My biggest gripe with Fastpass +

[DVClurkerRob]

I haven't had the privilege of visiting WDW in the last few months since the Fastpass + rollout has begun, but I have thought long and hard about how it will affect our touring preferences in my family.

We have been commando-style park-attackers, but have migrated to a more relaxed approach. I mean, how many times do you really have to ride Soarin'? But there is still something of that commando-style guy in me that says, "I can work hard and conquer this park today if I want to!" A key element in our attacking the park was our utilization of FastPass. Like many other DISers, we would have a FP runner who would work hard to keep us in FPs. I can't emphasize enough the "work hard" aspect. I'm talking criss-crossing the park numerous times, knowing and utilizing the shortest route from Point A to Point B, and using any numerous tips we had to keep our day moving.

Well, the introduction of Fastpass + has essentially taken that opportunity away from us. Like most DISers who only get to come once or twice a year, our obsession with WDW would cause us to wring as much joy and experience out of each day as possible. Sometimes we would utilize as many as 7 FPs in a day! Those days are gone.

Essentially, Disney leveled the ground between crazy commando types who were willing to work insanely hard to maximize their experience and any schmo with a keyboard and a smart phone app. The result is that I feel like I'll get less value out of my park experience. Even though I had migrated to an easier pace and I leave the commando-style experience to my teenagers, I don't have that option anymore. Couple them taking away my FP strategy, limiting me to only three Fps a day, and the constantly rising ticket costs, and I've just about decided that I'm going to give my dollars to DCL.

And that's my biggest gripe with Fastpass +.

 

[dreamscometrue47]

My biggest FP+ gripe is that Disney has created an US and THEM situation in that onsite resort guests can reserve FP+ in advance and the "rest" still have to get up early at rope drop to even have a chance at getting decent FP+ times.
I have other gripes same as other people, such as only 3 allowed, the headliner limits, etc.
I know it's my choice to stay offsite, but my trips (and there have been about 30 of them) average 10 days, when i've stayed onsite, i can only afford maybe 5. I know that there will be those that disagree, but I feel like I'm being punished for being able to visit longer if I stay offsite.

 

[abidale]

That was also our biggest complaint about FastPass+. We found in our last two visits that although we do miss Legacy FP and a number of other things about the old system, there are still ways to walk into the park with that commando mindset and leave feeling like you accomplished everything. We usually arrive at RD, so we'd hit all the rides we could possibly hit before lunch stand-by, before crowds got too high. We'd either park hop or go take a break at our resort after lunch and go to a new park for the evening, where our 3 FP+ were reserved. We definitely wish we could have more than 3 FPs and pre-booking isn't ideal compared to spontaneity, but we made it work.

 

[Rjmdds]

That was also our biggest complaint about FastPass+. We found in our last two visits that although we do miss Legacy FP and a number of other things about the old system, there are still ways to walk into the park with that commando mindset and leave feeling like you accomplished everything. We usually arrive at RD, so we'd hit all the rides we could possibly hit before lunch stand-by, before crowds got too high. We'd either park hop or go take a break at our resort after lunch and go to a new park for the evening, where our 3 FP+ were reserved. We definitely wish we could have more than 3 FPs and pre-booking isn't ideal compared to spontaneity, but we made it work.

This will be our strategy to a tee during the last feel of August. And it seems to be consensus way to do things around here. Having done it, how did it work for you?

 

[MsThumper]

I haven't had the privilege of visiting WDW in the last few months since the Fastpass + rollout has begun, but I have thought long and hard about how it will affect our touring preferences in my family.

We have been commando-style park-attackers, but have migrated to a more relaxed approach. I mean, how many times do you really have to ride Soarin'? But there is still something of that commando-style guy in me that says, "I can work hard and conquer this park today if I want to!" A key element in our attacking the park was our utilization of FastPass. Like many other DISers, we would have a FP runner who would work hard to keep us in FPs. I can't emphasize enough the "work hard" aspect. I'm talking criss-crossing the park numerous times, knowing and utilizing the shortest route from Point A to Point B, and using any numerous tips we had to keep our day moving.

