How is MK with no Legacy FP?

[mom2rtk]

We were in mk each of the past four days. The lines at the kiosks were long all over. The one by splash man were out and up the hill on the normal fp return line area, this is by the legacy machines that are covered. There are also some by the cross over near the carpets. There are cms directing people to the machines all over and actively soliciting people to step up use the machine and explain what it all means. Reminds me of the credit card reps for southwest at the airport. Lol

The machines by stitch's escape were snaking line a normal ride line. They should have a wait time listed! Same for the ones on the back side of the castle, very long lines.

Overall lines for rides were long today and we saw some bad attitudes by guests and irritated cms. Especially in restaurants.

We had everything set up in advance, so enjoyed not having to do that. Having only 3 was not good.

They should have an express lane for anyone willing to settle for 2 FPs instead of 3. Sort of like using one of your slots for the kiosk line.

 

[Mich Mouse]

We've done tons of past trips and usually stay onsite, however in a little over a week we will be doing only 2 days in the parks, with a park hopper and staying off site to save money before our DCL cruise. I have to say that for paying nearly $100 a day to be in a park, not having access to legacy FP is a huge bummer for us. Suddenly we feel very "second class" due to not paying $200 a night for a moderate resort in order to schedule our FP+.
.

Only moderate and deluxe resorts guest and up can receive FP+? The values are excluded?

 

[rastuso]

They should have an express lane for anyone willing to settle for 2 FPs instead of 3. Sort of like using one of your slots for the kiosk line.

BRILLIANT idea!

A FP+ FP+. Obviously a tier 1 choice!

Sorta like using 2 free dining sit down points to eat at a good restaurant.

Jason

 

[disney1990]

Only moderate and deluxe resorts guest and up can receive FP+? The values are excluded?

No Values are no excluded - this person was staying off site.

 

[ekatiel]

BRILLIANT idea!

A FP+ FP+. Obviously a tier 1 choice!

Sorta like using 2 free dining sit down points to eat at a good restaurant.

Jason

 

[stormtracker]

Here now and the only problem we've had with FP+ are guests with absolutely no clue how to use it. They get in line, get a blue Mickey and it takes the cm a couple of minutes to explain how it works. Meanwhile the line behind them keeps building because you can't get through. Saw it at all 3 of our FP+'s yesterday.

 

[patty57]

Thanks to everyone for their reports. Keep them coming.

 

[rainboots]

Here now and the only problem we've had with FP+ are guests with absolutely no clue how to use it. They get in line, get a blue Mickey and it takes the cm a couple of minutes to explain how it works. Meanwhile the line behind them keeps building because you can't get through. Saw it at all 3 of our FP+'s yesterday.

You just confused me. We will be newbies. I have done tons of studying, but haven't seen this. I don't want to hold up lines. Help, what does a blue Mickey head mean?

 

[cavepig]

You just confused me. We will be newbies. I have done tons of studying, but haven't seen this. I don't want to hold up lines. Help, what does a blue Mickey head mean?

Blue means bad, it didn't work or you don't have a FP+ really. Green means good, you can go in. It's same for the entrance to get in.

Sometimes ours did blue in October so we tried again and it was fine, so it does slow the line up as people retry the readers so they get green.

 

[mom2rtk]

BRILLIANT idea!

A FP+ FP+. Obviously a tier 1 choice!

Sorta like using 2 free dining sit down points to eat at a good restaurant.

Jason

That would make it a "signature fastpass". Coming soon to a mine coaster near you.

 

[Mommy2Corinne]

Ugh. Reading these reports is so disheartening.

 

[leebee]

That would make it a "signature fastpass". Coming soon to a mine coaster near you.

They're already pretty good at "doubling-up":

Two meal credits to eat in one signature restaurant
Two parks in one day for an extra $60
Stand in line to get into a park to stand in line to get a reservation to stand in line to ride an attraction
Why not two fp+ credits to stand in a shorter line to get a reservation to stand in a line?

DEFINITELY coming soon to a mine coaster near you!

 

[wisblue]

Have there been any reports from offsite guests who have actually used the FP+ system at MK? From people who can say first hand how long it took them to get their FPs and what kind of selection they had at what time of the day?

To just hear that there are long lines at the kiosks from someone who didn't actually wait in one doesn't tell us very much. I have already learned from a video posted on this board and from my own experience over Christmas that what looks like a long line at a FP entrance only takes about 2 minutes to get through.

If someone can get 3 FPs at MK for any attractions and for times of their choosing, that is worth a little time in line. In the glory days of paper FP I saw people wait in long lines (10 minutes and longer) to get FP for just one attraction, like TSMM, Soarin, Test Track, or Space Mountain right at park opening. People apparently thought those waits were worth it to get a FP for those attractions. I waited in one once to get a second ride on TSMM shortly after it opened. Waiting 20 minutes or so to get 3 FPs at times of your choosing sounds like a better deal.

 

[bcrook]

I know it has only been 2 days since the changeover of MK to FP+ only but I am curious to hear what people think.

Is it weird to only have 3 fp's for the day?

When I spend the day at MK, I usually use 7-8 fp's & cant imagine having only 3! How are the standby lines?

TIA!

First of all, your signature picture is awesome.

