FP+ vs old FP vs no FP

[skater]

Why would you go to a kiosk? You can book your first 3 before you leave home even if not staying onsite.

It was a nightmare about a spontaneous trip. I have family in the area and there were a few times that we took those one day trips to MK. Booking fp's ahead of time requires having the tickets ahead of time. (I admit that things have changed since I've been in Feb. - maybe I'm wrong?)

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

We had ugly family drama because of the tier system. We only had a base day for that park around a Disneycruise and had to choose one and wait 80 for the other. If you are hopping for a week, it might be just fine. When you only have one day for HS and one day for EP, only 3 FP is just unreal and you dont have much choice over them with the tiers. The stand by lines were shocking. They can do a LOT better, it wasn't even peak season. There is no way the new FP is great, it IS good for reservations, but the either/or tier and 3 limits STINKS!!!!

I have been to Disney for decades, since we were babies. I've never been so unhappy as we were or gotten in to really bad family fights over choosing this one or that one ever, even when there were NO FPs. Anyone who says this is better than legacy is just a sucker, sorry, that's the truth. We never had as few as 3 ever, and we could get both TSMM and RnRc, we could use single rider line which they deliberately shut this time "because the line was too long" and we could hop 4 parks in a day. This time, we couldn't even ride what we wanted in one BASE day.

It's ugly. I second the PP, as we couldn't get half of our crew to even buy their tickets prior to getting to the gate, since they weren't sure if they were going to go to a park that day, etc. Thankfully for them, they allowed them to ride with us, but otherwise, they would have had NO rides before 5pm that day. Which is lame.

 

[mossy1]

There is no way the new FP is great, it IS good for reservations, but the either/or tier and 3 limits STINKS!!!!

I have been to Disney for decades, since we were babies. I've never been so unhappy as we were or gotten in to really bad family fights over choosing this one or that one ever, even when there were NO FPs. Anyone who says this is better than legacy is just a sucker, sorry, that's the truth. We never had as few as 3 ever, and we could get both TSMM and RnRc, we could use single rider line which they deliberately shut this time "because the line was too long" and we could hop 4 parks in a day. .

I dislike the tiers in HS especially. I've never heard of the single rider for RnRC not being available...that would suck. I'm not sure of your arrival time(I always get to HS 40 mins before open at least). I would think you could ride both TSMM or RnRC at that time(first thing) with only one FP+(for the other ride), if you got there later it would be a definitive wait.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I dislike the tiers in HS especially. I've never heard of the single rider for RnRC not being available...that would suck. I'm not sure of your arrival time(I always get to HS 40 mins before open at least). I would think you could ride both TSMM or RnRC at that time(first thing) with only one FP+(for the other ride), if you got there later it would be a definitive wait.

TRIED THAT. We arrived at 9:05 which considering our group, was pretty stellar (we tried!) and as we pulled into the parking lot, at 9:05, the TSMM was 60 min already!

We waited all day and finally got in line after dinner when it was still 80 min and we would have ridden it with our friends during Fantasmic except this was the ONE TIME we actually got a Fantasmic Dinner Package for it! So we had to wait and then literally run to Fantasmic and they almost locked us out, but I ran and got in and then the CMs finally decided out of the kindness of their heart to let my Twinsis and her Husband and My Husband in too, with their vouchers in hand.

The whole day was unbelievable. I have never seen lines like that even for GMR. RnRc kept going down so we burned a FP on that and the TSMM were too late to switch out to anyway (with dinner reservations.) CURSE THEM!!!! THEY MAKE US MAKE DINNER RESERVATIONS SO WE CAN WATCH A SHOW THAT OTHERWISE HAS A 3 HR WAIT, THEN THEY ALMOST DON'T LET US USE OUR VOUCHERS BECAUSE THEIR STINKIN' STAND BY LINE WAS TOO LONG, AND WE CAN'T GO EARLIER BECAUSE WE MADE 5:30 DINNER RESERVATIONS LIKE THEY TOLD US TO.

