FP+ is now completely worthless if you are staying offsite.

[scottandtisha]

Big surprise. Really. OMG I didn't see this coming at all!!!!! Its my 30 day window, I sign in for my fast pass selections at midnight eastern time, but lo and behold everything good has "ended for the day".
This includes:
1. 7DMT
2. Meet and Greet with Anna and Elsa
3. Enchanted Tales with Belle
4. Main Street Electrical Parade
5. Festival of Fantasy Parade

So basically, unless you stay onsite, you will not get fast passes to anything really good, because the onsite peeps with their 60 day window get to pick and choose first. So now, after 9 years of multiple Disney trips a year, I am left with the left overs.

Later baby. This is our last Disney trip. It was fun. Now it just sucks, and its a waste of money. Maybe we will manage to receive some leftover scraps and my daughter will be able to meet Anna and Elsa at the Christmas party or something.

Good news ... I'm assuming you're traveling near the same dates as me (Nov 15-22). My first park day is MK on 11/16. When I first tried to book FP+, I tried getting PP, 7DMT and BTMR, but was unable to get PP or 7DMT. Tried again today and still didn't get PP, but I did get 7DMT. Will keep trying and see what happens.

 

[prudence64]

Big surprise. Really. OMG I didn't see this coming at all!!!!! Its my 30 day window, I sign in for my fast pass selections at midnight eastern time, but lo and behold everything good has "ended for the day".
This includes:
1. 7DMT
2. Meet and Greet with Anna and Elsa
3. Enchanted Tales with Belle
4. Main Street Electrical Parade
5. Festival of Fantasy Parade

So basically, unless you stay onsite, you will not get fast passes to anything really good, because the onsite peeps with their 60 day window get to pick and choose first. So now, after 9 years of multiple Disney trips a year, I am left with the left overs.

Later baby. This is our last Disney trip. It was fun. Now it just sucks, and its a waste of money. Maybe we will manage to receive some leftover scraps and my daughter will be able to meet Anna and Elsa at the Christmas party or something.

I wasn't able to get any of those for my party of 7 at 60 days either.

 

[Dean1953]

If one is realistic going into booking at either the 60 or 30 day window, the disappointment over not getting a particular FP plus will be a lot less. If you go to www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthreads.php?t=835236 You can see calendars showing what's available from today to 12-14 days past the 60 day window. It's something that DIS should have on a sticky. I can't get the link to work but if you go to the dibs.co.uk and go to: the dibb>Walt Disney world and other Florida vacation planning>Florida theme park information>Latest fast pass plus availability, you will see the calendars.

 

[Ametista]

Good news ... I'm assuming you're traveling near the same dates as me (Nov 15-22). My first park day is MK on 11/16. When I first tried to book FP+, I tried getting PP, 7DMT and BTMR, but was unable to get PP or 7DMT. Tried again today and still didn't get PP, but I did get 7DMT. Will keep trying and see what happens.

That is good news! I tried many times today and 7dmt never came up but I will keep trying!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

If one is realistic going into booking at either the 60 or 30 day window, the disappointment over not getting a particular FP plus will be a lot less. If you go to www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthreads.php?t=835236 You can see calendars showing what's available from today to 12-14 days past the 60 day window. It's something that DIS should have on a sticky. I can't get the link to work but if you go to the dibs.co.uk and go to: the dibb>Walt Disney world and other Florida vacation planning>Florida theme park information>Latest fast pass plus availability, you will see the calendars.

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=835236

Here's the link - Your link said "threads" not "thread"

This is AWESOME by the way!

 

[scottandtisha]

Here's the link - Your link said "threads" not "thread"

This is AWESOME by the way!

Agreed! Great link!

 

[Aerinha]

Get there when it opens and go right to the most important ride or attraction. Do rides during the parade at night or at regular meal times when others are busy eating.

I do not see the point of FP for a parade. If they put you above the crowd for a birdseye view it would rock, but you are just standing in a smaller crowd.

