My impression of FP+ for the masses

[Belle5]

The average guest is likely someone like my son's girlfriend and her mother who both arrived at Disneyland yesterday. My son tells me that they don't know what there is to do there, so could I shoot them a text with some ideas of things they should make sure and see! She texted back wanting to know if I knew of a place they should eat. Sure.

I think this is what generally happens at Walt Disney World, too. The average person walks in hearing of a few things they should ride. Maybe a place they should try and eat. If they are offered a choice of three FP+, wow! That's cool! Three rides (they don't even realize they're getting the leftovers from us crazies) that they won't have to wait long to ride!

 

[ArwenMarie]

The average guest is likely someone like my son's girlfriend and her mother who both arrived at Disneyland yesterday. My son tells me that they don't know what there is to do there, so could I shoot them a text with some ideas of things they should make sure and see! She texted back wanting to know if I knew of a place they should eat. Sure.

I think this is what generally happens at Walt Disney World, too. The average person walks in hearing of a few things they should ride. Maybe a place they should try and eat. If they are offered a choice of three FP+, wow! That's cool! Three rides (they don't even realize they're getting the leftovers from us crazies) that they won't have to wait long to ride!

I agree. We all know that doing any planning improves a WDW trip and we've all probably cringed when we hear about friends just going there for the first time with no planning

FP+ guides these people through planning at least three things. And if the people don't know that they never needed a FP for two of those three things anyway, so what, ignorance is bliss.

 

[Suvadoo]

I agree. We all know that doing any planning improves a WDW trip and we've all probably cringed when we hear about friends just going there for the first time with no planning

FP+ guides these people through planning at least three things. And if the people don't know that they never needed a FP for two of those three things anyway, so what, ignorance is bliss.

This would explain a lot. First timers are filling up the FP+ lines for rides like HM and POTC so the SB for these rides increases to 15-20 minutes. The headliner lines are a little shorter or about the same because FP+ spreads out the crowd and first-timers are relegated to the SB line if they allowed Disney to pick their FP's for them.
So the theory is that most first timers do little or no research, allow Disney to pick their FP's, and have a great vacation because they didn't know Figment was a walk on before FP+.

 

[Belle5]

they didn't know Figment was a walk on before FP+.

Ha ha! Truer words were never spoken!

 

[NavyDad]

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.

Any and all reactions (positive or negative) on a Disney fan site message board are going to be very magnified just by nature. It is very reasonable to call DIS board posts "excessive" and/or "exaggerated" whether you they are regarding Dole Whips, the Poly, angst about the opening of a new ride or the implementation of a new syste at WDW. When you have a group of people who are very passionate, informed and experienced about a subject - their views and reactions to things are going to be very different than a casual observer.

That is the reason why large companies don't actually rely on social media posts or any other such "self-selecting" polls to gauge customer satisfaction.

 

[nuzmom]

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-.

This must totally have to do with the number of people you are looking for. We are going on similar/same dates and I've been checking MDE, and the site that has availability for 4, and 7DMT has been booked solid for a while now. TSMM has some availability, but I haven't found early times on Dec 16th for a party of 5 since booking at 62 days (as a specific example).

This is very confusing.

 

[nuzmom]

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.

I'm confused... I thought this Christmas is the first one for the full roll-out of FP+? Weren't there still paper FPs last Christmas? I can't recall, how long was this after all resort guests had access to FP+?

I have been trying to change a couple of FP+ (TSMM & two 7DMT) and haven't had much luck. While I'm hoping to have them changed prior to our trip, same day changes would be great. Mainly looking to move them all to earlier times.

Boy, I hope your statement holds true for this year, too.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

I'm confused... I thought this Christmas is the first one for the full roll-out of FP+? Weren't there still paper FPs last Christmas? I can't recall, how long was this after all resort guests had access to FP+? I have been trying to change a couple of FP+ (TSMM & two 7DMT) and haven't had much luck. While I'm hoping to have them changed prior to our trip, same day changes would be great. Mainly looking to move them all to earlier times. Boy, I hope your statement holds true for this year, too.

