Curious how FP+ has changed your touring style, if at all?

[ryanhuey]

I agree with the previous poster who commented on the "boredom factor". We are not willing to wait 45 minutes to an hour in standby for any ride. Because of this, I schedule our FP's to run consecutively, and once we use them we just leave.

I agree Disney seems to be more about creating revenue than a magical experience these days. They want to keep people somewhere in WDW for more opportunity to make revenue. I will not standby in a line for more than 30 min, but I believe there are WAY MORE folks that ARE willing to stand in line for 60+min than those of us who are not willing. We are the minority and Disney wants to make it more fair and therefore hopefully more enjoyable for the majority. The majority don't mind waiting 50 min for Pooh because they know in 3 hours they can have a FP for Space Mountain. So they'll kill an hour in line, stay in the park to eat, and buy merchandise while they wait for that FP. In essence, they are getting the majority to stay in the park longer. I think that majority mostly stays offsite so when they leave the park, so does their money. Ever wonder why there always seems to be FPs for major attractions after 7pm? We in the minority grab a FP for Pooh, wait 5 min for the window and 10 minutes in line and are off for a few more FPs than back to the resort. Its a win-win for Disney, dollars stay on the property longer.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Not an annual pass holder to WDW here. We go on 4 day Military Salute park hoppers.

I completely disagree with you, not about the less TS reservation part, but about the three rides and out part. I wholeheartedly believe that that is EXACTLY what they want, no matter what they say. It's a crowd control measure. They want you to arrive around the time of your first scheduled FP, do your three rides, eat in between or after, buy a bunch of souvineers, then leave to make room for the next family. I don't think they want people waiting 75 minutes in a standby line at the Jungle Cruise, taking up space and not spending any money, I think they want you out of the park and back at your resort, dropping dough on resort merchandise and spending $14 per cup on a specialty drink at the pool bar.

Eating our meal CS, at our leisure, is about the only spontaneity we have left at WDW.

I agree with the previous poster who commented on the "boredom factor". We are not willing to wait 45 minutes to an hour in standby for any ride. Because of this, I schedule our FP's to run consecutively, and once we use them we just leave. Because we are only able to go in high season, the lines just never go away. The only exception to this is when we can go at the MK on a non-EMH night, and arrive during Wishes. You can get a lot done in that last hour the park is still open, when the masses are heading for the exits, particularly in Frontierland and Adventureland. For some reason Tomorrowland seems to stay packed, and don't even think about still getting on the 7DMT.

Maybe this is where I'm missing things because we don't do "resort days". If I'm on vacation it's to do things I can't do other times and I can find a cool hotel pool at myrtle beach anytime for a lot less money. If we're not in the parks we're not typically spending money with Disney. Even if we go to Downtown Disney we rarely eat there and once we're on that edge of the propery it's on to the outlets and offsite restaurants. The Fuddruckers there gets a lot of our burger budget and my wife has a quite a few more purses she opted for rather than Disney Parks items.

 

[margot31]

I remember when FP was a fairly new thing back in 2002. Granted it was first started in 99. It was the big family trip to Disney. We were having dinner in HS and many of us didn't want to wait in the long lines of TOT and Rock N' Rollercoaster. So it worked great for us because we took the tickets of those who wanted to go, get the paper fastpass tickets and went had dinner as one big family.

Since then I have loved fastpass cause if I don't want to wait in the longer lines just get what I need go do something else and return. Now this year will be the first time my husband and I will be using the FP+. So it will be interesting to see since we have not been for a few years now.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We did that a few days. We took a more leisurely approach those days. At some point its only like $10pp to add an extra day/ticket. .

That's true, but food and hotels aren't free. Now offsite hasn't changed too much, but onsite hotels- especially deluxes hare really gone up. WDW food prices have also gone crazy, and don't get me started on airfare this year!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Not an annual pass holder to WDW here. We go on 4 day Military Salute park hoppers.

I think they want you out of the park and back at your resort, dropping dough on resort merchandise and spending $14 per cup on a specialty drink at the pool bar.

Oh, not just the pool bar.

Seems to me there's been a sharp increase in how much WDW advertises alternatives to the parks. It isn't just clear cut ads- but also the semi-ads, like travel-channel shows and magazine articles touting alternatives to the parks.

Things like arcades, mini-golf, fishing are getting much more play than they used to get.

 

[crostorfer]

Oh, not just the pool bar.

Seems to me there's been a sharp increase in how much WDW advertises alternatives to the parks. It isn't just clear cut ads- but also the semi-ads, like travel-channel shows and magazine articles touting alternatives to the parks.

Things like arcades, mini-golf, fishing are getting much more play than they used to get.

You mean like the commercial that specifically says "the best part of your WDW vacation may just be staying in a WDW resort"? Oh yeah, we're on the same page here. They want you to focus on other activities than riding rides and meeting Anna and Elsa. They don't want you physically in the park for longer than need be.

