Epcot FP+ tiers gone...for now.

[skater]

A simple day-plan at Epcot. Family of 6. 2 adults, ds11 ds7 dd5 dd2. This works out beautifully and gets us on everything we want:

FP slots:
MS 10-11
Seas 11-12
Soarin 12-1

Arrive for Akershus 8am. We're not going to rush thru a $40 breakfast just to get out and RD a ride... BUT if you were so inclined, there are bonus rides here just for ducking out of breakfast at 8:55. So say we stay till 9:15 maybe 9:30 to hang w the princesses.

Leave Akershus, go to TT. By this time the park has been open for 20 min. Get in the standby line, grab a RS pass for DW... she then departs and goes with DD5 and DS2 over to meet Anna & Elsa. Goodbye to them for a while, cuz that'll be a wait.

Getting back to us. We ride TT in say 30 min. Now it's 10. If the kids like it (which they will) then we go again via single rider lines. Or, if DW is back from Anna, then they go w her and the RS pass from before. She won't likely be back this quick tho, so back to single riders. Done! 20 min.

Now it's 10:30.

We go next door to our MS slot. Hopefully DW is back by now and she can meet us, cuz DD would like MS green. If she makes it, we all catch MS w our FP. If not, we carry on. We ride.

When done, it's now 11. We head over to Seas. By now, (2 hours) DW WILL be back for sure. We all ride Seas together it's great for all ages!! When done (11:15) we hang around and wait standby for Turtle Talk. No biggie... 20-30 min wait while the kids play in the aquarium. Done with that, it's close to noon.

We head over to Soarin where our FP is magically waiting for us. (note, I never had to run up these stairs into this pavilion to grab a ticket!) Bam, ride it fast, taking turns holding the baby. Maybe pick up a RS pass here if we can get it w all having FPs. Maybe we ride Living (with the baby) while the other half are on Soarin or some of us snack in the Grill while the others ride FP.

Now it's 12:30. Continue on, ride Figment twice (it's our ride!). 15 min each, no biggie.

1:00, go eat. Get lunch in Canada or England.

Done!

We "do" all of Epcot in the first 4 hours. We did not have to Rope Drop. DW and DD got to meet Anna & Elsa. Boys got to ride TT (twice) and MS. Everyone got to do the kid stuff (Seas, Turtle, Living, Figment twice) and we all rode Soarin.

We're now happily eating lunch in the world showcase and will not return to future world till later.

In addition, we have an RS pass to TT and Soarin in our pocket, and we might have a few FPs unused (depending on if DW and DD made it to MS). After spending a full day in Epcot, maybe on the way out we might decide to use (or not) the RS passes that we have left, or the two FPs that we have left to go on TT on the way out.

* It was an action packed day.
* We were never waiting in any significant lines
* We did not rush to RD, nor cram thru breakfast
* We went on headliners multiple times

We did it all without even having to use RS! On the way out remember you can always get in a line at 9pm and get on for sure. It just helps us leave the park a little earlier since we have kids.

This system REALLY IS AWESOME. You just have to drop the mindset of "I'm going to stand here and stomp because my old way does not work". Be creative! As you can see for a typical family of 6 "Doing Epcot" is perfectly doable with FP+.

I liked reading your plan and think it s a good one . But again, this is what works for you. I'm not stomping my feet, I"m just disappointed. With legacy fp, I could spend the whole morning in the Land pavilion utilizing fp's to ride Soarin' a few times, eating lunch at Sunshine Seasons and riding LWTL with no line (in Oct., there were long lines which I suspect were due to fp+). This is the way I enjoyed, so of course, I find this new system less flexible. Of course, I can still ride Soarin' multiple times, but I would spend much longer in that building to do it. That is disappointing. Being disappointed is not the same thing as stomping my feet and not knowing how to be creative. Like most people on the boards, I know Disney well enough that I could probably write my own book .

 

[Love Tink]

it's close to noon.

We head over to Soarin where our FP is magically waiting for us. (note, I never had to run up these stairs into this pavilion to grab a ticket!) Bam, ride it fast, taking turns holding the baby. Maybe pick up a RS pass here if we can get it w all having FPs. Maybe we ride Living (with the baby) while the other half are on Soarin or some of us snack in the Grill while the others ride FP.

Now it's 12:30.

So your point is that you can get a lot done if you arrive at Epcot at 8:00...? Yeah, I don't think that's up for debate.

The only benefit FP+ had on your day was that nobody had to run and get a Soarin' Fastpass in the morning.