According to touringplans.com blog. Fast pass machines in MK were turned of on Jan 14th of this year. Animal Kingdom went FP+ only in December and Epcot and DHS were converted after MK. So I would expect this year's experience to be different.

 

[Disneylover99]

According to touringplans.com blog. Fast pass machines in MK were turned of on Jan 14th of this year. Animal Kingdom went FP+ only in December and Epcot and DHS were convereted after MK.

So I would expect this year's experience to be different.

Yes, AK was the only park to have fp+ only implementation during the Christmas season last year. So it will be interesting to see what the situation will be like in regards to FP availability this year.

 

[saskdw]

I'm confused... I thought this Christmas is the first one for the full roll-out of FP+? Weren't there still paper FPs last Christmas? I can't recall, how long was this after all resort guests had access to FP+?

I have been trying to change a couple of FP+ (TSMM & two 7DMT) and haven't had much luck. While I'm hoping to have them changed prior to our trip, same day changes would be great. Mainly looking to move them all to earlier times.

Boy, I hope your statement holds true for this year, too.

Last December FP+ was in full onsite test mode. So no offsite access, but with people also pulling paper FP I was still able to change times mid morning sameday. I pretty close comparison I believe. However 7DMT and TSMM will be tricky. I was able to change other headliners such as Test track, Soarin, Kilimajaro Safaris, Everest. etc.

 

[Suvadoo]

Last December FP+ was in full onsite test mode. So no offsite access, but with people also pulling paper FP I was still able to change times mid morning sameday. I pretty close comparison I believe. However 7DMT and TSMM will be tricky. I was able to change other headliners such as Test track, Soarin, Kilimajaro Safaris, Everest. etc.

I think you said you'll be going again this Christmas, I'll be interested to see what you think now that everyone is using the system and legacy is gone.

 

[Hummingbird]

My family pretty much are the people the OP were talking about. We actually like FP+ and it's been beneficial to us.

We were just talking the other day about all the negativity surrounding FP+ On the DIS vs. what we experienced and heard from friends. We came to the conclusion that we like it because we were originally a Universal family who happened to fall in love with Disney. So for years we waited in 60+ min lines for rides (unless we were staying onsite w/ FOTL) so we giggle a little when we see people gripe about 20-30 min lines. Top that off with us relatively being newbies (just a few years) to the disney parks we still like all the rides and not just the headliners and think it's worth the wait if it's something you like. Our first experience with FP+ we just took the times Disney gave as best option for our fastpasses. They were spread out over the day and that was fine with us because we typically go from rope drop to close. Now I can see how limited time slots available could be a problem for people who do half day or split day touring.

 

[famy27]

Last December FP+ was in full onsite test mode. So no offsite access, but with people also pulling paper FP I was still able to change times mid morning sameday. I pretty close comparison I believe. However 7DMT and TSMM will be tricky. I was able to change other headliners such as Test track, Soarin, Kilimajaro Safaris, Everest. etc.

In our experience, it wasn't a close comparison at all. We visited in late October 2013, when all onsiters had access to the system (and prior to the tiers). We actually loved FP+ at that time. It was so flexible, we got to do Soarin' and TT on arrival day, paper FPs were still available, etc.

Fast forward to our June, August, and September trips, and everything is different. The flexibility that existed a year ago is gone now that everyone is on the system. You can move things like JC, PotC, Buzz, IaSW, but any mountains or PP at MK or Tier 1 rides in HS or EP are pretty difficult to move same-day (or even a few days prior, depending on the attraction). We even had a hard time with character greetings at MK.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

My family pretty much are the people the OP were talking about. We actually like FP+ and it's been beneficial to us.

