LOVE or HATE FP+ Anyone's mind been changed ??

[Cormoran]

I wish you hadn't been made to feel you ad to change your name, but I understand why you did. That said, PLEASE tell me your new name is a reference to Jack the Giant Killer...I LOVE that movie (especially the Rifftrax version).

Actually no. I love JK Rowling. I loved all the Harry Potter books and then she started writing adult detective fiction under the name Robert Galbraith. Well, the hero of the new series is Cormoran Strike. I've always thought that was a great name.

 

[dayvewc]

I gave up on this a long time ago because for some reason people love to say that FP+ cost $2 billion. But I am glad to see that there are others who recognize that there is A LOT more to MM+ than just FP+.

I don't see the logic in saying that just because MM+ is implemented differently at Disneyland means that there is something wrong with how it's being done at WDW. There have always been a lot of differences between how the two resorts operate. For example, WDW releases park operating hours 6 months in advance and Disneyland releases them more like 4-6 weeks in advance. That doesn't mean that one is right or wrong or better or worse.

That may be my miscommunication. I wasn't trying to say that FP+ specifically is (or is not) a failure, just that in bringing MM+ to the parks includes much more than FP+. So, while different parks have different needs or operational guidelines, the decision to bring the rest of MM+ is understandable even if they don't bring FP+, for whatever reason. Be that reason that it isn't needed, has too much consumer pushback, or that internally Disney decided that it doesn't meet the goal they wanted. I can (almost) guarantee, though, that if FP+ doesn't show up at DL with MM+ there will be a loud vocal group singing the refrain, "See, it doesn't work and even Disney doesn't think it works or else they would have forced it on us at DL."

For the record, I refer to it as "MM+/FP+" when attributing any cost figures to the initiative.


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I knew I had seen the program referenced that way, but honestly couldn't remember off-hand who was doing it. Or if it was more than one person.

I'd also like to take a moment to say "thank you". I don't always agree with everything you say, but I don't think I've ever read a (informative) post you wrote that wasn't reasoned. As I said, I may not agree with your conclusions, but they have always had supporting reasons.

 

[Cormoran]

I thought it was a tribute to the main character in the two Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling) mystery novels.

Spot on! Do you like them?

 

[wisblue]

That may be my miscommunication. I wasn't trying to say that FP+ specifically is (or is not) a failure, just that in bringing MM+ to the parks includes much more than FP+. So, while different parks have different needs or operational guidelines, the decision to bring the rest of MM+ is understandable even if they don't bring FP+, for whatever reason. Be that reason that it isn't needed, has too much consumer pushback, or that internally Disney decided that it doesn't meet the goal they wanted. I can (almost) guarantee, though, that if FP+ doesn't show up at DL with MM+ there will be a loud vocal group singing the refrain, "See, it doesn't work and even Disney doesn't think it works or else they would have forced it on us at DL."

Just to clarify, my comment about FP+ being a failure wasn't directed at you. I was referring to previous posters who suggested that implementing MM+ differently at DLR would suggest that they aren't happy with how things are going at WDW. I just don't think you can draw a conclusion like that one way or another.

 

[wisblue]

Spot on! Do you like them?

Yes, I really like JK Rowling's writing style. And I think some of the twists and red herrings she has thrown into the mysteries are reminiscent of Agatha Christie.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Just posted on another thread that I am slowly converting to being OK with FP+. It seems like it will be accommodating to our new style of sleeping in on vacation.

But I totally agree on the making your brain hurt to book the FP+. We had one day at Magic Kingdom back in October and I think it took me an hour to get 3 FP+ booked for our party of 6 in a way where all 6 of us could go into the line at the same time. I'm kind of dreading attempting to book for multiple days.

 

[MrsMcKenzie]

My biggest gripe with FP+, is that there are tiers for the rides at Epcot and HS. That says there are not enough headliners and high demand rides/attractions at those parks. It shines a light on what is lacking.

