FP+ ... Will not book our Feb 2015 trip

[MichiganDVC]

How is "I hate FP+ and refuse to ever try it" a Theme Park Strategy?

 

[goofy4tink]

I used FP+ two weeks ago, but it was cold and rainy, so really didn't need it. But when I used it in early Dec, I was able to do all the attractions I wanted, with much shorter wait times. Now, I tend to ride most only once a day....Soarin', TT, EE, etc. but, I could always get to the park at rope drop, or EMHs, and do the things I really enjoyed and then, later on, use FP+ for them again.
I also liked bring able to do a park with EMHs in the morning, and then heading to another park to use my FP+ later on in the day. Or, get a late start, sleep in, have a nice relaxed brunch, then head to a park and get to ride your favorites because you did FP+.
But, different strokes for different folks.

 

[DividedSky]

cool story bro.

 

[Mousemommy1]

How is "I hate FP+ and refuse to ever try it" a Theme Park Strategy?

I don't really understand the purpose of these threads either. Is the OP seeking validation for their choice? Or seeking to be talked out of it? These threads confuse me.

We take a few non-Disney vacations a year, but I wouldn't ever think to post about it here, because it's not relevant. Sincerely not trying to be rude, just trying to understand what OP would like to get out of the thread. Usually a post would be to start a discussion, but if your mind is made up...there's really nothing to discuss.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't really understand the purpose of these threads either. Is the OP seeking validation for their choice? Or seeking to be talked out of it? These threads confuse me.

We take a few non-Disney vacations a year, but I wouldn't ever think to post about it here, because it's not relevant. Sincerely not trying to be rude, just trying to understand what OP would like to get out of the thread. Usually a post would be to start a discussion, but if your mind is made up...there's really nothing to discuss.

Hoping Disney will see the error of their ways if they don't go.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Hoping Disney will see the error of their ways if they don't go.

Oh! Ok....then, hope everything works out for you OP? (Guess I'm still confused, but to each their own)

 

[Donut23]

The really good news for you. Just about ANYTHING you do is going to cost less and you will find yourselves saying "this is how Disney USED to be" whether it be customer service, maintenance, etc.

That was our surprise.

Be prepared.

 

[JimmyV]

No matter what Disney does, there will always be someone complaining about something.

Actually, the "you can't please everyone" refrain is quaint and oft-used. But it isn't true. Go back and re-read the pages of the "No more tiers at Epcot" thread up to the point where the tiering was reinstated. Did you see anyone complain about that? Were there any "Oh no, this is terrible. Bring back tiers" posts?? If Disney removed the hopping restriction from FP+, would anyone object? No. So there are things that Disney can do that will please everyone without complaint. And when Disney figures this out, it will bring some lost sheep back into the fold.

 

[Rosanne]

Hi, OP! I am not a fan of FP+ but I might be able to survive it if the "technical difficulties" end of it can be resolved. I would have to make sure we are at rope drop.

February 2015 is still a full year away and you may still feel like skipping WDW by then. Maybe a few things could improve or at least be more consistent.

We were going to go this spring for my DD7's birthday. We finally had a school break at a weird time where the crowds may not be too crazy. Even so, I'm not up for the pretty likely possibility of issues with the MDE site or bands working or not working for one or more of us so we are not going to do it.

We are hoping things improve. If they do, we may go in August. If not, we'll keep holding on until the huge majority of reports regarding the technical side are positive. I don't like the change from FP- to FP+ but what I cannot bear is dealing with GR all the time with technical issues.

I figure that somehow things would have to improve at some point or it would self implode.

I hope things do improve but whether you end up going to WDW in February 2015 or trying something new I hope you have a great time with whatever you decide.

 

[prudence64]

Hi, OP! I am not a fan of FP+ but I might be able to survive it if the "technical difficulties" end of it can be resolved. I would have to make sure we are at rope drop.

February 2015 is still a full year away and you may still feel like skipping WDW by then. Maybe a few things could improve or at least be more consistent.

We were going to go this spring for my DD7's birthday. We finally had a school break at a weird time where the crowds may not be too crazy. Even so, I'm not up for the pretty likely possibility of issues with the MDE site or bands working or not working for one or more of us so we are not going to do it.

