My husband didn't believe me about FP+

[bcrook]

I'm just going to throw out an observation. Yes, FP+ can become available at the last minute. Just yesterday I noticed that A&E FP+ for today appear to be available (and still are). However, just because they are available doesn't mean you can see them online. For example, say you have 4 FP+ for PP from 1:05-2:05 and 7DMT from 2:10-3:10 and a 3rd throwaway FP+ scheduled for something not in high demand at a different time and someone else has released 4 FP+ for A&E that was for 2:30-3:30. Using the 3rd throwaway FP+ to check for last minute avalability, I'm under the impression that you wouldn't see the 4 FP+ for A&E because of the time overlap with the 4 7DMT FP+ that are being kept and MDE won't show you times that you already have scheduled. The only way to see the 4 FP+ for A&E would be to reschedule the 4 FP+ for 7DMT to a different time, but that may not be possible. Am I wrong in this assumption?

This is a great observation. I will keep this in mind as I continue to hunt for what I need. I am hoping things loosen up at the 45 day mark when people cancel their trips if they decide to opt out.

 

[bcrook]

Curious, was the ride down at any point? I would not be surprised at all if Disney's computers often screwed up and gave out too many FP+. Or if Disney is routinely adjusting how many FP+ are distributed as an experiment. We encountered a 45-minute FP return line at ToT, but that was after the ride went down and came back up with only one drop tower running. CMs with tablets at FP return entrance gave you the option to wait, modify FP+ to different ride, or exchange ToT FP+ for a good-any-time paper FP.

I was there from 2:00-close and didn't notice that TSMM went down. It did close at 8:30 for fireworks, but that shouldn't have any effect.

It's not the only ride I ran into with the overly long FP+ return line. Whenever they redo Pixar Place, it looks like from the concept art that they will reconfigure the entrance and probably include a longer queue for the FP return like they did with Peter Pan. This way that 30 minute wait won't impede upon the walkways. In 2013, the Safari was terrible. FP return was bleeding into the stroller area, the exit of the ride and Pangani. Now they reconfigured that area and it works better. I think the longer FP+ waits are here to stay because of over distribution, but Disney will find ways to get us out the walkways. That will get rid of the chaotic feel.

 

[bcrook]

I'm trying to figure why anyone would choose any other option.

No kidding. Do the CMs encourage other options more?

 

[bcrook]

Not really. 7DMT was the ride that OP said had no FP+ availability 60 days in advance.

For my trip in the middle October, even though almost all the other rides are still available (other than 7dmt), I am not finding the times I want. So even at around 50 days availability is dwindling. Booking for 7 people is also much more difficult. I think people forget that it is much, much more challenging for larger groups.

 

[Lucius Best]

It's not the only ride I ran into with the overly long FP+ return line. Whenever they redo Pixar Place, it looks like from the concept art that they will reconfigure the entrance and probably include a longer queue for the FP return like they did with Peter Pan. This way that 30 minute wait won't impede upon the walkways. In 2013, the Safari was terrible. FP return was bleeding into the stroller area, the exit of the ride and Pangani. Now they reconfigured that area and it works better. I think the longer FP+ waits are here to stay because of over distribution, but Disney will find ways to get us out the walkways. That will get rid of the chaotic feel.

I don't doubt it. We definitely got the impression that in general FP+ return lines were longer than in the past. Would not be surprised if it was over distribution. Although often when the line was stretched down the street it was due to how slowly people were scanning their Magicbands.

 

[rpb718]

It's been a weird morning. I've been checking the DIBB site for A&E availability. I've seen at least 4 FP+ become open for 8/30 and 8/31, but they are now both gone. Later in the morning I've also seen A&E open up on 9/2 and even on Labor Day 9/7, but I'd expect these to be gone soon as well. As a side note, I used the DIBB site last week to check on Wishes FP+ for later in October and was able to grab some when I saw availability.

The moral of this story for ANY FP+ that looks unobtainable at the moment is: Keep checking when you have a chance and never give up.

 

[Merkymouse]

It's been a weird morning. I've been checking the DIBB site for A&E availability. I've seen at least 4 FP+ become open for 8/30 and 8/31, but they are now both gone. Later in the morning I've also seen A&E open up on 9/2 and even on Labor Day 9/7, but I'd expect these to be gone soon as well. As a side note, I used the DIBB site last week to check on Wishes FP+ for later in October and was able to grab some when I saw availability.

