My 2 cents on FP+

[3DisneyFanz]

Guests must learn to settle for the new system.
Guests must learn to love the new system.
Guests not in compliance must visit the relearning center (FP+ for relearning available 60 days in advance.)

I tried to FP+ that this morning and it wasnt available for our party size. Must be a hot ticket item.

 

[Lucius Best]

Guests must learn to settle for the new system.
Guests must learn to love the new system.
Guests not in compliance must visit the relearning center (FP+ for relearning available 60 days in advance.)

Guests who can't obtain a FP+ for relearning 60 days in advance must relocate to the FP+ free zone (10 miles north on Interstate 4).

 

[HopperFan]

I tend to have sympathy for people who are having trouble with the new system, whether it's the MDE app, or the website, or FP+ tiers, or not being able to get 7DMT 60 days in advance. Especially first-timers who don't know what to expect. Disney markets FP+ as a "priceless perk" and not just "quick and easy" but "easier than ever". For every complaint about FP+ on these boards, there is always someone replying "I love FP+, I got everything I wanted". So when an inexperienced Disney guest tries to book their FP+ 60 days in advance and it takes them two hours, and certain rides aren't available, I can understand why they are frustrated, and I think there is room on here to let them vent.

I don't think that folks are trying to say they shouldn't vent or we don't have empathy for them. There seems to be two types of folks who complain about the system:

- Those who hate the new FP+ because they don't get to use the FP system like they did in the past. It has to do with their touring style. Nothing is going to change with the system that will make it go back to what they want, so they are in the spot that they either have to work with it or not. I think it is their complaining that causes all the FP+ lovers to post that they are fans of the new system.

- Those who do not like the new FP+ booking process because: maybe they use their computer alot but the booking process is not something that flows for them, they are not techie at all and frustrated with the system, they expect to go in and put in the time they want and get it but programming wise that isn't feasible, they don't understand how to move about quickly to get what they want .............and more ..............which leads to frustration. When the FP+ fans respond, it is not to negate their feelings (we've all experienced frustration with something) but rather to explain that it can work well, move quickly, get you what you want once you understand it. Everything new is going to take a few minutes to get the flow but once you do, it is easy to navigate.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

We never made a park opening and even hitting a half hour after was a stretch and we never missed out on the old FP system. Granted the return times were often at the end of the night but you're at the mercy of the system at this point as well.

The concept isn't bad but the implementation hasn't been the best. The system issues, not being in alignment with ADRs, the 5 step workarounds are all completely insane. Add these issue to the increased standby times and unless you just want to ride three and leave you aren't saving any time.

I think you could argue that rope drop is a much more critical process now than it ever was pre FP+.

 

[HopperFan]

I think this is really cruical when thinking about loading times. We have a business level internet connection at home due to my DH's job, and I can see the load times get slower as the evening draws on (I work in a school, and get home relatively early). We'd been having some connection issues last week, swapped routers to try and solve it and it killed out internet, everything timed out. I could use my phone's data allowance fine, but the WiFi was unusable.

My husband works in IT and is a dab hand at fixing stuff, but we still have issues with our internet speed at times due to any one or combination of the ones HopperFan mentions.

OP, I'm sorry you had issues. I can't say that I've found a 2/3 minute page load the norm with MDE, so I think you got caught by an additional issue. It is a pain (I nearly threw my laptop on the floor last week when our internet died!)

YUP.

I honestly don't think folks realize how many different types of speed internet services there are, even within the same zone. Some areas have google (I wish), some have fiber optics, some can choose between 3-4 speeds and many don't choose the fastest due to cost, some have old cable, I have relatives that still have the equivalent to dial-up (their only option) so rarely get online at home, I have relatives that have to bounce off a satellite hub ........... and we are all competing with each other for the website, the FP+ and the ADRs - but with different advantages and disadvantages.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I don't think that folks are trying to say they shouldn't vent or we don't have empathy for them. There seems to be two types of folks who complain about the system:

- Those who hate the new FP+ because they don't get to use the FP system like they did in the past. It has to do with their touring style. Nothing is going to change with the system that will make it go back to what they want, so they are in the spot that they either have to work with it or not. I think it is their complaining that causes all the FP+ lovers to post that they are fans of the new system.

