I have a confession.... I LOVE FP+

[prudence64]

Fp+ works for everyone here, because it looks like you all make multiple trips a year. You ride the mountains and go home. If you went once every two years and your kids want to ride every ride it isn't any easier with Fp+. Fp+ is better then all stand by lines. There are still lots of people I see walk up to FP+ entrance. CM says you have no fastpasses on your ticket and the person walks away confused. If you read these boards you know the deal, but everyday guests are left out.

I only go once every 2-4 years

 

[Laketravis]

Just to be clear, though, are you saying now that, upon reflection, you think that the imperfect FP+ system is a better system for you and your family than the imperfect paper FP system?

Just to be clear, I am not drawing comparisons between the current system and one that hasn't been available for over a year, or ticket books, or anything else. I am speaking only to the attributes of what is currently available.

In other words, you are not willing to answer a simple and direct question. Nothing new there.

I guess we have to draw our own conclusions from the fact that you unfailingly agree with the most vocal opponents of FP+ and refer to people who prefer FP+ as part of the "FP+ PR Team".

You asked me a question and I gave you an honest answer. You didn't like my answer so you insult and berate me.

Awesome.

 

[fla4fun]

Count me in as someone who likes FP+. I don't even have an "except for. . . . ". I rarely used legacy FP because I didn't want to go to an attraction, leave that area to go to another area of the park, then have to backtrack when it was time to ride. I felt that was a totally inefficient way to tour - so on the rare occasions where I did pull a FP, I would end up sitting around or wandering around close to the attraction until the time for my FP came up just to avoid having to backtrack later. Now I not only know I will get into my favorite rides (the old way I hoped, but never knew for sure until I got to the FP machine), but I can arrange the times in a logical order of progression through the park so I am not backtracking at all.

I can understand that it may not be better for everyone, because everyone tours the park differently, with different objectives. Legacy FP didn't work for everyone either - it certainly didn't work well for me. Hence the debate . . . .

 

[Robo]

Count me in as someone who likes FP+. I don't even have an "except for. . . . ". I rarely used legacy FP because I didn't want to go to an attraction, leave that area to go to another area of the park, then have to backtrack when it was time to ride. I felt that was a totally inefficient way to tour - so on the rare occasions where I did pull a FP, I would end up sitting around or wandering around close to the attraction until the time for my FP came up just to avoid having to backtrack later.

"Wandering around close to the attraction" until time to ride is also a good description of being in the Standby line.

 

[pigletgirl]

I agree, we love FP+! It really cuts down on the anxiety of getting to the parks first thing and to have to rush to get the beloved FPs. It just allows for total flexibility in our touring plans.

 

[vallerii]

We had a 2 year old (26 months) .. and not having to wait in lines for the key rides we knew he would enjoy (and could go on) ..just made sense.

THIS. I remember the FP- days when we used to get there super early, practically run for rides and to snag FP's, and bounce all over the park. Not a problem when you're a teenager or a fit adult. The way we used to do the old FP system never would have worked with an infant though. Now that we have a 1 yr. old, there was no way we could get in the park with a stroller, get through the crowds to get a FP for an attraction like Toy Story before they were all out for the day or only available hours later or ride it early like we used to. We actually were able to take the appropriate pace with an infant, schedule things early and still leave a little flexibility in the afternoon depending on whether kiddo was awake or desperately needed a nap.

 

[RogueKnits]

Fp+ works for everyone here, because it looks like you all make multiple trips a year. You ride the mountains and go home. If you went once every two years and your kids want to ride every ride it isn't any easier with Fp+. Fp+ is better then all stand by lines. There are still lots of people I see walk up to FP+ entrance. CM says you have no fastpasses on your ticket and the person walks away confused. If you read these boards you know the deal, but everyday guests are left out.

Nope. This past June was my first trip since 2007. I rode everything I wanted to in all 4 parks (all headliners in each park, and almost everything in MK--I think we skipped Winnie the Pooh and the kiddie rides like Dumbo/Teacups/Speedway) and never even used more than my first 3 allotted FPs. We did not even follow much of a plan except to make rope drop on the MK day (that was the only day we did RD) and hit the headliners that we didn't have FPs for early in the day, all of which has been the conventional wisdom since the days before there was any FP.

