FP+ Anxiety?

[MikeP22]

Anyone else getting stressed out trying to plan FP+?
Trying to plan them early enough to use them up so that we can get more later in the day or if we want to park hop, but not too early since the lines are generally shorter in the morning.
Then trying to get them so that we're not running from one end of the park to the other to make the next one or get to an ADR. Also making sure there is the right amount of time to do rides/attractions in the same area of the park.
Then trying to get FP+s that everyone wants to do... For example, some of us would want to go on the MK mountains but my 6yo daughter won't want to. When we're on that should we schedule FP+s for her for something else (Belle, for example), and who is going to have to miss out on using a FP+ for the Mountains?
And then throw in tiering and the unavailability of A&E and 7DMT.

Just seems like the new FP+ system is introducing more inflexibility and taking some of the fun out of it... was the old FP system really that broken?

 

[ArwenMarie]

No, the old FP wasn't broken. It's just crazy. I am trying to plan three days at WDW and three at Universal for our split-stay trip in a few weeks and I am ready to bail on WDW and just make it a Uni-only trip. Good luck with the rest of your planning.

 

[ParrotBill]

yea, I am not a fan of FP+ either. Especially now that we see they will run out ahead of time on popular/new attractions. I can't get a FP at all for Seven Dwarves more than a month out before the dates.

I had success rescheduling with changes in plans back in December, and a little bit in April, but going again in August and I fear we will be stuck with our plans or nothing good if we need to change them any day.

I always like to plan specific parks around my dining reservations, and leave later in the trip open to finish up wherever needed. That won't happen now... like lemmings we will follow our FP+... or go to Universal...

 

[jsrj21]

You are not alone! My family and I leave for WDW next Monday and my biggest stressor is the FP+ system. I made all of my FP selections and although they're done, I worry that if I have to change anything last-minute, we're toast. I almost feel too "scheduled" for a vacation. We were able to take advantage of the free park-hopper promo but in reality, park hopping won't really work for us if we're looking to FP anything. We'll have to use our first 3, yada, yada...and by the time we get to the next park, good luck trying to get a popular attraction.

I did all of the planning with input from my wife and son but I told them that we'll just have to make the best of it and go with the flow. I'm not letting this take anything away from our vacation. I've read reviews on both sides of the spectrum so there is hope.

All the best to you.

 

[marymac123]

It's driving me crazy too!!! We are not normally a fastpass family, 1 or 2 for Toystory or Soarin but nothing like this...I FEEL that I NEED to get them!?!?

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

No, the old FP wasn't broken. It's just crazy. I am trying to plan three days at WDW and three at Universal for our split-stay trip in a few weeks and I am ready to bail on WDW and just make it a Uni-only trip. Good luck with the rest of your planning.

I feel like with the old FP, at least before NFL opened, we needed to coordinate one or two Fps, as in….send a runner to get our Fps, or run to the attraction and grab them first thing. That was Soarin' and TSMM. And it was just never a big deal. Most of the time on TSMM we even got in a standby ride after picking up Fps because we would go there first thing in the morning. We never ran all over the place, crisscrossing parks, etc. Hollywood Studios isn't even that big of a park.

With NFL, you'd probably need to coordinate for the new stuff but so what. It always worked. We always did everything we wanted even with large parties.

Now I'm forced to book fast passes for Nemo? Why? it's been a walk-on every single time I've ever done it.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I feel like with the old FP, at least before NFL opened, we needed to coordinate one or two Fps, as in….send a runner to get our Fps, or run to the attraction and grab them first thing. That was Soarin' and TSMM. And it was just never a big deal. Most of the time on TSMM we even got in a standby ride after picking up Fps because we would go there first thing in the morning. We never ran all over the place, crisscrossing parks, etc. Hollywood Studios isn't even that big of a park. With NFL, you'd probably need to coordinate for the new stuff but so what. It always worked. We always did everything we wanted even with large parties. Now I'm forced to book fast passes for Nemo? Why? it's been a walk-on every single time I've ever done it.

Exactly. This isn't any easier to learn. I miss being able to wake up and plan the day on the spot based on how people felt, weather, etc.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Nope. I like knowing I can do Soarin after strolling into Epcot in the PM. I like having some of our must do's (in WDW parlance!) squared away. We always book ADRs so need to have a sense of which park on which day anyway. This is one more thing to add that doesn't seem like a big deal to me at all. And I like not running around the park to collect FPs.

Wrt planning a day on the fly when you're there, all I can say is that we still did that on some days WITH FP+ in effect. Rolled out of bed late, rescheduled our FP+ from the iPhone, and changed our original plans for the day. I'm sure same day availability differs depending on when you go, etc. but this has worked for us so far in Oct and Feb.

