I hate FastPass+

[GrumpyDad1974]

I believe yours is the first complaint I've heard about it...

LOL... Awesome

 

[magentarhps93]

I wonder when you went that you previously got 3 fp- for TSMM? The advent of FP+ was the first time I was able to ride in some time.

It's definitely possible at all times of the year except for maybe Christmas Eve/Day, July 4th, and NYE. If you got one at RD for an hour later, and then got another for 4-5 hours later, you could get one 2 hours after you got your second one. Which would mean you'd be grabbing the last FP around 3/3:30. And I have ONLY gone during peak because I'm in school. We did this often (as well as always holding 2 FPs at any given time,without double dipping, so on a 12 hour day that'd be at least 6 if not more) and I don't understand the point of loving this system just for that one ride. (Not saying you are, but many pro FP+s people have said to us people who want a lot more than 3/hate planning "But now you can ride TSMM!" as if it was the only ride people were interested in!)

 

[2Tiggies]

I believe yours is the first complaint I've heard about it...

Can't stop laughing

 

[Yellowstonetim]

I am currently in Disney World experiencing my first vacation with the FastPass+ system. Unfortunately, I didn't have any time to research or plan ahead and discovered the new system when I showed up in the parks.

If you have no time or ability to do any research or any planning, you probably shouldn't spend that kind of money on a vacation and have high expectations of what you want to accomplish. Just my opinion. Others have been in exactly your situation with no time to research and plan, and were happy because they had lowered expectations.

And I can't figure out a way to play the system to my maximum benefit. Maybe i am just late tot the game and needed to book my FastPass+ months in advance like ADRs. If that is the cause, I find it sad. And really feel sorry for the folks who don't plan at all.

Yes, you need to plan ahead OR have realistic expectations. You can figure it out, but didn't give yourself any time to plan or research. There are plenty of people that do minimum planning and are happy because they don't expect to do anything other than be there and have fun.

Stick around. Avoid all the complaint threads, and read some of the threads on how to maximize FP+. It will all be good in the long run.

Don't worry, be happy!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

In the old system, I always showed up and park open. Then immediately ran to the rides I needed FastPasses for. At park open, the time you needed to wait before you could get another Fastpass was only 15 or 30 minutes. Normally in the Magic Kingdom, I could have 5 fastpasses by 10am.

No, you could not. I was a FP- hoarder, and this was never even close to possible. Your memories of this are not accurate, and your problems stem from your admitted lack of research before your trip.

I hope you work it out, but if you don't it is at least as much your fault as Disney's, IMO.

 

[wuzzy6]

Scootch over, please - I brought more to share!!!

 

[wuzzy6]

I believe yours is the first complaint I've heard about it...

Oh my freaking word, I guffawed!!!

 

[DebbieB]

I am currently in Disney World experiencing my first vacation with the FastPass+ system. Unfortunately, I didn't have any time to research or plan ahead and discovered the new system when I showed up in the parks.

The idea of being able to manage and book Fastpasses over a smartphone (which I don't have) or on the internet seemed cool. But for the life of me, I am stuck with one serious problem. I CAN'T SEEM TO EVER GET MORE THAN 3 FASTPASSES IN 1 DAY.

In the old system, I always showed up and park open. Then immediately ran to the rides I needed FastPasses for. At park open, the time you needed to wait before you could get another Fastpass was only 15 or 30 minutes. Normally in the Magic Kingdom, I could have 5 fastpasses by 10am. And in a given day, I could get 15 or more.

Under the new system, I am stuck to 3. As they do not let you get a fourth until you have used all three. Or at least time has expired for all three. This doesn't sound too bad, except that whether I try to book my first three FastPasses for the day, at least one of them is after 6pm. Not much time to get any Fastpasses after that.

In my experience, this has severely reduced the number of rides and characters that I am able to experience in a day. Even in an off peak time when the crowds are low.

More frustrating than that are the restrictions on the Fastpasses. Namely, the categories such as in Hollywood Studios. I am unable to get a Fastpass for both Toy Story Mania and Fantasmic in the same time. This is especially painful as all of my previous trips I would usually get 3 Fastpasses in the same day for Toy Story Mania alone. That is completely impossible now.

Also.... i really miss the paper print outs. They were always such great items to add to my scrapbook/photo album for my trip.

Is anyone else angry about the change? And hoping at the very least that they would increase the number from 3 to something reasonable like 10 or higher?

How is that possible? 5 by 10:00am, 15 in a day? 3 fastpasses for TSM? It seems like a lot of FP+ haters look at the past with "rose colored glasses".

 

[wisblue]

I honestly can't tell if you're trying to be funny or not. Either way, you've guaranteed yourself a long thread full of heated debate that'll probably get shut down by mods eventually and result in myself earning another demerit(?)

