My impression of FP+ for the masses

[Airship Ariadne]

I couldn't get FP 30 days out for 3 people for 7DMT or TSMM for any of the days we were there 3 weeks ago. Unreasonable?

I haven't gotten under 30 days yet so don't know how quickly after opening it up to the non-resort guests will change it (within minutes I expect)...but at 38 days out, I'm still finding times all day for TSMM, and late afternoon ones for 7DMT during my stay...in the process of adjusting times to fit DW's new demand to meet a bunch of characters...so again, it isn't seeming to be an issue for onsite guests. Consider "staying onsite" to be the key to getting the most out of it, just like "arriving within 2 hours of RD" was the key to getting the most out of FP-.

 

[saskdw]

You know, this brought an interesting point to mind. I think adding FP+ to attractions that never had FP before has added *perceived* value to those attractions for SOME.

It's just human nature. You make something look like it's hard to get and you give them a pass to skip a line, and all of a sudden, it looks like a bigger deal.

Maybe this at least partially explains why standby lines have increased for some of those lesser-loved attractions?

There is some truth to that. It's smart marketing. Like I said in another thread they are using all the tools at their disposal to fill their resorts.

 

[saskdw]

I have been saying it for a year now, the feedback Disney gets is very positive. My cousin worked FP+ from inception and said most guests are happy with it. It's the ones that have been going to Disney for years that complain the most and I'm one of those people. I've also said its full steam ahead for FP+ at WDW, there's no going back now.

I do sympathise with you. It's too bad that there isn't a special DIS legacy package that is available!!

It wouldn't hurt anything to have a couple hundred DISer's running around on the old system!

 

[saskdw]

I haven't gotten under 30 days yet so don't know how quickly after opening it up to the non-resort guests will change it (within minutes I expect)...but at 38 days out, I'm still finding times all day for TSMM, and late afternoon ones for 7DMT during my stay...in the process of adjusting times to fit DW's new demand to meet a bunch of characters...so again, it isn't seeming to be an issue for onsite guests. Consider "staying onsite" to be the key to getting the most out of it, just like "arriving within 2 hours of RD" was the key to getting the most out of FP-.

Same here.

We were there last Dec. 12th-24th and had no problem changing FP sameday while there. There was no 7DMT, but that is only one ride.

 

[stinkpickle]

I would have guessed this...

The folks I feel a little badly for are 1st or 2nd timers who find this board and become horrified at FP+ due to all the complaining.

sometimes ignorance truly is bliss.

True that! Unless they ask specifically, the only thing I inform first timers about is when to avoid the heaviest crowds.

 

[lugnut33]

I do sympathise with you. It's too bad that there isn't a special DIS legacy package that is available!!

It wouldn't hurt anything to have a couple hundred DISer's running around on the old system!

LOL

but only if they don't enforce the return times.

 

[IvyMom]

Well, I'm a first timer and it all seems like a tempest in a teapot to me. If I can't get a FP+ time I can still go on that line. I just need to figure out how to make it work with my family.

I'm also going over a holiday weekend, though, so what do I know?

 

[cakebaker]

There is definitely hyperbole on both sides. You see statements like, "I couldn't get anything with FP+" or "FP+ was awesome, because I got to do everything!" But I don't take either of those literally. "I couldn't get anything!" means "I couldn't get the FPs that I most/wanted needed." While, "I got to ride everything!" means "I rode everything that was important to me."

I suppose you could call those exaggerations, but I don't really think most people on these boards really think someone couldn't get one single FP for a weeklong trip when they post, "I hate FP because I can't get anything"

I think when most people say they got everything they wanted, they mean they got everything they wanted. I usually include I wasn't looking for A&E, but it's no exaggeration when I say we got everything we wanted at 45 days in August and at about 50 days for our late September trip.

If most people on these boards thought "I couldn't get anything" , meant I couldn't get sdmt or A&E, we wouldn't see so many posts with people expressing surprise when they were able to get so many fp+'s reserved.

 

[saskdw]

LOL

but only if they don't enforce the return times.

Only if you get the Hoppers with Water Parks and more tickets!!

 

[famy27]

I think when most people say they got everything they wanted, they mean they got everything they wanted. I usually include I wasn't looking for A&E, but it's no exaggeration when I say we got everything we wanted at 45 days in August and at about 50 days for our late September trip.

If most people on these boards thought "I couldn't get anything" , meant I couldn't get sdmt or A&E, we wouldn't see so many posts with people expressing surprise when they were able to get so many fp+'s reserved.

