double dipping on fp is gone

[DVC4US]

I understand that you CAN, it's just not practical for the busiest park week of the year.

The ADRs were made at 180 days because otherwise you won't get one for that particular week. On certain days, NYE for example, the traffic is bad and the lots get full, and the park may close at capacity. So on those days the ADRs are IN the park because leaving, even for a monorail resort, isn't wise.

I will be pleasantly surprised if any of our FP can be rearranged while we are there, given the week it is and the max crowd levels that week. So as soon as FP+ became available for our dates, I refreshed the FP offerings until I found something semi-acceptable that would fit around the ADRs we made months ago.

Anyway, yes I get that you can do it, but no I don't think it's going to be practical at all times of year. We simply won't be park hopping this trip at all, thanks to the required pre-scheduling for FP and ADRs.

What the other posters are trying to tell you is that you can actually go in right now and change the times for your FP+ reservations. You do not have to accept the weird times that MDE gives you. I am also going Christmas/NYE week and changed all my FP+ times to the time of day I wanted. I have also checked several days recently and I can change my times on most days to just about anything I want.

A word of warning though - if you scheduled Epcot & HS before they were tiered you will now only have the tier options.

 

[Planogirl]

I want Planogirl to hear this. We've been fretting over what the situation was going to for our respective upcoming trips. I'm so glad I'm offsite now and I'm thinking the trip will be just fine. Thanks, Jeslynb, this makes me so happy.

I see it!

I just hope that nothing changes in the next few weeks. So far so good!

 

[Babsy]

1. The people saying they won't return isn't even enough to be considered a drop in the bucket.

2. Just because people can't use multiple FP+s on a single ride doesn't mean there will be fewer people in the FP line (thereby making standby move faster). If there are 6,000 FPs per day at Soarin and before, 3,000 grabbed two FPs per day for the ride, that's 6,000 people in the FP line. Now, with only one FP per person, 6,000 different people will get FPs, but it's the same number of people in the FP line as before.

#2 This does make me somewhat happy. Per your example: It means that 3000 people that wouldn't have gotten a FP at all will now get one too! It seems more fair to me.
The same people just can't ride the same ride over and over and over again without ever waiting.

 

[xie]

What the other posters are trying to tell you is that you can actually go in right now and change the times for your FP+ reservations. You do not have to accept the weird times that MDE gives you. I am also going Christmas/NYE week and changed all my FP+ times to the time of day I wanted. I have also checked several days recently and I can change my times on most days to just about anything I want.

A word of warning though - if you scheduled Epcot & HS before they were tiered you will now only have the tier options.

Yes... I understand this. I'm talking about making changes while we are there, because somebody wanted to sleep late, or dinner took too long, or whatever. That's what I don't expect to be able to do during peak time Christmas week - there won't be a lot of extra FP+ times laying around the system because CROWDS. If I can even get the wifi to work to use the app - it generally didn't work in Epcot or MK when we were last there in May, and AT&T's local tower was overloaded.

 

[Mkrop]

#2 This does make me somewhat happy. Per your example: It means that 3000 people that wouldn't have gotten a FP at all will now get one too! It seems more fair to me.
The same people just can't ride the same ride over and over and over again without ever waiting.

I dont understand this mentality at all...it is my money, if I want to ride the same ride over and over again and I have found a way within WDW rules to do it, there is no reason why I should not be able to. I got my family up and out to accomplish this, this way was more than fair

You (general) have the same option that I do to get to the park early and ride the ride, and then pull the FP. I dont know why rationing rides (and we are talking about rides at a vacation destination, not wartime food for goodness sake) is a more fair way of doing things.

 

[glamdring269]

I dont understand this mentality at all...it is my money, if I want to ride the same ride over and over again and I have found a way within WDW rules to do it, there is no reason why I should not be able to. I got my family up and out to accomplish this, this way was more than fair

You (general) have the same option that I do to get to the park early and ride the ride, and then pull the FP. I dont know why rationing rides (and we are talking about rides at a vacation destination, not wartime food for goodness sake) is a more fair way of doing things.

Fully agree. Snooze you lose!

 

[wen8jr]

Fully agree. Snooze you lose!

I agree as well.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I dont understand this mentality at all...it is my money, if I want to ride the same ride over and over again and I have found a way within WDW rules to do it, there is no reason why I should not be able to. I got my family up and out to accomplish this, this way was more than fair

You (general) have the same option that I do to get to the park early and ride the ride, and then pull the FP. I dont know why rationing rides (and we are talking about rides at a vacation destination, not wartime food for goodness sake) is a more fair way of doing things.

But some are up early spending $40/pp for scrambled eggs and waxy bacon...so there are priorities.

