Finding FP+ very annoying...

[Putney]

How does it push you to a certain ride? It shows every available ride in park for that day.

I'd have to guess that the reason they only give you 4 time options is b/c they hold those slots until you choose one. If they gave you all available times at once they couldn't do that. And then if you waited too long to choose maybe one of those slots is no longer available and the system would make you choose again. It would be more frustrating than the way it is.

It's not hard to choose a group and modify.

As long as you have Disney's secret decoder ring it's easy peasy!

 

[noahsmom]

I was able to locate earlier times once I selected the "suggested" fast pass options. I have read many threads, discussions, and FAQs on the FP+ but missed this. So I feel I have done my homework, but thank you to those who thought otherwise, those are helpful posts.

Disney websites have always been frustrating to me. The fact that my Disney experience is different depending on if you're on a phone, tablet, or computer is annoying (I think CMs feel they same based on phone conversations).

We have been to WDW many times, and we are DVC owners. In the past we arrived at rope drop to get on the most popular rides, then got fast passes for later. When we hop, we go to the second park in the evening, sometimes get fast passes, sometimes not. As I stated in the original post, I don't like that you have to choose all 3 fast passes in the same park. If someone adds hopping to their ticket they should be able to book fast passes at multiple parks in the same day. This is just my opinion.

Since DS will graduate next year this will probably be our last family trip to WDW. After this we may just use our points to cruise. Which is good, frees up space for others at WDW.

 

[prudence64]

I thought it was funny that a friend who went with me to WDW in Nov. on her first trip just got back from a trip to Disneyland as well. They had a good time but said she wouldn't return to DL until they fix the fast pass system so it matches WDW. She found it too annoying and old fashioned to not be able to select your return times. Just made me laugh with all of the complaints the other direction on here.

 

[larryz]

As long as you have Disney's secret decoder ring it's easy peasy!

The DisBoards: WDW's Secret Decoder Ring.

 

[Astridia]

I thought it was funny that a friend who went with me to WDW in Nov. on her first trip just got back from a trip to Disneyland as well. They had a good time but said she wouldn't return to DL until they fix the fast pass system so it matches WDW. She found it too annoying and old fashioned to not be able to select your return times. Just made me laugh with all of the complaints the other direction on here.

Yup, I'm one with the opposing opinion. I was really happy when I read that MDE would not be coming to DLR. But DLR is a local park. It's crowded in the summer and on weekends. But during the weekdays at slower times, you really don't need FP's. That's when we visit.

 

[itchin2go]

I was able to locate earlier times once I selected the "suggested" fast pass options. I have read many threads, discussions, and FAQs on the FP+ but missed this. So I feel I have done my homework, but thank you to those who thought otherwise, those are helpful posts.

Disney websites have always been frustrating to me. The fact that my Disney experience is different depending on if you're on a phone, tablet, or computer is annoying (I think CMs feel they same based on phone conversations).

We have been to WDW many times, and we are DVC owners. In the past we arrived at rope drop to get on the most popular rides, then got fast passes for later. When we hop, we go to the second park in the evening, sometimes get fast passes, sometimes not. As I stated in the original post, I don't like that you have to choose all 3 fast passes in the same park. If someone adds hopping to their ticket they should be able to book fast passes at multiple parks in the same day. This is just my opinion.

Since DS will graduate next year this will probably be our last family trip to WDW. After this we may just use our points to cruise. Which is good, frees up space for others at WDW.

I am glad you were able to find earlier times! That system is definitely confusing. I agree with you about Disney websites in general. I don't think MDE is intuitive, and I also find it annoying that it works differently on the computer vs. phone. I kept trying to remember ... now how do I do this on THIS device? For an upgrade that's technology based, the technology is pretty lacking.

I will say that once you figure out the whole FP mess, the experience at the parks is pretty much the same as it has always been. Rope drop was very successful, and we found we didn't really need most of our FPs. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[DisneyJediMaster]

I have to say, I find the OP's claim to be very surprising.

I just did FP+ over the weekend, about 33 days out from my trip (because we booked the trip last minute) and I was even able to get a 1 PM for 7DMT on the 24 hour day (which was the time I was going for).

It would seriously shock me if morning FPs were gone 60 days out for anything other than A&E.

While this is awesome that you had that experience, the reality with FP+ that this isn't possible for everyone to do. MK comes closest (with the most capacity) but even there if everyone tried to use FP+ the way WDW wants, there is no way that everyone can get what they want, the capacity just isn't there. In the other parks, with much lower capacity, the chances are further decreased.

