FP+ - what a pain!

[cisco911]

We used FP+ in the fall of 2013 when it was just for resort guests. The system of making the FP+ was a little complicated, but not as bad as it was this morning at 5 am. The times you can choose from are nothing close to what we want, so I had to go back and edit each FP+ we made. The order wasn't what I would choose either, so that complicated changing the times even more. 35 min to choose 5 days of FPs is crazy. I guess the system works for people who 1. want to arrive at the park later in the day or
2. spend the entire day at one park. In a way it's saving me money. We used to buy hoppers and now won't. The old system had us spending more time at the park and eating there, now we will go for rope drop, go back to FW for lunch/dinner, and use our FP+ when we return in the evening.

Either way, I hate having to plan 60 days out which rides at which parks we are going to want to do.

30 minutes?!?!?!?!? I had my 5 days booked in 5 minutes and had times in the morning and afternoon depending on when we wanted them!

 

[BagOLaughs]

if your FP attraction closes you get an alert on your phone

thats so good to know! Thanks

 

[larryz]

The new FP+ system is really great
(1) It's really cool wearing a band all day, no other park offers that experience
(2) You get to decide weeks ahead of time exactly where you will be in a park on your vacation, none of that pesky spontaneity
(3) The kiosks for the legacy FP were way too fast, now you can interact with a CM while they help you navigate the new system
(4) Now you have a FP for a lot of things that you thought were virtual walk ons in the past (such as Pirates). The new system created lines, but you can spend a FP+ on these rides and skip the new lines!
(5) You get the chance to get on the phone for a long time and talk with Disney IT folks when there are problems so you actually have a person to fix things
(6) None of those pesky paper FP to keep track of
(7) Unlike the competition where you can get a blanket unlimited front of line pass, with FP+ you don't have to think about what to do when you get to the park, you just need to follow your prearranged plan
(8) Lots of guests arrive knowing nothing about the FP+, so you get to ride while they have someone explaining it to them
(9) You can get a FP+ to watch fireworks or a parade - you didn't know that in that past you had a lousy view
(10) They allow Disney a lot more control on where we go and what we do, shunting us to formerly underused rides when the FP+ for the better rides are gone
(11) Best of all Disney can now track us in the parks, so they can notify us of ways to spend money, and email us later with pictures for sale!

Reminds me of that new Disney attraction: Sarcasmic!

 

[itchin2go]

Another thing that worries me about FP+ is what if it buckets down with rain? What if they close the ride due to a thunder storm. I'll assume they'd honor FP but wouldn't that make the FP line longer?

if your FP attraction closes you get an alert on your phone, and your FP is now able to be used on any attraction with availability until close. (The email will give you a list. I'm guessing if you don't have a phone a FP+ CM would know what is available) you don't have to do anything, just go to the attraction you want and use your band.
The attraction that broke down is usually on the list as well, so if you want to wait out the closure, you can.

You get a FP good for (almost) any attraction including the one that closes due to weather or malfunction should if reopen. If is open ended on time. Usual suspects such as Mine Train and Soarin' are pretty much never available. It does cause fast pass line surges at some alternate attractions as well as the main attraction when it reopens. Depends on the reason for the closure and whether the attraction may be closed for a long time or not.

On our November trip, our last SDMT FP was rained out. To be fair, we didn't try to use the FP because it was raining so hard, there was no point. We didn't get an alert on our phone (Thanks Disney IT). I do think that if we had gone to the attraction and tried to use the FP, there would have been some concession prize (such as described above). I had a heck of a time convincing my family to stay for our Liberty Tree Tavern ADR; there was no convincing anyone to go to SDMT and see what would happen. Luckily, we had ridden SDMT once previously during the trip. One of my little bits of FP advice is: If it's important to you, schedule it on more than one day.

 

[trivial]

I took a bit less than 20 minutes to book 7 days worth of FP+, but I had absolutely no use for the recommended options. I quickly realized I should just accept the first option and then manually modify the times. Worked fairly well, but it's somewhat clumsy.

 

[sleepymouse]

After booking (just trying to update), I wish you could see complete availability. For example, I have RnR 6-7, Tot 7-8 and ST 8-9, but am wondering if I can swap the RnR and ST times. I wish I could tell if RnR is available from 8-9 before moving ST out of that time slot and vice versa.

 

[MataHari22]

On our November trip, our last SDMT FP was rained out. To be fair, we didn't try to use the FP because it was raining so hard, there was no point. We didn't get an alert on our phone (Thanks Disney IT). I do think that if we had gone to the attraction and tried to use the FP, there would have been some concession prize (such as described above). I had a heck of a time convincing my family to stay for our Liberty Tree Tavern ADR; there was no convincing anyone to go to SDMT and see what would happen. Luckily, we had ridden SDMT once previously during the trip. One of my little bits of FP advice is: If it's important to you, schedule it on more than one day.