We are hoping things improve. If they do, we may go in August. If not, we'll keep holding on until the huge majority of reports regarding the technical side are positive. I don't like the change from FP- to FP+ but what I cannot bear is dealing with GR all the time with technical issues.

I figure that somehow things would have to improve at some point or it would self implode.

I hope things do improve but whether you end up going to WDW in February 2015 or trying something new I hope you have a great time with whatever you decide.

Most reports I've read lately mention that the bands are working very well.

 

[Rosanne]

Most reports I've read lately mention that the bands are working very well.

We must be reading different posts. Of course I have read several posts where posters have had not problems but I have read at least as many posts where posters have had problems. Also a lot of posts where people are having issues with the MDE site... reservations disappearing or changing times, some people showing linked some not... variation depending on what device you're using.

I will be ready to link tickets when a smooth experience on both the MDE site during planning stage and a smooth band and app experience once on property is the standard for a huge majority.

No worries. I have plenty of time. I just went to WDW in August so we are not suffering.

 

[mainedis]

We go to Disney every 18 to 24 months and have done so for years. Last week we began discussing our upcoming trip and so I delved into this FP+ issue and we've decided against a trip to Disney for the time being. There are the two of us plus our three kids of 14, 10 and 9. I always served as the "FP runner" and we always were able to do everything we wanted as many times as we wanted so long as we were strategic. In this way, we got our moneys worth from Disney.

Given the new FP+ system I just don't see us getting the same value. I see for us, less options, longer lines, forced on rides we don't want and not being able to ride the ones we love more often. How is this a win?

Maybe we'll just do a non-Disney cruise, instead ...

From everything I've read so far about FP+, all I can think of is the famous Bart Simpson quote, "I didnt think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows."

Well said.... I've experienced FP+ three times. Once without tiers and paper fp in addition to FP+ (the best of both worlds), twice with tiers. I've enjoyed like the Wishes and Illuminations viewing areas. Magic Bands were great. But the limiting nature of FP+ (with tiers especially) will totally change the value for me. As a seasoned "fast pass runner" the old system was working whether it was a trip with extended family, going solo or last minute friends joining. Now (or at least it's current state) FP+ is an endless exercise in advanced planning, ghost fast pass confusion/frustration and trying to guess what ride (at what times) will actually NEED a FP.

I am not perfect and can be fooled on some things. But I happen to know for a fact Figment does not need a fast pass... Ever. Riding "E-ticket" attractions multiple times was easily possible. People weren't "running around like crazy" to accomplish this. The argument of stopping and "people watching" and slowing down to enjoy other things could still happen before the "no park hop" and "3 per day" rule. Disney is giving a nice enhancement and convenience with the bands. Some advanced FP utilizing technology makes sense. But FP wasn't broken. Applying a minimal amount of research planning, it was a system most families could use to fit BOTH extended long vists AND a last minute escape.

Walt encouraged change and never wanted his parks "to be finished". But I doubt he would have released a product (FP+) that wasn't "ready to go" especially one designed (in my opinion) to trick people into riding attractions they didn't want to experience. I think they can still salvage the overall system but unlike the original "grand opening" of Disneyland (where lots of problems occurred) I've yet to see anything but a rushed product that will confuse, complicate and stress to decision-making that should be possible "as you go". I realize the APP or kiosk allows changes but in the words of Donald Duck... "server busy" is the response I consistently got. I'm not naive enough to think we can go back to paper FP (or a similar system, just using phones/kiosks instead of getting a paper pass) but Disney needs to admit it has been a reduction to the guest experience for many. A better use of a billion dollars would have been to build new attractions, increase ride capacity dramatically. This should have been the first priority. Shifting/forcing the herds to "under used" attractions is not giving anyone increased value at all. Hoping for significant changes...

