Here now, the magics gone because of FP+

[MuddyTires]

If you were RIGHT THERE at RD, wouldn't you try to save a valuable FP+ by seeing them standby? I certainly would. And if I was in the park prior to RD and already by the FL rope, I'd be dang ticked off if a crowd of runners was then able to mob past me to the line. I mean if you get to BTMRR with a 10am FP+ and the line is 10min, would you really use your FP+?

Given what people have reported about A&E you'd be delusional to think there was even a chance it would be better to go standby and save that fp for something else.

 

[AndreaA]

She only used 1 FP in her 3 hours of MK touring before giving up. So I'm not so sure that saving a FP was the priority. Plus, if she had done further research, she would have known to stay far, far away from the A&E stampede at RD. I have zero AE interest and even I know to avoid that area completely.

For all you know, her other FP+ were for the evening and she was trying to save that one for the evening as well. I can't imagine NOT at least trying for it if I was at the FRONT of the line, and I seriously anyone who claims they'd never, ever do such a thing. Someone has to be first, right? I also think that the idea that people should just steer clear of the Fantasyland rope at RD is flat out ridiculous. There ARE things other than A&E on the other side of that rope.

If not for FP+, I have a hard time believing there would be such a rush to the standby line of A&E. People would know that if they at least got there in the first half hour, they'd be able to get a regular FP or end up in a much shorter standby line.

 

[Disneylover99]

I also think that the idea that people should just steer clear of the Fantasyland rope at RD is flat out ridiculous. There ARE things other than A&E on the other side of that rope.

That's the problem. I bet at least half the people that run to see Anna and Elsa standby at rope drop, realize the long wait times when they get there, give up and immediately go on other Fantasyland rides.

I would avoid Fantasyland at rope drop like the plague.

 

[wisblue]

If not for FP+, I have a hard time believing there would be such a rush to the standby line of A&E. People would know that if they at least got there in the first half hour, they'd be able to get a regular FP or end up in a much shorter standby line.

Considering the hordes that stampeded to TSMM before DHS changed its opening procedure, I think it's safe to say that if there were no FP+, the stampede to see Anna and Elsa would be no better than it is now. Since a character greeting has a lot smaller overall capacity than a ride, my guess is that the crush to get FPs would be even worse than it was at TSMM.

Personally, I think FP+ probably lessens the stampede to A&E because there are a lot of guests with FP+ that don't have to join in and a lot of people without them that aren't going to bother because they know the standby line is going to be over an hour long within minutes of opening.

 

[morethananyonex]

Wasn't there a bit of a stampede to Norway when the girls were there without FP?

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

She only used 1 FP in her 3 hours of MK touring before giving up. So I'm not so sure that saving a FP was the priority. Plus, if she had done further research, she would have known to stay far, far away from the A&E stampede at RD. I have zero AE interest and even I know to avoid that area completely.





Jana, chill already. No one owes me anything. This is a discussion board. Clearly, if you post something with no details and don't come back for hours, people are going to speculate about what happened. I cannot use the word "speculate" more because that's all I've ever said. I said until she gives us more info, we're all just going to speculate. On all sides. And we did.

It's a discussion board. We're all fine in the end.

nm

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

We must have the worst local amusement parks. We never do that. To include walking to a ride, stopping for something to eat or drink, going to bathroom and even going into a shop, we would have to average about 5-10 minutes per ride to get that average.

I am not on a death march when I go to a park.

I get my money's worth when I leave and have great memories of my day.

Yup. I believe in getting your money's worth..........and that's entirely subjective----it's different for all of us. Now- whether you like FastPass+ or not......I hate to hear that the OP's trip was ruined by FastPass+ and made her vacations worse. Disney is a very expensive vacation and no one should be left feeling that way. However- those are the breaks.....the good news is that the OP knows that FastPass+ ruins her trips at Disney World and it is only wise for her to find another place to go. Maybe Universal or Disneyland would work out better for her instead of wasting money on a place that makes her miserable.

 

[fla4fun]

Well, first, AP holders would need to be ABLE to get A&E FP+s. But I have yet to see one available in my 30-day booking window (since I missed the release of the extra FP+S right after the move to MK.)