The moral of this story for ANY FP+ that looks unobtainable at the moment is: Keep checking when you have a chance and never give up.

I wonder if Disney realizes that they have created a DDoS storm by only releasing a limited amount of FP+s. I wonder what the load looks like when they have 100,000 people checking for the availability of one of N FP+s every minute.

 

[bcrook]

It's been a weird morning. I've been checking the DIBB site for A&E availability. I've seen at least 4 FP+ become open for 8/30 and 8/31, but they are now both gone. Later in the morning I've also seen A&E open up on 9/2 and even on Labor Day 9/7, but I'd expect these to be gone soon as well. As a side note, I used the DIBB site last week to check on Wishes FP+ for later in October and was able to grab some when I saw availability.

The moral of this story for ANY FP+ that looks unobtainable at the moment is: Keep checking when you have a chance and never give up.

I just checked and 7dmt for my arrival day had some new openings today. I've been checking everyday. Only a few times available. So far I have 4 of my group scheduled late enough to actually use. Three of us are still earlier than our arrival time. Maybe the 45 day mark has something to it. I'm at 48 days out right now, I think.

 

[bcrook]

I don't doubt it. We definitely got the impression that in general FP+ return lines were longer than in the past. Would not be surprised if it was over distribution. Although often when the line was stretched down the street it was due to how slowly people were scanning their Magicbands.

Yup, the slow process of band scanning is one thing I run into often - Splash and Soarin has that problem for sure. But at TSMM the line was backed up from the loading dock through the queue along the temporary indoor wall, out the door, on to the sidewalk, down the street, around the corner, and through the woods.

 

[Lucius Best]

No kidding. Do the CMs encourage other options more?

I only had that one experience with 45 minute FP return line for ToT. CMs were telling us how long line was, and offering to reschedule our ToT FP for a later return time or a different HS ride. One of the CMs had a stack of paper FP, but they weren't just handing those out to everyone, their preference was clearly to modify the FP on MDE. We told CM we weren't planning on staying at HS after lunch (the truth, especially after ToT went down for an hour, because you can imagine what that did to the lines at RnRC and TSMM). So they gave us those paper FPs that are good for a few days and cancelled our ToT FP out of MDE.

What I couldn't figure out was the people still pouring into the standby line which isn't moving when CMs are right there telling everyone the FP line is 45 minutes.

 

[itchin2go]

I'm just dealing with what is reality and for now, it's better to have tiers than not.

Personally, they could drop tiers tomorrow and it would be great for me. But for those who stay off site or book short vacations, it would not be so great.

I deal with the reality too. Lamenting the reality AND dealing with it are not mutually exclusive.

I have no problem with someone trashing FP+ that has actually used the system. I realize it will not appeal to everyone. My complaint was with the OP who has not yet used the system and feels the need to start yet another "Let's bash FP+" thread.

I didn't see her trash it, and she is in the beginning stages of using the system. There might be a reason why there have been more than 1 threads that start off with complaints about FP+. First off, any change is going to take some getting used to. This is kind of complicated, and thus frustrating to some. And then some people just aren't going to like it.

These boards are so funny. Someone comes out to post their thoughts on FP+, and the same old group jumps on the opportunity to go "HAH! Look another person that hates it".

Right back at you Mr. I.

 

[bcrook]

What I couldn't figure out was the people still pouring into the standby line which isn't moving when CMs are right there telling everyone the FP line is 45 minutes.

I saw that too in a lot of places.

How about this one...

I sat in front of Dinasaur one day waiting for my group, and I watched the line dynamics for about 45 minutes at about 3:00 pm. The standby line was very short, yet the the standby wait time was 60 minutes. I couldn't figure that out. But the FP+ line consistently remained out the door. People kept pouring into the FP line. So I decided to wander inside and try the standby line. I walked passed all the FP people, turned to the right, stood up next to the dinosaur. There couldn't have been more than two pre show rooms full of people in front of me. But after 20 minutes I never moved. I left. Very few people came in behind me. It felt like completely appointment riding.

I wonder how the masses figure this out? That dynamic doesn't fit the other rides. So strange.