There are still some things about FP+ that I'd like to see changed, but there's no way that this has dampened our WDW experience -- planning or in the parks. We're making it work for us, and it works pretty well. I understand it may not for everyone. And again -- Disney can adjust much of this system at any time -- give feedback to them when you have a chance to.

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

Our first park day is Nov 30th.

I am already stressing about getting our Fps and getting them for times that work for our touring plan. Worried I wont get 6 Fps for 7DMT, etc..

I love the idea of having FPs in advance scheduled, being able to late start a park and catch your rides without a long line. It's the whole process to get them that has me worried...

And now, reading about the "tests" for Soarin, oh please don't go to all reservations for headliners. What a mess that'll be I fear...

 

[MikeP22]

With the original system, I never really had a problem getting a FP for the top-tier rides and never had a problem riding everything we wanted to, save maybe once (meaning, one ride one time).

Now it seems that people who aren't extremely diligent (borderline obsessive) planners, or just aren't very lucky, and who don't want to wait for 2-3+ hours most likely won't get to ride the top-tier rides. Also, forget about it if you're staying offsite.
In my experience and observation this wasn't as much of an issue with old FP if you were just a little bit flexible.

I'm not really issuing a judgement on FP+ just yet, just expressing my anxieties about the new system in contrast to the old FP system (which I loved). It could turn out great for us on our next trip (which is our first with FP+), but I will withhold actual judgement until then. For now, the planning is proving to be nerve-wracking.

 

[srauseo]

Agree with MickeyMinnieMom.

On our arrival day, we are going to EPCOT for the evening and I have a 6:30 FP scheduled for Test Track. That is really cool. Under the old system it would be very unlikely that I could show up at EPCOT at 6:30pm in mid-August and expect to walk on to Test Track and/or that there would be paper FPs left.

I was able to schedule a 7DMT FP at 6:00PM right before our 6:35 dinner ADR at BOG. That is convenient.

To me, this takes some of the guess work out of the equation. With FP- you couldn't guarantee that when you got to the machine that there would be any left or what time you would get.

 

[mare1203]

Nope, not feeling any anxiety. Probably won't even make mine until closer to when we go or maybe not even until the day of (the blasphemy, I know!). I'm also not hankering to get A&E, so that's probably some of it. I've never gone to Disney and not had a good time, so this won't be any different.

 

[MikeP22]

Agree with MickeyMinnieMom.

On our arrival day, we are going to EPCOT for the evening and I have a 6:30 FP scheduled for Test Track. That is really cool. Under the old system it would be very unlikely that I could show up at EPCOT at 6:30pm in mid-August and expect to walk on to Test Track and/or that there would be paper FPs left.

I was able to schedule a 7DMT FP at 6:00PM right before our 6:35 dinner ADR at BOG. That is convenient.

To me, this takes some of the guess work out of the equation. With FP- you couldn't guarantee that when you got to the machine that there would be any left or what time you would get.

I will cede that it makes ensuring a ride on an arrival day a better prospect. I don't think that there aren't upsides to the system, there clearly are.

Planning it however has not been fun. Not being able to schedule some attractions for whatever reason (say, not staying onsite) is not encouraging. The inflexibility that the system promotes seems like it may end up putting a damper on the fun as well.

 

[DVCMomBLT]

The old system wasn't "broken". Disney didn't create FP+ to help US, they did it to help DISNEY. They want to spread the lines out over more rides. Instead of having one ride with a 10 min wait and one with a 80 minute wait, they would rather it was more like 30 and 60. They want to funnel traffic from Test Track to Mission Space, etc.

 

[KYDisneyDad]

Not fun at all. Not easy or intuitive at all.
We are going to a park on arrival day and were able to schedule some headliner FP for the evening at that is great, really it is, but we are only doing a park on arrival day so we can get in another headliner due to the reduction in headliners for us with FP+ Over our whole trip.

We are forced to choose three no matter what. This is crazy. We can't pick an attraction and then pick from available times. Crazy. We can't pick at time and choose from available attractions. Crazy. We are forced to choose from 3 or 4 blocks of times for all three attractions that disney provides. Only after this can you edit times.
And MK is the only park with enough attraction to even warrant the 3 pre bookings.
And I have yet to see evidence of this easy ability to move and change FP on the fly. Secondary attractions perhaps, we did that last year , but no way for headliners, not happening.

Rant over. It was a very frustrating night last night at our 60 day mark is my only defense.

 

[MichiganDVC]

Here's why FP+ makes me less anxious:

For my December trip (right before Christmas) I am staying in three different resorts on a 5 night trip. Partly because of DVC availability and partly because of proximity to parks. Starting at BWV and heading to Epcot, HS, and DTD during those days. Heading to BLT and doing Cali Grill and MK on that day. Ending trip at AKL and doing AK and resort relaxation those days.

So, I already know what parks I'm going to be at on which days. I made my ADRs based on this as well. Therefore, FPs will be easy. I will make them for the parks I already know I'll be at and around my ADRs. And, if for some reason I don't get a 7DMT, I'll try to ride it during the evening EMH and use my 3 FPs for other high priority rides.

