I just don't like the amount of structuring the new FP+ requires

[SusieBea]

We've been going to WDW for almost 40 years and have made more than that many trips. We've had one trip w/ FP+ in March, and everything worked just fine. I'm currently planning (have planned) two trips, one at the end of September and one at the first of December. It's just not as much fun anymore. I'm tired of "itineraries!" Dining reservations are not an issue for me, because, if we decide to cancel something we had planned, there's almost always some alternative later. But this maneuvering around fast passes has taken all of the fun spontaneity out of our trips. I realize I don't have to make fast pass reservations and Sept. probably won't be an issue if I hadn't (except for SDMT), but I probably need them for the first week in December. OK, rant over. It's just not as fun for us anymore.

 

[Ms. WDW]

We've been going to WDW for almost 40 years and have made more than that many trips. We've had one trip w/ FP+ in March, and everything worked just fine. I'm currently planning (have planned) two trips, one at the end of September and one at the first of December. It's just not as much fun anymore. I'm tired of "itineraries!" Dining reservations are not an issue for me, because, if we decide to cancel something we had planned, there's almost always some alternative later. But this maneuvering around fast passes has taken all of the fun spontaneity out of our trips. I realize I don't have to make fast pass reservations and Sept. probably won't be an issue if I hadn't (except for SDMT), but I probably need them for the first week in December. OK, rant over. It's just not as fun for us anymore.

I also have been going for over 40 years with just about that many trips or more. And like you, planning a trip for the end of September. I didn't mind the dining reservations because I'm always making and changing plans before I get there. But the FP+ took some doing. I don't know. We'll see how this all plays out. To be quite honest...the only reason I'm even doing FP+ is because a friend is joining me this trip. She hasn't been to WDW in years!! So attractions like Soarin, Toy Story (just to name a few) are all new for her. Forget SDMT...I won't even try this trip. When I come back in May I'll give it a go.
But even with all the maneuvering around and changing this and that, I'll still be in Disney and once there, it's all good.

 

[SusieBea]

But even with all the maneuvering around and changing this and that, I'll still be in Disney and once there, it's all good.

I totally agree w/ this. I just needed to whine!

 

[Ms. WDW]

I totally agree w/ this. I just needed to whine!

We all need to do that sometimes!

 

[HarvardAce]

I've enjoyed the two trips we've made since FP+ has come into play (August 2013 and May 2014). Our August trip probably doesn't really count, because we were in the trial run at the Contemporary and were able to do both normal FPs and FP+, and we had very little competition on the FP+. In May, we were able to switch around our FP+ on the same day (either through the app or through the kiosks) without any problems as we adjusted our timing/plans throughout the day based on my 3 year old son. The only thing we couldn't switch into was to see Anna and Elsa, and that was no big loss for us.

That said, the parks were pretty empty both times, and half the time we had fastpasses, the SB line was shorter than where the FP line merged, so I can imagine it is a bit more challenging during the busier periods.

In all, we've already planned out our days at each park months in advance (to correspond with our dining reservations) so adding FP planning to it just adds to the fun of planning for us. It also saves me, as the "designated runner", a few trips around the park with everyone's tickets trying to get FPs for everyone. Our trips are long enough and we go often enough that if we miss a FP or can't get what we want, it's usually possible to get it another day. We also try to get to the parks at rope drop, so if we miss a particular FP we can just try and be one of the first in line at that particular attraction that day as well.

The best FP+ was for Fantasmic -- it was great getting there 15 minutes before the show started and having seats in the first few rows right in the middle reserved for us, but that was also in August and the FP+ section was filled about 25% -- I imagine that it is a bit more packed and we would have been near the back had we done it in May.

 

[com_op_2000]

...fast passes has taken all of the fun spontaneity out of our trips...It's just not as fun for us anymore.

These have been my issues since the start of FP+. Dining has never been an issue for us as we have never made a dining reservation and I have been going to MK since '71.
Do not tell but we are planning on getting APs to SW next year and BG the year after that.

 

[SusieBea]

Do not tell but we are planning on getting APs to SW next year and BG the year after that.

My lips are sealed!

 

[supersnoop]

How has the addition of FP+ made things worse for you? If you don't plan FP+ ahead of time, what have you lost from previous trips?

 

[HarvardAce]

How has the addition of FP+ made things worse for you? If you don't plan FP+ ahead of time, what have you lost from previous trips?

I tend to agree. The main things you're missing when compared to the old system, if you don't want to plan in advance:

1. Inability to get a same-day FP for the most popular attractions that "sell out" a day or more in advance.
2. Inability to get multiple FPs for the same ride or for the "Tier 1" attractions -- although you can get these if you use your FP+ allocation up earlier in the day and then add more at the kiosks in the parks, it isn't quite as simple as the old method.

Even if you tentatively plan ahead, you can always shuffle things around. My family usually has a general plan of which parks around what time each day -- but I'm on my phone a decent amount while in line or walking somewhere, shuffling our FPs around.

 

[SusieBea]

How has the addition of FP+ made things worse for you? If you don't plan FP+ ahead of time, what have you lost from previous trips?

It's altered wait times in stand-by lines to a greater extent than the former fast pass did.

 

[castle1]

It's altered wait times in stand-by lines to a greater extent than the former fast pass did.