Well, the introduction of Fastpass + has essentially taken that opportunity away from us. Like most DISers who only get to come once or twice a year, our obsession with WDW would cause us to wring as much joy and experience out of each day as possible. Sometimes we would utilize as many as 7 FPs in a day! Those days are gone.

Essentially, Disney leveled the ground between crazy commando types who were willing to work insanely hard to maximize their experience and any schmo with a keyboard and a smart phone app. The result is that I feel like I'll get less value out of my park experience. Even though I had migrated to an easier pace and I leave the commando-style experience to my teenagers, I don't have that option anymore. Couple them taking away my FP strategy, limiting me to only three Fps a day, and the constantly rising ticket costs, and I've just about decided that I'm going to give my dollars to DCL.

And that's my biggest gripe with Fastpass +.

Well maybe some of us "schmo's" will now feel like we are getting more value out of our park experiences. That's what I like about FP+.

 

[5Hfan]

So now there are 3 rope drops...60 days out, 30 days out, and the morning of!

 

[mare1203]

We have used FP+ twice and did not find that it changed our park touring ways much at all. We still park hop and were able to ride and see everything we wanted while visiting. We would describe our park touring style similarly to yours.

Our family did not always adopt the seemingly prevailing strategy around here. The last trip we booked FP+ for 2 parks in the afternoon/evening and 2 for the morning. It was more dependent on the park we were visiting and where it made sense to book. For example, one day we were planning Hollywood for the morning and then MK for the evening, which that night was open until midnight. We had already been to MK, and knew we wanted to ride Toy Story, so it made way more sense to use the FP+ on DHS rather than MK. Plus, we knew with MK being open so late we would most likely have no problem hitting rides there. It worked out great and we found that we were right.

I don't mind the 3 FP rule as both times we went we found it wasn't necessary to have all 3. However, it would be nice to have 3 and the ability to make them at any park. For the above example, I would have loved to have made 1 FP at Toy Story, 1 at Tower of Terror, and 1 at Space Mountain, but right now you can't do that. My favorite thing about FP+ is that you can change your plans dynamically throughout the day. There were a couple times that we cancelled and re-booked FP's or changed attractions based on wait times and it never took much time.

 

[jrjankowski8]

I'm with the OP. I used to criss cross the park to get the FPs that were out quick, but then after lunch before the night crowd got there you were still maybe able to pick up one or two rides that still had FP available for the late night.

If you're gonna be at MK from rope drop til close it's better to utilize FPs in the old way because you have the chance to get every one. Now you basically have no choice but to wait SB later in the day.

I havent't done the FP+ but I'm invisioning that the new strategy is to ride you must rides at rope drop on SB, then go back and up your FP+ for the 3 evening rides you didn't get.

Does that sound about right for those of you that had FP+ without being able to reserve.

 

[smitch425]

My biggest FP+ gripe is that Disney has created an US and THEM situation in that onsite resort guests can reserve FP+ in advance and the "rest" still have to get up early at rope drop to even have a chance at getting decent FP+ times.
I have other gripes same as other people, such as only 3 allowed, the headliner limits, etc.
I know it's my choice to stay offsite, but my trips (and there have been about 30 of them) average 10 days, when i've stayed onsite, i can only afford maybe 5. I know that there will be those that disagree, but I feel like I'm being punished for being able to visit longer if I stay offsite.

Offsite guests are being invited to test pre booking right now. It will be available to everyone at some point.

 

[mom2rtk]

Offsite guests are being invited to test pre booking right now. It will be available to everyone at some point.

Yes, but it appears that will be with a 30 day advance window instead of the 60 day onsite window. Some might still see this as an "us vs. them" situation. It remains to be seen.

