Just back (5/23/14). LOVE me some FastPass+!!!!

[ampersand]

Hey godchaser, since you did fantasmic dinner package, is seating on the right where it used to be? Or is it in the center dead on with the stage? How early did you pop in there to get your seats?

 

[kayjaybe]

Sounds great...it's definitely a Resort that we are considering for our next stay. How was the ice cream from Beaches And Cream, btw?

The sundaes are huge. Even a single scoop is quite generous. But I was surprised they didn't have a ton of flavors. I would think something that is primarily an ice cream shop would have had a lot more flavors. There was your standard vanilla, choc, straw and then a couple more, I think, but not many.

For your dollar, I would say the sundaes are way more worth it than that huge kitchen sink. That would become a soggy, melty mess before my family could dent it, but a 2-3-scoop sundae is plenty for 1-2 people and less than 1/3 the price of that kitchen sink.

 

[godchaser]

Ampersand, the Fantasmic Package seating is in the middle sections. We walked in about 8:45 and gave our seating vouchers to the castmember at the reserved section and sat right down about 5 rows from the front, IT WAS GREAT!!!

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

My family of four just returned from 7 days and 7 nights at WDW. We stayed at Coronado Springs for the second time in 4 years and we still love it, they have queen beds and have the most convenient/quickest bus routes. We requested a room close to bus stop 2 since it's the first stop for bus drop off in the evenings and we got it. Our Magic Bands worked great and FastPass+ was awesome. We weren't rushing all over the parks trying to hit rides and juggle old FastPasses, we hit already reserved FP+ rides in the morning and then added extra FP+ rides once our 3 were done. We had the Dining Plan and Magic Bands worked great for that as well. Weather was awesome, low 80's until last day when it hit 92. Flower & Garden Festival was cool. Crowds were larger than expected, not as bad later in the week though. For our family we think 7 days is too long for us, we we're wore slap out and dragging the last day. We have reservations to go back this December for 5 days/nights since they are offering free dining; thinking about staying at Caribbean Beach Resort. We're grateful for a wonderful and safe trip.

~Yay! Thanks so much this amazing review! It sounds like you had a fabulous time at Disney!

~I totally agree with you! I *LOVE* me some FP+, too!!!

~One of these days, I am going to have to check out the Flower & Garden Festival -- it all just looks so beautiful!

Thanks for the FP+ report---- It's nice to hear as opposed to the past slamming.
We knew they would work this out.

~LOL. Of course, we knew! Even I, am just taken aback with the overwhelming amount of positive reviews.

~Brand new posters and people who barely post here, were kind enough to report back with glowing reviews of FP+ and have already *mastered* this system. I am truly impressed! I cannot wait for our WDW trip!

 

[sonofanarchy]

~Brand new posters and people who barely post here, were kind enough to report back with glowing reviews of FP+ and have already *mastered* this system. I am truly impressed! I cannot wait for our WDW trip!

I'll feel much better once people who post here quite often and who are park commandos post that the system works well. Although, my confidence has grown in recent weeks, most of the positive reviews are still from people who say "We still got to hit a good number of rides." As someone who likes to do everything, I want to hear from those people.

 

[rastuso]

I'll feel much better once people who post here quite often and who are park commandos post that the system works well. Although, my confidence has grown in recent weeks, most of the positive reviews are still from people who say "We still got to hit a good number of rides." As someone who likes to do everything, I want to hear from those people.

Exactly. EVERY pro FP+ post includes most of the following:

- We really didn't need FPs for a lot of rides
- We liked being able to relax and just ride our prebooked FP+ rides
- AK was dead late in the day
- We really got to soak in everything this time, Carousel of Progress really holds up well!
- We were there when school was still in session, but I'm sure that had nothing to do with how well FP+ worked for us
- No waits were unusual, we always wait 30 minutes for Pirates in mid May
- We got 8 FP+ one day, proving how awesome FP+ is, and no the massive rain storm had nothing to do with it

And the ever popular
- We got to sleep in and STILL ride TSMM!!!!!!!!

