FP+ Royally sucks

[Crl1817]

I think part of the problem is that Disney has made it very difficult to just go with the flow or plan loosely. We are going over Christmas. So if we don't have ADRs of some kind it would be very difficult to find a sit down meal. That means we need ADRs, which are a constraint on planning any other activity.

Then I have to consider that my four year old, who is definitely in Disney's target audience, isn't going to make it from rope drop to midnight having fun. So I have the constraint that I can't count on being in the park past about three in the afternoon.

So now we have to fastpass around those constraints, partially imposed by Disney. And we do want two A&E fastpasses--so every minute that ticks by past the window opening decreases our chances of actually getting them.

It starts to feel like a Tetris game and I like planning, but I hate Tetris. And with the poor technology implementation, it's like a game of Tetris with glitches that narrow your options as other players not experiencing glitches take the options you wanted.


I'm finding planning much more frustrating this trip than last and the change is the new fastpast system.

 

[sethschroeder]

That doesn't mean those people want to use their technology in a theme park. Or plan their rides 2 months out.

That's the same mistake I believe Disney made........ assuming that since people like technology that they want to be tied to that technology on vacation at Disney.

That's fine then DONT GO. I guess its not simpler than that. I personally like FP+ with the ability to lock in 3 rides no matter what and can always get more or wing-it the rest of the time.

If we followed your advice we wouldn't have smart phones, email would only be for business, facebook would be a scrapbook, and personal vehicles would only exist for the military.

Technology advances society in a variety of ways and Disney is going through growing pains right now.

To say though Disney doesn't care about your "age group" potentially is false when pretty much anyone in a civilized nation that has disposable income uses a cell phone, or tablet, or computer.

In my whole extended family we have 1 person who doesn't use a computer and my Grandma and shes 81. Even she knows about the computer but she just has no need to use one as she doesn't travel and if she wants to see pictures she lives next to two of my Aunts who can bring them up and show them. She even admits if she was younger she would love to learn a computer but she doesn't see a point at this point in her life.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I think part of the problem is that Disney has made it very difficult to just go with the flow or plan loosely. We are going over Christmas. So if we don't have ADRs of some kind it would be very difficult to find a sit down meal. That means we need ADRs, which are a constraint on planning any other activity.

You would have needed ADRS for Christmas even before any of this started.

 

[FINFAN]

I am not tech savvy~do not have a smart phone. All my family members do, but I am too cheap to pay the data plan fee, end of story. So, I get I am putting myself/us at an "in-park" disadvantage. One of the MAIN things we loved about WDW was the escape from reality, the bubble of being in make-believe for a week, leaving all the stress and everyday crap behind for a while. That part is being compromised now. Geeze, I was bummed to see the touch screen system for BOG. I LIKE being able to speak to a human when ordering food. I usually have questions when eating at a new place. Anyway, WDW has implemented this new system, we are going to try and give it a go, but even if we have a great time? The job of preparing for it (which used to be fun to plan)
has made me lose interest. New guests will take our spot, and I hope they have a blast and some is still out there for them. WDW will have to deal with that..they want repeat guests/good reviews so if a negative experience is had by too many, well, I hope they find a way to correct it.

 

[sethschroeder]

I think part of the problem is that Disney has made it very difficult to just go with the flow or plan loosely. We are going over Christmas. So if we don't have ADRs of some kind it would be very difficult to find a sit down meal. That means we need ADRs, which are a constraint on planning any other activity.

Then I have to consider that my four year old, who is definitely in Disney's target audience, isn't going to make it from rope drop to midnight having fun. So I have the constraint that I can't count on being in the park past about three in the afternoon.

So now we have to fastpass around those constraints, partially imposed by Disney. And we do want two A&E fastpasses--so every minute that ticks by past the window opening decreases our chances of actually getting them.

It starts to feel like a Tetris game and I like planning, but I hate Tetris. And with the poor technology implementation, it's like a game of Tetris with glitches that narrow your options as other players not experiencing glitches take the options you wanted.


I'm finding planning much more frustrating this trip than last and the change is the new fastpast system.

