How I Hate FastPass+

[Jennasis]

I don't believe that at all. Faster yes, better, no...

Looks like you and I disagree on this matter, as many many do.

 

[jomass]

I just don't buy these arguments - unless of course you are going during one of the few busiest weeks of the year. I have been able to get all the ADRs we wanted (including Ohana dinner - Saturday at 6:30 at 6 weeks out), change all my FPs at will (except A&E - and we don't FP fireworks), etc. We booked an average crowd level April week. You likely didn't need to get up for 1:00am, but were only convinced of that from reading the boards.

You don't buy these arguments? LOL! Are you insinuating that it's all made up? Let's see, 7DMT-gone, A&E-gone, ETWB-only late evening left, Toy Story-only late eve, and gone. ADR breakfasts for, Tuskers, CP, Akershus- gone, ADR dinners- MM Fantasmic, BOG, Akershus- gone, ADR lunch- BOG, Akershus, etc. - gone.

And I'm going end of April, Beginning of May. After the Easter and Spring break crowds, and before the summer crowds. You can buy what you want, but I know what it is. I've been going for 27 years and it's much different now than it ever was.

 

[jomass]

And I didn't even list everything. Had I not got up at 1:00, or constantly refreshed ADRS around the clock. We'd be lucky to have a table service meal or decent FP at any park. That's the truth of what it's become now

 

[Disneylover99]

I just don't buy these arguments - unless of course you are going during one of the few busiest weeks of the year. I have been able to get all the ADRs we wanted (including Ohana dinner - Saturday at 6:30 at 6 weeks out), change all my FPs at will (except A&E - and we don't FP fireworks), etc. We booked an average crowd level April week. You likely didn't need to get up for 1:00am, but were only convinced of that from reading the boards.

These are not "arguments to buy", they are real experiences that anyone could have. Just because it worked out nicely for you, doesn't mean everyone else has had the same experience.

 

[HappyDaisy]

First, let me say that I absolutely adore Disney. We're frequent guests--well, we used to be. We live an hour away and have annual passes that we will, sadly, not be renewing. I've only used it twice this year (2015). We went a few times in 2014 after FP+ went into effect. We usually avoid the most busy times, but if we go at those times (Christmas, for instance) we know we're not riding and don't even try.

The lines are ridiculous--no matter when you go. As an example: before FP+ Spaceship Earth used to be pretty much a walk-on or no more than a five minute wait. Now, each time I've gone to Epcot, the lines snake around the side of the building! Plus, we can be spontaneous any more. Too much planning for a one day trip. Apparently, Disney is going after the first timer market. As far as I'm concerned, they can have it. FP+ has ruined the Disney experience for me.

I'll spend my money elsewhere in Florida or take the money I'd spend on APs and take a vacation!

 

[irene_dsc]

Have you guys considered that part of the reason it was so much more crossed this year is due to the economy doing better? I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who talked about going back to WDW for years, but couldn't afford it until now. And it seems like more and more people I know went to WDW recently. I think there really are more people there.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Have you guys considered that part of the reason it was so much more crossed this year is due to the economy doing better? I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who talked about going back to WDW for years, but couldn't afford it until now. And it seems like more and more people I know went to WDW recently. I think there really are more people there.

That excuse doesn't fly when we have gone during peak times,in both good and bad economic times. I DON8CRE how bad the economy has been, the parks were always packed during our Easter trips.

 

[larryz]

They must have been repeats. There have only been two released. Lol

You're right -- two from WDW, and two from DLR, with multiple reminders...
And I understated -- there were actually 10 emails...

 

[disneytraceyl]

I'll agree with that. I wouldn't think it's reasonable at all to go during any holiday and expect the wait times to be as low as they would be during a non-holiday period.

But what about expecting to accomplish the same this Easter week as one would have accomplished during the same week last year? Wouldn't that be reasonable? Especially if you paid as much if not more this time? And if not, and the reason offered is because there are more people going, wouldn't it be reasonable to expect WDW to increase it's offerings in step with increased customers so that those expectations are delivered upon?

