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

[JimmyV]

That's how I see it. The old system favored a group
Of super users to the detriment of other guests.

And the current system favors a group as well. It's just a different group. And make no mistake, once FP+ is in place for a sufficient length of time, "Strategies" will develop, be published and be sold that will create a new breed of super users. Sites like Touring Plans will be able to predict which rides you should FP and precisely at what hour in order to maximize your ability to get extra FPs. And let's not forget that there are already Super User strategies for throwaway rooms and unlinked extra Magic Bands.

 

[BugsDaddy]

Emphasis on "attempts". The people who are not getting A&E FP+ 60 days in advance at 12:02 a.m. are not really seeing how this is any different than not getting a TSMM FP- at 11:30 a.m.. There is no "equal distribution" of these new FPs, and guests are using their knowledge of the system to gain an advantage. (Specifically, make sure you are on line at midnight and try booking your later days before trying to book your first days). Which only goes to prove that no system is going to be perfect. No system is ever going to give every person every ride. It is just a matter of how much "inequality" are we willing to live with. Under FP-, it was more than it is under FP+. To some, the "old" inequality wasn't a bad result. To others, things were becoming untenable.

I will say that A&E is the only FP that I hear about where there seems to be such an overwhelming demand that you may need to be online at midnight to have a chance to "win that lottery". In a lot of the reports I have seen, there seems to be enough availability amongst the others where getting on at midnight on the day your FP window starts, is probably not necessary. I think there is a big difference between with FP+ vs. FP- in that FP+ creates more availability to a large number of guests by rationing and tiering rides. There was very little of that in the old system.

 

[JimmyV]

I will say that A&E is the only FP that I hear about where there seems to be such an overwhelming demand that you may need to be online at midnight to have a chance to "win that lottery".

No argument here. And TSMM was the only FP that became unavailable by 11:30 a.m.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Well what would it take to get them over here for awhile? Would Capitalist, Socialist, or Communist negotiations work best?

The thing that was different there (Rumors and News) back in the day, and trust me.....it got contentious, was that folks didn't have an agenda per se. There was no need to fashion "facts" to support a conclusion. We had thoughts and beliefs, we had disagreements, but there was still some level of objectivity, even if we interpreted some facts differently. As we weren't talking so much about personal vacations, but rather the Walt Disney Company, it's history, what drove Walt and how, even if, the same ideals should/could drive the company today.....well, there was little need for hyperbole and rhetoric, at least to the extent I see here.

The discussions back in 2000 over whatever subject weren't much different in tone on the planning board then as they are today. The R&N crew I knew didn't spend much time on the planning board then, because we were talking Company, not vacations. Given the rhetoric and accompanying snark on the vacation based planning board that exists at times, I don't think they would today.

 

[G8r4evr]

Way too much planning for a vacation. We are fl residents and tend to plan our vacations only 2-3 weeks out and by that time, all the good fast passes and reservation are gone ;(

OP - I have our 3 fps booked for MK, so we can get more fast passes at kiosks once we get there?

 

[Laketravis]

Way too much planning for a vacation. We are fl residents and tend to plan our vacations only 2-3 weeks out and by that time, all the good fast passes and reservation are gone ;(

OP - I have our 3 fps booked for MK, so we can get more fast passes at kiosks once we get there?

Once you use your first three, yes - you can get another for whatever is available at a kiosk.


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[cakebaker]

And the current system favors a group as well. It's just a different group. And make no mistake, once FP+ is in place for a sufficient length of time, "Strategies" will develop, be published and be sold that will create a new breed of super users. Sites like Touring Plans will be able to predict which rides you should FP and precisely at what hour in order to maximize your ability to get extra FPs. And let's not forget that there are already Super User strategies for throwaway rooms and unlinked extra Magic Bands.

I don't believe it favors anyone- in that everyone can book 3 FP+ exactly the same. The only difference being the nod to on site guests getting a head start. That's Disney's choice if they want to give preference to those who choose to give them more of their vacation $$'s.
I'm sure strategies will develop, but there's no getting around only booking 3 advance. Knowing the best rides and when you get the best advantages by booking them is something people already are discovering on their own. For those that don't want to work at figuring it out, no doubt there will be sites that can help them. That's completely different from depleting the supply so you can ride TOT 5 times in a row at night.

I don't consider the practice of booking dummy reservations to be a strategy, and in particular the practice of booking a fake reservation, using fake names, collecting the perks and then not paying for the reservation. I'm confident Disney will eventually stop that if it becomes enough of a problem as they will the practice of using bags full of bands for sdfp. But those are not strategies.

