I hate FastPass+

[OtherScott]

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

 

[notnothin]

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

 

[mom2rtk]

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

You mean there's a team where you do no planning and get 15 FPs? Someone should have told me about that sooner.

 

[JDUCKY]

You can edit the times you are offered, and it is now possible to get 4, 5, 6, or more FPs if you study and work the system smartly. I am not a fan of the concept either, but it is here to stay and we can either use it the best we can or get used to standby. I don't think "10 or higher" is a reasonable starting point for everyone to get FPs. The old system gave out FPs a minimum of 40 minutes out, and I am dubious of your claim you could amass 5 of them by 10:00a--even with a 7:00a EMH start, you couldn't start getting them until 8:00a, so I'm thinking 3 was the best possible number by 10:00a.

Don't forget, some attractions were on a separate FP system (Dumbo, Barnstormer)

 

[jimmysmom74]

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

No....us...complain...never...you must be thinking of a different board!

 

[Planogirl]

I wouldn't research how to tour the parks either if I thought that everything was the same. Touring with legacy was easy because we understood it. With the new system, you pretty much have to pre-plan while you didn't with the other.

 

[Texas Barbie]

Here now and it's worked quite well for us. Easy to change things if you get on a slow bus, etc.

 

[robinb]

Don't forget, some attractions were on a separate FP system (Dumbo, Barnstormer)

That was only after the new Fantasyland opened. IIRC the new FL opened after the hoarding loophole was removed from the Legacy FP system.

I wouldn't research how to tour the parks either if I thought that everything was the same. Touring with legacy was easy because we understood it. With the new system, you pretty much have to pre-plan while you didn't with the other.

I agree. The OP is an established poster and obviously knew how FP- worked and there was no reason for him/her to do any research.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

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?

I'm sorry your having a hard time. Unfortunately, without pre-planning (up to 6 months in advance), you cannot take much advantage of the system. I hate fp+ as do many others. You are a perfect example of how Disney messed up with this new system. Even though you are not new to Disney, the simple fact that you just went without pre-planning proves my point that people who are new to Disney are going to struggle with fp+.

 

[MichiganDVC]

I'm sorry your having a hard time. Unfortunately, without pre-planning (up to 6 months in advance), you cannot take much advantage of the system. I hate fp+ as do many others. You are a perfect example of how Disney messed up with this new system. Even though you are not new to Disney, the simple fact that you just went without pre-planning proves my point that people who are new to Disney are going to struggle with fp+.

No, the people who are going to "struggle" with FP+ are the people who either fondly remember or fondly misremember legacy FP and don't realize that FP+ is different and has different requirements.

First-timers are going to be just as frustrated with FP+ as they were arriving at TSMM at 10am and finding a 120 minute wait and legacy FPs gone until 8pm.

Just as the legacy FP champions on this board wagged their fingers at those who refused or didn't know to get to parks at RD and sprint toward the E-tickets and then masterfully collect 5-10 FP a day, now the finger wagging is turned back around at them for not knowing how to navigate a system that they are unfamiliar with.

 

[BlackMagicWoman]

What's FastPass+?

 

[PaulaVonSchweetz]

I just got back from 5 days in the world this morning and while I am well versed in the FP+ system, and planned ahead...... Also planned on acquiring some additional passes throughout the day - I never ever needed a single additional fast pass.
If you are there NOW and find the need to have more than 3, then you must be missing something.
This system, while not perfect and will certainly be updated and changed, works quite well when utilized correctly.

The longest line we waited in was 20 minutes for a dole whip 2 days ago!!!

 

[BudgieMama]

I'm sorry your having a hard time. Unfortunately, without pre-planning (up to 6 months in advance), you cannot take much advantage of the system. I hate fp+ as do many others. You are a perfect example of how Disney messed up with this new system. Even though you are not new to Disney, the simple fact that you just went without pre-planning proves my point that people who are new to Disney are going to struggle with fp+.

Unless they read the info the Disney sends them? We got sent a booklet about how FP+ works (that was actually pretty helpful), and there are videos about it on the MDE site that are flagged up too.

