I Honestly Don't Get The FP+ HubBub

[rudetreehill]

Okay, maybe I'm just crazy or have had unusual experiences in the past, but... I've been going to Disney at least once a year for the past 18 or so years. Sometimes solo, sometimes with groups. This November will be my first trip with FP+, and of course I've been reading all the negative reviews. (Ironically, a huge number of them start by admitting they haven't tried it yet, but they've "heard.")

But in all the years I've been going to Disney, Fastpass hasn't actually played that big a role in my visits. We'd get one, maybe two a day... which is less than what we'll be doing with the new system.

Is it just that we've become so awesome at planning trips (we tend to go during low-attendance periods) that Fastpass -- the old or new systems -- are irrelevant to us? Is it just that people are more likely to complain than they are to praise, so there are more negative reports than positive?

I'm truly baffled, because from where I sit, I just don't get the big deal!

Richard/Tralfie

 

[AJPPGH]

From what I am able to gather here, the FP+ affects all rides and not just the headliners. It sounds like it is making other rides that are not typically as popular more crowded. This is where it could possibly affect all of the people who never worry about fast passes anyhow.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I think it mostly boils down to everyone having different touring styles. Legacy FP worked very well for some touring styles in the past, not so great for others (or it wasn't a big deal for others). I think the same is true for FP+, it's just that the style(s) of touring which benefit from FP+ are different from those that benefitted from the legacy system.

 

[3happydancers]

I think it mostly boils down to everyone having different touring styles. Legacy FP worked very well for some touring styles in the past, not so great for others (or it wasn't a big deal for others). I think the same is true for FP+, it's just that the style(s) of touring which benefit from FP+ are different from those that benefitted from the legacy system.

It could also have something to do with the season a family might be able to travel. Some are fortunate enough to attend the World during low/value season while others do not have a choice but to travel during the most busiest time of year. More than likely, it is a combination of reasons.

 

[DividedSky]

I think it mostly boils down to everyone having different touring styles. Legacy FP worked very well for some touring styles in the past, not so great for others (or it wasn't a big deal for others). I think the same is true for FP+, it's just that the style(s) of touring which benefit from FP+ are different from those that benefitted from the legacy system.

this is pretty much it.

those that are new and inexperienced, and those that don't want to rope drop benefit the most.

those that used to collect 5-6 or even more fast passes on busy days are going to see a substantial increase in their stand by line usage.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Also if you like riding a headliner multiple times this new system does not work for that style of touring. I will miss grabbing multiple fp for toy story and space mountain without having to wait in regular lines.

 

[shalom]

Also if you like riding a headliner multiple times this new system does not work for that style of touring.

It depends on how the person rode the headliner. Even when the lines were at 45 minutes, it made more sense for some people to get in the standby line and supplement it with FPs. If someone's getting 2 2/3 rides standby or more for every one FP (because they'd generally be in line when the 2 hours for the next FP end), losing the option of multiple FPs is a bummer but not that big a deal.

The people who really worked the FP system managed to ride multiple FP rides at the least time cost. Which overlaps with people who liked riding a particular headliner multiple times, but doesn't include all of them.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

this is pretty much it.

those that are new and inexperienced, and those that don't want to rope drop benefit the most.

those that used to collect 5-6 or even more fast passes on busy days are going to see a substantial increase in their stand by line usage.

Exactly right, IMO. I travel in low/value seasons. This will not hurt us, as demonstrated in our trip in January. It will impact vacations during higher crowd seasons. Folks who were best prepared to leverage the old FP system will be most impacted.

 

[AmyB2006]

It really does depend on how you toured before, I think. I agree totally with that. We never really used FP before either. Occasionally we would, but it was never planned into our day. We never did RD either.

Yet we never waited more than 20 minutes for anything. LOL But we also are not people concerned with riding all the headliners multiple times in a day. However, my kids are getting to that age where they are starting to want to ride their favorites repeatedly. So I can see why this new system is a big disadvantage to some.

This will be our 3rd trip using FP+ coming up. We've liked it so far but this is the first one that I had to choose using the tiers. Not a fan of that, but we'll see how it goes.

 

[gtpoohbear]

We've typically gone in busy seasons (summer, spring break, and Christmas) and never end up getting more than 1 or 2 fp's at most. It just hasn't been worth running all over the park for them, only to have the offered return time conflict with an ADR. We just get there at RD, do the big rides first, and it always seems to work out fine.

So I am actually looking forward to trying FP+ b/c I think that by scheduling them in advance online, we will make more use of this system. Though I will say the tiering at Epcot is frustrating, basically you only get one FP/day since we've never had to wait at any of the tier 2 rides anyway. But again, we usually only managed one FP there on the legacy system anyway, so at least now we can get it ahead of time without wasting time and effort in the park.

I guess if you were a master at legacy FP and could collect a whole stash throughout the day, I can see the outrage. Fortunately it doesn't apply to us though

 

[Jennasis]

Okay, maybe I'm just crazy or have had unusual experiences in the past, but... I've been going to Disney at least once a year for the past 18 or so years. Sometimes solo, sometimes with groups. This November will be my first trip with FP+, and of course I've been reading all the negative reviews. (Ironically, a huge number of them start by admitting they haven't tried it yet, but they've "heard.")

But in all the years I've been going to Disney, Fastpass hasn't actually played that big a role in my visits. We'd get one, maybe two a day... which is less than what we'll be doing with the new system.