Curse FP+. I'm cryin in my beer. Yes, and what a buncha CRAP. We said "Is there a single rider line?" and the CM told us "It's closed because the line is too long." Unbelievable.

Has this OP gone to WDW and used her FP+ yet? I want to see how she does if she only has 2 base days at Disney. If you had lots of days, you could pick TSMM one day and RnRc the next day. Same with TT and Soarin. But we didn't! Because we were already spending a buncha money going on their Disney Freakin' Magic cruise Mon-Fri and because we already had spent $300 at the Brown Derby. You know what? I just realized who the sucker is....ME!

So screw them. I'm going to Disneyland.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I am one of the people who misses the old FP system. It worked well for my family. We never ran anywhere in the park, never crossed the park for the sole purpose of obtaining a fast pass, and never had a "runner" who was sent to collect fast passes for the group, yet we were still able to obtain well over 3 a day.

In an average day at Magic Kingdom, we would easily pull 6 or more and those were for the rides we really wanted. Jungle Cruise, Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain would be done once during the day and once at night so we would get at least 1 fast pass for each of those rides. We would also get at least 2 for Space Mountain and at least 1 for Barnstormer. It sounds like those days are long gone and won't likely be recreated.

At Epcot, we would do Soarin' about 4 times. We arrived at RD, pulled a FP and rode standby. Then, we cashed in the fast pass and grabbed another. We would then pull another one at some point for later in the day. It sounds like that is not going to be possible any time soon. We also liked to get a fast pass for Maelstrom. With it being the same tier as Soarin' we weren't going to fast pass it on our most recent trip.

At Hollywood Studios, the tiers have really screwed stuff up, as well. We would really take advantage of fast passes at rope drop for Tower of Terror and Rock n Roller Coaster. We'd ride one, grab a fast pass for the other, ride with a fast pass and grab a fast pass for the other. My husband has now discovered how much he loves TSMM and he gets to choose what's more important to him.

Basically, we just don't get as much enjoyment out of FP+.

 

[mesaboy2]

It was a nightmare about a spontaneous trip. I have family in the area and there were a few times that we took those one day trips to MK. Booking fp's ahead of time requires having the tickets ahead of time. (I admit that things have changed since I've been in Feb. - maybe I'm wrong?)

You aren't.

 

[Sandy Fisher]

When I saw the original post and asking for opinions, I knew you'd get answers from all over the spectrum.
I did just fine with the previous FP system. Didn't use a lot, didn't race around the parks trying to get more, etc. Our way of touring worked for us and we didn't use a lot of FP for anything, just occasionally.
When FP plus was being "tested" and introduced, I figured it was going to be a three-ring circus and frustrating for a lot of people.
I think in spite of all the techy types telling me I just don't know how to use it, that even if I were young, tech intelligent and totally comfortable with every new thing that comes down the pike, I still wouldn't like the new system.
But that's just me. We're older. We have a rather laid back way of doing the parks and just didn't see much about it when we were there May 2-9 that we thought was an improvement.
I won't go into monotonous detail. I preferred the former fast pass program. We've been doing Disney for 30+ years so we did without any FP to begin with and that was okay too. Disney was much smaller and less complicated then.

 

[mossy1]

TRIED THAT. We arrived at 9:05 which considering our group, was pretty stellar (we tried!) and as we pulled into the parking lot, at 9:05, the TSMM was 60 min already!


So screw them. I'm going to Disneyland.

You were definitely running a little late for those rides under the new system. I haven't made it to DL yet, that would be an awesome trip! I think part of it is under the legacy FP system if you got there reasonably early and had some hustle you could easily crush the park and move on. With the FP+ it is much more about planning and RD and using your 1st 3 FP+ is more important than ever if you want to get to the "rolling" 4th FP+. It definitely changes the game but I think it is workable. It also allows for some lazier sleep in days with the ability to schedule afternoon FP+ if you are going for 10 days or so. Since you only had 2 days or so I can see your point. Next time will be better, just believe.

