Just back - a WDW vet take on DL/DCA

[cmph]

I'm with you on FP+, OP, and I think the key is the kid-issue. I don't know how I'd feel about it if we were pre-kids, or they were teenagers or out of the house. Being the FP runner wasn't my favorite thing in the crowds, in general, but it's really really not fun if your kids are different ages / heights / adventure levels but out of strollers. It is far easier to book FP+ with different rides for various family members - with the same return time. Then there is no runner doing double-duty, plus there is a lot less confusion about splitting up b/c we all know exactly where we're supposed to be and when. I get why the lack of flexibility bothers people. But fp+ is more efficient for folks with kids who can't run all over as easily.

 

[Meldev]

Loved this review - we're definitely going to miss the sitting down and people watching / ambience absorbing we do at WDW it seems. Though i did reserve Carnation Cafe for an early dinner one night so hopefully we'll get a table outside to take it all in.

And we are fans of FP+ for similar reasons. I also love knowing that if nothing else I've got 3 rides secured.

But I'm glad to hear the lines may be shorter! And just excited about the new experience!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Wind and fireworks cancellations are tricky at DLR. It can feel completely calm at street level with the buildings and the tress blocking things but be too windy up higher. They send a balloon up shortly before the fireworks to test the wind at the higher elevations. With the freeway and residential right there, it doesn't take much for the fire marshall to make them cancel. Sometimes there's really no notice either...

This is correct -- the decision to cancel fireworks is based on the wind speed at higher elevations, not wind speed at ground level. With Disneyland Forever shooting off pyrotechnics at lower than usual levels (from the castle and Matterhorn), wind safety is a bigger issue than with other shows in the past. Disneyland will wait until the literal last minute to see if the show can possibly go on (this is why sometimes there is no advance notice). Plus, there is a time window within which they can shoot off the fireworks because the show has to be finished by a certain time in consideration of the surrounding residential neighborhoods. That is why sometimes the show will go on late -- if the wind speed lessens just enough and they are still within the allowed time window, the show will still go on. Disney doesn't want to cancel the show unless they have to. Obeying the fire marshall and putting safety first shouldn't make them the bad guys.

On our last trip they canceled fireworks in the middle of the show, which was a major letdown. I feel even worse for those who wait to get a good a good spot in the hub.

This probably happened because the wind speed picked up during the show. It might have lessened just enough to start the show, but once the speed was over the limit, they had to stop the show. Disney is a powerful company, but evey they can't control the weather!

 

[hjgaus]

Thanks for the report!

Going in 2 weeks can't wait! And it was nice to read this review.

I have a feeling we are going to miss FP+ too my husband has asked about it already and even asked if they would have people scheduling them... (We went during a FP+ test and you could schedule as you enter with a CM).... I have a feeling he is not going to like no FP+....I think I will miss it as well! But time will tell I guess

I think DL is suppose to start their new version of Fast Pass + in September where there is no more paper & no runner person needed. Although if it doesn't begin around the time you are there you may be fine without it cuz it could be not very crowded.

 

[Westcoastwild]

This is correct -- the decision to cancel fireworks is based on the wind speed at higher elevations, not wind speed at ground level. With Disneyland Forever shooting off pyrotechnics at lower than usual levels (from the castle and Matterhorn), wind safety is a bigger issue than with other shows in the past. Disneyland will wait until the literal last minute to see if the show can possibly go on (this is why sometimes there is no advance notice). Plus, there is a time window within which they can shoot off the fireworks because the show has to be finished by a certain time in consideration of the surrounding residential neighborhoods. That is why sometimes the show will go on late -- if the wind speed lessens just enough and they are still within the allowed time window, the show will still go on. Disney doesn't want to cancel the show unless they have to. Obeying the fire marshall and putting safety first shouldn't make them the bad guys.



This probably happened because the wind speed picked up during the show. It might have lessened just enough to start the show, but once the speed was over the limit, they had to stop the show. Disney is a powerful company, but evey they can't control the weather!

The difference in the show makes sense. I had wondered about it- I went last year, no fireworks, but we saw them every night on the trip 10 years before that. I figured the main difference was the level of drought in CA recently- the water features at DL actually felt a little obscene with how much conservation I saw elsewhere.

I really, really hope DL goes with a form of the fast pass plus!! I don't have small kids but totally agree with what you think. The paper system doesn't work with my style. And I just don't bother mostly.

