Just back... LOVED Magicbands... FP+ nearly perfect!

[shalom]

If I am staying offsite then how does Disney know when my 60 day window begins?

There's speculation that it's linked to ADRs at this point. It's people who have tickets and are registered with MDE for whatever reason who're seeing it. After they get it going I'd assume it'd be 60 days from today. The notice at this point is basically advertising, since it isn't working yet. Disney has to've known word would get out to the people most worried about it doing it that way.

 

[AmyB2006]

I have no idea - but that's how adrs work- anyone can book 180 days from today

Exactly. FP+ was never meant to be linked to reservations "permanently". Everyone will be able to book FP+ reservations 60 days out, just like ADRs. The only reason it has been linked to reservations for now was testing, I thought.

Now it seems like they are removing that barrier. This is great news for off site guests.

 

[AmyB2006]

I would say it is equally as enjoyable- if you get there at rd you can ride both with no line same as before.

Well that's the big IF. IF you do RD. And we don't. Never will until my kids actually choose to be up at the crack of, well before dawn. LOL

So for some, like us, it will not be equally as enjoyable. Because although I could get up and be there at RD and ride both without a long wait... I don't know how enjoyable that would be. For me or the others around me having to experience the wrath that is me in the morning.

But for some it will, yes.

 

[Squirlz]

We were there Jan. 12-19 and had a great experience as well. I made FP+ plans for the first 5 days ahead of time, then made changes and added more days on the fly once we got the feel of things. It could not have worked better!

Yes it was a period of low crowd levels but research and planning is easy.

 

[MolonLabe]

I can't say as I understand that. I was at Magic Kingdom on MLK day. I realize this is not highly recommended, but it was my birthday and that's what I wanted to do.

I rode the following rides that day: Space Mountain, Peoplemover, Carousel of Progress, Little Mermaid, Winnie the Pooh, Prince Charming Carousel, Peter Pan, small world, Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates, and Jungle Cruise (I think I remembered them all...). I didn't wait more than 15 minutes for anything. I had FP+ for Space Mountain, small world, and Peter Pan. Oh, and I fit in lunch at Columbia Harbour House, a dole whip, dinner at 'Ohana, MSEP, and Wishes that day as well.

I dunno, maybe the actual holiday isn't as crowded as the Saturday and Sunday before it.

Don't know, that weekend was my friends. It was his 8th trip in as many years.

It mirrors my experience that on low crowd days, FP+ is pretty easy to change and it works out.

When crowd levels aren't low, it's a completely different beast.

I found it funny some cast members I know call them "Magic Trackers" not Magic Bands. They seem to feel the same way about them, works well on low crowd days and it's a mess on busy days if you can't stick to what you already scheduled.

 

[Chuckers]

I do hate the buses, though. So, we rent a car and avoid the buses much of the time. It's not faster, but I think people are so rude on the buses. Don't get me started...

Since you drive to parks, I can ask you this question. My October trip will be the first time I have a car while staying on-site. Do the Magic Bands allow you to park at the various parks without problem? Or do you need a permit?

 

[KrazeeK120]

Since you drive to parks, I can ask you this question. My October trip will be the first time I have a car while staying on-site. Do the Magic Bands allow you to park at the various parks without problem? Or do you need a permit?

I stayed onsite with a car last week. When you check into the resort, they'll give you a parking permit that you put on the dashboard of your vehicle. When you pull up to the booth where you pay to park, you just point to your permit and they'll wave you through.

 

[Chuckers]

I stayed onsite with a car last week. When you check into the resort, they'll give you a parking permit that you put on the dashboard of your vehicle. When you pull up to the booth where you pay to park, you just point to your permit and they'll wave you through.

Thanks!

 

[Angel Ariel]

I just don't get the obsession with riding the same rides over and over. Disney is more than the rides. There's so much more that you could do instead of riding Space Mountain 6X in a row...