- Those who do not like the new FP+ booking process because: maybe they use their computer alot but the booking process is not something that flows for them, they are not techie at all and frustrated with the system, they expect to go in and put in the time they want and get it but programming wise that isn't feasible, they don't understand how to move about quickly to get what they want .............and more ..............which leads to frustration. When the FP+ fans respond, it is not to negate their feelings (we've all experienced frustration with something) but rather to explain that it can work well, move quickly, get you what you want once you understand it. Everything new is going to take a few minutes to get the flow but once you do, it is easy to navigate.

The argument that the people that don't like it don't understand it is really not correct. I think many people really understand it but the process still doesn't work and the level of work involved is ridiculous. Once you go over 2 people in a travel party it starts getting dicey and if you go over 8 your options for easy use are Laugh Floor, Teacups and Philharmagic.

There are two things with this:

1) Disney doesn't advertise use of FP+ for anything but headliners. How can you blame someone for feeling disappointed if you can't get these when that's what Disney is telling them this is the point of the program.

2) The system wasn't designed to improve the guest experience. It was designed to try and force people into longer stays and keep them on property while pushing them to other attractions that weren't getting a lot of use. Adding FP+ to rides that never even had lines has increased people experiencing these and creating SB lines that never existed before.

 

[MrInfinity]

Once you go over 2 people in a travel party it starts getting dicey and if you go over 8 your options for easy use are Laugh Floor, Teacups and Philharmagic.

I disagree with this... we booked for 10, and have all of ours in groups of 10 except one instance of A&E on our earlier day I split 5/5, only cuz I would do one 5, try to copy, and it would give me the next 5, 10 min later which was fine. That just tells me there weren't 10 connected around the time I wanted. Everything else (including A&E on a later day) is in groups of 10. I don't feel the # of people in our party was really an issue. A couple times it would not show everyone, so I'd book for whomever it did show, then do a copy and it worked as expected.

Disney doesn't advertise use of FP+ for anything but headliners.

Interesting. To check this out, I just went to watch the promo video on FP+ (go.com, then FP+ Perk)... in the short 1:30 video, they spotlight Splash, Dumbo, Tea Cups, Small World, BTMRR, Pirates, JC, Philharmagic, BATB, Star Tours, Kali, Meet & Greets, and Fireworks. So they kind of hit a little bit of everything.

Maybe you just think of FP+ as only being useful on headliners? It's definitely not advertised that way.

 

[Mac30188]

I am not sure I agree with the idea that the FP+ system is just a perk that only can help. FP+ has had a dramatic impact to lines to attractions (especially second tier attractions). Those that don't participate in the FP+ system will be impacted with more time spent waiting in line. I do have sympathy for the original poster and I am sorry it has been frustrating. While the currently prep heavy systems that surround Disney do make the trip cumbersome to plan, keep trying and fighting with them as they will improve your visit.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I disagree with this... we booked for 10, and have all of ours in groups of 10 except one instance of A&E on our earlier day I split 5/5, only cuz I would do one 5, try to copy, and it would give me the next 5, 10 min later which was fine. That just tells me there weren't 10 connected around the time I wanted. Everything else (including A&E on a later day) is in groups of 10. I don't feel the # of people in our party was really an issue. A couple times it would not show everyone, so I'd book for whomever it did show, then do a copy and it worked as expected.

Hey one person won the lottery last night as well. That one persons experience doesn't change the outcome for everyone else.

 

[larandtra1990]

I think it comes down to how you view it. I am a planner. I do planning for any trip our family takes and for friends. Personally I enjoy it. Like putting together a puzzle and making things fit. We go a ton so Im not as concerned about getting to ride or see this or that. But, in experience even doing plans for friends, I have had very little issue using the system or getting what I am after other than the obvious ones everyone struggles with.Its all in how you view it. I personally think it benefits people who go a fair amount pretty well and allows them more flexibility because they arent in the, we only go every couple of years and spend a ton of money so we need to maximize, which I certainly understand. But, its best to learn how to use the system to your advantage by mixing EMH, Special events, hopping, and FPs to make the most of it if you want to do a ton.

 

[MrInfinity]

Hey one person won the lottery last night as well. That one persons experience doesn't change the outcome for everyone else.

What do you mean? Are you saying I won something by FP+? I can still change them now, almost a week into our 60 so it wasn't a one-time instant of luck. Aside from A&E, everything else including SDMT has lots of times even for our party of 10.

 

[tlmadden73]

The system could be a bit speedier .. their infrastructure could probably be improved.

