I'm officially a convert to FP+

[Rebekkap]

My first thought when I realised FP+ was going to happen before my current Disney trip was that I wouldn't be able to ride Space Mountain repeatedly, and I HATED it!

I spent 9am to 9pm today at Magic Kingdom, and I'm a convert. FP+ kicks FP-'s butt.

I could have ridden Space Mountain more than ten times if I'd wanted to (I didn't, I get sick after four times in a row, as I found out in Hong Kong, where it was a walk on!)

My sister was with me in the morning, and she doesn't get the commando thing (she actually insisted on sitting in the sun and having a coffee yesterday at HS at 9.30am!!!) and we had two sit down meals booked (Crystal Palace breakfast and BOG fastpass for lunch).

Here's what we did:

9.10am Peter Pan
9.25ish Winnie the Pooh
9.50am checked in for Crystal Palace
11.20ish left Crystal Palace (which was awesome btw, and they brought my sister a card signed by all the characters and a cupcake with a candle for her birthday) and wandered towards Haunted Mansion
11.30ish got distracted by Little Mermaid and rode it (said 20 min wait, was actually a walk on)
12ish Haunted Mansion (FP)
12.30ish monsters inc laugh floor
1pmish Space Mountain (FP)
Immediately went to get another FP - no queue at kiosk and got BTMRR with 3.25pm return
1.45pm checked in for BOG FP (highly recommend! absolutely beautiful surroundings and the food was great for counter service)
3.25 rode BTMRR (FP)
3.40ish caught train back to Main Street then my sister went back to the hotel - freedom to commando ride Space and BTMRR for rest of afternoon if I want!
3.50ish collected FP for Space with 4.40pm return
4.10ish rode Space (SB, 20 min wait)
4.35pm rode space again (FP)
4.50ish Went to get another FP for space, 5.20pm return
5.15pm rode Space (FP)

Needed a sit down! Went to get another FP - got Pirates with return time 5 mins in future (which as they let you in five minutes before return time is essentially just skipping the queue). Walked to pirates, which was down. Changed pirates FP on phone to jungle cruise.

6.15pm rode jungle cruise (FP)
6.45pm went to collect another FP, got Pirates with immediate return time.
6.50pm rode pirates (FP)
7.15pm went to collect another FP, got big Thunder for 7.25.
7.30pm rode BTMRR (FP)
7.50ish Went to get another FP - got HM again for 8.20pm
8ish sat down to eat a citrus swirl
8.15pm rode HM (FP)
8.35ish went to get another BTMRR FP - got return time of 8.50pm
8.50pm rode BTMRR (FP)

Came back to hotel (I'm pretty tired!)

I checked availability as I left the park, still plenty for all three mountains and most other rides. Nothing left for fireworks (I wasn't staying anyway, was just curious).

Why I loved it?

11 fastpasses in one day, and a day with two sit down dining reservations at that, and I didn't stay til close, only til around 9pm. Return times of less than an hour, except when I picked a later time. Ability to pick up FPs without crisscrossing the park - I didn't have to go all the way back to the end of Tomorrowland to get space FPs if I wasn't in that part of the park. I did space four times. I did BTMRR daytime and nighttime. I didn't have to wait more than two or three minutes to get a fastpass. I didn't have to wait more than about five to get on a ride.

When you can book the additional fastpasses on your phone it will be even better. It's not much of a bother to go to a kiosk (certainly less than running around the park to get the next paper FP was) but it would be even less of a bother to sit down with your phone and pick your own.

Anyway, colour me converted. The new system is awesome.

Didn't try to get a fourth at HS but did get a fourth for test track at Epcot - after lunch with a return time at 5ish, so not too bad.

Should be easy enough to hop, too (particularly to magic kingdom in the evening)

 

[jade1]

Oh my, sounds very good.

Thanks for reporting.

 

[maryj11]

Sounds awesome, how crowded was the park ? Just wondered if it will work for us when we go because it will probably be crowded at our visit . Did you happen to notice if Wishes fastpasses were available at anytime ?

 

[Rebekkap]

Sounds awesome, how crowded was the park ? Just wondered if it will work for us when we go because it will probably be crowded at our visit . Did you happen to notice if Wishes fastpasses were available at anytime ?

