MK feels different.

[PatMcDuck]

While I do not agree with the OP in many ways, they do make a point about using all your FP+ and being faced with 120 minute waits on most of the "better" rides. (This week and next week, are the 2nd and 3rd busiest weeks of the year at WDW, so that is one issue that cannot be ignored, just expect the highest possible crowds, it is a terrible time to visit Disney if the main objective is RIDES, not the whole park/resort experience)

But I am encouraged that Disney will eventually allow guests to book one additional FP+ at a time, after they use their original 3 FP+. Makes lots of sense, because you may already have some guests scheduling 3 FP+ before noon (foolishly) and then being faced with the more typical 60-90 minute waits all over the parks (with TSM easily hitting 120 all summer, as well as Soarin' and TT). That guest would likely leave, and Disney does not want THAT. If they had one more FP to stick around for, they might stay (and eat in park, shop, etc).

I like FP+ for booking rides I like to experience after dark….. and for avoiding the long walk to get Soarin' FP, and to avoid running to TSM FP machines at the Studios. Overall, I like the Magic Bands more than I like the FP+ aspect of the whole thing.

 

[WillAustin]

Of course. Except.

Getting there early in the day means you get the location you want at the pool or beach.

Doing research ahead of time means you might get to go on an extra excursion or see a show that will sell out, so others miss out.

All resort restaurants are not created equal, and making reservations means you can eat at good times at the better ones.

A little planning and effort can keep you from overindulging (in sun, liquor, or food) and losing precious vacation time to not feeling well.

And about a dozen other examples.

A little more effort always gives you some benefit, even on the most relaxed vacation. Any situation with a finite amount of "product" will always have results that can be influenced by effort. Research, plan, show up early, pay extra, call ahead, etc....

If only Disney would put the FPs on top of a mountain at the end of a marathon and have you take a Mensa exam to get them....that would be great...

I think we need to require tests for a lot more things in life.

But I am encouraged that Disney will eventually allow guests to book one additional FP+ at a time, after they use their original 3 FP+. Makes lots of sense, because you may already have some guests scheduling 3 FP+ before noon (foolishly) and then being faced with the more typical 60-90 minute waits all over the parks (with TSM easily hitting 120 all summer, as well as Soarin' and TT). That guest would likely leave, and Disney does not want THAT. If they had one more FP to stick around for, they might stay (and eat in park, shop, etc).

Our family is one who will leave the park if all the rides have waits over 30 minutes. That generally means we won't do any standby lines in the afternoons during the summer, especially now that rides that used to have 10 minute waits seem to have 20+ since they've added FP+ to them.

 

[flicx]

For our family, riding rides is what Disney is about. The new system is in fact preventing us from doing as much riding as we have done in the past. I am saying that the best part of Disney is the rides but FP+ lovers keep telling me that I am wrong and just being there is what is important. I should be happy that I am getting less rides and more family time.

Exactly how we feel too! I don't go to ride three rides and wander around and shop and eat. We go on shorter trips due to the high cost of staying and generally go to 4 parks in three days. We want to ride the rides, that is why we go.

 

[Planogirl]

Exactly how we feel too! I don't go to ride three rides and wander around and shop and eat. We go on shorter trips due to the high cost of staying and generally go to 4 parks in three days. We want to ride the rides, that is why we go.

Me too! We try to stay longer but to us there's a lot to do in the Orlando area. We want to enjoy rides and have a few favorite meals and do other things besides shop and wait in line.

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

Disney is so funny. They know darn well there will be few if any decent FP's available after you have used your 3, at least during busy season. If I wasn't so used to their treating me like I didn't have a brain in my head, I'd be offended.

This made me laugh out loud. And, I'm sure WDW brass are doing the same. They've become so confident and complacent in the knowledge that no matter what they do, they can re-wire us into believing it is for the best and that people will continue to make the pilgrimage.

I agree with OP that MK is different... and certainly not for the better. Attendance has been been higher than ever, but look what they're doing to get people there. In the eight years we have been going to Disney, I have never seen the discounts we are seeing lately. And while it's not unheard of to get up to 35% off rack rate, I've never seen it happen year-round. In the past three quarters (perhaps in response to all the negative response received since FP+ launched?), I have seen fall, winter, spring and now SUMMER discounts on rooms in that ballpark. During their BUSIEST times? Can't help but wonder if it's all just to pad resulting data and justify this new, very expensive system they've implemented - "oh look, shareholders, we have more people than ever flocking to our gates... this MM+ thing is ingenious!". Personally, I'd like to see data on spending per customer and likelihood of return if I owned Disney stock to put things in perspective.

