FP+ Report: Insights, 4th FP availability, and more !!!

[BuckeyeBama]

Were you able to get a FP for Dolewhip?

Two weeks ago the line for Dole Whips was at least 40 people deep on both sides. I cannot imaging waiting over an hour for ice cream.

 

[jade1]

Egggg-zzzactly! The complaints will simply shift from "I couldn't get a RnR FP" to "I can only get one RnR FP+". The loud voices in the "we all pay the same price, so arriving early should afford no advantages" camp were very happy two weeks ago. But now?

Were happy-we will reserve 3 for later and be ecstatic.

I think the confusion is it used to be all or nothing, now it's a guaranteed great day no matter when we arrive. If someone wants to arrive at 8AM and get a 4th FP+ and we arrive at 5PM and have 3, good for them. Arriving at 5PM used to be zero.

And actually "now" the am slots are being reserved faster than the "coveted" late afternoon slots. So we will have more time plan and make changes and more availability than 2 weeks ago.

It seems win win to me.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Two weeks ago the line for Dole Whips was at least 40 people deep on both sides. I cannot imaging waiting over an hour for ice cream.

It was easily he longest line I stood in on our last trip. Most of the time we just hit Sunshine Tree Terrace instead.

 

[jade1]

That it does. We have another two-week jaunt coming up in November,.

Geez nice-have never done 2 weeks. Do you have AP and hit RD every day, or do you only hit the parks like 7 days? Have fun.

 

[Laketravis]

Geez nice-have never done 2 weeks. Do you have AP and hit RD every day, or do you only hit the parks like 7 days? Have fun.

Last Nov/Dec on a 16 night/17 day visit we had Park Hoppers with Water Parks & More but stayed out of the parks for Thanksgiving by using the water park and Disney Quest options on 4 of the 14 days. The other 10 days were in the parks, mostly at RD, then lunch, then switch to another park, then dinner, then back to a park or switch to a third park.

This year we plan on upgrading the 10 day Park Hoppers to AP's and use them every day, with RD on most days unless we have extended MH's the night before - that's when late in the day FP's came in useful.

We'll then be back over Spring Break 2015 as well as a couple more trips between Spring Break and the 2015 Christmas holidays.

I'm semi-retiring at the end of this month so we are looking to both increase and optimize our WDW visits.

 

[sedaniel]

Were happy-we will reserve 3 for later and be ecstatic.

I think the confusion is it used to be all or nothing, now it's a guaranteed great day no matter when we arrive. If someone wants to arrive at 8AM and get a 4th FP+ and we arrive at 5PM and have 3, good for them. Arriving at 5PM used to be zero.

And actually "now" the am slots are being reserved faster than the "coveted" late afternoon slots. So we will have more time plan and make changes and more availability than 2 weeks ago.

It seems win win to me.

I totally agree with this. I am new to visiting Disney on a regular basis so my first trip back in 2012 was the only trip during which we haven't used the Magic Bands and FP+. We used them back in December 2013 on my second trip with my boyfriend's family and we all loved it. It is so convenient and I am a really big fan of planning so I have loved planning everything in advance, even if I know when we get there we might change things around anyways! Really my only issues were the 3 FP limit and the fact that you cannot book in more than one resort on the same day. And now my first issue is no longer an issue, and it sounds like the second issue will soon no longer be an issue either!

 

[jade1]

Last Nov/Dec on a 16 night/17 day visit we had Park Hoppers with Water Parks & More but stayed out of the parks for Thanksgiving by using the water park and Disney Quest options on 4 of the 14 days. The other 10 days were in the parks, mostly at RD, then lunch, then switch to another park, then dinner, then back to a park or switch to a third park.

This year we plan on upgrading the 10 day Park Hoppers to AP's and use them every day, with RD on most days unless we have extended MH's the night before - that's when late in the day FP's came in useful.

We'll then be back over Spring Break 2015 as well as a couple more trips between Spring Break and the 2015 Christmas holidays.

I'm semi-retiring at the end of this month so we are looking to both increase and optimize our WDW visits.

Good for you on retiring even somewhat.

See I think it's pretty short sighted for someone to think the new changes will be a complaint for late arrival guests-basically guests that were happy with the reserving 3 FP+.

Yea maybe some here and there. But I would think most guests (at least those that stay a week or more anyway) will do a combination of some RD and some other AM activities (yes it includes a sleep in here or there God forbid apparently) on other days. I also bet many wanted to-but just forced themselves and the kids through it-crabbiness and all. Now that don't have to, and the system actually somewhat rewards that decision.

They will benefit on both days IMO.

Example-won't you reserve later day or even evening FP+ for late night EMH? I can't see how that is a bad thing?

Then the next AM you most likely wont be in a park super early-let's call it a "crossover day", where you reserve 11AM, 12PM and 1PM. There is a good chance you will still have an OK selection for a 4th and 5th FP+. I can't see how that is a bad thing?

The next day you do EMH AM and burn through what you can, followed by 9AM, 10AM and 11AM FP+-then the best odds even many more decent FP+. I can't see how that is a bad thing?

Situations change, families change-what happens when you are a late arrival family for years and years-then grandkids come along, and they are up early and want to get going to MK. Prettys sure you would not be happier with the old way.

