Finally figured out my disappointment with FP+

[mom2rtk]

It is just a question of priorities.

......... and cost.

You left off that one.... TINY.........little detail.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Apples and oranges. While your "solution" is technically available to everyone, it incurs a significant additional monetary cost. That can hardly be compared to legacy FP which was free.

Each is the way to leverage a system. The systems are different, so the leverage requirements are different.

And there really is no "cost" because you do not have to use the extra tickets - you just leverage them in procuring and using more FP+. You have to purchase them, but you then set them aside for a future trip.

Think of it like a DVC purchase.

 

[mom2rtk]

Each is the way to leverage a system. The systems are different, so the leverage requirements are different.

And there really is no "cost" because you do not have to use the extra tickets - you just leverage them in procuring and using more FP+. You have to purchase them, but you then set them aside for a future trip.

Think of it like a DVC purchase.

You must think everyone has a spare grand sitting around to invest in next year's vacation. I hope you understand many just cannot do that. It's not a question of motivation. It's a question of ability.

Maybe you'll understand when you have 2 kids in college like I do.

 

[magicbob]

Each is the way to leverage a system. The systems are different, so the leverage requirements are different.

And there really is no "cost" because you do not have to use the extra tickets - you just leverage them in procuring and using more FP+. You have to purchase them, but you then set them aside for a future trip.

Think of it like a DVC purchase.

Apparently I'm not spun up on the details of your plan. I thought you would be using two tickets per person. If you are getting extra FPs using tickets that will not be used for the park that day, it's starting to sound suspiciously like "cheating" the system to obtain "more than your fair share." Don't the FP+ rules state that each guest is entitled to only 3 FP+ per park admission?

 

[mom2rtk]

Apparently I'm not spun up on the details of your plan. I thought you would be using two tickets per person. If you are getting extra FPs using tickets that will not be used for the park that day, it's starting to sound suspiciously like "cheating" the system to obtain "more than your fair share." Don't the FP+ rules state that each guest is entitled to only 3 FP+ per park admission?

You can link them to a separate account and use FP entitlements without using them for park admission.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

You must think everyone has a spare grand sitting around to invest in next year's vacation. I hope you understand many just cannot do that. It's not a question of motivation. It's a question of ability.

Maybe you'll understand when you have 2 kids in college like I do.

I have two teen-aged boys - I understand that every dollar that I spend is based on my spending priorities. I don't have to wait until they are in college to learn that, but thanks for your condescension.

 

[magicbob]

You can link them to a separate account and use the FP entitlements without using them for park admission.

Still sounds like exploiting a loophole. If you are getting FP+ this year with those tickets and then getting more FP+ next year with those same tickets, wouldn't that be "double dipping?"

I'm having a hard time understanding why Disney would allow you to use FP+ from a ticket that's not been used to enter the park? If so, couldn't someone keep reserving FP+ over and over again with those tickets but never actually use them?

 

[leebee]

You can link them to a separate account and use FP entitlements without using them for park admission.

Until Disney catches wind of this. With all the big-time technology that $1.8B can buy, this should be a fairly easy loophole to close. It's crazy to think that you're going to be able to use FP entitlements on an un-activated park ticket. Why would you even take the chance?

 

[mom2rtk]

Still sounds like exploiting a loophole. If you are getting FP+ this year with those tickets and then getting more FP+ next year with those same tickets, wouldn't that be "double dipping?"

I'm having a hard time understanding why Disney would allow you to use FP+ from a ticket that's not been used to enter the park? If so, couldn't someone keep reserving FP+ over and over again with those tickets but never actually use them?

I'm guessing they just haven't turned back on the part of the system that will only allow you to access FP with a ticket used to enter the park. Maybe they can't do it now. Or maybe it sill happen tonight. No way to know.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

If so, couldn't someone keep reserving FP+ over and over again with those tickets but never actually use them?

At this time...yes.

 

[Dis703]

I can't understand how FP+ enhances anyone's park experience. Seems like we're getting a lot less but paying more.

