FP+ - Something New or Just Coincidence?

[wuzzy6]

I want to start out by saying that I have tried to be very open-minded with the whole FP+ thing and this whole post is entirely anecdotal!!! I'm not complaining, nor am I being an apologist - I'm just interested in hearing what others have noticed, especially now that more people have had a chance to use it and compare it to previous trips using FP+. (I'm not at all interested in comparing FP+ to FP-.)

We've spent several days/nights at WDW between January and April. For those visits, we have had absolutely no problem booking or changing FP+ selections/times - even for the same day while at the park.

Something interesting (and new to me) just happened...

I just booked an impromptu 3D/2N stay for this weekend (May 2-4). I had no problem selecting the FP+ times I wanted for MK and AK on Friday and Saturday. However, when I tried to select a FP+ time for TSMM on Sunday, the earliest time available was 4:00 p.m. - this is the first time this has happened for me. I've had no issues choosing any times I wanted for TSMM, in particular, during MUCH busier times (Spring Break-ish times during March and April w/ crowd levels listed between 6 and 9 for our dates). The crowd level for Sunday is a 5, yet the earliest FP+ time available for TSMM is 4:00?

Is it a fluke thing? Or is this going to be the norm, now that more guests can pre-book FP+? Has anyone else noticed a difference over the last month or two from previous trips using FP+?

A lot of people have been saying that this would happen, but up until now, I hadn't seen it at all! Now? I'm thinking they may have been right. Thoughts?

 

[mom2rtk]

Add to that stories that people reported yesterday having TSMM available to them as a 4th FP selection (after they had done it once already). Those spots had to come from somewhere. Aren't you happy they got to experience that magic?

 

[mom2rtk]

Also, keep in mind, doesn't some of the Star Wars stuff kick off this weekend?

 

[Itinkso]

Also, keep in mind, doesn't some of the Star Wars stuff kick off this weekend?

Correct! The SW SciFi Breakfast and SW H&V Dinners begin on Sunday and are offered through June 15. Quite popular!

 

[heyitsmejosh]

HS has their May the 4th event that day, unless you are a star wars fan id probably change your plans around because that park is going to be slammed of course that may have been just last year they might not doing anything this year

 

[wuzzy6]

Good to know, especially considering the SWWs don't "officially" start until 5/16 - I had no idea about this other stuff, so thanks!

I ended up changing my FP+ from the 4:00 TSMM to RNRC, because we never stay in a park beyond early afternoon. I'm going to try later to see if I can get an earlier TSMM time. I'm just perplexed as to "why now" when it seems like there would have been a greater chance of that happening on a level 9 day instead of a level 5 day. Anyway, with the whole May the 4th thing... I very likely will change parks. I like SW and all that, but not enough to be miserably crowded!!!

 

[Raenstoirm]

HS has their May the 4th event that day, unless you are a star wars fan id probably change your plans around because that park is going to be slammed of course that may have been just last year they might not doing anything this year

I think that may be the issue as well. Or the media in town for the mine train/DHS events.

 

[magicbob]

There's still a massive amount of stuff going on "behind the scenes" with FP+ that defies being able to predict what you'll see at any given time on MDE. Not only is there the debate about whether some slots are held back, etc., you also have to take into account that there may be availability for what you want, but MDE is just not showing it to you for some reason. There's an element of behavior modification at work. If Disney wants x number of people to take the 3pm Captain EO slots, then they can simply show that as the only thing available until they meet that quota. Do I think that there's some insidious plot going on? Probably not, but the capability exists and it certainly makes sense that they would "guide" people towards certain choices.

 

[heyitsmejosh]

Good to know, especially considering the SWWs don't "officially" start until 5/16 - I had no idea about this other stuff, so thanks!

I ended up changing my FP+ from the 4:00 TSMM to RNRC, because we never stay in a park beyond early afternoon. I'm going to try later to see if I can get an earlier TSMM time. I'm just perplexed as to "why now" when it seems like there would have been a greater chance of that happening on a level 9 day instead of a level 5 day. Anyway, with the whole May the 4th thing... I very likely will change parks. I like SW and all that, but not enough to be miserably crowded!!!

yeah i know they have plans for merch that day a pin and tee shirts i dont know if they are doing the whole event like they did last year but a lot of people may be planning on going that day anyway because of that event. you might be better off changing parks

 

[rapsoncha]

I had no idea about this other stuff, so thanks

 

[Itinkso]

There isn't a May 4th event scheduled this year. DHS celebrates their 25th Anniversary on May 1st with special events, a parade, and fireworks that evening. It's probably the SW meals affecting Sunday's Fp+ - guests will be in the park early for breakfast with Vader and Boba Fett as hosts.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Sounds normal to me, and just the result of booking the trip on short notice.

Back in November, I was moving stuff around easily and then about a week before, I could see the availability tighten. Not that I couldn't get stuff, but the time slots starting dropping off. And that was before offsite and APs could prebook.

Keep trying and I bet you'll be able to get an earlier time.

 

[wuzzy6]

There's still a massive amount of stuff going on "behind the scenes" with FP+ that defies being able to predict what you'll see at any given time on MDE. Not only is there the debate about whether some slots are held back, etc., you also have to take into account that there may be availability for what you want, but MDE is just not showing it to you for some reason. There's an element of behavior modification at work. If Disney wants x number of people to take the 3pm Captain EO slots, then they can simply show that as the only thing available until they meet that quota. Do I think that there's some insidious plot going on? Probably not, but the capability exists and it certainly makes sense that they would "guide" people towards certain choices.

I definitely can see how that could be a possibility, especially as a form of crowd control (for lack of a better term). I think it'll be interesting to see how it all plays out over the next year or so - for better or for worse. I do know that Disney seems to do something very similar with their ADR times. I have booked an ADR online for a specific time, but what I really wanted was an hour later. So, I called Disney Dining, and sure enough, they were able to change my ADR to the time I wanted... even though it wasn't an option online. It makes sense, and I bet there's more than a kernel of truth to what you said regarding FP+ time availability. Interesting...

Anyway, thank you all very much - just knowing about the stuff going on for Sunday 5/4 definitely makes more sense to me! Thanks again!

 

[heyitsmejosh]

There isn't a May 4th event scheduled this year. DHS celebrates their 25th Anniversary on May 1st with special events, a parade, and fireworks that evening. It's probably the SW meals affecting Sunday's Fp+ - guests will be in the park early for breakfast with Vader and Boba Fett as hosts.

there are pictures of may the 4th revenge of the 5th pins for 2014 that have shown up on star wars websites the past few days so there is going to be something.