Just returned from WDW and FP+ stinks

[mom2rtk]

Sorry it didn't go well for you OP.

I really would love to have a peek at the percentage of guests booking a bounceback right now compared to this time a year ago.

 

[ilovemk76]

Or misunderstanding of sarcasm.

I love and do sarcasm all the time. This sir is not sarcasm.

 

[Laketravis]

Thanks for posting. OP.

Don't let any comments discourage you from elaborating about your experience. Many of us really do want to know how it went for you, both the good and the bad.

 

[ktlm]

Sorry to hear about your experience OP. We didn't like it either. I agree, we felt like we were getting less done with FP+ because we were "locked in" as WDW likes to call it in their new commercials with no way to get out. MDE didn't work to change times in the park when we were there (the word "blip" now has new meaning- we still say "a blip has occurred" every time something doesn't work at home), and the times that I spent 3 hours trying to perfect and tweaking to correspond with where we would be in the park at a given time of day weren't right so we were criss-crossing the parks instead of focusing on one area at a time.


I am really starting to wonder about the "crowd" reports. It seems like since "testing" started people have constantly been complaining that the crowds are worse than normal. We experienced bigger "crowds" than expected when we were there too, although it wasn't bad. Did the park paths and common areas seem more crowded or was it just the attractions and wait times? I'm starting to wonder if MDE/FP+/MB just makes it FEEL more crowded. I know that the FP lines were longer because of the scanners and issues with them and the bands (both band glitches and user error). I know that the lines to get in the park were longer because of band glitches and people not knowing how to use the band. I personally held up a line one day at DHS when my MB suddenly decided I didn't need to enter the park that day and didn't work. It was a few minutes of them trying to get it figured out while I stood there, and then a person with an Ipad coming over and fixing it, while the whole time, the rest of the people trying to enter were stuck behind me. It also seems that several of the rides that never needed a FP, and didn't really have lines, now do have lines and I'm thinking that might be due to FP+ causing stops in the line flow. For us, the walkways, CS, shops and other things did not seem more crowded than usual. Maybe it really has just been more crowded over the past several months, but I'm starting to wonder if the new system just makes it feel more crowded.

 

[ptcbass]

We are getting ready to make our plans and reserve our FP+'s.
Is it still true that the day the park has extra magic hours it is busier (even in the off weeks)? We are going first week of May. This is our first trip to Disney that isn't smack dab in the middle of the summer. I hope it is less busy than we are used to.

 

[shalom]

Did the park paths and common areas seem more crowded or was it just the attractions and wait times? I'm starting to wonder if MDE/FP+/MB just makes it FEEL more crowded.

Josh of EasyWDW has said that the fact that they now have doubled the line areas for FP+ at attractions not originally designed for two lines, there are a lot more lines spilling out, which makes it feel more crowded with fewer people. I'm sure the delays of a new system that hasn't had the bugs worked out of it contribute too. Whether either of those will ease or change in the near future...

 

[Laketravis]

I am really starting to wonder about the "crowd" reports. It seems like since "testing" started people have constantly been complaining that the crowds are worse than normal. We experienced bigger "crowds" than expected when we were there too, although it wasn't bad. Did the park paths and common areas seem more crowded or was it just the attractions and wait times? I'm starting to wonder if MDE/FP+/MB just makes it FEEL more crowded.

I'm starting to wonder that as well. I know the feeling of crowded is completely subjective, some people enjoy being shoulder to shoulder while others feel crowded if there is another person within 10 feet of them.

But it's hard to dispute that more people seem to be using that term right now, during what is supposed to be one of the least busiest times of the year.

 

[Ariel on Land]

We DISers really need to agree on a sarcasm font.

You're not kidding!

And yeah, this whole FP+ mess is a nightmare. I would have much rather gone this April, but am now deciding to go in September (even though I will have to pay for DD, as she turns 3 in early August) solely because I want the lowest crowds possible. We were there in October, and it was NOT the crowd levels I've experienced before that time of year. With a 3 FP limit, it's just a PITrear.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Just got off the phone with a friend of mine in the Magic Kingdom today. First off, no fair that I know 2 people in WDW right now and I'm neither of them. Secondly, he echoed what many have been saying - FP is horrible right now. FP lines are as long as standby lines at Peter Pan and Thunder Mountain. He gets in the FP line, then goes into the standby line because it looks shorter. People are standing outside the FP entrance asking why the long is so wait with FP.

Good lord. I really hope this all gets fixed.

 

[sonofanarchy]

I love and do sarcasm all the time. This sir is not sarcasm.

Who can tell? As someone already said, tones of all sorts (not just sarcasm) can't be read on message boards. To try and do so is futile.

 

[Suellen]

1.If they don't have a rental car and don't want to spend money on a taxi.
2.See number 1.
3.Not exactly, but it depends where you want to eat. The longer you wait, the more difficult it is to get into certain places, like 'Ohana, Chef Mickey's, V&A's, California Grille.
4.That was sarcasm. But honestly, at the Magic Kingdom, your choices are quite limited if you're not eating at a sit down restaurant.

