interesting opinion about the not so magical mouse

[5Hfan]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris...r-i-did-not-enjoy-disney-world_b_6261760.html

some aspects of fp+ I like, many I don't, but we haven't even left for this trip and I am tired of all the planning, planning, seconding guessing, and re-planning. I too miss the ability to be spontaneous, and don't get me started on being packed in like mice (!) in a lab cage!

 

[hoosll]

This article succinctly explains ALL the reasons why I chose to cancel my February reservations last night.

I wonder if the author was using her smart phone to try and stay on task ... as I am a have-not flip-phone owner ... I believe the experience will be even worse as I cannot receive the crucial emails that will tell me my fast passes have been cancelled due to the ride being down.

I hope some day in the future I will feel like heading back to the World ...

 

[ellone]

As for the guest that was unable to get into their room each night, I wonder if the front desk made a regular card key for them. We had trouble twice getting into our room. The second time the front desk manager got involved and had them make a card for use and then took our magic bands to the back to do some sort of hard reset on them. After that they worked on our door each time. But it seems like not something the regular front desk people can do.

 

[coluk003]

you dont have to plan, you can be spontaneous, just dont expect to get in or on everything you really want to.

 

[Satchmo128]

*trying to stay positive for our trip in just a few days*

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

Was just getting ready to post about this same story. I don't necessarily disagree with the story. We were at Disney this past May and there certainly is a lot more planning involved nowadays, especially with FP+. We still had a great trip (other than several days of constant heavy rain) and are looking forward to going back again perhaps next year but I do pine for the days when there was much less planning necessary and more spontaneity.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

*trying to stay positive for our trip in just a few days*

I would think that because you are going early December you should be golden. Yes, FP+ requires more planning, but there are some pluses to it. For example, we scheduled TSMM and had about a 10 minute wait max. That was great. Wasn't so great that some of the rides that were normally walk-on or close to it, like Living with the Earth and Pirates, now had 30 minute plus standby lines. And we didn't have any of the problems with the magic bands that others have had -- ours worked flawlessly the entire trip. That said, I'm not really sure what is "magic" about the band -- you perhaps get through the park gate quicker, and you can charge to it, but it wasn't a whole lot more convenient than the old key cards.

 

[5Hfan]

you dont have to plan, you can be spontaneous, just dont expect to get in or on everything you really want to.

well sure, but then what is the point of spending all that money and time and even going??

 

[5Hfan]

*trying to stay positive for our trip in just a few days*

I think you will still have a good time, but maybe it just won't be as wonderfully magical as it was...

 

[SmithSmith]

She was upset about germs on interactive queues?!

Is she unaware that germs will be on any and every surface regardless if it's a child's game or not?

 

[Moms]

We will be going on our furst fast pass + trip this Spring and we are not stressing over it at all ... fist of all we are two aduts so we won't have to worry about squirmy and/or impatient children and we can assume our usual go with the flow attitude. I was thinking that the fast pass + is just the next "thing" in the move towards "you cant wing it any longer" . We found it difficult to "wing it" back when ADR's began to become so popular and it bacame necessary to make those reservations six months in advance. An ADR; especialy a coveted one like O'Hana before midnight, does restrict your planning.

Hedk, I am old enough to remember going to the television screens under Spaceship Earth and talking to a reservation agent to make reservations for that day at an Epcot restaurant!

 

[HatboxHaint]

being able to plan and reserve more means you are "guaranteed" to get more out of your vacation. What frustrates people is those plans falling through. Sometimes it is disney with broken IT or your kids passing out from exhaustion or you catching a cold. I would rather know that I have some great fun things reserved a head of time by stressing over the planning then to wonder exactly what I'll get to do and arrive to find my options limited to lower tier attractions and restaurants due to crowds. Her get up and decide what to do that day attitude does not work well at Disney or alot of other locations. I mean you can't jsut get up in the morning on a vacation to New York and decide that you want to go to a sold-out broadway show that night, you needed to have bought tickets in advance.

 

[5Hfan]

being able to plan and reserve more means you are "guaranteed" to get more out of your vacation. What frustrates people is those plans falling through. Sometimes it is disney with broken IT or your kids passing out from exhaustion or you catching a cold. I would rather know that I have some great fun things reserved a head of time by stressing over the planning then to wonder exactly what I'll get to do and arrive to find my options limited to lower tier attractions and restaurants due to crowds. Her get up and decide what to do that day attitude does not work well at Disney or alot of other locations. I mean you can't jsut get up in the morning on a vacation to New York and decide that you want to go to a sold-out broadway show that night, you needed to have bought tickets in advance.

true, but if you get up and it's raining you could decide day of that water park, test track, splash mt etc aren't a good use of your limited 3 fast passes...
If I knew I was guaranteed three ski runs I don't think I'd be paying $$$ for a ski vacation any time soon!

 

[Frozen2014]

Aside from initially, our magic bands worked lovely and I personally love how one thing keeps track of all (ADRs, FPs, room key), etc.
Also...aside from booking 3 FPs and ADRs, that the rest can still be spontaneous if you prefer (it just might be longer waits but can always check wait times and move to another ride).
A shame the writer is so disappointed with Disney.

 

[Satchmo128]

We stay off-site with friends, so did all of our FP+ reservations at 30 days out and still were able to get everything we wanted (even two days with 7DMT)! We don't have kids, so no A&E meet and greet FP+ was needed.

It is strange having things so planning ahead of the trip, but we are looking forward to it

I think I may need to stop reading the DisBoards and just let the magic take over once we land at MCO on Saturday night! ).

 

[Satchmo128]

I will say that the Kissimmee Accuweather forecast for the next 15 days looks AMAZING! Mid-70s?!? *fingers crossed it stays that way! *

 

[pad406]

true, but if you get up and it's raining you could decide day of that water park, test track, splash mt etc aren't a good use of your limited 3 fast passes...
If I knew I was guaranteed three ski runs I don't think I'd be paying $$$ for a ski vacation any time soon!

But the reverse is also true. You can lie in and still get on TSM, Soarin, 7DMT, etc etc without a 2hr line, which you couldn't have done before. You can spend a morning in a water park and still get to ride headliners late afternoon without the 2hr wait. And being guaranteed 3 doesn't exclude others.

 

[SmithSmith]

But the reverse is also true. You can lie in and still get on TSM, Soarin, 7DMT, etc etc without a 2hr line, which you couldn't have done before. You can spend a morning in a water park and still get to ride headliners late afternoon without the 2hr wait. And being guaranteed 3 doesn't exclude others.

Well said!

 

[5Hfan]

But the reverse is also true. You can lie in and still get on TSM, Soarin, 7DMT, etc etc without a 2hr line, which you couldn't have done before. You can spend a morning in a water park and still get to ride headliners late afternoon without the 2hr wait. And being guaranteed 3 doesn't exclude others.

yes that is absolutely true! I am looking forward to having some later arrival days with at least 3 guaranteed fast passes. Just not sure one or 2 sleep in days will out weigh the loss of on the spot decision making (and nevermind that we had to be up at midnight 60 days out even though work started at 0400 that morning).

 

[siugoalie78]

It's a HuffPo writer. Those folks are always angry/insulted/outraged by default.