-Jason

 

[michsig]

Glad you had a great time!

 

[Mome Rath]

My family of four just returned from 7 days and 7 nights at WDW. We stayed at Coronado Springs for the second time in 4 years and we still love it, they have queen beds and have the most convenient/quickest bus routes. We requested a room close to bus stop 2 since it's the first stop for bus drop off in the evenings and we got it. Our Magic Bands worked great and FastPass+ was awesome. We weren't rushing all over the parks trying to hit rides and juggle old FastPasses, we hit already reserved FP+ rides in the morning and then added extra FP+ rides once our 3 were done. We had the Dining Plan and Magic Bands worked great for that as well. Weather was awesome, low 80's until last day when it hit 92. Flower & Garden Festival was cool. Crowds were larger than expected, not as bad later in the week though. For our family we think 7 days is too long for us, we we're wore slap out and dragging the last day. We have reservations to go back this December for 5 days/nights since they are offering free dining; thinking about staying at Caribbean Beach Resort. We're grateful for a wonderful and safe trip.

Awesome! Glad your trip went well!

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

I'll feel much better once people who post here quite often and who are park commandos post that the system works well. Although, my confidence has grown in recent weeks, most of the positive reviews are still from people who say "We still got to hit a good number of rides." As someone who likes to do everything, I want to hear from those people.

~LOL. Who could that be?!? I've seen several reports from DIS veterans who have multiple successful trips using FP+ under their belt.

~Just remember, that some of the biggest critics of FP+ have tens of thousands of posts and have *never* used the system or visited the parks.

~They give plenty of sound advice based solely upon what they have gleaned from others. There is certainly nothing wrong with this, as help is help -- but I will always weight the opinion of someone who actually used the system over someone who hasn't.

~Frankly, no one here can tell you that you will not have a fabulous vacation at Disney -- as if they somehow could. If someone attempts to tell you that, it should give you reason for pause -- they don't know you.

~Human nature, in and of itself is a paradox -- we are living, breathing contradictions. We say one thing and do another -- or think we will like this but end up loving that! No one can predict this for you -- sometimes, not even you.

~I remember going to DHS, I couldn't wait to ride TSMM and see F! -- but, I was totally wowed by the new Star Tours, lol!

~Some people will *never* except FP+ because the old fp allowed you to use your fastpass anytime you wanted -- it's so obvious they will never get over that. They just won't -- so be very careful who you listen to.

~I ran around all day from machine to machine collecting fp's to hoard until they quickly ran out and I would always end up giving some if not most away.

~Just go in with realistic expectations, FP+ is not perfect but neither was Legacy FP. For me, legacy fp was pedestrian and quite limiting, that's why so many people ignored the return window and used them at a time that was better for their touring style.

~Here are two, almost identical trip reports from posters that have already mastered the new FP+ system -- it is truly astonishing. Both of them were kind enough to share their findings in detail here.

--->~I'm officially a convert to FP+~<---

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)

--->~Magical Day in MK Using 10 Fastpasses~<---

Pre-booked Fastpasses

Space Mountain: 10:35-11:35
Peter Pan: 11:55-12:55
Anna and Elsa: 1:25-2:25

How the Day Played Out:

8:10: Arrive and enter the park, wait about six rows back from the front of the line

8:45: Opening show

8:50: First Rope Drop: Proceed to rope drop at Frontierland

9:00 Frontierland Rope Drop: Proceed to Big Mountain Thunder Railroad

9:00-9:15: Ride BTMR twice (allowed to reride without getting off)

9:15-9:40: Ride Splash Mountain – Walk On

9:45: Ride Haunted Mansion – Walk On

10:03: Ride IASW – 2 minute wait

10:15-10:45: Walk to Space Mountain, ride standby (10 minute posted wait, actual wait 5 minutes), ride again using FP