It is pretty slow considering the amount of people using the app (compared to say big websites like Amazon, etc.)

I wonder if users would like it better if you could pick several rides and then it would just show you dates (and times) of when that is available during your vacation.

 

[HopperFan]

The argument that the people that don't like it don't understand it is really not correct. I think many people really understand it but the process still doesn't work and the level of work involved is ridiculous. Once you go over 2 people in a travel party it starts getting dicey and if you go over 8 your options for easy use are Laugh Floor, Teacups and Philharmagic.

There are two things with this:

1) Disney doesn't advertise use of FP+ for anything but headliners. How can you blame someone for feeling disappointed if you can't get these when that's what Disney is telling them this is the point of the program.

2) The system wasn't designed to improve the guest experience. It was designed to push people around to other attractions that weren't getting a lot of use. Adding FP+ to rides that never even had lines has increased people experiencing these and creating SB lines that never existed before.

Well I disagree with you.

- You twisted my words a bit. I said there are two groups who don't like it (1) Legacy FP+ fans and understanding has nothing to do with their dislike. (2) I did not say the other group did not understand per se but rather they didn't like the process, which can lead to not understanding how to make it work well and quickly for you. And there can be a variety of reasons they don't like the process, some of which I listed.

- I have no problem with the process. I book, move things around in no time at all. I do not find it bulky. Adding a click or two to get the time I want is no big deal. When in the parks if I see my FP+ has a short line, I jump in and while in line I change my FP+ to another. No I don't travel with 8-10 people but often we are 4-6 people. Often we are not on same MDE or linked (I refuse to link because I think it does have issue, some Disneys and some the linkers). We together click through easily and coordinate. No issues.

- I completely disagree that advertising says FP+ is only for headliners. Currently there is ONE headliner that is difficult to get, but not impossible. Capacity vs Crowds is simple math, not everyone will get one. SO I didn't get 7DMT this time, I'll get in line, go to rope drop, attend MNSSHP, stay until closing ..... theme parks = lines. Anyone who reads the advertising to mean they will not have to stand in any lines needs to find a new vacation location.

- Yes, FP+ helps with crowd control and guaranteed in a few years these MBs will pay off by tracking crowds and initiating things that will help to move crowds more. But for me it has ABSOLUTELY improved my experience. I don't have to do rope drop (we prefer to close parks down and sleep in) and forfeit a long line ride because all FP are gone, I can park hop and still get on big rides at second park, I know going in I will ride a few of my favorites with no waits so in that time I used to wait I can ride several smaller attractions. We actually get much more done now.

- I do not buy in to the complaint that FP+ has caused longer SB lines. There is only so much ride capacity and so many FP+ times. What we have is a greatly improved economy, Disney occupancy rates that industry standard is very high, off site hotels and attractions being built due to the great crowds heading to Orlando. I am in the parks 5-6 weeks a year, all seasons for the last decade. The crowds each year are bigger and bigger and they have to go somewhere = lines.

 

[MrInfinity]

The system could be a bit speedier .. their infrastructure could probably be improved.

It is pretty slow considering the amount of people using the app (compared to say big websites like Amazon, etc.)

I wonder if users would like it better if you could pick several rides and then it would just show you dates (and times) of when that is available during your vacation.

I would like it better if I could just go... pick a ride, pick a time. Pick a ride, pick a time. I really don't like the aspect of picking from a set of 3 somewhat random groups then changing them. That seems so abstract. I think they do this on purpose, to spread the choices out and make for quicker selecting for most people who do not care to micro-manage them, so I can live w it since it's designed to be faster for people with less specific intentions. Given I can get my specific choices by some tweaking, it's not really a problem, just some extra clicks.

 

[Lucius Best]

I don't think that folks are trying to say they shouldn't vent or we don't have empathy for them. There seems to be two types of folks who complain about the system:

Sure, you're right about the different types complaining about FP+, but there are also different types of people who respond. Not everyone has empathy or anything to add to the discussion. One of the first comments was "Keep it in perspective against the old system", followed by another response "Why complain about a perk? Would you rather there be NO fast pass and you would have to wait in line for everything?"

My feeling is that Disney planners should be able to come on here and vent their frustration, get some empathy and ideally some tips on what they can maybe do differently to make the complicated process easier, without it turning into a debate on whether FP+ is better than paper FP-. Because there's no one answer to that question, everyone has an opinion depending on how well FP+ works for them and how their planning and touring strategies have changed.