I guess I don't understand why people make ADRs that put them squarely in certain parks or areas on particular days, then they claim that they don't know which park they're going to each day and want the flexibility. BS! You got a BoG? You're going to be at MK that day. Brown Derby? HS. And so on.

 

[KYDisneyDad]

Here's why FP+ makes me less anxious: For my December trip (right before Christmas) I am staying in three different resorts on a 5 night trip. Partly because of DVC availability and partly because of proximity to parks. Starting at BWV and heading to Epcot, HS, and DTD during those days. Heading to BLT and doing Cali Grill and MK on that day. Ending trip at AKL and doing AK and resort relaxation those days. So, I already know what parks I'm going to be at on which days. I made my ADRs based on this as well. Therefore, FPs will be easy. I will make them for the parks I already know I'll be at and around my ADRs. And, if for some reason I don't get a 7DMT, I'll try to ride it during the evening EMH and use my 3 FPs for other high priority rides. I guess I don't understand why people make ADRs that put them squarely in certain parks or areas on particular days, then they claim that they don't know which park they're going to each day and want the flexibility. BS! You got a BoG? You're going to be at MK that day. Brown Derby? HS. And so on.

You're absolutely correct with the ADR already locking you into a park, so that cannot be an argument for FP locking you into that same park.
Won't always be the case for resort ADR's or those who are doing quick service, but we always plan our park days based on ADR and EMH so I completely agree with you there.
We just feel locked in and rigid the rest of our park day with this. And the tiers reduce the number of rides we can do, that's our main problem with it. Almost wish they would drop it to one pre book reservation and get the rest day of. But you are an example of someone this system really works good for and that's great .

 

[MichiganDVC]

OP, if you're actually nervous, just stick to the obvious best touring plan:
Try to make your FP+ for early evening. Start your day at a different park at rope drop. Tour until it gets crowded or until you have seen everything you want to. Leave, go to lunch, resort, pool and nap, etc... Get to 2nd park in time for FPs and then have dinner or continue riding standby.

Touring plan 2. Rope drop and make FP for 11-2pm. Continue with 4th FP if necessary.

Quick piece of advice... At places like Epcot where you might wonder why bother with Tier 2 selections, they are still very beneficial. At my recent trip to Epcot, I did breakfast at France at 9:45am, SE at 10:30, TT at 11, hit up MouseGears, did the Land at 12:00 and made it to Beaches and Cream for a 12:30 lunch ADR. (Yes, we ran in 95° afternoon sun.) Two meals, three rides, and 1/2 hr of shopping in less than 3 hours. Without FP, SE and Land would have taken 20-30 min more total. Would have missed my B&C reservation or had to skip a ride without being able to just walk right on and off all three rides.

 

[MichiganDVC]

You're absolutely correct with the ADR already locking you into a park, so that cannot be an argument for FP locking you into that same park.
Won't always be the case for resort ADR's or those who are doing quick service, but we always plan our park days based on ADR and EMH so I completely agree with you there.
We just feel locked in and rigid the rest of our park day with this. And the tiers reduce the number of rides we can do, that's our main problem with it. Almost wish they would drop it to one pre book reservation and get the rest day of. But you are an example of someone this system really works good for and that's great .

I've changed my touring plan a bit to fit FP+. Just gotta know how to make it work for you. Unfortunately, if your previous touring plan was to ride 1-2 rides 5 times each, FP+ won't work for you. If your general plan is to ride 10 rides at MK, FP+ can help you tremendously if you know how to use it.

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

OP, if you're actually nervous, just stick to the obvious best touring plan:
Try to make your FP+ for early evening. Start your day at a different park at rope drop. Tour until it gets crowded or until you have seen everything you want to. Leave, go to lunch, resort, pool and nap, etc... Get to 2nd park in time for FPs and then have dinner or continue riding standby.

Touring plan 2. Rope drop and make FP for 11-2pm. Continue with 4th FP if necessary.

Quick piece of advice... At places like Epcot where you might wonder why bother with Tier 2 selections, they are still very beneficial. At my recent trip to Epcot, I did breakfast at France at 9:45am, SE at 10:30, TT at 11, hit up MouseGears, did the Land at 12:00 and made it to Beaches and Cream for a 12:30 lunch ADR. (Yes, we ran in 95° afternoon sun.) Two meals, three rides, and 1/2 hr of shopping in less than 3 hours. Without FP, SE and Land would have taken 20-30 min more total. Would have missed my B&C reservation or had to skip a ride without being able to just walk right on and off all three rides.

Great advice ! I've used both of these . People knew how to make the old system work for them. It will take some folks some time to make the new one work.
I kind of miss the old one(familiarity only reason) but FP+ has already worked it's magic for me .