We were just talking the other day about all the negativity surrounding FP+ On the DIS vs. what we experienced and heard from friends. We came to the conclusion that we like it because we were originally a Universal family who happened to fall in love with Disney. So for years we waited in 60+ min lines for rides (unless we were staying onsite w/ FOTL) so we giggle a little when we see people gripe about 20-30 min lines. Top that off with us relatively being newbies (just a few years) to the disney parks we still like all the rides and not just the headliners and think it's worth the wait if it's something you like. Our first experience with FP+ we just took the times Disney gave as best option for our fastpasses. They were spread out over the day and that was fine with us because we typically go from rope drop to close. Now I can see how limited time slots available could be a problem for people who do half day or split day touring.

We've waited in very long lines in the past as well. I now have fast passes for the attractions that are hard to get with long standby times (around 8 all total), but for the rides with 10 - 20 minute waits I'm just going to do standby. I want the flexibility of choosing to ride what I wish, when I wish. And yes, though many don't think it's necessary, I'm burning 2 of those passes on FoF and MSEP because 1. I hate the stress associated with trying to keep the prime location I've been holding for the past hour or more, and 2. I like personal space.

 

[auralia]

When I was there oct 31-nov 5 I found the opposite. Angry people who missed the old system and families melting down. I even told a guy to stop being mean to his wife because he was so relentless and she looked ready to either kick him or leave. Many people not knowing how to do the 4th fast pass and getting mad at their phones (I helped them) fast pass kiosk locations closed while the open locations had lines that took 20+ minutes to get through. You don't need a cast member at each one of those darn computers.... Spread em out and open all the locations.

 

[tony67]

I've seen a fair amount of negativity towards it to ay the least...but we are all going to hear and see what we are looking for

People on the busses and in the bars discussing it has not been positive at all.
I have not heard one person talk about how great it was, but lots of people who could not get the ride they wanted 60 days out..and lots of Disney staff making excuses for the issues

Lines at the kiosk have been bad this week...the app has not been working very well since Wednesday....I've not been able to see any FP+ any time since then

Also being Jersey week..you will get people that don't mind expressing their opinion and getting folks talking on the bus to the hotel about things

They really don't have anywhere enough kiosks..
Some of the kiosks are very well managed ...with a single line for all the machines ..others are just a mob and totally unmanaged

Lines for secondary rides have been longer than usual..but it's also been much more busy this week than a typical first week of November

The SB line for Space mountain was to the entrance

As a single rider there are a fair amount of FP+ available so in many cases where the line was 30-40 minutes I could get a FP+ immediately...so for me that was a good thing..others were not as lucky

Bottom line is there is still a lot more to do to make this better and it was rolled out before it was ready..

Also I really want a FP+ for Starbucks...that line is crazy

 

[Suvadoo]

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'm not arguing with the feedback Disney gets, but I'm wondering if it's because they don't allow negative response answers. So, your experience was magical or "other". I know their telephone surveys don't have any negative options.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

They really don't have anywhere enough kiosks.. Some of the kiosks are very well managed ...with a single line for all the machines ..others are just a mob and totally unmanaged Lines for secondary rides have been longer than usual.. Bottom line is there is still a lot more to do to make this better and it was rolled out before it was ready..

I totally agree with this. I know that as much as I miss legacy Fastpasses, they are not bringing it back. But I do hope that they are listening to the complaints they get and try to improve the system. I had really poor experiences using the kiosks on my last trip. The touchscreens weren't very responsive and I didn't like waiting 15-20 minutes just to find out I couldn't get any FP for any of the headliners at MK. But I guess in the end Disney got what they wanted. Instead of using 6 or 7 FP a day, I only used 3.

 

[supersnoop]

I'm not arguing with the feedback Disney gets, but I'm wondering if it's because they don't allow negative response answers. So, your experience was magical or "other". I know their telephone surveys don't have any negative options.

Anything other than "magical" is a negative response and recognized as such.

 

[Suvadoo]

Anything other than "magical" is a negative response and recognized as such.

Wouldn't a company want more information than that? If it were my company I'd want to know why it wasn't a good experience.