FP+ and Last Minute Trips

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Your point was not proven, it was actually dis-proven. What is bizarre at this point is how you fail to see that.

I've illustrated how the title concept of this thread fails in reality; we thought about going to a particular park four days in advance in the early morning and there are no FP's available for the headliners.

And you continue to "yeah, but......". You countered that MK had availability for 7DMT but you didn't disclose that you only checked for 1 person because beyond that there is no availability. You are contorting facts to agree with your argument.

This thread isn't about "I could have gotten an FP with the old system" - it's about "FP+ and Last Minute Trips". I think my current scenario fits into that theme perfectly, we are taking a Last Minute Trip and finding that FP availability sucks.

No it isn't disproven. You just change the parameters to suit your argument at to the defintion of last minute and spontenity. This incites panic among new guests unfamiliar with things being patently convinced by a few guests that anything past 60 days (at midnight or 1am) spells disaster and ruin.

You are making absolute claims. Any incident that does the opposite makes your absolute claim invalid.

And I checked for TWO people. Making things up to dispute a poster really shows your hidden anti-FP+ agenda. I am contorting NOTHING.

My checks for tomorrow were also for two people for the specific date in the OP.

When season pass windows open again, I will revert checking for 6 when our kids' passes once again valid.

Again, what it boils down to is 2yo mentality. You want what you want when you want it now and old system or new, it just isn't how it was ever designed to work.

2 weeks ago, spontaneous meant next day. Today, I read the OP and checked the date which happens to be tomorrow. Now you are saying 4 days on a pretty popular day. As you flippantly modify your definitions, they will continue to be refuted.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

But I used to be able to book a last minute trip and know with 100% certainty that the FP I want would be available when I walked through the gate. I am just not comfortable plunking my money down under the assumption that the FP I want "might" be available.

And why is it that we blew up legacy FP to try and make it so some people could sleep in and get the optimal times they wanted. Yet when I want a FP for something specific, I now would need to be happy with a non-optimal time?

You know a fast pass on a popular day will be available when you run to it. After that, it is impossible to know with 100% certainty that what you want will be available later in the day on a day such as New Year's Eve.

Times are modifiable once booked and so long as it is a non-busy day, typically changeable. As I am not there this week, I am not keeping things I book when I check as that would be unfair. But multiple time Options for many rides were available.

What gets me that under the old system, when followed as designed, you had no choice in times. Talk about non-optimal. That ADR you made months earlier for your Christmas Day dinner at BOG? Well.. That was the time you could get for ____ attraction. Sacrifice the ride or the meal? Come back later and take your chances on a time?

And don't get me wrong, we liked legacy. But it had issues that could complicate usage just like FP+. Neither aren't immune to their setbacks. But the outrage that FP+ is nothing but setbacks is kind of silly.

I do take exception with any absolute claim such as gets claimed by a couple of posters here.

Additionally, not everyone who uses FP+ sleeps in. Morning times do get booked still don't they? Or did something change in the past few days?

 

[Laketravis]

You just change the parameters to suit your argument at to the defintion of last minute and spontenity.
You are making absolute claims. Any incident that does the opposite makes your absolute claim invalid.
What it boils down to is 2yo mentality.
You want what you want when you want it now.
2 weeks ago, spontaneous meant next day.
As you flippantly modify your definitions, they will continue to be refuted.

You are such a nice person. But no, I haven't changed anything:

Fact: Thread title is "FP+ and Last Minute Trips".

Fact: We wanted to go to Epcot on Wednesday morning.

Fact: Four days prior, there are no FP's left for either TT or Soarin'.

Fact: I posted the above to this thread.

Deal with it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Nope.

Fact: Thread title is "FP+ and Last Minute Trips".

Fact: We wanted to go to Epcot on Wednesday morning.

Fact: Four days prior, there are no FP's left for either TT or Soarin'.

Fact: I posted the above to this thread.

Deal with it.

