How I Hate FastPass+

[Ambear]

Game. Set. Match.

Eek so competitive lol!

 

[Ambear]

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.

Agreed.

 

[TheDisGuy]

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 think you misunderstand. People aren't questioning that some people enjoy the new system, people aren't questioning that some people have gotten what they wanted, on short notice. The argument isn't "its impossible to log in the night before and find everything you want and book it" that's entirely possible.

The argument is that's not likely (particularly during mid and peak crowd levels) and not reflective of a good number of experiences we have seen posted here (by several posters now in this thread alone and not any of the "haters" I am sure you want to lump them in with). On top of that its certainly more restricted than it was under the previous system. You can make all kinds of arguments about touring styles and about how in the afternoons FPs would be gone and yadda yadda, but you didn't have to go in the afternoon, everyone had the option of going in the morning, with a clean slate of FPs, no one having the advantage of booking at 60 or 30 etc. But now if you want to ensure you get at least the 3 you want, you need to log in and book them, and yes to increase the chances of getting 3 of the rides you want, and trying to ensure the timing of them, that means there is a direct correlation to the timing of you booking your FPs ... the earlier the better.

I haven't seen a lot of people "questioning" the experience of people who have had a good time under FP+, at least not in the sense they deny their experience. ie: "You got A&E the night before you showed up, no way, not possible." I have seen a lot of people respond to such posts as "you are lucky" or "most people can't get that". Have you seen anyone say "not possible" or tell someone they didn't get the FPs they claim ? Really ? On the other hand we have people here denying, straight out, that FP+ has increased SB wait times, denying any need to book FPs in advance, Denying that you can't move around FPs (which at times, you can't), Denying that people get shut out of rides. These things are all true, and they do happen. The fact that some people ARE able to book what they want the night before, or get lucky day of and can move a Barn Stormer FP into an A&E does not mitigate the downside risk of FP+. Its not that you "HAVE" to book at 60 days out to make sure you get the attractions and times you want, its that literally everyone minute you wait decreases the chances that you will get them. Its not that you have to even use FP+, but if you don't you will be waiting in longer lines for many attractions than you would have before FP+. Especially if you were the type to be unwilling to stand in long lines before FP+. Its the natural outcome of the new system.

 

[disneytraceyl]

I also noted real issues with fast pass plus when the ride broke down. Last year we had a great experience and it was easter week. This year I felt stuck in a schedule I made over 2 months ago. Unfortunately the issues weren't just with fast pass plus. It went from rude cast members, me knowing more than the cast member, online checkin and food quality. On a positive note the buses were seem less.

 

[Annchristine65]

We were just in WDW a few weeks ago and I don't know if it had anything to do with the new FP+ system but I don't remember this happening when we were there in 2007. We would get on a stand by line with a wait of about 30 minutes sometimes 40 minutes and after waiting maybe 15-20 minutes they would make an announcement that the wait time is now 90 minutes and they didn't mean for the people just getting on line. An example is the Jungle Cruise, when we got online the wait said 40 minutes after waiting about 15 minutes they made the announcement that the wait was now 90 minutes. We actually wound up waiting just short of 2 hours, I was so sorry I didn't get off the line when they made the announcement. There was no mechanical difficulties or anything like that. This happened on quite a few attractions and as I said I really don't know if it had anything to do with the new system or not but I really do not remember it being like this in 2007. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[Robo]

I don't know if it had anything to do with the new FP+ system but...We would get on a stand by line with a wait of about 30 minutes sometimes 40 minutes and after waiting maybe 15-20 minutes they would make an announcement that the wait time is now 90 minutes...

A rapid influx of FP riders could certainly be one possible reason.

 

[mel&me]

Haven't been to Disney in a couple years most likely go this fall. So I have yet to try FP+. Most of time trips are booked a month before. Never really plan anything and like to park hop. from a lot of what I read, I'm not going to like it, but have to experience it first to know for sure.

 

[dmband]

The same calendar week? Or the same Easter week?

For me, memorial weekend and July 4th weeks I used in caparison
July 4th week varies some as sometimes we would go more days before and others we would go more days after but this yr as an example would be Last Sunday in June till July 5 or a couple days more depending on time off

 

[Chitownpeeps91]

Can anyone tell me where to post these concerns to Disney?
They may not care but it would make me feel better.