Well, I don't have to run around with the kids or worse run around alone grabbing Fastpasses often crisscrossing the parks wasting my time.

I can choose times in advance that work better for our schedule instead of working our day around whatever FP time is being given when we get there. And if something happens and the time or ride no longer works for us I hop on my phone and choose something else instead of just wasting it.


I also know in advance I will be able to ride things like TSM, Soarin or Test Track even if we go to the park later in the day. We've missed all of these rides in the past because of FP being gone early and waits being too excessive.

Seems like more to me. Of course I never loved the old system.

 

[magicbob]

If so, couldn't someone keep reserving FP+ over and over again with those tickets but never actually use them?

At this time...yes.

Wow. That is just plain nuts.

Until Disney catches wind of this. With all the big-time technology that $1.8B can buy, this should be a fairly easy loophole to close. It's crazy to think that you're going to be able to use FP entitlements on an un-activated park ticket. Why would you even take the chance?

Exactly. They might as well let me book FP+ with my Sea World tickets if I can get extra FPs using ticket media that hasn't been validated at the gate.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Until Disney catches wind of this. With all the big-time technology that $1.8B can buy, this should be a fairly easy loophole to close. It's crazy to think that you're going to be able to use FP entitlements on an un-activated park ticket. Why would you even take the chance?

They know about the problem, and it has existed since they started testing last July. The park entrance system is not connected in any way with the FP+ system. Eventually they will fix this. Eventually. Maybe. Someday.

Until then, I plan on leveraging this to the max!

 

[magicbob]

They know about the problem, and it has existed since they started testing last July. The park entrance system is not connected in any way with the FP+ system. Eventually they will fix this. Eventually. Maybe. Someday.

Until then, I plan on leveraging this to the max!

And the self-appointed FP+ police here haven't called you every name in the book?

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

They know about the problem, and it has existed since they started testing last July. The park entrance system is not connected in any way with the FP+ system. Eventually they will fix this. Eventually. Maybe. Someday.

Until then, I plan on leveraging this to the max!

So you're saying that 3 per day is not good enough for you.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

So you're saying that 3 per day is not good enough for you.

Not exactly, but close.

When we went in January, we had a great time using only 3 FP+ per day - but the crowds were light. When we go back in September we will probably only want/need 3 FP+ per day - but the crowds will be very light. When I go in two week the crowds are going to be moderate-heavy. 3 FP+ per day is not sufficient for those crowd conditions, IMO.

Again, I loved FP-. If I could switch everything back to FP-, I would do so in a second, especially if I could do it without the enforced time return windows. But we can't do that, so I am trying to make the best of FP+, and I refuse to let this system change my view of, or love for, Disney.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

The point of my OP was to express what I just realized is my biggest concern about the new system. I'm still withholding judgment until we go and see for ourselves. But it's a real concern to me at this point.

I got lots of positive feedback here. Some agreement, some ideas of ways it might not be so bad. I know this is a topic that's been beaten to death, so thank you all for reading and lending positive support and feedback.

This was not meant to be a tutorial on how to beat the system. Those who circumvent rules and work the system are not "savvy travelers". They're cheaters. And they're the reason so many things change---GAC/DAS anyone? Those people were just very savvy, weren't they?

 

[Ava]

Well, I don't have to run around with the kids or worse run around alone grabbing Fastpasses often crisscrossing the parks wasting my time.

This, exactly. I haven't tried FP+ yet, but the idea of being able to book times in advance for a few of the most popular rides, as opposed to rushing around at park opening with 2 small kids in tow, is very appealing. And I'll see for sure when we go in Sept.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

This was not meant to be a tutorial on how to beat the system. Those who circumvent rules and work the system are not "savvy travelers". They're cheaters.

And those who do not fully leverage the fast pass system are foolish, IMO. But that is what makes the world great. We can each have our own opinion.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

And those who do not fully leverage the fast pass system are foolish, IMO. But that is what makes the world great. We can each have our own opinion.

You say fully leverage. I say pay ridiculous amount of money for a few extra FPs, circumventing a system with rules you ignore. You say po-tay-to, I say po-tah-to.