FP+ is amazing

[TLSnell1981]

Having to FP Figment and Nemo is not a positive.

 

[mesaboy2]

I'm planning on using FP+ for the first time next week and I can already tell It's going to be a headache. First and correct me if I'm wrong but you only get 3 FPs for ONE park per day? Seems like a step backwards to me.

Scenario - Day 1 MGM (HS)- it gives the option to choose 1 from "a" list and 2 from "b" list. The only attractions that would remotely require a FP in MGM are Hollywood Tower of Terror, Rockin Rollercoaster and Toy Story Mania. Problem is they are ALL on list "A". So you only get to choose 1

Day 2 - Epcot. Same thing "a" and "b". Soarin and Test Track are in "a" everything else give or take is "b"

Ok now the part that bugs me.

Magic Kingdom- choose 3 from this list. EVERY RIDE IN THE PARK. Including all 3 Mountains.. At the moment FP+ makes ZERO sense to me. Why can't I get FPs for the big hitters like I could with the paper ones last year???!! Bad move Mouse. Bad move.

Three per day. See the green link in my signature for the objective list (as objective as I can make it anyway) I mentioned earlier to help choose useful FPs.

 

[JimmyV]

I'm planning on using FP+ for the first time next week and I can already tell It's going to be a headache. First and correct me if I'm wrong but you only get 3 FPs for ONE park per day? Seems like a step backwards to me.

Scenario - Day 1 MGM (HS)- it gives the option to choose 1 from "a" list and 2 from "b" list. The only attractions that would remotely require a FP in MGM are Hollywood Tower of Terror, Rockin Rollercoaster and Toy Story Mania. Problem is they are ALL on list "A". So you only get to choose 1

Yes. Three per day, all in the same park. But at DHS, unless they changed it in the last week, ToT is a "B". So you pick TSM or RnR, and then choose ToT and you get FPs for two of the three. Otherwise, your assumptions and observations are correct.

 

[Rebekkap]

Scenario - Day 1 MGM (HS)- it gives the option to choose 1 from "a" list and 2 from "b" list. The only attractions that would remotely require a FP in MGM are Hollywood Tower of Terror, Rockin Rollercoaster and Toy Story Mania. Problem is they are ALL on list "A". So you only get to choose 1

FYI tower of terror is actually B, not A, so you can do TSM plus ToT or RnRC plus ToT.

 

[magicbob]

You have to view it in terms of efficiency, not desireability. The term "sub-optimal" is more of a scientific term that implies the ability of being measured. What is most efficient may not be the most desireable, that is for sure. But as the weeks and months go on, people will ask here what are the best and most efficient uses of their FPs. That is an objective measure but one that can always be overridden by personal preference. If someone asked you if they should get a FP+ for TSM or Muppets, I'd bet that you'd have an objective answer as to the highest and best use of their FP. But ultimately, if the person loves the queue at TSM and actually enjoys the 80 minute wait, then the point is moot. In the end, using FPs at Epcot provides, at best, an array of mediocre options. It's hard to say that any one choice is better than any other.

I have to agree with DVCFan. An optimal strategy is not one that maximizes rides or minimizes wait times. I would say the most important factor in a "successful or good vacation" is simply the amount of fun you had. An optimal strategy is one that enables you to get the most enjoyable vacation for you and your family.

To some, shorter waits and more rides might be their measure of fun. But to most, family time, digging in the sand, sharing an ice cream, and going on a few rides will be the important parts. I remember some of my favorite times at WDW were simply enjoying an ice cream w my DD while I waited for other ppl to go on a ride.

Um. No. A family that goes and chooses to optimize time building sand castles while they watch the fireworks from their resort instead of using that 9pm-11pm "optimal" slot for maximizing rides did not fail to optimize but yet be okay with it. They have optimized for themselves perfectly!!!

If it was optimal for them who are you to say because they didn't do what would be optimal for you that they didn't do their own optimal strategy? This line you're taking is so strange. "I've identified *THIS* is the most optimal thing to get out of a Disney vacation. If you don't do *THIS*, it's ok, but you're being less than optimal"

Um no. This board brings together all these different strategies to be discussed and shared so each can learn from the others. One does not need to conclude on one single optimal strategy for the board to have merit.

Again these measurements are just important to you. Just because it's important to you, and measureable, you suggest it should also be the "standard of an optimal trip" to everyone.

For us, FP+ allows us to enjoy a fully maximized touring style.

For example, since you like numbers. FP+ allows me to minimize the number of times I have to split from my family. There. Concrete number. With FP-, I split up from my family 3 times a day, and spent a good 45 minutes of each day without them, trekking across a park. Now with FP+, I won't do that at all. That is concrete savings for me.