 

[wuzzy6]

Actually, the "you can't please everyone" refrain is quaint and oft-used. But it isn't true. Go back and re-read the pages of the "No more tiers at Epcot" thread up to the point where the tiering was reinstated. Did you see anyone complain about that? Were there any "Oh no, this is terrible. Bring back tiers" posts?? If Disney removed the hopping restriction from FP+, would anyone object? No. So there are things that Disney can do that will please everyone without complaint. And when Disney figures this out, it will bring some lost sheep back into the fold.

Bless your heart. You can't please everyone, and there will always be someone complaining about something... you do realize there's more to this statement than a trite subject on a message board, right?

 

[Marthasor]

Walt encouraged change and never wanted his parks "to be finished". But I doubt he would have released a product (FP+) that wasn't "ready to go"

Really? Did you know on the opening day of Disneyland -
(from http://www.frontierlandstation.com/2013/04/10/disneyland-opening-day-what-you-didnt-know/):

"As Disneyland opened, workers were still busy trying to get the park ready. Trees were still being planted and some of the paint was still wet.

Due to a problem with counterfeit tickets, over twice the number of invited guests showed up to attend the opening day festivities, making the park quite crowded.
To make matters worse, each park ticket had a designated time to enter the park to prevent overcrowding. But the guests who entered early in the day were not leaving after a few hours as expected. So, they were letting more people in and no one was exiting the park.

Because more visitors than expected showed up, the Disneyland restaurants and refreshment stands ran out of food and beverages.

The asphalt on Main Street had just been poured the night before and was still wet. Women’s high heels were sticking in the pavement.

Many of the rides broke down on opening day. The Storybook Land Canal Boats had to be pulled by cast members in rubber boots. At the time, there were no guide rails for Autopia; Therefore, some of the cars crashed into each other, making them inoperable.

Due to a plumbers’ strike during the construction of Disneyland, Walt Disney had to choose between having working bathrooms or working water fountains on opening day. Walt chose bathrooms, which was probably a good choice; however, the temperature that day reached over 100 degrees, leaving guests hot and thirsty.

A gas leak in Fantasyland lead to the land being temporarily closed for part of the day.

The Mark Twain riverboat was filled beyond capacity, as the capacity for the boat had not yet been determined. When the crowd moved from one side of the boat to the other to see the sights, the boat began to list from side to side and water came over the deck. A few days later, with over 500 guests on board, the Mark Twain almost sank and became stuck in the mud. Disney then established a capacity of 300 in order to prevent this from happening again.

Due to the Disneyland opening day disaster, many press reviews speculated that the park would not last long. Walt and his staff worked to correct the problems experienced on opening day, and then invited the press back to experience a normal day at Disneyland."

Compared to the opening day of Disneyland, FP+ sounds pretty peachy keen! In all honesty, I don't like the present incarnation of FP+ either, but I'm still going in two days simply because I could walk down Main Street, never go on a single ride and still be happy, but that's just me! To each his own, but I wouldn't give up on Disney just yet. Things may be very different in February 2015.

 

[penchris]

I love Disney, so it would be ridiculous to say I will never vacation at WDW again. However I can say with conviction that I will not visit again until I start hearing primarily positive reviews of FP+, both here and from other sources. I have to save up for these trips and the risk for a bad return on investment seems too high right now. FP- with park hopping was a good value because it allowed us to hit all the headliner attractions in the mornings, spend the afternoon at the hotel for swims and naps, and then shows and DTD in the evenings...all in a four day trip. Now it will take 2-3 more days to get the same things in, which significantly increases the price of the trip. Not to mention the extra stress of juggling more days off from work, school, and with pet sitters. I am sure FP+ works very well for some and I wish them all the Disney Magic in the world. Hopefully Disney will reassess the guest experience and at least allow park hopping FP and maybe one more FP ride/event per day.

 

[mainedis]

Really? Did you know on the opening day of Disneyland -
(from http://www.frontierlandstation.com/2013/04/10/disneyland-opening-day-what-you-didnt-know/):

"As Disneyland opened, workers were still busy trying to get the park ready. Trees were still being planted and some of the paint was still wet.

Due to a problem with counterfeit tickets, over twice the number of invited guests showed up to attend the opening day festivities, making the park quite crowded.
To make matters worse, each park ticket had a designated time to enter the park to prevent overcrowding. But the guests who entered early in the day were not leaving after a few hours as expected. So, they were letting more people in and no one was exiting the park.