 

[wisblue]

I'm pleased to see that, by my count, there are 36 posters on this thread who have said that they love or like FP+ but who are not foolish enough to engage regularly in the debates about FP+.

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

Nope. This past June was my first trip since 2007. I rode everything I wanted to in all 4 parks (all headliners in each park, and almost everything in MK--I think we skipped Winnie the Pooh and the kiddie rides like Dumbo/Teacups/Speedway) and never even used more than my first 3 allotted FPs. We did not even follow much of a plan except to make rope drop on the MK day (that was the only day we did RD) and hit the headliners that we didn't have FPs for early in the day, all of which has been the conventional wisdom since the days before there was any FP.

Same! (Right down to going in June for the first time since 2007, even. Ha!) I do think it helped that we had a somewhat wide age range with our kiddos so could divide and conquer for headliners that the other part of our group didn't want to do...right down to 3 of my crew chickening out of Splash Mountain an hour before our time and changing their reservations to another attraction.

We're going back in September (and have only ever been at peak times before), so we'll get a chance to see what happens with lower crowd levels.

 

[Laketravis]

I'm pleased to see that, by my count, there are 36 posters on this thread who have said that they love or like FP+ but who are not foolish enough to engage regularly in the debates about FP+.

You are saying those who do are fools. Got it.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I guess we'll just have to disagree about that.

Some posters have been so adamant about how much they like the "clean slate" and the ability to "wing it" that they give me a very strong impression that they don't like having anything scheduled in advance. They would rather just decide in the morning what park to go to and take their chances with whatever FPs they would be able to get.

If some of the regulars who are the most vocal opponents of FP+ think I have misinterpreted their comments, I invite them to say so and I will stand corrected.

I would venture to say that if those you are referring to were presented with a FP+ option that was something like "FPs for that day are released at park opening, you have to be on WDW property (note, not necessarily in a park, just on property - as that still gives a perceived advantage to staying on property) and you can choose your return times from the app or the kiosk and you can choose 3", then that would be what they'd consider a clean slate, yet also allow the freedom to choose their return times for the day.

ETA: Disney, of course, is not likely to ever do anything like the above because this does nothing for the "locking it in" objective that they have said is the driving force behind MM+.

Choosing return times and being able to arrange all FP+ from the same location (whether it's the app or the kiosk) are benefits that I think pretty much everyone recognizes. The booking window is, IMO, what those you are referring to see as taking away the clean slate.

 

[cakebaker]

And those who do are fools. Got it.

As one who does engage quite frequently, I do not read his post as calling me a fool and while I can't speak for all those who are satisfied with FP+, I'm guessing there aren't many who do.

 

[cakebaker]

THIS. I remember the FP- days when we used to get there super early, practically run for rides and to snag FP's, and bounce all over the park. Not a problem when you're a teenager or a fit adult. The way we used to do the old FP system never would have worked with an infant though. Now that we have a 1 yr. old, there was no way we could get in the park with a stroller, get through the crowds to get a FP for an attraction like Toy Story before they were all out for the day or only available hours later or ride it early like we used to. We actually were able to take the appropriate pace with an infant, schedule things early and still leave a little flexibility in the afternoon depending on whether kiddo was awake or desperately needed a nap.

I am so glad they switched before my grandson made his first trip with us. I never truly understood how demanding it can be to go to WDW with a baby until we did it. My girls were 8 yrs old when we made our first trip, so I never experienced it first hand.

When we went under legacy, we had the designated runner, knew how to work the system as best it could be worked. But to duplicate that style with a baby in tow would've been misery, if not impossible. He's a toddler now and I think it's even harder than when he was much younger, because now he's vocal and lets us know quite loudly when things aren't working for him. FP+ is a gift to those with little ones.

 

[vinotinto]

Your experience is not so much a recommendation for FP+ as it is to visit during low crowds? Weeks at the end of January and beginning of February are in the 5 less crowded weeks for the year. Kids are in school, there are no holidays, weather is variable.

