We have been to WDW 5 times since 2007. Were there new year 2007-8. Twice in Oct, once in Sept, now once in Feb. We do a time share exchanged (RCI) and have only stayed onsite once.
On this trip, we have waited in line as much this trip as the 2007 trip. We were FP super users, I guess. Always had one for something and rarely rode anything with a wait. We are unlikely to return any time in the near future. We felt frustrated, discouraged, and worn down. The new FP is not a good thing for us. Posted wait times are wrong all over the place - both too high and too low. MDE app has generally been working well for tracking that though. Lots of Brazilian tour groups around.
Yesterday was day 3 for us and our first to MK this trip - a Tuesday in Feb.
Here's the recap:
Park hours 9am-10pm
RD did not seem to have the same benefit as it did in the past. We used to be able to get there at RD and wrap up Fantasyland in about an hour. Granted, the expansion has increased the amount of time for this. But the ride wait times built up much more quickly and earlier than we’re used to. I felt hopeful after reading Josh's (EasyWDW) report, but our experience was nowhere as good.
Walked down main street at 9:01.
Went straight to meet Ariel and then ride. Posted at 20 min – was walk-on.
Went to Peter Pan about 9:40. Line was already 20-25 minutes.
Family went to ride Small World. I went to FP+ kiosk by Philharmagic. No wait here, really. They had a bunch of people there helping people and I waited behind maybe one person. There was already no availability for ETWB. Got SM for 1pm, TM for 3pm, PP for 4pm (first available).
Rode Winnie the Pooh – 20 minute wait. Posted wait time was right.
Rode Dumbo – 25 minute wait. Posted wait time was right.
Now about 11am.
Rode Teacups with 5 min wait.
Tomorrowland. Rode Buzz – about 15 minute wait. Posted wait time was right.
Peoplemover – no wait.
Carousel of Progress.
Laugh Floor – got in next show.
SM passes available. Rode twice with rider swap. Second time FP line was 15 minutes.
Skipped Stitch and Astro.
Headed over for Dole Whip around 2 pm.
Waits at pirates and jungle cruise in the 30-40 minute range. Didn’t ride.
Went through tree house.
FP for TM came up.
FP return line was REALLY long. Ride had been down earlier so people who missed their window were now riding.
Choose to get on train around park.
Returned to TM where line was now shorter. FP line took 15 min to ride.
Over to PP FP return time. Normal FP entry here – lickety split.
Went to Philharmagic – got into next show.
Rode HM – 10 min wait.
Wanted to ride Pirates/JC but Pirates was down, JC was 30 minute wait.
Went to Tiki Room. (Took a nap
.)
Watched 6:30pm Dream Along with Mickey.
Stayed for fireworks spot. Family went to ride Pirates with minimal wait.
Watched light show, it broke after 5 minutes. Wifi also went down around the same time. Watched fireworks.
Back to Tomorrowland to ride SM with rider swap. Went twice.
Went to ETWB around 9:30pm. NO wait. Posted wait was 20 minutes. Both of my girls got to be in the show and got pictures with Belle. When I was making my FP reservations in the morning, I asked the FP guy about waits for late shows with Belle. He made it sound like even late at night, the wait would be long. He advised that I go right then (around 9:45am) and wait in the line which I had already seen to be outside the cottage and winding around a bit. In this case, he was way wrong. After the fireworks turned out to be perfect timing for us.
Big kids and dh went to ride TM - went 3 times before park closed.
When walking back to front of park around 9:35, wait for meeting Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty posted at 10min. I would have gone, but kids were sleeping in stroller. Rapunzel and ? showed 35 minutes.
9:45 version of light show also didn't happen.
We intend to go back on Friday - the last day of our trip. I think we will have much lower expectations for that day which should make things better. Unfortunate that we have to expect less to be happy.
I'm happy to answer anything I can. We've also been to Epcot and DHS so far.
On this trip, we have waited in line as much this trip as the 2007 trip. We were FP super users, I guess. Always had one for something and rarely rode anything with a wait. We are unlikely to return any time in the near future. We felt frustrated, discouraged, and worn down. The new FP is not a good thing for us. Posted wait times are wrong all over the place - both too high and too low. MDE app has generally been working well for tracking that though. Lots of Brazilian tour groups around.
Yesterday was day 3 for us and our first to MK this trip - a Tuesday in Feb.
Here's the recap:
Park hours 9am-10pm
RD did not seem to have the same benefit as it did in the past. We used to be able to get there at RD and wrap up Fantasyland in about an hour. Granted, the expansion has increased the amount of time for this. But the ride wait times built up much more quickly and earlier than we’re used to. I felt hopeful after reading Josh's (EasyWDW) report, but our experience was nowhere as good.
Walked down main street at 9:01.
Went straight to meet Ariel and then ride. Posted at 20 min – was walk-on.
Went to Peter Pan about 9:40. Line was already 20-25 minutes.
Family went to ride Small World. I went to FP+ kiosk by Philharmagic. No wait here, really. They had a bunch of people there helping people and I waited behind maybe one person. There was already no availability for ETWB. Got SM for 1pm, TM for 3pm, PP for 4pm (first available).
Rode Winnie the Pooh – 20 minute wait. Posted wait time was right.
Rode Dumbo – 25 minute wait. Posted wait time was right.
Now about 11am.
Rode Teacups with 5 min wait.
Tomorrowland. Rode Buzz – about 15 minute wait. Posted wait time was right.
Peoplemover – no wait.
Carousel of Progress.
Laugh Floor – got in next show.
SM passes available. Rode twice with rider swap. Second time FP line was 15 minutes.
Skipped Stitch and Astro.
Headed over for Dole Whip around 2 pm.
Waits at pirates and jungle cruise in the 30-40 minute range. Didn’t ride.
Went through tree house.
FP for TM came up.
FP return line was REALLY long. Ride had been down earlier so people who missed their window were now riding.
Choose to get on train around park.
Returned to TM where line was now shorter. FP line took 15 min to ride.
Over to PP FP return time. Normal FP entry here – lickety split.
Went to Philharmagic – got into next show.
Rode HM – 10 min wait.
Wanted to ride Pirates/JC but Pirates was down, JC was 30 minute wait.
Went to Tiki Room. (Took a nap
.)Watched 6:30pm Dream Along with Mickey.
Stayed for fireworks spot. Family went to ride Pirates with minimal wait.
Watched light show, it broke after 5 minutes. Wifi also went down around the same time. Watched fireworks.
Back to Tomorrowland to ride SM with rider swap. Went twice.
Went to ETWB around 9:30pm. NO wait. Posted wait was 20 minutes. Both of my girls got to be in the show and got pictures with Belle. When I was making my FP reservations in the morning, I asked the FP guy about waits for late shows with Belle. He made it sound like even late at night, the wait would be long. He advised that I go right then (around 9:45am) and wait in the line which I had already seen to be outside the cottage and winding around a bit. In this case, he was way wrong. After the fireworks turned out to be perfect timing for us.
Big kids and dh went to ride TM - went 3 times before park closed.
When walking back to front of park around 9:35, wait for meeting Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty posted at 10min. I would have gone, but kids were sleeping in stroller. Rapunzel and ? showed 35 minutes.
9:45 version of light show also didn't happen.
We intend to go back on Friday - the last day of our trip. I think we will have much lower expectations for that day which should make things better. Unfortunate that we have to expect less to be happy.
I'm happy to answer anything I can. We've also been to Epcot and DHS so far.
. Sorry! I guess compared to other experiences, this may sound positive. But, for us, it was frustrating. 
