Fast Pass Plus wasn't THAT bad…. a lot of hype for how awful it was

[Laketravis]

Jade, just to clarify when I said "night before" I wasn't implying that those very same items were available the day or days before. In fact, I've often found several of the attractions we wanted to be fully distributed days if not weeks in advance. I think it was the '100% Yes' that some might construe to mean all of the time.

I can certainly understand the point that others have made about the old system - that is that every day in the parks started with 100% FP availability and it's true that is no longer the case.

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[jade1]

I declare we were at different places, but no, we were also there the last week of Feb. and the first week of March - 'relatively' slow times - before Spring Breakers.

We sure never found Fp's for Soarin' throughout the morning! One morning - out of about 7 being in Epcot were we able to snag a Soarin' FP about 11 am. The other parks were similar - not sure how you can say they were all readily available!

 

[jade1]

Jade, just to clarify when I said "night before" I wasn't implying that those very same items were available the day or days before. In fact, I've often found several of the attractions we wanted to be fully distributed days if not weeks in advance. I think it was the '100% Yes' that some might construe to mean all of the time.

It seemed pretty clear what you said, but OK.

But even the bold is a far cry from gloom and doom past predictions-esp for spring break.

I can certainly understand the point that others have made about the old system - that is that every day in the parks started with 100% FP availability and it's true that is no longer the case.

True-not every day, but some days are-I suspect many days (months worth) will have good selections in the morning-esp since the first week of March had everything. And many predicted nothing but scraps at even 30 days out.

 

[SmithSmith]

I'd be very careful implying that

If you don't have a vehicle then some of the economical transport options like Uber (now fully sanctioned by the city of Orlando) will move you around just as quickly and relatively inexpensively. Visiting both HP attractions earlier in the day, having a lunch or dinner at many of the great places on International Drive, and closing out the evening with three FP's, fireworks and a parade at MK regardless of how crowded it is and how long the waits are makes for a pretty good day - with nothing more than a 15 minute commute between park, restaurant, and park.

I'd be very careful implying that traveling between WDW and Uni is nothing more than a 15 minute commute.

Below from YouTube is an unedited, traffic free video that is 20 minutes long. It showcases the drive just from the Hess station outside Magic Kingdom to just the gates of Universal, so it does not include parking which would make the trip at least 25 minutes long.

According to Dads Guide to WDW: It's about a 30 minute drive from Walt Disney World to Universal Studios each way.
http://www.dadsguidetowdw.com/disney-world-and-universal-studios-insight-needed.html

According to Your First Visit: I told him that it takes 20-50 minutes, depending on which resort and on I-4 traffic...

http://**************.net/2011/01/10/getting-to-harry-potter-from-walt-disney-world/

According to Mapquest it's a 23 minute drive in current traffic

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1pn=Walt Disney World&1a=3111 World Dr&1c=Orlando&1s=FL&1z=32830&2pn=Universal Studios&2a=6000 Universal Blvd&2c=Orlando&2s=FL&2z=32819

According to a Micechat thread not one person suggested that it's just a 15 minute drive.

http://micechat.com/forums/orlando-travel-planning/145650-just-question-[distance-wdw-universal-there-bus-between-them-].html

The above includes all relevant information from just the first page of a Google search for "driving from disneyworld to universal studios".

 

[Laketravis]

I'm glad some things are going well, and that you are having a good trip.

That said, the auditor in me makes me have to ask questions. I get the Rosen Shingle Creek to Uni in 8 minutes thing. It's only 4 miles, and without traffic 8 minutes makes sense (if you aren't counting time to get to, and out of, parking lots).

I do have to inquire as to what you are saying in your statement above. I suppose it could be quicker to go between non-Disney destinations (say Uni to SeaWorld) than it is to go between Disney parks (say MK to AK).

However, are you trying to say you found it quicker to go from a Disney park to a non Disney park than it was to get between any of the Disney parks?

To answer your question, I'll provide s couple of examples:

The other night it took us 12 minutes to get from USO parking garage to MK parking gate. That's doing 65+ on I-4 at 7:30pm. I didn't take a video but I did time it - I probably would have been one of the cars passing the driver in that YouTube video.

It took us 30 minutes to get from MK parking gate to tram to ferry to MK dock.

It took us 24 minutes to get from MK via monorail to TTC to Epcot monorail to Epcot station.

So yes, we are finding that we can get from park system to park system often much quicker than it takes to get from park to park. Is I-4 traffic an issue? Sometimes, but I've noticed s pattern to that as well - the eastbound side is frequently more congested then the westbound side, and the times of that congestion is predictably around 8a, noon, and 5p so timing the commute can make a considerable difference. Then there are a multitude of alternate routes available, such as International down to World Center or even the toll road.


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[jade1]

I agree, and we split stays with BLT and BC/BW.

