Just Returned and despise Fastpass +

[glamdring269]

why are people saying that they are being forced to participate? I don't understand. you don't have to participate in FP+, FP-, or whatever the new ideas may be. you have a choice... you can stand in the standby lines and ride whatever you want , when you want. you do not have to preschedule anything. no one is forcing you to choose what you want or how you plan your day.

That's not going to happen. The more likely scenario is those folks will just stop going. You have to understand, the majority of people complaining about FP+ were huge fans of the old FP system. I'm one of them. But I also RD so figure I can still get ~75% of what I used to get done finished in somewhat equivalent time and then will just have to decide on how to handle that remaining 25%.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think they'll have a battle on their hands if/when they try. I think Cali locals will fight it all the way.

Yeah, not sure, the local thing could go either way. It seems from what I read on the disboards, some of the local APs like FP+. They like being able to book from home and then pop in at whatever time they want (as opposed to rope drop), ride their 3 rides, hang out, go home. I'm not sure FP+ is as big a deal if you are a local and you can just come back another day. It's more upsetting when you don't go that often and have to travel long distances to get there. I'm sure there will still be a fight about it though.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think they'll have a battle on their hands if/when they try. I think Cali locals will fight it all the way.

I used to think that. But I'm not so sure. We went to DLR in December and I chatted with a fair number of them while standing in line or waiting for shows and parades. The ones I talked to really just didn't care. There aren't as many rides with FP there, and they just sort of laughed at the whole thing.

If you think about it, it really does make sense. They are used to just going and hanging out. What they miss today they can do next week. They are not about ride optimization.

It would be interesting to see if their attitudes changed once Disney started converting some of their favorites to FP and those previously standby only lines slowed to a crawl with the new FP return line prioritized over it.

Another issue is that DLR really does not have room to add FP return lines to a lot of those rides without one now. Nor do they have much space for FP return lines snaking out past the ride entrance.

My greatest concern with FP+ at DLR is just he sheer number of local AP holders. We still don't know the impact of opening WDW up to FP+ reservations for WDW's much smaller local AP base. Whatever happens when that takes place will take place in spades at DLR. What AP holders do to the system at WDW AP holders will do to the DLR FP system many times over.

Those DLR AP holders might not use FP much now. But if they start getting shut out of many rides, they might start booking slots "Just in case". And that's where it falls apart.

 

[kbelle8995]

I used to think that. But I'm not so sure. We went to DLR in December and I chatted with a fair number of them while standing in line or waiting for shows and parades. The ones I talked to really just didn't care. There aren't as many rides with FP there, and they just sort of laughed at the whole thing.

If you think about it, it really does make sense. They are used to just going and hanging out. What they miss today they can do next week. They are not about ride optimization.

It would be interesting to see if their attitudes changed once Disney started converting some of their favorites to FP and those previously standby only lines slowed to a crawl with the new FP return line prioritized over it.

Another issue is that DLR really does not have room to add FP return lines to a lot of those rides without one now. Nor do they have much space for FP return lines snaking out past the ride entrance.

My greatest concern with FP+ at DLR is just he sheer number of local AP holders. We still don't know the impact of opening WDW up to FP+ reservations for WDW's much smaller local AP base. Whatever happens when that takes place will take place in spades at DLR. What AP holders do to the system at WDW AP holders will do to the DLR FP system many times over.

Those DLR AP holders might not use FP much now. But if they start getting shut out of many rides, they might start booking slots "Just in case". And that's where it falls apart.

Possible. It might change things some. I don't think it's gotten to all the passholders at WDW. I have a seasonal and have not been offered an option to get a magic band or to be part of the test.

I think that it would be interesting to see how it would be at DL especially with a larger pool of passholders. But I also see Disney trying to maximize guests there as well

 

[kimmar067]

Possible. It might change things some. I don't think it's gotten to all the passholders at WDW. I have a seasonal and have not been offered an option to get a magic band or to be part of the test.

I think that it would be interesting to see how it would be at DL especially with a larger pool of passholders. But I also see Disney trying to maximize guests there as well

....sometimes there is no rhyme or reason with Disney...

 

[kimmar067]

....bumping this back to page one to ask if anyone has noticed any improvement with the Mickey bands...

 

[rn448698]

I was told by IT my problem was that I had a MacBook and the program was designed for Internet explorer and not Safari. He suggested that I install google chrome or Internet explorer on my Mac. NO WAY!

I know it's been two months, but I guess I don't understand why the OP said "NO WAY!" to trying a solution offered by the IT department. Installing and using IE or Chrome is just that: installing IE or Chrome. It does not mess up your MacBook, and it's not the end of the world. Both programs are free, and would take well under 15 minutes (I'm estimating) to download and install. So, I would like to know why the OP didn't try this solution.