But, of course, neither could anyone collect a Test Track or Mission Space Fastpass, assuming your kids enjoyed those and wanted to do them again later in the day. Stand-by for you.

(*By the way, your plan lost all credibility with me when you indicated that your family could ride Soarin' back to back between 12:00 and 12:30.)

 

[Shaden]

A simple day-plan at Epcot. Family of 6. 2 adults, ds11 ds7 dd5 dd2. This works out beautifully and gets us on everything we want:

FP slots:
MS 10-11
Seas 11-12
Soarin 12-1

Arrive for Akershus 8am. We're not going to rush thru a $40 breakfast just to get out and RD a ride... BUT if you were so inclined, there are bonus rides here just for ducking out of breakfast at 8:55. So say we stay till 9:15 maybe 9:30 to hang w the princesses.

Leave Akershus, go to TT. By this time the park has been open for 20 min. Get in the standby line, grab a RS pass for DW... she then departs and goes with DD5 and DS2 over to meet Anna & Elsa. Goodbye to them for a while, cuz that'll be a wait.

Getting back to us. We ride TT in say 30 min. Now it's 10. If the kids like it (which they will) then we go again via single rider lines. Or, if DW is back from Anna, then they go w her and the RS pass from before. She won't likely be back this quick tho, so back to single riders. Done! 20 min.

Now it's 10:30.

We go next door to our MS slot. Hopefully DW is back by now and she can meet us, cuz DD would like MS green. If she makes it, we all catch MS w our FP. If not, we carry on. We ride.

When done, it's now 11. We head over to Seas. By now, (2 hours) DW WILL be back for sure. We all ride Seas together it's great for all ages!! When done (11:15) we hang around and wait standby for Turtle Talk. No biggie... 20-30 min wait while the kids play in the aquarium. Done with that, it's close to noon.

We head over to Soarin where our FP is magically waiting for us. (note, I never had to run up these stairs into this pavilion to grab a ticket!) Bam, ride it fast, taking turns holding the baby. Maybe pick up a RS pass here if we can get it w all having FPs. Maybe we ride Living (with the baby) while the other half are on Soarin or some of us snack in the Grill while the others ride FP.

Now it's 12:30. Continue on, ride Figment twice (it's our ride!). 15 min each, no biggie.

1:00, go eat. Get lunch in Canada or England.

Done!

We "do" all of Epcot in the first 4 hours. We did not have to Rope Drop. DW and DD got to meet Anna & Elsa. Boys got to ride TT (twice) and MS. Everyone got to do the kid stuff (Seas, Turtle, Living, Figment twice) and we all rode Soarin.

We're now happily eating lunch in the world showcase and will not return to future world till later.

In addition, we have an RS pass to TT and Soarin in our pocket, and we might have a few FPs unused (depending on if DW and DD made it to MS). After spending a full day in Epcot, maybe on the way out we might decide to use (or not) the RS passes that we have left, or the two FPs that we have left to go on TT on the way out.

* It was an action packed day.
* We were never waiting in any significant lines
* We did not rush to RD, nor cram thru breakfast
* We went on headliners multiple times

We did it all without even having to use RS! On the way out remember you can always get in a line at 9pm and get on for sure. It just helps us leave the park a little earlier since we have kids.

This system REALLY IS AWESOME. You just have to drop the mindset of "I'm going to stand here and stomp because my old way does not work". Be creative! As you can see for a typical family of 6 "Doing Epcot" is perfectly doable with FP+.

Lol, that is not an action packed day in my book, but ok, glad that works for you.

See in my book we would have done all that, except we would have probably grabbed an FP for TT, then did stand by or single rider, then depending if the FP return was ready, ride it again with no wait. Maybe rode mission, maybe hit up the big ol epcot ball, do Soarin SB, if not grab and FP, Hit up the land or seas, turtle talk, etc, then hit Soarin.

Great, we have both done the same stuff ... awesome for us both.

Except, now you are out of FPs, and under FP- I could continue to pull them alllllll day. Depending on returns I could grab an FP for TT or Soarin again, go visit part of the showcase or hit up innoventions or shop, the ride again, or I could hop somewhere else and grab more FPs for EE or Safari or the Mountains ....

The whole point is that this system LIMITS your creativity because it limits the upward maximum to use the system.

Really not that complicated to understand.

 

[FLchick415]

I still don't understand why people need to argue with each other over this. FP+ works for some people. Not for others. Nobody is going to change anybody else's mind.

 

[AmyB2006]

I still don't understand why people need to argue with each other over this. FP+ works for some people. Not for others. Nobody is going to change anybody else's mind.

