My biggest gripe with Fastpass +

[OtherScott]

Based on the evidence all around us, they're probably right, unfortunately.

unfortunately for a few

fortunately for most

 

[WillAustin]

unfortunately for a few

fortunately for most

Trying to direct equal outcome is a poor philosophy, no matter where you try because unintended negative consequences always seem to crop up. I still don't believe most guests will net a better average overall wait time once everything is in place.

Power users of a system will always find ways to have advantages or get around limitations.

 

[Angel Ariel]

unfortunately for a few

fortunately for most

I also don't believe it is only a few who don't like fp+. Every non-disneyphile I know that has heard of fp+ has had the "you mean I have to reserve rides in advance now too?" - each time said with a very unhappy tone. This is without any information other than "now the fp+ system allows you to prebook rides."

I think there are far more once-in-a-lifetimers and non-disneyphiles who feel this way than many are acknowledging.

 

[OtherScott]

Trying to direct equal outcome is a poor philosophy, no matter where you try because unintended negative consequences always seem to crop up. I still don't believe most guests will net a better average overall wait time once everything is in place.

Power users of a system will always find ways to have advantages or get around limitations.

Spread across millions of annual visitors, a perception attempting anything less than equal outcome would be disastrous.

That said, the fairness issue doesn't scratch the surface of what Disney is attempting with FP+.

Disney isn't ambivalent about people not using FPs. They want everyone to book FPs in advance. There are dozens of reasons, but a big one is commitment - just like ADRs.

This is why when all is said and done, everyone will have equal access and additional FPs will be available same day - to keep you in the park.

 

[OtherScott]

I also don't believe it is only a few who don't like fp+. Every non-disneyphile I know that has heard of fp+ has had the "you mean I have to reserve rides in advance now too?" - each time said with a very unhappy tone. This is without any information other than "now the fp+ system allows you to prebook rides."

I think there are far more once-in-a-lifetimers and non-disneyphiles who feel this way than many are acknowledging.

and yet this board is replete with accounts of guests booking days before and making changes same-day.

 

[DVClurkerRob]

It is very interesting to see the differences of opinion on this issue. Again, my original post revolved around the idea that by limiting the number of FPs I can receive and dictating the tier from which I can choose, Disney is drastically diminishing the value I have received on past vacations. Before, we would get about 6-9 FPs a day for rides that appealed to my family. My teenaged son exclaimed in disgust as we listened to a recent Dis Unplugged podcast, "Wait?! We can only get 3 fast passes and two of them have to be rides I don't want to ride?!" Life is full of tough lessons, son....

Let me try to demonstrate the value issue in dollars and cents. It is a well-published statistic that the average WDW guest experiences 9 attractions in a full day. As power FP users, my family would lock in at around 15 experiences a day. Based on the present cost of a 5 day park hopper pass, my family of five was spending $24.25 per attraction. If Disney homogenizes the guest experience in terms of attractions experienced, we would now be spending $40.45 per attraction. That is nearly double the price per attraction!

I understand that many things about WDW can't be economically quantified (priceless memories, family experiences, ODing on great food), but the perceived decrease in value, at least for my family, is staggering.

I am hopeful that FP+ will introduce value to us in ways beyond how we are currently thinking. I am honestly trying to be open-minded. Still, the internal struggle is real.

Having said that, I consider myself amply chastised by Pete on the last podcast, so I'll try to keep a more rosy disposition about it all. However, I may know where you can get 210 DVC points pretty cheap real soon.

 

[Laketravis]

It is very interesting to see the differences of opinion on this issue. Again, my original post revolved around the idea that by limiting the number of FPs I can receive and dictating the tier from which I can choose, Disney is drastically diminishing the value I have received on past vacations. Before, we would get about 6-9 FPs a day for rides that appealed to my family. My teenaged son exclaimed in disgust as we listened to a recent Dis Unplugged podcast, "Wait?! We can only get 3 fast passes and two of them have to be rides I don't want to ride?!" Life is full of tough lessons, son....

Let me try to demonstrate the value issue in dollars and cents. It is a well-published statistic that the average WDW guest experiences 9 attractions in a full day. As power FP users, my family would lock in at around 15 experiences a day. Based on the present cost of a 5 day park hopper pass, my family of five was spending $24.25 per attraction. If Disney homogenizes the guest experience in terms of attractions experienced, we would now be spending $40.45 per attraction. That is nearly double the price per attraction!

