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

[Nancyg56]

Made me realise how laid back our touring style actually is!!

I don't know, we never actually used the old fastpass apart from the Mickey/Princesses M&G. So I guess no change?

We are laid back too. I knew we were not commando types, but I realized that we are way more relaxed than I thought that we were. WE used FP before, but because the parks are more than the attractions to us, we kind of mosey along, and somehow we always manage to accomplish all we set out to do, and with a minimum of fussing.

Do you pre-plan meal times? We have done this at least with basic time frames. I have found FP+ makes it easier for us since we pretty much have control of when the fast passes occur. Meaning--if we want lunch at 11 or dinner at 6:30, we have always been able to leave a meal window open and book FP+ times at other times. So for us, we have greater flexibility.

We always have ADR's so this trip I was able to plan our FP+ return times around meals. Before with Legacy FP, we were not always able to use some of those FP that we had because for us, dining is as important as the attractions, and it was not always possible to score th FP for the time that was convenient for us.

I am not sure how it will work this next trip because we have a larger group and I have booked diverse FP for all of us. Thankfully we all have the mindset that this trip is focused around the little group who has never been, and what we accomplish will be based on their wants. I booked FP for our arrival day, knowing that my own family rarely visits a park that day. I think the little ones will be champing at the bit though, so JIC, we are ready for them. Fantasyland, Here we come! Here is where this system will be a benefit for us because I don't plan on getting into the MK until 2PM, and I am only plannign on 3 hours there. I have PP, Winie the Pooh, and one other that I forget all booked. If we get to them, fine. If not no harm no foul, but the thought of having these little girls first experience be one of long lines and a little disappointment is no longer an issue.

 

[mom2rtk]

It's interesting to see how differently everyone views hopping. I'll never change. When I go to a park, I just prefer not to leave if I can help it. I see time spent traveling at WDW as time I could have been in the parks enjoying what's there. For me the parks ARE the experience. The rest is nice, but it's just not what I'm there to do. Maybe that's why we're such a good fit for DLR.

Maybe that's why I get irritated when I see commercials from WDW focusing on the resorts and other stuff. But then I don't have an AP (well, not to WDW anyway ). I look at paying to do other things as paying to do stuff when I already paid to be in the parks.

 

[wisblue]

I should add another thing we like about hopping.

Like a lot of other people, we like doing certain favorite attractions more than once on a trip. But, given a choice, if I'm going to do something twice, I would rather do it once on each of two different days. With at least 3 or 4 full park days we have no trouble doing each of the major attractions in all 4 parks at least once. With FP+ and park hopping, we can get additional rides on several of our favorite attractions without having to start the day in that park.

 

[Nancyg56]

It's interesting to see how differently everyone views hopping. I'll never change. When I go to a park, I just prefer not to leave if I can help it. I see time spent traveling at WDW as time I could have been in the parks enjoying what's there. For me the parks ARE the experience. The rest is nice, but it's just not what I'm there to do. Maybe that's why we're such a good fit for DLR.

Maybe that's why I get irritated when I see commercials from WDW focusing on the resorts and other stuff. But then I don't have an AP (well, not to WDW anyway ). I look at paying to do other things as paying to do stuff when I already paid to be in the parks.

WE don't have annual passes either, but we hop around often. We also use the resort as part of our vacation. I think that for us, WDW in it's entire space is the destination, not just the parks. We are in and out of the parks twice a day, usually, and enjoy exploring for dining and relaxing. I think that it is important to really understand how your family likes to vacation before purchasing passes and dining plans, and even before choosing a resort. For you, hoppers are a waste, so no need to buy them. For me? I don't really care, I can plan with or without them. FOr my DD's and my DS's families? They are mandatory! LOL! WHen I plan, I have got to "Know my Audience"! ANd holy moly! When my DH comes...the resort is important, the view? Yep. Breakfast? He is starving first thing! We thought CL was going to be his favorite part. Nope. After two days of oatmeal, fruit, etc he and my son skipped down to Mara for a hot breakfast! You would have thought the poor guy was deprived of real food for months! LOL!

 

[momof2n2]

We don't have APs.
Our 5 days tix will cost $2500+. That's $500/day plus change. Any minute between open and close I am not in a park is a minute where I get no return on my investment. I don't hop because that 45-60 mins is time I paid for that I got nothing for in return.

By the same token, any moment in line is, too. As is any moment I'm waiting for table service without a show of some kind.

 

[Nancyg56]

We don't have APs.
Our 5 days tix will cost $2500+. That's $500/day plus change. Any minute between open and close I am not in a park is a minute where I get no return on my investment. I don't hop because that 45-60 mins is time I paid for that I got nothing for in return.

By the same token, any moment in line is, too. As is any moment I'm waiting for table service without a show of some kind.

Please be reassured that I was not being critical, I was just talking about how we all have different vacation styles.

In order for me to avoid thinking about one aspect of the vacation price, I add the whole thing up, divide by te number of adults and then again by the number of days. I look at how much per day, rather than any one component. For me, this works. It keeps me from fixating on any given cost.

