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

[CTDisneyfan816]

I find it the same for me. I still get there for rope drop. Only difference is I scheduke I FP for after 11 am whereas the old system no need to wait. But the first two hours are low crowds so not a big deal.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I know some people just love to plan but not me...I spent 2 hrs this morning trying to get my fastpasses for the whole week by the end of it I was about tearing my hair out. Last night after midnight I started on the FPs...not a thing was left after 8.30pm..at 12.04 am !!! Now this I fail to believe that they were all taken..just dont know what Disney are up to..and yes I did go back in and try manage the times...still nothing left after 8.30. Totally blew our plans to bit on doing Universal by Day and MK by night. Not even started on ADRs, after this morning we are going to just going to get food where we land allbeit if its a quick service or TS. Vacations shouldnt be this stressful to manage...IMO If we do decide to do Disney next year we may fly to Paris or California instead...but I tell ya...a nice all inclusive in Cozumel is looking better by the minute.

This scares me. We do FP+ for the first time next week.

I agree....a vacation shouldn't be this stressful to manage.

This year was a huge toss up between WDW and some all inclusive either in Mexico or DR. I finally decided on WDW to give my kids the last hoorah as a big family trip. DS is getting older and this is most likely our last WDW family trip. I may take each child alone in the future which will be a much less planned trip since I don't have to cater to everyone's needs. DS is going for his senior trip in 2018.

There were times in between booking and now that I thought about cancelling and booking a different destination. Next year we will not be going to Disney. Cozumel, Riviera Maya or Cancun is in our future.

 

[PEC]

My flow through the park may have been a little different. I had FP+s for PP, 7DMT and Space MTN. Because of that during the EMH I did a lot of rides walk on that often have 20-40 minutes or more waits. During the EMH I would have likely done Space MTN, PP and/or joined the 7DMT running of the bulls for EMH. With FP+ for them I changed my EMH focus. It worked for me.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

We arrive at rope drop to ride the minor rides without wait. We have fast passes for mid-day for headliners. We don't ride as many rides as we used to, but we walk around the park a lot less since we don't have to dash around pulling fast passes. We do not eat as many table service meals because that is just too much on a schedule for us.

This. I like to get back to the room or where I am staying for a swim. So getting there for rope drop allows for two hours of a non crowded park. I start my fast passes at 11 and then when I'm done with the three, I should be pretty much done with the park. Unless it's AK I don't stay much past 3 hours anyway.

 

[TheDisneyNurse]

It's changed our touring for the better! Never used to get THIS many fastpasses with the old system. Occasionally, we'd get one for test track or something. We just didn't like walking alllll the way up to the attraction to get it, so we would just get there at rope drop, and rush like mad people to get it all done ASAP. FP+ has made it even easier for us. Now, we only rush to one headliner at rope drop, and leisurely enjoy other rides while we wait for our FP times. It's great. Since I only live 3 hours away, our trips are not booked far in advance at all (sometimes with only a 2-3 week notice) and we never have a problem getting good fastpasses.

EDIT: I find myself riding even MORE rides now. When I was there in May, my best friend and I rode almost every ride in fantasyland and tomorrowland twice. Same with my brother when I took him this June.

 

[ktlm]

That said, we did not find FP+ to be as helpful on the days we were in 1 park all day long.

• We found very little 4th FP+ and beyond availability, to the point that after 2 days of trying for 4th and beyond, we didn't bother anymore. I think that was in large part due to our error...scheduling our prebooked FP+ to end too late in the afternoon during party season.
• We also found that we criss crossed the parks, which we had never done before (we always picked a land and then went around the park in order from land to land from there). Also something that could be adjusted to an extent in the planning process, but was still frustrating at the time.
• RD was more essential, especially on the days that we spent the whole day in 1 park. We usually got there maybe 30-45 mins after RD...we'll be doing what we can to make it to RD now instead.

I'm sure there are other ways our planning was influenced as well, but those are the main ways I can think of at the moment.

This is exactly what we found on our 2 FP+ trips. As far as the 4th FP, I don't think you would have had any different luck earlier at DHS or EPCOT. We booked our FP+ early to try to get to a 4th, so we were trying for 4ths before noon. There was ZERO availability at DHS, and by zero I mean NO attractions available. This happened on 2 trips. I guess the big touring change for us for that was that I did not get to ride RNRC at all which is one of my favorite rides. DD won't ride RNRC so our Tier 1 FP+ is always for TSM which everyone likes. DH and I try to take turns doing single rider for RNRC, but this past trip the single rider line did not go below half an hour all day, and it was most times at 40 minutes or more. DH and I both doing that would have taken too much family time out of the day. We each offered to let the other do it and forego it, but since we both really like us, neither of us felt good about riding it if the other one did not.

