Do you like the Fastpass+ system?

[xApril]

As an annual passholder who goes on a whim, I love it. It's nice to make a quick decision that I want to go to the parks, and then book some FPs. I find if I keep reloading the page, I can get some of those more popular FPs. Besides the app not always working, I think it's great.

 

[robinb]

No. I don't like the new FP+ system. I do not get in nearly as many rides as I did under the FP- system.

 

[Jennasis]

I prefer the old system but have managed to learn to work around the new system. I don't love it (and getting a useful 4th FP is like finding Bigfoot...unlikely in our experience). The initial planning of FP SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO far out in advance is still nonsense and stresses me out. I always feel like I'm taking the SAT's. If you screw up, you MIGHT be able to change your choices around to better suit your plans, but you might be stuck with it.

Ultimately, it's the "law of the land" so I deal with it.

 

[stinkpickle]

I thought it was OK, until I saw what it did to standby times at attractions that didn't formally have FP. And then when I visited DLR, I REALLY missed the old FP system.

 

[Hopefully]

I am so old school that I don't even know what the plus is? And what are tiers? Now I am getting stressed. I just want to be enjoy my vacation!

You need to spend some time and do some serious research in order to fully enjoy your trip.
There is a great FP+ sticky on the top of the TPAAS board
https://www.disboards.com/threads/fastpass-frequently-asked-questions.3491680/

 

[erin1715]

I like the electronic system of FP+ but I don't care for the pre-booking aspect of it 30-60 days in advance. Selfishly, I prefer the old paper FP because it seemed like maybe not everyone utilized it and the lines were so much less at rides like Pirates and Haunted Mansion than they are since FP+ was implemented. Now every single person who plans a DW vacation is aware of having to make fastpasses, and IMO it's made lines worse all over.

 

[Catvondita]

I love it. I just came back from two trips to Disneyland and found we only used the fast pass paper system once or twice a day. We didn't like having to run all over the park to get the actual kiosk, to go to a different land and then come back to that land we got the fastpass from. Also we aren't rope drop people we are more (close to rope drop) people. By the time we got to the park all the good times and rides were taken. I'm not a huge planner in my normal life and am normally very disorganized but for me, planning for WDW is super fun! I love planning out exactly what we are going to do which day and figuring out which fastpasses to get. For me, I can do it from the comfort of my desk, or my bed and bam its done instead of having to make a mad dash and trying to beat a crowd to a machine. Plus after you use the fastpasses you pre-book you can go to the kiosks and book more. A lot of people have said that fastpass+ makes standby lines longer but I haven't really noticed it. I feel like we are normally pretty lucky.

 

[Klayfish]

You need to spend some time and do some serious research in order to fully enjoy your trip.

Have to say that's a bit misleading, and inaccurate. A lot of people here do intense research, planning, etc...which is perfectly fine. But I don't think it's right to give someone the impression that if they don't do serious research they won't fully enjoy the trip. That's all up to the individual. I didn't even know this board existed until last summer, and we did very little research. Still had a wonderful time, every time. Even after reading this board, sure I've picked up a few neat little tips, but it hasn't really changed anything I was doing before I read more and did research.

 

[sharadoc]

The only thing I don't like is spacing one hour apart. When it's crowded, there's no "easy" rides to get on in between your FP rides, so you're stuck hanging out waiting. But we deal, we don't do rope drop, so we schedule them around meals, parades, etc. and generally can make it work.

But overall, I like it a lot.

 

[westie55]

I much prefer FP+ to the old system. At DL, the old system is still in place. The line for RSR (and some other major attractions) becomes LONG immediately at park opening. I love being able to book FP+ online so I don't have to deal with running all over the park when my window opens and having to wait just to get the FP. Yes, this requires a bit of advance planning. I enjoy the planning process. I also have a toddler son, and while we all know toddlers can be unpredictable, I've never had an issue in 3 trips so far with him with having to miss my window because timing didn't work out. I stay on-site and like the perk of being able to beat the masses to the FP+ I want if I plan well. In DL, you pretty much can't beat the masses using the old FP system. Yes, at WDW you basically won't be able to get a 4th FP for the popular rides AND I will admit that the tiers are inconvenient. I wish I could FP+ FEA and Soarin so I wouldn't have to do rope drop. Alas, I still much prefer FP+. JMO.