 

[MrInfinity]

Sure, you're right about the different types complaining about FP+, but there are also different types of people who respond. Not everyone has empathy or anything to add to the discussion. One of the first comments was "Keep it in perspective against the old system", followed by another response "Why complain about a perk? Would you rather there be NO fast pass and you would have to wait in line for everything?"

My feeling is that Disney planners should be able to come on here and vent their frustration, get some empathy and ideally some tips on what they can maybe do differently to make the complicated process easier, without it turning into a debate on whether FP+ is better than paper FP-. Because there's no one answer to that question, everyone has an opinion depending on how well FP+ works for them and how their planning and touring strategies have changed.

Not that I don't love a good FP debate, but you do realize you were the first to comment on the good old days of FP- right? Post #8?:
And to keep the old system in perspective, if you were there at rope drop, you could walk to any FP kiosk and pull a paper FP for that ride. No sprinting necessary, and you were never shut out.

You even describe a scenario which the OP didn't experience. She got A&E, so she will not have to head to A&E first like you depict. In all seriousness, I would love hear about your experiences in the old days in which you would casually stroll to get your first FastPass, and end up not only pulling FastPasses to A&E, SDMT, and Peter Pan throughout a day, but also riding Space Mountain several times at rope drop. With FP+ we can ride the 3 busiest attractions in a day, all by like 2pm, without even touching our rope drop time -- we don't even have to be there at rope drop! You sound like you really don't enjoy FP+ (you've responded with a con to just about everyone who's said anything positive about it) but it can be quite good when you think about what you really would have been able to do w mega-draw rides like A&E and SDMT in the old days. You would have had to run, at rope drop, to get A&E, thereby consuming your rope drop time, and you'd be lucky to get an SDMT FP- for later at night after that.

 

[boufa]

I was actually body checked and pushed by some horrible woman who literally ran to the TSMM fastpass machines while I was trying to get my FPs. That will leave a sour taste. I have never been pushed while making my reservation at home.

While I agree the Disney technology is terrible, and in many cases unforgivable. Back to the FP concept. Our excitment builds as we get closer to our trip, and the advantage of FP being gone and knowing it 60 days in advance, you can plan around it. Check common wait times at tourinplans, and many other sites. Then realize that with no A&E FPs you can figure an hour into you plans to do standby. Its also about expectations. For me, no FP often times means no ride. I'm not interested in lines over 40 minutes or so, no matter what is at the other end of the line. BUT at least at 60 days out I am disappointed, can get over it, and when I actually arrive at WDW, its all good. I am upset that soarin might be closed for refurb during my trip in Feb... but I am much happier knowing that now, than showing up at the park and finding it out. We actually decided that without soarin that Epcot is only a 1 day park for us. I adjusted my plans, added a DHS day, changed my ADRs accordingly. Had I not been disappointed 60 days out, I would have had planning problems.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

What do you mean? Are you saying I won something by FP+? I can still change them now, almost a week into our 60 so it wasn't a one-time instant of luck. Aside from A&E, everything else including SDMT has lots of times even for our party of 10.

2 weeks ago for our party of 5 7dmt never came up as an option nor did PP or AE. We're were fine with things like JC and Little Mermaid but when going for our 4th we couldn't even get 5 for HM. My point was really that while things may work great for one person it doesn't negate the struggles of everyone else who has experienced issues. For every one person that finds Soarin a walk on there are thousands of others who end up waiting an hour.

 

[HopperFan]

Sure, you're right about the different types complaining about FP+, but there are also different types of people who respond. Not everyone has empathy or anything to add to the discussion. One of the first comments was "Keep it in perspective against the old system", followed by another response "Why complain about a perk? Would you rather there be NO fast pass and you would have to wait in line for everything?"

My feeling is that Disney planners should be able to come on here and vent their frustration, get some empathy and ideally some tips on what they can maybe do differently to make the complicated process easier, without it turning into a debate on whether FP+ is better than paper FP-. Because there's no one answer to that question, everyone has an opinion depending on how well FP+ works for them and how their planning and touring strategies have changed.

I know there has been much discussion on FP+ but this is my first visit using FP+ and I feel compelled to add my two cents. Just booked our FP+s this week for a November/December visit and this is, by far, the most frustrating experience I've had in planning Disney trips over the past 25 years!

