Just back, hate fp+ system

[Jennasis]

One of the main problems we ran into was FINDING a kiosk for making additional FP+ reservations. People keep touting not have to run all over the park collecting passes, but the reality is with precious few kiosk locations you still have to hunt one down/run all over to get a pass. Plus now you have the added bonus of being stuck behind confused people who either don't know how computers work, FP+ works, or can't decide what they want to do.

 

[dkrauss]

One of the main problems we ran into was FINDING a kiosk for making additional FP+ reservations. People keep touting not have to run all over the park collecting passes, but the reality is with precious few kiosk locations you still have to hunt one down/run all over to get a pass. Plus now you have the added bonus of being stuck behind confused people who either don't know how computers work, FP+ works, or can't decide what they want to do.

Aren't kiosk locations on the park maps? Can't find the maps we used to check...................

Doug

 

[momof2n2]

I genuinely appreciate this thread. Just when I start to think, "Maybe it is safe to go back to Disney World," I read a thread like this and I realize I am just not ready to come back

I am beginning to doubt my littlest daughters will ever see Cinderella's Castle! I'm grateful the cruise line is still such a win.

 

[ariane37]

One of the main problems we ran into was FINDING a kiosk for making additional FP+ reservations. People keep touting not have to run all over the park collecting passes, but the reality is with precious few kiosk locations you still have to hunt one down/run all over to get a pass. Plus now you have the added bonus of being stuck behind confused people who either don't know how computers work, FP+ works, or can't decide what they want to do.

Totally agree. We were looking for a kiosk in HS and couldn't find one, even though I know we'd walked by a few like 100x that day lol. We finally just walked over to the one by TSMM. Only one person in front of us but they had NO idea what they were doing and took quite awhile to figure out what they wanted to do........and then as I said in an earlier post here, all that was left was Fantasmic/muppets so we got nothing anyway Would have been much easier and less time consuming to simply go to the ride we wanted and either pull a paper FP or find out no more were available and be done with it.

A PP mentioned the kiosks might be on the park maps and maybe they are......we don't really look at the maps anymore. A glance or two if something has changed or to check a showtime so if the kiosks are there, that's our fault. But still, if I had looked on the map and we weren't near one, it would have meant walking to the nearest one which would/could have been no different than walking to the ride with the old system.

 

[dkrauss]

I genuinely appreciate this thread. Just when I start to think, "Maybe it is safe to go back to Disney World," I read a thread like this and I realize I am just not ready to come back

I am beginning to doubt my littlest daughters will ever see Cinderella's Castle! I'm grateful the cruise line is still such a win.

That makes me sad................you should experience this for yourself. Everyone has a different perspective. This subject may seem like it leans against FP+ but I would say thats because there are so many experienced WDWphiles here..............with very strong opinions.

FP+ shouldn't dictate the joy of being at WDW................I tear up every time I see the castle............don't deny your daughter that joy.

Doug

 

[bianca]

FP+ has removed ALL joy that we used to have going to WDW! I refuse to plan my vacation to the smallest detail. They crossed a line with us and we just bought AP's for Universal for our family's November trip. As DVC members, we will be staying on Disney property, though. I know that this is the direction that we are going in and can't help but think that others will be doing the same.

 

[tfc3rid]

I'm half and half. I travel there a lot and as an APer, I like riding the E Ticket attractions. Shows do nothing for me, as I've seen them a often and some are getting stale.

I love FP+ for the ability to book 'most' E Tickets a few days out. If you want Mine Train, you're in a tough spot on short notice.

However, the thing that bothers me most is the impact on attractions that used to regularly see 10 to 15 minute waits all day long like Mansion and Pirates. The standby waits for these have increased dramatically since FP+ came into being. That just plain sucks. And the increase in waits has been documented by a number of websites so it's not a figment of imagination.

So, summing up, some things have been good, some have not been good.

 

[Meldev]

We got back 10/3 - we had no success booking 4th FP from iPhone whatsoever - always an error or wouldn't acknowledge my whole party disappointing.
FP kiosks never had long line and CMs very helpful - easy to find kiosks in AK and HS - had trouble in MK - yes we could see on map but making the trek to it when we wanted in the heat with 4 kids wasn't worth it. On the upside it meant our DS got to ride Barnstormer 4 times in a row!! Haha

 

[Princess Sleepy]

We will be there next week: a party of 5. All members of the group are linked to my MDE account. Can I use my MB at the kiosk to make a 4th FP+ reservation for all 5 people. or do we all have to go through the line?

 

[mesaboy2]

We will be there next week: a party of 5. All members of the group are linked to my MDE account. Can I use my MB at the kiosk to make a 4th FP+ reservation for all 5 people. or do we all have to go through the line?

One person is enough. This and other FP FAQs are answered in the green link in my signature.

 

[Mamasmurf227]

We let our annual passes go this year because we hated waiting 35-55 minutes for POTC, Haunted Mansion, and other rides we just walked on in the past. We were always just sitting around waiting on our next FP+ ride. In and out of the park quickly instead of spending all weekend at the parks. I'm not saying we will not go back but it may be a little bit.

We never had to sit and wait for our next FP. I originally book our FP's back to back. Once we did the first one, we were able to go into the app and move the time up so that we could go directly onto the next one. You don't need to wait until the FP time was up, just until you use the FP. Only a couple of things didn't have immediate availability, so we just moved things around.