Really not sure how crowded the park was. Wait times didn't seem particularly bad, other than the 300 minute wait for Anna and Elsa, but it did seem like there were a lot of people. I guess we'll know tomorrow when the crowd calculators report how much they were off by!

I did notice wishes a couple of times during the afternoon, but to be honest I didn't notice when they ran out.

 

[maryj11]

Ok thanks

 

[SchmittyUD]

This was super encouraging. We leave in 8 days. Thanks so much!!!

 

[jimmysmom74]

Glad to see you getting the most out of your trip. Have a great time!!!

 

[practicallyperfect77]

OP glad to hear it worked so well for you! Sounds like a great day. Were you there today...as in Wednesday? Only curious b/c I checked wait times via the app a few times this afternoon and things seemed reasonable. Like 30 min waits for Mountains and such. I know PP and ETWB were the highest posted...I think maybe 40 mins or so early this afternoon. I'm only checking b/c the crowd calendar for now is similar to when I'll be there.

 

[Rebekkap]

OP glad to hear it worked so well for you! Sounds like a great day. Were you there today...as in Wednesday? Only curious b/c I checked wait times via the app a few times this afternoon and things seemed reasonable. Like 30 min waits for Mountains and such. I know PP and ETWB were the highest posted...I think maybe 40 mins or so early this afternoon. I'm only checking b/c the crowd calendar for now is similar to when I'll be there.

Yep, today as in Wednesday we used one of the crowd calendars to pick the supposedly lowest crowd days of each park for our visit (it was one of the free ones, maybe wdw info?)

Off to animal kingdom today

 

[barefootMom]

I am so confused - how did you get 11 FP in 1 day?? I have not been on here in a while and when I went in Feb it was 3. I thought they only increased it to 4?

 

[practicallyperfect77]

I am so confused - how did you get 11 FP in 1 day?? I have not been on here in a while and when I went in Feb it was 3. I thought they only increased it to 4?

After you use initial 3, you can book a 4th. When you use 4th you book 5th and so on. Right now additional ones must be chosen at a kiosk...can't use app. You can reride or choose another tier 1 (parks like HS and Epcot) with your additional ones.

 

[wn01aa]

My first thought when I realised FP+ was going to happen before my current Disney trip was that I wouldn't be able to ride Space Mountain repeatedly, and I HATED it! I spent 9am to 9pm today at Magic Kingdom, and I'm a convert. FP+ kicks FP-'s butt. I could have ridden Space Mountain more than ten times if I'd wanted to (I didn't, I get sick after four times in a row, as I found out in Hong Kong, where it was a walk on!) My sister was with me in the morning, and she doesn't get the commando thing (she actually insisted on sitting in the sun and having a coffee yesterday at HS at 9.30am!!!) and we had two sit down meals booked (Crystal Palace breakfast and BOG fastpass for lunch). Here's what we did: 9.10am Peter Pan 9.25ish Winnie the Pooh 9.50am checked in for Crystal Palace 11.20ish left Crystal Palace (which was awesome btw, and they brought my sister a card signed by all the characters and a cupcake with a candle for her birthday) and wandered towards Haunted Mansion 11.30ish got distracted by Little Mermaid and rode it (said 20 min wait, was actually a walk on) 12ish Haunted Mansion (FP) 12.30ish monsters inc laugh floor 1pmish Space Mountain (FP) Immediately went to get another FP - no queue at kiosk and got BTMRR with 3.25pm return 1.45pm checked in for BOG FP (highly recommend! absolutely beautiful surroundings and the food was great for counter service) 3.25 rode BTMRR (FP) 3.40ish caught train back to Main Street then my sister went back to the hotel - freedom to commando ride Space and BTMRR for rest of afternoon if I want! 3.50ish collected FP for Space with 4.40pm return 4.10ish rode Space (SB, 20 min wait) 4.35pm rode space again (FP) 4.50ish Went to get another FP for space, 5.20pm return 5.15pm rode Space (FP) Needed a sit down! Went to get another FP - got Pirates with return time 5 mins in future (which as they let you in five minutes before return time is essentially just skipping the queue). Walked to pirates, which was down. Changed pirates FP on phone to jungle cruise. 6.15pm rode jungle cruise (FP) 6.45pm went to collect another FP, got Pirates with immediate return time. 6.50pm rode pirates (FP) 7.15pm went to collect another FP, got big Thunder for 7.25. 7.30pm rode BTMRR (FP) 7.50ish Went to get another FP - got HM again for 8.20pm 8ish sat down to eat a citrus swirl 8.15pm rode HM (FP) 8.35ish went to get another BTMRR FP - got return time of 8.50pm 8.50pm rode BTMRR (FP) Came back to hotel (I'm pretty tired!) I checked availability as I left the park, still plenty for all three mountains and most other rides. Nothing left for fireworks (I wasn't staying anyway, was just curious). Why I loved it? 11 fastpasses in one day, and a day with two sit down dining reservations at that, and I didn't stay til close, only til around 9pm. Return times of less than an hour, except when I picked a later time. Ability to pick up FPs without crisscrossing the park - I didn't have to go all the way back to the end of Tomorrowland to get space FPs if I wasn't in that part of the park. I did space four times. I did BTMRR daytime and nighttime. I didn't have to wait more than two or three minutes to get a fastpass. I didn't have to wait more than about five to get on a ride. When you can book the additional fastpasses on your phone it will be even better. It's not much of a bother to go to a kiosk (certainly less than running around the park to get the next paper FP was) but it would be even less of a bother to sit down with your phone and pick your own. Anyway, colour me converted. The new system is awesome. Didn't try to get a fourth at HS but did get a fourth for test track at Epcot - after lunch with a return time at 5ish, so not too bad. Should be easy enough to hop, too (particularly to magic kingdom in the evening)