 

[disneyseniors]

These boards are so funny. Someone comes out to post their thoughts on FP+, and the same old group jumps on the opportunity to go "HAH! Look another person that hates it".

OP, I have to ask why you're so aggravated. Based on the little info I know, it looks like you already booked your ADRs... so isn't the bulk of your planning done? If you've booked ADRs, that means you've picked park days. Once you know your park days, it's a piece of cake to pick 3 rides in the park that you think you'll want to ride. Picking a whole vacations-worth of Fast Passes takes about 15 min. And there is absolutely no reason not to pick them. You don't have to go to them if you're having fun doing something else, you can change them day-of if you like, and if any of them end up sold out, you've already got one for yourself. It's all pro and no con.

Don't think of it as not relaxing in that you have 3 appointments to keep, but relaxing in that you can walk on to 3 rides (probably busy rides) on those days, if you choose to. You are not penalized if you don't show, and you can change them if you're on the other side of the park and don't want to go to your FP+.

Standby lines are even not bad. We've gone in FP+ times (last year Star Wars Weekend, so it was busy!) and the lines were really about the same as they always were.
Have fun! It shouldn't be stressful. If you want help with anything specific to make it even easier, just ask out here and you'll get tons of replies.

These boards aren't funny to me when the "same old group" gangs up on someone who is innocently stating their OWN PERSONAL experiences with fp+. The OP stated this a few posts up from here. She shouldn't feel that she "started a fp+ hate thread" when ALL she was doing was stating that her husband couldn't believe you had to actually schedule fp+s 2 months out. That isn't a weird statement at all. It is ludicrous that we have to do that now with fp+, and even longer with adr's. She has an opinion and really, she should be able to express it without being told how relaxing it is IF she does it the "right" way. Sounds condescending to me.
Come on everyone!!! Let's just agree to disagree and let Everyone express their opinions without all this other "stuff" every time. You have to live with the fact that fp+ is here and we all have to cope with it if we go to WDW. It's nice to hear all the ways others have of dealing with it. It is also nice to be able to express your opinion re: fp+ (even if you don't like it). This argument isn't going away! I would like to find ways to cope with this and that is why I read these boards. Sorry OP for all this "stuff" that was stirred up!

 

[Elfeen]

Hmm. What day are you looking at? I just checked a random day the 2nd week of september and found both splash and peter pan were available.

Wow!!! The 16th of September; been checking for days. Did you really go on and look to try to prove me wrong? Wow. I'm going to walk away for a minute. Wow!

 

[3DisneyFanz]

What I couldn't figure out was the people still pouring into the standby line which isn't moving when CMs are right there telling everyone the FP line is 45 minutes.

That's either an indictment on the education of how FP+ works or the state of HS. As you said ToT being down crushed the only other two major attractions there then people are going to wait somewhere. The other problem is many of those people going to SB might not have been able to get a FP so they have no other option but SB. Of course if all these people who keep booking FP that aren't being used wouldn't do that then everyone would get their FP and no one would ever have to do standby.

 

[MillauFr]

I think they should unite and make barricades to block the entrance to WDW. Would be more effective than complaining here. Or go in therapy together to get some closure and become able to accept the change

What if we just forced them to go to Disneyland instead????

 

[itchin2go]

That's not your fault, OP, some of the fp+ haters here like to use every opportunity to display how unhappy they are with fp+ and rather point out the negatives instead of looking how to work with the system.

It's possible to offer help with how to work within they system AND commiserate about it.

I think they should unite and make barricades to block the entrance to WDW. Would be more effective than complaining here. Or go in therapy together to get some closure and become able to accept the change

So complaining here about FP+ is not effective. What about complaining about the complainers?

I am just one person, so I can only speak for myself. I have 100% accepted the change and I am rolling with it. We dealt with FP+ on our last trip, and we're ready to deal with it on our upcoming March trip. It has its plusses and minuses. I would like to be able to talk about those here without being told I need therapy.

 

[BeachClub2014]

I have 100% accepted the change and I am rolling with it. We dealt with FP+ on our last trip, and we're ready to deal with it on our upcoming March trip. It has its plusses and minuses. I would like to be able to talk about those here without being told I need therapy.

Exactly.