What would you rather have:
No ADR and sitting in a line potentially for 2-3 hours waiting for a table
or
ADR where you have to loosely plan your trip

Again with A+E what would you rather have:
Stampede to get in line for a possible 6 hour wait (like it was at Epcot)
or
Stampede to the FP- ticket booth to get possibly a FP- time of 8PM
or
FP+ where yes you might miss out but at least you know ahead of time or possibly know you have a 8PM FP+ time so you can come later than rope drop to help your kid be able to be awake that late

I understand the system should just work but that's more of an issue with IT than with the system itself.

 

[Suvadoo]

That's fine then DONT GO. I guess its not simpler than that. I personally like FP+ with the ability to lock in 3 rides no matter what and can always get more or wing-it the rest of the time.

I'm glad you are so enamored of everything Disney does. You are their ideal customer.

But I too want to experience Disney and not wait in lines and not have to be attached to my smart phone. Every day, I watch people who spend all of their time looking at their smart phones they miss so much of the world around them. Do you honestly think this is an advancement?

 

[sethschroeder]

I am not tech savvy~do not have a smart phone. All my family members do, but I am too cheap to pay the data plan fee, end of story. So, I get I am putting myself/us at an "in-park" disadvantage...

Sorry but last summer in July you were at a disadvantage as well. I had my smartphone for the following reasons:

-make ADRs on the fly for Dinner
-check wait times on rides to see what to FP- next
-touringplans app to give us a good idea what to do next to avoid waits later (optimized of course after each ride)

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Trying to change my times at 7am = nothing. You can't be serious that there are no FP+ available for Space Mountain 60 days from now on a crowd level predicted 3 day before 3pm. This system takes all the magic of the past 3 months of planning and flushes it. Makes me just want to cancel the whole thing.

While I haven't read all of the responses on this thread, I have read a few of yours to understand what was happening and really believe you need to take a step back here. I'm not sure if I misunderstood you or not, but one post said that you planned in such a detailed manner that you counted on getting FP+s for certain times of the day. Did I read that correctly? If so, I think this may be why you're having difficulty. You cannot count on getting the exact times that you want during a peak season trip (and, more than likely, for some moderate to off-season visits). It's just not realistic. If I read it incorrectly, I apologize as I'm just trying to understand so that I can help.

My suggestion when it comes to park planning is to decide what parks you will visit on which day. If EMH plays into that decision for you, check that schedule first. Then, you can select your ADRs or FP+s; do whichever is more important to you first and then the other.

FP+ can be modified easily. If you get a plan that isn't what you're looking for, try one of the other options (they give you a Best Match, Option A, Option B, etc.). Choose one of those, and you can always go in and alter a time, if need be.

It's important to remember that you can change your FP+s even on the day you are in the parks. Quite often, I or friends of mine have been in the situation in which this can be done within an hour or two of ride time. Make sure you have your smartphone with you in the parks and check it here or there if you're not having luck with what you want. Don't lose hope.

Also, please keep in mind that you don't have to have a FP+ in order to ride an attraction or experience an entertainment option. With smart planning, you can take the regular route and wait in line. Go to the parks just before opening and you'll find very short wait times even in the summer. This is why I don't recommend using FP+s for the morning hours. It's better to save them for the afternoon and evenings when parks are at their busiest.

I hope this helps. I have used FP+ many times since it first began testing up through now so these are my tips based on personal experience. Remember, you're going on vacation. Relax and enjoy it!

 

[minnime66]

I am so stressed out about this FP + have to pick ours in July for sept!!! I hope it's not a bad as I'm hearing

 

[mom2rtk]

That's fine then DONT GO.

I know..... more room for you, right?

 

[sethschroeder]

I'm glad you are so enamored of everything Disney does. You are their ideal customer.

But I too want to experience Disney and not wait in lines and not have to be attached to my smart phone. Every day, I watch people who spend all of their time looking at their smart phones they miss so much of the world around them. Do you honestly think this is an advancement?

Yes

I could say the same about having a house when living outdoor is more exhilarating. I could say the same about having running water and super markets when hunting for the food on your table is so much more rewarding. I could say the same about global society when local closely nit communities are an amazing thing to have. I could say the same about....

Every advancement has a downside of some sorts but also has a reason why people want the new thing that was developed. Smartphones are amazing for instant news and conversations.

 

[FINFAN]

Sorry but last summer in July you were at a disadvantage as well. I had my smartphone for the following reasons:

-make ADRs on the fly for Dinner
-check wait times on rides to see what to FP- next
-touringplans app to give us a good idea what to do next to avoid waits later (optimized of course after each ride)

I don't want to misunderstand your post~you are saying that if we had gone to the parks last July , using a smart phone was a great help for non-FP+ related reasons, right?

