Fastpass Plus ruined my vacation

[Itinkso]

From one of her posts it sounds like the OP lives 20 mins from DLR, so they may not consider that a vacation if they're able to go frequently.

I did read that but figured special fun and memories at DL would still be better than what they experienced at WDW. Saving money on airfare would cancel out the additional costs of the Premier pass.

 

[minnie mum]

I have no clue why the OP is so upset with FP+. I use it every week and love it. It works great.

Seriously? Are you visiting every week as a family of 4? Are you trying to maximize every park day to see as much as possible because you visit WDW infrequently? Did you not notice that the OP stated she was unable to get the FPs that she wanted?

OP, I can understand how very frustrated you must feel. While FP+ apparently works acceptably for some guests, it just does not work well for all. Much depends on the time of year that you travel (crowd levels) and your families preferred park touring style. Your family seems to be much like ours in that we go to the parks primarily for the attractions, and not just to spend hours every day standing around inhaling pixie dust. The higher crowd levels certainly work against that (decreased FP availability and longer SB lines). Plus your family was having to deal with the jet lag that comes with your cross country trip. Fatigue + frustration + being unsuccessful in doing what you have previously enjoyed doing = a less than magical vacation.

Hopefully you can continue to enjoy your Disneyland visits for some time to come before FP+ rears its ugly head out there. Perhaps the next time you come east for a vacation you could look at a Universal stay, and see some of the other nonDisney attractions in the state. Two years ago those words would never have come from my lips. But as the FP+ lovers like to say - love it or leave it. More and more of us are choosing to leave it.

 

[JanaDee]

I have no clue why the OP is so upset with FP+. I use it every week and love it. It works great.

I think we've already been over this at least, oh a couple hundred times?

 

[Angel Ariel]

I did read that but figured special fun and memories at DL would still be better than what they experienced at WDW. Saving money on airfare would cancel out the additional costs of the Premier pass.

Definitely a good thought . I for one would love to get out to DLR for the 60th, but unless something unexpected happens,I doubt we'll get the chance

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I understand the frustration with FP+. I have learned to love it, but I had to change my touring style for that to be possible. Some are simply not happy with the new system. For them, there is no easy answer other than moving on from Disney.

That said, blaming Disney for your behavior or the behavior of your spouse is flat wrong. You are responsible for your behavior, and he for his. Screaming at one another is simply not an option in our family. We love and respect one another too much for that to be allowed. And when we slip, we don't blame our slips on anyone or anything else. We accept responsibility, apologize and move on.

 

[Love Tink]

I understand the frustration with FP+. I have learned to love it, but I had to change my touring style for that to be possible. Some are simply not happy with the new system. For them, there is no easy answer other than moving on from Disney.

That said, blaming Disney for your behavior or the behavior of your spouse is flat wrong. You are responsible for your behavior, and he for his. Screaming at one another is simply not an option in our family. We love and respect one another too much for that to be allowed. And when we slip, we don't blame our slips on anyone or anything else. We accept responsibility, apologize and move on.

My family finds that one good way to stay close is to compare ourselves to other families and tell each other how much better we are than other families. It really bonds us together and reinforces our loving feelings of sanctimonious superiority.

 

[Suvadoo]

I have no clue why the OP is so upset with FP+. I use it every week and love it. It works great.

You're a local. So if you miss out on something you can go tomorrow. Not the same thing as a tourist who's there for a limited time.

 

[Suvadoo]

My family finds that one good way to stay close is to compare ourselves to other families and tell each other how much better we are than other families. It really bonds us together and reinforces our loving feelings of sanctimonious superiority.

You forgot to include self- righteousness

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Ya know, telling people how great FP+ is for your personally is really not that helpful, neither is making judgments about how people handle stressful situations.

The key to having an enjoyable WDW vacation now is to be ok with doing a lot less in the parks everyday. And to have low expectations, not in a bad way, but just to accept what it is.

ITA with this. It's unfortunate, but with FP+ as the new normal, you really have to change your expectations for what you will get out of a WDW trip. We bought APs before our last trip in December, and I sorta regret it. We will likely not go on a planned SWW trip in June, and instead will end our Disney vacationing with a trip in October 2015 to get our money's worth. After being disappointed during our December trip (and this was before Christmas, so not peak crowds) I realized that I no longer feel like Disney is a great value for us simply because we now need to settle for doing less than we did before. So I think we're moving on, unfortunately. FP+ is NOT going to change, I'm not happy with lowering our expectations, so I no longer think Disney is a good fit for us.

I'm sorry you didn't have the trip you wanted. I can feel your frustration in your post

I would highly recommend reading mesaboy2's Fastpass+ Basic Info and Strategies thread for your summer trip. It is a fantastic resource of information and tips on how to best use FP+.

I would also think about maybe adjusting your strategy for your summer trip. Crowds will be high in the summer, so Rope Drop will be very effective. I'd suggest one of two things:

1. Rope Drop in teh mornings, but head back to your hotel sooner in the evening so everyone gets the rest they need.

2. Alternate Rope Drop mornings with late night evenings. If you do a late night, sleep in the next morning and then do Rope Drop the next day. I don't know what the ages in your family are, but if you can do late nights that kind of schedule might help even out the tiredness.