And just one more comment that I haven't heard mentioned in this ongoing debate on FP+ and the "gift" it has been in encouraging everyone to stop and smell the roses/enjoy their vacation/spend quality time with family/absorb the magic. The bottom line is that FP- allowed you the option of doing either or both (we never ran for FPs, and could easily have acquired 10 in a day, at a much more relaxed pace than our last trip when we found ourselves having to cross the park to make one of only 3 FPs allotted). If you liked to saunter (as PP mentioned) YOU could, and for those wanting to squeeze in more rides, THEY could. With FP+, they are now forcing everyone (or those unprepared to wait in these inflated SB lines) to waste away a good part of the day, bringing us full circle back to the OP.

So, Disney is building it, and clearly people will come. But if they don't stay, spend money on site, or return, I'm not sure they will be satisfying anyone, and especially not their shareholders.

 

[jahber]

Did someone mention TSMM?

I hope this debate is still on in a few weeks. Then I can join you. And I can book a FP+ for TSMM. Oops, I did it again!

 

[mom2rtk]

I hope this debate is still on in a few weeks. Then I can join you. And I can book a FP+ for TSMM. Oops, I did it again!

Not to worry.......

 

[jade1]

Those that like FP+ say it should be okay that we get less rides because Disney isn't about rides.

That's not true for all of us.

We are happy to get 3 scheduled compared to the old system.

That said-the earlier entry to obtain a 4th or 5th etc is not worth forfeiting our other morning activities, but certainly are fine with others obtaining as many as possible same with FP-.

Now if we use 3 FP+ late afternoon and early evening-we will still indeed check the kiosks or apps if its possible to add more through the evening.

 

[csmith041177]

I have said this many times, but I am reserving judgment until I experience FP plus in September.

 

[jiminyfan]

that the new system allowed for more people to be allowed into the parks and increase MK's attendance by 3000 people. Yes that is a lot more money into the coffers, but it also decreases the public's enjoyment. But, sadly I think that is the last thing this set of executives care about. Having to pay off a $1 Billion system you need to generate as many profit dollars as possible.

Every thing that is done is for a profit and nothing more. Cutting entertainment, a few cast members here and there, every little cut saves a little and every extra person in the gate adds a little. We forget that Disney is big business and the business drives what we get and not the other way around.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

My husband and I were talking about FP vs FP+ this afternoon and I thought up an interesting idea that might actually be a good solution... maybe. What if they took the good about Fast Pass and the good about Fast Pass+ and combined them? Now, for this to work, Disney would need to actually fix the MDE app, but go with me here. What if they went back to the fast pass system of no limit BUT, they allowed you to use the MDE app to get a fast pass for that day? So, for tomorrow, April 13, no one has any fast passes booked for anything as of right now. Then, at a certain time tomorrow, say an hour before the park of choice opens, you can select a fast pass, if you want. It would be like the old fast pass, though, so you don't choose your time. Instead, you monitor the fast pass return times and decide if you want to book. You can do this from anywhere - the park, your hotel, the bus, etc. Like old fast pass, you will have to wait 2 hours to book another one (or until your return time if that is earlier), but there would be no limit. This way, the people who enjoy sleeping in and skipping rope drop could just monitor return times and select a fast pass return time for a ride they enjoyed from the comfort of their room minutes or hours before the intend to go to the park. Those who do rope drop can still do the fast pass thing, but have the added luxury of booking a fast pass for Space Mountain while in line for Jungle Cruise.

You would still have the issue of some people not having smart phones, so I'm not sure how to get around that. I'm not sure that they would enjoy checking in at one of those kiosks every hour or so. However, I think that that would work well for both FP and FP+ lovers.