I breathed a huge sigh of relief when FP+ became the whole system, as it's a system I can use without knowing my way round the park. This newbie finds FP+ much more attractive and user-friendly than the concept of FP- (which the Unofficial Guide duly informed me is essential to a good trip!), which relies on navigating through a park I've never set foot in before to line up for a machine whose location I am unsure about to hope for a paper ticket that might or might not give me a time that suits.

 

[jimmysmom74]

What's FastPass+?

I can help you...it is a new, highly technical system put in place to make your trip so much easier!!! Have a magical day!

 

[MichiganDVC]

I just got back from 5 days in the world this morning and while I am well versed in the FP+ system, and planned ahead...... Also planned on acquiring some additional passes throughout the day - I never ever needed a single additional fast pass.
If you are there NOW and find the need to have more than 3, then you must be missing something.
This system, while not perfect and will certainly be updated and changed, works quite well when utilized correctly.

The longest line we waited in was 20 minutes for a dole whip 2 days ago!!!

My longest wait last trip was also for a Dole Whip! Geez, Disney can't do anything right, can they!

 

[DVCJones]

This whole thread is actual proof that wether it be the old FP system or FP+, there will always be people who are not educated or 'in the know' of how to use the system. I can't tell you how many times (last week) that I saw many families using FP+ on attractions that had only a 5 min wait time, early morning etc. These people are clearly not educated in how to maximize the system. It reminds me of the old FP and how people were upset that some people were unaware they could get FPs too. WDW traded one set of disgruntled guest for another....

 

[OtherScott]

I wouldn't research how to tour the parks either if I thought that everything was the same. Touring with legacy was easy because we understood it. With the new system, you pretty much have to pre-plan while you didn't with the other.

You didn't pre-plan with FP-?

I subscribed to TP and optimized one of their plans to fit our goals. Worked great. What I didn't like about it (other than the obvious TSMM-like stuff) was walking ahead/away to pull FPs to stay on the schedule.

For my particular travelling group, having 3 prebooked will probably be enough - and no princesses for us. Ff you're there on the same day, there will be 6 people not pulling extras.

 

[mom2rtk]

You didn't pre-plan with FP-?

I subscribed to TP and optimized one of their plans to fit our goals. Worked great. What I didn't like about it (other than the obvious TSMM-like stuff) was walking ahead/away to pull FPs to stay on the schedule.

For my particular travelling group, having 3 prebooked will probably be enough - and no princesses for us. Ff you're there on the same day, there will be 6 people not pulling extras.

Many people loved the flexibility that FP- afforded them and don't like the idea of using a touring plan.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

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

Dead horses. Always dead horses! Enough with dead horses. Let's talk about FP.

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

This whole thread is actual proof that wether it be the old FP system or FP+, there will always be people who are not educated or 'in the know' of how to use the system. I can't tell you how many times (last week) that I saw many families using FP+ on attractions that had only a 5 min wait time, early morning etc. These people are clearly not educated in how to maximize the system. It reminds me of the old FP and how people were upset that some people were unaware they could get FPs too. WDW traded one set of disgruntled guest for another....

Those people may have been happily using FP with an understanding of the system. It depends on what you want out of the FP+. If you want to ensure your special ride is available, whether it is a big ride with long lines or not, at the time you want so you can relax, then it doesn't matter that the line is 5 minutes when you got there. You were able to relax knowing the ride was yours when you wanted it. Kind of like insurance. It is worth it even if you don't get in an accident. Not that some people want to maximize effort, I know I do. But I am amazed by how many people may use FP+ in this manner and will be happy.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

Unless they read the info the Disney sends them? We got sent a booklet about how FP+ works (that was actually pretty helpful), and there are videos about it on the MDE site that are flagged up too.

I breathed a huge sigh of relief when FP+ became the whole system, as it's a system I can use without knowing my way round the park. This newbie finds FP+ much more attractive and user-friendly than the concept of FP- (which the Unofficial Guide duly informed me is essential to a good trip!), which relies on navigating through a park I've never set foot in before to line up for a machine whose location I am unsure about to hope for a paper ticket that might or might not give me a time that suits.

Maybe the OP didn't get any info. He says he has been to WDW before, but didn't know anything about fp+.