 

[jade1]

I dont understand this mentality at all...it is my money, if I want to ride the same ride over and over again and I have found a way within WDW rules to do it, there is no reason why I should not be able to.

I still think we will be able to buy more FP+ eventually in some form or another. A DVC purchase, Deluxe resort or just an extra charge-so my bet is you will be able spend your money for riding over and over once again.

 

[Planogirl]

But some are up early spending $40/pp for scrambled eggs and waxy bacon...so there are priorities.

Isn't that so they can get hugs from giant rodents and dogs? There are advantages to eating those breakfasts.

 

[pigletto]

Isn't that so they can get hugs from giant rodents and dogs? There are advantages to eating those breakfasts.

LOL.Nothing like a rodent hug while I eat my $40 rubber bacon.

 

[honeymo78]

Isn't that so they can get hugs from giant rodents and dogs? There are advantages to eating those breakfasts.

I'm there to get hugs from a big yellow bear or maybe a blue alien disguised as a dog.

 

[Kaelorian]

Didn't read through the whole thread because I'm beat. But I was able to pull fp's using my KTTW card (from POR), UT tickets (which is linked to mb) and still get to my fp+'s today. The waits were so low in MK today that it wasn't needed. Was only crazy crowded before MVMCP. I only did it (no flaming please) after we rode our fp+ for Space Mtn, we pulled a paper fp for it later in the day and then tested the UT tickets on BTMR when it broke down.

 

[DVC4US]

Yes... I understand this. I'm talking about making changes while we are there, because somebody wanted to sleep late, or dinner took too long, or whatever. That's what I don't expect to be able to do during peak time Christmas week - there won't be a lot of extra FP+ times laying around the system because CROWDS. If I can even get the wifi to work to use the app - it generally didn't work in Epcot or MK when we were last there in May, and AT&T's local tower was overloaded.

I think everyone was responding to the line in bold in your previous post(see below). Why would your times be so spread out if you can change them? We are doing split park days every day and I have set up our FP+ times all back-to-back depending on our dinning reservations and where we want to be when. For example we have dinning reservations in Epcot at 6:30pm on the 24th. We plan on going into another park in the morning and then I set up FP+ reservations for Epcot (2-3, 3-4, 4-5) all before dinner.

I don't think anyone going during this time frame is expecting to be able to change this on the fly. I would be truly surprised if this happens.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a big fan of FP+ (haven't tried it yet though) but it seems like you are making it affect your trip more than it should.

We are AP holders (until next May anyway). We have always park hopped, going to one park in the morning/early afternoon, then leaving to rest, then going to a park for the evening (sometimes the same one, often a different one, since for example there's no AK at night).

For the first time ever, our upcoming NYE trip has NO park hopping days planned. Due to booking FP+, there aren't any split park days at all in our schedule. One park per day, period. Table meals are even scheduled in the same park as the FP+'s because the times are spread out just far enough that it's impractical to leave to eat. Given that it will be Xmas/NY week, I do not expect to be able to reschedule FP on the fly much, if at all.

We've been going to Disney for many years. Some years we buy APs, some years we just buy park hopper length of stay passes, depending on how many days we'll be at WDW that year. However, in future, I can already tell that 1) we will no longer want to buy park hopper length of stay passes, since park hopping is a bit nerfed (unless you're only hopping for a parade/fireworks event or a meal), and 2), unless we stay so many days that an AP becomes cheaper than a regular length of stay non-hopping park pass, we won't buy APs anymore either.

Since I haven't been there yet, I won't leap to judgement right now on how well or poorly the FP+ system might be working. I just foresee some changes that might not be ideal, such as FP booking times making it harder to leave the park to eat at a resort or different park, and making the purchase of park hopper tickets pretty much a waste of money (at least in peak season - park hoppers will still probably be fine in lower times when standby lines are short and FPs are not utilized as much).

 

[FlipHipster]

Yes... I understand this. I'm talking about making changes while we are there, because somebody wanted to sleep late, or dinner took too long, or whatever. That's what I don't expect to be able to do during peak time Christmas week - there won't be a lot of extra FP+ times laying around the system because CROWDS. If I can even get the wifi to work to use the app - it generally didn't work in Epcot or MK when we were last there in May, and AT&T's local tower was overloaded.

No problems, we just need someone to map out all the wifi hotspots in the parks so everyone knows where to stand to book FP.

Unfortunately once that info gets out you will need to book a FP to stand next to the wifi so you can book a FP

crap I think I just opened a black hole or something

 

[annacali]

Yes, we are traditionally rope droppers, so I understand I can get in line at opening (for 1 ride) and not wait. My point is that Mr. and Mrs. Smith staying at the cheaper off-site hotel will be able to pull FP- for TT and Soarin' all day. I am restricted to 1. Lucky us.

