FP+ Details Are Out!

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I'd probably buy one day at MK and one day at DHS.

Et tu, mom2rtk, et tu??

Maybe Disney SHOULD do this if they can even attract you with it!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Another side effect will be people canceling their trips if they don't like their ride selection at day 60.

I'm sure many of us have felt that buyer's remorse as that last payment is due on day 45, which is normal...Now add in a cruddy FP+ itinerary.

 

[d1gitman]

...if disney is smart, they'll have some intern monitoring these boards to keep them addressing the loopholes as they pop up..... Like one big game of whack-a-mole.

if

 

[d1gitman]

...I'm sure many of us have felt that buyer's remorse as that last payment is due on day 45, which is normal...

can't say i have ever felt buyer's remorse when paying for a Disney trip...usually it's jubilation and glee

 

[mom2rtk]

Et tu, mom2rtk, et tu??

Maybe Disney SHOULD do this if they can even attract you with it!

LOL, we all have our breaking points.

For the record, I'm against ANY change to the FP system. I think it works really well as it is now and doesn't NEED to be fixed.

But when it changes, I will indeed be trying to find a way to make it work for us. And yes, that might include buying an upgrade if needed. Only then can I truly decide whether it was worth what we paid and worth booking a return trip.

I will either be "all in" or "all out". Or maybe "all in" and then "all out". Remains to be seen.

 

[mom2rtk]

Another side effect will be people canceling their trips if they don't like their ride selection at day 60.

I'm sure many of us have felt that buyer's remorse as that last payment is due on day 45, which is normal...Now add in a cruddy FP+ itinerary.

I have to say I'm happy we usually fly Southwest. That way if we have airfare booked and decide at 60 days out we want to change things around, we could change flights without an extra fee.

 

[doggydoc]

Maybe that precludes "wars" but I honestly never saw anything remotely close to a TSMM war anyway.

Not a huge deal but I have had 2 negative TSMM experiences. One involved the "Give a Day" special FP's. DD and I each had one. As I approached the FP machines, that were shut down except for one with a give a day sign on top guarded by a CM a man tried to block my access. I said excuse me and he tried to ignore me. The CM saw me holding the GAD card and waved me over. As I tried to push past the guy he said "I don't know where you think your going FP's are gone". I said "Thanks, but I am going past you or over you which is it?" He stepped aside and turned nearly purple when I got our FP's and we strolled into the FP line.

The second was on our last trip. They had one of the traveling entertainment things going and it was a trivia contest for a FP to any ride. DD won and we of course chose TSMM. As we were walking away a man approached us and asked if we would include his family on the FP. I told him sorry, they already asked us how large our party was and marked it on the pass. He replied "No one will care, come on." I said I wasn't comfortable doing that and besides we didn't know when we were going to ride as we were on our way to AIE. He became angry, called me a jerk and I thought he was going to try and hit me.

The point of this is to say I recognize there are problems with FP availability for this ride that leads to tensions. What I don't understand why a total overhaul of the entire FP system was needed. I also don't believe it is caused by too many people getting multiple FP's. Personally I would be much happier if they could figure out a way to keep people from standing in front of the FP entrance completely blocking it.

 

[ashearer]

You wouldn't need to go for 5 days, if you rode rides like crazy for one day.

Jason

We're staying at YC for 10 nights and then moving to Hard Rock for four and the only reason we are paying that kind of money for HR is because of the unlimited FP.And we like to stay on site at Disney fir the EMH .we would always pay extra for an easy life up to a limit and I think there's a lot of people who would too.To do it smartly I'd book 4 nights at 1 resort at and do 1 park per day riding non stop then move to another onsite property and take it easy .this would then create a whole new problem as other people would do the same and FP lines would be horrific.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

Actually, we have that right now in WDW for several months each year. You can find it in January, February, May, late August, September and early December.

Well, yes, I only go January, September and early December, may try November some time. That is why FP+ won't be an issue for me. But if you want to go in July, and you want to be spontaneous, and you want to ride all the great rides with short lines. Find as Way-Back machine and get Sherman to take you to the 70's. And even then you won't really find it.

Rope drop, low times of year, lines when you have to, and FP+ reservations along with some day-of as people change, cancel, etc. I think this is going to be good, maybe even great.

but what about the DIS'r who deserves it year round? why isn't Disney designing their business model around the DIS? inquiring minds want to know, cause lord knows at least 40-50 DIS'rs are gonna completely stop going to WDW.

in all seriousness, we used to say we would only go during slow seasons. then we had the bright idea of going Christmas Day to New Years Day and loved it....then came Easter, Memorial Day, Labor Day and now the blazing hot summer...we are breaking all of our own rules and loving it.

