Just back - my experience with FP+

[dandemom]

I think I prefer the old way, but having said that, the new FP+ system is not as horrible as folks on the DisBoards are making it out to be.

I stayed on property and did reserve my FP+ at midnight, 60 days out so yes, I had 2 for 7Dwarves and 2 for A&E. Unfortunately we missed the first 7Dwarves because we arrived so late the night before so I couldn't make it to MK by the 10AM expiration time (missed it by 7 minutes- I didn't even try to use it at that point). We also park hopped every day.

Anyway, I planned my FP+ by scheduling FP for headliners at MK, HS, and EP (in that order). I did not bother with FP for AK. I was planning to use the single rider line for Rockin Roller Coaster, however, that didn't work out since the single rider line takes almost as long as the standby line.

So here's my results:
I never saw an available FP for 7Dwarves. I rode it only the time I had the FP for. Husband and daughter ran there at rope drop one morning and waited 30 minutes in standby. He was at the front of the ropes and went on the path through the castle. Unfortunately, that was the wrong path. He should have gone around the castle.

Another day at MK (afternoon time), we had used up our 3 FP in the morning. Just daughter and I went to MK. I tried to use kiosk to schedule the latest available for Buzz for husband and son and planned to FP princesses for me and daughter. Kiosk would only let me schedule the 4 of us and there was no princess FP available (according to the CM who was "helping" me). So I scheduled all 4 for 7PM Buzz. It really bugged me since I knew there were FP available for princesses according to my touring plans app. So I was able to use the MDE app to reschedule my Buzz for Cinderella (and of course it scheduled it for 7PM). Then I could change the time. Then I changed daughter's attraction to Cinderella, then changed her time. We used those and I found FP for Ariel within a half hour for us (Buzz was still scheduled for DH and DS). By doing this, I was able to FP the first 3 things that day (at another park) and then FP Cinderella, Ariel, Tinkerbell, Pooh, AND finally get onto Buzz with DH/DS.

I was not able to get headliner FP any day after we used our first 3 so we only rode what had short lines since I refuse to wait longer than 30 minutes for a ride (and why I only go during the "slow" season).

I prefer the old way because I was able to ride headliners more than once. This trip (8 days in parks) I only rode Thunder Mountain once. And the other headliners more only because we got there extra early for rope drop and ran.

Rope drop helped significantly. One day at EMH rope drop we rode EE 6 times in a row and then walked onto the safari. Another day we rode Buzz 4 times in a row and then walked onto Space Mountain. I suppose I could have chosen Thunder mountain instead of Buzz/Space - but DS wanted Tomorrowland.
We also walked onto Soarin one morning at rope drop as well as walked onto Toy Story at rope drop.

 

[vrajewski10513]

This is how I feel. It has its kinks that still need to be worked out, but I didnt have a bad experience. And just for future reference, some nice CM's will let you slide if you're just a couple minutes late for your FP+ reservation time. It's worth a shot!

 

[Candleshoe]

I thought there was an actual (not per-CM, but written down actual) grace period for FPs of 5 minutes before and 15 minutes after the window.

Thanks for your review!

 

[DebbieB]

From what I understand, the touring plans app shows availability for 1 person. Plus I'm not sure how close it is to real time. My guess is if you request for 4 and there are not 4 available for any one time slot, it will come up as not available at the kiosk. So your method of booking something else and then trying to change it on the app is a good one, plus looking for overlapping times.

 

[dandemom]

I don't think the 15 is policy. I expect it is at the CM discretion. I was able to use that late Buzz FP a couple of minutes after the window, but I spoke with the CM before it expired (I was waiting for DH to arrive) and he said I have 15 minutes. However, I scanned in blue, not green. Since it was closing time, they shooed us in and again we scanned blue but the CM at station 2 shooed us in as well, I'm thinking because it was closing time, the ride had just had some downtime, the line was full, it was crazy, and she really didn't care at that point. I don't think I would have been so lucky at 7Dwarves or at 10AM. I didn't want to walk all the way back there to find out I was out of luck so we took a nice leisurely walk down Main Street, stopped at the Scorcerers area and got some cards to play (instead of rushing on our first time into MK this trip). It worked out, I wasn't complaining, just stating the facts.

Yes, the touring plans show availability for 1 person. I was going to get overlapping times if there weren't 2 there, but it worked out for me. The kiosk won't search for overlapping times, either so they are pretty useless in that aspect. Also just a side note, the MDE locations are not accurate, nor is the map you get when you walk in. I found some kiosks at city hall that are not on the map and the ones listed at Silly Pete's are not yet functional.

 

[HopperFan]

I thought there was an actual (not per-CM, but written down actual) grace period for FPs of 5 minutes before and 15 minutes after the window.

Thanks for your review!

From my DD who is a CM at one of the most popular attractions at WDW.
5 minutes early / 15 minutes late

 

[tinkerbella16]

Yup there is definitely a grace period for FP's... 5 minutes early and 15 minutes late. We had no problem with a couple major rides that we were a little to.

 

[chelseabun76]

I really enjoyed the fp+ system, this trip last week was my first time using it... and my aunt, who didn't know much about it, said at one point that she was very thankful that I booked the fp+ that I did because they all seemed to work out amazingly well time wise and we hit many many rides each day, in fact every single ride was checked off of our list at least once so we were thrilled. We had an amazing trip, no complaints whatsoever.

 

[jharaldson]

That sucks that you did not get to ride headliners a couple of times. I was able to last year and I hope my trip this May is more like my one last year than the one you had.

 

[MIGrandma]

I generally like the Fast Pass, but there were a couple things I didn't like. We just got back from 8 nights and our daughter did all of the planning and most of the fast pass making. We had park hopper passes and I don't like it that you can't make fast passes for more than one park per day. We had a fast pass for one park one day, and decided to move on to another park but could not make any other fast passes. It seems like they want you to pay for the park hopping, but then penalize you for using it by not allowing any fastpasses if you do. If you're allowed 3 you should be able to make them in any of the parks you choose, one in three parks if you want to even.

DH and I had to trade magic bands at one point because our daughter made a fast pass for herself and her daughter, me and her mother-in-law for our granddaughter to meet Anna and Elsa at the Magic Kingdom in the afternoon. In the morning we were at Animal Kingdom and my son-in-law made a fastpass for Expedition Everest for himself, his son, his Dad and my husband. My husband didn't care to go, but I really wanted to ride it with our grandson so we just switched magic bands so I could go.

 

[PamNC]

I'll be there 2/25 - 3/1 but staying offsite. I will be purchasing our tickets on 2/6..this Friday. That said, I know I can reserve my FP's online 30 days out. Question is - given that it's not the crazy busy President's week.. should I worry about reserving? Will it be crowded when I'm there? Never gone in late Feb before. Thanks!