Is anyone else hugely entertained by the FP+ tier system test?

[ArwenMarie]

Everyone I talk to who has already been there a few times (but who doesn't post on message boards at least that I know of LOL) hates the idea of FP+, especially the 3-a-day limit.

On the flip side of this, I do think that the first-timer reaction to it is going to be more positive.

I was talking to someone just this week who had never been to Disney, minus one quick day trip 20 years ago. Anyway, she has a daughter who is just about that age where they love love love princesses. She knows we go, and she wants to go to take her DD before she gets too much older. I was trying to be encouraging yet easy-going and the first thing she said to me was, "The lines, I hate the lines, I'm not spending money to stand in lines." Then I told her about FP+ and she seemed visibly relieved that she could preschedule at least 3 attractions a day. Then I told her about character meals to meet characters without standing in line and she was even more excited.

Anyway, long story short, I do think that there are going to be a lot of first-timers who are going to like FP+.

 

[peyjax]

I have a theory. Many of you will hate it. My theory is as follows: people on this board like to be "insiders". They like to be the people who have gamed the system, who have figured out all the tricks. They figured out when to get to the parks, which attractions to sprint to, and how to collect the maximum number of fastpasses.

Now, Disney has taken away your well-crafted little system. You still get to go on the rides, but now it looks like you'll have to wait like everybody else who didn't know all your tricks. Now, with MDE, you're getting the exact same number of fastpasses as every Joe Schmoe from Idaho.

Yes, your "specialness" is gone. And as of now you may not get to go on as many rides as you do, because being a Disney know-it-all doesn't get you what it used to. But you know what? It looks like Joe Schmoe is going to love this system. According to some posts in this thread, Joe was so dumb he used to buy park tickets, go to the park, and then wander around without even going on any rides. Now, Joe has been told that there are RIDES he can go on, and he can even reserve them ahead of time!

That's how it's supposed to work, and I think it's why a lot of people are mad. Here's a big tip, though, Disney insiders: the new system is WAY more complex than a Fastpass-. The Fastpass- was a little trashcan looking thing - put your ticket in, get free pass. It was about as simple as it gets. And yet Joe Schmoe never figured it out. YOU figured it out, and every time you walked into a Fastpass return line, you saw Joe and thousands of his buddies in the standby line. Many of you even chortled when you heard Joe make snide remarks like "I wish I was rich enough to afford to go in that line."

If Joe couldn't figure out the old system - put in ticket, get pass - how in the world is he supposed to figure out a multi-tiered, strangely restricted, internet-based reservation system?

If YOU, the Disney planning maniac, are hesitant to plan your fastpasses, how do you think Joe feels? If Joe couldn't be bothered to figure out fastpass-, is he really going to be on MDE planning his multi-tiered rides several months out?

For starters, something like 20% of Americans don't use the Internet. None of those people will have FP+. Another LARGE chunk does minimal research, and won't be bothered to learn stuff like this. Another chunk will learn a little, but won't plan nearly as far ahead. If you're reading this, you're already way ahead of the curve.

Yes, it's new. But it's a whole new system to figure out - a whole new game plan will be needed. But in time, and with some thought, effort, and experience, you'll be running rings around Joe again.

I can see where you are coming from, however like the pp mentioned I don't think this is about us having "insiders" knowledge. I know lots of people who love Disney and know tons about it and never get on boards like this and they are all a buzz with what Disney is doing. Trying to change the way people vacation there. So no I do not walk through the lines like we are special. The question is how many JOE SHCMOES as you put it can they convince to schedule their vacation cause I would venture to say if you polled the general population they would look at you like you are crazy. You schedule Doctors appt. not when to ride some spinning tea cups. IF they do convince them then how do they get them to become repeaters? Will the rides lines be interactive with the bands? HMM all things being discussed here!