 

[Laketravis]

...And let's not forget that there are already Super User strategies for throwaway rooms and unlinked extra Magic Bands.

And now apparently having two computers signed into the same MDE account at the same time to book your FP's

I'm still trying to figure out what sort of advantage that would afford.


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[cakebaker]

And now apparently having two computers signed into the same MDE account at the same time to book your FP's

I'm still trying to figure out what sort of advantage that would afford.


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No matter how many computers you use, you're limited to 3fp+ reservations per guest. I have no idea what the advantage is now. Perhaps in the early days when SDMT was almost as hard to get as A&E, it might have given you some edge, but I think it's just over the top anxious guests who are convinced fp+'s are harder to get than they are.

 

[G8r4evr]

Once you use your first three, yes - you can get another for whatever is available at a kiosk.


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we'll thats a bummer...our last fp isn't till 8.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Emphasis on "attempts". The people who are not getting A&E FP+ 60 days in advance at 12:02 a.m. are not really seeing how this is any different than not getting a TSMM FP- at 11:30 a.m.. There is no "equal distribution" of these new FPs, and guests are using their knowledge of the system to gain an advantage. (Specifically, make sure you are on line at midnight and try booking your later days before trying to book your first days). Which only goes to prove that no system is going to be perfect.

Agreed, no system will ever be perfect. However, does that mean that a company shouldn't try and improve on imperfect situations? All imperfect situations can't be fixed with a wave of a magic wand either, it can take time.

Yes, A&E is the new Cinderellas Royal Table. You remember how hard that reservation used to be, to the point that online organizations existed so Charlie and his Angels could secure and share reservations amongst their ranks. CRT was outta hand.....but that imperfect,out of hand situation no longer exists today. Disney recognized it, added more Princess meals, changed ADR policies, and it's not the same untenable situation it used to be.

Similarly, I'd bet the A&E situation is improved at some point. Likewise, other FP+ warts are likely to be cleared up.

Things take time, and I find a way to work within abailable systems and still have great trips. Unfortunately, not everyone can do that, apparently.

 

[Laketravis]

I don't consider the practice of booking dummy reservations to be a strategy, especially those who book, take the perks and cancel the reservation....

Yeah, that's just wrong.

I'm also confident they will put a stop to using mulitple bands for sdfp. That practice cuts down the availability of sdfp and I have no doubt, that if it becomes prevalent, they'll stop it. It's a an easy fix. There's a difference between strategy and dishonesty.

I think it's already prevalent. I saw lots of guests with ziplock bags full of multiple sets of bands at the kiosks. I know the CM's did to. And I agree it's an easy fix from a technical standpoint (band must have been used for park entry), so why haven't they fixed it?


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[cakebaker]

Yeah, that's just wrong.



I think it's already prevalent. I saw lots of guests with ziplock bags full of multiple sets of bands at the kiosks. I know the CM's did to. And I agree it's an easy fix from a technical standpoint (band must have been used for park entry), so why haven't they fixed it?


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Honestly, I don't know. Despite the fact that many people think I have nothing negative to say about Disney- it's not true because this is one area I'm furious they haven't put a stop to by now. Simply requiring the band to be used for entry into the park would stop it. The only reason I can come up with is that the anecdotal stories are not representative of a bigger problem. Disney is not shy about stopping abuse they don't like. They've done it many times. I don't look forward to their cure, because they don't always worry about what it costs honest guests, but I'll sure understand it and be willing to pay the price to see that end.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Way too much planning for a vacation. We are fl residents and tend to plan our vacations only 2-3 weeks out and by that time, all the good fast passes and reservation are gone ;(

Sorry you found that. Is that universally true? What did you want, and what did you book?

LT is headed down in a week, has been looking at FP+ availability about 2-3 weeks in advance. I seem to recall him saying availability was pretty decent, outside of maybe A&E or TSMM? A week out now and it seems he's seeing less availability.

 

[catne]

we've been to WDW nearly 40 times...numerous times under the legacy FP system that we "did" very well. We were the people who managed to ride TSM multiple times a day w/paper FP and early stand-by. Now we ride it once on FP+ and call it good. However, have to say we actually love the new FP+ system because we go so often. It works really well if you are happy hitting just a few headliners each visit, filling the between times with less popular attractions. We love being able to book later times on big rides...and still get to be sleeping in when we choose. We've done the arrive-at-lunchtime several times now and boy was that fun to have a leisurely morning lazing around with the coffee (or going out to breakfast with no pressure to eat quick and get to the park...because we already had TSM or 7 Dwarfs MIne Train FP+ for early afternoon.) Before we were always there 30-45 minutes before rope-drop, and go-go-go to get the fastpass set-up we wanted
. Don't need to do that now. We know which rides will really be a walk-on all day...and which to get the fastpass + for. It works great for us. Now...that said, I can see how constricting it would be for folks that are going once every few years (or once in a lifetime) and want to see & do it all in just a few days. But for AP tickets, there multiple times a year...love it.