Discussions are great. It's the arguing, sarcastic and belittling comments that make me . But oh well.

And so the circle goes around.

 

[MrInfinity]

I liked reading your plan and think it s a good one . But again, this is what works for you. I'm not stomping my feet, I"m just disappointed. With legacy fp, I could spend the whole morning in the Land pavilion utilizing fp's to ride Soarin' a few times, eating lunch at Sunshine Seasons and riding LWTL with no line (in Oct., there were long lines which I suspect were due to fp+). This is the way I enjoyed, so of course, I find this new system less flexible. Of course, I can still ride Soarin' multiple times, but I would spend much longer in that building to do it. That is disappointing. Being disappointed is not the same thing as stomping my feet and not knowing how to be creative. Like most people on the boards, I know Disney well enough that I could probably write my own book .

Thanks! Yeah, I do agree if your goal is to ride Soarin 3 times, then you will spend more time doing so. Assuming you are kidless (cuz otherwise you'd be mentioning RS) then you'd have to do it RD, then immediately after, then later via FP. First time would be no wait, 2nd time would be 30 min wait, and then standby after that will be 45 so I'd say avoid it then or use a FP. But I think it's reasonable to get on 3 times with very reasonable wait times. I don't doubt that as a kidless adult who used to be a FP- commando, yes, of course the system is deliberately trying to give those rides to other ppl. But that's just the way it is. I think there is a happy way to enjoy Epcot in there for you still, and I can see a reasonable plan that will get you on at least 3 times w only moderate waits. Of course it will depend on the time of year too. I would mix in a FP to Living then for you too, since you mentioned wanting to do that and not being into the kid pavilions.

 

[patty57]

I still don't understand why people need to argue with each other over this. FP+ works for some people. Not for others. Nobody is going to change anybody else's mind.

This is so true. Every thread that has FP+ in it, ends up with bickering. This thread started out with promise, but devolved into the usual. Yeah, I know I don't need to read them.

 

[MrInfinity]

So your point is that you can get a lot done if you arrive at Epcot at 8:00...? Yeah, I don't think that's up for debate.

(*By the way, your plan lost all credibility with me when you indicated that your family could ride Soarin' back to back between 12:00 and 12:30.)

Haha... when you're giving me money I'll care about my credibility w you. Until then this is completely irrelevant! So you're saying it takes till 1? or 1:30? Doesn't change the plan at all, in fact I put that last so that it's got nothing in the way if it happens to go long. See? You see failure and problems. But I see an opportunity, planned, and have a backup. It's all about getting in the spirit and enjoying what you can do! Which as I show is quite a lot.

And no you don't have to arrive at 8. I arrive at 9:20! 8-9:20 is in the restaurant, not riding rides. If you arrive for rope drop, you'd get even more done!

 

[summerw]

Ok, I think this sentiment comes from a false sense of entitlement.

Take KS and EE for example.

What you're saying, basically, is "I want to be able to go to the AK, and ride the two most popular rides, without waiting, at all."

Well great! EVERYONE would want that.

Could you do that w FP- on a midsummer day? NO. You cannot just show up, stay from say 12 to 5, and ride those both fast. At 12 you'll get a FP to one, and then by the time you ride that the FPs to the other will be gone.

Now you could always RD one or the other. Just like you can w FP+.

EC is no worse. I've planned my day at EC. Missing rope drop, I'm STILL able to ride Soarin, TT, Seas, Crush, MS, and Figment. I am creative tho, and I look beyond "I can't do it the old way this sucks". I had absolutely no problem planning a day that sees me getting on every ride I want at Epcot plus TT, twice. That is outstanding. I never once have to part from my family, I don't even have to rush to make RD.

And, I do it all from home and sit back knowing I won't have to rush around. It really is a cool system...

Did someone say they were entitled to that? I'm sure someone somewhere on the boards may have, but I don't think being upset that something you liked was changed is the same as feeling you have a right to it.

The AK example that works great for your point, because in it, it's a benefit to have FP+, but there are many more examples where guests' ability to ride the rides they want without a long standby wait has been limited.

Just because adjusting your touring style meant a positive or neutral change for your family, doesn't mean it will for all. Anyone who goes on an average crowd day and can't do long lines will have to either do RD or stay until the park is closing to ride multiple headliners. That's a lot of people affected in a negative way.

I don't think getting to ride a particular ride should make or break anyone's Disney experience, but I can understand why people are bothered.

