My FP+ success story ..

[Shaden]

What seems to be getting lost here is that "success" is up to the interpretation of the guest. If the guest observes the interaction as positive, that is what it is. It doesn't matter at all how you perceive the event and whether you consider the event successful because you are not determining how this person chooses to spend their vacation dollars. I just think it's fascinating how some people in this group are so brash as to tell other people that their good experience is invalidated. What gives you that authority? People are smart enough to make up their own minds.

And what I think is getting lost is that, this is a -discussion- board. This isn't a "I get to post what I think and that's that" board. There is a reason we can always reply to people. If you want to just post something, your experience, but not open yourself up to responses and such, this probably isn't the place to do it. When someone says something is "Their" success story, it is "their" success, and then when someone responds with why "they" don't think it is a success, then to "them" it is not a success. Nothing wrong with either of those posts. Would it make a difference if the responder created their own new thread explaining why the original posters experience was not a success ? Should we only have threads that people only go into or respond to if they agree with the OP ?

 

[DisneyKidds]

Take what you would have been able to ride under legacy FP, then compare that to how long you would need to wait under FP+ to accomplish the same thing. I would have gotten a shorter wait on both TT and Soarin at Epcot. Now one is likely a standby wait and one is a fastpass wait. If I pulled FPS for TSMM once and RSR 3 times at DHS, I got 3 short waits. If I tried to replicate that now, it's likely that only 1 of those 4 rides would be by FP.

Won't argue with you there. While I like the way we are able to tour using FP+, I have also stated in many threads on many occasions that FP+ has its' warts. One of those being that we ride less rides now than we did under legacy FP, a large part of that being the difficulty in getting multiple rides on headliners in a single day, particularly in the parks with tiering. While that drawback is outweighed by other benefits for us, this isn't really relevant to the points I've been trying to discuss here.

I'm no longer interested in comparing FP+ to legacy FP. The ship has sailed on that long ago. We live in a new world, so we need to look at what that new world gives us, and not decry what we don't have any more. The discussion IMHO should be centered on what can be done using FP+, period. Once we discuss what is truly possible, people can make their own value judgements. For some that will be a comparative judgement, for others it won't.

Lake said in the new world you have to 'be happy with three attractions and long waits on everything else'. Even if I don't get two rides a day in on Soarin' and Test Track like I used to, Lake's comment if far from accurate, based on three trips worth of experience using FP+.

 

[MrInfinity]

The original post was about the fact that a person spent 3 days checking and rechecking trying to secure an FP for a ride, they were successful in doing so, but I don't really consider this a "success", I consider this demonstrative of what is wrong with the system. Its great that other folks at other times are able to find them. I don't think anyone really thinks its impossible, they might even have used to word impossible, but I think they -mean- that it is difficult, or unlikely. And of course they would recognize that during the slower parts of the year, it will be easier, and the busier parts of the year even less likely. Of course this is now playing out on the "Planning backlash" thread. So that's interesting too.

If I make a trip to the store, spending gas money and an hour of time, eat a candy bar and say "That was delicious - it made me happy!" are you one to retort that... "no, it contained a lot of fat, and was made by a company whose sole goal was to market it and thereby dupe me into liking it so that I'll buy it so they can make a profit off me. Not to mention you wasted so much time just getting the candy bar you could have been way more efficient but you weren't. You should certainly not be made happy by this, as it was a rather unremarkable accomplishment."

It really IS ok to like a product, or be happy from something simple like nabbing a FP slot. Even tho it is profitable for the making company. The OP was happy that she got the FP's she wanted, and I have to give her a nod that I find the same sorts of things cool too.

Only on the internet will people jump in and go "no that's not cool really it sucks!" cuz in normal conversations where people are not on an anonymous forum, etiquette and personal relations come in and we have nice conversations about what people like.

They make SNL skits about the people who chime in with negativity to others' positivity -- it's funny because it's socially atypical. Anyone remember Debbie Downer? Wendy Whiner? New one every generation because the concept of unusually forward negativity being socially inappropriate yet funny transcends time.