Yes probably 40 or 50 people will stop going. Good long term big spenders. Of course they will be replaced with 40 or 50 THOUSAND new people who like the system.

Regarding when you go, I think I am in a curve. When I was young long lines were a part of life and no issue. as time has gone on I don't like them. There were some rides I just did ride in January 2012 because when I was there the line was long and I wasn't going to bother coming back. However, like you I think I am beginning to mellow and won't mind coming at some of the busier times. If I can stay longer than crowds are less of an issue anyway. I can do rope drop, closing time, and FP+ every day and will be fine.

I was there in March 2013 with my family, about 2 weeks before Easter - right in the midst of spring breaks. We used FP as we came upon it and it made sense (no planning/fp running). We didn't wait longer than 30 mins for anything we rode. We virtually walked on to Expedition Everest 3x in a row. I think my nephew and his father rode BTMRR 5 or 6 times in a row the day we got there at rope drop. We were with them on two of those rides and after the 1st ride, the CM didn't even make us exit the train to ride again. The only headliners we didn't ride were Splash (down for refurb) and ToT/RnRC as my nephews were too short (and scared) to ride those.

I call that fairly spontaneous with short lines.

I think you were lucky if it was spring break time, but I don't know, I wouldn't enter the state of Florida during spring breat!!

Yep, as I've said, FP+ is line socialism. We uber users are giving our extra E-ticket FPs back to the Mouse, so he can give them to the needy folks who don't currently know how to get E-ticket FPs for free, or show up at 3 pm.

I'll stick with the Universal Capitalism model, and stay at the Hard Rock.

Jason

Shirley, you jest! "Line socialism!?" Your extra FP tickets?

Everybody pays to ride the rides and Disney is trying to ensure everyone gets to ride the rides they paid for. Sounds like good ol' capitalism to me. Actually I think both disney FP+ and Universal are capitalism, it is just that Universal is the old class system where only those with the extra money to buy, or stay at their expensive hotels, can use FP, where FP+ is fair and free for all who pay to enter the parks.

 

[patrickpiteo]

Only 12 regular turnstiles are left at MK it was reported today.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

LOL, we all have our breaking points.

For the record, I'm against ANY change to the FP system. I think it works really well as it is now and doesn't NEED to be fixed.

But when it changes, I will indeed be trying to find a way to make it work for us. And yes, that might include buying an upgrade if needed. Only then can I truly decide whether it was worth what we paid and worth booking a return trip.

I will either be "all in" or "all out". Or maybe "all in" and then "all out". Remains to be seen.

I hear ya'!! I'll be looking to make whatever they end up with work for my family, too, of course. I'd be open to paying for some "bonus-type-stuff" where FP+ is concerned... depending.

Wait... maybe we shouldn't be saying that on here... they're listening / reading... (insert SCARED smilie here!!)

 

[larryz]

One positive is that we won't have Fast Pass wars at Toy Story Mania anymore!

That's right -- now we can focus on those darn line jumpers while we're fresh, instead of being worn out by the Olympic walking trials.

 

[Shaden]

I agree! When we were there in June 2012, there were FAR too many tears and angry faces around TSM. Disney is not the place for those things (well..okay maybe we are all guilty of those things at some point down there anyways)

You are right, now people will be crying 59 days out, when they can't book a TSM FP+ because they are all gone, and then their kids will be crying AGAIN in the park, when the parents tell them they are not waiting 120 minute standby for TSM.

 

[mom2rtk]

Wait... maybe we shouldn't be saying that on here... they're listening / reading... (insert SCARED smilie here!!)

Nah..... I only said I'd give it a try. Never promised to like it and book a bounceback.

 

[2Tiggies]

I will either be "all in" or "all out". Or maybe "all in" and then "all out". Remains to be seen.

That's my philosophy in life: Do it. Or don't do it. But do NOT 'kind of' do it

Well, yes, I only go January, September and early December, may try November some time. That is why FP+ won't be an issue for me. But if you want to go in July, and you want to be spontaneous, and you want to ride all the great rides with short lines. Find as Way-Back machine and get Sherman to take you to the 70's. And even then you won't really find it.

Rope drop, low times of year, lines when you have to, and FP+ reservations along with some day-of as people change, cancel, etc. I think this is going to be good, maybe even great.