Oh wait, actually, I can see A&E as available on a couple of days. But every time I select them I get an error message. Meanwhile I can book all the other attractions, no problem. Which is even more frustrating than not seeing them available at all. But I digress. FP+ is awesome!! Right?

Are you using a mobile device or a computer? I was having issues with booking FP+ on my mobile devices (tablet and iPod) but I didn't have any problems on the desktop. Normally I can book on the mobile devices just fine, but for the last week or so, that hasn't been the case.

I booked an A&E FP+ yesterday for my next trip at around 40 days out, so I wouldn't give up hope yet. Out of ten days, there was availability for every day but two, which happened to be the weekend days. I know with them ending the m&g at 5pm it could be difficult for us locals, but if if there is any way you can try for a weekday as opposed to a weekend you might have better luck.

I feel bad that so many people are feeling their vacation has been lessened by FP+. I have five trips under my belt now with the FP+ system, and it has actually enhanced my trips. I hated all the criss-crossing of the parks with the old system. I didn't want to go all the way to BTMRR, pull a FP, then have to backtrack back to the attraction later to actually ride it. I like having my top three choices already booked before I get there. I even went to Epcot on Christmas Day and FP+ managed my day so well, it didn't even feel crowded. But every family has their own priorities when it comes to vacationing, so what works for me doesn't necessarily work for someone else.

 

[PaulaVonSchweetz]

FWIW I only just arrived here at 12:00 Sunday and we did a ton of stuff. Sunday was the official last day of spring break. MK was at about a 5 crowd level. Not a single ride line was over 30 min.
I'm not Sure why OP thinks it's so bad....we had an awesome 1st day. *confused*

 

[wallskm]

FWIW I only just arrived here at 12:00 Sunday and we did a ton of stuff. Sunday was the official last day of spring break. MK was at about a 5 crowd level. Not a single ride line was over 30 min.
I'm not Sure why OP thinks it's so bad....we had an awesome 1st day. *confused*

What time did you get to MK? I was looking at wait times around lunch time and some rides were at 60 min...but we got there at 5pm and did tons of stuff, all either walk on or FP+. Had a great day between MK and AK. Will see what today holds for HS now that we can get more FP+. Won't be able to try for one till after 4 when our last FP is used!

 

[wisblue]

Yup. I believe in getting your money's worth..........and that's entirely subjective----it's different for all of us. Now- whether you like FastPass+ or not......I hate to hear that the OP's trip was ruined by FastPass+ and made her vacations worse. Disney is a very expensive vacation and no one should be left feeling that way. However- those are the breaks.....the good news is that the OP knows that FastPass+ ruins her trips at Disney World and it is only wise for her to find another place to go. Maybe Universal or Disneyland would work out better for her instead of wasting money on a place that makes her miserable.

I'd like to hear how you have been at a Disney Park from 9 AM-9 PM and done 48 dides or more.

 

[Angel Ariel]

FWIW I only just arrived here at 12:00 Sunday and we did a ton of stuff. Sunday was the official last day of spring break. MK was at about a 5 crowd level. Not a single ride line was over 30 min.
I'm not Sure why OP thinks it's so bad....we had an awesome 1st day. *confused*

I'm sure there are plenty of people who were at mk yesterday who had a wonderful day, just like you. I'm also equally sure there were plenty of people who did not have a good day.

It's great that you had an awesome day, really, but that doesn't make the op's less than great experience (in her opinion) any less valid.

 

[Zeebs]

FWIW I only just arrived here at 12:00 Sunday and we did a ton of stuff. Sunday was the official last day of spring break. MK was at about a 5 crowd level. Not a single ride line was over 30 min.
I'm not Sure why OP thinks it's so bad....we had an awesome 1st day. *confused*

Your comment for example goes to show how different people's expectations are, only for the "big" rides would we wait 30 mins for during our past trips.

The thought of waiting for 30 mins to ride small world, tea cups etc (which are boring queues) with 3 small children does fill me a bit with dread. These are go to rides while we waited for fast pass times to come around.

I am ok with telling the kids no because the ride is too long but you can't do this if everything has (what I call) a lengthy wait.