I do very much sympathize with how your feeling - I truly hope that your trip in the summer will be better.

These are some really helpful suggestions. I think that rope drop is even more important than before FP+, especially if you like re-rides. We used mornings for rides and afternoons for shows and rest.

My family finds that one good way to stay close is to compare ourselves to other families and tell each other how much better we are than other families. It really bonds us together and reinforces our loving feelings of sanctimonious superiority.

Hee hee. ITA.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

My family finds that one good way to stay close is to compare ourselves to other families and tell each other how much better we are than other families. It really bonds us together and reinforces our loving feelings of sanctimonious superiority.

I did not say that we are better than anyone else, but your post helps me to realize that we are. Thanks for helping me realize that.

 

[kathie859]

My family finds that one good way to stay close is to compare ourselves to other families and tell each other how much better we are than other families. It really bonds us together and reinforces our loving feelings of sanctimonious superiority.

Snarky much? The OP volunteers her DH SCREAMED at her. She certainly shouldn't be surprised that other posters would comment one way or the other

 

[Suvadoo]

The key to having an enjoyable WDW vacation now is to be ok with doing a lot less in the parks everyday. And to have low expectations, not in a bad way, but just to accept what it is.

I think this is the best advice on these boards. Because the reality of visiting WDW is that you now pay more and experience less.
I'm sorry your trip was stressful and I think it's ridiculous for people to start blaming your husband for yelling. FP+ is frustrating.

 

[BellaBaby]

My family finds that one good way to stay close is to compare ourselves to other families and tell each other how much better we are than other families. It really bonds us together and reinforces our loving feelings of sanctimonious superiority.

LOL!!

 

[Angel Ariel]

Snarky much? The OP volunteers her DH SCREAMED at her. She certainly shouldn't be surprised that other posters would comment one way or the other

I'm not saying this snarkily, but this isn't a relationship advice board. It's a disney planning board.

I'm sure the OP is well aware of her and her DH's personal responsibility in their actions. I saw her post as a vent, with differing strategies on how to deal with FP+ being the main stressor for them on the vacation.

I think advice on some other strategy options for their summer trip is a lot more helpful,not to mention more on topic to this board, than critiquing the relationship.

 

[Magpie]

To be honest, a screaming husband would have done FAR more to ruin my trip than Fastpass ever could. Even the thought of having to deal with screaming and anger and impatience while on vacation just puts my back right up. Sorry you had to deal with that.

My recommendation for your next trip would be to make up a plan of attack where you and your husband are on the same page. Plan out your days carefully and ensure you both know what you're going to do and when. And then work together to make it happen. Be a team.

Yes, this means you *may* have to plan this out like you're storming the beaches of Normandy. But if that's what it takes to keep everyone happy and not screaming at you, then that's what you have to do.

Use EasyWDW and every other resource you can find (several linked in this thread already).

For what it's worth, FP+ has actually enhanced my vacations. However, these days it's just me and my husband and we're early risers (whether we want to be or not), who nap every afternoon. So it suits us much better than the old FP system did! Figuring out a strategy that works for you may be a bit more difficult.

Good luck!

 

[rustyanchor]

I'm sorry that you had that experience. It seems that FP+ doesn't work for everyone's touring style. It worked very well for us last year, in fact I think it was one of the most relaxing Disney trips I have ever taken because we didn't have to rush across parks trying to grab fastpasses. But I can understand it being frustrating (especially for kids) if you're not getting to go on the rides you want.

I hope you can figure out something that works for your family, and if not then maybe it's time to move on from Disney since it is indeed a LOT of money and time wasted if you're not getting any enjoyment from visiting the parks.

 

[Kellykins1218]

I have no clue why the OP is so upset with FP+. I use it every week and love it. It works great.

We aren't lucky enough to go every week but we LOVE FP+. It made everything LESS stressful for us. I hope they never go back to paper.

 

[Planogirl]

It seems that if you dislike anything Disney does then you are somehow flawed. At least according to some on this forum. And yes, I know that some think that everything Disney does is wrong too. However the constant defense of Disney when this system clearly doesn't work for everyone is a bit much. I can see why so many regulars have moved on from this forum.

The best advice I've seen is to go to Disneyland instead and I'm here to research this very idea but now it appears that Disney might at some point implement FP+ there too. That is beyond frustrating for people who like Disney but don't care for their new system.

As for the unsolicited relationship advice, sometimes people scream in frustration. It's not the right thing to do but it happens.

 

[wisblue]

To the OP, I'm sorry you had a bad vacation.

I'm curious about the specific dates of the trip involved. If they included the week between Christmas and New Year's, you might take some comfort in knowing that the conditions you faced that week are not representative of what WDW is like on a regular basis. So, a trip during the summer could work out better because, while the parks are still crowded, the crowds are nothing like what they are during the holidays.

I spent a few days at Disneyland last week as part of a trip to Southern California, and I know that the massive crowds we faced are not representative of a typical Disneyland experience.

 

[Disneylover99]

What fastpass reservations were you not able to get, even 30 days in advance?

That's what I'm wondering too.

OP....if you are going back again in the summer, maybe consider staying at a Disney resort so you can book your fp's 60 days out.