As far as EPCOT, you could get a 4th FP+ for Figment, Spaceship Earth or Captain EO. Before you laugh and say those are useless, the line for Figment was 30 minutes. We went to the kiosk and picked up a 4th FP+ that kicked in about 30 minutes later, and then shopped at Mousegears until it was time instead of standing in line for that long.

As far as MK, we did find that there was quite a bit of availability for 4th FP+ there, even on party days. It also changes, so it is good to check when you walk by kiosks if you are at a point where you can get one. We never were able to pick up Peter Pan which is DD's favorite, but we did pick up some useful ones. That is another touring change. From the time DD (9) was 2, most of our MK FP were for Peter Pan. We would FP that one at least a few times a day because DD wanted to ride it again and again and she wasn't big on thrill rides, so we didn't do many FP for those. Now we only get to ride Peter Pan once a day with FP+ or twice if we run there at rope drop- the line is just too long for most of the day.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

It's impossible to separate FP+ (or any park change) effects from the differences in my family itself as my kids get older and we'd change our touring anyway.

Fair enough

My hubby has never laid eyes on the DIS, yet Despite the fact that he's the main one who wants a sit-down meal each day, he gripes about the confinement to a schedule because of it.

While I agree with most of your post, I think the fault is with Disney. By my way of thinking, a park of Disney's reputation should provide enough dining capacity to meet customer demand- at least 75% of the time.

That WDW has instead chosen to treat us like assembly-line products is sad, but telling.

We used to feel like valued customers.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Also, our touring plan used to be to do areas. We would get there, grab the FP+ for the top priority most popular ride, and then go to an area and start doing everything there. We would not move on until we finished that area. For example, if we decided to hit Tomorrowland around 1:00 p.m., then we would first go to Space Mountain and check the line. If it was more than 20 minutes, we usually grabbed a FP. The FP would usually kick in around 1 or 2 hours later, so we would do everything else in Tomorrowland we were interested in including shopping until the time of the FP, and then we would stay in Tomorrowland after the FP to finish up if we weren't done. Now instead of starting by doing an area in the morning, we are rushing back and forth around the parks to things we think will have lines longer than we are used to later. Then we also feel like when we do try to do areas, we wind up having to rush off to get to a FP+. It is really cutting into my shopping time because the stores are what we are giving up when we rush around from place to place, or have to leave an area before finishing things. We just really feel like our touring is far more rushing from place to place than it used to be.

This sums up our experience too. And I'm a planner. I love planning out our trips and looking at menus. I love making touring plans, but usually start to wing it after the first few steps. Now I feel like we have to keep on track.

Last year we hopped to Epcot a couple of times, but saving our FP+ for Epcot seemed like a waste since it really only got us on one headliner. I feel like we have to get to Epcot and DHS at rope drop to ride what we want. So on this trip we'll do 2 full days at Epcot. We plan on PH mainly to eat or to see fireworks/entertainment unless we're hopping to MK. And we'll try visiting AK in the morning without using any FP+. I'm hoping to have a better experience.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

On some days we sleep in and hit the pool then enjoy our FP+ rides and evening shows.

 

[Mary2e]

It has changed our vacation so drastically that we are letting our APs expire and will not be going as frequently. We have a friend who gets us F&F, and even with that, we will be going less.

Why? We have gone so many times and so frequently that we used WDW as a quick and easy/relaxing weekend getaway or a place to go and relax for a week. We got on whatever rides we could using the old FP system, and if we missed something, well, there was always next time. We got up each morning and decided what we wanted to do that day.

We've been using the system since they first started rolling it out (we're up to 11 MBs each ). What it has done was forced us to pre-plan every single day or risk not getting on the few "must do" rides we always did each trip.

Even dining reservations have become problematic, as often they interfere with the times we normally would try to get on a ride. The 1 hour window makes it difficult to schedule a meal between getting on a few rides. EC is the most problematic, since we generally only go there at night. With fewer rides we want to get on, and the inability to make FP+ across the parks, we're stuck with selecting rides that don't really need FP+ just so we can get on Soarin'.

If anything I'm now stressing out because I constantly have to look where I'm supposed to be and make sure I don't miss those rides I had to plan in advance. Previously it was just meals, and not even that many, since we always ate OOP and sometimes had quick service for dinner.

Our upcoming 10 day trip (yes, it's usually for 9 or 10 days with 3-4 weekend trips scattered throughout the year) is probably going to be the last trip of that length for quite a while. This year, instead of another trip to Disney we're going to Hawaii for the second time this year. Yes, other places are going to be getting our annual repeat business.