Kirsten

 

[magicbob]

...or assuming that those who mistrust the new system are "negative Nancys" or have "bad attitudes" or are "bringing their bad times on themselves".

The other day I posted a comment (which, thankfully, has since been removed) that appeared as if I was saying stuff like this to the OP. I thought that adding an emoticon would make it clear that I was not actually leveling those comments at the OP. My intent was to say, essentially, "Get ready for comments like [insert rude remark] to ensue in short order."

I'd like to publicly apologize to the OP if you thought I was actually directing that comment at you.

 

[Lucky4me]

I don't get the disappointment. We would have been thrilled with a morning like that.

 

[surferdave]

I'm sure there are plenty of people who were at mk yesterday who had a wonderful day, just like you. I'm also equally sure there were plenty of people who did not have a good day.

It's great that you had an awesome day, really, but that doesn't make the op's less than great experience (in her opinion) any less valid.

In all fairness, the general statement in the OP's title "The Magic is Gone" is more than a little hyperbolic, and no doubt makes those who defend the Disney magic bristle. I suspect that if you're NOT the person doing all the planning & fighting MDE and you don't have your head in your phone all day trying to manage FP+ it's not as bad, especially if the system is being more agreeable that day. I just know that I'll never get to be that person and I haven't seen any yet that the system reliability is improving.

 

[BenKling]

It's always interesting to me to see trip reports, as I can see how everyone prioritizes their day at the parks.

On one hand, I feel like there was a fair amount done during op's morning, and I'm still not sure what they were trying to do with the FP switch. On the other, none of what she did would have been priorities for me and if I felt like those rides were my only options I would probably be upset as well.

My group is usually 2 twenty somethings, no kids. We have spent RD riding space and splash over and over. With the old system we have easily done twice the amount of rides as OP by afternoon break. If this is what OP is used to, I don't think there's any way to not be disappointed.

I get to use fp+ for the first time in 3 weeks and then I can make a final judgement. But it already appears that this new system doesn't leave a lot of options for folks with my style of touring. So I guess I can understand the frustration.

 

[ajh88]

It's always interesting to me to see trip reports, as I can see how everyone prioritizes their day at the parks.

On one hand, I feel like there was a fair amount done during op's morning, and I'm still not sure what they were trying to do with the FP switch. On the other, none of what she did would have been priorities for me and if I felt like those rides were my only options I would probably be upset as well.

My group is usually 2 twenty somethings, no kids. We have spent RD riding space and splash over and over. With the old system we have easily done twice the amount of rides as OP by afternoon break. If this is what OP is used to, I don't think there's any way to not be disappointed.

I get to use fp+ for the first time in 3 weeks and then I can make a final judgement. But it already appears that this new system doesn't leave a lot of options for folks with my style of touring. So I guess I can understand the frustration.

We get to use FP+ for the first time in 3 weeks also. We were not power users of the legacy system so I am undecided on how it will play out for us. My hypothesis though is that people who tour like you should be less affected, only because those rides have always had FP to consider. Of course, that doesn't account for FP+ opening at RD vs 40 minutes in. If you look at Josh's chart linked a few posts back, it looks like the wait times on legacy FP rides haven't changed much.

As for OP, a bummer if she feels her day was a bust but its all about perspective. I think she appeared to have a moderately productive morning and I never heard her say they rode things they didn't want to ride because the wait times were too long for things they did want to ride, but maybe I missed that.

 

[jon18uk]

Doesn't sound like a bad morning at all to me, 6 rides in standby lines and 1 FP+ on a very in-demand character greeting. Thats around 1 ride every 30 minutes including the time to walk into the park and between each ride, I think that is fine.

I don't think you would of been able to get a 10am FP for Splash on paper FastPass either, on a busy day you may of had a return time several hours after collecting a FP.

 

[magicbob]

If you look at Josh's chart linked a few posts back, it looks like the wait times on legacy FP rides haven't changed much.

That chart (and many trip reports here) also reflects that the waits for rides that used to not have FP have increased. Some rather dramatically. Specifically, average waits for Haunted Mansion doubled and PotC nearly doubled.