OP went beyond a thread title. FP+ not available for 2 attractions.
Not seeing how your last minute morning visit is not feasible. Did EPCOT close to Lake Travis and travel companions?

Because as far as I can tell, they don't close the parks once FP+ "sells out". That would be weird.

But you do change your parameters as you have commented on other threads. I'm not the one who needs to deal.

 

[Angel Ariel]

We just switched around our AK FP's today no problem. We moved EE and Dinosaur to a later time slot and swapped the Safari's for the Lion King show.

After reading the many reports of how easy it was to get A&E/SDMT for the Christmas week period, and now seeing reports of it being easier to change times around too, it really makes me think that Disney increased the number of FP+ available during this time period, compared to slower time periods.

We were there for the Wine and Dine 1/2 Marathon weekend, and were unable to get A&E for any day of our trip, even being online at midnight at 60 days. We did get SDMT, but that availability was gone in 5 mins as I wasn't able to modify the time to any other time that day even 5 mins later.

When we were there in November, there were a few times we tried to change times. The one I'm recalling at the moment was AK - which is why I quoted the above post. We rode Dinosaur right after RD, and so didn't need our FP+ for it. We tried to change it, around 11am, to FOLK and there was no availability at all for the day. There were only 3 (IIRC) options we could have chosen (one being ITTBAB, which we won't do).

I had a similar issue trying to move around FP+ for my friend when she visited the week after. Fortunately, for her trip, I was at home and could use my laptop instead of my phone. I found the actual website showed different (and better) availability than the MDE phone app did. Quite frustrating.

 

[Laketravis]

Did EPCOT close to Lake Travis and travel companions? Because as far as I can tell, they don't close the parks once FP+ "sells out". That would be weird.

Okay, let me see if I can explain this a bit more comprehensively:

We wanted to go to Epcot on Wednesday. Morning preferred, because we know it will get crowded - crazy crowded - later in the day towards midnight. We wanted to also be able to ride either Soarin or Test Track while there, pretty much the two popular attractions Epcot has to offer, just once and without having to wait in extremely long Standby lines for either. Yet four days prior to our even arriving at the park, all FP's are gone.

Shame on us for having such high expectations. You're absolutely right - there is no way we should have expected WDW to meet those ridiculous demands and we should be totally content wandering the park and catching a Captain EO or two.

 

[Laketravis]

I do take exception with any absolute claim such as gets claimed by a couple of posters here.

Disney needs your help defending them in the "Disney's televised Christmas parade....ugh!" thread.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Disney needs your help defending them in the "Disney's televised Christmas parade....ugh!" thread.

I gave up on that parade after one partial viewing over 10 years ago. All fake and I never liked it on television. Something about to being rainy in Florida on Christmas while a parade pretended to be airing live with sparkly blue skies.

You seem to have a common issue that liking some aspects of Disney means everything is aok perfect. So instead of having a discussion about what works and doesn't work, you assume that disagreement with your absolute statements on a system Disney uses....



Oh never mind tough to properly discuss a topic when someone uses logical fallacies such as you just did..

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Okay, let me see if I can explain this a bit more comprehensively:

We wanted to go to Epcot on Wednesday. Morning preferred, because we know it will get crowded - crazy crowded - later in the day towards midnight. We wanted to also be able to ride either Soarin or Test Track while there, pretty much the two popular attractions Epcot has to offer, just once and without having to wait in extremely long Standby lines for either. Yet four days prior to our even arriving at the park, all FP's are gone.

Shame on us for having such high expectations. You're absolutely right - there is no way we should have expected WDW to meet those ridiculous demands and we should be totally content wandering the park and catching a Captain EO or two.

You must not realize in the old method, one of those would have had to be ridden standby to accomplish your morning mission. And could still be accomplished. And you would have had to arrive early to ensure a morning fast pass, right. So FP+ did not make things worse for you as you are alluding. Quite likely, you could get on one with relatively little wait at rope drop.

Yes--all reservations availability is taken on a day the park will be slammed for the two most popular rides at a park with (admittedly) few popular rides. Shocker.