If a particular buffet is popular, and more people go to that buffet, wouldn't you expect them to increase the quantity of food available? Or would it be unreasonable, when they run out of food halfway thru operating hours, to expect them to have had more? Why aren't those same expectations reasonable for a theme park?

It just did not work for us. We always go during the busy time. I didn't like have to book fast passes that far out. I did not really know where I wanted to be on that day. My parents are annual pass holders and live in Florida for the winter. I wasn't able to book their passes until 30 days out. This system just didn't work. We don't run from ride to ride and we don't just hit all the big rides. I didn't like it that I could not switch parks at the last minute.

 

[disneytraceyl]

In a month I will be using FP+ for the first time and until I use it I really have to judgement on it. I have already scheduled all rides and we do park hoppers but that is so we can go to AK,HS,EP and always park hop back to MK to end the day. We have always RD'ed and used FP's mid morning, ate lunch, left the park till a 7-8pm return and stayed till park close. This has always worked and I will see if it does now. By the way I have walked onto more headliners without FP during parades and wishes than you could shake a stick at.

We used to walk on rides like that also. You seam to do the parks like us. I wouldn't count on walking onto those rides. That seems to be the magic of fast pass plus.

 

[Ambear]

These are not "arguments to buy", they are real experiences that anyone could have. Just because it worked out nicely for you, doesn't mean everyone else has had the same experience.

Isn't that the same for people who do like fp+? They could say, "just because it didn't work out nicely for you, doesn't mean everyone else has had the same experience." If it's not okay to question the experience or opinion of disliking fp+, then I'm not sure why it's okay to do that to others who do like it. And yes, that is done on both sides. Cause again... This thread will end up locked soon lol.

 

[5kidsmommy]

People say they've been going for years as have I, everyplace not just Disney that I used to go to and wasn't crowded, now seems crowded, honestly I think that has to do with one thing, more people, more money, and the increased availability of internet and information has made it easier for people to travel less expensively.

 

[Disneylover99]

Isn't that the same for people who do like fp+? They could say, "just because it didn't work out nicely for you, doesn't mean everyone else has had the same experience." If it's not okay to question the experience or opinion of disliking fp+, then I'm not sure why it's okay to do that to others who do like it. And yes, that is done on both sides. Cause again... This thread will end up locked soon lol.

I just don't get the whole, "Well, I could get this FP without staying up until midnight, or I could get this ADR a week out" attitude so they don't believe that others couldn't.

Do fp haters say, "I don't believe you got that ADR a week out or I don't believe you got that attraction the day before?" No. They say, good for you. I wish I had better luck.

 

[Nancyg56]

But going during a holiday week and expecting to accomplish as much as a previous trip during the same holiday is a reasonable expectation that wouldn't be met anymore. This is based on our actual experience.

I am not sure if this is due to anything other then more people using FP+ than were using FP-. I generally travel during slower times, and thought my October trip would be the same as my previous October trips. Not at all.

First of all there were WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYy more people than had been during that time just a few years back. Not a few more folks.WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY more! Now I bet had I been going every year at that same time rather then skipping some here and there, the increase would have seemed "the same" to me because I would be experiencing it incrementally.

Second- teh number of guests using FP+ seemed to be higher than those using FP-. This could have been my perception, but I think not entirely. Disney is trying to educated guests to use it, and they are learning. More people using a system that many of us had been optimizing does make a difference.

I always go with high expectations, but I know I am going back, so I don't get my bloomers in a bunch over long lines. I also know that I need to get to the parks at RP, and to be honest, I did not even use those FP that I had scheduled in the MK, not for the most part. I simply toured the way my family generally tours, and since I met people who were not on teh same FP schedule my party was on, we simply used SB a lot.

I will say the kiosk thing is a terrible idea in my opinion. WHile I am willing to wait in a line to get onto an attraction, it is ludicrous to expect me to wait in a line to stand in a line to "book" a time to stand in line for an attraction. The Ap should take care of that.

 

[Ambear]

Do fp haters say, "I don't believe you got that ADR a week out or I don't believe you got that attraction the day before?" No. They say, good for you. I wish I had better luck.

