FP+ and Last Minute Trips

[Angel Ariel]

I wonder now the hours for the parks this week compared to the week Angel Ariel went. (And no, I don't actually know, hence my question.).

Park hours are definitely longer, which I do think accounts for the better pre-booking availability, but I don't know that I would say it is *also* responsible for the ease of switching FP+ around while on trips that people have been commenting on having in recent posts.

We tried a few times to switch FP+ around...the most memorable in AK...and there wasn't much to switch to. Now, I also found during my friend's trip a week later than mine, also at AK, that availability on the website was significantly different than the availability I saw on the MDE app(I was her FP+ booker, so I was trying to move things for her when their plans for the day changed). So perhaps if I'd known that on my trip, I would have been able to switch things around more easily (as I was able to for her). No way to know for sure.

Overall I think it is a combination of longer park hours and an increase in FP+ slots. Not something we'll ever know for sure, though, as Disney is unlikely to release that info.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Please read post below from Angel Ariel.

Her first trip was not during a "slower time".

More importantly, she also admits that on both trips she got what she wanted at 60 days besides A&E. That hardly translates to "nothing".

It wasn't what I'd call a "slow" time, but it wasn't Christmas week either, and park hours reflected that. Wait time wise, we waited less than 25 mins for most everything we did (maybe 2 or 3 rides were 30-40? out of all parks, all weekend). So, not really an excessively crowded time either.

And yes, I said that on our trip, midnight at 60 days was necessary for A&E and 7DMT. I never found A&E through MDE (cancellation thread here), and 7DMT was gone 5 mins after I got it. While I would not say these were "make or break" things for our trip - far from it - they were important things, and as it turned out *in our case* it was necessary to be online at midnight at 60 days in order to even have a shot at getting them.

I'm happy that others have had more luck for their December trips. I will be interested to see if the increased availability remains. It would not surprise me if Disney is tweaking availability behind the scenes, and the stark comparison of availability from even the busier summer months compared to the ease of booking for a Christmas trip doesn't do much to dissuade me from thinking that.

 

[Suvadoo]

Please read post below from Angel Ariel.

Her first trip was not during a "slower time".

More importantly, she also admits that on both trips she got what she wanted at 60 days besides A&E. That hardly translates to "nothing".

I was refering to post #65, not the one you're quoting. But I do apologize for using the phase "nothing was available" Please allow me to correct, A& E not available

 

[Suvadoo]

And when someone--disagrees with your (general) negative assessment, then the snark flies. It has happened to be several times on multiple threads. Again, what purpose does it serve?.

However you're an innocent bystander as this post from you clearly illustrates:

I kind of wish you would stop scaring people out of visiting when they want because the touring is not to your liking. Kind of reaching a new level of hysteria.

You never say anything that's inappropriate.

I don't dislike your thread--I welcome it as a platform for discussion on a public message board.

That was the purpose of the thread to allow for discussion

But I do feel that some posts, yours included cause fear and worry instead of constructive thoughts. That didn't happen before. People just saw all the tips and worried. Now they get worried because of all the doomsday posts.

Everyone is responsible for their own emotional responses, including you. As I've said before, people can choose to read what they want. Also, you say that the tips on these boards always caused worries. So your point is?

Anyway--you have fun posting threads about everything you don't like. But don't get indignant when people have an observation of what you posted. Defend your position if you feel it is right.

Actually I'm not indignant, just holding you accountable for your own remarks. Just as you are holding me accountable for mine.

My wish remains the same--I wish members would not scare people.

Again, everyone is responsible for their own emotions.

But it seems folks, such as yourself, who are quite set in their opinions had any interest in what was positive. You seem all to eager to seek out the negative like to so another feather in your cap.

Throughout this thread, I have responded to the positive FP+ experiences with positive remarks. I haven't attempted to invalidate anyone's experience. But I have asked questions to ascertain why people are having totally different experiences.