 

[Laketravis]

LT is headed down in a week, has been looking at FP+ availability about 2-3 weeks in advance. I seem to recall him saying availability was pretty decent, outside of maybe A&E or TSMM? A week out now and it seems he's seeing less availability.

Not sure when G8r4ver is going but I get in this Friday night - just checked and the normal ones (A&E, Wishes, both parades, 7DMT) are all gone and now Buzz and Mermaid are gone as well. But the mountains and HM are still available.

Just for grins I checked the other parks and it was still looking pretty good; TT and Soarin are both still available in Epcot, TSMM is gone but RRnC and ToT are still available in HS.

The following Friday (the 13th!) doesn't look to bad so far either, and it's getting deeper into spring break.

Come to think of it, if Fuzzy is correct and Tiers mean that because I can only pick one I'm contributing to someone else's enjoyment of the parks, then maybe Fuzzy would like to come along with me? Because I much prefer making my charitable contributions directly to the recipient rather than thru a third party.




.

 

[JimmyV]

I don't believe it favors anyone- in that everyone can book 3 FP+ exactly the same. The only difference being the nod to on site guests getting a head start.

You're going to dismiss 30 extra days to on site guests as a "nod"? Please. If we are going to have a real debate, don't destroy your credibility on that point. The new system favors a specific sub-class. The debate can be whether this is right or wrong, good or bad, fair or unfair. But let's not pretend that it is not a distinct advantage as opposed to a "nod". I'm not even sure I know what a "nod" is.

I don't consider the practice of booking dummy reservations to be a strategy

And you dismiss this practice simply because you, personally, don't consider it to be a "strategy". Well, enough people obviously do to create a huge thread here on the practice, how to work the system, and what it can gain you.

 

[Laketravis]

we've been to WDW nearly 40 times...numerous times under the legacy FP system that we "did" very well. We were the people who managed to ride TSM multiple times a day w/paper FP and early stand-by. Now we ride it once on FP+ and call it good. However, have to say we actually love the new FP+ system because we go so often. It works really well if you are happy hitting just a few headliners each visit, filling the between times with less popular attractions. We love being able to book later times on big rides...and still get to be sleeping in when we choose. We've done the arrive-at-lunchtime several times now and boy was that fun to have a leisurely morning lazing around with the coffee (or going out to breakfast with no pressure to eat quick and get to the park...because we already had TSM or 7 Dwarfs MIne Train FP+ for early afternoon.) Before we were always there 30-45 minutes before rope-drop, and go-go-go to get the fastpass set-up we wanted
. Don't need to do that now. We know which rides will really be a walk-on all day...and which to get the fastpass + for. It works great for us. Now...that said, I can see how constricting it would be for folks that are going once every few years (or once in a lifetime) and want to see & do it all in just a few days. But for AP tickets, there multiple times a year...love it.

In regards to FP that's our thought process now as well - we are trying to transition from going for 2+ weeks at a time to shorter but more frequent visits, and trying to do so at the same or less cost.


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[MrInfinity]

Come to think of it, if Fuzzy is correct and Tiers mean that I'm contributing to someone else's enjoyment of the parks, then maybe Fuzzy would like to come along with me? Because I much prefer making my charitable contributions directly to the recipient rather than thru a third party.

If you're buying, I'm there. I'll even agree to not say one nice thing about FP+.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Not sure when G8r4ver is going but I get in this Friday night - just checked and the normal ones (A&E, Wishes, both parades, 7DMT) are all gone and now Buzz and Mermaid are gone as well. But the mountains and HM are still available.

Just for grins I checked the other parks and it was still looking pretty good; TT and Soarin are both still available in Epcot, TSMM is gone but RRnC and ToT are still available in HS.

The following Friday (the 13th!) doesn't look to bad so far either, and it's getting deeper into spring break.

Come to think of it, if Fuzzy is correct and Tiers mean that I'm contributing to someone else's enjoyment of the parks, then maybe Fuzzy would like to come along with me? Because I much prefer making my charitable contributions directly to the recipient rather than thru a third party.




.

Thanks LT. I hope your second week FP reservations go ok, once you can start making them. Whether one is interested in trying your itinerary or not, I'm sure you will have a great trip with many a fun adventure. Have a good time!