Curious about walking up and buying tickets

[MakiraMarlena]

Some persons are told about Fastpass or they receive written materials or emails regarding their booking, or their ticket purchase, but they don't read it, don't pay attention or they think it's something else, so they dismiss what they are told. The OP's person believed only those with annual passes could use Fastpass which is a long way from the truth; even those who did the most rudimentary research would know that isn't the case.

And with others, no matter how meticulously it is explained, they will ignore it or dismiss it.

in the interest of moving along the ticket lines I think it is preferable that the ticket agents don't spend a bunch of time explaining FP to on-site ticket purchasers.

Universal is a lot smaller than WDW. You can walk between the Universal hotels and BOTH the parks and City Walk. (I think their values have a short bus ride but you can walk too). Obviously you can't walk from any resort at WDW to all 4 parks and 2 water parks and Disney Springs. The area is just much too large. That is what it is. No point arguing about which is better because it matters to some but not to others.

 

[k5thbeatle]

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.

"Spontaneous" and "Disney" should not be used in the same sentence!

 

[snoopboop]

The pp was comparing 2 days for $1040 ($520 a night) to 5 days for $1800 ($360 a night)

No, the poster said it cost the same amount to spend 2 days at Universal that it did to spend 5 days at Disney.

It's pointless to keep arguing against someone who's simply decided to believe that Universal can do no right and Disney can do no wrong. No big deal.

 

[AngiTN]

Some persons are told about Fastpass or they receive written materials or emails regarding their booking, or their ticket purchase, but they don't read it, don't pay attention or they think it's something else, so they dismiss what they are told. The OP's person believed only those with annual passes could use Fastpass which is a long way from the truth; even those who did the most rudimentary research would know that isn't the case.

And with others, no matter how meticulously it is explained, they will ignore it or dismiss it.

in the interest of moving along the ticket lines I think it is preferable that the ticket agents don't spend a bunch of time explaining FP to on-site ticket purchasers.

Universal is a lot smaller than WDW. You can walk between the Universal hotels and BOTH the parks and City Walk. (I think their values have a short bus ride but you can walk too). Obviously you can't walk from any resort at WDW to all 4 parks and 2 water parks and Disney Springs. The area is just much too large. That is what it is. No point arguing about which is better because it matters to some but not to others.

Yes, if you are staying on site you will get emails about FP+.
This is about someone not staying on site and not buying tickets in advance, so no emails there either.
Yes, they were wrong about who got FP.
Which is why I wondered if they were told anything about FP at the time of purchase.
Having not seen a map since FP came about I wasn't sure what was on there either.
I've since learned that FP+ is mentioned there so that would give the info I was wondering about.
Disney can't make folks read, all they can do is provide the info, which it seems they do.
Since you'd have to assume if someone is new to Disney the one thing they will do is get a map.

 

[AngiTN]

"Spontaneous" and "Disney" should not be used in the same sentence!

I thought that at one time. But on our last 2 trips, we were very spontaneous. On our 10 day trip in July we only kept to 1 day as we planned before arrival, the day we wanted to ride FEA. Otherwise, we changed our park days every day and we had no problem getting new FP the day before. And we always book our ADR on the way to the park that morning. It's not at all hard to be spontaneous.

 

[miamimi]

I thought that at one time. But on our last 2 trips, we were very spontaneous. On our 10 day trip in July we only kept to 1 day as we planned before arrival, the day we wanted to ride FEA. Otherwise, we changed our park days every day and we had no problem getting new FP the day before. And we always book our ADR on the way to the park that morning. It's not at all hard to be spontaneous.

I think this depends on how busy the parks are. It's a lot more difficult to switch things around when it's busy.

You've mentioned that you have been visiting the parks on a monthly basis, I also think this makes it a lot easier to be spontaneous. After all, if you don't get to do something on your current visit there's always next time!

 

[Disneylover99]

I think this depends on how busy the parks are. It's a lot more difficult to switch things around when it's busy.