 

[robbs49]

I have to admit as a skeptic at first after doing fastpass+ I loved it. It is working the system as a must. For example last Monday we rope dropped mk to ride the dwarf. We had 3 fast passes encompassing rides until 11:00. Of course Snow White broke. Screwed all of our fast passes. No problem. We used our Peter Pan(two at time there was 4 of us) while two waited in the line for Snow White. Got on Snow White while out space mountain fp was active. Got off snow went and used our space. But here is the catch. We never used our early btmr. At lunch my wife said lets ride potc. Switched out non used fp at lunch for potc which was a 45 minute wait and literally walked on. Booked that fp and instead of waiting walked on. Got of potc and jungle was 40 minutes. Walked to the fp kiosk and got an immediate fp. No wait. Then did the same with haunted.
To make fp work you have to know that toy story, Snow White, soarin are a big pain in the A to get and have always been that way and still are. But there was days we slept in and hit ds at 945. Caught our rockin, tot and movie ride. On site Star Wars it and we were at the pool at beach club 100. The only ride not rode was toy story(that stunk). Used fp at epcot that night for test track. It's always about use pattern and figuring things out and for our family and a smart phone it was a huge plus.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

You were definitely running a little late for those rides under the new system. ....using your 1st 3 FP+ is more important than ever if you want to get to the "rolling" 4th FP+

Well, not all family members operate that way. I REALLY wanted to go to the park with BOTH of my sisters, and one of them was just running behind, but after all the 'maybe I will go', finally getting her to come with me was a miracle so I wasn't going to scream like a raving lunatic to get them to get out of the house.

It was either leave her behind completely or get there at 9:05 and enjoy the day with both my sistas, both of which live on opposite sides of the country! I know what you are saying, and believe me I tried, but you canNOT control everyone in your group, and 9:05 was what we got. Than again, I got this treasure:

Which is far more valuable.

Does Disney actually believe in families anymore? Its true about Disney getting too complicated, that's what Dad said when we were in our family fight about who picked the Tier 1 fast passes. "Its just gotten too complicated now, but it's nobody's fault." And we don't HAVE the option for a 4th FP. Thanks for that.

 

[surferdave]

I've been to the parks during the 3 choices , and I like the current one the best.

Me too, as well as the old A-E ticket days.

I would be perfectly happy to go back to the no fastpass at all days, the parks were far less crowded and much cheaper to visit (even in nominal dollars). Trying to stick the no fastpass scenario into the parks of today, as much as Disney charges and as many people as they bring in, is the false comparison.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

If you don't mind me asking, what did you like about the old system.

For me, I'm looking forward to not having to send one member of the party with all the tickets racing to a ride and then having them come back and find us. Or worse yet, dragging everyone to the pass machine. Then they might be out of times or the only time was the one we had set for a dinner reservation we had already made.

daisy

Hi Daisy - similar to skater I liked the spontaneity of the old system. I never had a FP runner but would grab what we needed while in each land and then go on something with a shorter wait. I liked the ability to get FPs for a headliner more than once. Yes, I know you can now too but will be a lot more difficult for TT, Soarin' and TSM. I also liked that some rides (HM, pirates and IASW) usually had low waits. Now they are higher. I don't like planning rides in advance. My next trip is with my sis and her fam. The kids have never been. I don't know what rides they are going to like. I can make an educated guess and I have talked to them about some of the rides but seeing it in person might be different. I know Disney says with the app you can change on the fly, but not really sure how that will work in busy times. Luckily I'm going end of Oct so should be better than summer. The one + to the new system in my opinion is the ability to plan stuff on arrival and departure day. But even with that advantage, I still prefer old system. I kinda don't like being tracked either but that is MM+ not FP+.