You seem to be into "maximizing numbers at all costs". But specifically, maximizing those numbers that are important to you. That's fine, enjoy! But do remember it is your personal opinion and not a standard. Other people will want to maximize other aspects of their trip. Many will not even use the word "optimize" or "maximize" yet they will still make such decisions at every step of their trip.

Numbers are objective. Fun/enjoyment is subjective.

Your example of measuring the number of times you had to split your family up is a good example of an objective measure. FP+ may indeed be more effective at preventing you from having to split up. Your other examples are subjective.

In giving the example of # of rides and wait times, I am simply using the most common measure of effectiveness. Are there people who go to WDW for whom riding a lot of rides and waiting less is not a priority? Yes, there are. But the point of having a STRATEGY is to ride more and wait less. If that is not your goal, you don't need a strategy. Hence, the measure of an effective strategy cannot be a "good vacation" because that is subjective and different for everyone.

 

[Jennasis]

I think the real question is "did Figment REQUIRE a FP?" As in, was there an actual line that you would have had to wait in more than 5 minutes to get on the ride. I've never known that ride to be anything other than a walk-on. I LOVE riding Imagination...wouldn't dream of doing Epcot without a spin on it...but would never use a FP on it.

Did you actually USE the FP for Nemo and Figment or just get stuck with one because you HAD to choose something from Tier 2? I could see that happening. The only ride I would even need a FP for at the time of year I typically go are Soarin', TT, and Maelstrom and since we all know the boneheads in charge have decreed you only get to have one of those...I would really only need one for Soarin' (and I would probably go with M:S for my second...third??? ugh.)

 

[jeneric997]

FP+ allows me to minimize the number of times I have to split from my family.[/B] There. Concrete number. With FP-, I split up from my family 3 times a day, and spent a good 45 minutes of each day without them, trekking across a park. Now with FP+, I won't do that at all. That is concrete savings for me.

With FP+ I will now have to spend more time away from my family as I can't or don't do certain headliners and that was what we used FP- for, so I didn't sit around waiting for them. I was the FP- "runner", but there was never any running and with line apps I haven't had to crisscross the park, because we could check SB times and FP times. All of this crazy technology Disney spent money on and most of the features are either = to or< FP-.

Best tech- was line apps other people came up with!

 

[WookieeFeet]

FYI tower of terror is actually B, not A, so you can do TSM plus ToT or RnRC plus ToT.

Point is that I want to do all 3. Why does MK offer ALL of the attractions and the other parks split em up? Doesn't make any sense.

 

[mesaboy2]

Point is that I want to do all 3. Why does MK offer ALL of the attractions and the other parks split em up? Doesn't make any sense.

MK has many more attractions than any other park.

 

[MrInfinity]

In giving the example of # of rides and wait times, I am simply using the most common measure of effectiveness. Are there people who go to WDW for whom riding a lot of rides and waiting less is not a priority? Yes, there are. But the point of having a STRATEGY is to ride more and wait less. If that is not your goal, you don't need a strategy. Hence, the measure of an effective strategy cannot be a "good vacation" because that is subjective and different for everyone.

The # of rides ridden and the time spent in lines are measureable aspects of ones trip, but are not the measure of the effectiveness of a strategy. They WOULD be a measure of the effectiveness of a strategy only if that strategy was chosen to maximizing these. However since everyone views things differently, maximizing rides is only the goal of a few. Disney knows this. Thus we have FP+

The point of having a STRATEGY is to accomplish a goal. It is not at all to ride more and wait less, unless those are your goals.

My goals are to have a good time with my family, while riding some rides, spending time together, and having an all around good time. Nowhere in there can one say my trip would have been "more successful" if I'd ridden 9 rides vs 8 in a day. Especially if I enjoyed the trip more w the 8 instead of the 9.

I don't value the things you do (clearly) yet I still choose to employ a strategy. (I've even detailed them out in other posts!) I still want to accomplish what I want to, which includes having a lot more leisure time than you. This still requires for example getting there at rope drop to do our rides, which frees up later hours for more touring type things.

That's setting goals, and making a strategy to accomplish them. You'll have different goals, so you'll form a different strategy.

To grade a strategy by looking at measurable metrics that it was not attempting to maximize is faulty grading.

 

[khaleesi]

People on both sides of the discussion are questioned. Those who claim to dislike FP+ are also quizzed and argued with and sometimes chastised.

The point is that the new system doesn't work well for everyone but does work well for some. I believe that the problem is figuring out how to use it and whether it's even worth dealing with if you are a particular type of traveler.

I don't disagree with that. I understand the complaints about the system even if I don't personally agree with those complaints based on my own experience. But the posts near the beginning of this thread made it seem like the OP was ridiculous for choosing the options (s)he did, even thought that's what worked for him/her.