Absolutely. Last year I got a FP+ for 7DMT for each of the three times I would be at MK. Well, it's a good thing I did, because for two of those days it was down during my FP+ time, so I only rode it once. I almost changed it because I felt guilty taking 3, well I'm glad I didn't. I fully intend on trying to get three again.

 

[Kalliope]

I don't remember ever waiting very long at the legacy machines. At least not any longer than we had to wait the FP+ kiosks.

It's interesting that so many people delay their fastpasses until evening. That makes sense but we decided to schedule them for around midday so that we could get more once we used those. That worked well at MK and really only at MK. Live and learn.

In July, midday is a death sentence. Ours are either done by noon or starting around 6pm. We don't have any FP+ between 12 and 6.

 

[Jennytoon]

After booking (just trying to update), I wish you could see complete availability. For example, I have RnR 6-7, Tot 7-8 and ST 8-9, but am wondering if I can swap the RnR and ST times. I wish I could tell if RnR is available from 8-9 before moving ST out of that time slot and vice versa.

I agree -- this was my biggest "sigh I wish" the first time we used it in May. That said, as a software developer I can completely see why this kind of function is not currently available. There's pretty much no way to add something like this into the design without adding complexity and a huge window for confusion, and right now the bar really needs to be set at "pretty much anyone can figure out how to get three in the park of their choice". Given that I also support the software I write, I can tell you that that bar needs to be pretty low. People who are generally computer savvy would consider it shockingly low.

 

[momof2n2]

The new FP+ system is really great
(1) It's really cool wearing a band all day, no other park offers that experience
(2) You get to decide weeks ahead of time exactly where you will be in a park on your vacation, none of that pesky spontaneity
(3) The kiosks for the legacy FP were way too fast, now you can interact with a CM while they help you navigate the new system
(4) Now you have a FP for a lot of things that you thought were virtual walk ons in the past (such as Pirates). The new system created lines, but you can spend a FP+ on these rides and skip the new lines!
(5) You get the chance to get on the phone for a long time and talk with Disney IT folks when there are problems so you actually have a person to fix things
(6) None of those pesky paper FP to keep track of
(7) Unlike the competition where you can get a blanket unlimited front of line pass, with FP+ you don't have to think about what to do when you get to the park, you just need to follow your prearranged plan
(8) Lots of guests arrive knowing nothing about the FP+, so you get to ride while they have someone explaining it to them
(9) You can get a FP+ to watch fireworks or a parade - you didn't know that in that past you had a lousy view
(10) They allow Disney a lot more control on where we go and what we do, shunting us to formerly underused rides when the FP+ for the better rides are gone
(11) Best of all Disney can now track us in the parks, so they can notify us of ways to spend money, and email us later with pictures for sale!

Oh my goodness - this is BEAUTIFUL!
Way to make me laugh!
THANK YOU.

DH and I just decided this week to forgo a WDW trip next year. Um... we cancelled the 2014 trip, as well. It would cost my family $2,525 for 5-day tickets... for THIS? What you type here is WAY too accurate and shows me clearly how I could not possibly get a solid return for my investment. It's not the money... it's the lack of ROI. I've got the cash... but I won't pay that much for a headache.

WDW is losing our money again. Thankfully, there are dozens of other places that want it.

 

[danny1649]

Hi to all posters,I see a lot of good information being shared on this thread.Please remember you have right to disagree on the topic.That said please be don't be argumentative or make any remarks that would be considered q personal attack.Because you someone disagrees with you that is not a personal attack. Thanks Danny

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

On our November trip, our last SDMT FP was rained out. To be fair, we didn't try to use the FP because it was raining so hard, there was no point. We didn't get an alert on our phone (Thanks Disney IT). I do think that if we had gone to the attraction and tried to use the FP, there would have been some concession prize (such as described above). I had a heck of a time convincing my family to stay for our Liberty Tree Tavern ADR; there was no convincing anyone to go to SDMT and see what would happen. Luckily, we had ridden SDMT once previously during the trip. One of my little bits of FP advice is: If it's important to you, schedule it on more than one day.

Always good advice. If you have multiple days, back up plans are good.

Works for other reasons. One of my kids fell asleep during our monorail ordeal before we got to mine train and she missed it. She had ridden before but loves the ride. We has fastpasses the next day so we were covered.

Oh my goodness - this is BEAUTIFUL!
Way to make me laugh!
THANK YOU.

DH and I just decided this week to forgo a WDW trip next year. Um... we cancelled the 2014 trip, as well. It would cost my family $2,525 for 5-day tickets... for THIS? What you type here is WAY too accurate and shows me clearly how I could not possibly get a solid return for my investment. It's not the money... it's the lack of ROI. I've got the cash... but I won't pay that much for a headache.

WDW is losing our money again. Thankfully, there are dozens of other places that want it.

Trying to keep up...you're now or going at all? That is such a shame. I know there are many who would have helped you to maximize what you could do under Current circumstances.

But I get it. If you think you will be disappointed, it probably is better to just cancel.

 

[itchin2go]

Always good advice. If you have multiple days, back up plans are good.

