My impression of FP+ for the masses

[Suvadoo]

Just checked wait times ......Figment is listed as 5mins appears like a walk on to me

v Yes , agreed. But I don't think you read what I wrote: I was saying Figment was a walk on prior to FP+, but first time visitors who are using FP+ for the first time may not realize it. They may think it's fabulous that they have a FP for Figment

 

[Airship Ariadne]

I really don't buy into the idea that FP+ is "free". Just like checked bags are "free" on Southwest Airlines. The cost of FP+ is built into everyone's park admission. Also, off site guests who want Magic Bands are paying $12 a piece for them. So Disney is in a win win situation.

The price difference between Disney and other parks, AND the Magic band price is still less than the cost of a "flash pass" or what Universal calls theirs. In fact the Six Flags Flash Pass costs more than a Disney one-day ticket.

So not fair to say the cost is built into the ticket...if a one day Disney ticket was $200 then yes...it would be.

 

[Suvadoo]

The price difference between Disney and other parks, AND the Magic band price is still less than the cost of a "flash pass" or what Universal calls theirs. In fact the Six Flags Flash Pass costs more than a Disney one-day ticket.

So not fair to say the cost is built into the ticket...if a one day Disney ticket was $200 then yes...it would be.

I'm not trying to compare. Disney is not being charitable by handing out FP' s they're the ones that benefit from crowd management. Regardless of what you may believe, all guests are paying for FP plus.

 

[Planogirl]

The price difference between Disney and other parks, AND the Magic band price is still less than the cost of a "flash pass" or what Universal calls theirs. In fact the Six Flags Flash Pass costs more than a Disney one-day ticket.

So not fair to say the cost is built into the ticket...if a one day Disney ticket was $200 then yes...it would be.

That might be true for one day passes. It changes for more days.

For adults a Disney 3 day park hopper is $349.75 and 3 day park to park at Universal is $189.07 ($173.07 right now but that is a sale at UT). Then it becomes hard to quantify. The regular Universal Express is about $40 a day which add $120 and the unlimited Express is $60 a day which bumps it just above (or about equal when the passes are on sale). It's also true that prices for Express can be higher on certain dates.

I would love to compare two day passes but unfortunately Disney doesn't sell them. I bet that most Universal visitors go for at least two days. We go for three or four but don't bother with Express passes.

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm not trying to compare. Disney is not being charitable by handing out FP' s they're the ones that benefit from crowd management. Regardless of what you may believe, all guests are paying for FP plus.

Of course the cost is built into the ticket price, just as the shows, attractions and bathroom facilities are included in the price of admission. There is no additional fee for FP+. You can insist that the feature is not "free", and you would be right, but it is a bit disingenuous to try to persuade folks that it is a feature that is an extra cost. It really is not. I cannot argue the differences in price between SIx Flags and Universal because I hate SIx Flags ( the ticket may be less expensive, but here in New England, I find it offensive that once I pay an exorbitant amount to park, walk forever to enter, am searched to make sure I have not smuggled in so much as a cookie, pay a thieves price for a hot dog, and then am accosted by booth after booth of games) and refuse to ever go there again, and have never been to Universal. When my DGD is ready to go there, I can enter into that discussion.

 

[Suvadoo]

Of course the cost is built into the ticket price, just as the shows, attractions and bathroom facilities are included in the price of admission. There is no additional fee for FP+. You can insist that the feature is not "free", and you would be right, but it is a bit disingenuous to try to persuade folks that it is a feature that is an extra cost. It really is not. I cannot argue the differences in price between SIx Flags and Universal because I hate SIx Flags ( the ticket may be less expensive, but here in New England, I find it offensive that once I pay an exorbitant amount to park, walk forever to enter, am searched to make sure I have not smuggled in so much as a cookie, pay a thieves price for a hot dog, and then am accosted by booth after booth of games) and refuse to ever go there again, and have never been to Universal. When my DGD is ready to go there, I can enter into that discussion.