 

[kimmar067]

 

[sretav]

Just back. We had no problems using our Magic Bands for purchases, entry, FPs and Magic Maker. No blue lights, no missing FPs or pictures. They worked as intended and with 2 adults and 4 girls, they were much easier to use than having to pull out 6 almost identical cards from my wallet every time I would have needed to.

 

[surferdave]

....bumping this back to page one to ask if anyone has noticed any improvement with the Mickey bands...

Every individual who goes can only report on their own anecdotal experience. Even when the OP of this thread started it there were plenty of people posting that everything worked perfectly for them so they didn't understand what he was upset about.

 

[Laz]

It boils down to this...we love Disney more than we hate FP+...and we really really hate FP+.

That is why I now go to DLR, at least until FP+ invades it. Hopefully by then it will be totally different

 

[FPminusCommando]

I know it's been two months, but I guess I don't understand why the OP said "NO WAY!" to trying a solution offered by the IT department.

Yeah, that was my big takeaway from the whole write-up. Who knows, IT may have just been throwing ideas out there, but trying a different browser is standard practice if a web page does not work.

 

[nkereina]

I know it's been two months, but I guess I don't understand why the OP said "NO WAY!" to trying a solution offered by the IT department. Installing and using IE or Chrome is just that: installing IE or Chrome. It does not mess up your MacBook, and it's not the end of the world. Both programs are free, and would take well under 15 minutes (I'm estimating) to download and install. So, I would like to know why the OP didn't try this solution.

THIS!!!!! Of course its frustrating that IT says it doesn't work on Safari, so why not do something as easy as downloading another browser to try?!?! It can even be uninstalled after your trip! A 5 minute potential solution versus spending 30 hours on the phone with Disney. Boggles the mind.

 

[wendyt_ca]

I used fast pass+ back in October and I actually loved it. I liked that I could plan my trip out so much better in advance. I found it a lot less stressful and I didn't need to worry about being at the park for opening for an attraction like TSM. I also found since I could plan out better I was able to make more use of my time and got more done while even still having time to relax at the resort. Some days I could even sleep in a little later than usual (something I could never do without sacrifice).

I think everyone will have different experiences though and not everyone will love it while not everyone will hate it. It also has a learning curve for everyone to get used to and "master" the best way to use it for them. It will work for some people and not so well for others. There is still the option to book same day in the park though so it kind of does cater to each type of vacationer.

 

[kimmar067]

I thought it was interesting that friends of ours who stay off-property noticed during their visit last December, that many guests were having some issues with the FP+ bands, like getting into the parks, activating FP when going on any particular ride, etc. They didn't say whether they'd like or not like using the bands...just observed that there seemed to be glitches with them...

 

[JJsmama]

I too am being scared off by all the bad reviews about Fp+. Also , I am trying to plan our daily strategy and am finding it more difficult than previous years. I am asking my boys their very top choice per park, etc so that I can be ready to lock it in on day 60. They are looking at me like, "MOm, Chill..."
They don't know where they want to at 10 AM every day of the trip- more than 2 months in advance! They thought I was OCD enough just for making all the ADrs in advance! But now I feel if I don't schedule the FP +, we will be screwed...
It does seem like it is taking the care free/ fun feeling out of it. I already have reservations but I feel the air going out of my balloon and am wondering if the boys and I should do something non disney this summer....

 

[stky6]

"MOm, Chill..."

Follow their advise

 

[kay1864]

I too am being scared off by all the bad reviews about Fp+.

Don't be. I used FP+ last November, and last month, with no issues at all. Even made a few changes (on my phone) while in the park (often while waiting in line!). Typically this was because we didn't need the FP we had scheduled, so we went standby and used the FP for something else later that morning or evening.

We never waited more than 15 minutes for an attraction. Credit FP+ and RideMax for that.

I am asking my boys their very top choice per park, etc so that I can be ready to lock it in on day 60.

Not really needed, except for A&E and 7DMT. Try this: if you're going on either of those, at the 60-day mark get FPs for those rides (use easywdw to choose your MK day(s)).

Then relax, wait, and choose the rest of your FPs a week or two before you go, or when you make your ADRs. No need to plan your whole vacation 60 days in advance.

 

[kimmar067]

Don't be. I used FP+ last November, and last month, with no issues at all. Even made a few changes (on my phone) while in the park (often while waiting in line!). Typically this was because we didn't need the FP we had scheduled, so we went standby and used the FP for something else later that morning or evening.

We never waited more than 15 minutes for an attraction. Credit FP+ and RideMax for that.....

...did you go when the parks weren't as crowded though?

 

[Julylady]

I have used FP+ twice including April during spring break (very crowded). It worked just fine. We were at the park for rope drop most days and each ride was a walk on. We used our FP+ reservations for either late morning/early afternoon, or between 5 and 7pm. The best part was that no one had to run around gathering fast passes from the machines as the day progressed.