Just like you though, that is my opinion and that is why many of us sit back and watch with anticipation because many of us do not believe that it can be pulled off in the current state or the state that it has been proposed. So we wait to see if it is working or if they are changing its orginal format. It is not because I am losing my specialness

 

[Magpie]

you can't listen to main stream media...especially when they get all piranha-like about something.

Kind of like Reddit, 4Chan, any internet community anywhere... and the DisBoards.

Again w the taking and giving. Disney is not taking from or giving to anyone.

If I go to McDonalds and 1 of the 2 lanes is under construction - and it costs me an extra half hour - do I have recourse? No-- I can choose not to go.

If I go to McDonalds and an offering I've come to love and expect every time I go there is no longer there like say... the Big Mac Snack Wrap - do I have recourse? No-- I can buy what they're offering or I can choose to leave.

This is the situation we face w Disney. Disney is no longer offering their old FP system. Accept it. Figure out how to work w/in the new system. If you can't, or don't want to, don't. Don't go at all if it really erks you.

But I don't think it's right to liken Disney to thieves in this case, taking from someone and giving to someone else. Disney is simply trying to maximize their profit. We cannot fault them for that because Disney being profitable is what makes for their ability to keep growing.

As much as the lack of info out there on how FP+'s will work is annoying, I understand why Disney is not dishing the deets so to speak. I will find a way to make it work. So far the real info I've gotten out here has been extremely helpful.

Excellent analogy!

Yes, it's new. But it's a whole new system to figure out - a whole new game plan will be needed. But in time, and with some thought, effort, and experience, you'll be running rings around Joe again.

Josh's latest post at easywdw.com is a great start on this.

He's currently recommending that if you use the tiered system of FP+, that you split up the two sides of FutureWorld in your touring plan. Arrive at rope drop and do one side, then use your FP+ to do the other side afterward.

No more running across the park from Test Track to Soarin'!

 

[Magpie]

2. Will holes in the schedule be filled? Will expletive stay in line instead of going to parades because their fastpass windows are then.

Um... expletive? What's expletive, besides being an oath or a swear word? Is your auto-correct having fun with you?

 

[clsteve]

Um... expletive? What's expletive, besides being an oath or a swear word? Is your auto-correct having fun with you?

Made perfect sense to me- I had the very same expletive run over my foot at MK with their ECV....

 

[Magpie]

Made perfect sense to me- I had the very same expletive run over my foot at MK with their ECV....

I'd understand if he was doing something worthy of being called an expletive. But all the poor guy is doing is choosing to go on a ride instead of see a parade!

How does that warrant being called an expletive? He's not even blowing bubbles in line!

 

[daytondisney]

I have a theory. Many of you will hate it. My theory is as follows: people on this board like to be "insiders". They like to be the people who have gamed the system, who have figured out all the tricks. They figured out when to get to the parks, which attractions to sprint to, and how to collect the maximum number of fastpasses.

Now, Disney has taken away your well-crafted little system. You still get to go on the rides, but now it looks like you'll have to wait like everybody else who didn't know all your tricks. Now, with MDE, you're getting the exact same number of fastpasses as every Joe Schmoe from Idaho.

Yes, your "specialness" is gone. And as of now you may not get to go on as many rides as you do, because being a Disney know-it-all doesn't get you what it used to. But you know what? It looks like Joe Schmoe is going to love this system. According to some posts in this thread, Joe was so dumb he used to buy park tickets, go to the park, and then wander around without even going on any rides. Now, Joe has been told that there are RIDES he can go on, and he can even reserve them ahead of time!

That's how it's supposed to work, and I think it's why a lot of people are mad. Here's a big tip, though, Disney insiders: the new system is WAY more complex than a Fastpass-. The Fastpass- was a little trashcan looking thing - put your ticket in, get free pass. It was about as simple as it gets. And yet Joe Schmoe never figured it out. YOU figured it out, and every time you walked into a Fastpass return line, you saw Joe and thousands of his buddies in the standby line. Many of you even chortled when you heard Joe make snide remarks like "I wish I was rich enough to afford to go in that line."