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

Going next week (which everyone says October now is so crowded) and got Mine Train 3 different days during first 6 days of trip on the night my 60 day fast pass window opened. Day 3, 5 and 6. Your statement is not always the case.

I think this is the frustrating part as some aren't able to find any and others are finding 3. There may be some parameters at which Disney is showing the more popular FP+. I noticed you're staying deluxe maybe the other family that can't find any is staying at a lower level resort? It is becoming suspicious that not everyone is seeing the same FP pool.

 

[crazyventures]

If one is realistic going into booking at either the 60 or 30 day window, the disappointment over not getting a particular FP plus will be a lot less. If you go to www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthreads.php?t=835236 You can see calendars showing what's available from today to 12-14 days past the 60 day window. It's something that DIS should have on a sticky. I can't get the link to work but if you go to the dibs.co.uk and go to: the dibb>Walt Disney world and other Florida vacation planning>Florida theme park information>Latest fast pass plus availability, you will see the calendars.

This is very helpful, thank you!

 

[cakebaker]

I think this is the frustrating part as some aren't able to find any and others are finding 3. There may be some parameters at which Disney is showing the more popular FP+. I noticed you're staying deluxe maybe the other family that can't find any is staying at a lower level resort? It is becoming suspicious that not everyone is seeing the same FP pool.

I sure hope that rumor doesn't get any traction.

We stayed at AOA a few weeks ago, booked within 45 days of arrival and got fp's for all the popular rides with no problems. It's a matter of crowd levels and a lot of luck. I don't believe for a second it has anything to do with where you stay.

 

[ethanwa]

I'm a local and I LOVE FP+. It's not worthless offsite... I use it ALL of the time.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I think this is the frustrating part as some aren't able to find any and others are finding 3. There may be some parameters at which Disney is showing the more popular FP+. I noticed you're staying deluxe maybe the other family that can't find any is staying at a lower level resort? It is becoming suspicious that not everyone is seeing the same FP pool.

Has nothing to do with it at all...I am offsite, coming from home, have only 1 ticket MNSSHP next week. Have been trying since the 30 day mark and TODAY got 7DMT and A & E M/G Just keep trying

 

[larryz]

Seems like Disney has a thing against big families that have to stay offsite because onsite accommodations are not available. One of my wives is set to have twins and that will leave us no choice but to stay elsewhere.

Sounds to me like Disney Vacation Club would be perfect for you!

 

[larryz]

I've never been in favor of not providing equal access to park rides to every guest that walks through the turnstyles during regular hours. There's nothing wrong with extra hours to me. However offsite visitors pay just as much for their passes and pay often more for food in the parks. I don't see why they should get a lesser experience in the parks than anyone else.

Now that everything goes to the same bottom line (ABC/Disney), the strategy is to push per-guest spending as high as possible, and to keep those resort hotel occupancy rates up, they'll push 60-day FP+ windows and 35% discounts. Maybe free dining will be available next summer, too...?

After all, hardly anybody stays on-site and doesn't go to the parks. Yes, I know there are some, but the vast majority -- staying on site gives them the major perk of location, and the 60-day window is a very attractive proposition as well.

 

[Suvadoo]

I didn't pretend anything and btw, pretending is just a cute way of calling me a liar.

What I posted was a fact and the response given was using what would be Disney's absolute most costly way to go per day- you stay longer and that price drops dramatically.

The fact is, the 2 parks are not comparable. Disney offers 4 distinct parks and 2 water parks. Universal offers 2 smaller parks. You can easily do all of Universal in a single day- it's hard, if not impossible, just to get just the MK down in a day- and you'll miss a lot if you try.

But if I want to go to Universal for 1 day, it's going to cost me about as much as a day at Disney and to say otherwise is just not true. Period.

The fact is, Disney should cost more....a lot more.

