Fastpass Changes Effective April 10

[Nancyg56]

Come on, sometimes there is a point-- have you already forgotten fast pass runners? Just taking that out of the picture betters everyones "relaxation"

I have not and I don't miss that one little bit!

I am not going to try to pretend to know all of the Disney Insiders behind the scenes reasoning for FP+. I do recognize for many, FP+ does not allow the same "comfort" level as FP-, but for many others, FP+ is a positive addition and allows their touring "comfort" to be drastically increased. My family is one of those families who find the new system beneficial. I think the ability to add FP from my phone may increase that even more, although we shal see when the time comes.

One thing I know for sure. My way is not the only way, and my POV is not the only POV, so when someone tells me that this system is a disaster for them, I respect that they know what they are talking about. Conversely, I expect that when I declare I am happier than a clam that I now do not need to sprint across the park hoping to score a FP, or that I do not need to haul my sorry carcass out of bed at the break of dawn, dragging the rest of the fam kicking and screaming behind me, to beat feet to the FP kiosk on order to ensure I get a ride on Soarin, folks who do not follow my reasoning at least are respectful that for my family...I know what I am talking about.

For years the only way we managed Rockin Rollercoaster or ToT was to stand in long FP lines because we had night owls in tow and I refused to change their entire sleep schedule to make RD when that was the time they were normally going to bed. Now that late FP return time we managed did not work because we also had the early birds who normally started their days at 3:00 AM. WE managed and it was fine, but for us, this is better. Is i perfect? No. But FP- was not either. Let's see how the new enhancements work after the initial tweaking is completed.

 

[WeHaveADisneyProblem]

I'm curious about how this affects tiers? For example, pretend Soarin' is operating. Previously you couldn't book Soarin' and Test Track at the same time. I'm wondering if you can book a single Soarin' at say 10AM and then immediately after book Test Track? That of course assumes that there are FPP left for Test Track? Also wondering about repeats. Book Test Track, ride, book Test Track, repeat.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I'm curious about how this affects tiers? For example, pretend Soarin' is operating. Previously you couldn't book Soarin' and Test Track at the same time. I'm wondering if you can book a single Soarin' at say 10AM and then immediately after book Test Track? That of course assumes that there are FPP left for Test Track? Also wondering about repeats. Book Test Track, ride, book Test Track, repeat.

I tinkered with it the other day...tiers are still fully in effect.

The other thing I wondered is if you could book a "tier 1" as a 4th pass?

Who knows...tiers are still embarassing

 

[rteetz]

I tinkered with it the other day...tiers are still fully in effect.

The other thing I wondered is if you could book a "tier 1" as a 4th pass?

Who knows...tiers are still embarassing

Yes you can book a tier 1 as a fourth of its available.

 

[WeHaveADisneyProblem]

I tinkered with it the other day...tiers are still fully in effect.

The other thing I wondered is if you could book a "tier 1" as a 4th pass?

Who knows...tiers are still embarassing

The tiers are indeed bad. I kind of get the point of them but it really drives home the lack of E tickets at Epcot for sure. I tried playing with the app changes but since I already have a week of FPP booked for our upcoming trip it won't allow more. Alas...

 

[quagmire0]

I have not and I don't miss that one little bit!

I am not going to try to pretend to know all of the Disney Insiders behind the scenes reasoning for FP+. I do recognize for many, FP+ does not allow the same "comfort" level as FP-, but for many others, FP+ is a positive addition and allows their touring "comfort" to be drastically increased. My family is one of those families who find the new system beneficial. I think the ability to add FP from my phone may increase that even more, although we shal see when the time comes.

One thing I know for sure. My way is not the only way, and my POV is not the only POV, so when someone tells me that this system is a disaster for them, I respect that they know what they are talking about. Conversely, I expect that when I declare I am happier than a clam that I now do not need to sprint across the park hoping to score a FP, or that I do not need to haul my sorry carcass out of bed at the break of dawn, dragging the rest of the fam kicking and screaming behind me, to beat feet to the FP kiosk on order to ensure I get a ride on Soarin, folks who do not follow my reasoning at least are respectful that for my family...I know what I am talking about.

For years the only way we managed Rockin Rollercoaster or ToT was to stand in long FP lines because we had night owls in tow and I refused to change their entire sleep schedule to make RD when that was the time they were normally going to bed. Now that late FP return time we managed did not work because we also had the early birds who normally started their days at 3:00 AM. WE managed and it was fine, but for us, this is better. Is i perfect? No. But FP- was not either. Let's see how the new enhancements work after the initial tweaking is completed.

My only real grumble with FP+ is that it essentially locks you into a set schedule 1 or 2 months in advance. Whereas previously, if I wanted to switch which park we're going to the night before, we can't really do that without forfeiting our passes. *Maybe* we get lucky and something opens up at the last minute, but more likely it won't.

 

[Nancyg56]

My only real grumble with FP+ is that it essentially locks you into a set schedule 1 or 2 months in advance. Whereas previously, if I wanted to switch which park we're going to the night before, we can't really do that without forfeiting our passes. *Maybe* we get lucky and something opens up at the last minute, but more likely it won't.

But that would have happened with FP-. You booked your pass, but if you chose to leave, you were sunk. Maybe something was open in a different park....but?????

 

[lockedoutlogic]

But that would have happened with FP-. You booked your pass, but if you chose to leave, you were sunk. Maybe something was open in a different park....but?????

Ummm...fastpass didn't have "booking" in the sense the original poster was referring to...

You still picked the park that day...maybe the pass made you stay longer than you wanted...

But there's wasn't what we do now...which is a "spreadsheet" months out with parks assigned to days. The dining wasn't rigged like it is now either...which is much better too.

 

[Nancyg56]

Ummm...fastpass didn't have "booking" in the sense the original poster was referring to...