Compared to what I'm used to as a commando tourer, it sucks.

We were there yesterday, made RD and had 6 hours of pure riding time - we did 9 rides total (including our 3 FP+), I would expect to knock off that many in 2-3 hours. Lines where there never were, takes forever to get 9 people tapped through for a ride, and limited availability for changes on the fly (I know others have expressed the opposite, perhaps because we're a large party?) so lots of racing to rides, backtracking etc.

This was the FP+ kiosk in FL at 10am - we passed by several times throughout the day and it was always this long or longer, even in the evening.

The worst part to me is that when my DS4 asked in the early afternoon to go on BTMRR, I had to say no - the line was just too long and we needed our remaining FP+ for later. With FP I couldve said yes. It was super disappointing to both of us. Our last trip this never happened - in fact the only ride I said no to was Snow White because we missed RD by 20 min and the line was 30. We are here 4n longer and other than AK, have done SO much less. The app is also getting on my last nerve - I hope they install some punching bags or tethered stress balls around the parks so you can release frustration acceptably while spending 15 min trying to change a FP+ around!

This picture bums me out. What a terrible waste of time. My friend is going over spring break, and he is disappointed in how off site guests have been relegated to this. But, he is a Disney optimist, he is confident he will be able to make it work. All he is asking for is kiosks outside the park so he can wait in line to make his reservations while he is waiting for the park to open.

Seems reasonable to me. But, I guess people might rush to the park, grab slots for the evening and then head to Epcot. Maybe Disney wants them staying in the park.

The lack of flexibility is amazing.

 

[bcrook]

Why would offsite guests even bother to buy a hopper. The lack of ability to schedule fastpasses at the second park is a huge drawback.

Or can you book animal kingdom FP+ from a magic kingdom kiosk?

 

[mom2rtk]

Have there been any reports from offsite guests who have actually used the FP+ system at MK? From people who can say first hand how long it took them to get their FPs and what kind of selection they had at what time of the day?

To just hear that there are long lines at the kiosks from someone who didn't actually wait in one doesn't tell us very much. I have already learned from a video posted on this board and from my own experience over Christmas that what looks like a long line at a FP entrance only takes about 2 minutes to get through.

If someone can get 3 FPs at MK for any attractions and for times of their choosing, that is worth a little time in line. In the glory days of paper FP I saw people wait in long lines (10 minutes and longer) to get FP for just one attraction, like TSMM, Soarin, Test Track, or Space Mountain right at park opening. People apparently thought those waits were worth it to get a FP for those attractions. I waited in one once to get a second ride on TSMM shortly after it opened. Waiting 20 minutes or so to get 3 FPs at times of your choosing sounds like a better deal.

I guess I have been fortunate but I have never waited in line to GET a fastpass more than a couple minutes. That includes TSMM. We typically stopped to meet characters for the first half hour the park was open specifically so we could avoid that mess.

 

[mom2rtk]

Why would offsite guests even bother to buy a hopper. The lack of ability to schedule fastpasses at the second park is a huge drawback.

Or can you book animal kingdom FP+ from a magic kingdom kiosk?

Very good point. That value really is diminished to just hopping for the evening entertainment. During slower seasons there might be some headliners left in the MK, but you would never be able to count on it, so that would not be worth it to me.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm also wondering about FP slots going unused earlier in the day, as everyone enjoys the benefit of scheduling for later. It's not like once those later times run out people can go back and take the ones from earlier that went unused. It really seems terribly inefficient to me.

 

[gdg76]

Just wrapping up a trip - flying back today . Did MK three times - once before the cutover and twice after. Stayed offsite at bonnet creek as always.

With FP- it was great. Stunk with FP+. Three is just not enough and scheduling them was a pain. I don't know if my daughter will be asleep or when we will eat. We do rope drop everyday so the kiosks were empty in the morning. the algorithm they have for picking times is bad and going off their suggestions takes too much time.

When I wanted to change them there was a half hour wait. No thanks. And you can take a picture or get an email only. How about text me a link so I can change them from my phone?

Three rides is just not enough at magic kingdom. And I feel now more than ever that eventually this will end up as a "pay for more fast passes" type of deal (with VIPs getting unlimited)

Animal kingdom was ok but that was only because they don't have many big ticket rides.

We did have to wait ten minutes to scan our tix for fast pass + at the safari. Overall the system stinks and we will be looking at other parks for next year (while doing less at Disney)

 

[princessallegra]

I guess I have been fortunate but I have never waited in line to GET a fastpass more than a couple minutes. That includes TSMM. We typically stopped to meet characters for the first half hour the park was open specifically so we could avoid that mess.

Totally. I think it also depends who you get stuck behind on the fp line lol! We've gone over to tsmm right at opening (granted never during crazy busy times) and the fp lines have been long and "intimidating" but generally moved along quickly. However if you happened to get stuck behind one or more parties where the person was sticking in 10-20+ tickets (school/tour group leaders, large parties) it took freaking forever.

My main response to the fp+ rollout, particularly in regards to offsite guests, is "there has to be a better way".

That being said I am personally excited to try fp+ and mb on our next trip. We do stay onsite and won't be going until fall though, so we don't have to "worry about it" lol for a bit.