 

[cakebaker]

I should add another thing we like about hopping.

Like a lot of other people, we like doing certain favorite attractions more than once on a trip. But, given a choice, if I'm going to do something twice, I would rather do it once on each of two different days. With at least 3 or 4 full park days we have no trouble doing each of the major attractions in all 4 parks at least once. With FP+ and park hopping, we can get additional rides on several of our favorite attractions without having to start the day in that park.

That's another major reason we park hop. There are some specific rides we like to re-ride, but we don't particularly care to do them over and over again on the same day. Hopping gives us many more trips into each park with the ability to use FP+. We never entered the MK in the evening that SDMT wasn't one of our FP+ selections- but I have no interest in riding it 3 or 4 times in a row.

My grandson loves BTMRR and Barnstormer, but he's not old enough to ride alone and none of us want to ride them more than twice in a row, so multiple trips into the park is the solution. It's also nice to be able to tell him when he wanted to do something that wasn't convenient at the moment that we'd do it on the next trip in. Made for a happier boy, which makes for happier adults.

 

[DatFan]

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

Planning our second FP+ trip this February. Still trying to figure the best strategy for my family. Please post after your trip and let us know what worked for you. Have Fun!!

 

[wisblue]

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

My questions for you would be what rides you consider your must dos, whether you have more than one day to visit MK, and whether you are trying to do certain favorite attractions more than once in a day. Between rope drop, FPs, and a good basic plan, you should be able to do quite a few attractions, including most of the major ones, in one day. If you have 2 MK days you should have no trouble doing everything you want at least once.

I would also wonder how you have spent your days in the parks in the past and whether you were heavy users of paper FPs. Many people who don't usually spend all day in the parks have found that FP+ improves their park experience.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Planning our second FP+ trip this February. Still trying to figure the best strategy for my family. Please post after your trip and let us know what worked for you. Have Fun!!

We choose our FP for MK earlier. Like 10am-1pm. I'm trying to think about where we will be after we use our third FP so that we can go to the closest kiosk for additional FP for rides like HM, PotC, or Buzz.

At the other 3 parks I make my FP based on when I think we're going to be near that attraction. I assume we won't get any additional FP at any of the other parks.

 

[itchin2go]

I would also wonder how you have spent your days in the parks in the past and whether you were heavy users of paper FPs. Many people who don't usually spend all day in the parks have found that FP+ improves their park experience.

Beg to differ. It didn't improve our park experience. We found it to be pretty much a wash. Our experience with FP+ was pretty much the same as our experience with legacy FP, with a couple of differences.

(1) Decreased experience at Epcot. Riding Soarin and Test Track multiple times is harder now because of tiering.

(2) Better experience for short, late days. Entered DHS only for dinner, but were able to ride headliners thanks to FP+.

(3) Planning so far ahead has consequences. I struggled with a "headline" for this one. When you have to book SDMT SO far out, it's pretty much impossible to predict certain things - weather, illness, and other maladies that can creep up in your vacation. Once one of these things interferes, it may not be possible to move certain FPs around. These possibilities were lessened with legacy, because you pulled FPs so much closer to the ride time. So you were already in the park, much better ability to predict the weather, no one was sick, etc. So, yeah, one day on our last trip, weather (specifically, heavy, unrelenting rainstorms) prevented us from using one of our SDMT FPs.

 

[mom2rtk]

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

I would personally be disappointed if I didn't do Peter Pan. It's one of those rides that if I get home later and realize we missed it, I'm disappointed. Many others can take it or leave it. That said, I would not be willing to use one of my 3 pre-scheduled FPs for it. That leaves doing it at rope drop (along with everything else you now need to do at rope drop because you didn't use one of your 3 FPs for it), during a parade (which doesn't work if you actually want to watch the parade) or late at night (which is problematic for some if they are doing rope drop every day).

A lot of this will depend heavily on the crowd levels on the days you visit. Nobody can predict that for you heading in.

The bottom line is that nobody here can tell you how it will work out for you. Many here love FP+ because they didn't re-ride attractions and are perfectly happy missing some things since they'll be back soon and can catch it then. I'm the polar opposite so I'm not a fan.

You're trip is scheduled. All you can really do is try it and see.

 

[wisblue]

Beg to differ. It didn't improve our park experience. We found it to be pretty much a wash. Our experience with FP+ was pretty much the same as our experience with legacy FP, with a couple of differences.

.

For sure, you aren't really disagreeing with me, but offering a different perspective.

I said that many people find that FP+ improves their experience, and I don't think there is any doubt about that. Just as it's indisputable that many people find that FP+ lessens their experience.

That is why I would encourage anyone who is concerned about how FP+ will affect their trips to consider their preferences and style and compare them to the experiences described in threads like this.