The FP+ process is extremely tedious and their website's response is embarrassingly slow (or should be) considering the technology we have seen come from the Disney camp in the past. Going from one screen to another literally took 2-3 minutes at times.

Add to this the fact that very few of our first choices were available (even later in our visit). We felt like all of the time we spent planning our days in the parks was wasted and we are now starting over.

We have put so much more planning into this visit than any other visit to Disney because of the changes they've made (FP+ being a big part of this) and, quite frankly, it's taken much of the enjoyment out of our trip planning experience. For me, it's getting to the point of being not worth the effort it takes to plan a week at Disney. This will be our last trip for a while based solely on this experience. Thanks for letting me rant!!!

Lucius Best - I do agree with you. Folks should absolutely be able to express frustration and look for advice, help or options. I know I often will try to look at scenarios and offer up thoughts, pros & cons and some options that maybe they hadn't thought of. Sadly FP+ became a very hot topic because of all those who wanted Disney to go back to the old way. Not going to happen. The system has been adjusted several times and those of us who have used it have seen the improvements. It will never be perfect and never glitch free, that is impossible. But I do anticipate it will continue to change and improve over time.

I think the negative responses the OP got was because of the bolded comment above.

OP blamed all the technology issues on Disney when many of us do not have these issues .... which means it is highly likely it was on the OPs end that these speed issues occurred. The OP (and I know others) feel the process is tedious yet many of us click right through, pick our attractions in seconds, click close, click update, change times and get all we want in a matter of minutes. If we can do that - then the system is not clunky or tedious. The system is not written different for different folks, the system doesn't crash for one but not the other .... many of this issues are user issues. Not a negative to OP or anyone else. When I am working on a new program and I feel like it's looping or not doing what I want .......... I get mad and frustrated and occasionally scream at the computer ........... but I do know it's not the program, it's me and how I am using it.

I have never experienced being shut out at 60 days booking for the hard ones. I think the real issue here is that folks book ADRs so far out that when it comes time for the FP+ they are trying to make it work in conjunction with the dining. Then you find you can't get some stuff. We've always been able to get what we want with little notice, over some holiday weekends, even day of .... but that is one area Disney needs to sit back and think about. The best option for folks it to multi-book ADRs to cover their bases and hold until 60 days to see what FP+ they can get - and I can't blame people for that. But again, it's not the fault of the FP+ system. Supply and demand.

Hopefully the OP has a great trip!

 

[Lucius Best]

Not that I don't love a good FP debate, but you do realize you were the first to comment on the good old days of FP- right? Post #8?:
And to keep the old system in perspective, if you were there at rope drop, you could walk to any FP kiosk and pull a paper FP for that ride. No sprinting necessary, and you were never shut out.

Actually, if you read my post #8, you can see I was responding to post #3, which I quoted, which was first to bring up paper fastpass and implied that it required sprinting at rope drop.

You even describe a scenario which the OP didn't experience. She got A&E, so she will not have to head to A&E first like you depict.

Actually, if you read post #3, I was responding to their theory of what A&E lines might have been like before FP+. And that was before OP clarified the problems she was having with FP+.

In all seriousness, I would love hear about your experiences in the old days in which you would casually stroll to get your first FastPass, and end up not only pulling FastPasses to A&E, SDMT, and Peter Pan throughout a day, but also riding Space Mountain several times at rope drop.

With all due respect, I don't really see the point. Ultimately it seems like what I'm writing is being misinterpreted, so I'm not really interested in speculating what my personal strategy would have been to do 7DMT and A&E in the old days with paper FP. I made good use of paper FP for many years. Now it's gone, and we used FP+ successfully on our last trip. MDE and FP+ has its pros and cons, everyone is different, whether you like it or not is your personal opinion and is going to depend on how you like to tour the parks, rope drop or not, park hop or not, commando or not, what rides you want to do, how many days at the parks, etc.

 

[revdon64]

I booked FP+s for our trip when the window opened at midnight last night. Not only did I get everything that we wanted, I kind of had trouble filling the slots with stuff. I ended up booking the harder to get things figuring that if we want to FP something like Small World later we can drop something else. Oh and by the way, we're a party of 6 with one under 2y/o, so every slot was for 5 people.

And I've used FP+ before in January on a solo trip, so I know what to expect and how to run with it. I guess I'm saying that my experience differs from OP.