So, in the meantime--I find such threads need a little more balance and I will contribute accordingly.

Balance is fine, but I have a problem with some of your assertions. For example on a previous post you said preplanning with FP+ was the same as preplanning with legacy FP.

I don't really care what Disney fan-snark name someone wants to call me.

I never called you a name. On the other hand, you have characterized my post as "hysteria" Therefore, I must conclude that you are characterizing me as hysterical person. I consider this to be a demeaning remark and not very nice.

So I just laugh when snark is used to invalidate my observations. And when it is used, it is less difficult to be bothered that my disagreement with generalizations bother folks are so easily dismissed. It gets a bit pot meet kettle.

I am only reflecting back to you the remarks you have made. Perhaps you don't like being held accountable for the things you have said, but I have not been “snarky” nor have I called you names.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I agree with the FP+ preplanning anxiety. It's really hard to invest so much money, time, and most importantly dreams in a vacation to WDW. Juggling all of these reservations around to accommodate all of your "must do's". I understand what you're saying about tossing all of your plans and just going with the flow.
My concern with your theory of park touring is that you'll spend most of your time in SB lines especially for headline attractions. If this does happen, the next question is, do you still find value in your WDW vacation. Also, do you think you would have just as much fun on a vacation someplace else?

The only reservations I worked hard to get and kept that I feel were totally worth it to me and my family were BBB, CRT, A&E, FoF, and TSMM. I found most of the parks too crowded to have a good time while on a schedule, and after the 4th day we decided tot scrap all of our plans and just wing it. We had been struggling to find time for my husband, DS and SIL to go to US, so we decided to go to EPCOT and ride a few rides, go to the WS to get princess autographs while they went over to US. We got to EPCOT, went to the back and waited for Mulan, left WS and went up front to use the Visa M&G and just left the park without using any fps. We went back to the hotel for swimming and naps, and ended up not going anywhere else, and it was the best day we had! A lot of money and planning to sit at the hotel, but it was so peaceful! We had a villa at OKW overlooking the golf course and I thoroughly enjoyed our peaceful meal on the balcony overlooking the fairways. By contrast, the US party had a great time, walked on practically every ride with a 0 to max 12 minute wait (Harry Potter) and were blown away by the technology and designing used in the new attractions.
I have been going, as I said, since 1972, and we found we got much less value for our money. We did not get on as many attractions, spent way too much time just trying to maneuver our way around the parks due to the crowds, and the only time we were able to get a lot of things done was on Dec 2, when we had MVMCP tickets. That was probably the best park day of the whole trip.
I regularly go to the beach twice a year, while trying to do a Disney trip at least every other year. From 1988 to 2005 we went to WDW every year, sometimes twice a year. We used to have US APs, we went so often. Then the pricing made us slow down, along with the desire to stay onsite. I always in the past used a timeshare to stay less than a mile from DTD. I think if I go again, I will revert back to the timeshare, make no plans (we used to get up and just decide what to do that day). The main reason I fell into the pre-planning trap was when they started the free dining and we went one year and were unable to get into any restaurants anywhere except WS at EPCOT or a cs restaurant. I will try very hard to pick a time that isn't so crowded - we just wanted our granddaughters to experience the magic of Christmas at WDW but it was just too hectic and crowded to stop and enjoy the decorations and overall atmosphere. I also think staying offsite will encourage me to visit other parks besides WDW and it will be much easier to detach myself from Disney if it proves to be too stressful. I think the way things are structured now (fp+ and the need for ADRs) does not allow enough down time or free time to visit other places such as Sea World and US, both of which I thoroughly enjoy.
JMHO, and how the current structure of WDW affects me and my family. The hustle and bustle and pre planning may work for others and good for them. (Said sincerely, not sarcastically) It just doesn't work for me.
I have also been at Christmas (3 times) and Spring Break (twice) using the old paper fp system, and never had any problem whatsoever getting around, visiting other parks, and experiencing all the attractions I desired. Only one time at Christmas did I find the crowds uncomfortably large, and that was only for 2 days during Christmas 2005.

