FP+ Frustration

[wisblue]

You mention that some ADRs are important to you. That's how some people feel about certain rides.

If there are rides that are really important to me, I know that there are multiple ways to get on them. I can get a FP, I can go to the ride at rope drop ( or maybe in the last hour or two before closing) and ride it standby with a short wait, or I can suck it up and wait in the standby line, regardless of how long the line is.

If there is a restaurant that I am dying to experience (which very rarely applies to us) there is one and only one sure way of doing it.

 

[wisblue]

And evidently only yours are the correct ones. We get it, Wis.

Never said that. Just offering a different perspective on the issue of whether FP+ requires someone to plan every minute of every day.

 

[SuperTink]

** We are not the RD people ** which is why we loved FP+
While we felt obligated to do it on every other trip we did not this past October. I felt free to wake up and be happy with my '3'

Thanks. Your touring style helps my touring style!

Glad you had a good trip!

 

[SuperTink]

I have some first hand experience from both August and early November. It's hard for me to compare those times with similar times in prior years because most of our trips over the years have been at busier times of the year than the level 8 crowds of August and level 6 crowds in November.

But, in brief, we had this experience:

At MK- did 7DMT, Pooh, Space Mountain, Buzz, Under the Sea, BTMRR, Splash, POtC, Jungle Cruise, IASW, Peoplemover, and HM using only 3 FPs obtained in park that morning.

At DHS- did TSMM, TOT, and RNRC before park opening at 9 AM.

At DAK- did Safari, EE, and Dinosaur before park opening at 9 AM.

At Epcot- no EMH, but had no problem doing Soarin, TT (single rider), and Mission Space in first hour with no FPs.

Bottom line, I haven't noticed FP+ having any impact on our ability to do all of the major attractions in a park that we want to do without having long waits.

It was the same last Christmas, but that was before FP+ was fully in place! but my daughters reported the same thing when they visited over Easter.

Between AM EMH and FP+, especially if you can make reservations in advance, it should be very easy to do the major attractions in all four parks at least once.

Thank for that.

But the last line--we don't want to do the major attractions "at least once." That is not at all our preference or how we have toured in the past. But the rest of your post leads me to believe that we might be able to do our favorites twice during EMH into right at opening. Fingers crossed!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Seems that you have proven the point I made earlier in the thread. ADR's are a MUCH bigger factor when it comes to people feeling overscheduled than FP+. Without those ADRs, extended hours would be an unequivocal positive. Too much planning, too much time spent in restaurants, and too much food is why we rarely make more than one ADR in a trip. We are perfectly content to have cereal and juice in the room before leaving for a park instead of stuffing our faces at breakfast buffets multiple times on a trip. We all make different choices.

Experienced Disney visitors know that park hours are often extended as dates approach, especially around holidays, so any experienced guest making ADRs in the morning as part of a rope drop riding strategy, IMHO does so at his or her peril.

I think the breakfast at CP is a wonderful way to multi-task. An unhurried breakfast while getting some great pictures seems far superior to waiting in long lines.

I also got some great pictures in the empty parks of my DD's by having some ADR's prior to park opening. They made some really great Christmas cards.

Unfortunately, running all over, in a hurry up and wait fashion after our FP+ made us rethink the lunch ADR's. We ended up canceling most of those. Having a calm cool sit down lunch made the hot crowds more manageable.

As far as RD strategy with FP+ starting right at 9 AM for TSMM it was the longest we ever waited for TSMM at RD and we did it multiple days.

 

[Laketravis]

Never said that. Just offering a different perspective on the issue of whether FP+ requires someone to plan every minute of every day.

In the literal sense, no. Just like I didn't spend my last dime on our upcoming WDW trip.

But they can both sometimes "feel" like it.

Not everybody can go to WDW multiple times a year, so they tend to try to maximize their experience when they do go. I don't blame them at all if they are trying to coordinate meals, attractions, rides, character meet & greets, pool time, snack times, nap times, diaper changes and the like right down to the minute.

I understand that.

I'm looking forward to the day (if it ever comes) when I can just go to WDW for a few hours and walk around because I know my next trip is just a couple of weeks or months away. And when that time comes, I won't give a crap about ADR's or FP's or crowd levels.

But it really isn't like that for most people.

 

[SuperTink]

I did not notice in appreciable difference in the number of guest using EMH. What I did notice is that the advantage of EMH was somewhat diminished due to FP+ reservations starting shortly after regular park open. I used EMH for DHS and Epcot due to tiering at those parks. Where previously it was easy to complete 4 major attractions before lines became long, we were now able to do 3. Not a huge difference, but standby lines jumped quite quickly after regular park open. I can not and will not stand in lines over 25 minutes due to arthritis in my ankle so I chose to skip attractions rather than ride or to ride only attractions in the first hour plus those I had a FP+ for. I accomplished much less in terms of attractions and entertainment than I had in previous trips.