 

[RogueKnits]

My biggest FP+ gripe is that Disney has created an US and THEM situation in that onsite resort guests can reserve FP+ in advance and the "rest" still have to get up early at rope drop to even have a chance at getting decent FP+ times.

With only 3 FP+, I'll be hitting rope drop anyway so that I can make sure to get on everything at least once. Yes, having the ability to book 60 days in advance is a nice perk, but it really isn't going to allow me to sleep in.

 

[glamdring269]

With only 3 FP+, I'll be hitting rope drop anyway so that I can make sure to get on everything at least once. Yes, having the ability to book 60 days in advance is a nice perk, but it really isn't going to allow me to sleep in.

Same. With RD and 3 FP+ I should be able to be pretty optimal. If they let us use the FP+ in multiple parks per day that would be even better.

 

[sethschroeder]

My biggest gripe is all the historical FP hoarders complaints how they can't go "commando" on a park or how not getting 4+ FP ruins their entire trip and they threaten how they might not come back for years.

If anything FP made it to easy and didn't require planning like the new system does. 1-3 is when Jungle Cruise is shortest each day, 3pm parade always takes people away from Buzz Lighter, you have to use the FP+ between 4-7 a its always the worst part of the day, always schedule lunch for 11:30 as you avoid the 12-1 craziness.... these are just made up but just because you can't see ways to take advantage of the new system doesn't mean there isn't ways....

 

[JeremyGNJ]

Well maybe some of us "schmo's" will now feel like we are getting more value out of our park experiences. That's what I like about FP+.

Well said!

 

[innovention1596]

I completely agree, mw and my family have been going forever and we loved getting as many fast passes as possible a day. But maybe the change won't be all bad

 

[meggiebeth]

Offsite guests are being invited to test pre booking right now. It will be available to everyone at some point.

Despite the 60 day vs 30 days window, I can't blame disney for wanting to give an incentive for guests to stay onsite. Personally though, I'd prefer the incentive of getting an extra FP or two for staying onsite.

Well said!

I agree! It's made the system fairer in the sense that everyone gets an equal number of FastPasses.

Meg~ Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[dwheaton]

I have a brain that's constantly thinking of strategies for tackling the parks, so I loved the idea of trying to maximize the Fastpasses. Of course, I've never really done that at Disney World. We have two young kids and visited twice with our first daughter when she was 2 and 3. I was the FP runner for us because we brought along the grandparents, but it was more low-key.

I did employ my strategies when I visited Disneyland in 2012. They didn't enforce FP times, and I racked up a lot of FPs in the smaller park and across both parks. I loved doing it and really hope they at least keep FP+ out of DLR.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Interesting gripe.

I think another thing that is diminished is the element of surprise. Planning rides 60 days (30 days?) out down to the hour just kind of takes the fun out of them a bit.

 

[WillAustin]

It's made the system fairer in the sense that everyone gets an equal number of FastPasses.

There's a chance that's going to change based on the recent survey WDW sent out about FP+. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for availability beyond 3.

Whatever they do, I'm sure someone won't like it.

 

[leebee]

I agree! It's made the system fairer in the sense that everyone gets an equal number of FastPasses.

Meg~ Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Not really true. Legacy FP gave everyone equal opportunity to use FP; some chose to, some didn't. NOW everyone supposedly has equal access to three FP, but they don't. Offsite guests don't even have an opportunity to try and get a FP before they get to the park, where onsite guests have the opportunity to get them 60 days in advance (and now seeing that some pass holders will have the opportunity at 30 days). What's fair about that? During busy times, FPs for some attractions (TSMM, for example) have been gone before the park even opened. How is THAT fair? IF you have a smartphone you can make changes to your FP+ choices, but anyone without a smartphone is out of luck, or gets to stand in the long kiosk lines. How is THAT fair? If anything, FP+ rewards those with more money: You can afford to stay onsite, you can afford more-costly technology, etc. I can hardly wait until Disney starts offering the number of FP+ opportunities, and whether you can pre-book them, based on whether you stay at a deluxe, a moderate, or a value resort!