If Joe couldn't figure out the old system - put in ticket, get pass - how in the world is he supposed to figure out a multi-tiered, strangely restricted, internet-based reservation system?

If YOU, the Disney planning maniac, are hesitant to plan your fastpasses, how do you think Joe feels? If Joe couldn't be bothered to figure out fastpass-, is he really going to be on MDE planning his multi-tiered rides several months out?

For starters, something like 20% of Americans don't use the Internet. None of those people will have FP+. Another LARGE chunk does minimal research, and won't be bothered to learn stuff like this. Another chunk will learn a little, but won't plan nearly as far ahead. If you're reading this, you're already way ahead of the curve.

Yes, it's new. But it's a whole new system to figure out - a whole new game plan will be needed. But in time, and with some thought, effort, and experience, you'll be running rings around Joe again.

I think you're about spot on with analysis of the "insiders." Since everybody has the opportunity to be an insider, the thinking goes, why should Disney do anything to enhance the experience of Joe, who wants to sleep.

Now, if the Joes all took the insiders' advice, we'd be having another discussion about how Disney needed to fix the early morning crowd situation. They might decide that Disney could offer Joe a later guaranteed ride time so he would stay in bed and out of the park during the morning rush...oh, wait.

I do think that FP+ and MDE is a sign that Disney recognizes that for the majority of its guests, its the overall experience that counts - and headliner attractions/rides are just a part of that.

IMO, from a micro perspective, Disney thinks more individual guests experiencing the headliner attractions will be an overall good thing. ("Deep down, you want me on that ride! You need me on that ride!")

From a macro perspective, FP+ is just one facet of what Disney hopes to build with MDE.

BTW, while 20% of Americans might not use the internet, that number is probably going to be much lower in the subset that is planning travel. And with the price and availability of smart phones to a

 

[daytondisney]

He's currently recommending that if you use the tiered system of FP+, that you split up the two sides of FutureWorld in your touring plan. Arrive at rope drop and do one side, then use your FP+ to do the other side afterward.

No more running across the park from Test Track to Soarin'!

But what about the days when I could arrive at rope drop and ride each 6 times?

 

[AmyB2006]

Everyone I talk to who has already been there a few times (but who doesn't post on message boards at least that I know of LOL) hates the idea of FP+, especially the 3-a-day limit.

See and most of the people I've talked to, that have been a few times, love the idea of FP+.

I think it's in how you present the idea or bring it up. If you are negative about it when you bring it up and only bring up the negatives about it, then it's easier for people to jump on that bandwagon.

I, otoh, am excited when I bring it up and talk about it, so people get excited with me and say "yeah that sounds great".

KWIM?

 

[clsteve]

I'd understand if he was doing something worthy of being called an expletive. But all the poor guy is doing is choosing to go on a ride instead of see a parade!

How does that warrant being called an expletive? He's not even blowing bubbles in line!

Exactly, and he was still nice enough to glare at me when I said "Have a nice day!"

 

[daytondisney]

Everyone I talk to who has already been there a few times (but who doesn't post on message boards at least that I know of LOL) hates the idea of FP+, especially the 3-a-day limit.

On the flip side of this, I do think that the first-timer reaction to it is going to be more positive.

I was talking to someone just this week who had never been to Disney, minus one quick day trip 20 years ago. Anyway, she has a daughter who is just about that age where they love love love princesses. She knows we go, and she wants to go to take her DD before she gets too much older. I was trying to be encouraging yet easy-going and the first thing she said to me was, "The lines, I hate the lines, I'm not spending money to stand in lines." Then I told her about FP+ and she seemed visibly relieved that she could preschedule at least 3 attractions a day. Then I told her about character meals to meet characters without standing in line and she was even more excited.

Anyway, long story short, I do think that there are going to be a lot of first-timers who are going to like FP+.

I had the same experience this past weekend with our neighbors who are taking 2 young daughters. They are planners, just like me, but the things they want to do are nothing like the things my 2 boys want to do.

