Fast Pass...still not liking this 'new' system

[kiford]

We went to WDW in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013 and were unable to get FP for TSMM. By the time we got the FP station, the line-ups for getting the FPs were too long for us and the return times were already for late in the afternoon when we knew we probably would have gone back to our room. With the introduction of FP+ we were finally able to get on it in 2015 and 2016. So we love it. I have no problem with booking 60 days out. I already have a pretty good idea where we're going to be and for how long so I'm able to schedule those FP+ that I want during the time I know I'll be there. I hated having to haul all the way across the park only to discover that the return time was too late, conflicted with something else, or was gone and then having to return later even if it was a reasonable return time. It makes much better use of my time and feet IMO.

 

[tlmadden73]

We went to WDW in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013 and were unable to get FP for TSMM. By the time we got the FP station, the line-ups for getting the FPs were too long for us and the return times were already for late in the afternoon when we knew we probably would have gone back to our room. With the introduction of FP+ we were finally able to get on it in 2015 and 2016. So we love it. I have no problem with booking 60 days out. I already have a pretty good idea where we're going to be and for how long so I'm able to schedule those FP+ that I want during the time I know I'll be there. I hated having to haul all the way across the park only to discover that the return time was too late, conflicted with something else, or was gone and then having to return later even if it was a reasonable return time. It makes much better use of my time and feet IMO.

This was my story too.

I didn't get to go on TSMM until FP+ in 2015 and now it is one of my favorite rides at WDW (and my son's too .. but he likes the "physical"-ness of Buzz Lightyear more.

I feel the only people who LIKED the paper fast pass system are those who knew it so well they could be VERY efficient with it. And the reason they COULD be efficient with it (and liked it) was because a small percentage of guests were using it. Because you had to 'work' for it. I know there were many times I didn't bother with paper fast passes because of the issues you describe above (I didn't want to walk across the park only to find out the return times didn't work for me). I generally just used legacy FP if I happened to be near a ride with it and didn't have another paper ticket. (Which wasn't very often). So the system was not being fully utilized, so of course it was great for those who DID use it a lot.

You have to admit that FP+ is better for the "new" guest and gives more people the opportunity to experience a NEW attraction without waiting in a long line.
7DMT is fairly new and popular (long standby lines) and I've never had to wait in a line for it.

 

[Moliphino]

I love it, and I can't stand having to pull FP when I am in Disneyland Paris. With Big Thunder Mountain you first have to queue for 10 - 15 minutes (if you don't speedwalk/run after ropedrop) so that you later don't have to queue. It still saves time, but it's the thought that's annoying me. I had the same in DLR, where I had to run and queue with hunderds of others for Cars and World of Color, instead of leisurely starting my day. Plus it doesn't give me the peace of mind and flexibility FP+ gives.

We did wait for rope drop at Frontierland and the line for fastpasses was still 10-15 minutes when we got there. I was going to grab fastpasses while the rest of my party got in the regular line, but the fastpass line was too long to wait and still get back to my group. I don't miss that at all at WDW.

We had a similar experience at DCA with Radiator Springs Racers. Luckily that has a fast moving single rider line or I don't know if we would've been able to get on it.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Because this thread isn't about theme park planning and more about historical paper FP usage, moving to TP Community.

 

[JohnneeO]

- In late 2004, when the Stitch attraction was in a soft open, we kept checking back during the day for FP's, but they were always for late in the day. We didn't want to lock ourselves out of other FP's, so did not take them, and just ended up riding stand-by at the end of the day.

- On time in 2012 at WDW, we went to DHS early to get FP's for TSMM, and then went over to Downtown Disney for a while before going back to DHS to use our paper FP's. If we had been able to procure earlier FP's we would have stayed in the park.

- On our 3-day family trip to DLR in 2013, RSR was only open for day one. So that dictated that we would rope drop DCA and get on the line to pull paper FP's, and whatever return time we got would dictate our touring plan from that point forward.


These were all instances were the unknown return times of paper FP's lead to uncertainty in our day. No matter how much you planned, you never knew if your paper FP return time would conflict with an ADR, a parade/show time, or some other time dependent aspect of your trip.

The new FP+ system allows for much more reliable planning.

 

[HopperFan]

Been going since 1971, so seen it all and we love love love FP+ and it has made for the most relaxing trips.

We even change and roll them, especially at MK, on our phones. And often we don't even book them until close to our trip.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

One of the most interesting things to me about these kinds of threads, is that it's very clear that FP+ has created two "classes" of visitors. Those that know FP+ well, utilize the heck out of it... and those that get their 3 FPs a day and that is it.

I could see hating the system if all I was using it for was 3 FPs (a day) that I had to get 60 days before my trip. But for those of us who either make enough trips to WDW, or spent enough time reading the 100s of pages of FP+ tricks and tips, then the system is great. Because with FP+ I can go to WDW, ride everything we want, and never once wait in a standby line (unless the attraction has no FP queue).

I do agree with some of your comments.

*Disclaimer: I have yet to experience FP+ but I rarely used Legacy FP system*

The truth is Disney tells you on their website about how to utilize getting more FPs. Now I am very appreciative towards the information the DIS has been able to provide me and I do agree in that there are tricks and tips that one would likely only find out by reading what someone else has done/experienced (though the DIS isn't the only place to find that information). And granted a guest will actually need to read the information on Disney's website but I'm sure there were people when Legacy FP was around that didn't read about FP nor pick up a map and read fully (as in understand how it works) either.

Here is what Disney has on their website:



If you pick up a guidemap in the park it says the following:

Now granted it only mentions getting more vaguely so I get that a bit more. I'm guessing that in this context they are more speaking towards the guests who don't have a smartphone and are instead relying on a paper map to get through the day. It still does mention about returning to selecting additional experiences once your initial selections.

I know the MDE App says something similar to the website itself too and if I go to starting FP+ selections within my account on the app the first screen tells me about getting more after I've used my initial 3 (can't get my e-mail to send things quick enough so I am unable to paste in the screenshot of that).
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I've no doubt that there are disadvantages to FP+ compare to Legacy FP but I also think at least in terms of simply getting more than your initial 3 it's a matter of even looking up/using your resources Disney gives you/reading rather than the system itself. Maybe a valid point is that comprehension of the system means one may need to look more into it than was needed with Legacy FP system.

 

[huskies90]

One of the most interesting things to me about these kinds of threads, is that it's very clear that FP+ has created two "classes" of visitors. Those that know FP+ well, utilize the heck out of it... and those that get their 3 FPs a day and that is it.

I could see hating the system if all I was using it for was 3 FPs (a day) that I had to get 60 days before my trip. But for those of us who either make enough trips to WDW, or spent enough time reading the 100s of pages of FP+ tricks and tips, then the system is great. Because with FP+ I can go to WDW, ride everything we want, and never once wait in a standby line (unless the attraction has no FP queue).

Totally agree with this. I cringe when people talk about "needing to book fastpasses 60 days out" and only getting 3, etc. I just got back, did everything and didn't wait in 1 standby line the entire trip and didn't book anything in advance - except for Flight of Passage. But even FoP I was able to get another fast pass "on demand" and just walked on the ride when I wanted to experience it a second time. FP+ rocks!!