Ha ha ha!!! Forgive me for laughing at this. We stayed offsite last week and never got to ride Soarin. We picked the new Test Track at rope drop ( it was closed last year and my kids were dying to ride it). I pulled a FP ( with an 11am return time at rope drop!) and we rode. By the time we were done Soarin FPs were gone for the day ( by 9:30) and standby line was never less than 60 min (and was usually more like 140 min). So the thought that those of us offsite can just pull FPs all day make me LOL! We got exactly one too--- and only because I pulled it at 9:07am!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Ha ha ha!!! Forgive me for laughing at this. We stayed offsite last week and never got to ride Soarin. We picked the new Test Track at rope drop ( it was closed last year and my kids were dying to ride it). I pulled a FP ( with an 11am return time at rope drop!) and we rode. By the time we were done Soarin FPs were gone for the day ( by 9:30) and standby line was never less than 60 min (and was usually more like 140 min). So the thought that those of us offsite can just pull FPs all day make me LOL! We got exactly one too--- and only because I pulled it at 9:07am!

ITA. Whether or not you are eligible for FP+, the fact is that EVERY SINGLE GUEST at WDW is affected by this test. Even though the two systems are independent, the legacy FP system IS being affected because it's obvious that fewer paper FPs are being distributed. Onsite or offsite, we're all testers in this. If you are at WDW and are participating in any attractions, you've essentially opted in. We're not all testing at the same level, and some may have access to different features than others, but every single one of us is contributing data that is being used in this test.

 

[Shaden]

Ha ha ha!!! Forgive me for laughing at this. We stayed offsite last week and never got to ride Soarin. We picked the new Test Track at rope drop ( it was closed last year and my kids were dying to ride it). I pulled a FP ( with an 11am return time at rope drop!) and we rode. By the time we were done Soarin FPs were gone for the day ( by 9:30) and standby line was never less than 60 min (and was usually more like 140 min). So the thought that those of us offsite can just pull FPs all day make me LOL! We got exactly one too--- and only because I pulled it at 9:07am!

Wow, this system seems to be working out well for everyone (read that as, no one)

Sorry, really I am. That's not what a Disney Trip should be like. I don't know your situation, but we are lucky enough to go once a year, for 8 to 16 days. For us, at least, we could always do one on the first epcot day, and the other the second epcot day. Not that that would be worth the money we pay for WDW vacations. But I really feel for those who aren't there long enough to do this, OR, worse yet, this is their only vacation at WDW in their lifetime, or in 10 years, etc etc. This just isn't the "magic" that Disney is supposed to be selling. They really seem to be failing in their promise of magic.

SURE, many people will argue that the magic is just being there, there is SO much to experience, and that's true. But that's not what Disney sells. Watch the commercials, read the advertisements, check the pamphlets, its about attractions, its about Space mountain, thunder run and splash. Its about Soarin, Test Track, Mission Space, and then a walk through the world. THAT is what they sell. I can only imagine how disappointing it must be for so many to struggle to give that magic to their kids, only to find out it is a fraud, and becoming more so by the systems they are putting in place.

Disney could have done a LOT more to make those promises true, by investing in attraction capacity instead of investing in MM+ and FP+ which, if we listen to what Disney execs have been saying, are mainly designed to squeeze more money out of guests.

 

[Sue M]

I have to agree. Add me as another not happy with just one headliner. The old system was do much better. I wish they would go back to it, this is not an improvement. But unlikely to happen with all the $$$ they've sunk into this. The original 3 FP a day for any attraction was ok, not great, but just ok. This tiered system is awful.

 

[xie]

No problems, we just need someone to map out all the wifi hotspots in the parks so everyone knows where to stand to book FP.

Unfortunately once that info gets out you will need to book a FP to stand next to the wifi so you can book a FP

crap I think I just opened a black hole or something

I think you did!

So I heard somewhere that WDW had switched to use AT&T for their wifi or their cell service or both, or something, in the parks. I don't remember where I heard it and have no idea if it's true, or if it means they'll actually scale up the service to handle the load. I hope that they do, because functioning cell service inside the WDW parks would be great.

Our phones and LTE or 4G usually work at the hotels, but rarely can we ever get a data connection in the parks, and often can't even get a phone call out to each other if we get separated. Just too many phones in the area. They've needed more cell tower capacity near those parks for a long time now.

We had the Disney app on our phones last couple of trips, for fun. Well, it would have been fun, if there had been functioning wifi for more than 20 seconds out of every hour.