 

[NavyDad]

While this is awesome that you had that experience, the reality with FP+ that this isn't possible for everyone to do. MK comes closest (with the most capacity) but even there if everyone tried to use FP+ the way WDW wants, there is no way that everyone can get what they want, the capacity just isn't there. In the other parks, with much lower capacity, the chances are further decreased.

We are going in late June on crowd level 8/9 days. I booked late on my 60th day and had zero problems finding capacity for a family of five at every park for every headliner for every day of trip. I was even able to find tons of capacity for another week or so to move times around. This included 7DMT, A&E, Mountains, TSMM, RNRC, Soarin, TT, Safair, EE, parades, shows etc....

In general there is plenty of capacity to make FP+ at 60 day mark for all rides at all parks.

The problems come in to play after the 60 day mark especially for those that can only make their selections at 30 day mark.... even then most headliners at most parks are still available with some notable exceptions...

 

[Astridia]

We are going in late June on crowd level 8/9 days. I booked late on my 60th day and had zero problems finding capacity for a family of five at every park for every headliner for every day of trip. I was even able to find tons of capacity for another week or so to move times around. This included 7DMT, A&E, Mountains, TSMM, RNRC, Soarin, TT, Safair, EE, parades, shows etc....

In general there is plenty of capacity to make FP+ at 60 day mark for all rides at all parks.

The problems come in to play after the 60 day mark especially for those that can only make their selections at 30 day mark.... even then most headliners at most parks are still available with some notable exceptions...

Glad you got everything you wanted. Although the attractions may still be available at the 30 day mark, they may be at unacceptable times. I've seen a lot of posts where people say the FP+ availability is too late in the evening for a family that's doing rope drop.

 

[cakebaker]

We are going in late June on crowd level 8/9 days. I booked late on my 60th day and had zero problems finding capacity for a family of five at every park for every headliner for every day of trip. I was even able to find tons of capacity for another week or so to move times around. This included 7DMT, A&E, Mountains, TSMM, RNRC, Soarin, TT, Safair, EE, parades, shows etc....

In general there is plenty of capacity to make FP+ at 60 day mark for all rides at all parks.

The problems come in to play after the 60 day mark especially for those that can only make their selections at 30 day mark.... even then most headliners at most parks are still available with some notable exceptions...

Same here for mid-June. I've been making changes here and there and as late as yesterday I still had lots of available times to choose from. I didn't need to change up SDMT or A&E- but outside of those- it hasn't been a problem at all. This is for 5 people and has included mornings, afternoon and early evenings. We don't have any scheduled late as we book ours for when we expect the crowds to be heaviest.

 

[NavyDad]

Glad you got everything you wanted. Although the attractions may still be available at the 30 day mark, they may be at unacceptable times. I've seen a lot of posts where people say the FP+ availability is too late in the evening for a family that's doing rope drop.

Yeah - that's the thing.... the pickings get slimmer and slimmer as you get closer to 30 days and then beyond.

IMO that is the biggest game changer to the new way of doing things: Staying on-site has a greater advantage than it ever has before...

 

[NavyDad]

Same here for mid-June. I've been making changes here and there and as late as yesterday I still had lots of available times to choose from. I didn't need to change up SDMT or A&E- but outside of those- it hasn't been a problem at all. This is for 5 people and has included mornings, afternoon and early evenings. We don't have any scheduled late as we book ours for when we expect the crowds to be heaviest.

When I was getting ready to make my FP I was looking at that site that shows availablity (got the link here - can't remember the site name) and there was tons of capacity for pretty much everything in mid to late June with the exception of A&E and 7DMT and maybe one of the parades...

 

[DisneyJediMaster]

We are going in late June on crowd level 8/9 days. I booked late on my 60th day and had zero problems finding capacity for a family of five at every park for every headliner for every day of trip. I was even able to find tons of capacity for another week or so to move times around. This included 7DMT, A&E, Mountains, TSMM, RNRC, Soarin, TT, Safair, EE, parades, shows etc....

In general there is plenty of capacity to make FP+ at 60 day mark for all rides at all parks.

The problems come in to play after the 60 day mark especially for those that can only make their selections at 30 day mark.... even then most headliners at most parks are still available with some notable exceptions...

Oh sorry I didn't mean that currently at 60 days there wasn't enough capacity. I had said if everyone used fp+ to prebook there wouldn't be. Clearly not everyone is doing so and with the staggered starts for on and off site this prevents that from happening ... but the reality remains that the ride capacity is the weakest point of FP+.