It occurred to me that Disney has had to offer a product that satisfied my wife and I visiting with:

no kids
1 kid (4)
1.9 kids (5)
2 kids (2&6) + grandparents
2 kids (7&11) + grands + dad post knee replacement

Oh, while satisfying millions of others of varying demographic, nationality and socioeconomic conditions...over a course of time that saw great national wealth building and destruction, terrorist attacks and wars.

I give them a sold A-

 

[Magpie]

But what about the days when I could arrive at rope drop and ride each 6 times?

Those days are gone. Mourn them and move on!

Actually, seriously, I'm really intrigued by the idea of not running to the headliners and crisscrossing the park. I'm having fantasies right now of arriving at Rope Drop (because we're early risers, so we can't help being early) and strolling into Future World at a nice leisurely pace, riding Sum of All Thrills, checking out Turtle Talk, going for a spin on Imagination, then moseying over to my FP+ for Soarin', followed by Living with the Land...

And no lines for anything!

I can't wait for our December trip. Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!

 

[daytondisney]

See and most of the people I've talked to, that have been a few times, love the idea of FP+.

I think it's in how you present the idea or bring it up. If you are negative about it when you bring it up and only bring up the negatives about it, then it's easier for people to jump on that bandwagon.

I, otoh, am excited when I bring it up and talk about it, so people get excited with me and say "yeah that sounds great".

KWIM?

Or a third group: Ran into friends at Epcot on each of our's 4th day (neither family knew the other was going - cue "It's A Small World"). We ate lunch together and it was clear that everyone was having a good time. I saw they were wearing MBs and I asked them how they liked FP+ (it was open to all resort guests). They shrugged, "What's that?"

'nuff said

 

[Angel Ariel]

See and most of the people I've talked to, that have been a few times, love the idea of FP+.

I think it's in how you present the idea or bring it up. If you are negative about it when you bring it up and only bring up the negatives about it, then it's easier for people to jump on that bandwagon.

I, otoh, am excited when I bring it up and talk about it, so people get excited with me and say "yeah that sounds great".

KWIM?

I think that CAN happen, but I don't think it's always the case. As soon as I mentioned to my parents the idea of planning rides before they got there, their reaction was that is too much to plan too far out. I didn't go into negatives, I just presented the idea of pre-scheduling rides.

There are many people out there who may be "planners" who have no desire to plan down to the hour what ride they are going to be on on what day.

 

[AmyB2006]

I think that CAN happen, but I don't think it's always the case. As soon as I mentioned to my parents the idea of planning rides before they got there, their reaction was that is too much to plan too far out. I didn't go into negatives, I just presented the idea of pre-scheduling rides.

There are many people out there who may be "planners" who have no desire to plan down to the hour what ride they are going to be on on what day.

Well, it's definitely not for everybody, and I get that.

 

[aubriee]

Those days are gone. Mourn them and move on!

Actually, seriously, I'm really intrigued by the idea of not running to the headliners and crisscrossing the park. I'm having fantasies right now of arriving at Rope Drop (because we're early risers, so we can't help being early) and strolling into Future World at a nice leisurely pace, riding Sum of All Thrills, checking out Turtle Talk, going for a spin on Imagination, then moseying over to my FP+ for Soarin', followed by Living with the Land...

And no lines for anything!

I can't wait for our December trip. Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!

We'll also be there in Dec and we are the opposite. We are dreading our Dec trip and would cancel if we could. Unfortunately it is too late, due to airfare, renting the condo, etc. We are staying offsite at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, so didn't have the access to FP+ that you did. We are stuck having to get to the parks at rope drop and hoping and praying that there might be some regular fast passes available for us to ride Soarin. While you are using your FP+ options we will be stuck in long lines, just because we chose to stay offsite and booked last year before all this FP+ crap rolled out. As annual passholders we feel like we wasted our money this year, but at the same time want to get something out of our APs. If we had known then what we know now, we would not have bothered getting APs last spring.