 

[Shaden]

If I make a trip to the store, spending gas money and an hour of time, eat a candy bar and say "That was delicious - it made me happy!" are you one to retort that... "no, it contained a lot of fat, and was made by a company whose sole goal was to market it and thereby dupe me into liking it so that I'll buy it so they can make a profit off me. Not to mention you wasted so much time just getting the candy bar you could have been way more efficient but you weren't. Sucks to be you."

If you post it on an internet discussion board, just like if you called me up and told me on the phone, yes yes I am one to respond. Though that might not actually be my response. But if you called my up and told me how great the Bounty Chocolate bar was, I would respond with something along the lines of "I find dried coconut to be disgusting"

If you are going to announce your feelings or views of something on a discussion board, prepare to have people respond to you, some agreeing, some disagreeing.

It hasn't stopped you from responding to people who have posted negative experiences about FP+ has it ?

 

[Laketravis]

Fuzzy, you didn't say exactly what KIND of candy bar and those sort of generalized, absolute statements only serve to distract from the original topic, which was that your gas tank was almost empty.

 

[SuperTink]

They make SNL skits about the people who chime in with negativity to others' positivity -- it's funny because it's socially atypical. Anyone remember Debbie Downer? Wendy Whiner? New one every generation because the concept of unusually forward negativity being socially inappropriate yet funny transcends time.

This goes both ways, though.

I've seen numerous posts about how if a person did *not* like FP+ it was somehow their fault for not making it work, or not having realistic expectations, or some-such.

Really, I'm just here to learn. I would never discount anyone's experience; positive or negative. But I'm a big enough girl to be able to handle criticism about any component of WDW, which seems to be frowned upon across the board. I can take the good and the bad and make decisions with all the info.

I'm excited to try FP+ because if it works like I'm hoping it will--it's going to be awesome. If I end up not riding as much and standing in much longer SB lines then...not so much. Fingers crossed!

 

[MrInfinity]

But if you called my up and told me how great the Bounty Chocolate bar was, I would respond with something along the lines of "I find dried coconut to be disgusting"

Ah... but would you say that, or would you say "No, dried coconut is disgusting you definitely should not like it and should in fact not tell anyone you like it because it's not good at all."

It's one thing to share your opinion. It's another to say the OP was wrong in her opinion!

If you are going to announce your feelings or views of something on a discussion board, prepare to have people respond to you, some agreeing, some disagreeing.

I don't make "nuh-uh" type posts. Wherein one is posting purely to say another's opinion is wrong. This girl said something made her happy, and so many jumped on how she was wrong to be happy about it cuz it really was not an accomplishment she should be proud of.

It hasn't stopped you from responding to people who have posted negative experiences about FP+ has it ?

If someone has a negative post about FP+, I don't reply about how that's stupid they should like it cuz it really is cool. I try to look at why they didn't like it and offer ideas on how to make it work. For example some might say they didn't like it because it made them feel like they can't be spontaneous, so I chime it to say... Well maybe if you approach it like this, and don't feel so committed to the times, or be willing to change FPs like you would have under FP-, or be willing to just let them go if you're doing something fun and rebook something else later... things like that. I try to come up with ways to make FP+ work. That is after all what the boards "theme park attractions and strategies" are for, right? It's not "theme park vents and gripes" it's about the attractions and strategies to make them work.

This goes both ways, though.
I've seen numerous posts about how if a person did *not* like FP+ it was somehow their fault for not making it work, or not having realistic expectations, or some-such.

Being that I do tech support, pointing fault is not in my vocabulary. But if I see someone struggling w something, it is in my nature to try to help. Perhaps if you see "I don't like FP+ because....." and then I say "well you could do it this way..." you take that as pointing fault for them not doing it that way in the first place. But... they didn't. And they definitely were not liking it... so the advice is there to be gotten for those who actually want it. Some really do just want to gripe and not actually try to learn how to make FP+ work for them.

Really, I'm just here to learn. I would never discount anyone's experience; positive or negative. But I'm a big enough girl to be able to handle criticism about any component of WDW, which seems to be frowned upon across the board. I can take the good and the bad and make decisions with all the info.