You still picked the park that day...maybe the pass made you stay longer than you wanted...

But there's wasn't what we do now...which is a "spreadsheet" months out with parks assigned to days. The dining wasn't rigged like it is now either...which is much better too.

I know how FP- worked. You ran to a kiosk, got your pass and there was a return time.....if there were any left. If you arived at teh park too late you either were out of luck or your return time was later in the day.

The pass never ever made me stay later. I left when we were ready.

Look, I get that folks feel "locked" in because they book their passes in advance, but the bottom line is that that pass, + or -, never forced people to stay in a park. They stayed because they wanted to stay. ANd they left if they wanted to leave, and the later you entered any park the less chance you had of gaining a FP for a popular attraction.

I like the "rigged" dining.....if you listen to my family they think that for me, it's all about the food! LOL!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I know how FP- worked. You ran to a kiosk, got your pass and there was a return time.....if there were any left. If you arived at teh park too late you either were out of luck or your return time was later in the day.

The pass never ever made me stay later. I left when we were ready.

Look, I get that folks feel "locked" in because they book their passes in advance, but the bottom line is that that pass, + or -, never forced people to stay in a park. They stayed because they wanted to stay. ANd they left if they wanted to leave, and the later you entered any park the less chance you had of gaining a FP for a popular attraction.

I like the "rigged" dining.....if you listen to my family they think that for me, it's all about the food! LOL!

A combination of the crowds and the + system makes navigating the parks uncomfortable without submitting to the scheduling...

I think your forgetting that overall ease of use was greater during the fast pass era. For a variety of reason...but it is the truth on the average. That how my tired, experienced eyes have seen it.

 

[MamaJinji]

I remember when I was younger, I was the one my family would send sprinting for the FPs, because I had all the energy and I liked the excuse to run. Like running to the back to get some passes for Mt Everest, then heading back to the front to meet my family by Dinosaurs. Good times.

I haven't been to the World since FP+ was introduced. But the changes sound like needed ones. I'm still not sure about this tier thing though. Seems like if I'm willing to have one tier 1 ride in the morning and another in the evening, sacrificing my chance at more FPs, I should be able to do it. My vacation, ya know?

 

[quagmire0]

But that would have happened with FP-. You booked your pass, but if you chose to leave, you were sunk. Maybe something was open in a different park....but?????

Oh, if I'm going to leave the park after getting there, that's a different story. I wouldn't do that. Our first two trips we didn't have hoppers, so whatever park we decided to go to in the morning, that's the one we stayed at. My point was that we'd be able to change plans 'on the fly' the night before. So, if, three months out, I had us going to MK on Tuesday, but on Monday night we decided we'd rather go to Epcot on Tuesday, on Tuesday we could go to Epcot and get our Fastpasses right out of the gate. The new system, I have to have my schedule down 30 days in advance. Even then I don't get the 'pick of the litter' because onsite folks have first dibs. Once I have those locked in though, there's not much wiggle room. I either have to 'stick with the plan' from 30 days ago, or I lose those FP+s, which is the FP- equivalent of getting to the park at Noon and seeing what's left.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Oh, if I'm going to leave the park after getting there, that's a different story. I wouldn't do that. Our first two trips we didn't have hoppers, so whatever park we decided to go to in the morning, that's the one we stayed at. My point was that we'd be able to change plans 'on the fly' the night before. So, if, three months out, I had us going to MK on Tuesday, but on Monday night we decided we'd rather go to Epcot on Tuesday, on Tuesday we could go to Epcot and get our Fastpasses right out of the gate. The new system, I have to have my schedule down 30 days in advance. Even then I don't get the 'pick of the litter' because onsite folks have first dibs. Once I have those locked in though, there's not much wiggle room. I either have to 'stick with the plan' from 30 days ago, or I lose those FP+s, which is the FP- equivalent of getting to the park at Noon and seeing what's left.

Indeed...

Also the weather is an issue that in the past could be changed.

Epcot and studios are actually better in the rain than DAK and magic kingdom...more things to do indoors.

 

[Nancyg56]

Oh, if I'm going to leave the park after getting there, that's a different story. I wouldn't do that. Our first two trips we didn't have hoppers, so whatever park we decided to go to in the morning, that's the one we stayed at. My point was that we'd be able to change plans 'on the fly' the night before. So, if, three months out, I had us going to MK on Tuesday, but on Monday night we decided we'd rather go to Epcot on Tuesday, on Tuesday we could go to Epcot and get our Fastpasses right out of the gate. The new system, I have to have my schedule down 30 days in advance. Even then I don't get the 'pick of the litter' because onsite folks have first dibs. Once I have those locked in though, there's not much wiggle room. I either have to 'stick with the plan' from 30 days ago, or I lose those FP+s, which is the FP- equivalent of getting to the park at Noon and seeing what's left.

I totally understand! For every plus there certainly is that pesky minus!

And your analogy is correct IMO as well.

I think the entire FP discussion is difficult becasue we all tour differently, and we all have our own set of expectations in any given park. What works well for me may be a fiasco for you, and what I consider to be a satisfying day may be a bust for anyone else. I do think that no matter how Disney reworks FP, with multiple tweaks, enhancements and pretty bands to use them with, until there is more available for teh number of people who visit, the lines and teh crowd management is going to continue to be a conversation that does not seem to have any good answers for everyone.
I am in the middle of trying to plan a December trip with a diverse group of us. I'll be okay with the FP for us, (I hope) and hope that careful planning on my part will mitigate some of the stress my oldest son already has about joining us. Crowds and lines make him very uncomfortable so if I can plan a few attractions with minimal waits when we plan on being in the parks, I am way ahead. We don't change parks on the fly so that is never an issue. For me, if we can manage this one FP+ is golden! LOL!