My FP+ Observations

[EpcotBill]

I was in the World Feb 12 - 18. Some things I noticed about FP+; the FP+ lines were longer than I had ever seen FP lines in the past. The lines for the FP+ Kiosks were ridiculously long. If you didn't make your selections before you got to the park and didn't have a devise to make or change your selections you had to wait in a long line to do that. Then you got to wait in another long FP+ line to experience the attraction. Fortunately I had all my FP+ selections before I got to the parks.

I could have easily used 5 or more FP+'s each day if they were available. FP+ dilutes the magic and it's really no fun at all. I hope all the people with rose colored glasses enjoy their FP+, for us realists it's a bad system.

I've been visiting WDW at least once per year since 1992 and a few times before that. I was not able to do nearly as much as I did in the past because of FP+. This latest experience will have me thinking long and hard about returning any time in the near future.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Thank you for your report.

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

The lines for the FP+ Kiosks were ridiculously long. If you didn't make your selections before you got to the park and didn't have a devise to make or change your selections you had to wait in a long line to do that. Then you got to wait in another long FP+ line to experience the attraction. Fortunately I had all my FP+ selections before I got to the parks.

I was there from 2/16-20 and I agree with the above. We had a great time and saw what we wanted to see largely because we were able to select FPP in advance. I would not recommend staying off-site. The FPP Kiosk lines were outrageously long.

I also found that it was not really feasible to change FPP selections on the fly at any park except for MK. It is really hard to find a selection for a good attraction at the time you want unless you make the choices in advance. I found that the fastpasses for good attractions disappear earlier. After 11 AM, good luck changing your FPP time! I tried to change Star Tours to a later time because we wanted to experience a show. No dice. I could only get an FPP during Fantasmic - and you don't even need an FPP then.

 

[anca512]

I am interested to see what adjustments will be made to the program as the year progresses. I am sure they are taking note of issues that come up. Whether they act, however, is a different story.

 

[mollygirl13]

I was in the World Feb 12 - 18. Some things I noticed about FP+; the FP+ lines were longer than I had ever seen FP lines in the past. The lines for the FP+ Kiosks were ridiculously long. If you didn't make your selections before you got to the park and didn't have a devise to make or change your selections you had to wait in a long line to do that. Then you got to wait in another long FP+ line to experience the attraction. Fortunately I had all my FP+ selections before I got to the parks.

I could have easily used 5 or more FP+'s each day if they were available. FP+ dilutes the magic and it's really no fun at all. I hope all the people with rose colored glasses enjoy their FP+, for us realists it's a bad system.

I've been visiting WDW at least once per year since 1992 and a few times before that. I was not able to do nearly as much as I did in the past because of FP+. This latest experience will have me thinking long and hard about returning any time in the near future.

We were here the 9-15th and we experienced the same thing. We decided against out usual WDW Sept trip and booked someplace else this Fall.

We found our in park experience was far less enjoyable this time around than on our prior 58 trips to the World. Too scheduled, too many crowds and the MDE app crashed so much it was hard to change anything. It was a totally different park experience and not a positive one. This trip was too stressful and it started even before we left w trying to schedule Fp+ and ADR's!

Saw too many CM's unhappy, rude, unhelpful and very overwhelmed.

We waited in FAR too many lines on this past trip. It was ridiculous.

Sad to say this was probably our last WDW trip for a long time :-(
And that makes me VERY sad.

 

[yankeesgirl63]

We are leaving WDW today ( the 22nd). Over the past week the FP return lines for the more popular rides, especially Peter Pan and BTMRR, were unbelievable! One afternoon the Peter Pan FP return line stretched back to the carousel. What made it worse was that it blocked the exits to both Peter Pan and Philarmagic so people were everywhere and it was a mess with people trying to exit the rides. There was a long queue as well for BTMRR even before you scanned your MB for the first time. On Wednesday morning we decided to extend our trip by one more day and hit TSM and ToT on Friday. On Wednesday AM there were NO FP at all left for TSM for Friday. Not one time left. I guess the one thing I did like was being able to change a few FP on the fly. My kids love Barnstormer and I refuse to wait for a 40 second ride so we had a FP for that. When it got close to our time we noticed the wait was only 10 min so why waste a FP on that. We changed it for Buzz Lightyear which had a 50 min wait. Overall, though, I'm not super impressed for all the money they spent on this. Hopefully all the kinks will be worked out by the summer !

 

[MPLsDad]

Also just back today and we had mostly the opposite experience for FP+. We loved it in every park except EPCOT. There is so little to do in EPCOT in terms of line related attractions that you would only need it for TT, Soarin', and Maelstrom - which you can't group. They sure are pushing Captain Eo - which they can push right out of the park if you ask me! It worked great for us in MK, DHS, and AK. We were able to change on the fly if the attractions had short lines. I can't imagine being a day guest and waiting on the lines to make FP+ - it's probably shorter to go on three stand-by lines than wait in those lines! People, download the app! When it crashes, close the app, restart your phone and you should be fine!

 

[jahber]

I can't imagine being a day guest and waiting on the lines to make FP+ - it's probably shorter to go on three stand-by lines than wait in those lines! People, download the app! When it crashes, close the app, restart your phone and you should be fine!