Exactly! And, I really don't want to be glued to my phone while I am in the park

 

[princessdawn2011]

I don't mind for myself, but we have a group of 8 going soon. Two little ones, 6 adults-everyone is all over the place! It's been a hassle. I REALLY DISLIKE guests paying cash are walking reservations to get Anna & Elsa FPs and CRT.

 

[SusieBea]

I don't mind for myself, but we have a group of 8 going soon. Two little ones, 6 adults-everyone is all over the place! It's been a hassle. I REALLY DISLIKE guests paying cash are walking reservations to get Anna & Elsa FPs and CRT.

I agree. When we worked w/ the system in March, there were 7 of us, and we worked it out. But we had different types of tickets purchased and added at different times.

 

[Andrew015]

It's altered wait times in stand-by lines to a greater extent than the former fast pass did.

Not to mention the fact that it is another element of your trip that must be pre-planned, forcing you into a "schedule". Yes, I know that sometimes, changes can be made "on-the-fly" with FP+, thus giving you a little flexibility, but when I go on vacation, I want to get AWAY from a fixed schedule. The old fast-pass system allowed more spontaneity and didn't force elements of pre-planning down your throat. What if a given day is scheduled to be an all-day downpour? With the old system, you weren't tied to anything, and thus, we might choose to relax at the resort or visit DTD instead of trudging through the parks. Now, I have to spend valuable vacation time on my "Smartphone" juggling my fast-pass schedule. While the old system may have had some limitations, I think it was well-loved by 98% of guests. The new system works well for advanced planners, but is a pain in the you-know where for people like myself.

Also, FP+ forces you to pre-purchase park tickets ~60 days in advance (or thereabouts). This isn't the end of the world, but it has presented a problem for me with my upcoming October trip. I want to purchase AP's using my DVC discount for myself and fiancé (she will be my wife at the time of our trip). Since we are not married or living together at the moment, I won't be able to take advantage of the DVC discount for her ticket if I pre-purchase.

 

[Ms. WDW]

What I don't like is the inability to "add" a third attraction at the same park, on to an existing day that has only 2 picked. You have to "delete" your two current selections and "hope" you can get the same or at least times close to what you had.

I did call MS to see if perhaps I was mis-reading something, but no. You have to delete and then re-select. Oh well...

 

[wdrl]

What I don't like is the inability to "add" a third attraction at the same park, on to an existing day that has only 2 picked. You have to "delete" your two current selections and "hope" you can get the same or at least times close to what you had.

I did call MS to see if perhaps I was mis-reading something, but no. You have to delete and then re-select. Oh well...

I don't understand what you are saying. The current system gives you three FP+, even if you only want one or two. I have never heard of anyone getting only two FP+ to begin with.

In May and June, I was able to change a FP+ selection to a different attraction or to a different time without having to deselect my other FP+ selections for that day. In fact, on most days I was making changes to the times or the attractions and I never had to "delete" a FP+ to get this accomplished.

 

[Ms. WDW]

I don't understand what you are saying. The current system gives you three FP+, even if you only want one or two. I have never heard of anyone getting only two FP+ to begin with.

In May and June, I was able to change a FP+ selection to a different attraction or to a different time without having to deselect my other FP+ selections for that day. In fact, on most days I was making changes to the times or the attractions and I never had to "delete" a FP+ to get this accomplished.

I'm not saying I was only allowed 2 FP+ selections. What I'm saying is that I made all my selections that we wanted for the week. All days had 3 FP+ selections but there was one day that we only made 2 selections. I wanted to go back to the day that only had 2 FP+'s selected and "add" a third. Yes I could "change the experience" or "change the time" for the existing 2 I had. But I could not add a 3rd unless I deleted the 2 I had, and "re-select 3". If you were able to "add" a 3rd attraction to a day you already selected, then by all means let me know how you did it so I can go and add another.

 

[supersnoop]

All days had 3 FP+ selections but there was one day that we only made 2 selections.

This one sentence seems to contradict itself. You should have three FP+ selections, and you can always select one to change at any time. Do you mean you missed the window for one of your selections and it expired? Because you're able to rebook anything that you missed. Otherwise, I don't understand how you only had two selected.

 

[HarvardAce]

Also, FP+ forces you to pre-purchase park tickets ~60 days in advance (or thereabouts). This isn't the end of the world, but it has presented a problem for me with my upcoming October trip. I want to purchase AP's using my DVC discount for myself and fiancé (she will be my wife at the time of our trip). Since we are not married or living together at the moment, I won't be able to take advantage of the DVC discount for her ticket if I pre-purchase.

I don't think this should be a problem. Don't they check the driver's license when you exchange the voucher for the actual AP? As such, you should be able to purchase the tickets under her new name (if she is changing it), and when you go to exchange the APs, you should be all set.

Just make sure that there is enough time between the wedding and your trip to get the name change done and a new license for her. I'm not sure if Disney would accept a copy of a marriage license in the absence of an updated license or not, we're brand new DVC members ourselves.

 

[Ms. WDW]

This one sentence seems to contradict itself. You should have three FP+ selections, and you can always select one to change at any time. Do you mean you missed the window for one of your selections and it expired? Because you're able to rebook anything that you missed. Otherwise, I don't understand how you only had two selected.

it was my choice! I never said the system only allowed me to pick 2! That day there wasn't anything else we wanted to do. I didn't miss any windows. A week later we decided to see if we could add one more on the day we only selected 2. That's it. Thank you for the input, but I think we'll leave things as they are.