I'm not saying "got everything they wanted." I'm saying posts where people have claimed they, "Rode everything with FP!" or "I rode everything because of FP!" I don't think either of those statements are true. You cannot prebook every ride, and certain ones are gone pretty early in the day. It's an exaggeration as well.

For me, on my weeklong trips booked more than 60 days out, I got all the FPs I wanted, under the parameters that the system allows, but I certainly didn't ride "everything" because of or with FPs.

Neither would I say that "nothing was available." For my last-minute trip, I literally could not get TSMM for any of three days, at 16 days out for two people. I had to do serious MDE stalking to finally get two A&E FPs, and I felt very fortunate that I got them. But everything else that I tried to get I was able to find (didn't need SDMT on that trip, but I suspect I couldn't have had that either).

But if the only attractions you want are SDMT, A&E, TSMM, the parades and the fireworks, and you can't get those, then I suppose it would seem like you can't get "anything." There can be 5 billion FPs available, but if they aren't what you want or need, then it's the same as nothing as all TO YOU.

 

[Disneylover99]

You forgot they are trying to get 7DMT for 15 people...on Thanksgiving day...at 1 pm...30 days prior...and so they "couldn't get ANYTHING!" and hate the system.

It makes sense to me why someone might hate the system if they are shut out of something, considering with legacy FP, all 15 of them could have arrived at MK Thanksgiving morning (without having to pre plan anything) and gotten a FP for this.

Yes, I do realize that 7DMT was never part of the legacy FP system. But I'm going to assume it would have been part of the system if FP+ was not implemented.

 

[momof2n2]

It's all perspective. And it is rare to have an identical perspective to the next tourer.

 

[ilovemk76]

I don't doubt the OPs experience at all, but it is still not a representative sample. I'm guessing she didn't approach people whose kids were in the middle of meltdowns or hang around Guest Relations all day to hear about people's issues and problems (with FP or with Disney in general).

I didn't have to visit GR during my late September trip, but I did in June and August. I definitely heard a fair number of FP complaints. I've also talked to people in real life who loved FP+, who hated it, and who had no opinion.

So, I don't think that negative experiences here can be written off as "excessive" or "exaggerated" any more than the OPs positive report can be.

The DIS is not a representative sample.

 

[Suvadoo]

Same here.

We were there last Dec. 12th-24th and had no problem changing FP sameday while there. There was no 7DMT, but that is only one ride.

7DMT wasn't open last Christmas. Is that what you meant?

 

[EEyorelover22]

I have a question about FP+ so I hope it's okay to put it here.

We couldn't get a FP for TSM so we'd like to still ride it.
We picked RnR for the four of us.

We are going over Christmas. If we show up early will we be able to ride TSM?
I haven't had time to follow this at all since last year.
I thought I had heard something that you couldn't ride some rides without a FP. I don't want to show up at rope drop if there is no chance to ride this.

Thanks.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

I thought I had heard something that you couldn't ride some rides without a FP. I don't want to show up at rope drop if there is no chance to ride this.

Thanks.

That was a short test...one week during a low attendance week...if you do RD you should be fine.

 

[Planogirl]

If I went during low attendance I doubt that I'd bother much with FP+. We have been going during busy times lately though and that makes a difference.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Same here.

We were there last Dec. 12th-24th and had no problem changing FP sameday while there. There was no 7DMT, but that is only one ride.

Wasn't that back when MK still had paper fast passes and offsite guests couldn't use FP+?

 

[dawgsgirl]

You know, this brought an interesting point to mind. I think adding FP+ to attractions that never had FP before has added *perceived* value to those attractions for SOME.

It's just human nature. You make something look like it's hard to get and you give them a pass to skip a line, and all of a sudden, it looks like a bigger deal.

Maybe this at least partially explains why standby lines have increased for some of those lesser-loved attractions?

I REALLY agree with this. I was at WDW last week. I am a confirmed Festival of the Lion King junkie. The first show of the day at 10:00 is never full during slow and moderate crowd levels. Everyone is off doing Everest or the Safari or whatever. Last week the first show was packed and almost the entire theater was FP+. This is the second time I have seen this happen. I am amazed that people would even use a FP+ for this show. Much less for the first show of the day. I have to assume these folks were first time guests and thought they were really getting a good deal!

 

[saskdw]

7DMT wasn't open last Christmas. Is that what you meant?

Yes