I wouldn't ride Thunder Mtn 6x in a row, byut my 6 y/o nephew sure had a blast doing it. He didn't like a lot of the other "thrill" rides (cried on TT, rode EE once and wouldn't go back on, etc) - but he LOVED BTMRR. Oh - and we did rope drop that day so this was all SB..pretty much walked off and right back on. Actually the CMs let us stay on for 2 rides w/o getting off at least once (so the above has nothing to do with FP or FP+)

Of course there is more to Disney than rides. But if you ask my nephew right now what his favorite part of Disney was, I will guarantee you that it was his rides on Thunder Mtn. One of the best parts of that trip *for me* was watching him experience that fun and the joy and laughter on his face. I don't get why that's so hard to understand.

To be honest, I'm pretty sure most of us live near a Six Flags, Bush Gardens, etc. that have better thrill rides than Disney if that's what you crave.

Just because a person likes rides doesn't mean they are craving thrill rides. I love riding things like Buzz and TSMM multiple times (and can anyone really argue that those rides aren't designed for multiple rides with the competition aspect?). I enjoy the Mtns/ToT, they are my speed in terms of thrill level. Many of the coasters at Busch Gardens/Six Flags are way more thrill than I enjoy.

I understand and respect that FP+ works out well for some people. It may or may not for my family...we will do our best to make it work for us, of that I'm sure. I just don't see the need to disparage how others choose to vacation, or what they find is valuable to them on vacation.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Exactly. FP+ was never meant to be linked to reservations "permanently". Everyone will be able to book FP+ reservations 60 days out, just like ADRs. The only reason it has been linked to reservations for now was testing, I thought.

Now it seems like they are removing that barrier. This is great news for off site guests.

That is good news! Hopefully that barrier will be gone by our potential fall trip for the w&d 1/2 marathon

 

[Chuckers]

I just don't get the obsession with riding the same rides over and over. Disney is more than the rides.
Jim

But, Star Tours has 5,691 different combinations and I NEED TO SEE THEM ALL!*




*well, maybe not that many....

 

[kagmypts]

Actually, I feel quite the opposite is true.

DS will be in varsity sports soon and we'll have to schedule future visits around his schedule. The thought of going in the high season used to freak me out... but, now that I've experienced FP+, I'm not really as scared.

We had very productive, full days this visit and only did maybe five rides a day... fewer on some days. The rest of the time was filled with fun activities that don't require lines - like watching fireworks, dining, shopping, laying by the pool...

If I can guarantee a FP+ on three rides and only stand in two lines during the high season... I don't think I'd complain. I'd rejoice.

And FWIW... my "nearly perfect" refers to the ability to hop. If I could park-hop with FP+. I would call them perfect, IMO.

Thank you for the review, and I am glad that you loved your trip.

The bold tidbit helps me understand your touring style so I appreciate it very much. We are RDers, and we ride nearly 15 rides in the first two hours that MK is open. I have to admit that much of my fear about FP+ is that now we won't be able to ride as many rides. While our park days are fairly short, we basically walk on every single ride while we are there. Do you think that your opinion on FP+ would be different if you went focused on the rides rather than the atmosphere/activities?

 

[Bullseye]

Once they allow FP at more than one park (and they will, to keep the PH up charge per ticket), it'll be perfect... for us, anyway

I just don't get the obsession with riding the same rides over and over. Disney is more than the rides. There's so much more that you could do instead of riding Space Mountain 6X in a row... To be honest, I'm pretty sure most of us live near a Six Flags, Bush Gardens, etc. that have better thrill rides than Disney if that's what you crave.

If you dislike the system, then go somewhere else. It's a big world with lots to see... FastPass isn't going away any time soon. I, for one, am glad it's here to level the playing field. It's nice to walk into DHS at 11 AM knowing I'll be able to ride Toy Story without a 2 hour wait!

Jim

Jim, you're spot on brah! and you're right they will open park hopping FP+ at some point which will aleve some of the angst guests are feeling. Fortunately for me we hardly used more than 3 fp in a day anyway mostly because there is so much more to do. So this works out fine. We actually gave up trying to get premium spots for parades and fireworks because it was too much hassle trying to hold them. Now I can just make a reservation.