I understand that many things about WDW can't be economically quantified (priceless memories, family experiences, ODing on great food), but the perceived decrease in value, at least for my family, is staggering.

I am hopeful that FP+ will introduce value to us in ways beyond how we are currently thinking. I am honestly trying to be open-minded. Still, the internal struggle is real.

Having said that, I consider myself amply chastised by Pete on the last podcast, so I'll try to keep a more rosy disposition about it all. However, I may know where you can get 210 DVC points pretty cheap real soon.

I think that is an excellent way to quantify it.

 

[BigAlsGal]

When people say they aren't going back I cheer a little inside.

 

[mom2rtk]

When people say they aren't going back I cheer a little inside.

Classy.

 

[jimim]

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 +.

my biggest problem with the new system right now is the app portion of it. I just don't trust it. The computer is always diff than the app. sometimes things look diff on the app. You need to use the computer to see certain new princess meet and greats vs the app. I'm worried that when in the park and i got to switch stuff up on the fly like we have with the last two times using the bands that I'm not going to be able to.

all in all our style of touring won't change. up early, out of park by 1'ish. rest, bath. go for a great dinner. hit a park at night for a while. I never used to pull a lot of fast passes anyway. maybe 2-3 a day and we have always done pretty much every ride each trip for the past countless years. this was during dead times of the year, xmas, thanksgiving, spring break, halloween. . . our only unknown is this easter and if easter is like xmas i'm not really worried. it will all get done over the 8 days with how we go through our day and I can honestly say we don't spend more than 8 hrs a day in a park and get it all in.

me and my wife have talked about it and we never pulled a lot of fast passes in general.

 

[LisaTC]

It's all about employing a strategy for the current conditions. The FP- system was the only condition in place for a long time, and so many WDW guests have grown accustomed to utilizing strategies designed for that condition.

Ultimately, things change. I remember some inconsequential change my junior year of college, and initally feeling upset about it, until I realized that for incoming freshman, it would be all they knew. So for new visitors to WDW, FP+ and magic bands are just the way things are.

What's making FP+ difficult to devlelop and lock in new strategies for is that conditions are in a state of flux because it's all still a test. I anticipate at some point there were will be some stability in the system, and that will be different than what we are seeing and planning for today. I know that I will need new strategies the next time I visit WDW, and that I don't know what they will be yet.

Since this new system is designed to allow for frequent change on the IT side, the possibilites that the system can offer seem limitless;

- Like of Free Dining, maybe extra FP+ slots will be offered as incentives.
- Sign up to receive email alerts when a particular FP+ timeslot/attraction opens up.
- Sign up to receive email alerts when your magic band is near an attraction with available FP+ slots.
- Reach a pre-determined (but undisclosed) spend amount for some time period (as tracked by your MB) swipes, and receive an extra FP+ for the day.
- An extra FP+ slot on your birthday!

FP+ slots are currency that WDW can give out without any direct monetary expense, something that could never have been accomplised with the old FP- system.

This is a very interesting post and not far off from what I was wondering about. I think there will be text alerts at some point. They don't want you to leave. FP+ is a tracking device, if you will. Watching this unfold...

 

[OtherScott]

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

Does anyone know if this just offsite annual pass holders or are offsite day guests included in the test?

I'm caught between - a schmo who likes a pool house. FP+ for onsite guests only just exacerbated what I hate about Disney - rope drop to have any chance to get toy story or test track.

I'm just 1, so I don't expect Disney to change just for me. Just hope it's in their best interest. If not, 3 weeks in Hilton Head instead of 2!

 

[WillAustin]

When people say they aren't going back I cheer a little inside.

Remember, there are always 10 families to take their place, so there will actually be less room in the parks for you when someone does that.

 

[Go Vols]

I haven't experienced FP+, but I think it is a waste of time to complain about things that are out of your control...FP+ is here to stay and it is what it is. At some point, I'm sure that Disney is going to tweak the system and add more fast-passes.

Regarding the "us vs them" comment...that's life. Those who work hard and strive for more definitely deserve more.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Classy.

All the way!!