 

[wisblue]

As one who does engage quite frequently, I do not read his post as calling me a fool and while I can't speak for all those who are satisfied with FP+, I'm guessing there aren't many who do.

Yes, you read it correctly.

The only person I was referring to as being foolish for getting engaged in the debates about FP+ was myself. But, I don't consider myself to be a fool because I recognize that sometimes people can do foolish things without being fools in general.

 

[wisblue]

You asked me a question and I gave you an honest answer. You didn't like my answer so you insult and berate me.

Awesome.

I see that, after letting it sit for 3 days, you decided to edit this post. I honestly don't remember what you said before, but I want to respond to the edited version.

Your post repeated the exchange that led to your quoted response. It shows for everyone to see that I asked a simple question. That is, whether you prefer FP+ or paper FP. It also shows that your response did not answer the question, but sidestepped it instead.

Now, I understand that you have no obligation to answer any question that I ask you, directly or indirectly. But, when you choose not to answer directly, I think it is fair for me to point that out and to point out that you have done that before in other threads. Like when you were asked to explain your claim that with FP+ you were only able to do 3 attractions without long standby waits.

So, my response was not insulting you, much less berating you. It was simply pointing out the truth.

 

[MrInfinity]

Fp+ works for everyone here, because it looks like you all make multiple trips a year. You ride the mountains and go home. If you went once every two years and your kids want to ride every ride it isn't any easier with Fp+. Fp+ is better then all stand by lines. There are still lots of people I see walk up to FP+ entrance. CM says you have no fastpasses on your ticket and the person walks away confused. If you read these boards you know the deal, but everyday guests are left out.

Yeah I'm part of Disney's "core guest" that goes every couple years (with kids) and stays for a week on property. FP+ has been awesome for us. We get on tons. We got on a lot under FP- too. In fact it's not a whole lot different. What gets us on more is not the system, but that we tour smart. Don't know who goes to WDW and rides 3 mountains and leaves. We ride stuff all day long. Suffice to say all the headliners, multiple times, plus any other rides we want to ride. It's not hard. I'll defer commenting on the "everyday guests" comment because this thread is not about that. We've already hashed out the math there, many times.

 

[Disfan454]

Ok, I checked the abbreviations page and there is no FP+. ONly FP for Fast Pass. What is FP+ please?

 

[DisneyKidds]

Your experience is not so much a recommendation for FP+ as it is to visit during low crowds? Weeks at the end of January and beginning of February are in the 5 less crowded weeks for the year. Kids are in school, there are no holidays, weather is variable.

I think enough people have already weighed in to dispel the myth that it's just low crowds and has nothing to do with FP+, but I'll add my experience since it keeps coming up.

We were at WDW in July and again after Christmas through New Years. We love FP+/MM+ overall, and felt that it made out trips more relaxed and enjoyable, overall. Is it perfect? No, and I've always said there are warts. However, nothing is perfect. FP- wasn't. You take the good with the bad, and judge the experience overall. For us it's a net positive. We had great trips using FP-, and our trips under FP+, while different in some ways, are also great. Yes, during the busiest times of year.

Some people might try and disparage the system overall because they don't like this, or they don't like that taken in isolation. However, not much of the world operates in such a vacuum.

Hey, who likes hot dogs? Yeah, so do I!! I bet I can list some ingredients you wouldn't eat individually though...

Ok, think hot dogs are gross? How about a big 'ole pot of meatballs and gravy.....yum. However, few people would want to munch on the raw garlic or eat a big spoonful or oregano.....

Not into Italian, well everyone likes cake, no? Well, if someone doesn't like baking soda......

 

[first state]

Don't know who goes to WDW and rides 3 mountains and leaves.

I see it a different way. People say HS is a half day park, we were there from RD to close and missed half the attractions. So MK with standby and 3 FP+ you won't ride much in a day. We have a 2 year old and two 8 year olds. We have to ride dumbo and space mountain. FP+ worked, we got 8 FP's in one day, but if you don't want to ride everything 3 is not enough. Crowd levels were very low, if I went anyother time of year I don't think it would work. We also had to switch days because of bad weather. There is no flexability in the system if anything in your plans change. In your everyday life can you tell me where and what time you will be eating dinner on 8/13/15.