I'm excited to try FP+ because if it works like I'm hoping it will--it's going to be awesome. If I end up not riding as much and standing in much longer SB lines then...not so much. Fingers crossed!

You haven't used it yet? I figured by how much you post you would have used it by now. Same with mom2rtk. Who knew. Based on my FP- and FP+ experiences, and the fact that you've read up as much as me on it, you should be in the know enough to use it well and have as great a trip as ever. It just comes down to scrapping the old methodolgoies and learning how to utilize FP anew.

 

[g8torphan]

I'm no longer interested in comparing FP+ to legacy FP. The ship has sailed on that long ago. We live in a new world, so we need to look at what that new world gives us, and not decry what we don't have any more. The discussion IMHO should be centered on what can be done using FP+, period.

And that was the point I was making by starting this thread.
I wanted to illustrate that wiyh just a tiny effort (much less than running aroundK all day) you cam still land what you want for the most part.

Learn to use the system to your advantage as you did with legacy FP.




...still cant believe this thing is at 13pages....

 

[estherhead]

This goes both ways, though. I've seen numerous posts about how if a person did *not* like FP+ it was somehow their fault for not making it work, or not having realistic expectations, or some-such. Really, I'm just here to learn. I would never discount anyone's experience; positive or negative. But I'm a big enough girl to be able to handle criticism about any component of WDW, which seems to be frowned upon across the board. I can take the good and the bad and make decisions with all the info. I'm excited to try FP+ because if it works like I'm hoping it will--it's going to be awesome. If I end up not riding as much and standing in much longer SB lines then...not so much. Fingers crossed!

We totally just went to Coronado Springs and used FP+ for real for the first time. You are gonna have so much fun this month!! We got a (5th, I think?)FP+ to meet Tink at the last minute one day. She was adorable. Make time to meet your name sake . And we LOVED CSR. Loved it.

 

[SmithSmith]

Wait a minute. You've never been to WDW with fp+? But you are all over these board saying it won't work for you?

When are you planning on trying it out? Or you aren't?

In the words of Lana Kane: "YUP!"

And guess what she's not the only the one who does this!

 

[SuperTink]

And that was the point I was making by starting this thread.
I wanted to illustrate that wiyh just a tiny effort (much less than running aroundK all day) you cam still land what you want for the most part.

Learn to use the system to your advantage as you did with legacy FP.

...still cant believe this thing is at 13pages....

I got it. And that's how I took it.

 

[SmithSmith]

If I make a trip to the store, spending gas money and an hour of time, eat a candy bar and say "That was delicious - it made me happy!" are you one to retort that... "no, it contained a lot of fat, and was made by a company whose sole goal was to market it and thereby dupe me into liking it so that I'll buy it so they can make a profit off me. Not to mention you wasted so much time just getting the candy bar you could have been way more efficient but you weren't. You should certainly not be made happy by this, as it was a rather unremarkable accomplishment."

It really IS ok to like a product, or be happy from something simple like nabbing a FP slot. Even tho it is profitable for the making company. The OP was happy that she got the FP's she wanted, and I have to give her a nod that I find the same sorts of things cool too.

Only on the internet will people jump in and go "no that's not cool really it sucks!" cuz in normal conversations where people are not on an anonymous forum, etiquette and personal relations come in and we have nice conversations about what people like.

They make SNL skits about the people who chime in with negativity to others' positivity -- it's funny because it's socially atypical. Anyone remember Debbie Downer? Wendy Whiner? New one every generation because the concept of unusually forward negativity being socially inappropriate yet funny transcends time.

 

[SuperTink]

We totally just went to Coronado Springs and used FP+ for real for the first time. You are gonna have so much fun this month!! We got a (5th, I think?)FP+ to meet Tink at the last minute one day. She was adorable. Make time to meet your name sake . And we LOVED CSR. Loved it.

I am SO excited!!

Thanks for the pixie dust!!

 

[g8torphan]

I got it. And that's how I took it.

I know....


It was for the 'life was better in the 50's" crowd

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Well said.