Some people respond that way. A lot of people may say good for you, but it didn't work for ME and it ruined MY vacation and it sucks and needs to go away. Which again is dismissing the fact that there are people who are doing better with fp+ and it's improving their vacation now. This is just something that can't please everyone... For the record I like both systems so it wouldn't matter to me what disney ended up doing. The core experience of going to Disney is still there and worth it whether I like the system or not.

Also off topic but this site sucks for smartphone posting.

 

[prudence64]

Everything was more crowded in Novemeber than during my last November trip - not just wait times at rides. It was ore crowded in the walkways, on buses, waiting for qs food, bathrooms, etc... Tons more people than I was used to.

 

[WillAustin]

Second- teh number of guests using FP+ seemed to be higher than those using FP-. This could have been my perception, but I think not entirely. Disney is trying to educated guests to use it, and they are learning. More people using a system that many of us had been optimizing does make a difference.

...

I will say the kiosk thing is a terrible idea in my opinion. WHile I am willing to wait in a line to get onto an attraction, it is ludicrous to expect me to wait in a line to stand in a line to "book" a time to stand in line for an attraction. The Ap should take care of that.

Yes, more people are using FP+. That's also the reason for the tiering and the limits and confirms my point about my family being able to do less now than before.

The kiosks are another way to artificially control access to the remaining FPs. If everyone books 4 in advance there wouldn't be much if any left for same day and changes. Experiences are going to be different depending on the crowd levels and personal history. For one family, being able to lock in 3 rides with little wait during the busiest weeks might feel like a great thing while for another family accustomed to getting 6+ FP rides in a day during the same crowd levels it's not as good.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'll agree with that. I wouldn't think it's reasonable at all to go during any holiday and expect the wait times to be as low as they would be during a non-holiday period.

But what about expecting to accomplish the same this Easter week as one would have accomplished during the same week last year? Wouldn't that be reasonable? Especially if you paid as much if not more this time? And if not, and the reason offered is because there are more people going, wouldn't it be reasonable to expect WDW to increase it's offerings in step with increased customers so that those expectations are delivered upon?

If a particular buffet is popular, and more people go to that buffet, wouldn't you expect them to increase the quantity of food available? Or would it be unreasonable, when they run out of food halfway thru operating hours, to expect them to have had more? Why aren't those same expectations reasonable for a theme park?

Game. Set. Match.

Love the buffet analogy. It's a great illustration of the point.

And if they decide to add a new chicken dish, they shouldn't take away the ribs to do it.

 

[Disneylover99]

Some people respond that way. A lot of people may say good for you, but it didn't work for ME and it ruined MY vacation and it sucks and needs to go away. Which again is dismissing the fact that there are people who are doing better with fp+ and it's improving their vacation now. This is just something that can't please everyone... For the record I like both systems so it wouldn't matter to me what disney ended up doing. The core experience of going to Disney is still there and worth it whether I like the system or not.

Also off topic but this site sucks for smartphone posting.

There's nothing wrong with hating FP+ and there is nothing wrong with loving FP+. My point is, people's real life experiences shouldn't be questioned or disbelieved because the experience was different then their experience.

 

[pumpkin_tx1]

You don't buy these arguments? LOL! Are you insinuating that it's all made up? Let's see, 7DMT-gone, A&E-gone, ETWB-only late evening left, Toy Story-only late eve, and gone. ADR breakfasts for, Tuskers, CP, Akershus- gone, ADR dinners- MM Fantasmic, BOG, Akershus- gone, ADR lunch- BOG, Akershus, etc. - gone.

And I'm going end of April, Beginning of May. After the Easter and Spring break crowds, and before the summer crowds. You can buy what you want, but I know what it is. I've been going for 27 years and it's much different now than it ever was.

One thing I've found very upsetting is the fact that inconsiderate people book up as many ADRs as they can during their predicted stay, leaving us making legitimate plans having to check for openings every day until our stay, hoping to get an ADR that fits into our schedules. (ex. Everyone booking all they can for September in hopes for FD) Disney really needs to change the way people can make ADRs.