Fp's are easy to switch early in the day even the week of Christmas.

 

[miamimi]

Fp's are easy to switch early in the day even the week of Christmas.

For the most popular attractions? For what times of the day?

 

[AngiTN]

I think this depends on how busy the parks are. It's a lot more difficult to switch things around when it's busy.

We went in July, it was pretty dang busy. People assume it's harder than it is. There are a few rides that are difficult to get, FEA and Mine Train. And with persistence I've gotten both same day.
And yeah, we go often but we do our favorite rides on every trip. With FP.

 

[mrzrich]

AngiTN and I are similar in our frequent visits and relaxed planning.

People don't believe me about the ease of same day ADR's, but they are plentiful. Even in July.

 

[Virtucomp]

No, the poster said it cost the same amount to spend 2 days at Universal that it did to spend 5 days at Disney.

It's pointless to keep arguing against someone who's simply decided to believe that Universal can do no right and Disney can do no wrong. No big deal.

I am not saying Disney can do no wrong. We personally experienced two parks and resorts in the same week and found that Universal's customer service was much worse than Disney's. We found the parks to be similar but Universal was not as inviting. We were not happy to be asked to leave the park early two nights in a row because they run Halloween Horror. We were really unhappy about the amount of time we spent checking in to Universal because the Hotels are not owned by the park and you have to got to multiple lines to get park passes and express passes.
In our experience we did not find the Universal hotel MORE of a deluxe than Animal Kingdom. The customer service we received from Disney during our stay was much better than Universal. If people ask me if I would go back to either park I would. I am not as much in a rush to get back into Universal as Disney because of our experiences. This trip was the first time we went to Universal so we were comparing when happened there to what happened at Disney.
From one day to the next I'm sure both parks have room for improvement and each person or family has different experiences on their trip. In this case Universal did not make a good first impression. I'm sorry if my experiences do not meet your requirements.

 

[Disneylover99]

For the most popular attractions? For what times of the day?

I get up in the morning before the parks open and figure out where we want to go. I've been able to get times from late morning til closing at all rides except for SDMT. I imagine FEA will be hard to get as well. But those rides can be difficult to get at 30/60 days anyways.

 

[miamimi]

I get up in the morning before the parks open and figure out where we want to go. I've been able to get times from late morning til closing at all rides except for SDMT. I imagine FEA will be hard to get as well. But those rides can be difficult to get at 30/60 days anyways.

You said at Christmastime so your were able to get FP+ for all the mountains throughout the day at Christmas time. If so, that's wonderful!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

And with others, no matter how meticulously it is explained, they will ignore it or dismiss it.

The Disney hotels no longer give guests any handouts at check-in: no paper at all.

There's a billfold of papers in your room, but it blends into the room. Every chain hotel these days covers the tables with paper tents and ads these days. They're ads for all the things you can buy: pp view, $$$ sheets, and room service. We pile them up behind the television when we enter the room.

One of the things I've always appreciated about WDW is that there is far more to see and do then we have time to do - especially if you're willing to pay extra!

Time=money, especially at WDW. When I'm at WDW, I want to be on the go, not reading brochures in the room.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

And with others, no matter how meticulously it is explained, they will ignore it or dismiss it.

You must mean the folks who hold up every line because they don't think ahead at all while waiting!

At Casey's, which ONLY sells HOT DOGS, they can't remember if they like cheese on theirs.

At the bag check, despite being told five times to unzip every pouch, they somehow don't realize the guard means ALL the compartments of THEIR backpack, cooler, fanny pack, and camera bag.

(Also the folks who think the many bags under their stroller somehow don't count as BAGS.)



What baffles me, is the great number of folks who managed to book FP+, and to enter the park, but still can't figure out how to match their magicband against the flashing Mickey light at the rides!

 

[Disneylover99]

You said at Christmastime so your were able to get FP+ for all the mountains throughout the day at Christmas time. If so, that's wonderful!