But it just looks like you are baiting for the perfection that will be your Universal trip. So maybe you should enjoy the awesome features you are paying for at that park with your planning to ensure that hotel reservation and stop complaining about a park you initially had no intentions of going to. I wonder, is your same room available for booking now? If so, wouldn't it make sense to stick with the original holiday week you had planned?

Or go to EPCOT on Tuesday morning when Test Track is available for two via FP+.

 

[Laketravis]

I gave up on that parade after one partial viewing over 10 years ago. All fake and I never liked it on television. Something about to being rainy in Florida on Christmas while a parade pretended to be airing live with sparkly blue skies.

We tried to watch it this year but couldn't. After 10 minutes it was totally not what we expected it to be.

You seem to have a common issue that liking some aspects of Disney means everything is aok perfect. So instead of having a discussion about what works and doesn't work, you assume that disagreement with your absolute statements on a system Disney uses...

Not at all. I posted the facts as they occurred. If you want to think of them as absolute then so be it - they are what they are. We really do/did want to go to Epcot on Wednesday morning for the purpose of riding either Soarin or Test Track and found that there are no FP's available for either.

In an attempt to point out some sort of fault with my situation, you stated that there were still FP's available for 7DMT at MK late in the evening. But guess what? There's a really good chance that MK will be closed to all new guests by 4pm that afternoon. So that's not a great option either. Not that any of us would be interested in riding that again anyway.

Currently I'm a bit preoccupied trying to figure out why the web page that is supposed to show still-available FP's is showing plenty for TT on that day but MDE is saying all have been distributed - even if I try for just one person.

 

[Laketravis]

You must not realize in the old method, one of those would have had to be ridden standby to accomplish your morning mission. And could still be accomplished. And you would have had to arrive early to ensure a morning fast pass, right. So FP+ did not make things worse for you as you are alluding. Quite likely, you could get on one with relatively little wait at rope drop.

I'm not trying to compare old with new, better or worse. But apparently you are.

But it just looks like you are baiting for the perfection that will be your Universal trip....

So THAT is why you are so passionate about this! LOL! I should have known. You're worried that somebody is going to compare Universal in a more favorable light than WDW.

Good grief - do you guys work in shifts? The DSMA?


(Disney Social Media Advocates)





.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We tried to watch it this year but couldn't. After 10 minutes it was totally not what we expected it to be.

I saw the complaints. Kind of shocking. But then folks noted it wasn't advertised as a parade. Kind of sneaky. Heard the end was lame. Watched a clip of it. Really? Bad green screen? Ugh!

Not at all. I posted the facts as they occurred. If you want to think of them as absolute then so be it - they are what they are. We really do/did want to go to Epcot on Wednesday morning for the purpose of riding either Soarin or Test Track and found that there are no FP's available for either.

In an attempt to point out some sort of fault with my situation, you stated that there were still FP's available for 7DMT at MK late in the evening. But guess what? There's a really good chance that MK will be closed to all new guests by 4pm that afternoon. So that's not a great option either. Not that any of us would be interested in riding that again anyway.

If wasn't fault pointing, by rather an alternative without regard to the time of day you preferred. I was surprised to find it available at all. Park entrance late in the day would not be a FP+ problem, though. That is an occupancy problem and would be for anyone wanting to come later on that day of any given year. A day I am likely to never to because I'm not a crowds fan.

Currently I'm a bit preoccupied trying to figure out why the web page that is supposed to show still-available FP's is showing plenty for TT on that day but MDE is saying all have been distributed - even if I try for just one person.

I didn't try on my computer. That is interesting. Don't know my way around computers, so I don't have a good hypothesis of why that would be. Seems very weird. No energy to go play with it right now.

 

[jade1]

We got 5 TT and SE 2 days ago for NYE.

Amazing for such a limited park headliners and for NYE. The others were quite wide open.

