FP+ - what a pain!

[Letsbgoofy]

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.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm not a fan of planning when I will ride a 3 minute attraction 60 days out either.

As for making the actual process a little less clunky, the best advice is to accept times the opposite time of day from what you really want, then change to the preferred times. That means what you are changing from has the least chance of conflicting of what you want to change to.

Yes, it is absolutely counterintuitive.

 

[rotlex]

While I find the process easy and quick enough, I really do not understand why you cannot select the time frame you want initially. It makes zero sense the way it is currently implements. Why the heck do you have to finish the process using Disney "windows of time" before being able to go back and select the actual times you want? Who the heck got a bonus for deciding that one?

 

[mom2rtk]

While I find the process easy and quick enough, I really do not understand why you cannot select the time frame you want initially. It makes zero sense the way it is currently implements. Why the heck do you have to finish the process using Disney "windows of time" before being able to go back and select the actual times you want? Who the heck got a bonus for deciding that one?

Probably because a certain percentage of guests will just take what is offered and Disney can nudge people to the times they prefer for them to take.

 

[Jennasis]

Yup. The system is clunky in inefficient. I get WHY it's like that (so they can herd folks they way they want). But I don't like it.

 

[Flamingeaux]

I think it is harder to come up with a FP strategy than getting the FPs. And throw in that I am going to try to use old bands to get extra SDFPs this makes coming up with a plan harder.

 

[nilla]

It took me about 40 minutes to book 10 days of FPs, and I found the experience to be very enjoyable! It could've been smoother, but was mostly user-friendly, IMO. I was actually sad when I was done.

 

[DisneyFive]

I'm not a fan of planning when I will ride a 3 minute attraction 60 days out either.

As for making the actual process a little less clunky, the best advice is to accept times the opposite time of day from what you really want, then change to the preferred times. That means what you are changing from has the least chance of conflicting of what you want to change to.

Yes, it is absolutely counterintuitive.

This really is a good tip. I agree it's pretty stupid that this is an optimal way to do it, but it does lend itself to the easiest method of rescheduling to times that you actually want. Kind of similar to getting your 4th FP+ at the kiosks. Just accept whatever it spits out the first time and then adjust it to what you really want on your smart phone.

Dan

 

[dancin Disney style]

It took me about 40 minutes to book 10 days of FPs, and I found the experience to be very enjoyable! It could've been smoother, but was mostly user-friendly, IMO. I was actually sad when I was done.

I also felt a little sad when it was finished. At that point the planning is done and I really enjoy the planning part. You then have, a very long, 60 days to wait with nothing left to do.

 

[nilla]

I also felt a little sad when it was finished. At that point the planning is done and I really enjoy the planning part. You then have, a very long, 60 days to wait with nothing left to do.

LOL! I found myself looking at the selections days later and wondering, "should I change that 11:45 to 11:40?" Just for something to do.

 

[DisneyGuy758]

I also felt a little sad when it was finished. At that point the planning is done and I really enjoy the planning part. You then have, a very long, 60 days to wait with nothing left to do.

But! Online check in!

 

[mom2rtk]

It took me about 40 minutes to book 10 days of FPs, and I found the experience to be very enjoyable! It could've been smoother, but was mostly user-friendly, IMO. I was actually sad when I was done.

I also felt a little sad when it was finished. At that point the planning is done and I really enjoy the planning part. You then have, a very long, 60 days to wait with nothing left to do.

LOL, you guys should never swap to Disneyland. The lack of planning would drive you nuts.

 

[AngiTN]

I've always been rather neutral on FP+, don't love it but don't hate it either. It has it's faults, without a doubt.
But I can admit that I did miss the ability to select the time I wanted to ride a few things while in DL. For instance, I wanted to ride RSR at night but could not come up with a way to ensure I pulled a FP at night. Same for GRR. I wanted to ride in the afternoon, when it was warm and summer vs. morning when it was cloudy and cool. Again it was really not possible to plan to pull a FP for a time we wanted. Sure, you can stand in line but really, that's not feasible either. So instead we took what we got and still had a great time. But I did say in my mind "I sure wish I could FP+ those rides"
Same way I wish I could still walk to a machine and pull a FP at WDW.
In my perfect plan we'd plan 3 and pull the others while in a park from a machine.

 

[ICanDis]

The last time we went FP+ was just out of the testing phase (2014) we enjoyed it and found it easy to work with.
That being said, only guests staying at a resort could book and all others had to book upon arrival, and there was no extra 4th pass.

I'm interested to see how it goes for our upcoming trips.
I am a planner so the idea of knowing where I'm going, what I'm doing and feeling like I have accomplished something a huge!

 

[dancin Disney style]

LOL! I found myself looking at the selections days later and wondering, "should I change that 11:45 to 11:40?" Just for something to do.

LOL....did that too.

I know I'm totally weird.....I actually felt like I was doing something so Disney 'special' when I was up making the bookings. It was midnight and everyone was sleeping while I was on the laptop arranging FP+. I was in the living room with only one lamp on, the house was silent and dark. The snow was softly falling outside my window

 

[dancin Disney style]

But! Online check in!

I actually did online check in for that trip but normally I don't....I've had too many issues and wasted time with it.

 

[mom2rtk]

I've always been rather neutral on FP+, don't love it but don't hate it either. It has it's faults, without a doubt.
But I can admit that I did miss the ability to select the time I wanted to ride a few things while in DL. For instance, I wanted to ride RSR at night but could not come up with a way to ensure I pulled a FP at night. Same for GRR. I wanted to ride in the afternoon, when it was warm and summer vs. morning when it was cloudy and cool. Again it was really not possible to plan to pull a FP for a time we wanted. Sure, you can stand in line but really, that's not feasible either. So instead we took what we got and still had a great time. But I did say in my mind "I sure wish I could FP+ those rides"
Same way I wish I could still walk to a machine and pull a FP at WDW.
In my perfect plan we'd plan 3 and pull the others while in a park from a machine.

I totally get that sentiment with RSR. But I would not be willing to trade the great availability of FPs at DL to get it. On balance, I'll take the DL system any day of the week. We got FPs for Indy at 4 in the afternoon on Candlelight Processional weekend. That sort of thing gets much harder to accomplish under FP+.

 

[scrapquitler]

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.

You could look at it the way my husband pointed out to me....it probably would have taken you (or someone else in your party) a lot longer than 35 minutes to run around the park trying to get same day Legacy Fast Passes for your family, not knowing if they would be available (or what return time you would get) once you crossed the park to put your tickets in the machines.

I think it works out great when park hopping: I can go to one park in the morning, knowing that I have already secured afternoon/evening fast passes for another park later that day. In the past, I might have spent part of the day at MK, and then hopped over to EPCOT only to learn that none of the rides I wanted to go on had any fast passes left for the day.

It's all in how you look at it.

 

[nilla]

LOL, you guys should never swap to Disneyland. The lack of planning would drive you nuts.

I'm sure I could find other things to obsess over

 

[BagOLaughs]

Glad i read this thread.

I think it works out great when park hopping: I can go to one park in the morning, knowing that I have already secured afternoon/evening fast passes for another park later that day. In the past, I might have spent part of the day at MK, and then hopped over to EPCOT only to learn that none of the rides I wanted to go on had any fast passes left for the day.

Very good point, i'm going to try and do this too when my FP+ booking window opens