 

[crostorfer]

Maybe this is where I'm missing things because we don't do "resort days". If I'm on vacation it's to do things I can't do other times and I can find a cool hotel pool at myrtle beach anytime for a lot less money. If we're not in the parks we're not typically spending money with Disney. Even if we go to Downtown Disney we rarely eat there and once we're on that edge of the propery it's on to the outlets and offsite restaurants. The Fuddruckers there gets a lot of our burger budget and my wife has a quite a few more purses she opted for rather than Disney Parks items.

We don't intend to do "resort days", but we end up doing them rather than wander through the park riding things we don't really want to ride, simply because they have shorter wait times. On our down time, as in before or after our Fastpasses are used, we are either hanging out at the pool, or in the WS at EPCOT. That's the only in-park place that I find it entertaining to just wander about without a care or a plan.

I have been saying consistently since FP+ was implemented that I don't feel that I'm getting the value for my park ticket that I once did. I also only use our FPs in the MK, with the tiering system it seems like a waste to use them anywhere else. We skip DHS all together now.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

That's the only in-park place that I find it entertaining to just wander about without a care or a plan.

Perhaps it's time to come over to the dark side! Try Universal w/FotLA pass (w/onsite deluxes).

Over the years, we've done many split Orlando trips. For a time, WDW was better.

Last year we did a split visit. After four days of WDW, US was fun, fresh, and relaxing.

It wasn't FP+ that really tipped the boat. It was the ADR's. Disney makes it so hard to get to anywhere on time. The bus might be 10, or maybe 90minutes? The monorail stops for hours: no warning, no refund, still $400/night for GF/Poly/CR.

So it is rush to wait for a no show bus, run to the ADR, WAIT half hour PAST the ADR for a seat. Threat of a no show fee puts it over the top.

 

[crostorfer]

Perhaps it's time to come over to the dark side! Try Universal w/FotLA pass (w/onsite deluxes).

Over the years, we've done many split Orlando trips. For a time, WDW was better.

Last year we did a split visit. After four days of WDW, US was fun, fresh, and relaxing.

It wasn't FP+ that really tipped the boat. It was the ADR's. Disney makes it so hard to get to anywhere on time. The bus might be 10, or maybe 90minutes? The monorail stops for hours: no warning, no refund, still $400/night for GF/Poly/CR.

So it is rush to wait for a no show bus, run to the ADR, WAIT half hour PAST the ADR for a seat. Threat of a no show fee puts it over the top.

We've been doing split stays for the last two years. WDW started losing half of my week when I realized the benefits that staying on site at Universal grant you. At least three of my seven day vacation is spent at the dark side. I like it so much, I have a dark side annual pass. I'd never even consider an annual pass to WDW. My US annual pass paid itself off in one on-site stay with the hotel discount alone.

And I always take a cab to an ADR now, always. I don't rely on WDW transportation when I have a deadline. I've been burned too many times.

 

[Tiger8691]

It changed our visit to the World. Like others who posted, I no longer run around trying to get fastpasses all day long. It made us slow down and enjoy the World at a slower pace. We know take time to enjoy to smaller aspects. Sure, we don't get to ride certain rides 5 to 6 times but we like the new pace. We go back to the hotel, sleep or swim, then return in the afternoon/early evening and ride as much as we can.

 

[Davey Jones II]

I posted this in another thread a couple of months ago, but the following excerpt from my post applies to this thread, as well:

We spent eight days at WDW last October (plus three Universal days). We experienced a lot of the things that people are complaining about in this thread, but we still felt that we had a great trip. Yes, it was pretty crowded, and we did a lot of rushing around much of the time, but we kinda like the adrenaline rush of that. I know we would be bored silly with a "sitting on the beach" kind of vacation.
We did a LOT of park hopping on this trip. One reason is that the Electrical Parade was a top priority for us, and it was only being presented three times during our stay. We didn't want to spend all day at MK on parade days, because of the overcrowding, so we would do another park and then hop to the MK in the evening. Also, we wanted to do the water parks, but not spend all day there, either. So sometimes we would start at a theme park in the morning, switch to a water park in the afternoon when it got hot and crowded, then go back to another theme park in the evening. FP+ worked well for this touring plan because I always booked them for late afternoon/early evening, without the worry that all the FPs would be gone when we got to the park.
Spontaneity? Well, there was some. If we stumbled across a short standby line, and we weren't hurrying for a FP+, we would get in line. We didn't have ADRs. Sometimes we would be headed to a show but something else would grab our interest, so we would plan to see the show later, or even on another day.
If you go to the World from September-December, there is another way, besides FP+, to beat the standby times. You can go to the Halloween or Christmas parties, when most rides are a walk on.