We've done September/October the last 3 years and last year with the enforced return times, coupled with going at a really quiet time, FP became a bit of a PITA until we found a strategy that worked for us for when to use it and more importantly, when not to bother. Our trip next year is going to be in the summer, including July 4th, so I anticipate something akin to the level of planning we had to use for our Easter trips. That worked great wit the old system. But the prospect of having to plot out each and every day for an 18 day stay is a bit daunting. While I DO know which park we are going to on what day, we hop and it's the second park where we like to leave some flexiibility in the mix. This is going to be a thing of the past now.

So yes, I agree with you, this may benefit those going in slower times, particularly those who don't have a history of relying on plentiful FP's throughout their day to make it work, but for those already forced to exercise more stringent planning to cope with busier parks, it's a whole lot of extra work that I would prefer not to have to deal with

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Nah..... I only said I'd give it a try. Never promised to like it and book a bounceback.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I think you were lucky if it was spring break time, but I don't know, I wouldn't enter the state of Florida during spring breat!!

Why is it so hard to believe that's just how it was? We didn't do any uber planning or strategizing. We paid attn to EasyWDW and TP's best days, got there early, and did what we wanted. If a line was too long, we got a FP for later. The only ride we made sure to go to first for fps was TSMM. got 11:30fps easily for that. We also managed to ride it again after we were done with maybe a 30 min wait or so.

anyone else who was there when we were could have had the same experience easily.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

I hear ya'!! I'll be looking to make whatever they end up with work for my family, too, of course. I'd be open to paying for some "bonus-type-stuff" where FP+ is concerned... depending.

Wait... maybe we shouldn't be saying that on here... they're listening / reading... (insert SCARED smilie here!!)

Duly noted and reported to the head of the Discussion Boards unit in the Stealth Internet Research Division. Thanks for your input!

Why is it so hard to believe that's just how it was? We didn't do any uber planning or strategizing. We paid attn to EasyWDW and TP's best days, got there early, and did what we wanted. If a line was too long, we got a FP for later. The only ride we made sure to go to first for fps was TSMM. got 11:30fps easily for that. We also managed to ride it again after we were done with maybe a 30 min wait or so.

anyone else who was there when we were could have had the same experience easily.

I'm not doubting you, I've never been at spring break, I had just heard that that was a terribly busy time. Glad it can work with not as much planning at such a busy time. I assume with FP+ you would have to do all the same planning except you would have to add getting TSMM FP's ahead of time as well as some others. Then the big question is; will there be same day FP's available!? That would affect everything. Or will there be lots of movement in FP's making some available all the time. We just won't know.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

I was there in March 2013 with my family, about 2 weeks before Easter - right in the midst of spring breaks. We used FP as we came upon it and it made sense (no planning/fp running). We didn't wait longer than 30 mins for anything we rode. We virtually walked on to Expedition Everest 3x in a row. I think my nephew and his father rode BTMRR 5 or 6 times in a row the day we got there at rope drop. We were with them on two of those rides and after the 1st ride, the CM didn't even make us exit the train to ride again. The only headliners we didn't ride were Splash (down for refurb) and ToT/RnRC as my nephews were too short (and scared) to ride those.

We will never have the good ol' days of spontenaity and short lines. Just not going to happen.

We had this experience just this June. We were there June 9 to 16 with crowd levels of 7 and 8s. We never waited more than 30 minutes to ride anything on our MK day. We picked up 9 FPs and did a total of 19 rides and 1 M&G. This day also included a early dinner ADR in the park. We never ran for a FP, never pushed anyone out of the way to get a FP and only crossed the park twice to get a FP. Our family only has 1 day to do MK. FP+ will be a major downgrade for us. It seems many of the ones that claim we are being to hard on Disney and this new system, travel to Disney during off-peak seasons, take more than one trip a year and spend more than one day in the park while there. It is easier to not be concerned when the times you visit the waits are hardly ever more than 30 to 45 minutes, if you don't get a ride done one day you can come back another day in the same trip, or you will be back in less than 12 months to do it all again.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I assume with FP+ you would have to do all the same planning except you would have to add getting TSMM FP's ahead of time as well as some others.

Which would not have ended up working for our family, as my brother's family was added to the trip with less than 60 days to go and TSMM will likely be gone fast at 60 days out, like CRT is for dining at 180. Fp+ also limits our fps to 3. We easily got 5-6/day without planning. 3 is a definite downgrade.