The 60 day mark is obviously going to be the best time to book ... but each day beyond that your chances of getting what you want, when you want it, decrease.

And sure some people will get what they want when they want it booking their FP at 1pm on Christmas day when they randomly decide to go in the park ... but we have to realize for every person that happens for there are many others it does not.

 

[LetsTalkWDW]

Glad you got everything you wanted. Although the attractions may still be available at the 30 day mark, they may be at unacceptable times. I've seen a lot of posts where people say the FP+ availability is too late in the evening for a family that's doing rope drop.

This was also a problem with the old FP system, you had almost no control over when your next FP would be and if it was for one of the headliners it's quite possible you would have to settle for a late evening or nighttime FP and that was only one at a time.

 

[Astridia]

This was also a problem with the old FP system, you had almost no control over when your next FP would be and if it was for one of the headliners it's quite possible you would have to settle for a late evening or nighttime FP and that was only one at a time.

True, but every day you could choose your park based on what your family wanted to do and you started everyday with all FP's available at the park. So spontaneity was still alive and well.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Summer is definitely when FP+ availability is the best, because the parks are open long hours. Wait until party season, and I guarantee we'll start seeing tons of posts about no A&E availability for early in the trip, and only afternoon availability for 7DMT until later in people's trips.

In 2014 we went in August (late August, so after peak crowds but still while parks were open long hours) and December (before the holiday rush). Had great luck in August. December was a totally different story and did affect my opinion of FP+.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Summer is definitely when FP+ availability is the best, because the parks are open long hours. Wait until party season, and I guarantee we'll start seeing tons of posts about no A&E availability for early in the trip, and only afternoon availability for 7DMT until later in people's trips.

In 2014 we went in August (late August, so after peak crowds but still while parks were open long hours) and December (before the holiday rush). Had great luck in August. December was a totally different story and did affect my opinion of FP+.

after reading Hydroguy's just back report on his experience this month (as well as a few others recently) I will say that May and SWW are becoming a lot more appealing than party season.

 

[maxiesmom]

While this is awesome that you had that experience, the reality with FP+ that this isn't possible for everyone to do. MK comes closest (with the most capacity) but even there if everyone tried to use FP+ the way WDW wants, there is no way that everyone can get what they want, the capacity just isn't there. In the other parks, with much lower capacity, the chances are further decreased.

It wasn't possible for everyone to pull FPs for all of the rides they wanted with the old system either. And you were blind, as far as going to a park and having to hope they had FPs available for the rides you wanted to ride. At least now you can book a few ahead of time, and also see what rides have FPs available before you go to the park.

 

[Astridia]

It wasn't possible for everyone to pull FPs for all of the rides they wanted with the old system either. And you were blind, as far as going to a park and having to hope they had FPs available for the rides you wanted to ride. At least now you can book a few ahead of time, and also see what rides have FPs available before you go to the park.

FP+ was only for headliners and not everyone was being told about the wonders of FP+. So fewer people used legacy. SB lines were shorter. So yes, you can have 3 rides no waiting, but increased waiting on the other 10 attractions you want to experience. Not a great deal for my family.

 

[DisneyJediMaster]

It wasn't possible for everyone to pull FPs for all of the rides they wanted with the old system either. And you were blind, as far as going to a park and having to hope they had FPs available for the rides you wanted to ride. At least now you can book a few ahead of time, and also see what rides have FPs available before you go to the park.

FP+ was only for headliners and not everyone was being told about the wonders of FP+. So fewer people used legacy. SB lines were shorter. So yes, you can have 3 rides no waiting, but increased waiting on the other 10 attractions you want to experience. Not a great deal for my family.

Astridia hit the nail on the head there. Maxiesmom you are right the capacity wasn't there before either, that element hasn't chanced I don't think. But increasing the use of FP, dedicating more of the capacity of each ride to FP has had a dramatic effect on the parks and ride availability. Rather than trying to ration rides and direct crowds to maximize the yield of their attractions in order to improve guest experience (if you are even willing to assume that guest experience was the primary concern) building more rides was the more obvious solution, heck they could have even promoted Legacy FP more if they wanted.

Anyway the point was really about the PP's previous concern about being able to get what they want when they want and the fact that while we see lots of success stories here we also see lots of stories where people aren't successful, that that is a pool drawing from people in the know, it does make me wonder how successful the average joe is at getting what they want, if they don't have the Dis and MesaBoy's guidance.