 

[skater]

Thanks! Yeah, I do agree if your goal is to ride Soarin 3 times, then you will spend more time doing so. Assuming you are kidless (cuz otherwise you'd be mentioning RS) then you'd have to do it RD, then immediately after, then later via FP. First time would be no wait, 2nd time would be 30 min wait, and then standby after that will be 45 so I'd say avoid it then or use a FP. But I think it's reasonable to get on 3 times with very reasonable wait times. I don't doubt that as a kidless adult who used to be a FP- commando, yes, of course the system is deliberately trying to give those rides to other ppl. But that's just the way it is. I think there is a happy way to enjoy Epcot in there for you still, and I can see a reasonable plan that will get you on at least 3 times w only moderate waits. Of course it will depend on the time of year too. I would mix in a FP to Living then for you too, since you mentioned wanting to do that and not being into the kid pavilions.

I actually do have kids (3 of them ), but they have always enjoyed our way of touring. (And my upcoming trip is an adult trip). We almost always go as a family in the slow season, so that made it easier. What scares me is that I went in October (another adult trip ), and I felt that fp+ made it harder to ride anything. Even SE lines were longer than other similar crowd level times.

As a family, we would ride Soarin a few times, go over to TT after an early lunch, grab a fp, ride Mission Space standby and maybe SE as well and then return to use our TT fp. After that, we would walk over to Mexico and spend the rest of the day/night in WS. I guess I feel that this new system "forces" us to plan our day differently which feels disappointing. I'm sure we'll adjust, and I have too many wonderful memories at Disney to every dislike it. This system won't keep us away, but I don't yet love it .

 

[kappyfamily]

This is so true. Every thread that has FP+ in it, ends up with bickering. This thread started out with promise, but devolved into the usual. Yeah, I know I don't need to read them.

Yep exactly. Yet another FP thread that makes my head hurt. See ya

 

[4lowesonthego]

Maybe someone's already posted, if so sorry! Has anyone who changed their FP+ to all tier 1 used them successfully yet?

 

[OhMari]

I am now at Disney. Checked in yesterday and I got a full print out of my ADR's and Fast Passes. I had concierge check me in, and she looked it over and she noticed the Tier 1 choices and she asked me if I knew how to go back and reselect the better choices. I admitted I did, "with a little help from my DIS friends." I asked her if CM's will honor them and she said if you have them selected, they all should be good.

One other observation, Toy Story was 45 minute wait at 8:05 a.m. We made it through in 30 minutes, because they gave us the FP side where FP walks in, she opened the gate for us.

We got a really smelly room at CSR, we called right away and they switched us within 5 minutes. We wondered if it was because it was so cold on Thursday and the heat was on in the room. Plus it was a handicap room, and the room was stripped bear of everything everything.

 

[AmyB2006]

I am now at Disney. Checked in yesterday and I got a full print out of my ADR's and Fast Passes. I had concierge check me in, and she looked it over and she noticed the Tier 1 choices and she asked me if I knew how to go back and reselect the better choices. I admitted I did, "with a little help from my DIS friends." I asked her if CM's will honor them and she said if you have them selected, they all should be good.

One other observation, Toy Story was 45 minute wait at 8:05 a.m. We made it through in 30 minutes, because they gave us the FP side where FP walks in, she opened the gate for us.

We got a really smelly room at CSR, we called right away and they switched us within 5 minutes. We wondered if it was because it was so cold on Thursday and the heat was on in the room. Plus it was a handicap room, and the room was stripped bear of everything everything.

So your multiple Tier 1 choices worked at the rides?

 

[OhMari]

Yes, on "my Disney Ap, they showed what we used and what we have left. Everything worked fine. We have one left tonite for Fantasmic. At The Studios, CM's are helping people make choices,with the IPads.

 

[Minischnaumom]

Yes, on "my Disney Ap, they showed what we used and what we have left. Everything worked fine. We have one left tonite for Fantasmic. At The Studios, CM's are helping people make choices,with the IPads.

So just to confirm. Were you be able to do 3 tier 1 FP+ at DHS today without having to prove anything to the CM's? As in your Magic Band scanned and you had no issues?

 

[Oomiak]

Yes, on "my Disney Ap, they showed what we used and what we have left. Everything worked fine. We have one left tonite for Fantasmic. At The Studios, CM's are helping people make choices,with the IPads.

I have no doubts mine will work next month. I'm glad you could confirm this today!

 

[stormer]

I changed last week to get one for RnR and one for TSM. Used them both today no problem.

 

[Minischnaumom]

I changed last week to get one for RnR and one for TSM. Used them both today no problem.

Awesome!! Thanks for reporting back!

 

[RobynPrincess]

I can't change mine it will only let me change it for other lower tier attractions :-/ am I doing something wrong?