I have to say we never, ever make reservations more then a few hours before (okay well for Be Our Guest we mad them quite a ways out for my daughter's birthday) and we never, ever have trouble getting a reservation where we want to go.

Right now I could make dinner reservations for tonight at many places on property INCLUDING: Ohana, Crystal Palace, California Grill, Chef Mickeys and THREE sit downs at Magic Kingdom.

Now... could I make those all for a week from now? Maybe not but if you keep checking you can usually get what you want.

I don't do hamburgers or hotdogs at WDW, so I am well versed in the different kinds of food at quick service. Hollywood Studios is by far the worst.

Magic Kingdom has:

Rotisserie Chicken
Lobster Rolls (I don't think they are wonderful... but not bad either)
Fish and Chips
Soups
Salads (love the taco salad at Peco Bill's)
Burritos (occasionally)

Of course none of this is what the OP was talking about to begin with.

As far as FP+ ~ we also like that but we have no agenda to "see it all" in one week either ~ so it is different.

 

[sonofanarchy]

I really would love to have a peek at the percentage of guests booking a bounceback right now compared to this time a year ago.

Well you know Disney looks at the stuff anyways, but absolutely - It would be VERY interesting to see that data.

Obviously, I am nobody, but I am the biggest Disney fan I know, and this is the 1st winter in 10 years that I'm not going. And it wasn't because I couldn't go.

 

[davedmaine]

Now you know I'm with you when it comes to disliking FP+ and some of the other things Disney is up to these days, but let's not be silly. Disney is a BASTION of food choices that aren't hot dogs and burgers. In fact we do tons of QS meals and never touch a burger (other than maybe at Pecos Bill's because we love it there). Carry on!

You mean they serve something other than the lovely bacon angus cheeseburger that has taken over the parks? Thank you dining plan..

 

[sonofanarchy]

Right now I could make dinner reservations for tonight at many places on property INCLUDING: Ohana, Crystal Palace, California Grill, Chef Mickeys and THREE sit downs at Magic Kingdom.

It's also the last week of January.

Try doing that in July when unfortunately, is the only time my family can go. There are definitely some places we can get last minute. But of the ones I listed, not a chance. Believe me, I wish I didn't know what I was talking about, but during busy season, you have to make ADR's in advance. Do you have to make them 6 months in advance? Not all of them. That's me. I get nervous about that stuff. But for some, if you want to go at a specific time, yeah, you have to do it. I can't tell you how many times we've been shut out of 'Ohana whether it be day of, or a couple months in advance.

 

[Suellen]

It's also the last week of January.

Try doing that in July when unfortunately, is the only time my family can go.

We do it at least once a week year round ~ in the summer we do it often. Usually not on the big holidays July 4th and Christmas... because well we have other stuff going on ~ but we go at least once a week ~ too often probably.

 

[sonofanarchy]

We do it at least once a week year round ~ in the summer we do it often. Usually not on the big holidays July 4th and Christmas... because well we have other stuff going on ~ but we go at least once a week ~ too often probably.

So you're telling me that in July, you simply call up and get reservations day of for 'Ohana, Chef Mickey's, Crystal palace, just as if you were calling an Outback, and get whatever time you want?

If that's the truth, you have solved a problem that so many people have at WDW, that it's talked about in every single guidebook on the market and every single Disney message board there is.

 

[Imhere]

Sorry you had a bad time OP. Get ready for the flaming. You're about to be called the equivalent of a 50's Commie. Obviously you hate Disney and all it stands for and you probably set fire to orphanages on Christmas Eve, too.

How ironic that you were the first to go off topic.

 

[sonofanarchy]

BTW, could it happen and has it? Of course it has. Anything is possible. People cancel, glitch in the system, etc. But you seem to be speaking like you have a conversation on a Saturday afternoon in July about going out to dinner, and you just call Disney Dining and tell them you want a table at 'Ohana at 5:00 and get it without any issue, whenever you want.

Sorry, but I don't buy that.

 

[jdonat]

It was just OK when I used it back in December but only because (1) I could change things easily on the fly and the night before and (2) FP- was still available in all but AK. I currently have a reservation at AKV for Christmas and trying to make a reservation for NYE at BWV and I'm having a hard time getting excited about it.

We're looking at NYE and then just after, and we may not do that trip, but maybe a Feb "gotta get away from all the SNOW" trip like we're doing this year... Instead... And then maybe a f&w trip in October, and if if if we can swing it a trip around the first week of July. DW has a big b-day on 7/8 and we're going to explore this... The NYE trip hasn't been that important to the family....busy busy and still tough to schedule around DD#2 finals.

 

[smitch425]

BTW, could it happen and has it? Of course it has. Anything is possible. People cancel, glitch in the system, etc. But you seem to be speaking like you have a conversation on a Saturday afternoon in July about going out to dinner, and you just call Disney Dining and tell them you want a table at 'Ohana at 5:00 and get it without any issue, whenever you want.

Sorry, but I don't buy that.

Now that there is a credit card guarantee for all TS meals, it is much more likely that you can get a last minute reservation. I know people who did it several times over Christmas.