Here now, the magics gone because of FP+

[EMode]

But she left at noon time. I think she could have do e more if she stayed in the park or left and came back in the evening when a lot of rides are walk on. I just left WDW yesterday and walked on a lot if rides after 8pm to close....

Maybe so but maybe that isn't the way the OP tours.
If she has been touring WDW a certain way for her past trips and suddenly it doesn't work because of FP+ then its understandable that the magic may feel gone for them.

 

[wisblue]

Sounds like OP tried doing many of the traditionally lower wait attractions through the stand by lines and ran into the longer waits FP+ has caused. Also tried changing a Splash FP+ but couldn't. Even though that couldn't have been done with FP- many have been raving about the flexibility of changing FP+.

I dunno, considering OP was there for a pre opening ADR and left at 1230 the amount of stuff accomplished does seem a little low to me considering many of those attractions had much lower waits in the past.

My perception is admittedly skewed by the reports of my 2 daughters who visited last week when the parks were more crowded than they were this week. They started each day of their trip at RD and reported that they were able to do as much we ever have in the morning without using their FPs. They didn't notice any differences in standby lines in the first 3 hours or so after park opening at any of the parks. Then having the added benefit of using their FP+ reservations later in the day at a second park made their trip even better.

So, as always, expectations and perceptions vary significantly from one guest to the next.

 

[rn448698]

But the planning of this trip for me has been less enjoyable than the my other two.

I'm not a FastPass+ hater, but I've only used it while it there were both paper fastpasses and fastpass+. However, I completely agree with you!

This much planning (and I'm an OCD planner) is just getting out of hand. And I told Disney this when I filled out an online survey they sent me last week about FastPass+ and the website. Between this much uber-planning, the changes in FastPass+ policy at the last minute, and the fact that the apps and website are so slow and dysfuntional, I'm just not enjoying the planning process as much as I did for the previous 8 WDW trips.

 

[morethananyonex]

My perception is admittedly skewed by the reports of my 2 daughters who visited last week when the parks were more crowded than they were this week. They started each day of their trip at RD and reported that they were able to do as much we ever have in the morning without using their FPs. They didn't notice any differences in standby lines in the first 3 hours or so after park opening at any of the parks. Then having the added benefit of using their FP+ reservations later in the day at a second park made their trip even better. So, as always, expectations and perceptions vary significantly from one guest to the next.

That last paragraph exactly.

In the end it doesn't really matter what any of us think about a Disney day or what we think has changed when it comes to other people's experiences. If someone's isn't up to their standards, the magic may very well be gone for them.

 

[lilasmom]

We've been to the world twice a year the last 3 years. We go in early May or late April, and Oct. We always do RD. We are not shopping or snacking. We hit rides and leave around noon, as the crowds and heat arrive. Today it was different from all our other visits. Perhaps it's larger crowds combined with FP+, but it wasn't what I expected. Rope drop at Fantasyland was directed by a police officer. I was a little concerned when the crowd starting coming. People who had been waiting there in line were upset by the crowds coming in not getting into line. It was very uncomfortable. I believe disney can and should handle this situation better. We tried to stay in the SB crowd for A&E, but it was too crazy.

In the past by noon, we've been able to ride the ones I listed along with Ariel, PP, barnstormer and splash. It's not that I missed out on four rides. It's that disney raises prices every year and I don't feel my experience has gotten better.
I feel more attached to my cell phone than ever before. I'm on IASW, checking wait times for rides. This is my experience, my feeling, my vacation dollars. I don't like FP+, it hasn't made my vacation better. Thank you to the posters who were nice in their comments.

 

[morethananyonex]

We've been to the world twice a year the last 3 years. We go in early May or late April, and Oct. We always do RD. We are not shopping or snacking. We hit rides and leave around noon, as the crowds and heat arrive. Today it was different from all our other visits. Perhaps it's larger crowds combined with FP+, but it wasn't what I expected. Rope drop at Fantasyland was directed by a police officer. I was a little concerned when the crowd starting coming. People who had been waiting there in line were upset by the crowds coming in not getting into line. It was very uncomfortable. I believe disney can and should handle this situation better. We tried to stay in the SB crowd for A&E, but it was too crazy. In the past by noon, we've been able to ride the ones I listed along with Ariel, PP, barnstormer and splash. It's not that I missed out on four rides. It's that disney raises prices every year and I don't feel my experience has gotten better. I feel more attached to my cell phone than ever before. I'm on IASW, checking wait times for rides. This is my experience, my feeling, my vacation dollars. I don't like FP+, it hasn't made my vacation better. Thank you to the posters who were nice in their comments.

Wow, they have a police officer at Fantasyland rope drop now?? Was it Disney security or an actual officer? Way to go, Anna and Elsa.