My biggest issue with the new system is that it has forced a change in how my family "does" our WDW vacation, and not for the better for us. That is not a welcomed change, but it is the new reality. We no longer realistically have the ability or opportunity to arrive at a park and get a FP for attractions we wanted to experience. That was never an issue for us before, and now it is. I don't have the time or desire to "keep checking" for availability on a daily basis during the run-up to a vacation. We hadn't had to do that before, and now we will have to if we choose to experience WDW in some semblance of the way we have done so in the past. Adding required computer time and stress points to the planning process is not a magical enhancement to the Disney experience, for us.

 

[MrInfinity]

These boards aren't funny to me when the "same old group" gangs up on someone who is innocently stating their OWN PERSONAL experiences with fp+. The OP stated this a few posts up from here. She shouldn't feel that she "started a fp+ hate thread" when ALL she was doing was stating that her husband couldn't believe you had to actually schedule fp+s 2 months out. That isn't a weird statement at all. It is ludicrous that we have to do that now with fp+, and even longer with adr's. She has an opinion and really, she should be able to express it without being told how relaxing it is IF she does it the "right" way. Sounds condescending to me.
Come on everyone!!! Let's just agree to disagree and let Everyone express their opinions without all this other "stuff" every time. You have to live with the fact that fp+ is here and we all have to cope with it if we go to WDW. It's nice to hear all the ways others have of dealing with it. It is also nice to be able to express your opinion re: fp+ (even if you don't like it). This argument isn't going away! I would like to find ways to cope with this and that is why I read these boards. Sorry OP for all this "stuff" that was stirred up!

Exactly... the OP's post was perfectly legit. It's so many of the other comments that are not helpful but just want to rant about FP+. Can you rant? Sure. But it does not help the OP. Perhaps there should be an "FP+ rants here" thread so that any time they come up (like the tipping thing) they can be deleted or moved. They don't belong in a thread asking for legit strategy advice.

There are ways to make it more relaxing. I think the boards should be directed toward how to make it work for her. Like, for example not considering the FP+ times as appointments but options. Then your day isn't so "booked". It's not at all, with some options you can use or not use. And her other question was about how she had to pick parks 2 months in advance... when she also said she had ADRs, so really aren't the parks picked when you get your ADRs? At that point the FP's can be a lot easier, as it's just 15 min on the computer now to save you likely 2 hours in line (per day!) later. There is nothing bad to come of that. So I strongly recommend she book the FP+'s even if she's thinking she might want to change up day-of.

She also asked how this can possibly be relaxing or a vacation (paraphrasing)... so I want to reiterate that it definitely can be as relaxing and vacation-like as anyone wants. FP+ has helped us spend a lot more family time together. The elimination of the need to split up or run for FP-'s was really a nice benefit over the old system. So Minnie, it can definitely be relaxing if that's what you're going for. Pick your Fast Passes, but don't worry too much about getting them just right. You can always change them later. Get anything you have as a must-do and then you don't have to worry about not getting into that attraction while on your vacation. It can bring peace of mind to know you'll get into those things.

 

[Lucius Best]

Let's just agree to disagree and let Everyone express their opinions without all this other "stuff" every time. You have to live with the fact that fp+ is here and we all have to cope with it if we go to WDW. It's nice to hear all the ways others have of dealing with it. It is also nice to be able to express your opinion re: fp+ (even if you don't like it). This argument isn't going away! I would like to find ways to cope with this and that is why I read these boards. Sorry OP for all this "stuff" that was stirred up!

I share your sentiment. The argument isn't going away, because there is no answer, but it can be civil and respectful and informative. There are pros and cons to FP+, and whether the pros outweigh the cons or vice versa for a particular family depends on virtually everything: time of year/crowd level/length of trip/age of children/how often you go/what rides you want to do/how many rides you want to do/how many fastpasses you want/how much you like to plan/your flexibility/how many ADRs you have/how much you know about the system/touring strategy/willingness to change your touring strategy/commando or not/rope drop or not/park hopper or not/afternoon break or not/park close or not/etc.

There was a very interesting thread a few months ago asking people how their touring style changed due to FP+. It was heavy on details of changes a wide variety of people made to their planning/touring strategies to get the most out of FP+, with almost none of the nonsense.