Is it just that we've become so awesome at planning trips (we tend to go during low-attendance periods) that Fastpass -- the old or new systems -- are irrelevant to us? Is it just that people are more likely to complain than they are to praise, so there are more negative reports than positive?

I'm truly baffled, because from where I sit, I just don't get the big deal!

Richard/Tralfie

This would be my guess as to why you don't get the "hubbub".

 

[crostorfer]

*SIGH* If you don't get it, you probably never will. Those of us who feel it effects us more, we get it, and we are displeased. If you never bothered with FP before, I can see sitting back and saying "big whoop". Those of us who used it multiple times a day to ride the same rides are spouting doom and gloom. If it doesn't effect you, great. Happy travels.

 

[HookdonWDW]

We went over NY, so we were there for one of the busiest periods. We park hopped, we didn't rope drop, we didn't bring 90 zillion old cards, and I think we only pulled one FP- ticket the entire trip. In other words, according to a lot of the posters who are upset, our trip should have been a nightmare. Somehow, despite this, we rode everything we wanted to, we rode headliners multiple times, and I don't think we waited in line for anything for longer than 20 minutes. If something had a longer Standby line, we generally passed by it and rode it at another time, when the lines were shorter. In the interest of full disclosure, we were staying onsite, and did take advantage of some evening EMHs.

OTOH, we also visited US/IOA the same trip, and even with our Unlimited Express Passes, we waited over 20 minutes a couple of times... not a complaint, we had a great time, and got to ride lots of rides. Since the standby lines for some of those rides were running at 180+, a 25 minute wait was nothing. Just trying to keep it in perspective.

I think a lot of what you are seeing is a combination of travel styles, flexibility, and the Chicken Little mentality. I totally respect people deciding that WDW no longer works for them, but it worked just fine for us. I think people should try it out before complaining.

 

[wiigirl]

It could also have something to do with the season a family might be able to travel. Some are fortunate enough to attend the World during low/value season while others do not have a choice but to travel during the most busiest time of year. More than likely, it is a combination of reasons.

 

[danceintherain]

I can see it both ways.
We're not really uber-users, but we did usually pick up a few throughout the day. I think some days we'd pick up 4-5 throughout the day. We're also break-takers, so a lot of times we didn't feel like staying in the park or returning later on to use a previously picked up FP.
I can definitely see it as a benefit on days when we may want to sleep in or park hop. When I was planning our trip for last April, I had a hard time, because we only had 4 day tickets and wanted to spend two days in the Magic Kingdom. My original plan included skipping Epcot entirely, but then my sister showed an interest in riding Soarin and I realized it was the F&G festival. I prefer Epcot in the evenings, but I knew the lines for Soarin would be very long at that point, and FPs would likely be gone. I ultimately decided that it would work to do AK in the evening instead. If FP+ had been initiated, I could have done Rope Drop at Park A and plan in FP+ at Park B, which would have reduced my anxiety some. As it was, I don't think we used FP at all for that day.

Ultimately, we'll adjust our touring habits slightly and manage. When I went with my family growing up, we would arrive shortly after Rope Drop and stay until the park closed, we usually got FPs every few hours. It will be interesting to see how my Dad responds, when I tell him that FPs have to be pre-booked.

 

[mesaboy2]

Okay, maybe I'm just crazy or have had unusual experiences in the past, but... I've been going to Disney at least once a year for the past 18 or so years. Sometimes solo, sometimes with groups. This November will be my first trip with FP+, and of course I've been reading all the negative reviews. (Ironically, a huge number of them start by admitting they haven't tried it yet, but they've "heard.")

But in all the years I've been going to Disney, Fastpass hasn't actually played that big a role in my visits. We'd get one, maybe two a day... which is less than what we'll be doing with the new system.

Is it just that we've become so awesome at planning trips (we tend to go during low-attendance periods) that Fastpass -- the old or new systems -- are irrelevant to us? Is it just that people are more likely to complain than they are to praise, so there are more negative reports than positive?

I'm truly baffled, because from where I sit, I just don't get the big deal!

Richard/Tralfie

This is why you don't get it. If you routinely used more than three then the new system is a limitation and not an enhancement. Because three is less than six, or so I've heard.

 

[kyomagi]

i agree with OP. I dont use fast pass much. Last year we used 2 at MK and 1 at epcot.

I may not be a disney "pro", but when i go, we normally just go and have fun, not to rush around

 

[Love Tink]

This is why you don't get it. If you routinely used more than three then the new system is a limitation and not an enhancement. Because three is less than six, or so I've heard.

Seriously! How can people be so clueless?

When all the Tower Records stores closed, I thought, "Well, I don't go to record stores anymore, so it doesn't affect me."

But I didn't think, "Well, I don't go to record stores anymore, so it doesn't affect me. So why all the hub bub?"

Because I understood that all human beings do not have the same experiences, priorities and habits as I do.

 

[magicbob]

Seriously! How can people be so clueless?

When all the Tower Records stores closed, I thought, "Well, I don't go to record stores anymore, so it doesn't affect me."

But I didn't think, "Well, I don't go to record stores anymore, so it doesn't affect me. So why all the hub bub?"

Because I understood that all human beings do not have the same experiences, priorities and habits as I do.

Wait. What? Tower Records closed?????

 

[patty57]

Seriously! How can people be so clueless?

When all the Tower Records stores closed, I thought, "Well, I don't go to record stores anymore, so it doesn't affect me."

But I didn't think, "Well, I don't go to record stores anymore, so it doesn't affect me. So why all the hub bub?"

Because I understood that all human beings do not have the same experiences, priorities and habits as I do.