I totally hear you on the attached to the cell phone thing. We felt it too, especially so because we had such a difficult time with the app so everything took longer than it should have.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

But she left at noon time. I think she could have do e more if she stayed in the park or left and came back in the evening when a lot of rides are walk on. I just left WDW yesterday and walked on a lot if rides after 8pm to close....

The poster you quoted, quoted me in their post. Neither of us was making a comment about the OP but to someone that stated they only did 6 or 7 rides in a whole day and didn't understand what the problem was with OP's day.

 

[goofy4tink]

Nah, just having to listen to the-world-is-ending posts for the last year about FP+ has gotten to me. And soooo many people who vow not to return until FP+ is sorted out or gone or changed, even though they never used it. Just seems a little reactionary.
You know how when you want someone to try a bite of some food and they wrinkle their nose and make stink-face before they take a bite? You know they already hate it before they've even tasted it. Never gave it a chance. Same thing. Just seems silly to spend all that money on a vacation and say, "well, THIS is gonna suck." Yep, I can guarantee it will.



For me, the Kool-Aid is going to WDW and being happy. I arrive at Boardwalk Villas...see my room that opens up to the clown pool....hear the laughter of the children splashing below...walk out onto the Boardwalk and hear the music, smell the popcorn, see the B&Y Club across the lake...take it all in as I slowly walk toward International Gateway....arrive at Epcot, hear the music change as I enter World Showcase....go to UK and get a souvenir stein of Stella...and all is right with the world.

When I was a kid, I would arrive at Poly with my family (after 22 hours in a Ford van, 1980s style), walk toward the lobby and hear the music piping out of the foliage...walk in the lobby and smell that wonderful smell that only Poly had....go to our room after being driven on the paths by a CM in a golf cart (which I always thought was so fun), change into our suits and head out to the pool. Splash around all day, often turning around to see the castle in the distance.

Both instances, sure I loved the rides and the parks. But the happiness for me starts when I enter my favorite resorts. Always has, always will. No FP here or there will ever make it or break it for me. No ride will either. Its just 2-5 minutes of my day. For me, its the small things, all added together, that make for a great vacation 25 times and counting. Its the smells, the foods, the pools, the views, the rides, the restaurants, the characters, the castle, the beer, the beer, the beer, etc...



Me too. I would love to hear what she expected and why her morning didn't meet her expectations. Would help answer a lot of comments and questions, including mine. I don't think she'll be back though....

This is pretty much the way I approach it as well. While I understand that my way of taking on a day in the parks is probably different than other guests way, it doesn't negate the way that works for me. I am heading down again in June...looking forward to seeing how this is all going to pan out. I have FP+ choices made..for the three of us. I am not truly an uber planner, but I know where I want to eat, and I base my restaurant choices on park hours...sort of. So, I'm able to choose some FP+s as well.

I've said it before....no one system is going to work for every guest. So far, the new system has worked for me. I've been in Nov, Dec, and Jan this year...no issues with FP+ or MDE. But, who knows...that could all change in June.

 

[JanaDee]

Wow, they have a police officer at Fantasyland rope drop now?? Was it Disney security or an actual officer? Way to go, Anna and Elsa.

I totally hear you on the attached to the cell phone thing. We felt it too, especially so because we had such a difficult time with the app so everything took longer than it should have.

Check out Josh's latest post (with pictures) of the pure CHAOS around Princess Storybook Hall and you'll understand why a PO is needed. I don't know if it is true or not, but I read about a fistfight last week in the SB line at the Anna and Elsa M&G.

http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorize...seven-dwarfs-mine-train-media-event-closures/

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

I am sure when we get there we will have a fantastic time. But the planning of this trip for me has been less enjoyable than the my other two.

I agree and I am planning our 11th plus have helped many others plan theirs. This year has added a level of stress and worry that I have never experienced when planning our Disney trips.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

Maybe for you. We're here now and well and the magic is alive and well.

This is our second trip with magic bands, and our second flawless trip. This has been one of our best trips ever. There have been so many changes to mm+ even since our last trip in December. It makes everything so much simpler for us.

Sorry to hear that it has made your trips more difficult. Maybe try to exercise a bit more patience and make sure you do your research on the program. Hope your trip gets better! MyMagic+ has it's bugs but Disney is listening and fixing them.

 

[Jennasis]

Posting, apparently, two negative experiences in two days and not coming back to give more details does point toward troll.

Like I said, until OP comes back, it's all speculation.

Plenty of people complain on these boards and aren't trolls. If you try to justify/defend your negative experience, then fine. If not, then troll.

I think you jumped the gun (and were out of line in your accusation). The OP is on vacation. She posted after she left the park and continued her vacation, without the need to keep checking the DIS for any responses for a few hours. She was venting.

