FP+ reservations and it was not spontaneous.

I'm a fan of FP+. And I yes, I have magic bands from past trips. They are all registered on my only MDE account. I don't use any one's magic bands but my own. I plan 3 per day per person. Then I add more after I have used those.

We do go during slower times. But we have always gone during slower times. In fact, I hated the paper fast passes, even during the slow times. My husband seemed to spend half of his day running to rides that he wasn't actually riding. Then dashing back to get in line for a different ride, with us. Then we would walk back to the first ride. My husband would then dash off to the next fast pass booth, while we walked to the next ride. Rinse, wash, repeat. Again and again, every day. It was awful.

I wanted to vacation with my husband.

But maybe those that liked the paper fast pass system because they hoarded paper fast passes. (See what I did there?)

 

[miamimi]

I'm a fan of FP+. And I yes, I have magic bands from past trips. They are all registered on my only MDE account. I don't use any one's magic bands but my own. I plan 3 per day per person. Then I add more after I have used those.

We do go during slower times. But we have always gone during slower times. In fact, I hated the paper fast passes, even during the slow times. My husband seemed to spend half of his day running to rides that he wasn't actually riding. Then dashing back to get in line for a different ride, with us. Then we would walk back to the first ride. My husband would then dash off to the next fast pass booth, while we walked to the next ride. Rinse, wash, repeat. Again and again, every day. It was awful.

I wanted to vacation with my husband.

But maybe those that liked the paper fast pass system because they hoarded paper fast passes. (See what I did there?)

Very clever. See I never used many FP's, but I never felt like I had to use them to enjoy the parks. Now, if I want to visit WDW and ride my favorites, I have to plan everything in advance.

But I just go to DLR and pull FP's when a SB line is too long, no running involved.

 

[RedAngie]

But maybe those that liked the paper fast pass system because they hoarded paper fast passes. (See what I did there?)

Absolutely I hoarded paper FPs. It was great while it lasted.

I'd say about 1/3 of the time we used the old FPs in the designated time slot, 1/3 whenever it was convenient, and the final 1/3 were specifically and intentionally obtained in order to be used many hours later. I think our record for a day was 10.

I haven't done a full Disney vacation with FP+ yet, just two single days and a Halloween party. They worked just fine, even obtaining FP+ for the two single days at the last minute.

 

[Duffywannabe]

Again, despite the hype on these boards, there are plenty of same day ADRs available at Disney. Just now at 5:30 pm looked for ADRs 30 minutes from now at 6pm for 4 people. Many choices including Ohana at 6pm or 7:25, 50's PTC, Hollywood and Vine, Brown Derby, BOMA, Tusker House, Yak n Yeti, Cape May, Garden Grill, Coral Reef, LTT, and much much more

Well let's be fair here in how you present that. An awful lot of those open reservations are from people who booked numerous ADRs until they firm up their plans and then cancel within 24 hours to not get charged. While someone winging it might benefit, a lot of people who try and plan a week or two before are left out and can't plan since most of those probably weren't these last week. Well maybe this time of year there was but certainly in the summer that is the case.

Often when looking for say a Friday ADR on Tuesday, there will be nothing. But on late Thursday of Friday morning they appear. It's hard to make last minute plans that way. I mean it's true there are a lot of open spots to get in last minute but you are depending on luck, not really planning.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

You can do simialr at Disney.

No, you can't do similar at Disney. I'm very familiar with touring both places, are you? Have you actually stayed at a US hotel with EP, or just WDW?

For last month: CR: no EP, rates 25% more ($135/night) than RP. If I subtract the $ value of the included EP, our room was free, PLUS we got a bonus free credit!

FP is highly restricted (ONE hour) and limited (tiers). With EP, we just ride whatever we want all day and night: only a few attractions are excluded. EP is vastly more useful.

I'm well versed in TS at both WDW and US. WDW's ADR system is a horror show compared to TS at US. TS at WDW is an series of aggravations: MDE, long bus waits, no respect for ADR's when you do arrive,plus the insulting no show fee. We don't have to deal with any of that at US. We mostly just arrive and eat. Reservations are easy and honored when made. The food costs less and is better quality.

There's also no comparing transportation in US vs. WDW. Getting around US is quick and stress-free.

But I didn't come here to rant about Us being better than WDW, I was trying to explain why some folks might not anticipate the frustrations of touring WDW.

For a start, if I didn't know WDW inside and out, then I'd probably expect MDE to be reliable. (I'm joking....paying corporate utility bills is also pretty bad!)