 

[NJlauren]

I think DL is suppose to start their new version of Fast Pass + in September where there is no more paper & no runner person needed. Although if it doesn't begin around the time you are there you may be fine without it cuz it could be not very crowded.

Would be a nice surprise if we got to test it! If not we will make do, and to be honest only a hand full of rides we are going to ride have FP anyway! Hoping your right on the crowds..... But I'm still worried on that front!

 

[mom2rtk]

I think DL is suppose to start their new version of Fast Pass + in September where there is no more paper & no runner person needed. Although if it doesn't begin around the time you are there you may be fine without it cuz it could be not very crowded.

I had heard they were going to start sometime this year, but haven't heard anything since then. September would not surprise me at all, but I'm curious where you heard that?

 

[Frozen2014]

I'm with you on FP+, OP, and I think the key is the kid-issue. I don't know how I'd feel about it if we were pre-kids, or they were teenagers or out of the house. Being the FP runner wasn't my favorite thing in the crowds, in general, but it's really really not fun if your kids are different ages / heights / adventure levels but out of strollers. It is far easier to book FP+ with different rides for various family members - with the same return time. Then there is no runner doing double-duty, plus there is a lot less confusion about splitting up b/c we all know exactly where we're supposed to be and when. I get why the lack of flexibility bothers people. But fp+ is more efficient for folks with kids who can't run all over as easily.

I have yet to try the Disneyland paper fast passes, but I too am in the club that really liked the FP+ system at WDW. I'm a planner (even for DL, we are looking at going next August, but I"m on the boards now...lol), and I loved the fact that we already had 3 Fast Passes booked before we even entered the park...and the fact that we could select our times (within availability) is a bonus too. I do wonder how I'll enjoy the paper ones having to first go to the ride....then pick a paper and return when it tells us. Better than nothing but this seems more like a pain.

 

[mom2rtk]

Lots of reasons why I love DL paper fastpasses. But I suppose one of the reasons I love them I guess is because others don't want to bother to go get them, so they stay available most of the day. I really think that once that barrier is removed we'll all be shocked at how fast they disappear.

I'm also very concerned about how any Disney IT system can withstand the simultaneous hit from so many people when the parks open for the day.

 

[cmph]

Lots of reasons why I love DL paper fastpasses. But I suppose one of the reasons I love them I guess is because others don't want to bother to go get them, so they stay available most of the day. I really think that once that barrier is removed we'll all be shocked at how fast they disappear.

I'm also very concerned about how any Disney IT system can withstand the simultaneous hit from so many people when the parks open for the day.

Oh my gosh, yes, how true is that! We got I think our 3rd Big Thunder passes one day, with a return time about 30min into the future... and the stand-by line was 40min. We were just baffled. It doesn't seem possible that that many people are unaware of how to use them, but maybe there are? On top of those who don't want to be bothered.

 

[mom2rtk]

Oh my gosh, yes, how true is that! We got I think our 3rd Big Thunder passes one day, with a return time about 30min into the future... and the stand-by line was 40min. We were just baffled. It doesn't seem possible that that many people are unaware of how to use them, but maybe there are? On top of those who don't want to be bothered.

The easier it is to get them, the faster they will go.

 

[hjgaus]

Would be a nice surprise if we got to test it! If not we will make do, and to be honest only a hand full of rides we are going to ride have FP anyway! Hoping your right on the crowds..... But I'm still worried on that front!

Try not to worry & just enjoy the time you have at the very 1st official Disney Park!

 

[hjgaus]

I had heard they were going to start sometime this year, but haven't heard anything since then. September would not surprise me at all, but I'm curious where you heard that?

Some where here but it should not really matter when it begins just that it will someday soon! I will be there Nov. 2nd so I'll let you know then if it doesn't happen sooner than that!

 

[mom2rtk]

Some where here but it should not really matter when it begins just that it will someday soon! I will be there Nov. 2nd so I'll let you know then if it doesn't happen sooner than that!

I hope you'll let us know what you experience. We'll be going about 2 weeks after you. But I *might* be hoping it doesn't happen until after our trip.

 

[pbb322]

The easier it is to get them, the faster they will go.

I did think the same thing, once they are online they will probably go much faster in the day.