I'm not saying that everyone should agree that FP+ is awesome because this family got to ride Nemo. I'm saying that criticizing the OP for USING a FP+ to ride Nemo and not even bothering to look at the line for Soarin' comes across as being really condescending. That's all I was getting at.

Did this particular post help anyone in planning a day at Epcot? Probably not. But why shouldn't the OP be able to share what was, for this family, a positive experience?

The best use of FP+ would be the headliners... if that's what you want to do. Waiting in line for thirty seconds to ride a roller coaster would be thirty very wasted seconds for me that I could have used doing something a lot better suited to my desires. Disney could PAY me to use a FP for half the headliners and I would turn it down.

 

[Junebugwv]

I will join the others that say they are glad the FP+ worked for the OP. We were there 25 Feb- 7 Mar and can see where FP will satisfy some people. Like the OP, we used FP+ for Figment and Nemo, which were walk-ons anyway. We had TT FP's for early evening and we hit Soarin' first thing in the morning. It was much different from any other trip we have taken.

We made the best of the situation for this trip, but were not impressed with the FP+ system overall, so I just went to the parks 4 day in our 10-day stay. Shopped away from WDW and found other things to do.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

The # of rides ridden and the time spent in lines are measureable aspects of ones trip, but are not the measure of the effectiveness of a strategy. They WOULD be a measure of the effectiveness of a strategy only if that strategy was chosen to maximizing these. However since everyone views things differently, maximizing rides is only the goal of a few. Disney knows this. Thus we have FP+

The point of having a STRATEGY is to accomplish a goal. It is not at all to ride more and wait less, unless those are your goals.

My goals are to have a good time with my family, while riding some rides, spending time together, and having an all around good time. Nowhere in there can one say my trip would have been "more successful" if I'd ridden 9 rides vs 8 in a day. Especially if I enjoyed the trip more w the 8 instead of the 9.

I don't value the things you do (clearly) yet I still choose to employ a strategy. (I've even detailed them out in other posts!) I still want to accomplish what I want to, which includes having a lot more leisure time than you. This still requires for example getting there at rope drop to do our rides, which frees up later hours for more touring type things.

That's setting goals, and making a strategy to accomplish them. You'll have different goals, so you'll form a different strategy.

To grade a strategy by looking at measurable metrics that it was not attempting to maximize is faulty grading.

 

[MrInfinity]

The best use of FP+ would be the headliners... if that's what you want to do.

This is the key! "if that's what you want to do". For us, I have ridden Soarin a ton of times in California, a bunch more in my last two trips to FL, and I'll be happy to ride it once more on my upcoming May trip... but I have 0 desire to be riding Soarin all day long. Just none. It's good... but I have 4 kids who are insane Phineas & Ferb fans, and we simply LOVE doing the Agent P adventures. We get to spend time actually looking at stuff in the World Showcase, which kids (and some adults) otherwise just gloss past on the way to their ADR. We book 2 days at Epcot cuz we love this so much.

Some criticized the OP for using a FP+ on Nemo. Boy I should show you my Epcot day plans. Yes one day I FP+'d Nemo and Turtle talk. You know why? Cuz my 5-year-old stumped Crush w a creative joke he just pulled out of his head spontaneously on our last trip, and the crowd cracked up, and now it's one of our favorite things to do. We don't need to FP it, but our day that day involves seeing Soarin (once), Turtle Talk, Seas, and Figment then moving on to the WS. (gasp!) Yes all the rides that "you must maximize headliners" folks abhor, we've planned a strategy to go see cuz we actually love them, and we love what we'll do later.

On our next Epcot day we have an FP to TT, MS and SE.

This to me is wonderful. The tiering doesn't bother me at all, cuz the 4 tier-2s that we have booked, I'd go see anyways! And now we get to get on them a few minutes quicker, and at times I get to choose. Maybe some grownups without kids just want to bop from TT to Soarin all day, but that's not us.

I can ride Soarin and TT once (each) via FP, and once again (each) via RD if I so choose. That is really plenty given how much else we would rather do after having done those once or twice.

Anyways. Criticizing the OP cuz he picked FPs for things he'd like -- because you don't like the same things and you feel riding Soarin would have been a better match for this family you don't even know... is just silly.

 

[Shaden]

The point is, if you use FP+s for things that don't need to be FP'd in any way, the system can not be "awesome".

Now, maybe the TT FP made his day, that's possible, and maybe they think that getting to FP one ride by prebooking, is worth trading off riding many more rides.

Great, glad they like it.

But to mention anything about Figment, Nemo etc, in no way makes this a better system than the previous.

 

[Love Tink]

Anyways (sic). Criticizing the OP cuz (sic) he picked FPs for things he'd like -- because you don't like the same things and you feel riding Soarin would have been a better match for this family you don't even know... is just silly.