The only reason I mentioned the FP+ free discussion, is that a pp portrayed FP+ as a "free" perk. As if Disney was really giving it's guests something special. FP+ was instituted by Disney for Disney. It allows them to shoe horn more guests into the MK by managing the crowds.
It's not like it's front of the line access for every ride. It's 3 advanced ride reservations. I know it would be impossible to do more, but IMO it's not that great of a "perk". Also, I never compared with other parks. I'm only looking at what Disney is doing.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

I don't think that anyone has actually claimed to ride TSMM several times now or in the past. I have seen some say that they might have ridden the thrill rides and maybe Star Tours several time during their stay but 16? Not hardly.

It was in a thread. I obviously can't recall which FP+ thread because there are about a million but it struck me when I read it. I don't even think I responded to it but it stuck with me. One, that anyone would want to ride anything 16 times a day or even 6 for that matter.

Obviously they could have been exaggerating but who knows. Either way I wasn't sympathetic to the way their vacation had changed with FP+

 

[mom2rtk]

It was in a thread. I obviously can't recall which FP+ thread because there are about a million but it struck me when I read it. I don't even think I responded to it but it stuck with me. One, that anyone would want to ride anything 16 times a day or even 6 for that matter.

Obviously they could have been exaggerating but who knows. Either way I wasn't sympathetic to the way their vacation had changed with FP+

That must have been in the one FP thread I missed reading.

 

[Nancyg56]

The only reason I mentioned the FP+ free discussion, is that a pp portrayed FP+ as a "free" perk. As if Disney was really giving it's guests something special. FP+ was instituted by Disney for Disney. It allows them to shoe horn more guests into the MK by managing the crowds.
It's not like it's front of the line access for every ride. It's 3 advanced ride reservations. I know it would be impossible to do more, but IMO it's not that great of a "perk". Also, I never compared with other parks. I'm only looking at what Disney is doing.

I think that we all need to be realistic in regards to what is actually possible for FP+. It is not a perk that is going to be beneficial for everyone, nor does it claim to be. I liked the ability to "reserve" my spot in advance, but I know that many did not. I know that Disney implemented this system for reasons that are not all altruistic, the reality is that when it is peak season, there needs to be some sort of crowd management, and maybe once this system is finished, it will help with that problem.

 

[JanaDee]

It was in a thread. I obviously can't recall which FP+ thread because there are about a million but it struck me when I read it. I don't even think I responded to it but it stuck with me. One, that anyone would want to ride anything 16 times a day or even 6 for that matter.

Obviously they could have been exaggerating but who knows. Either way I wasn't sympathetic to the way their vacation had changed with FP+

But if they would have toured the way you thought they should, you'd have been sympathetic?

Why does it matter if they ride 6 different rides or the same one 6 times? What's the difference?

 

[Suvadoo]

I think that we all need to be realistic in regards to what is actually possible for FP+. It is not a perk that is going to be beneficial for everyone, nor does it claim to be. I liked the ability to "reserve" my spot in advance, but I know that many did not. I know that Disney implemented this system for reasons that are not all altruistic, the reality is that when it is peak season, there needs to be some sort of crowd management, and maybe once this system is finished, it will help with that problem.

Totally agree with you.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

The only reason I mentioned the FP+ free discussion, is that a pp portrayed FP+ as a "free" perk.

You are right, it says "for no additional charge" so you are right, it isn't free, you have to buy a ticket. My error in assuming getting something for no additional charge with your purchase meant you get something for free with you purchase.

 

[magicbob]

The price difference between Disney and other parks, AND the Magic band price is still less than the cost of a "flash pass" or what Universal calls theirs. In fact the Six Flags Flash Pass costs more than a Disney one-day ticket.

So not fair to say the cost is built into the ticket...if a one day Disney ticket was $200 then yes...it would be.

I didn't realize that Disney had lowered their one-day ticket price to around $30. That's what I paid for Flash Passes at Six Flags Great Adventure in NJ a few years back.

ETA: Granted, we opted for the basic version (which worked excellently for us), but I just checked online and saw that the "gold" version (which reduced your wait even more) is around $60.

 

[raleighlaura]

Hi all,
We decided to do a last minute trip, and I just booked our hotel and airfare this morning for 12/5-12/9. I need to buy our tickets, and wanted to understand when I can set up a FP account. Is that something I must do when I have the physical tickets in hand (looking like a week or two out)? Or if I buy them through the disney website, can I go ahead and make our reservations online now?
Thanks for your help!