Works for other reasons. One of my kids fell asleep during our monorail ordeal before we got to mine train and she missed it. She had ridden before but loves the ride. We has fastpasses the next day so we were covered.

Oh, gosh - what did the "monorail ordeal" entail?

 

[TheDisneyNurse]

I actually really like FP+ I figured it's because I'm young and this started just as I began to plan my own trips. Nothing for me to get used to. Plus, I never wait more than 10 minutes in line for anything, anyway. All in the way you plan and navigate

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Oh, gosh - what did the "monorail ordeal" entail?

Me staying at BLT for its close walking distance to MK only to decide what the heck. Let's take the monorail.

As ended up switching to boat at GF which ended up being a mistake as the monorail ordeal had resolved. Too late and we were stuck on the boat ordeal that was so behind as hoards of people had been directed to that.

The issue was a faulty door 2 monorails ahead of us. We ended up on the boat with someone who was in the affected car. It gave trouble at GF and would not close. But eventually they forced it. Got to MK. It did the same thing again but instead of finally shutting, it just came off. Oops. They had no ETC on that. We did make Mine Train. But it took is 2 hours from the time we boarded at CR until we got through all the parade detours to Mine Train.

If only we had walked. Lol!

 

[Squidgyness]

Oh my goodness - this is BEAUTIFUL!
Way to make me laugh!
THANK YOU.

DH and I just decided this week to forgo a WDW trip next year. Um... we cancelled the 2014 trip, as well. It would cost my family $2,525 for 5-day tickets... for THIS? What you type here is WAY too accurate and shows me clearly how I could not possibly get a solid return for my investment. It's not the money... it's the lack of ROI. I've got the cash... but I won't pay that much for a headache.

WDW is losing our money again. Thankfully, there are dozens of other places that want it.

Pretty much this sums up my opinion, as well as the post quoted. Just come back from a fantastic trip to Malta in the Mediterranean, we visited lots of museums, towns, castles, went on trips on ferries and boats... And not a single iota of planning, just research and on the spot informed decisions based on physical fitness and weather conditions. It was fantastic and reminded me why my opposition to fastpass plus and pre planning is so entrenched. Whilst I'm now done with Malta after two trips in four years, and my next trip will be likely be to Orlando in a few more (many more at this rate of price increases ) years, it will be at seaworld, universal, Kennedy space centre and elsewhere. Perhaps with a day at Epcot or DAK if I feel really nostalgic for the world.

That said, I understand why people might like this system, and that's fine. But for me it's just not what I want to do on principle, and that's if the system was perfect which it isn't. I refuse to pay hundreds of dollars for tickets to "try it out for yourself and see" as I have heard people being urged to do. Every time I come in here each few weeks to see if things have changed, I just can't see a light at the end of the tunnel for me with wdw. It's a real shame. Still, more room for the people who want to go I guess.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Speaking only for me, I do consider "just research" to be planning. I cannot imagine going anywhere without some rudimentary knowledge. Gaining that knowledge is part of planning even if I play it by ear once I get there.

Glad you enjoyed Malta!

 

[over50visits]

Speaking only for me, I do consider "just research" to be planning. I cannot imagine going anywhere without some rudimentary knowledge. Gaining that knowledge is part of planning even if I play it by ear once I get there.

I would guess few if any guests go to Disney World without some research/planning. Most wouldn't spend the amount of money it costs to go there without knowing what they're getting into. Thus the several books available (Birnbaum, etc) and the number of helpful websites. But IMO talking about the rides, getting excited for the visit, and anticipating meeting characters is much different from deciding what ride you're going to do at 2:30 a couple of months from now.

Disney continues to package programs that bring them huge profits as being helpful to us (witness the success of the DDP cash cow). FP+ (and MDE) was designed, according to Disney, to get us to commit to staying at Disney when we visit Orlando and not travel to any other venues. It's very well done from a stockholder's point of view, but I don't have to like their attempt at controlling my entire visit at the micro activity level. Luckily we have been there MANY times and continue to love it, but we are pretty good at holding onto our wallets while they try to squeeze it at every turn!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would guess few if any guests go to Disney World without some research/planning. Most wouldn't spend the amount of money it costs to go there without knowing what they're getting into. Thus the several books available (Birnbaum, etc) and the number of helpful websites. But IMO talking about the rides, getting excited for the visit, and anticipating meeting characters is much different from deciding what ride you're going to do at 2:30 a couple of months from now.

Disney continues to package programs that bring them huge profits as being helpful to us (witness the success of the DDP cash cow). FP+ (and MDE) was designed, according to Disney, to get us to commit to staying at Disney when we visit Orlando and not travel to any other venues. It's very well done from a stockholder's point of view, but I don't have to like their attempt at controlling my entire visit at the micro activity level. Luckily we have been there MANY times and continue to love it, but we are pretty good at holding onto our wallets while they try to squeeze it at every turn!

Didn't suggest they didn't. But commented to say that research is planning. Your post does not change that.

Our opinions can differ on what MDE means. And that is okay.

 

[VirginiaR]

Good points!