Just back, and it couldn't have gone smoother!

[wisblue]

This will be the most beneficial aspect of FP+ for me - the ability to know the return times before I walk to the rides, and how these times relate to everything else I have planned.

I used to use Touring Plans, which mapped out a logical route to minimize backtracking and crisscrossing. Even when return times did not directly conflict with another planned event, they often undermined the very reason I had planned the day out in the first place.

Then there was the "Do I pull this FP and wait, hoping to get an FP for that, or just pass on this and go to that?"

For us, the ability to get 3 quality rides in the evening at times we choose is more valuable than anything we could get in the morning when standby lines aren't that long. For example, if we want to see Fantasmic at 8:30, we could get FPs for TSMM, TOT, and Star Tours in some order at 5-6,6-7, and 7-8. We could arrive at the park anytime before 6 and do those 3 rides (doing the last one at 7) and have time to grab something to eat before Fantasmic. If that seems too rushed, we could move the FPs up an hour. That gives us a lot more entertainment in a couple of hours than we were able to get the old way while also enjoying an afternoon break.

 

[Magpie]

My kind of day - except for the salads. Were they out of burgers?

Psh, obviously salads are the superior food. Sure, everyone's preferences are different and everyone has different dietary needs, but that doesn't change the fact that if you really want to get value for your disney dining experience, you'll always order the salad. Why would I want to spend my valuable vacation dollars on a burger? I can get a good burger anywhere. Disney wastes entirely too much menu space catering to the burger-istas. I blame greedy corporate management. This whole "feed 'em burgers" experiment has been a catastrophic failure, and anyone who disagrees with me is clearly wrong.

 

[daytondisney]

Psh, obviously salads are the superior food. Sure, everyone's preferences are different and everyone has different dietary needs, but that doesn't change the fact that if you really want to get value for your disney dining experience, you'll always order the salad. Why would I want to spend my valuable vacation dollars on a burger? I can get a good burger anywhere. Disney wastes entirely too much menu space catering to the burger-istas. I blame greedy corporate management. This whole "feed 'em burgers" experiment has been a catastrophic failure.

Vegetation is what my food eats.

 

[Magpie]

Vegetation is what my food eats.

Soylent Green is made from vegetarians!

 

[Angel Ariel]

Yes, time of year is critical, as I and others have said MANY times.

But, at Easter and Christmas, when we usually have to visit, getting quality FPs in the evening WAS impossible.

I have never argued about that What I quoted very much came across as it was like that all of the time, or more often than not - it wasn't, which is all I was trying to say.

And yes, we have often gone to DAK on very busy days and know that DAK empties out later in the day. That being the case, who cares how many FPs you can get because you can pretty much do whatever you want without a significant wait? That's why I wouldn't usually bother with FP+ reservations there unless I intended to be there in the middle of the afternoon and didn't plan to go to another park later.

I didn't say I'd bother with FP+ reservations there. If we were doing the same plan now, I would absolutely use FP+ in DHS for TSMM and not make reservations in AK. On that trip, however, FP was useful to us as it allowed us to ride KS with little wait. It was the first thing my nephews wanted to do when we arrived, and AK had not emptied yet and there was a decently long SB line. Being able to FP that freed up time for us to better use on the other attractions that did not have as long a SB line. Since we only had about 3 hrs in the park total before it closed (and we had to eat dinner while there), not spending time in KS' SB was helpful.

When I have been able to visit at less crowded times, FPs have been totally unnecessary for doing whatever we wanted to do.

While I would agree that FPs aren't always *necessary*, IME that didn't always mean they weren't helpful. When traveling with someone under 1 (as we were on that trip), and having to spend time away from my family to pump for her so she could eat (she would not eat solids at 8 months), anything that helped us save time and experience more attractions was very helpful - even if it wasn't necessary.

BTW, because you love to nitpick and parse out the words that others use, I would like to point out that "the other side" does not ALWAYS respond about running all over the park.