I guess we would have done as we used to , eat at CS (which we like, time and $ saver and food usually good)
look at ride board for wait times or fast pass return time on sign at ride
just follow TP for which park is recommended that day and hop if too crowded

It appears from reports here on the DIS that those days are gone , so using that info seems like not as good a vacation match for us as before. While not tech savvy I'm not completely incapable of adjusting, I just know when to stop fitting a square peg in a round hole.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes

I could say the same about having a house when living outdoor is more exhilarating. I could say the same about having running water and super markets when hunting for the food on your table is so much more rewarding. I could say the same about global society when local closely nit communities are an amazing thing to have. I could say the same about....

Every advancement has a downside of some sorts but also has a reason why people want the new thing that was developed. Smartphones are amazing for instant news and conversations.

Wanting to avoid tech toys on vacation and wanting to avoid tech toys in daily life are 2 different things.

Although I understand it's a lot more entertaining to mock people under the assumption that they are one in the same.

 

[sethschroeder]

I know..... more room for you, right?

No if someone is going to be that sour over a vacation then go someplace else that makes you happy and is a good experience from day 1. I feel sorry for the people who have major issues with Disney, have major frustrations (lots of times rightly so - like system malfunctions), and feel like every second needs to be planned.

I take the point of view that this SHOULD be fun and make it so. If I cant get an exact time I am not going to freak out there is plenty of time to get it in at least once.

The only thing I was nervous about for the whole trip was Albert's Chef Table. Same with last trip for the Africa Trek. I pick one thing that is must do, one restaurant that is must do, and everything else is just a list of things I would like to fit in if possible.

If Disney is making you that frustrated Universal might be a better option or something all together. Universal is supposed to be a lot easier to get around and if you stay on site does have a better ride "FP" system.

 

[TanJDis2014]

It's so nice to see a post acknowledging that people have feelings and not trying to belittle them for it. Smiles, BigMommaMouse

Agreed! Hugs to BigMommaMouse

 

[Suvadoo]

Smartphones are amazing for instant news and conversations.

I love technological advancements, but you could conduct a conversation face to face prior to smartphones. But I do see your point, I would much rather stay in contact with my smart phone than watch the smiles on my children's faces when they walk through the parks!

 

[Suvadoo]

Wanting to avoid tech toys on vacation and wanting to avoid tech toys in daily life are 2 different things.

Although I understand it's a lot more entertaining to mock people under the assumption that they are one in the same.

thanks this is my point, I don't want to use this stuff on vacation and being told I don't have to is total bunk, since if you don't use the tech you will be stuck in long line!

 

[sethschroeder]

Wanting to avoid tech toys on vacation and wanting to avoid tech toys in daily life are 2 different things.

Although I understand it's a lot more entertaining to mock people under the assumption that they are one in the same.

They are one in the same you cant pick and choose, this might be a vacation for you but this is a business for Disney. Disney is using technology just like every other company in the US to expand their market reach, market research, and selling power long term.

There are also a lot of people I would bet who love technology for the ability to make changes on the fly and see updates with rides on the fly as well.

 

[mom2rtk]

They are one in the same you cant pick and choose, this might be a vacation for you but this is a business for Disney. Disney is using technology just like every other company in the US to expand their market reach, market research, and selling power long term.

There are also a lot of people I would bet who love technology for the ability to make changes on the fly and see updates with rides on the fly as well.

LOL, until the chip is implanted in our arms, they most certainly are not one in the same.

I went to Disneyland last December and while I had my phone in my bag, most days it never came out. Oh........ and I liked it that way.

 

[ShesAPirate]

I have used FP+ many times since it first began testing up through now so these are my tips based on personal experience. Remember, you're going on vacation. Relax and enjoy it!

I have also used FP+ without issue, and never felt like I was attached to my phone. I don't think you can view FP+ as a license to make your plans exactly as you want them. We don't count on eating at Be Our Guest before we have an ADR -- and then feel like our vacation is ruined if it's not available (at least I hope that's the case for most people). Just like when you're booking ADRs, you have to take remember that there are thousands of other people also making plans for the same day... so you have to allow some flexibility if you want that Fastpass. Otherwise, you can wait in the standby line if you wish, as NikkiBell said.