 

[jade1]

Yesterday was Clearwater Beach day-a fave spot of ours, esp when it was 10 below back home and 80 here. Late lunch at Frenchy's was great as usual, couple parasailers, but mostly soaked up the sun and atmosphere.

Coming back we knew we would miss VOTLMM but didn't care or expect to.

TOT and RNR were basically walk on for FP+.

Hit the 3rd Fantasmic at 10PM to cap the day, the 2 end sections were empty, then saw the end of Illuminations outside the park-love that Holiday ending.

TOT said 80 min and RNR 110.

This would have been about right in the past IMO (actually higher I think) with zero chance of FP of course.

Picked our FP+'s just last week.

 

[Suvadoo]

The only reservations I worked hard to get and kept that I feel were totally worth it to me and my family were BBB, CRT, A&E, FoF, and TSMM. I found most of the parks too crowded to have a good time while on a schedule, and after the 4th day we decided tot scrap all of our plans and just wing it. We had been struggling to find time for my husband, DS and SIL to go to US, so we decided to go to EPCOT and ride a few rides, go to the WS to get princess autographs while they went over to US. We got to EPCOT, went to the back and waited for Mulan, left WS and went up front to use the Visa M&G and just left the park without using any fps. We went back to the hotel for swimming and naps, and ended up not going anywhere else, and it was the best day we had! A lot of money and planning to sit at the hotel, but it was so peaceful! We had a villa at OKW overlooking the golf course and I thoroughly enjoyed our peaceful meal on the balcony overlooking the fairways. By contrast, the US party had a great time, walked on practically every ride with a 0 to max 12 minute wait (Harry Potter) and were blown away by the technology and designing used in the new attractions.
I have been going, as I said, since 1972, and we found we got much less value for our money. We did not get on as many attractions, spent way too much time just trying to maneuver our way around the parks due to the crowds, and the only time we were able to get a lot of things done was on Dec 2, when we had MVMCP tickets. That was probably the best park day of the whole trip.
I regularly go to the beach twice a year, while trying to do a Disney trip at least every other year. From 1988 to 2005 we went to WDW every year, sometimes twice a year. We used to have US APs, we went so often. Then the pricing made us slow down, along with the desire to stay onsite. I always in the past used a timeshare to stay less than a mile from DTD. I think if I go again, I will revert back to the timeshare, make no plans (we used to get up and just decide what to do that day). The main reason I fell into the pre-planning trap was when they started the free dining and we went one year and were unable to get into any restaurants anywhere except WS at EPCOT or a cs restaurant. I will try very hard to pick a time that isn't so crowded - we just wanted our granddaughters to experience the magic of Christmas at WDW but it was just too hectic and crowded to stop and enjoy the decorations and overall atmosphere. I also think staying offsite will encourage me to visit other parks besides WDW and it will be much easier to detach myself from Disney if it proves to be too stressful. I think the way things are structured now (fp+ and the need for ADRs) does not allow enough down time or free time to visit other places such as Sea World and US, both of which I thoroughly enjoy.
JMHO, and how the current structure of WDW affects me and my family. The hustle and bustle and pre planning may work for others and good for them. (Said sincerely, not sarcastically) It just doesn't work for me.
I have also been at Christmas (3 times) and Spring Break (twice) using the old paper fp system, and never had any problem whatsoever getting around, visiting other parks, and experiencing all the attractions I desired. Only one time at Christmas did I find the crowds uncomfortably large, and that was only for 2 days during Christmas 2005.

I know you had a great time with your family, but I'm sorry this trip was not as great as your past experiences. It's interesting that I'm seeing a lot of posts on these boards from hardcore WDW fans saying that they are dividing their Orlando vacations between different Non-Disney parks. These are the same people who used to stay inside the Disney bubble throughout their vacations. I was one of them!