So you were able to use FP+ when FP- was still operating. I can't think of anyone in the DIS universe who would not consider that situation to be stellar!
Actually, we didn't use FP- more than three times the entire trip, and we were quite conscious of the fact that it was going away soon. We discussed each time whether we were using the FP- because we needed it, or just because it was there. In each case, we came to the conclusion that the absence of that particular FP- ticket wouldn't have a significant impact on our trip.
While we were down there, we also spent some time figuring out the tiering and coming up with a workable plan to get in Soarin', TestTrack and Maelstrom every day, without using FP-, and then we tested our plan.
Worked out well!
Roughly, our plan looks like this (assuming we're using our FP+ in the morning, which we sometimes do when our afternoon park is Animal Kingdom, and taking into account variations in FP+ times):
1. Arrive at Rope drop, ride Test Track. Possibly ride it twice, using the Single Rider line for the second go around.
2. Use a FP+ for Soarin'.
3. Return to Test Track for another ride, this time using the Single Rider Line.
4. If it's not about 10:45 yet, ride pretty much anything else. If it IS 10:45 (Test Track can sometimes be a time eater - with the design process, you can't get through in less than 20 minutes, even if it's a walk on.) then head up to the World Showcase to ride Maelstrom at 11am sharp, followed by the Mexico ride. Don't be put off by the line in Norway. It'll move fast once they open the doors and start loading boats. ( Not sure how the line for the Princesses will affect this step, but if it turns out their family members have all decided the same thing, then skip Maelstrom. It's not a vacation-ruiner.)
5. After that, have lunch and ride anything with a short line. Use the last two FP+. It's all good!
If we hit any snags, I have full confidence in our ability to adapt, and come up with an even better plan.
Don't take the analogy too literally. I don't expect any battered FP user shelters to spring up, although if I were Universal I'd keep an eye on the prospect.
But when comparing system integrity to personal integrity, I'm not talking about styles of touring as much as whether system problems are encountered or not. Some people are getting hosed by bad WiFi, down systems and data base corruption when they can't make changes or their park & resort data vanishes from the system. Some people are experiencing smooth as silk queue management days (probably better to say hours since it varies wildly) and some are standing in long lines all day watching empty ride vehicles pass by because the CMs can't manage the queues well. That doesn't get invalidated by someone else saying "it worked great for me". When a system suffers integrity problems it will eventually burn all users.
Or, the kinks will be worked out and the fewer users will get burned as the system moves forward.