Writing paragraph after paragraph after paragraph saying the same thing does not change the fact that what you are saying is nonsensical.

Nobody is "criticizing" the OP or his ride choices. People have simply pointed out that using a FP for the attractions he chose is not a time saver.

Why are you insisting that people are criticizing the OP's choices? Trust me, nobody here cares even a tiny (really, a microscopic) bit what rides/attractions the OP or you prefer. People are simply pointing out that using FP for the attractions the OP chose is not really necessary and won't really save a person any time. You can do them in the same time without FP.

Surely you can stop and actually read and understand the difference between, "Those are dumb attractions and not what your family should be doing." (Which was NOT said.) And, "Using FP for those attractions sounds like a waste of effort and does not make the FP system appeal to me." (Which is what people ARE saying.)

 

[catra121]

The point is, if you use FP+s for things that don't need to be FP'd in any way, the system can not be "awesome".

Now, maybe the TT FP made his day, that's possible, and maybe they think that getting to FP one ride by prebooking, is worth trading off riding many more rides.

Great, glad they like it.

But to mention anything about Figment, Nemo etc, in no way makes this a better system than the previous.

"Awesome" and "amazing" are how the OP describes their FP+ experience...that's how they felt about it. Just because that same exact experience would not be awesome or amazing for you does not mean that the system CANNOT be awesome...only that it's not for you.

So much nonsense about "maximizing" experiences by doing a certain number of rides and being condescending towards others when they don't "maximize" rides or minimize their wait times. That's fine if that's your goal (as a PP said) but it's not everyone's goal. I would actually say that it's not MOST people's goal.

I think we are all just as entitled to decide for ourselves what is an AWESOME experience as we are to decide what is a terrible experience. Many people hate FP+ and are entitled to feel how they feel about it whether they have used it or not. But many people also love FP+ and they should be able to share that opinion without people jumping all over them telling them how they wasted their FPs on rides that didn't need them.

It just reminds me of a conversation my mom had with one of the neighbor kids a few years back. He was young (12 or 13 I think) and he was telling my mom about all these awesome things they did in Disney World. So then my mom asks about x...and y...and did they do z? He says no...and she proceeds to go on and on and on about how those are the best things ever. Ummm....WTH? The kid had a great time and then she has to go and rain on his parade by telling him all the things he missed out on...who does that? He didn't have to do x, y, and z to have an AWESOME time...who is anyone to tell him that his experience wasn't awesome just because he didn't do what they would have done.

Just plain crazy, in my opinion, to think that your opinion (or mine) about whether someone else's experience would have been AWESOME trumps their own. Maybe instead of saying that the system CANNOT be awesome you say that you don't THINK that those things make it awesome. But it does not in any way negate the fact that the OP's experience with FP+ was amazing and awesome.

 

[Sammie]

I was just about to post something similar. I guess I'll keep my own plans for next week to myself so as not to risk ridicule from the perfect people.

To the OP: I'm glad you had a good time!

Exactly, some seem to think "only" they can decide what makes a trip to a Disney park enjoyable, including the use of Fastpass+ and the selections.

If the OP had a good time using Fastpass+ for her choices then it was a success.

I am so sick of the constant putting down of Fastpass+ and those that love it and their choices.

I totally get it that some don't like it, I understand completely why they don't like it. But just because you don't like it does not mean your dislike is more valid than someone else's liking it.

The OP had a good time, that should be the end of it.

 

[khaleesi]

Writing paragraph after paragraph after paragraph saying the same thing does not change the fact that what you are saying is nonsensical.

Nobody is "criticizing" the OP or his ride choices. People have simply pointed out that using a FP for the attractions he chose is not a time saver.

Why are you insisting that people are criticizing the OP's choices? Trust me, nobody here cares even a tiny (really, a microscopic) bit what rides/attractions the OP or you prefer. People are simply pointing out that using FP for the attractions the OP chose is not really necessary and won't really save a person any time. You can do them in the same time without FP.

Surely you can stop and actually read and understand the difference between, "Those are dumb attractions and not what your family should be doing." (Which was NOT said.) And, "Using FP for those attractions sounds like a waste of effort and does not make the FP system appeal to me." (Which is what people ARE saying.)

The use of "sic" in a message board quotation does kinda (yeah, I know) come across as critical, considering the very low likelihood that anyone reading it would think it was quoted incorrectly. So I think our inference that *some* people are criticizing the OP's choices is probably fairly accurate.

 

[ethanwa]

There are so many people complaining about the new FP+ system, some who have not even used it yet.

The posts on DISboards that bother me the most are the complainers of FP+ who have not used it yet.

Glad you had a fun time! I too love FP+ and I honestly don't understand many of the complaints.