Yes. I've been surprised at the availability two years in a row.

 

[AngiTN]

You said at Christmastime so your were able to get FP+ for all the mountains throughout the day at Christmas time. If so, that's wonderful!

I am gathering that there isn't much anyone can say to you to convince you that FP+ isn't the devil and a vacation ruining experience.
Anyway,
Can you get a full choice of times from open to close on Christmas morning for a group of 10 for Big Thunder? Probably not.
Can you find at least A FP for Big Thunder on Christmas Morning? Yes you can.
Times may not be perfect but they are available.
If you want to be spontaneous you have to be flexible too.
I'm not sure how they could make it better, quite honestly.
Because I can assure you that if you wanted to show up at Disney at noon on Christmas day and pull a paper FP for one of the Mountains you probably would be out of luck.
And you dang sure wouldn't have your choice of times, even if you showed up at park opening. You'd get what you get.

The Disney hotels no longer give guests any handouts at check-in: no paper at all.

There's a billfold of papers in your room, but it blends into the room. Every chain hotel these days covers the tables with paper tents and ads these days. They're ads for all the things you can buy: pp view, $$$ sheets, and room service. We pile them up behind the television when we enter the room.

One of the things I've always appreciated about WDW is that there is far more to see and do then we have time to do - especially if you're willing to pay extra!

Time=money, especially at WDW. When I'm at WDW, I want to be on the go, not reading brochures in the room.

Sure they do. I got an envelope last month. If you opt to skip the front desk you won't but anyone with an onsite stay gets an email with FP+ anyway.
Other than that, at Disney there is 1 envelope with papers stacked in it. All Disney can do is provide the information, they can't force people to read it.
Luckily, everything the put in the room is also on the website somewhere so you can be on the go and read it.

What baffles me, is the great number of folks who managed to book FP+, and to enter the park, but still can't figure out how to match their magicband against the flashing Mickey light at the rides!

Or the folks that go up to the FP line and scan their MB when they know darn well they never booked a FP for the ride. I see that every single trip.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

You said at Christmastime so your were able to get FP+ for all the mountains throughout the day at Christmas time. If so, that's wonderful!

This has not been our experience.

On every trip since the advent of FP+, we've checked on swapping our FP. This is one of the ways we entertain ourselves while waiting in line.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Sure they do. I got an envelope last month. If you opt to skip the front desk you won't but anyone with an onsite stay gets an email with FP+ anyway.

I slightly take back what I posted previously: at check-in we got one sheet of paper showing our room location. I'm looking at it. There's nothing about the parks on it.

We didn't get an envelope, and we didn't do online check-in either.

I get Disney emails every day. I got 3 today alone! If you open an MDE account, you are rewarded with a steady stream of Disney email ads.

We had a folder in our room as I said. I'm looking at it right now. The only mention of FP+ is a paragraph buried on page 6 of the Magic Guide, which itself is in the back of the folder under assorted ads. It is 1/4 the size of the Memory Maker ad on the opposing page.

Mind, we didn't buy a package.

 

[miamimi]

I am gathering that there isn't much anyone can say to you to convince you that FP+ isn't the devil and a vacation ruining experience.
Anyway,
Can you get a full choice of times from open to close on Christmas morning for a group of 10 for Big Thunder? Probably not.
Can you find at least A FP for Big Thunder on Christmas Morning? Yes you can.
Times may not be perfect but they are available.
If you want to be spontaneous you have to be flexible too.
I'm not sure how they could make it better, quite honestly.
Because I can assure you that if you wanted to show up at Disney at noon on Christmas day and pull a paper FP for one of the Mountains you probably would be out of luck.
And you dang sure wouldn't have your choice of times, even if you showed up at park opening. You'd get what you get

All I said was if you could swap FP's at Christmastime that would be wonderful. I really can't understand why my response caused you to be so upset.