Were one of the early rides also FP because from your report it looks like you got a FP from a kiosk after using only 2 FP+

 

[kaybird]

Sounds amazing!! Great trip, fun time!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Sounds awesome, how crowded was the park ? Just wondered if it will work for us when we go because it will probably be crowded at our visit . Did you happen to notice if Wishes fastpasses were available at anytime ?

I don't know what yesterday was, but today is a 2 on touring plans. So not crowded.

Awesome day OP, thanks for sharing!

 

[danceintherain]

Awesome!
I expect it will be a little more difficult during more crowded times, but touring the parks is always more difficult during crowded times.

 

[mouseaddicts]

Thanks so much for sharing the awesome info!
We too are "park commandos" and I was a bit worried that the new FP+ system wouldn't allow us to ride like we have in the past. Sounds like your day was pretty busy and flexible. I too wonder what busier park days will yield on this system ..... I'm not sure what the crowds will be like on our next trip (scheduled for December), but I keep hoping for more positive reports like yours!

Thanks again!

 

[SuperRob]

11 fastpasses in one day, and a day with two sit down dining reservations at that, and I didn't stay til close, only til around 9pm. Return times of less than an hour, except when I picked a later time. Ability to pick up FPs without crisscrossing the park - I didn't have to go all the way back to the end of Tomorrowland to get space FPs if I wasn't in that part of the park. I did space four times. I did BTMRR daytime and nighttime. I didn't have to wait more than two or three minutes to get a fastpass. I didn't have to wait more than about five to get on a ride.

If this doesn't convince people that FP+ is not a downgrade, I really don't know what will. Thanks for the report, Rebekka. Have a great rest of your trip!

 

[Bugdozer]

Thanks for letting us know how it worked for you

 

[Mickeygolf]

This is so encouraging to hear, thanks for reporting!!! I'm interested to hear how well it works when we have crowd levels in the 6 - 9 range and when you have 5+ in your party. I know it's going to be more difficult and we won't hear those accounts for another month or so.

But this is truly great to hear and I really appreciate you sharing it with us.

Thanks!!!

 

[Don Disney]

Sweeeeet! I still have doubts about FP+ though..we'll have to see what happens when the parks are a bit more crowded;Wednesday is said to be the "lowest crowds of the week"according to one of the sites I frequent...probably correct,and why the OP was so successful...coupled with their commitment and planning saavy.