 

[Laketravis]

I'd also like to take a moment to say "thank you". I don't always agree with everything you say, but I don't think I've ever read a (informative) post you wrote that wasn't reasoned. As I said, I may not agree with your conclusions, but they have always had supporting reasons.

Awwwwww..........what a nice thing to say! Thanks!!

 

[dayvewc]

Awwwwww..........what a nice thing to say! Thanks!!

Welcome. Now if Disney would just add enough capacity to fully utilize MM+ as envisioned!

 

[edk35]

Another update. My daughter is at Disney for a week Arrived on Tuesday of this week. Today she and her BF arrived before park opening at HS. They went straight to Toy Story and it took them a 1/2 an hour to ride via standbe. Then they went to RR and it took them 1 HOUR in the standby line. NOW in all fairness RR opened a bit later due to something breaking down, but not too terribly long she heard..... However, the backlog of FP users didn't help matters I guess for standby guests. She had FP's for Toy (later in the day) Star Tours and TOT. When they used their TOT FP there was an 80 min. wait This just blows my mind for a Jan. trip. HS is listed as first choice on easywdw site and the crowd level is a 3 at HS according to Touring Plans.

 

[Rebekkap]

I'm still hopeful that FP+ won't pop up in the other parks. It just doesn't fit the DL mentality IMO plus doesn't Tokyo run independently from the other parks? Maybe they'll reject it (if they can).

Having just come back from a Tokyo Disneyland I've got to say FP+ would be a massive improvement. We went on one of the quietest days of the year and were still not able to fastpass the two most popular rides - Pooh's Hunny Hunt and Monsters Inc Ride and Go Seek - because FP run out so early in the day. We did manage to get a second FP for space mountain. That's it - two FP on one of the quietest days of the year. Three booked in advance would have been a huge advantage and improved our day enormously - waiting in a 100 minute queue for Pooh's Hunny Hunt was not my idea of fun.

 

[Robo]

Having just come back from a Tokyo Disneyland I've got to say FP+ would be a massive improvement. We went on one of the quietest days of the year and were still not able to fastpass the two most popular rides - Pooh's Hunny Hunt and Monsters Inc Ride and Go Seek - because FP run out so early in the day.

So, with FP+, all of the FPs would then run out 60 days in advance?

 

[NMAmy]

Nope, after experiencing FP+ last year, we have voted with our wallet.

The entire family agreed that for the first time in 14 years, we would not be going to WDW for a spring vacation and no one is remotely sad about this decision. After some issues last year, I even have free anytime fast passes and 4 free one day tickets waiting for me along with a free PhotoPass (or whatever it's called now) but we still can't bring ourselves to spend the money to go. We've got some other trips planned to non-Disney locations instead.

Next year, we might do a few days at Universal to see the new Harry Potter stuff and possibly use the free WDW tickets for one day only to see if things are any better.

 

[mom2rtk]

Having just come back from a Tokyo Disneyland I've got to say FP+ would be a massive improvement. We went on one of the quietest days of the year and were still not able to fastpass the two most popular rides - Pooh's Hunny Hunt and Monsters Inc Ride and Go Seek - because FP run out so early in the day. We did manage to get a second FP for space mountain. That's it - two FP on one of the quietest days of the year. Three booked in advance would have been a huge advantage and improved our day enormously - waiting in a 100 minute queue for Pooh's Hunny Hunt was not my idea of fun.

If it was that bad on a quiet day, how hard do you think it's going to be booking them in advance? It sounds like it would likely rival the hunt for A/E fastpasses now, with many people logging in at midnight 60 days out coming up empty.

 

[Disneylover99]

Having just come back from a Tokyo Disneyland I've got to say FP+ would be a massive improvement. We went on one of the quietest days of the year and were still not able to fastpass the two most popular rides - Pooh's Hunny Hunt and Monsters Inc Ride and Go Seek - because FP run out so early in the day.

What time did you arrive at?

 

[Cormoran]

So, with FP+, all of the FPs would then run out 60 days in advance?

I also wonder if Tokyo DL would give preference to their citizens and international tourists would be shut out. IMO FP+ would not alleviate the long lines. Maybe opening the parks 24 hours a day would work.