Because more visitors than expected showed up, the Disneyland restaurants and refreshment stands ran out of food and beverages.

The asphalt on Main Street had just been poured the night before and was still wet. Women’s high heels were sticking in the pavement.

Many of the rides broke down on opening day. The Storybook Land Canal Boats had to be pulled by cast members in rubber boots. At the time, there were no guide rails for Autopia; Therefore, some of the cars crashed into each other, making them inoperable.

Due to a plumbers’ strike during the construction of Disneyland, Walt Disney had to choose between having working bathrooms or working water fountains on opening day. Walt chose bathrooms, which was probably a good choice; however, the temperature that day reached over 100 degrees, leaving guests hot and thirsty.

A gas leak in Fantasyland lead to the land being temporarily closed for part of the day.

The Mark Twain riverboat was filled beyond capacity, as the capacity for the boat had not yet been determined. When the crowd moved from one side of the boat to the other to see the sights, the boat began to list from side to side and water came over the deck. A few days later, with over 500 guests on board, the Mark Twain almost sank and became stuck in the mud. Disney then established a capacity of 300 in order to prevent this from happening again.

Due to the Disneyland opening day disaster, many press reviews speculated that the park would not last long. Walt and his staff worked to correct the problems experienced on opening day, and then invited the press back to experience a normal day at Disneyland."

Compared to the opening day of Disneyland, FP+ sounds pretty peachy keen! In all honesty, I don't like the present incarnation of FP+ either, but I'm still going in two days simply because I could walk down Main Street, never go on a single ride and still be happy, but that's just me! To each his own, but I wouldn't give up on Disney just yet. Things may be very different in February 2015.

I actually wrote about the opening of Disneyland in my post. I guess my point was that Disney is acting like these changes are enhancements rather than mistakes. Obviously Walt immediately worked to improve Disneyland and some changes couldn't be made until Disney World. He didn't change things that were already working (in my opinion fast pass was fine the way it was). But I agree not to give up on Disney.

 

[AmyB2006]

So some of you support changes that make the park less enjoyable for some because it leads to fewer people in that park?

Very, very odd. I guess the message board has changed in its expectations for Disney. I must be one of the last true believers!

Sad to hear, but you have to do what's right for you.

However, I don't think there will be fewer people in the park. There are always plenty of people at Disney.

And yes, from what I've seen, it's the people that got 6, 7, 8, and sometimes more, FPs from the old system that are most upset about this change. I happen to like the new system, however I don't like the tiers. So there are good and bad for me. But I'm not willing to not go to Disney altogether either. We'll go and still have a good time. Things change.

I hope you have a great vacation wherever you decide to go.

 

[stairstepmom]

We just got back a little over 3 weeks ago and seriously disliked FP+. I mean, I went in prepared and with lower expectations and I seriously, seriously dislike it LOL! Our HS days were our absolute worst, we felt like we hardly got to do anything (and combined with some really awful CM experiences - like a CM refusing to honor our FP+ for BatB 1 minute after showtime, and refusing to allow my DH and family into the standby entrance).

Still, we had mostly good times and good memories and although the hefty price we paid to stay at VWL was NOT worth the lower experience we got with FP+ and we initially thought we'd wait until 2018/19 to return, we've already been feeling post-Disney blues and have decided to go back next Feb!

We are making up for the lessened experience by staying offsite. With 10 park days we can do most of what we want to do, FP+ be damned!, and we can do the whole trip for LESS than what we paid for room alone on property. (We're driving instead of flying, too.) $1700 per day for FP+ is highway robbery, but $700 per day is much easier to swallow! I'm not sure that was Disney's intention in pushing us off property, but we're glad we've found a way to continue to enjoy the magic without feeling like we're getting the short end of the stick!

I hope your family finds enjoyment wherever you land next year!

 

[wdwfreak]

How is "I hate FP+ and refuse to ever try it" a Theme Park Strategy?

THIS THIS THIS!!! You win the internet today, sir.

 

[wdwfreak]

See you in February 2015.