Okay. I did my own research:

3 day park hopper for Disney costs $326.85 ( with 3-4 FP+/day)

3 day park hopper at Universal with front the line access ( for all rides except HP attractions) costs $310 without front of the line is $186. This is the straight price without the buy 2 get 1 free offer.

Now which one is greater $310 or $326?

This conversation started when someone was saying that FP+ was free, but other theme parks charged for their front of the line access. In response to this, I said Disney tickets are more expensive and FP+ is built in to the price of admission. I didn't even mention Universal. You chose that road.

I know you think Disney is a great value and I'm not arguing that point, but you must admit it's more expensive than Universal's 3 day with express pass.

 

[Ametista]

Good news ... I'm assuming you're traveling near the same dates as me (Nov 15-22). My first park day is MK on 11/16. When I first tried to book FP+, I tried getting PP, 7DMT and BTMR, but was unable to get PP or 7DMT. Tried again today and still didn't get PP, but I did get 7DMT. Will keep trying and see what happens.

Really? It keeps telling me there are PPs available the 16th, but not after 4:00. I am trying to cram my FPs into the 4-7 window. Then I will do whatever I can afterward. Because we are doing the party and don't want to use a day of our no-expiration tickets. In years past when we have arrived at 4:00 we have been bored because the lines were long and the party hasn't started, so the FP+ is actually helpful for this. We plan on having 3 rides and a small meal before 7.

 

[Planogirl]

Now that everything goes to the same bottom line (ABC/Disney), the strategy is to push per-guest spending as high as possible, and to keep those resort hotel occupancy rates up, they'll push 60-day FP+ windows and 35% discounts. Maybe free dining will be available next summer, too...?

After all, hardly anybody stays on-site and doesn't go to the parks. Yes, I know there are some, but the vast majority -- staying on site gives them the major perk of location, and the 60-day window is a very attractive proposition as well.

The last time we stayed onsite we spent about half of our days driving offsite to do other things. We sometimes came back quite late and the guard at POFQ really gave us some strange looks. I suspect that most guests just stay put or are at least back early.

 

[wisblue]

Okay. I did my own research:

3 day park hopper for Disney costs $326.85 ( with 3-4 FP+/day)

3 day park hopper at Universal with front the line access ( for all rides except HP attractions) costs $310 without front of the line is $186. This is the straight price without the buy 2 get 1 free offer.

Now which one is greater $310 or $326?

This conversation started when someone was saying that FP+ was free, but other theme parks charged for their front of the line access. In response to this, I said Disney tickets are more expensive and FP+ is built in to the price of admission. I didn't even mention Universal. You chose that road.

I know you think Disney is a great value and I'm not arguing that point, but you must admit it's more expensive than Universal's 3 day with express pass.

This is an incomplete picture, though. Universal's tickets are seasonally priced and the $310 price is for off peak days. There aren't many of those days listed on their site. As I read the Universal site, if you want a 3 day ticket with express pass over the Christmas holidays, it costs $390. For what they consider a "standard day" (the majority of days) the price is $350.

You also have to take into account that Universal only has 2 parks, so spending 3 days there is going to involve more repetition than 3 days at Disney, something that some people are not that interested in doing. For people who enjoy riding certain rides several times in one day, I don't think there is much question that Universal is a better value. But, the crowds at WDW are such that Disney cannot offer guests that kind of unlimited front of the line access without significantly affecting the experience for everyone else. As I understand it, even Universal limits the number of express passes they sell.

 

[Suvadoo]

This is an incomplete picture, though. Universal's tickets are seasonally priced and the $310 price is for off peak days. As I read the Universal site, if you want a 3 day ticket with express pass over the Christmas holidays, it costs $390. For what they consider a "standard day" the price is $350.

Okay I give up! Disney is a much better price.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Also, Universal's "fast passes" are more expensive on weekends and peak times. Plus, it does not include Harry Potter. I have a friend who spent the $80.00 each for her sons and when they got to the back, it wouldn't let them skip the HP line and that's why she bought them.