 

[piglet1979]

I like the new system. I din't like having to run around the park to get the paper fastpasses. I am a planner and so is my husband. We most likely plan way to much of our trip. We even research where we want lunch and where to get the snacks that we want. Some of it goes out the window when we get to the parks though.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

This is my first trip to WDW since they started with the FP+ system.
Is it just me, or does this make planning MUCH more stressful and less fun?
I feel like:
1. I'm not doing it right
2. There's too much planning now (and I used to LOVE planning for WDW)
3. There's too much to read about strategies
4. feels like all we're going to accomplish is 3-5 rides a day at best, and it seems like we're going to be waiting in line much more than back when there was regular fastpass.

Is it just me?

I'm very mixed. We are frequent visitors, often more than one time in a year. Since we had kids, we are no longer commando-style, and we really aren't up for rope-drop anymore. We used to wake up and then decide what park to go to. Often we hang out at the resort for a long leisurely morning and head to the park much later.

FP+ works well for our style of going to the parks later in the day, but we now decide 60 days in advance which park that will be and we stick to that. We like knowing that we will be able to for-sure ride those 3 rides. Since we are going to be back, we don't get too upset if there is something we miss.

I do get frustrated at how much planning is required, even though I do like planning. The issue of getting ADRs adds to that frustration--we like to have a table service meal every day, so that has to get planned out so far in advance now too.

We have figured out how to make it work for us, but we do miss the flexibility of the old days.

 

[Hopefully]

Have to say that's a bit misleading, and inaccurate. A lot of people here do intense research, planning, etc...which is perfectly fine. But I don't think it's right to give someone the impression that if they don't do serious research they won't fully enjoy the trip. That's all up to the individual. I didn't even know this board existed until last summer, and we did very little research. Still had a wonderful time, every time. Even after reading this board, sure I've picked up a few neat little tips, but it hasn't really changed anything I was doing before I read more and did research.

I agree I apologize that came out stronger than I realized or I meant. But, in my opinion, doing research and being prepared makes for a better trip for us. I have been on the DIS for many, many years and I still learn things and do research.

 

[King of Naboombu]

IMO It's not perfect but better than legacy FP. Will do for now. But I'm interested in the possibilities that virtual queues could offer!!

 

[lovethattink]

The current FP+ system is perfect for my family. We don't spend more than 3 or 4 hours at a park. Often we don't even ride attractions.

I think the FP system is difficult for full day touring.

 

[KristinU]

Not particularly. We weren't big Fastpassers with the old system. Maybe one or two here or there, but this new system has me spazzing out every single time. I just can't get over the feel like we HAVE to get fastpasses now and plan our days to the T. DOn't get me wrong, I love the planning part, but down to the time of attractions is a little too much for even me. I do, however, like it for wicked busy times where I know we'll be guaranteed to at lest do a few things.

 

[helenm29]

Actually, it seems ok. The thing that I don't like is when you are done with your 3 fast passes, you can only get one at a time after that...or at least that's what it was like 2 years ago. Why can't we pick 3 more? doesn't make sense to me!

 

[memo10]

I love the FP+ system. We are not a rope drop family and regularly enter the parks at 5pm or later. It's nice to already know what our rides are... and that if it's too busy for our tastes, we can ride our FP rides and go home.

 

[memo10]

As far as 4th (and more) availability, my last 2 visits to MK on the 11th and 25th had TONS of availability. And I do mean tons. I booked multiple fastpasses late in the evening after my initial 3 selections. Last Saturday I got a FP+ for Peter Pan after 9pm. And there were multiple time slots available. In the few hours we're at the parks, we can easily ride accomplish 6-8 attractions.

 

[Dakota731]

[QUOTE

You need to spend some time and do some serious research in order to fully enjoy your trip.
There is a great FP+ sticky on the top of the TPAAS boardQUOTE]

Yeah that's 73 pages long. There is overwhelming and disheartening. Can anyone explain in a few sentences fast pass plus? Our last trip was the first time with the paper passed so I get the basics. But what is the plus?