 

[imhapachick]

hi all... i'm just planning our trip... and ordered magic bands..but just now reading you can't park hop???

i bought a 6 day hopper...

do you know if we have magic bands.. can we or can we not park hop with them??

 

[DividedSky]

hi all... i'm just planning our trip... and ordered magic bands..but just now reading you can't park hop???

i bought a 6 day hopper...

do you know if we have magic bands.. can we or can we not park hop with them??

if you buy a park hopper, you can park hop.

you can't split your 3 fp+ between two parks in advance, however, I have read conflicting reports on if you can do so while on site.

 

[Robo]

1- if you buy a park hopper, you can park hop.

2- you can't split your 3 fp+ between two parks in advance,

3- however, I have read conflicting reports on if you can do so while on site.

1- Correct.

2- Correct.

3- I've only seen one person's report (posted over and over)
and even in that case, the poster did not actually TAKE the FP+ in the second park.
I've got to think that if this were true (being able to get another FP+ at a second park,)
there would be DOZENS of posts on this board from guests who had been able to do so.
Time will tell.

 

[magicbob]

There is no way that Disney is going to lose money on the park hopper feature of its theme park tickets. Park hopping with FP+ is coming. Mark my words!

BTW, I have used FP+ and MBS and loved them both! I'm glad you had a great time!

Hey... that's my line!

 

[TwoAtDisney]

I'm really curious about this - not being snarky & not thinking everyone should or does it my way.

Questions - Those who ride the same rides over & over, which rides are those? Are there a lot of repeaters out there?

I can think of only a few rides that would hold my attention on the same day for more than 1 ride - ToT (definitely), MGM fast coaster ride (can't think of name right now), Space Mountain - but that's about it. But if I want thrill rides, I wouldn't go to WDW.

For me, there has to be a Hell made of repeatedly hearing "It's a Small World", "Ho, Ho, Ho" (pirate's life), Nanna/Nanna, Splash Mountain, the Great Movie Ride, Backlots Tour explosions (once a day is enough for me), on & on.

If we repeat a park during a trip, we do then ride some of the rides we rode on the other day, but that's all the repeating we do.

Personally (not knocking what others think & do), I don't view WDW as a great "amusement ride" type of park. To me the "rides" are better at many other amusement parks. I always thought the WDW allure to be the magical escape from the real world atmosphere (although with the crowds now a days, that not always true!), the resort vacation life style, the family possibilities (young to old), the large variety of "things to do & see" (not actual "amusement" park rides). I consider the WDW "rides" to be "attractions", except for the thrill rides I mentioned before.

To each his/her own. That's what makes the world (WDW) go round, or so they say!

 

[Chuckers]

I'm really curious about this - not being snarky & not thinking everyone should or does it my way.

Questions - Those who ride the same rides over & over, which rides are those? Are there a lot of repeaters out there?

I would ride (and have) all of the coasters several times in a day. Add to that TSM, Splash, ToT, Star Tours, Test Track, HM, and Peter Pan.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I'm really curious about this - not being snarky & not thinking everyone should or does it my way.

Questions - Those who ride the same rides over & over, which rides are those? Are there a lot of repeaters out there?

I can think of only a few rides that would hold my attention on the same day for more than 1 ride - ToT (definitely), MGM fast coaster ride (can't think of name right now), Space Mountain - but that's about it. But if I want thrill rides, I wouldn't go to WDW.

We aren't huge "thrill riders" - but we can definitely ride Buzz and TSMM many times a trip (well, with TSMM, we'd*like* to..never have gotten to ride it more than twice during regular park hours). We enjoy competing against each other, and the scoring on those rides pretty much invites multiple rides.

We also like to ride Star Tours multiple times...we have not yet seen all of the scenes/planets (in any combo), so it's interesting to see if we can get a new planet.

We do ride TOT more than once too, since the ride sequencing does differ. I can't do that one more than 2 or 3 times though.

If we spent more time in AK, I'd ride the Safari multiple times at different times of day. We also rode EE a few times on our last 2 trips, but again after like 2 or 3 rides, I'm done (motion sickness issues).