Family Trip April 20-25 - HELP FIRST TIME! FP+ Crowds?

[wekiser]

Hello DIS Experts!! I need help and thoughts!

We are booked and ready (somewhat....) to go to Wilderness Lodge! HOWEVER...we have been reading a great deal about all of the negative comments an thoughts on how Disney has just recently restructured FP+. Crazy to think one change like this has made such a MAJOR impact to eveyones "Magic"!

My wife and I went to Disney about 6 years ago and it was amazing! It was the time with the old FP system...which we had basically 5-10 at one time and the attends really did not pay much attention to the time. So as you can imagine this was very cool and easy to ride the major attractions multiple times.

This trip with be with our 5 year old and 8 year old boys! We WERE extremely excited about the trip! NOW...we are more concerned that we spend all of this money have have a so-so time because of the long lines and limited ability to ride the major attractions. This is our Spring Break....yes we hear that there will be crowds however we have no choice...this is the time we have to go.

Questions:
Anyone with experience going at this time...how are crowds? Thoughts on the FP+? Should we be concerned with the negative thoughts with FP+, CM's attitudes, cleanliness, crowds, etc?

Honestly....we have considered cancelling the trip because of all of the changes around Disney with the Magic Bands, etc.

PLEASE HELP MAKE US FEEL BETTER THAT WE ARE MAKING A GOOD CHOICE AND WITH ANY TIPS ABOUT THE TRIP! We are traveling down from NC.

 

[Meggysmum]

We returned last week.

You are onsite so can prebook your FP+ 60 days out so start having a think about your plans and what you really want to do. We booked ours for the afternoon and evening and used Ropedrop to ride in the mornings.

We had the remains of the Presidents day crowds and then the next weekend was Princess Half marathon so the parks were quite busy. We have travelled over the Christmas and New Year in the past so don't tend to worry about crowds.

The biggest issue was the lines to use your FP+ at the rides but I genuinely think they are trying to sort this out and are trying a few ideas so I think there will be a lot of improvements by Easter.

I won't say I am the biggest fan of FP+ as I was a heavy FP user but don't let it put you off your trip, you will have an amazing time with your little ones and at least you don't have to criss-cross the park to get FPs now.

 

[danceteachermom]

We were at WL the weekend of Easter and the week after last year. We had a fabulous time. Get to parks for rope drop and tour headliners and favorites in the morning. Then schedule your fast passes for the busier afternoon or evening park time. Then you can still get two rides a day on your favorites.

We loved WL. It was a fabulous spring break for us. We found almost all aspects of the resort wonderful and found the transportation to be efficient. Loved the boat to MK.

Do not let all the warnings and negative opinions bring you down....use them for what they are and that is information. Plan in advance using the new system and have a good touring plan. I would not cancel. With Easter being so late...crowds should be a bit lower this year, you are staying at a great resort, you have access to lots of information to help you plan. Your kids are at fun ages for the parks.

 

[wekiser]

I have booked the FP+ online and they are primarily in the afternoon. My thoughts would be to bust butt at Rope Drop to visit as many attractions as possible before it gets nuts in the parks.

What are everyones thoughts on this plan? Will the FP+ lines be crazy in the afternoons? From what I am reading....it is going to be crazy. Like everyone else...we have limited time and want to see as much as possible. We are not going to like the people on DIS which it seem to go every year or multiple times a year. Our Disney trip or trips may be once every couple of years because of the high cost.

 

[Meggysmum]

Sounds like a plan!



This was the Space Mountain FP+ return line mid afternoon on Wednesday. It looks awful and we were horrified HOWEVER there was absolutely no line inside as the line is caused by the time taken to scan the Mickeys and sort out queries so we were still riding in about 5 minutes from actually joining the end of the line.