You are and I are similar. I am just hoping that I can do enough during EMH and right at opening that we are satisfied. I'm choosing to remain optimistic (and pretending that I'm not more than a little concerned. lol.)!

Thanks for the reply!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

If there are rides that are really important to me, I know that there are multiple ways to get on them. I can get a FP, I can go to the ride at rope drop ( or maybe in the last hour or two before closing) and ride it standby with a short wait, or I can suck it up and wait in the standby line, regardless of how long the line is.

If there is a restaurant that I am dying to experience (which very rarely applies to us) there is one and only one sure way of doing it.

Problem is SB lines have gotten longer as more capacity is shifted toward FP+. This year was the first time we ever waited at TSMM at RD as the SB line stopped and the FP+ line was a constant stream of people.

 

[Laketravis]

You are and I are similar. I am just hoping that I can do enough during EMH and right at opening that we are satisfied. I'm choosing to remain optimistic (and pretending that I'm not more than a little concerned. lol.)

Thanks for the reply!

Same here. I've never had much luck with evening EMH for some reason even when staying in MK to almost 3am but morning EMH has always been good to us. I'm curious to see what effect FP's scheduled right from the jump have on what used to be a solid couple of hours of short standby lines.

 

[Luckybee]

** I went the last week of October and much like other poster - no or less then 10 minute wait for us ** on everything except Soarin.
We used our FP+ for TT Soarin was 30 minute wait but we took it and it really ended up fine since we just came from dinner at GG so our food could digest

Small World was 30 min(it too may have been 45 as dh remembers but my recall was 30 so too be fair....), POTC 45, HM 45, Buzz 30.

These were the ones that stood out for me

Prior trip those 4 rides allowing for wait times and riding time about 55 minutes to an hour , maybe an hour and a half . This last trip had we done them all -3- 4 hours.....arghhhhh !!!! For us that is unacceptable and the main reason our May trip is now a Universal one with perhaps 1 day at Disney (and only because we have friends that will be on their first Disney trip that we're doing dinner with at BOG)

 

[Laketravis]

Problem is SB lines have gotten longer as more capacity is shifted toward FP+. This year was the first time we ever waited at TSMM at RD as the SB line stopped and the FP+ line was a constant stream of people.

Yep. Makes sense. Being able to pre-schedule FP's during the first hour of park opening can definitely have an impact on SB from the start. I used to think why would anyone do that? but then I realized they may not have a choice - that might have been the only time option left when they booked their FP's.

 

[SuperTink]

Not everybody can go to WDW multiple times a year, so they tend to try to maximize their experience when they do go. I don't blame them at all if they are trying to coordinate meals, attractions, rides, character meet & greets, pool time, snack times, nap times, diaper changes and the like right down to the minute.

I understand that.

I'm looking forward to the day (if it ever comes) when I can just go to WDW for a few hours and walk around because I know my next trip is just a couple of weeks or months away. And when that time comes, I won't give a crap about ADR's or FP's or crowd levels.

But it really isn't like that for most people.

Well said. As evidenced by my siggy, our trips are far and few in between. We go for shorter trips (because it is not our only trip of the year), and yes, we try to maximize every minute. So time *is* of the essence, and if our touring style is being forced to change, it's going to concern me.

I'm reserving judgment until after the trip. Still remaining optimistic! :

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Yep. Makes sense. Being able to pre-schedule FP's during the first hour of park opening can definitely have an impact on SB from the start. I used to think why would anyone do that? but then I realized they may not have a choice - that might have been the only time option left when they booked their FP's.

We always went to Maelstrom right when it opened and I was shocked the same thing happened but that was when it was Tier 1. I thought who would pick this over Soarin' and TT but I'm guessing Maelstrom at 11 was all that was available.

The SB lines at Maelstrom and evening SE (which was always a walk on before dinner) were noticeably longer. I can't imagine what Epcot SB lines are going to be without Maelstrom. Epcot never had a lot of capacity to begin with, maybe, to give it a line Mexican ride should go FP+ only.

 

[wisblue]

Thank for that.

But the last line--we don't want to do the major attractions "at least once." That is not at all our preference or how we have toured in the past. But the rest of your post leads me to believe that we might be able to do our favorites twice during EMH into right at opening. Fingers crossed!

I was just addressing the rope drop experience.

In our experience, it is hard to do too many things multiple times in that first hour or two if only because the whole ride experience takes a certain amount of time regardless of how long the line is. The boarding and preshow processes at things like Soarin, TT, RNRC, and TOT dictate that it will almost certainly take at least 10-15 minutes to get through them. Although we didn't do it, we could have done Space Mountain or Expedition Everest more than once during EMH. But, we generally choose to do as many things as possible once in that first hour, and in the first couple of hours after the park opens to everyone.

If there are favorites that we want to do twice, we will usually do that by doing them once at RD (or EMH) and a second time using a FP later in the day (either same day or on a different day).