And what about the family that the kids get older and become night owls? They will be glad to get 3, but maybe on occasion get going early-plus arrival day is better.

Not sure why anyone would want a limit one way or another (FP-, or original FP+)-compared to where FP+ is now and likely headed.

 

[Laketravis]

See I think it's pretty short sighted for someone to think the new changes will be a complaint for late arrival guests-basically guests that were happy with the reserving 3 FP+.

It was easy to pick a side and be a lover or a hater when it was 3 FP's a day in one park with no attractions repeated and only if you were staying on site.

Then came tiering.

Then came the inclusion of all guests.

Then came additional FP's upon use of the first 3.

Soon, park hopping will be added to the mix.

Disadvantages are being eliminated but with rules and impacts we don't yet understand.

I'm going to reserve judgment until the park hopping situation is clearer because whether or not FP can be applied across parks and under what criteria will be a determining factor in our daily strategy and if our FP reservations are for earlier in the day, later in the day, or a combination of the two.

 

[KimK2006]

If our FP's in the morning are for MK and we go to Epcot in the evening, can we reserve the 4th FP at Epcot, or does your 4th have to be in the same parks as the other FP's?

 

[BuckeyeBama]

If our FP's in the morning are for MK and we go to Epcot in the evening, can we reserve the 4th FP at Epcot, or does your 4th have to be in the same parks as the other FP's?

You can grab one at Epcot, but you have to be at a kiosk in Epcot to get it.

 

[afm1229]

If our FP's in the morning are for MK and we go to Epcot in the evening, can we reserve the 4th FP at Epcot, or does your 4th have to be in the same parks as the other FP's?

You can get the 4th FP at the other park, but you can't book it until you arrive at Epcot.

 

[jade1]

It was easy to pick a side and be a lover or a hater when it was 3 FP's a day in one park with no attractions repeated and only if you were staying on site.

Then came tiering.

Then came the inclusion of all guests.

Then came additional FP's upon use of the first 3.

Soon, park hopping will be added to the mix.

Disadvantages are being eliminated but with rules and impacts we don't yet understand.

I'm going to reserve judgment until the park hopping situation is clearer because whether or not FP can be applied across parks and under what criteria will be a determining factor in our daily strategy and if our FP reservations are for earlier in the day, later in the day, or a combination of the two.

All good points-I'm just not agreeing that adding a 4th FP+ after 3 will bring complaints from those OK with just 3 FP+ in the first place-at least the large majority-and think on average most groups do both RD (or at least early arrival) and some later arrival days-for whatever reason, and will even more so now. Therefore capitalizing on the possible 4th some days-and therefore glad it's available those days.

Obviously future changes (and there will be as suggested all along by many) will bring new discussion/strategies.

Seasons will be a huge factor-as it was with FP-. Peak-3 will be great, but not likely a 4th or anything good IMO, Busy-better selections, Slow-should work a lot better.

 

[KimK2006]

You can grab one at Epcot, but you have to be at a kiosk in Epcot to get it.

You can get the 4th FP at the other park, but you can't book it until you arrive at Epcot.

Got it. Thanks!!

 

[OtherScott]

It was easy to pick a side and be a lover or a hater when it was 3 FP's a day in one park with no attractions repeated and only if you were staying on site.

Then came tiering.

Then came the inclusion of all guests.

Then came additional FP's upon use of the first 3.

Soon, park hopping will be added to the mix.

Disadvantages are being eliminated but with rules and impacts we don't yet understand.

I'm going to reserve judgment until the park hopping situation is clearer because whether or not FP can be applied across parks and under what criteria will be a determining factor in our daily strategy and if our FP reservations are for earlier in the day, later in the day, or a combination of the two.

The dynamic certainly will change. Before FP+ 1/2 of guest didn't use it.

With greater use, greater expectation will follow. More praise, yes. But, more critique, more criticism too.

 

[2Tiggies]

You can get the 4th FP at the other park, but you can't book it until you arrive at Epcot.

It will be interesting to see if this changes. With having to be in the second park to make the 4th or subsequent FP it slows things down somewhat. If they allow you to start booking from the park you're in for another park, I wonder how or if that will impact availability.

 

[Reddog1134]

It was easily he longest line I stood in on our last trip. Most of the time we just hit Sunshine Tree Terrace instead.

Citrus Swirls are better than Dole Whips any way.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

It will be interesting to see if this changes. With having to be in the second park to make the 4th or subsequent FP it slows things down somewhat. If they allow you to start booking from the park you're in for another park, I wonder how or if that will impact availability.

If they let us use MDE, that limitation will almost certainly have been lifted since MDE currently does not track where you are in the World.

 

[NileNellie]

Citrus Swirls are better than Dole Whips any way.

You bite your tongue right now, reddog! Dole Whips are FAR superior.

 

[KimK2006]

For the parks with tiered FP's, when you are able to book the 4th FP, can it be any ride? Can it be a tier 1 FP that you have already ridden? (This assumes there are any still available....)

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Thanks for sharing your experience! Looking forward to the updates.



And...

You bite your tongue right now, reddog! Dole Whips are FAR superior.