 

[DebbieB]

After they started enforcing the end time, I found the old fastpass to be less flexible. I remember one time where we did the Segway Tour at Epcot that ended at 10:30 and we had lunch at France at 12:00. We decided to get a FP for Soarin after the Segway Tour, figuring the time would be after lunch. It must have been a slow day because the fastpass return time was around 12:00-1:00. That would not work with our lunch. So we headed over to Nemo standby and then Imagination, then returned to Soarin to get a 1:30-2:30. With FP+, we could have scheduled a fastpass for that time and not had to run around killing time and hoped that by the time we went back to Soarin it was a time we could use. Another pet peeve was having to go all the way downstairs in The Land, through crowds to get to the Soarin fastpass machines.

 

[PEC]

OK. I went to Disney when there was No Fast Pass and enjoyed my trips.
I went to Disney with Legacy Fast Pass and enjoyed my trips.
I am planning a future trip with the new system and I see nothing so far that should make my experience bad.

I go with my family and I know sometimes sacrifices are made. When going with 3 year old children that were about 35 inches the Barnstormer was the highlight. When older we enjoyed a few extra thrill rides.
Let me also caveat that I had a great trip with my family to Yellowstone and Glacier National Park and we have had fun camping as a family in the mountains. The trip from Georgia to Montana required about as much if not more preplanning than anything Disney can throw at me (dont have a motel reservation in a part of the country where there may not be another one for 200 miles and a car is not great for sleeping as my brother had discovered with his family a few years prior).
I enjoyed going to Disney. Whatever FP, FP+ or no system they have I will work around. ANd yes some of the trips to Disney may have been better than others but how I got on a ride had little if anything to do with it.

 

[Sammie]

Love the current setup.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Its not a lost cause, it can be salvaged. If they ditch the Tier system and 3 FP limit.

 

[PEC]

Its not a lost cause, it can be salvaged. If they ditch the Tier system and 3 FP limit.

The tier system is the only thing they have done so far that was bit of a headscratcher to me. It is the one thing that just like your trip with a big group that is going to have myself challenged to make RD or miss a ride that many want to do. And my challenge will be getting 12 individuals age 49+ down to a 2 yo Grand son having to be at RD early. I see no problem at AK or MK (no tier system). At EPCOT and HS different story. Will survive somehow.

 

[Daisy&Max]

Has this OP gone to WDW and used her FP+ yet? I want to see how she does if she only has 2 base days at Disney. If you had lots of days, you could pick TSMM one day and RnRc the next day. Same with TT and Soarin. But we didn't! Because we were already spending a buncha money going on their Disney Freakin' Magic cruise Mon-Fri and because we already had spent $300 at the Brown Derby. You know what? I just realized who the sucker is....ME!

So screw them. I'm going to Disneyland.

OP here, No I have not used my FP+ yet, I will in a couple of weeks. And I can't speak to the one or two days in the parks because we always stay for 6 or 7 days. So my trip is definitely different from yours. I've done the FP and didn't have much of an opinion about it. I would, however, get frustrated when we couldn't ride when it was really convenient for us. WE've planned 3 days worth of FP+ and we've some days where we didn't plan anything and will just plan as we go. But I did get our favorites and will be able to do Fantasmic without any problem. I might have a different opinion when I get home, but for right now I'm thinking it will be a good experience for my family. I'm sorry it didn't work out for your family. Your family picture is wonderful!

daisy

 

[DebbieB]

Its not a lost cause, it can be salvaged. If they ditch the Tier system and 3 FP limit.

The reason for the tiers is there would be no tier 1 left for people at 30 day mark without it. Soarin & TT would be gone, TSM & RnR would be gone. I doubt they will end it. You might be happy to get both without it but then you might get neither.

You can now get more than 3. I managed to get 7 on May 19, 5 at MK and 2 at AK.

 

[Mome Rath]

Me too, as well as the old A-E ticket days.

I would be perfectly happy to go back to the no fastpass at all days, the parks were far less crowded and much cheaper to visit (even in nominal dollars). Trying to stick the no fastpass scenario into the parks of today, as much as Disney charges and as many people as they bring in, is the false comparison.

I agree. I tried to keep my answer in line with our current situation, and going back to no fp's with the current crowd levels would be very... uncomfortable.