What's that saying? What Mary says about Nancy, says more about Mary than it does Nancy.

Er, I think this is true for all of us!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The mistake many make in evaluating line wait times is taking the list of what is possible with FP+ and adding up how long they waited, then comparing that to what the wait would have been with legacy FP.

I think it needs to be the other way around. Take what you would have been able to ride under legacy FP, then compare that to how long you would need to wait under FP+ to accomplish the same thing.

I would have gotten a shorter wait on both TT and Soarin at Epcot. Now one is likely a standby wait and one is a fastpass wait.

If I pulled FPS for TSMM once and RSR 3 times at DHS, I got 3 short waits. If I tried to replicate that now, it's likely that only 1 of those 4 rides would be by FP.

Obliviously our experiences will differ---

But I have and well--no different!

But in the past, I always FP Soarin' and then rode TT standby as quite typically in my experience, the line remained short even in that "brief" (in the grand scheme) amount of time to send the runner to get those fast passes. We did that first to ensure an earlier FP return window versus a later.

Today (generally speaking under the new book ahead of time FP+ system), I FP soarin through MDE therefor bypassing all that "running"--because even in the most relaxed manner of touring, it still takes time to gingerly walk I of the land and head on down for the FP machines even if the plan was that we would do this while riding Living with the Land. It takes me less time than in the most ideal "just happened to be at that Pavillion" days for folks who claim the running is hyperbole and that they never ever did such a thing. Never mind that many rides require an intentional (albeit small) detour to get themselves to a FP+ machine. Hopping on MDE (barring technical issues that cause the program to physically not work)--takes less time.

So--it actually takes me LESS time--because I would actually go to rope drop still and now straight to TT Bypassing our former detour to get the Soarin' FP.

And yes, there are claims of "but you still waited at rope drop"!

True, and I don't deny that. But that has been my touring style for 25-30 years. (Puts me at the age where I encouraged mom to go to rope drop and when she finally had enough sent me and my siblings out the door to do so so she could take her time waking up, getting her coffee and getting ready.). We like to beat the crowds in general! So that rope drop wait is no different than before--and times right, especially for MK--has you waiting just a few minutes anyway. If anything--those bag checks are what messes up rope drop!

Let the record show that I concede your style may be different. But I don't know for sure that your method of touring (riding the same ride 3-7 times as a normal expectation) fits the majority either Again--I am okay with this. Not that you need my approval so please don't mistake it as though I am giving you that. And I am not denying that your may tour differently. But you do have your way of touring that may not be that of the average Disney guest.

But let it also be shown that you may be able to get a 4th FP that could be used on TT, depending on how your other FP plans lined up that day.
Again--I can only go on the here and now. But it is 12:40, and I could just secure 6 FP for Test track this evening. Now, imagine if all your FP for today were done--which is possible. Well now, this might have been a 4th FP. I am not sitting at EPCOT right now and concede this is purely anecdotal. But I did just try to change the 8:00 time for all 6 people and up popped 6:55, 7:10, and 7:40 (window start times).

So it isn't out of the question entirely. Which you would certainly be able to learn how it works our for you once you actually go to the parks. But you aren't there and are speaking anectdotally of an event you have not experienced.

So-while you may feel "many" make some mistake, I would posit that it is actually conceivable that they aren't making the mistake you think then are making. Perhaps they are comparing apples to apples and find that, At a minimum, they can do the same quantity. Really depends. But you cannot go--well this is how it would have been for us on that day. Unless you are there, you don't know. I guess if you could ride RNR, on a crowd 10 day 3x and no longer can even mathematically, I guess you may be able to predict that.

But for us--the same touring style is still possible as I just showed you.

And no, we did not tour EPCOT this way last time--but it still matched our MO for when we park hopped....except now the Soarin' FP were not all out and we were out of luck--we had booked our Soarin' FP just 2 days before. Even moved it around for an ADR made less than 24 hours the night before. Old way,
We would not have been riding Soarin' as we would have liked for a park hop. So that was different--and an improvement!

