Is it just me???

[cccory]

Is it just me or is Disney becoming so confusing? Having to plan everything before you go is driving me insane. Having to know which park you want to do each day, the time you want to be there, having to plan off days, picking out your fast passes, then reading on this board that they are going to let you get a 4th, 5th and 6th fast pass once you use your 3.
How do you know these things if you don't read these boards? Do they tell you this while you are at Disney? I can see us using our 3 fass passes, then calling it a day. Not knowing we can go to the kiosk and get another one.
And then on top of this detail planning, I still have to take care of things at home. Packing up the kids things, planning food and meals, figuring out what to do with the pets.
I guess the days of just going to Disney and acting on impulse is going to be a thing of the pass.
How is everyone handling this without going insane? How do you know that you have ALL the information that is out there?

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

I went in March and felt the same way, but then it was super easy to change out FP's..... The day of.....

But not sure how that will be once everyone starts getting 4 and 5 or 6. We went a really busy week too and MK had the best selection. Of course, tsm and Soarin FP and TT were not available the day of when we went.

 

[ferd]

I get what you're saying, but having gone to Disney a lot in the last several months, (AP and live locally) they really are doing a lot to try to educate people about the changes. While riding on the tram from the parking lot, they mention it, there are CMS handing out the FP+ flyers, they are also flyers available with the maps. There are tons of CMs with signs and iPads and sandwich boards talking about FP+ and nearly every attraction now has a FP+ return line and sign so it would be kind of hard to miss the recent changes to the fast pass system.

 

[BelleKer]

The hotels are also informing guests of the Fast Pass bands. There is a flyer with your check-in information when you check into a resort.

I love FP+ have taken many visits with it (including during testing phases), and have not had any problems.

 

[cccory]

Oh, perfect! I'm glad to hear that they are spreading the word around at the parks in several ways. I was afraid that I was going to miss something, and end up having a more stressful day than needed.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

My advice to friends/family who don't "know" about Disney is plan, plan, plan but once you get there, let things happen as they happen.

- Plan what park what day
- If you have the Disney Dining plan or want a particular sit down and/or character meal - get an advance reservation/ADR for it based on what day you are in that park

Those to me are the two important things. Have in mind what are must do's - rides, parades, shows but keep in mind that if the line for that thing is extra long then come back to it. Once you are ON VACATION, keep in mind you are on vacation and let the magic happen. All your over planning will make you ready but go with the flow attitude once your there will save your sanity.

 

[kaybird]

People learn what they want to learn. Our last trip before FP- was done, still heard people talk about there being a charge for it. You can still plan as much or little as you choose, just more opportunity now for those who preplan. And still great for us who love the last minute trips!

 

[imprimouse]

agree with the above post.
WDW covers the same area as a large US city, you can visit one without plans, but you wont get much done. Pick your park days, ADRs, and now your first 3 FP- but stop & smell the roses too.

 

[FPminusCommando]

I have a feeling us Commandos are in a stage of confusion that will settle out in the next few months and certainly by this point in 2015 once a full year of data is in. Before FP+ I figured I had the FP- system wired and hardly ever waited in line more then 15 minutes during a week of spring break touring. Now...

Things that Have Not Changed:
- You still should plan which park you will attend each day. No change.
- You still should plan your ADR's months in advance. No change.

The Big Questions:
- Are you hosed if you don't plan your FP+ 60 days out?
- How should you incorporate 4th and beyond FP+'s into touring plans from touringplans.com?

The anecdotal evidence of recent weeks is that for Anna and Elsa, plan your FP+ 60 days out. But plenty of people are posting this week they are getting choice FP+ reservations while in the park. But the crowds in the last week have been medium level. I am hoping touringplans.com / Unofficial Guide will create a chart showing how far out you need to plan FP+ for each attraction, just like they do for ADR's at each restaurant. It might reduce stress levels.

Regarding my second question, my FP- strategy was to closely follow a touringplans.com plan in the morning, but ad-lib in the afternoon based on what FP's I had and to use the Lines app 'optimize' function. I believe the same will apply with the new FP+ system.

 

[mickey&minnie04]

I don't really know how to describe our Disney "style". We always make ADR's and then the kind of dictates what park we are in and when. We are hoppers.....it's not uncommon for us to do all 4 in one day ( it's just the 2 of us )! But I think this new system is forcing us to plan more and I'm not sure I like that .....I like taking it easy and go with the flow...it has always worked well for us in the past. Our trip in Nov/Dec will be our test!