 

[mom2rtk]

My husband and I were talking about FP vs FP+ this afternoon and I thought up an interesting idea that might actually be a good solution... maybe. What if they took the good about Fast Pass and the good about Fast Pass+ and combined them? Now, for this to work, Disney would need to actually fix the MDE app, but go with me here. What if they went back to the fast pass system of no limit BUT, they allowed you to use the MDE app to get a fast pass for that day? So, for tomorrow, April 13, no one has any fast passes booked for anything as of right now. Then, at a certain time tomorrow, say an hour before the park of choice opens, you can select a fast pass, if you want. It would be like the old fast pass, though, so you don't choose your time. Instead, you monitor the fast pass return times and decide if you want to book. You can do this from anywhere - the park, your hotel, the bus, etc. Like old fast pass, you will have to wait 2 hours to book another one (or until your return time if that is earlier), but there would be no limit. This way, the people who enjoy sleeping in and skipping rope drop could just monitor return times and select a fast pass return time for a ride they enjoyed from the comfort of their room minutes or hours before the intend to go to the park. Those who do rope drop can still do the fast pass thing, but have the added luxury of booking a fast pass for Space Mountain while in line for Jungle Cruise.

You would still have the issue of some people not having smart phones, so I'm not sure how to get around that. I'm not sure that they would enjoy checking in at one of those kiosks every hour or so. However, I think that that would work well for both FP and FP+ lovers.

I think there are a lot of people who would like this. But the primary reason Disney did this is to get people to "lock in" their Disney days ahead of time. That would be lost in this sort of change so not likely to happen.

 

[minmate]

People, this is vacation! If you go to an all inclusive resort in the Caribbean such as Sandals or Beaches...you don't get to have more fun because you put forth more "effort". The correlation of effort and results is for normal every day life, not for when you're paying for an experience.

However, I will say, in my personal experience, our all-inclusive trip to Mexico with a bilingual friend was definitely a richer experience and more fun than going with nobody who spoke Spanish. It would require effort for me to learn Spanish. But we all have the choice to put in however much or however little effort we choose.

A place like WDW that is so popular requires some effort and planning for me to feel satisfied with it. Similarly, going to NYC requires some planning and effort so we can maximize our time there. I suspect a trip to WDW, now or in years past, is NOT a relaxing beach vacation... For most. Unless you specifically design it that way and on my beach vacations, we don't expect to "accomplish" a lot. The days pretty much revolve around relaxing and food and staying away from crowds!

 

[SamRoc]

The OP said their magic is transferring to universal, i have been there twice and have never once felt anything magical there. its like this huge cold place that has no warmth. my nephew wanted to go to see the harry potter world and he ended up getting sick on the ride. For me its Disney!

 

[jade1]

The OP said their magic is transferring to universal, i have been there twice and have never once felt anything magical there. its like this huge cold place that has no warmth. my nephew wanted to go to see the harry potter world and he ended up getting sick on the ride. For me its Disney!

Same, we do visit US/IOA every few years as a day trip though-great adrenaline rush.

But there will always be a dry eye in the place-nothing more.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Equal for everyone is another way of saying that you will no longer be rewarded for your effort.

I'm not a fan of rationed FP.

 

[Planogirl]

Same, we do visit US/IOA every few years as a day trip though-great adrenaline rush.

But there will always be a dry eye in the place-nothing more.

That's a matter of perspective. I find that Universal has its own special type of magic but this continued use of Universal as a weapon is really something else. Universal is innocently trying to become amazing and people keep threatening to somehow show Disney by going there. OK.

 

[Katiedara]

10+ fastpasses a day? Seriously?

Completely doable with the old system!

 

[Owlpost23]

That's a matter of perspective. I find that Universal has its own special type of magic but this continued use of Universal as a weapon is really something else. Universal is innocently trying to become amazing and people keep threatening to somehow show Disney by going there. OK.

Absolutely right,Planogirl! When in doubt,drag US/IOA into the mix.Ridiculous.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

I like the idea that so many of you have, that we should be rewarded with more fast passes for greater effort. Life is full of rewards for the strong, the fast, the brilliant. I am from a family of athletes who excel academically, too.

If only Disney would put the FPs on top of a mountain at the end of a marathon and have you take a Mensa exam to get them....that would be great...

LOL love this.

This is half the point of FP+. To make the system so that all visitors can use it, not just the ones who get up the earliest, or can criss-cross the park 3 times in a day.