Nice to see the conversation has gone from midnight at 60 days any time, to midnight at 60 days for peak, to midnight at 60 days for XMAS or NYE, to 30 days for each, to 1 week for each, to the night before for each, to ONE park EPCOT for NYE 4 days in advance.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm not trying to compare old with new, better or worse. But apparently you are.



So THAT is why you are so passionate about this! LOL! I should have known. You're worried that somebody is going to compare Universal in a more favorable light than WDW.

Good grief - do you guys work in shifts? The DSMA?


(Disney Social Media Advocates)





.

It's the exlusive way to earn more FP+ bookings.

But seriously--no contest. FOTL access on all (or most?) popular attractions for free for being an on site guest.

Ummm---Christmas week, why would it not be compared more positively? Under either FP option? Again, your bias leads you to false assumptions/bad jokes.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We got 5 TT and SE 2 days ago for NYE.

Amazing for such a limited park headliners and for NYE. The others were quite wide open.

Nice to see the conversation has gone from midnight at 60 days any time, to midnight at 60 days for peak, to midnight at 60 days for XMAS or NYE, to 30 days for each, to 1 week for each, to the night before for each, to ONE park EPCOT for NYE 4 days in advance.

The line keeps moving and I think Disney is responding positively as the system gets more practical use.

Because back in the stone ages of August--we didn't know what tickets we could get and with all the uproar, the overwhelming sales pitch of the boards (not necessarily consensus but quite a bit of extremely vocal negativity), I was somewhat concerned with last minute bookings for a week on December.

Yes for our large group no mine train or Anna and Elsa--but no issue with FPs of choice just 2 days prior to our trip for all parks.

Amazing that these last minute Fastpasses were available at all this week.

I imagine some tweaking is happening. But also, there are more hours in the day for FP, so capacity is increased while the max limit you can get are the same. Pretty darn impressive in my opinion. As long as one does not weigh the success or failure of the program on an elusive brand new attraction and one character meet and greet.

 

[jade1]

As long as one does not weigh the success or failure of the program on an elusive brand new attraction and one character meet and greet.

Yep, and oddly those are examples of the success IMO, why wait 8 hours in line for something-but further it shows as they bring on line new attractions how many guests will be using FP+ for those as well.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Currently I'm a bit preoccupied trying to figure out why the web page that is supposed to show still-available FP's is showing plenty for TT on that day but MDE is saying all have been distributed - even if I try for just one person.

Have you been using MDE the app, or have you looked through the website at all? I found during my friend's November trip that availability through the website was (fairly significantly) different than what I was finding through the app.

 

[Carlsbaddrew]

Thank God Im a planner! Otherwise I would seriously despise FP+...

Im guessing most people get caught off guard by this, especially foreigners? Any cast members in here that catch the brunt of people's frustration from these changes?

 

[Angel Ariel]

We got 5 TT and SE 2 days ago for NYE.

Amazing for such a limited park headliners and for NYE. The others were quite wide open.

Nice to see the conversation has gone from midnight at 60 days any time, to midnight at 60 days for peak, to midnight at 60 days for XMAS or NYE, to 30 days for each, to 1 week for each, to the night before for each, to ONE park EPCOT for NYE 4 days in advance.

The fact that people are having an easier time booking FP+ without being online at midnight at 60 days doesn't negate the experience of those of us who had trips earlier this year who did not have 100% availability at midnight at 60 days, or who did not have the availability to change FP+ around in the park to whatever they wanted while they were there.

I'm happy for those whose experience is better than what ours was with those issues, truly. And I hope that it may be a "permanent" change and that when we go to WDW again we will find that to be true for our trip. But there's no way to know at this point.

 

[Laketravis]

Have you been using MDE the app, or have you looked through the website at all? I found during my friend's November trip that availability through the website was (fairly significantly) different than what I was finding through the app.

I've been bouncing around between both - the MDE app on my iPad and the website on my desktop. Both show no availability, yet the website that is supposed to show what's left shows no Soarin available but plenty of Test Track.

http://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/fastpass-availability