 

[BugsDaddy]

And what I think is getting lost is that, this is a -discussion- board. This isn't a "I get to post what I think and that's that" board. There is a reason we can always reply to people. If you want to just post something, your experience, but not open yourself up to responses and such, this probably isn't the place to do it. When someone says something is "Their" success story, it is "their" success, and then when someone responds with why "they" don't think it is a success, then to "them" it is not a success. Nothing wrong with either of those posts. Would it make a difference if the responder created their own new thread explaining why the original posters experience was not a success ? Should we only have threads that people only go into or respond to if they agree with the OP ?

Sure, you can post whatever you like within the rules of the forum, or even outside the rules if you are willing to deal with the specific consequences. However, just because you can post a response doesn't make it a valid or socially acceptable response and you open yourself up to criticism. Telling someone that their opinion doesn't matter is probably one of those responses that will in itself receive a negative reception.

 

[DisneyKidds]

My post had nothing to do with any assertion that you can only ride three rides, so ummmm ... yea. Two other notes, you are using FPs, there are no posted wait times for FPs. Its pretty silly to try and claim that wait times are inaccurate because you rode a bunch of rides and spent 1/10th of the time wait compared to what was posted, when you weren't actually waiting in those lines. Seriously.

Exactly, seriously, thanks for recognizing my point!

It was Lake that made the comment about WHAT WAS POSSIBLE USING FP+ (specifically, be happy with three attractions a day and long waits for everything else). That's all I've been talking about. I provided anecdotal evidence to the contrary, that using FP+ it is possible to ride 15 attractions a day (combination of FP and standby) with very little wait time, even during the busiest week of the year. To refute my evidence you furthered the totally irrelevant argument about average standby wait times calculated by some nebulous blog, wait times that most likely have little relevance to someone actually touring the parks using FP+, like me, last week! Thanks for taking that marginally useful Josh info off the table so we can focus on what is really possible for someone using FP+ in combination with ACTUAL standby lines.

As for FP+ waits, I consider a FP+ wait to be how much time it takes to get to the merge point, where you scan your FP+ the second time. On almost all of our FP+ we had zero wait to that point. Yes, you may have a couple minute wait from there, as would someone who merges in from the standby line. Really though, a couple minutes doesn't change the result. SERIOUSLY.

It appeared that you whipped out Josh's analysis to support Lake's assertion that for the rides where you don't have FP+ you have to wait in long lines. That's not necessarily true, not by a long shot. Sure, for whatever reason some people will wait in the long lines that feed Josh's averages, but you don't have to. And again, averages can be very misleading. Does Josh accumulate data by day and by hour? That would certainly be more useful, allowing people to target when they use the standby lines.

As for posted standby wait times in general being inaccurate, I base that solely on my own STANDBY experience, and countless reports on these boards that state the posted STANDBY wait was one thing, whereas the actual STANDBY wait was something less. I think standby times are generally overstated throughout the day, but much more so late, although some can be accurate. It's a crap shoot, and any analysis based on data from a crap shoot is most likely gonna be........

 

[Laketravis]

.....I don't make "nuh-uh" type posts.....This girl said something made her happy, and so many jumped on how she was wrong to be happy about it cuz it really was not an accomplishment she should be proud of. .

Fuzzy, consider your response to my post about my son's email to Disney. I know you didn't mean it that way, but I found it to be mocking.

I think the same can be said about other poster's comments. They aren't "jumping" on anybody or trying to squelch their enthusiasm. They simply see their own experience as facts, their own opinions as conclusions, their own comments as contributions. Because the only reason any of us engage in all of this is because we share a common interest. Some of us feel that common interest is completely fulfilling, some don't.

 

[Laketravis]

It was Lake that made the comment about WHAT WAS POSSIBLE USING FP+ (specifically, be happy with three attractions a day and long waits for everything else). That's all I've been talking about.

DK, please put my comment in it's proper context. I was referring to a family with children who may only be able to go to WDW at busy times and under those conditions could be looking at long SB waits for everything else beyond their initial 3 FP's.

You took that and turned it into an absolute statement, applying it to everyone at all times. And that is not what it was.