Thank you

 

[Robo]

Can anyone tell me where to post these concerns to Disney?
They may not care but it would make me feel better.

Thank you

eMail-

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com
-or-
guest.services@disneyworld.com


Snail Mail-

Walt Disney World Guest Communications
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

 

[Bete]

We came at the very beginning of fast pass plus and one other time shortly thereafter and we haven't been back. We did not like it from day one. ...And other than Toy Story Mania and the Safari ride we really don't hit that many prime attractions. We do more shows, now. I found the new system to be terrible and I haven't changed my mine. On those two trips we spent more time at Universal, IOA, and SeaWorld.

We have been to Disney World over 40 times through the years and we are from the Midwest. We have stayed on site and off. I absolutely agree with other posts in saying offsite guests are now second class citizens at Disney. We've stayed from Disney Value to Deluxe accommodations. I've been a loyal patron for over 25 years. I thought we would be enjoying Disney with our great, grand kids. I won't come back until this is better. If it never gets better than we will just not come back.

In our hiatus from Disney we have found some enjoyable vacations away from the mouse. This is where Disney will hurt the most in the long run. We are finding plenty of vacations to do without going back to Disney. Infact, we have done about a dozen vacations away from Disney World so far.

There"s only one way to talk to Disney and that is through our pocketbook. I can play the waiting game.

Fortunately, we were able to enjoy Disney when they had free dining deals galore and the crowd levels were not too bad. I can wait for another such time. Disney has been up and down through its years and there will be another downtime and then we may return.

 

[WillAustin]

There"s only one way to talk to Disney and that is through our pocketbook. I can play the waiting game.

We are going back, but spending far less than we have before. We still have fun.

 

[disneytraceyl]

We will be going on cruises for the next couple of years. Too much disappointment in our last Walt Disny World stay.

 

[itchin2go]

Late to this party, but ...

I was afraid of what the OP complains about, but I have to say, after our Thanksgiving week 2014 trip, it couldn't be further from the truth.

Our 11/2014 experience felt no different from out January 2007 experience, in terms of how many rides we rode, and how long the lines were.

As far as ease of changing a fastpass, other than problems with phone connectivity (we did NOT use WDW wi-fi because our carrier worked better), I had no troubles at all - and I changed a bunch of fastpasses. If you are using your smartphone to change FP, I would recommend against using WDW wi-fi.

To be fair, we rope drop and we get out of dodge when things start to grid-lock. FP really only enabled us to ride some very popular rides a little later in the day. Otherwise, we would have done fine without it. We did 10 rides at MK before lunch - all standby ... granted it opened at 8:00 am.

Rope drop still works.

 

[Robo]

FP+ works pretty well if you don't use it very much.

 

[disneytraceyl]

I would have agreed with you after our April 2014 trip. I loved fast pass plus. I cannot say the same after this trip. 7 days in the park, we saw light crowds and heavy crowds. Shake them all up in a bag and it was all the same bad.

 

[smitch425]

FP+ works pretty well if you don't use it very much.

And it works even better when you use it a lot.

 

[itchin2go]

FP+ works pretty well if you don't use it very much.

Wise words.

The truth is - the change to FP+ didn't impact us much because we didn't really lean on FP-. I HAD worried that the (potential) increase in standby lines would impact us, but if there was a difference, it wasn't appreciable - even in a much busier time (Thanksgiving).

I leave room for the idea that those who leaned very heavily on FP- will have a different reaction to FP+.

 

[Chitownpeeps91]

Thanks Robo for the info. I sent my notes already. If everyone on here that is not happy with fast pass plus sent one email to Disney that would be helpful.

Thanks again

 

[Ambear]

I think you misunderstand.

There's not much to misunderstand actually. If people argue that no, fp+ is the reason for all of their miseries, people who like fp+ just got lucky or must have not been able to do as much as with the old system, or there are more people complaining about fp+ so those who like it are mystical unicorns, even though those people who like fp+ don't agree, that's discounting their experiences. Pretty simple.

You can't tell me that positive fp+ experiences are valued as much as the negative ones when people say things like, "game set match" as if they're winning some kind of game lol. Or the majority of some people's whole post history is all about fp+. >.>