Whether the OP was trying to be funny or not, he succeeded. The clincher for me was the comment about missing having paper FPs for his scrapbook. When one of your complaints about FP+ is that you can no longer grab souvenirs that prevent others from using the FPs for their intended purpose, in my book you have forfeited your right to complain.

The other humorous thing is that the gist of the post is "I loved the paper FP system becuase I knew how it worked and used it to gain an advantage over the guests that were too ignorant or lazy to do their research. Because I haven't done any research, the tables have been turned on me."

 

[Angel Ariel]

How is that possible? 5 by 10:00am, 15 in a day? 3 fastpasses for TSM? It seems like a lot of FP+ haters look at the past with "rose colored glasses".

I can see 5 by 10am if you were getting disconnected fps...get one at 9 with a 9:40 return, one at 9:40, then the 3 disconnected fps (mickey, barnstormer, dumbo).

15 in one day, I agree, is unlikely...not impossible, probably, depending on crowds and what rides you were getting, but unlikely. It was not difficult, though, to get 8-10 in a day in mk, which is what most of the group you are referring to have discussed.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

The other humorous thing is that the gist of the post is "I loved the paper FP system becuase I knew how it worked and used it to gain an advantage over the guests that were too ignorant or lazy to do their research. Because I haven't done any research, the tables have been turned in me."

 

[BenKling]

15 in one day, I agree, is unlikely...not impossible, probably, depending on crowds and what rides you were getting, but unlikely. It was not difficult, though, to get 8-10 in a day in mk, which is what most of the group you are referring to have discussed.

Yeah, our record was 10 at MK. That was in April, post spring break.

But this thread is strange. You seriously just booked a trip, with no planning? I would expect this from a first timer, but not a dis boards member...

 

[momof2n2]

I'm sorry you were taken by surprise; I'm sure it did derail your vacation.

Our research over the last 15 months led us to choose a WDW-less vacation for the next two weeks. We are doing other Orlando (and FL attractions.)

I think your post has a hint of exaggeration, but for the most part I concur with your WDW past experiences. I'm not ready to do it the "new way" myself, yet.

 

[ziravan]

I am totally serious.

I have been off of the boards for a while now, and came back because of my anger/frustration over FastPass+. So I haven't read much about it.

I feel like a Disney World newbie all over again. All of my previous strategies for maximizing the number of rides, characters, etc has been eliminated. And I am stuck in longer lines with more wait.

And I can't figure out a way to play the system to my maximum benefit. Maybe i am just late tot the game and needed to book my FastPass+ months in advance like ADRs. If that is the cause, I find it sad. And really feel sorry for the folks who don't plan at all.

Your complaint is, essentially, that because you did no research, you didn't know how to game the system. But that's a completely reasonable and logical outcome.

FP+ is designed to manage growing crowds over the next few decades. It's a crowd management system far more than it is a line management system. It ensures that everybody can prioritize a few things, hence the frequent comments about TSMM being available (or the ability to see A&E if that's your thing).

That said, there are ways to maximize the new system, they just aren't the same ways to maximize the old (and really, the chief way to maximize FP- was tied to a lack of enforcement of FP times more than the intended design of that system).

FP+ has winners and losers over FP-. It's been widely reported that the losers tend to be RD Park Commandos. The winners are more casual park users that spend a little time planning their trips. Typical vacationers that spend a few grand to come to Disney infrequently are going to invest some time in planning because of how much they're investing in their trip. Those people wil see a bigger advantage in using FP+.

Nevertheless, the biggest advantage of the system isn't an individual benefit, but the ability to manage and "shape" crowd dispersal throughout the system to keep the illusion that the crowds aren't as big as they are. It's a kind of magic in that way.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Thank goodness a new topic!!! Haven't heard this one before!

The guy over there beating the dead horse thinks we talk too much about FP+.

 

[OtherScott]

And hoping at the very least that they would increase the number from 3 to something reasonable like 10 or higher?

Have you tried formatting your hard drive, re-installing Windows then logging back on? Thought I read that this allowed you to get unlimited FPs - can't remember where.

 

[ExBellhop]

The over/under for when this thread will be closed is being set at a slightly conservative 11 pages. This is assuming a visibility of 15 posts per page. Best of luck to everyone who is betting!




(and seriously, I'm being silly. this thread will turn into enough of a trainwreck without people replying with "over" or "under", so let's just all have a good laugh and move on. viva la FP+ )

 

[notnothin]

The over/under for when this thread will be closed is being set at a slightly conservative 11 pages. This is assuming a visibility of 15 posts per page. Best of luck to everyone who is betting!




(and seriously, I'm being silly. this thread will turn into enough of a trainwreck without people replying with "over" or "under", so let's just all have a good laugh and move on. viva la FP+ )

I'm definitely taking the under on this one.

 

[mom2rtk]

Seriously folks. My sarcasm meter is going crazy on this one.......

 

[OtherScott]

Seriously folks. My sarcasm meter is going crazy on this one.......

We can only hope...but if you're wrong, OP is on your team