Glad you all find these thoughts helpful! My one other comment on paper FP - somehow during the day in the constant pulling the FPs and our tickets out of my pocket I lost 2 of our 3 WOC FPs and had to talk my way into bringing the three of us into the section with only one FP. I was super stressed about the kids disappointment if I had not been able to convince the person to let us all in. With FP+ and Magic Bands, that would not have been an issue!

Someone above asked about whether the PhotoPass+ was worth it given the lower number of photographers - we still bought the 7 day $99 package, largely because we wanted the ride photos and we did manage to find a couple of photographers who did magic shots. If you like the ride photos, you will definitely want the package as it is cheaper than buying them separately. But we never managed to find a photographer to do some of the shots I really wanted, like at the main entrance (they were only seen there early in the mornings), and of the probably 30 characters we met, only 11 had a photographer.

 

[wildflower329]

I definitely think the reason I like FP+ rather than paper FP is because we have small children. Most of the things they want to ride are available same day on FP+ if we decide to change, and having a FP "runner" does not always work for me because I am often in the park alone with two small kids that have to go everywhere I go since my husband is often back at the hotel working, playing golf or something else (he is not a huge fan of the parks). Maybe if the kids were older and I did not have to drag them along (or even better, could send a teenager), it would be great. It also really did not work when DD3 was back at the hotel taking a nap with Dad and I want to grab a FP for a ride that would happen after she was back from the nap since she and her ticket were outside the park so she could reenter with the ticket later - no ticket in hand, no FP, but with the FP+ app we never have this problem at WDW. Once they changed to let you schedule subsequent FP+s on your app after using your first 3 it was perfect, we could grab ones while sitting at the hotel during nap time and be able to go into the park and go straight to use a FP after naps.

Interesting! I have two young kids and can't even stand the thought of having to pre-plan our rides. We love being able to decide what we want to go on as we are there. It is part of why we haven't done DW. It may help that we spend 5 days in DL though, which gives us plenty of wiggle room.

 

[pbb322]

Interesting! I have two young kids and can't even stand the thought of having to pre-plan our rides. We love being able to decide what we want to go on as we are there. It is part of why we haven't done DW. It may help that we spend 5 days in DL though, which gives us plenty of wiggle room.

If you ever decide to go to FL or when FP+ comes to DL, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the ability to still be flexible. There are really only a couple of FP+s that cannot be changed the same day if your plans with small kids go differently than expected (very high demand things SDMT, the new Frozen ride, Anna & Else meet & greet, depending on the time of day - and you can keep checking during the day because if someone else cancels a FP at the last minute, it will come available on the app). So, while you do "pre-plan" it is much easier to change that plan and have the chance to get a FP for something else, unlike when we pulled a paper fast pass for RSR at 10 am with a 5 pm return time and my kid was still napping at 5 pm, so that run I did over to get the FP at 10 am was just wasted.

 

[mom2rtk]

If you ever decide to go to FL or when FP+ comes to DL, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the ability to still be flexible. There are really only a couple of FP+s that cannot be changed the same day if your plans with small kids go differently than expected (very high demand things SDMT, the new Frozen ride, Anna & Else meet & greet, depending on the time of day - and you can keep checking during the day because if someone else cancels a FP at the last minute, it will come available on the app). So, while you do "pre-plan" it is much easier to change that plan and have the chance to get a FP for something else, unlike when we pulled a paper fast pass for RSR at 10 am with a 5 pm return time and my kid was still napping at 5 pm, so that run I did over to get the FP at 10 am was just wasted.

That's part of my issue with it. I really really don't want to be hovering over my phone checking to be pleasantly surprised to luck into something I used to be able to count on getting.

And as far as DLR goes, none of us has any idea how that massive AP base near the parks will impact availability. A lot of it depends on how the system rolls out.

 

[ktlm]

on

If you ever decide to go to FL or when FP+ comes to DL, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the ability to still be flexible. There are really only a couple of FP+s that cannot be changed the same day if your plans with small kids go differently than expected (very high demand things SDMT, the new Frozen ride, Anna & Else meet & greet, depending on the time of day - and you can keep checking during the day because if someone else cancels a FP at the last minute, it will come available on the app). So, while you do "pre-plan" it is much easier to change that plan and have the chance to get a FP for something else, unlike when we pulled a paper fast pass for RSR at 10 am with a 5 pm return time and my kid was still napping at 5 pm, so that run I did over to get the FP at 10 am was just wasted.