And here's her response...A few hours later. Not all of us check the DIS constantly throughout the day. I do. Some don't.

We've been to the world twice a year the last 3 years. We go in early May or late April, and Oct. We always do RD. We are not shopping or snacking. We hit rides and leave around noon, as the crowds and heat arrive. Today it was different from all our other visits. Perhaps it's larger crowds combined with FP+, but it wasn't what I expected. Rope drop at Fantasyland was directed by a police officer. I was a little concerned when the crowd starting coming. People who had been waiting there in line were upset by the crowds coming in not getting into line. It was very uncomfortable. I believe disney can and should handle this situation better. We tried to stay in the SB crowd for A&E, but it was too crazy.

In the past by noon, we've been able to ride the ones I listed along with Ariel, PP, barnstormer and splash. It's not that I missed out on four rides. It's that disney raises prices every year and I don't feel my experience has gotten better.
I feel more attached to my cell phone than ever before. I'm on IASW, checking wait times for rides. This is my experience, my feeling, my vacation dollars. I don't like FP+, it hasn't made my vacation better. Thank you to the posters who were nice in their comments.

I'm sure there will be a half-hearted apology any minute OP.

 

[Angel Ariel]

It seems you were made you could not have another time for a FP+ that was exactly when you wanted it. Under FP-, if you pulled a FP- for 5 pm and it was 10 am, you could not just "move it " to ride at 10 am..

Of course you couldn't "move" a FP- to an earlier time - the legacy FP system did not have this capability.

The FP+ system *does* have this capability. Not only that, but the flexibility to move around your times to suit your schedule is supposed to be one of the very elements that puts the + in FP+.

But somehow, a guest shouldn't feel frustrated that there was no flexibility for what they were trying to change because legacy FP didn't have that flexibility either? That's just a never-ending paradox, imo.

 

[Angel Ariel]

There are no low-crowd times anymore. Those days are all-but-gone.

I suppose that depends on what you consider a low crowd time.

We went in early October, and I would consider it very low crowds. Most rides didn't surpass a 30 min line, and the 30 min waits were few and far between.

7 rides, using only one FP+, by noon is hardly an indictment of FP+.

I do agree with this, though. 7 attractions/experiences by 12:30 is pretty good IMO.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Nah, just having to listen to the-world-is-ending posts for the last year about FP+ has gotten to me. And soooo many people who vow not to return until FP+ is sorted out or gone or changed, even though they never used it. Just seems a little reactionary.

Except the person who started this thread has used FP+. The rest of us may think that # of rides in that amount of time is just fine, but if it isn't for the OP, then she's entitled to that decision.

 

[prudence64]

I wonder if until the frozen frenzy dies down if tommorrow and or adventure land are better options for rope drop. So glad my daughter didn't care for the movie.

 

[JanaDee]

Posting, apparently, two negative experiences in two days and not coming back to give more details does point toward troll.

Like I said, until OP comes back, it's all speculation.

Plenty of people complain on these boards and aren't trolls. If you try to justify/defend your negative experience, then fine. If not, then troll.

Did it ever occur to you she's on vacation and posting on the Dis isn't her main priority? Geez louise.

Calling her a troll just because she hasn't responded in what you feel is an appropriate time frame is out of line.

 

[morethananyonex]

I wonder if until the frozen frenzy dies down if tommorrow and or adventure land are better options for rope drop. So glad my daughter didn't care for the movie.

Splash and Thunder are probably really great RD choices right now. The crowds are usually smaller heading in that direction anyways at RD, but now (if you don't get trampled in the rush to Anna and Elsa ) you can likely ride those multiple times with barely any waits if you're early enough.

 

[Zeebs]

Check out Josh's latest post (with pictures) of the pure CHAOS around Princess Storybook Hall and you'll understand why a PO is needed. I don't know if it is true or not, but I read about a fistfight last week in the SB line at the Anna and Elsa M&G.

http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorize...seven-dwarfs-mine-train-media-event-closures/

holy moly, I logged on the other day and could have gotten a fastpass for the Frozen chicks, but we have no interest so picked something else. I should have booked them and just sent hubby with the kids somewhere else and sold the fp and myself as a touring guide. By the looks of those lines I would have made enough to cover lunches for a few days.

Kirsten

 

[JanaDee]

holy moly, I logged on the other day and could have gotten a fastpass for the Frozen chicks, but we have no interest so picked something else. I should have booked them and just sent hubby with the kids somewhere else and sold the fp and myself as a touring guide. By the looks of those lines I would have made enough to cover lunches for a few days.

Kirsten

Honestly, I don't think it will be very long before someone offers up their FP+ for sale for A&E.