You're right, it's not everyone and it's not always. I apologize for saying it that way. It was something, however, that you did say in the post I had quoted, which is why I responded as I did. I wasn't nitpicking, I just found it puzzling that someone would comment saying that they didn't understand how the other side didn't "get" where they were coming from - and then continue on to demonstrate a lack of understanding for the other side's position in the same paragraph. Understanding goes both ways. As I very clearly said, I am happy for those who enjoy FP+ and for whom it makes vacations better.

As for my use of "other side" in quotes - since the way you're using it to respond to me seems a bit...honestly, I don't know the right word, but it seems like you're not a fan of me using that - I meant no offense by saying that. As I said earlier in the thread, I'm not a fan of labels and I thought that simply saying the other side wouldn't be derogatory since there are very clearly different sides in how people feel about FP+.

I wonder how long it will take some of the people who think that FP+ is a less than optimal ride management system to move on.

Who hasn't moved on? I have no illusions of FP- coming back. I'm happy to hear of the changes they're making to FP+, and have always said we will make the best of whatever system is in place. I'm happy that people are having great trips. I'm thrilled to hear that there technical glitches are happening less and less. I'm not the one who made personal comments on this thread

 

[Jennasis]

I still bemoan how the original Journey Into Imagination was sooooooo much better than the current incarnation, and how much Mr. Toad was better than Pooh...even though NEITHER of those originals are ever coming back. I still go on both rides and I enjoy them for what they are. That's about as "over" it I will get with them AND with FP+. I accept it for what it is, but will continue to bemoan the loss of the old ways, until and unless they somehow make the current incarnation superior IN MY EYES.

 

[flicx]

I have been doing a lot more observing than posting lately, but there is no denying that a lot of the positive posts bring out responses from a predictable group of other posters.

No different then when a person points out fp plus and the new systems short comings the same group of posters come to the rescue. Kind of tit for tat on that front. The OP even questioned why I was posting since I didn't have a trip scheduled and wasn't planning one soon. It goes both ways!!!!!!

 

[Magpie]

No different then when a person points out fp plus and the new systems short comings the same group of posters come to the rescue. Kind of tit for tat on that front. The OP even questioned why I was posting since I didn't have a trip scheduled and wasn't planning one soon. It goes both ways!!!!!!

Not in this thread I didn't.

You must be referring to some other conversation we both participated in weeks or months ago. I'm impressed you remember me, as I'm terrible at remembering usernames.

Btw - if I recall correctly, the debate went something like this... If you (the general you, not you in particular) aren't planning to visit Disney World, and haven't been recently, won't be going, and don't have any relevant experience to bring to the topic of trip planning, especially in the post FP+ era... then why are you here? The answer, as I recall, was that while this may be called a "Trip Planning Board" and may be titled "Theme Park Attractions and Strategies", there's no qualifications required to weigh in. Heck, you don't have to have EVER visited Disney World to tell people what you think about it. Anyone can debate anything, and we're all entitled to our opinions.

I sure can't argue with that!

 

[flicx]

Not in this thread I didn't.

You must be referring to some other conversation we both participated in weeks or months ago. I'm impressed you remember me, as I'm terrible at remembering usernames.

Btw - if I recall correctly, the debate went something like this... If you (the general you, not you in particular) aren't planning to visit Disney World, and haven't been recently, won't be going, and don't have any relevant experience to bring to the topic of trip planning, especially in the post FP+ era... then why are you here? The answer, as I recall, was that while this may be called a "Trip Planning Board" and may be titled "Theme Park Attractions and Strategies", there's no qualifications required to weigh in. Heck, you don't have to have EVER visited Disney World to tell people what you think about it. Anyone can debate anything, and we're all entitled to our opinions.

I sure can't argue with that!

Just pointing out the same names can crop up both ways. By the way I do have relevant experience at Disney, 30 years of it. Just don't care for the current path they are headed down!