That has not been our experience at all in 3 FP+ trips to WDW. We don't go in high crowd times either. MK is pretty good with being able to get a 4th FP+ or to change things somewhat-- although changing 7DMT and Peter Pan has been pretty much impossible. We have had zero luck at EPCOT or DHS changing anything or getting worthwhile 4th FP+. In fact we have dealt with nightmare glitches there and lost what we had while trying to modify one and the CMs could do nothing for us to get it back. We also despise the tiers. RNRR is one of my favorites and I have not set foot on it in 3 years because we always use our Tier1 for a family ride on TSM instead and the lines for RNRR have always been too long to justify DH and I taking turns and taking that much family time away from DD (who won't set foot on RNRC). We used to do single rider for that one, but the wait time has increased substantially for that single rider line since FP+. This year with the Frozen Ride, Soarin and TT all being Tier One, we about had a family melt down trying to pick which one we will FP+- there is no doubt we won't be able to get another one for any of those as a 4th- which means that while we can single rider TT, chances are we won't ride either Soarin or Frozen (whichever one we don't use FP+ for) because no one will be willing to stand in the non-FP line for an hour or more. We still love WDW- but FP+ makes us feel like we are running back and forth across the park to meet our inflexible times, trapped, and waiting in longer lines than we ever waited in before for everything else.

That said--- I have heard that DL's FP+ system will be very different from WDW. The rumor I heard was that it was online/app, but you can only book the day of and you can only hold 1 FP at a time (or after a certain wait like there is now). In other words, it will be like the current system, but you don't have to go to the machines in park. That doesn't sound so bad to me. I'm sure more people will use it and FPs for everything will probably run out faster, but keeping the day of, 1 at a time rule, should make it a huge improvement over WDW's version.

 

[pbb322]

on

That has not been our experience at all in 3 FP+ trips to WDW. We don't go in high crowd times either. MK is pretty good with being able to get a 4th FP+ or to change things somewhat-- although changing 7DMT and Peter Pan has been pretty much impossible. We have had zero luck at EPCOT or DHS changing anything or getting worthwhile 4th FP+. In fact we have dealt with nightmare glitches there and lost what we had while trying to modify one and the CMs could do nothing for us to get it back. We also despise the tiers. RNRR is one of my favorites and I have not set foot on it in 3 years because we always use our Tier1 for a family ride on TSM instead and the lines for RNRR have always been too long to justify DH and I taking turns and taking that much family time away from DD (who won't set foot on RNRC). We used to do single rider for that one, but the wait time has increased substantially for that single rider line since FP+. This year with the Frozen Ride, Soarin and TT all being Tier One, we about had a family melt down trying to pick which one we will FP+- there is no doubt we won't be able to get another one for any of those as a 4th- which means that while we can single rider TT, chances are we won't ride either Soarin or Frozen (whichever one we don't use FP+ for) because no one will be willing to stand in the non-FP line for an hour or more. We still love WDW- but FP+ makes us feel like we are running back and forth across the park to meet our inflexible times, trapped, and waiting in longer lines than we ever waited in before for everything else.

That said--- I have heard that DL's FP+ system will be very different from WDW. The rumor I heard was that it was online/app, but you can only book the day of and you can only hold 1 FP at a time (or after a certain wait like there is now). In other words, it will be like the current system, but you don't have to go to the machines in park. That doesn't sound so bad to me. I'm sure more people will use it and FPs for everything will probably run out faster, but keeping the day of, 1 at a time rule, should make it a huge improvement over WDW's version.

You make a good point - My kids are still too small to ride RNRR and my one child tall enough to ride ToT hated it, so getting a FP there is never an issue for us, we always just pick TSM without giving it a second thought. We generally do Soarin at rope drop or early morning hours to avoid the really long lines. (I'm blessed with early risers for kids, so early mornings is never an issue for us) I have been able to get TT same day though both when we went in Jan earlier this year and last June. We haven't been back since the Frozen ride opened, I guess we will see what that is like in Nov., it will probably require rope drop a second day to avoid a crazy TT line just in case we cannot get a same day FP+ after using our first three.

Honestly though, if they indeed do a same day only, 1 at a time plan for DL FP+, that could be an ideal result for a family like ours, my biggest complaint with the paper is the need to run and get it and the lost effort if you have to miss the time, both of those would be resolved with that system. I know it won't be ideal for everyone though I know.