To use your examples, there are a lot of people who have no desire to ride Soarin and Test Track multiple times in a day. Once is enough for a lot of people, and some don't care at all if they do either or both. Things like weather and illness are always potential problems and how they affect things depends on how they fall. If you decide to stay at your hotel in the morning because of bad weather or because someone is feeling a little little sick or tired, those afternoon or evening FPs could come in handy.

 

[mom2rtk]

Beg to differ. It didn't improve our park experience. We found it to be pretty much a wash. Our experience with FP+ was pretty much the same as our experience with legacy FP, with a couple of differences.

(1) Decreased experience at Epcot. Riding Soarin and Test Track multiple times is harder now because of tiering.

(2) Better experience for short, late days. Entered DHS only for dinner, but were able to ride headliners thanks to FP+.

(3) Planning so far ahead has consequences. I struggled with a "headline" for this one. When you have to book SDMT SO far out, it's pretty much impossible to predict certain things - weather, illness, and other maladies that can creep up in your vacation. Once one of these things interferes, it may not be possible to move certain FPs around. These possibilities were lessened with legacy, because you pulled FPs so much closer to the ride time. So you were already in the park, much better ability to predict the weather, no one was sick, etc. So, yeah, one day on our last trip, weather (specifically, heavy, unrelenting rainstorms) prevented us from using one of our SDMT FPs.

Yes to all of that And I would add that the loss of the clean slate every morning is something even extra FPs and removal of tiering would not make up for.

 

[itchin2go]

Yes to all of that And I would add that the loss of the clean slate every morning is something even extra FPs and removal of tiering would not make up for.

Yes - ties in with the "planning so far ahead has consequences". Before, we could look at the weather that morning and decide what to do on any given day. Hot? Maybe it's a pool day. Now, if we decide it's a pool day, we have to weigh that we are giving up an SDMT FP that had to be booked far in advance, and we probably can't book another for a different day.

I actually don't mind the planning part of it, which I know a lot of people lament. What bugs me is what actually plays out in the vacation, when things can't be moved around, when we can't (or don't feel free to) change our minds. There's always been an element of that because of ADRs, but this ratchets up that element, if that makes sense.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Yes to all of that And I would add that the loss of the clean slate every morning is something even extra FPs and removal of tiering would not make up for.

Earlier in this thread, you posted you used FPs in an "atypical" manner (SDFPs or ticketed phantoms). With 6 or more FPs to begin your MK day, did you ever feel "over scheduled" to the point that your day still wasn't that enjoyable?

I haven't minded the 3 and sometimes 4 per day that we have used as they were pre-booked for specific attractions we wanted to accomplish: FOF, Mine Train and a filler or two.

 

[cakebaker]

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.

Just addressing this- Missing Peter Pan won't happen on our trips because it's traditionally the ride we always do first and it's my absolute favorite in all of WDW. If I could only ride one thing, this would be it. If there's a way to ride it, we ride it no matter what else has to be sacrificed. I'll admit it's probably not that important to many people.

However, if you haven't seen the queue, I'd highly suggest either putting up with the lines that seem to never lessen during the day or doing it at rope drop. A FP+ will bypass the queue.

 

[elphie101]

I love that I can reserve a time for Toy Story without having to be at the parks at rope drop. More than anything, this is my favorite perk of FP+. It has changed our touring plans slightly, as we're now restricted to touring in the summer months, so if anything FP+ has forced the hand of us having an afternoon-resort or TS lunch break.

We're less than thrilled about the fact that more even distribution of waits means longer wait times at our old reliables (Great Movie Ride, Buzz, Spaceship Earth come to mind), but it's not exactly going anywhere so we might as well make do.

 

[tlmadden73]

I like how I am able to book all my Fast Passes for the morning in the same general area (aka Fantasyland) .. (at least at MK)... leaving my afternoon open to see what's available for the 4th fast pass and just keep it flexible for snacks, naps, parades, etc.

So I basically have the first few hours of the day planned out . .then after lunch it is still the "playing it by ear" plan.

This is how I've planned my vacation in the end of August.

I don't like how I feel like I need to book everything as early as possible though or lose out on potential 4th, 5th and 6th fast passes. I'd love to get an afternoon fast pass for Splash Mountain, but I feel that isn't as efficient as getting three morning ones (especially with younger kids in the group).

 

[mom2rtk]

Earlier in this thread, you posted you used FPs in an "atypical" manner (SDFPs or ticketed phantoms). With 6 or more FPs to begin your MK day, did you ever feel "over scheduled" to the point that your day still wasn't that enjoyable?

I haven't minded the 3 and sometimes 4 per day that we have used as they were pre-booked for specific attractions we wanted to accomplish: FOF, Mine Train and a filler or two.

It did have a much more scheduled feeling than I prefer and have felt in the past. But on balance I would prefer that over feeling like I didn't get done what we looked forward to as we anticipated our trip. I look back and know I would have been really disappointed in just 3 that day.

I'm sure that is somewhat tempered by the fact that we only had the one day in the MK. That said, I know myself well enough to know I would also be disappointed with 3 even on a longer trip.