10:55: Meet Stitch in Fantasyland, 10 minute wait

11:10: Eat lunch at Cosmic Ray’s

11:45-12:20 Monster’s Laugh Factory & Peter Pan with FP

12:25-1:20: Mickey’s Philiharmagic, Meet Donald and Goofy, Play in Water at Casey Jr., Get Drinks and Shacks

1:20: Anna & Elsa & Sleeping Beauty with FP

Now begins the use of the extra FPs, Kiosk Wait 5-8 minutes

1:49: FP for Barnstormer for 1:50-2:50. Immediately ride. Told no FP available for Rapzunel/Cinderella M&G or Ariel’s Grotto M&G. Barnstormer Standby Wait is 35 minutes

2:05: FP for Dumbo for 2:20-3:20. Ride at 2:15. Dumbo Standy Wait is 60 minutes.

2:30: FP for Winnie the Pooh for 2:50-3:50. Ride at 3:00. Rejected FP for Under the Sea at 4:50. Winnie the Pooh Standby Wait is 45 minutes.

2:30-2:55: Meet Minnie Mouse and Daisy

3:12: FP for Pirates of the Carribean for 3:20-4:20. Ride at 3:30. POTC Standby Wait is 35 minutes.

3:50: FP for Jungle Cruise for 4:25-5:25. Ride at 4:40. Standby Wait is 35 minutes.

3:50-4:40: Get Ice Cream, Meet Tinkerbell & Fawn

5:00: FP for Buzz Lightyear for 5:15-6:15. Ride at 5:10. Inquired about FP for Mickey’s Townhall, but earliest available was 8:10, which I rejected. Standby Wait for Buzz is 30 minutes.

5:25: FP for Rapzunel and Cinderella for 9:20-10:20. Not available when I asked at 1:49.

5:30: Ride PeopleMover, Walk On

5:40: Astro Orbiter Standby, 15 minute wait

6:10: Mickey Town Hall Standby, 40 minute wait

7:00: Ride Train to Frontierland

7:20: BTMR Standby, posted wait 20 minutes, actual wait 10 minutes

7:40-8:05: Kill time before dinner reservations, Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse

8:05-9:15: Dinner at Crystal Palace, Meet Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, & Eeyore

9:20: Rapzunel & Cinderella FP. Standby Wait is 45 minutes.

9:40: Under the Sea – Walk On

9:55: Ariel’s Grotto – Meet Ariel, nobody in line before us

10:00: Based on a CM’s recommendation, watch Fireworks from Gaston’s Tavern. This is a GREAT place to watch the fireworks. Plus, you can grab a stool from outside the tavern and sit in a seat while watching the fireworks.

10:20: Barnstormer -- Walk On

10:30-11:00: Ride Space Mountain Standby Twice

11:00: Electrical Parade

~I found these reports to be incredibly helpful -- I hope it can help you, too. Have fun!

 

[popeboy]

For what it's worth, we were just there from 5/13 to 5/22 and I found my first experience with FP+ to be very similar to what we got in the past with the old fast pass system.
The trade off that I noticed most was...

Positive:
-You didn't have to constantly run across the park to get to the kiosk for the next ride fast pass you wanted.

-Your first 3 fast passes are already set.

Negative:
-Ride tiering at Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Since both parks have only 2 or 3 majorly sought after rides, when you pick one you really have to do the other at rope drop or plan on staying at that park all day because by the time you have burned your first 3 FP+ the fourth time window you get (if it is one of the top tier rides) is going to be much later.

The system worked best at Magic Kingdom where there are a lot more rides and everyone's choice is much more spread out.

Take in to account that we went in May so this probably doesn't apply to summertime trips. On the other hand, we have always gone either in May or October since I have never been interested in fighting the huge crowds and extreme heat.

Overall we enjoyed the new system and always got anywhere from 5 to 9 fastpasses each day. The only time we got fastpasses and felt the weren't needed when we got to the ride were 5th, 6th 7th, whatever... that we booked from the kiosks and fell towards park closing times.

Also as point of reference for my experience, we did rope drop every day that we went to a park and we have two boys who are 7 and 9 this year, so they like to go ride to ride whenever possible.