 

[DISNEYD14]

We never had to sit and wait for our next FP. I originally book our FP's back to back. Once we did the first one, we were able to go into the app and move the time up so that we could go directly onto the next one. You don't need to wait until the FP time was up, just until you use the FP. Only a couple of things didn't have immediate availability, so we just moved things around.

**I'm confused about waiting to use the other FP that was prebooked**
I'm going in a few weeks and not understanding why you couldn't tour and visit other attractions in the area while waiting for FP+ to kick in.

All of my FP+ each day are back to back, 9-10a, 10-11a, 11-12noon, etc.
Then once I use my last one, I'll pounce to get a 4th or 5th. I tooks note from online maps on where kiosks are, hoping they don't move them

 

[Mamasmurf227]

**I'm confused about waiting to use the other FP that was prebooked**
I'm going in a few weeks and not understanding why you couldn't tour and visit other attractions in the area while waiting for FP+ to kick in.

All of my FP+ each day are back to back, 9-10a, 10-11a, 11-12noon, etc.
Then once I use my last one, I'll pounce to get a 4th or 5th. I tooks note from online maps on where kiosks are, hoping they don't move them

You can certainly go tour while waiting for your next FP.

But, you can also go in at 9am, use that first FP. Open the app, and try to change the time of your 10-11am FP to 9:20-10:20. Go on that, then change your 11-12 FP for 10:25--11:25. Theoretically, you could be done with 3 FP's in less than 2 hours, and able to get started on your 4th, etc. depending on availability and attractions you want, of course.

We found this strategy helpful because we could quickly get things done in small areas without having to walk to different parts of the park between FP's.

 

[lilpooh108]

We will be there next week: a party of 5. All members of the group are linked to my MDE account. Can I use my MB at the kiosk to make a 4th FP+ reservation for all 5 people. or do we all have to go through the line?

Be warned that you'll have a hard time finding anything good for 5 people to add as your 4th FP. I'd split them up to see availability and see if your group is willing to split up.

We never had to sit and wait for our next FP. I originally book our FP's back to back. Once we did the first one, we were able to go into the app and move the time up so that we could go directly onto the next one. You don't need to wait until the FP time was up, just until you use the FP. Only a couple of things didn't have immediate availability, so we just moved things around.

This is assuming that your next FP is even movable. If you have A&E, then Mine Ride, I doubt very much that you can move the Mine Ride up. If I'm wrong, let me know. I tried multiple times to move times up and I was never able to for the popular ones.

 

[Kathryn777]

Be warned that you'll have a hard time finding anything good for 5 people to add as your 4th FP. I'd split them up to see availability and see if your group is willing to split up. This is assuming that your next FP is even movable. If you have A&E, then Mine Ride, I doubt very much that you can move the Mine Ride up. If I'm wrong, let me know. I tried multiple times to move times up and I was never able to for the popular ones.

?? I don't find it surprising that you couldn't move 7DMT or A&E as many people, still can't get a time slot they want 60 days out, I wouldn't think it would be free to move around

 

[Disneyfanatic108]

Here now and hate the new fast pass. Want to change parks but will loose all faspasses. We were running all over Epcot and it made a lot of work that was not necessary

 

[luvgoing2disney]

I've read through this thread and was surprised to see the number of negative comments. I have not used the system myself as it was in testing mode last September and our April trip was to DLR. Instead of people becoming more accustomed to it, it looks like the opposite is happening in a lot of cases.

This may be another reason that DLR is becoming my favorite park. There are almost as many attractions and Carsland is a major hit with us. Very little advance planning, easy access to both parks, hotels across the street, and it's the original.

Flying from Alabama it is much easier to get to Orlando than Anaheim but I wonder if DLR is not a more fun and less stressful destination

 

[mom2rtk]

I wonder if DLR is not a more fun and less stressful destination

We swapped to DLR last year and are heading back in December, where we plan to purchase APs in order to return next year.

So yes, I agree it's far less stressful.

 

[Disneyfanatic108]

Planning a trip so far in advance and not being able to change it when you get here stinks. If we ever come down again it will be to run a race and enjoy the resort.

 

[Suvadoo]

I've read through this thread and was surprised to see the number of negative comments. I have not used the system myself as it was in testing mode last September and our April trip was to DLR. Instead of people becoming more accustomed to it, it looks like the opposite is happening in a lot of cases.

This may be another reason that DLR is becoming my favorite park. There are almost as many attractions and Carsland is a major hit with us. Very little advance planning, easy access to both parks, hotels across the street, and it's the original.

Flying from Alabama it is much easier to get to Orlando than Anaheim but I wonder if DLR is not a more fun and less stressful destination

I just returned from DLR and had a fabulous time. Park hopped at least twice a day, got fast passes if we wanted but we were able to do most things on the fly. We did a walk up 1:30 pm lunch@ Carthay Circle. Another great thing was walking over to DTD after park closing for a pitcher of Sangria and tableside prepared guacamole at Tortilla Joe's.
We're going to Orlando in April for the Flower and Garden at Epcot, but most of our time will be spent at Universal. We're not uber planners and we really don't want to spend valuable vacation time in kiosk and SB lines, so we'll skip a lot of attractions.