I can be to and ADR in EPCOT in about 5 minutes from my room, and MK in 7 minutes, DHS we can walk in 10 from BW, but often take the boat from BC.

To be honest-just that highway picture ruined the mood, we have those here every day.

 

[SmithSmith]

To answer your question, I'll provide s couple of examples:

The other night it took us 12 minutes to get from USO parking garage to MK parking gate. That's doing 65 on I-4 at 7:30pm. I didn't take a video but I did time it - I probably would have been one of the cars passing the driver in that YouTube video.

It took us 30 minutes to get from MK parking gate to tram to ferry to MK dock.

It took us 24 minutes to get from MK via monorail to TTC to Epcot monorail to Epcot station.

So yes, we are finding that we can get from park system to park system often much quicker than it takes to get from park to park. Is I-4 traffic an issue? Sometimes, but I've noticed s pattern to that as well - the eastbound side is frequently more congested then the westbound side, and the times of that congestion is predictably around 8a, noon, and 5p so timing the commute can make a considerable difference. Then there are a multitude of alternate routes available, such as International down to World Center or even the toll road.


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12 minutes? They're 13.5 miles away from each other!

 

[Laketravis]

I can be to and ADR in EPCOT in about 5 minutes from my room, and MK in 7 minutes, DHS we can walk in 10 from BW, but often take the boat from BC...

Please share how?

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[Laketravis]

I was all excited to see screens like that the other day when I tried a kiosk but then saw on the next screen that not all of them were available.

 

[jade1]

I was all excited to see screens like that the other day when I tried a kiosk but then saw on the next screen that not all of them were available.

They were available-I think my daughters phones has the final selections I can check, but obviously the one with A/E and 7DMT "SELECTED" would show just how available things were that week-and that was only on "option B".

They say "Standby only" when they are "Standby only".

 

[jade1]

Please share how?

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On foot from BC to Rose n Crown.

On foot from BLT to MK gates.

 

[jade1]

You must be a fast walker, I've never been able to get from a room at BC to RnC in five minutes.

I'm a much faster driver, though.


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It's .22 miles to RnC from the first BC room.

3 mph covers .25 miles in 5 minutes

I can far out pace 3 mph.

5 MPH you could make it from the BW launch.

 

[Cyrano]

Folks this tit for tat and minutiae is now boring. Walk away from the thread if this is your only contribution.
Posts will be removed and posters encouraged to take it off the boards

 

[Laketravis]

Back on topic, I have to say it is nice to have FP's for Test Track, Mission Space, and Spaceship Earth for tonight because based on the current wait times it will save us about two hours and twenty minutes of standing in line.

Would be great if we could haven gotten one for Soarin instead of SE but that's probably too much to expect now.


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[Cormoran]

Back on topic, I have to say it is nice to have FP's for Test Track, Mission Space, and Spaceship Earth for tonight because based on the current wait times it will save us about two hours and twenty minutes of standing in line.

Would be great if we could haven gotten one for Soarin instead of SE but that's probably too much to expect now.


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I'll bet it's too late now. Why didn't you choose to go single rider on TT and then get a FP+ for Soarin'?

 

[Shaden]

It's .22 miles to RnC from the first BC room.

3 mph covers .25 miles in 5 minutes

I can far out pace 3 mph.

5 MPH you could make it from the BW launch.

Going to very much agree with you here Jade, though that is the -first- BC room, still agree with the premise. Even if we added another minute or two, yur talking a short walk. And jeepers after reading your post I would KILL for some RnC Fish and Chips !!!!

Anyway, just wish I could get your support on the resort threads when people say it takes 20 minutes to walk across Coronado or POR One of my biggest pet peeves on these boards.

 

[Laketravis]

so you are saying there might still be FP+ available to choose the night before or morning? like i could get up on a day were were scheduled to go to AK and have our 3 FP+ made for that park and we could decide that we wanna go to HS and we could actually get a FP for ToT, RnR or TSM for the same day???

Definitely depends on the day and the park - I just checked Epcot for Friday night (two days away) and Test Track, Soarin, and Mission Space are all gone for the day. But Space, Haunted Mansion, and Big Thunder Mountain are still available at MK.


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[Laketravis]

I'll bet it's too late now. Why didn't you choose to go single rider on TT and then get a FP+ for Soarin'?

Single rider for Test Track was 50 minutes the other night, which is half what the standby wait was. SB right now is 90 minutes so I wouldn't risk a possible 45 minutes single rider line.


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[Cormoran]

Single rider for Test Track was 50 minutes the other night, which is half what the standby wait was. SB right now is 90 minutes so I wouldn't risk a possible 45 minutes single rider line.


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can't blame you.

 

[Cyrano]

Folks this thread has run its course and ends as here now posts and PM are better conducted off the boards.