We still love the place, but until they make some improvements to make it less rigid, we will be going elsewhere for longer trips.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Doesn't it change the headache or running or waking up at the rope drop to get your FP+ - now you can book in advance and relax instead of making the rope drop a race track.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Doesn't it change the headache or running or waking up at the rope drop to get your FP+ - now you can book in advance and relax instead of making the rope drop a race track.

For us the prebooking process was more stressful than just picking up legacy FP in the parks as we went was. We didn't use FP runners or make RD, though...so if families were doing that who didn't want to be, I can understand how prebooking would be more relaxing.

 

[Parker Clan]

We are big fans of FP+ & in our opinion has made our touring plans / vacation better. We decided to switch it up this year and try fast passes two evenings instead of mornings after reading some good things on the dis. I'm excited to not rush around after dinner, being so full, and saunter to our evening fast passes.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Doesn't it change the headache or running or waking up at the rope drop to get your FP+ - now you can book in advance and relax instead of making the rope drop a race track.

It seems that a lot of people here find they are more pressured to do rope drop because of the tiers.

 

[Mikie]

Doesn't it change the headache or running or waking up at the rope drop to get your FP+ - now you can book in advance and relax instead of making the rope drop a race track.

Absolutely for me! But I thought that was more of a pro/con point than a change in my touring, so I stayed away from that qualitative point. We wander if we're at rope drop now, instead of dashing for particular FP machines. Or, to compare with a day with no rope drop, we feel more relaxed about when we show up, as opposed to stressing that someone's lolly gagging made us miss our chance to grab a Soarin FP with a usable return time.

 

[mom2rtk]

Doesn't it change the headache or running or waking up at the rope drop to get your FP+ - now you can book in advance and relax instead of making the rope drop a race track.

I think Epcot was the only place we ever made a dash for the FP machines. And we were usually riding at the same time so were at our intended destination already. We typically grabbed our FPs as we toured the park. No "running" needed. And it allowed us to repeat headliners and have more than 3 FPs per day (for attractions that really needed them).

And my natural clock has me up early no matter how hard I try to sleep later. So no benefit to me that FP+ lets people sleep in.

 

[sharona]

Have only used FP+ once on a one day visit to MK. We found that we did much less crisscrossing to get FPs, easier to stick to our break plan and it was a longer break at our non WDW resort, fewer rides after break, more time planning,. We consciously decided to take things at a slower pace and it was a great day. That being said, trying to plan our December trip, I agree with the PP who said it really highlights the lack of options of the other oarks.

 

[maggiew]

I've been worried about this issue for our next trip in August. We haven't really been back since FP+ (our last trip was during the stage where there were FP+ AND paper FP-).

Normaily, we were a rope drop family. We would get what we could done until noonish and then have a sit down ADR. After lunch, we might do one or two more rides and then head back to the resort for a little rest or pool time. Then we would head back to the same park (we weren't park hoppers) and have a special reservation like Wishes Dessert Party or Hoop Dee Doo. Then fit in rides if we could, but the main point was the evening parade and/or fireworks.

Now I don't know what to do. I'm thinking we will still do rope drop and do the minor rides. Make my FP+ for 10 - 11 - 12 for our MUST DOS. Maybe head back to the resort for break (I guess it depends on what we get done in the morning). And then head back to the park for a Dinner ADR and fireworks.

I think the main thing that I am personally going to have to give up is that feeling that I want to do every ride (at least our most favorite ones!). I mean, it is me, DH and 2 20somethings. So if we don't get on Peter Pan will than be a big deal?? I guess not. But I will miss it mainly because it would be missing part of what our normal Disney trips used to be - not really because I can't live without seeing Peter Pan.

I have all our ADRs for lunch. (Well, mostly. I have a night time one at California Grill to see wishes. And we have a Wishes dessert party.) But I think I may change the lunch ADRs to dinner ones.

Maggie

 

[juliekzp]

I love FP+ and think the planning is part of the fun. We park hop pretty much every day, in one of two ways:

1) Arrive at rope drop and use FPs in the late morning/early afternoon at HS, EP, or AK, then park hop to MK in the evening (because MK has the most availability in terms of 4th FP and beyond) or do something that doesn't require FPs (like Hoop Dee Doo or character meal or stroll around Epcot)
2) Rope drop any of the parks in the morning for just a few hours, then save FPs for the second park in the late afternoon/evening.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think the main thing that I am personally going to have to give up is that feeling that I want to do every ride (at least our most favorite ones!). I mean, it is me, DH and 2 20somethings. So if we don't get on Peter Pan will than be a big deal?? I guess not. But I will miss it mainly because it would be missing part of what are normal Disney trips used to be - not really because I can't live without seeing Peter Pan.

I think it does come down to that for a fair number of people. Some will adjust and actually like the slower pace. Some will go home and say "I can't believe I went to WDW and never rode X" and decide it was a lesser experience. That's why people have such differing feelings about it.