 

[HydroGuy]

So, with FP+, all of the FPs would then run out 60 days in advance?

TDR is much more like DLR than WDW. Lots of locals visit. I do not know the AP stats there but suspect it has a lot of parallels to DLR.

DLR has 3 Disney hotels. I have not checked in the last five years but TDR also had 3 hotels when I was there. So the lower demand from out of town guests changes things compared to WDW with the 20+ hotels.

Lots of talk on the DLR forum how FP+ would ever (or could ever) work at DLR. TDR would again have a lot of the same issues. How do you handle the 60 day or 30 day FP+ reservations when such a high percentage of visitors decide to visit on a whim? Would they even be issues if implemented? Would the majority of local guests tolerate it or view it as too big of a hassle and go elsewhere instead?

 

[flicx]

Nope, after experiencing FP+ last year, we have voted with our wallet.

The entire family agreed that for the first time in 14 years, we would not be going to WDW for a spring vacation and no one is remotely sad about this decision. After some issues last year, I even have free anytime fast passes and 4 free one day tickets waiting for me along with a free PhotoPass (or whatever it's called now) but we still can't bring ourselves to spend the money to go. We've got some other trips planned to non-Disney locations instead.

Next year, we might do a few days at Universal to see the new Harry Potter stuff and possibly use the free WDW tickets for one day only to see if things are any better.

I hear this exact thing more and more. I think unless fp pass plus changes in some way or Disney builds a lot of new attractions they will see a down tick in business. The only thing that may delay it for a while is the uptick in the economy.

 

[hsmamato2]

Been here for a week.... I don't hate it quite as much as I thought I would,but I dislike it. My number one reason? The website is SO GLITCHY. Due to the ridiculous amount of preplanning,the detail of names,etc,and ticket usage,leaves almost NO room for adjusting as you go. yesterday was a prime example, we had a few fp+ for the afternoon!and partway thru the day decided to change our schedule-attempting to log in via the app was a joke, it kept going offline randomly,and when I would get it back the info kept changing....so end result was we list our midday fp+ choices (site dropped us then lost our plans) and we finally gave up,and just did our own thing. For us,we managed fine,but were wdw vets, for the average or new visitor,it would have been so 'not fun'. Another MASSIVE drawback is the inability of the system to recognize unused ticket days left- we ended up skipping a park day midweek,and will use that day at the end of trip,however we can't make fp+ b/c our days are already "used up" so it's an awful thing IMHO- I enjoyed the freedom of visiting Universal for a couple of days....just us,some tickets,and plenty of fun!(disney seriously is underestimating its competition)
So overall,it's mostly doable,but I dislike it a lot.

 

[Cormoran]

Been here for a week.... I don't hate it quite as much as I thought I would,but I dislike it. My number one reason? The website is SO GLITCHY. Due to the ridiculous amount of preplanning,the detail of names,etc,and ticket usage,leaves almost NO room for adjusting as you go. yesterday was a prime example, we had a few fp+ for the afternoon!and partway thru the day decided to change our schedule-attempting to log in via the app was a joke, it kept going offline randomly,and when I would get it back the info kept changing....so end result was we list our midday fp+ choices (site dropped us then lost our plans) and we finally gave up,and just did our own thing. For us,we managed fine,but were wdw vets, for the average or new visitor,it would have been so 'not fun'. Another MASSIVE drawback is the inability of the system to recognize unused ticket days left- we ended up skipping a park day midweek,and will use that day at the end of trip,however we can't make fp+ b/c our days are already "used up" so it's an awful thing IMHO- I enjoyed the freedom of visiting Universal for a couple of days....just us,some tickets,and plenty of fun!(disney seriously is underestimating its competition)
So overall,it's mostly doable,but I dislike it a lot.

I'm sorry FP+ doesn't work for you. I agree with what you're saying, spontaneity is gone. I'm glad you enjoyed Universal, I think we're more excited about that part of the trip than anything else.