Unfortunately, if you are off-site, you can't even use the app if you have it. You must wait in line to make OR change FP+s. . Good luck trying to make FP+ reservations for the one member of your family who doesn't have a magic band (been there, done that, left the park early).

 

[mollygirl13]

Also just back today and we had mostly the opposite experience for FP+. We loved it in every park except EPCOT. There is so little to do in EPCOT in terms of line related attractions that you would only need it for TT, Soarin', and Maelstrom - which you can't group. They sure are pushing Captain Eo - which they can push right out of the park if you ask me! It worked great for us in MK, DHS, and AK. We were able to change on the fly if the attractions had short lines. I can't imagine being a day guest and waiting on the lines to make FP+ - it's probably shorter to go on three stand-by lines than wait in those lines! People, download the app! When it crashes, close the app, restart your phone and you should be fine!

The problem I had all week w MDE didn't correct itself with this suggestion. What worked for me was having to delete the APP altogether and reinstall it. Happened all week and it started to get time consuming and frustrating, especially when I was in a park trying to change my FP+ to another time or experience.
And the FP+ kiosk lines were so long!

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

The problem I had all week w MDE didn't correct itself with this suggestion. What worked for me was having to delete the APP altogether and reinstall it. Happened all week and it started to get time consuming and frustrating, especially when I was in a park trying to change my FP+ to another time or experience.
And the FP+ kiosk lines were so long!

Same experience. The MDE app kept freezing and crashing. It was incredibly frustrating.

We had a great time anyway, but the poor functionality of the app made it even harder to adjust FPP when we were in the parks.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

EpcotBill- Please email or call or write Disney with your recent experience. Hopefully many squeaky wheels will get their attention!

 

[hygienejean]

We were there in Dec. I noticed that we could not change FP on the fly very easily as the headliners were already taken. One annoyance for me was that they have us so stuck to our smartphones SO much- checking this and that (wait times, ADR's, FP).... but when my phone charge goes down from all the use,but there are virtually NO charging stations (except in MK) at the parks.... There were NONE at my resort -BWV. (I ended up scrounging around to find one while we waited for our room to be ready..somewhere near the fireplace in the lobby. I always brought my charging cord everywhere, but it was always a big mystery looking around for places to charge my phone. This was a serious pain in the butt. I hope there is a fix for it coming soon to all of the parks and resorts.

 

[EpcotBill]

EpcotBill- Please email or call or write Disney with your recent experience. Hopefully many squeaky wheels will get their attention!

I already have. Nothing will come of it. They're committed to MDE and FP+ and I don't believe anything will change that. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Laketravis]

..the FP+ lines were longer than I had ever seen FP lines in the past. The lines for the FP+ Kiosks were ridiculously long

I was there from 2/16-20 and I agree with the above....The FPP Kiosk lines were outrageously long.

We were here the 9-15th and we experienced the same thing..

We are leaving WDW today ( the 22nd). Over the past week the FP return lines for the more popular rides, especially Peter Pan and BTMRR, were unbelievable!

I can't imagine being a day guest and waiting on the lines to make FP+ - it's probably shorter to go on three stand-by lines than wait in those lines!

But they move really, really fast, right?

It will be interesting to see if and how Disney makes any adjustments in the next few months as the parks get busier; people are only going to get more frustrated and uncomfortable when they are having to wait in outside queues in the heat and humidity.

 

[nezy]

We were also in wdw last week. We definitely navigated the parks much differently with the fp +. We found it best to go early leave and come back later and stay to close. What I liked about fp+ was that we could check what was available ahead of time. Also liked the ease of use for the room access and photomaker and for paying.
I did not like teiring. The kiosk lines were long. Very long. The fp return lines were long. Cast Member said fp line wait would only be 15 min. Max. Do not like the limits on options only 3. Also do not like that I cannot use fp+ in more than one park as we like to park hop.

 

[Sammie]

I already have. Nothing will come of it. They're committed to MDE and FP+ and I don't believe anything will change that. I hope I'm wrong.

They are not going to get rid of it but I do feel they will make adjustments. I think everyone should share their experience good or bad.

 

[nezy]

We were also in wdw last week. We definitely navigated the parks much differently with the fp +. We found it best to go early leave and come back later and stay to close. What I liked about fp+ was that we could check what was available ahead of time. Also liked the ease of use for the room access and photomaker and for paying.
I did not like teiring. The kiosk lines were long. Very long. The fp return lines were long. Cast Member said fp line wait would only be 15 min. Max. Do not like the limits on options only 3. Also do not like that I cannot use fp+ in more than one park as we like to park hop.

 

[mollygirl13]

I sent my feedback to Disney as soon as I came home. We will see if I get a return call or follow-up email.

 

[DisneyAllyC]

Why on Earth did I open this thread? All its doing is stressing me out before we leave in 8 days. Thanks a lot

 

[TeamJones22]

Why on Earth did I open this thread? All its doing is stressing me out before we leave in 8 days. Thanks a lot

Why open the thread if your not open to the possibility of negativity regarding FP+? Its no secret that most people here are not big fans of it.