 

[ryanhuey]

That's true, but food and hotels aren't free. Now offsite hasn't changed too much, but onsite hotels- especially deluxes hare really gone up.

We typically split onsite/offsite. I found out our first trip its not worth $400/night for 10+ hours at the park and basically just sleeping at the hotel. We can get a nice hotel for $100/night to sleep at. We went to Universal this trip and liked it. I would like to stay there next time but it looks like the deluxe hotels are also around $400/night.

 

[kaybird]

More than 3 trips before FP+, we had been unable to ride TSMM and Soarin' because of the lines and that FP- were always gone. Now we know we will get multiple rides on those, and 7DMT! This gives us lots of time to ride, eat shop, and wander about. Not having to wait to see when the FP- return time might be makes it much easier for us to get in our Lazy River time.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

For the folks who say they could never get FP for certain e-rides, what time were you arriving at the parks? What time did you end your days? What was your standby cutoff limit?

I suppose for TSMM we made an effort to arrive in HS by 9:30am to get a FP, but our return times were typically for 10am to maybe 1pm or so.

The rest of the parks, we could afford to arrive late and STILL get plenty of FP- .

We almost never waited more than 20minutes to ride anything. For the last decade, 20min was our cutoff to pull a FP.

I'm also baffled because for us, sleeping in typically = night touring, and night touring almost always = easy access, even on holiday weeks.

 

[Malela9]

Without a doubt. We are going in a month and are in the 30 day window to make AP FP+ reservation. It takes all the spontaneity out of the trip for me. But, I know that is not possible with this system. It was quite a shock when we visited in January. Now, I am just resolved to it. My only wish, that we could make FP+ reservations for more than one park.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Tiering is part of it, We used to get FP for both TT and Soarin'. I suppose folks who did/do few e-rides before feel being able to book FP in advance is better. They walk in the park with their FP.

...Under the new system, mid-day stand by lines for many attractions are longer and slower than ever before. For us, that was the case in all seasons last year. Rides that used to be walk-on, are no longer that way. Rides like Figment were okay when they were walk-on. It isn't worth a 30minute wait, especially for a ride that is so very dated. Many rides now suddenly look very dated.

In short, guests who want to ride more than 3 e-rides, or want to avoid waiting for rides like Figment, find the peripheral hours to be more important.

Plus prices have gone up quite a bit, so more $ for less attractions.

I was reluctant to jump in because FP+ affects our touring style less than it affects our expectations, but the above pretty much hits it for me, especially the bolded part. We've always been RD people and we continue to tour in about the same way most days. But we know we're going to do fewer attractions generally and fewer E attractions specifically. So we go in knowing we're paying more to do less and adjust our expectations accordingly.

 

[tlmadden73]

For me . .it has changed it for the better.
After several trips to Hollywood studios in the paper FP days .. I never went on TSMM. By the time I'd get over there (we wouldn't RUSH there (didn't know we needed to) the fast passes would be gone and the standby line was 60-90 minutes long .. so we just opted to do other things at the park.

This year .. because of FP+ . I'll FINALLY be able to go on that ride without having to sprint there at rope drop.

For me .. FP+ just helps me schedule out the day just like I used to.
Start in Tomorrowland .. work over to FantasyLand .. then over to Frontier Land and end up in Adventure Land .. and maybe back to FantasyLand .. Now I can pick rides that fit into that general schedule that I can simply skip the line .. without having to criss-cross the park or back-track to go on a FP ride.

I'm able to coordinate with friends/family to go on rides (with no wait) at the same time .. even if they show up later in the day.

I'm able to know I am skipping at least 3 lines a day (which is key with an anxious toddler).

 

[Jennytoon]

Just my humble opinion but ... the OP, @PeasandCarrots requested not to turn this into a FP+ debate, and for the most part I feel it has been really nice to see a spectrum of people's reactions without a huge amount of discussion.

However, that seems to be breaking down ... I'm not going to name any names, but I am going to suggest that if you have made more than 3 posts in this thread you are probably discussing and not just answering the OP's question.

 

[DrummerBoy523]

1. We still do RD. Set FP+ for later in the afternoon/eve. We ride everything we can SB, then use FP+ at the end of the day while everyone else is waiting.
2. No more hoppers since finding a desireable FP+ at the 2nd park is practically impossible
3. We still do ADRs as a break after our initial touring and eve FP+ times.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

More than 3 trips before FP+, we had been unable to ride TSMM and Soarin' because of the lines and that FP- were always gone. Now we know we will get multiple rides on those, and 7DMT! This gives us lots of time to ride, eat shop, and wander about. Not having to wait to see when the FP- return time might be makes it much easier for us to get in our Lazy River time.

How are you able to ride Soarin and TSMM multiple times under FP+ if you don't want to wait? You can't officially get multiple FP+ for the same ride and there is no way those are going to be 4th FP choices.