On a trip last Christmas that covered an evening arrival and 4 full park days, we used AM EMH, single rider lines, and evening FPs to do TSMM 3 times, RNRC 3 times, TOT twice, Soarin and TT twice each, EE 3 times, Safari, and Dinosaur twice each, and Space Mountain and BTMRR twice each. That was in addition to doing a lot of other attractions and enjoying the overall Christmas decorations and atmosphere. It definitely wasn't a case of "3 and out".

Good luck with your trip.

 

[wisblue]

I'm looking forward to the day (if it ever comes) when I can just go to WDW for a few hours and walk around because I know my next trip is just a couple of weeks or months away. And when that time comes, I won't give a crap about ADR's or FP's or crowd levels.

But it really isn't like that for most people.

I hope you realize that your 16 day trips are not typical for most people either. If I were visiting WDW for 16 days (for the second year in a row) I can't imagine feeling like I had to schedule every minute of every day.

 

[Laketravis]

I can't imagine what Epcot SB lines are going to be without Maelstrom. Epcot never had a lot of capacity to begin with, maybe, to give it a line Mexican ride should go FP+ only.

That's exactly why I've come up with a proprietary system - but I'll share it with you.

When in Epcot, each FP is worth 10 Margarita points.

If you FP'd Soarin but had to wait in SB for Test Track, give yourself 10 more Margarita points for every 10 minutes of SB wait time.

Likewise, if you FP'd Test Track but had to wait in SB line for Soarin, give yourself 10 more Margarita points for every 10 minutes of SB wait time.

If you used an FP for Captain EO, deduct 10 Margarita points as a penalty. Otherwise, award yourself 10 Margarita points each time you wait in SB for it.

Give yourself 10 points for avoiding Ellen entirely. Count the number of people waiting in line for Figment and waive at them while giving yourself 1 point for each person waving back.

Add up all your points, head over to Mexico and start redeeming Margaritas (5 points each)!!!!

 

[Laketravis]

I hope you realize that your 16 day trips are not typical for most people either. If I were visiting WDW for 16 days (for the second year in a row) I can't imagine feeling like I had to schedule every minute of every day.

Dude, are you stalking me? LOL!

Seriously though - my experience has nothing to do with how I described it might be for others. That's why I can imagine feeling like I had to schedule every minute of every day.

 

[wisblue]

Dude, are you stalking me? LOL!

Seriously though - my experience has nothing to do with how I described it might be for others. That's why I can imagine feeling like I had to schedule every minute of every day.

There is no stalking needed when you advertise your 16 day trip in your signature.

I understand how first time and infrequent visitors might want to cram a lot into their trips too. But, while some of those guests may feel like they have to schedule a lot, they are probably also the ones who stand to benefit the most if they take advantage of the opportunity to schedule FPs in advance, because they probably would not have taken as much advantage of paper FPs as the seasoned visitors. That is especially true if their plans include pool breaks, because being out of the parks in the middle of the afternoon greatly reduced the ability to get FPs at useable times.

It is my observation that many of the complaints on these boards about planning every minute of every day are coming from frequent visitors who are more interested in doing certain attractions multiple times than they are in doing as many things as possible once on a trip.

 

[Laketravis]

I understand how first time and infrequent visitors might want to cram a lot into their trips too. But, while some of those guests may feel like they have to schedule a lot, they are probably also the ones who stand to benefit the most if they take advantage of the opportunity to schedule FPs in advance....

I would be inclined to agree with that but then those visitors are the ones most likely to reserve unneeded FP's for the wrong attractions by virtue of their inexperience.

They would only benefit the most if there was some sort of guidance built into the selection process - like perhaps showing average wait times for each choice they are considering using historical data for the date they are looking at and let the user chose which attraction they would like to avoid a long wait for. After all, isn't the entire point of FP to avoid long wait times? Technically, that would be an easy feature for WDW to add, they have all the data.

Then an informed choice could be made by an otherwise uninformed guest and FP would truly be of benefit.

 

[mom2rtk]

In the literal sense, no. Just like I didn't spend my last dime on our upcoming WDW trip.

But they can both sometimes "feel" like it.

Not everybody can go to WDW multiple times a year, so they tend to try to maximize their experience when they do go. I don't blame them at all if they are trying to coordinate meals, attractions, rides, character meet & greets, pool time, snack times, nap times, diaper changes and the like right down to the minute.

I understand that.

I'm looking forward to the day (if it ever comes) when I can just go to WDW for a few hours and walk around because I know my next trip is just a couple of weeks or months away. And when that time comes, I won't give a crap about ADR's or FP's or crowd levels.

But it really isn't like that for most people.

I feel exactly the same way. We are lucky to get 1 week a year at Disney. Within that one week, if we are at WDW, we are likely to get only one day at a couple of the parks. That makes each FP quite valuable to us. I could see feeling a little different if I could catch what I miss in a couple months when I'm back.