 

[ArwenMarie]

We'll also be there in Dec and we are the opposite. We are dreading our Dec trip and would cancel if we could. Unfortunately it is too late, due to airfare, renting the condo, etc. We are staying offsite at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, so didn't have the access to FP+ that you did. We are stuck having to get to the parks at rope drop and hoping and praying that there might be some regular fast passes available for us to ride Soarin. While you are using your FP+ options we will be stuck in long lines, just because we chose to stay offsite and booked last year before all this FP+ crap rolled out. As annual passholders we feel like we wasted our money this year, but at the same time want to get something out of our APs. If we had known then what we know now, we would not have bothered getting APs last spring.

I'm sorry. That just stinks.

Would it be worth buying a Pop reservation for one night at the front and see if that triggers MBs and FPs?

 

[Magpie]

We'll also be there in Dec and we are the opposite. We are dreading our Dec trip and would cancel if we could. Unfortunately it is too late, due to airfare, renting the condo, etc. We are staying offsite at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, so didn't have the access to FP+ that you did. We are stuck having to get to the parks at rope drop and hoping and praying that there might be some regular fast passes available for us to ride Soarin. While you are using your FP+ options we will be stuck in long lines, just because we chose to stay offsite and booked last year before all this FP+ crap rolled out. As annual passholders we feel like we wasted our money this year, but at the same time want to get something out of our APs. If we had known then what we know now, we would not have bothered getting APs last spring.

I'm sorry you're having problems!

Depending on when you're visiting, you should be able to avoid most of the long lines just by using the old, tried-and-true, rope drop strategies. And I'm at least one guest who won't be in line ahead of you!

Also, you should be able to make FP+ the day of, at one of the in-park kiosks.

Or alternatively, you can book a single night at one of the All-Stars for under a hundred dollars, and get FP+ and MagicBands for your entire trip. Presently, I can book FP+ for any day I like, even outside my resort stay.

 

[daytondisney]

We'll also be there in Dec and we are the opposite. We are dreading our Dec trip and would cancel if we could. Unfortunately it is too late, due to airfare, renting the condo, etc. We are staying offsite at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, so didn't have the access to FP+ that you did. We are stuck having to get to the parks at rope drop and hoping and praying that there might be some regular fast passes available for us to ride Soarin. While you are using your FP+ options we will be stuck in long lines, just because we chose to stay offsite and booked last year before all this FP+ crap rolled out. As annual passholders we feel like we wasted our money this year, but at the same time want to get something out of our APs. If we had known then what we know now, we would not have bothered getting APs last spring.

We did Epcot (offsite) during the week that FP+ was available to all resort guests. Oldest son and I ran to TT while wife, other son and grandparents wnet into Spaceship Earth.

We didn't like the return time for FP- for TT, so we walked to Soarin' and got FPs for late. Turned out that only 2 of us actually rode due to conflict with light show. Gave other 4 FPs to family that was heading into standby.

Had our group been together at start, or split and gone to both headliners, we could have gotten FP- for either headliner and waited about 30 minutes standby for the other.

Not the optimal experience, I know, but maybe a way to salvage that day.

 

[daytondisney]

I'm sorry you're having problems!

Depending on when you're visiting, you should be able to avoid most of the long lines just by using the old, tried-and-true, rope drop strategies. And I'm at least one guest who won't be in line ahead of you!

Also, you should be able to make FP+ the day of, at one of the in-park kiosks.

Or alternatively, you can book a single night at one of the All-Stars for under a hundred dollars, and get FP+ and MagicBands for your entire trip. Presently, I can book FP+ for any day I like, even outside my resort stay.

Told wife that this will be our strategy if FP+ is not made available to non-resort guest (unlikely). Heck, if it's during free dining, I might even contemplate paying for value everyday, given that the $100 daily addition to my pool house rate still brings me in >$1,000 under similar resort accommodations. Maybe actually visit the resort and dirty up the room just for the heck of it.