 

[Planogirl]

Hi all,
We decided to do a last minute trip, and I just booked our hotel and airfare this morning for 12/5-12/9. I need to buy our tickets, and wanted to understand when I can set up a FP account. Is that something I must do when I have the physical tickets in hand (looking like a week or two out)? Or if I buy them through the disney website, can I go ahead and make our reservations online now?
Thanks for your help!

Your question could be buried here. I would suggest checking out this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3326057 It's full of great information.

 

[Suvadoo]

You are right, it says "for no additional charge" so you are right, it isn't free, you have to buy a ticket. My error in assuming getting something for no additional charge with your purchase meant you get something for free with you purchase.

Wow isn't Disney the most generous company in the world. FP+ is purely altruistic. Another "magical" perk. Faaabulous!

 

[Nancyg56]

Hi all, We decided to do a last minute trip, and I just booked our hotel and airfare this morning for 12/5-12/9. I need to buy our tickets, and wanted to understand when I can set up a FP account. Is that something I must do when I have the physical tickets in hand (looking like a week or two out)? Or if I buy them through the disney website, can I go ahead and make our reservations online now? Thanks for your help!

You can link them using your confirmation number. I never picked up my tickets, just linked them on MDE. I made sure my MDE was set up, used the WDW website to buy through tMDE.

Have fun!

 

[wisblue]

But if they would have toured the way you thought they should, you'd have been sympathetic?

Why does it matter if they ride 6 different rides or the same one 6 times? What's the difference?

First of all, that post about someone saying they used to ride TSMM 16 times in a day and can now only do it 6 was definitely there. It was hard to tell if that post was meant to be sarcastic.

Edit: Now that cakebaker has dug up the original post, I see that the poster claimed to ride 16 times in 4 days. But, still, that 4 times in a day, probably using multiple FPs on at least some days, helps to show why Disney wants to have a system that allows more guests to get one FP for a particular attraction before anyone can get more than one. If that 4 times a day has been reduced to 1-2 times a day, then Disney has made progress toward that goal.

But, I think it does make a difference if someone does one thing 6 (or 16) times if that makes it more difficult for more guests to experience a very popular attraction once. Frankly, it wouldn't bother me if Disney said that your admission ticket allows you to do every attraction in the park once and only once in a day. They obviously haven't gone that far, but they are saying that if you want to do things more than once, we are going to make you use up more time doing it so more other guests can get one FP before you get two. And, in those tiered parks, they're giving everyone a chance to get one of the two most popular attractions before anyone can have both of them.

I would compare this to a museum that has an extremely popular special exhibit and has guests viewing it stand on a moving belt so nobody can park in front of the exhibit for an inordinate amount of time. I remember doing that when the Pieta was on display at the New York World's Fair.

 

[itchin2go]

First of all, that post about someone saying they used to ride TSMM 16 times in a day and can now only do it 6 was definitely there. It was hard to tell if that post was meant to be sarcastic.

But, I think it does make a difference if someone does one thing 6 (or 16) times if that makes it more difficult for more guests to experience a very popular attraction once. Frankly, it wouldn't bother me if Disney said that your admission ticket allows you to do every attraction in the park once and only once in a day. They obviously haven't gone that far, but they are saying that if you want to do things more than once, we are going to make you use up more time doing it so more other guests can get one FP before you get two. And, in those tiered parks, they're giving everyone a chance to get one of the two most popular attractions before anyone can have both of them.

I would compare this to a museum that has an extremely popular special exhibit and has guests viewing it stand on a moving belt so nobody can park in front of the exhibit for an inordinate amount of time. I remember doing that when the Pieta was on display at the New York World's Fair.

Do you think the fringe guests who rode one ride LOTS of times were really numerous enough to greatly impact the experience of the average guest? I'm seriously asking the question, and I don't know the answer.

 

[DISNEYD14]

We go to WDW every year or every other year and we loved FP+
Our first day we rode our first 3 including 7DMT and then were able to get 4 more FP throughout the day including PP and BTMR (kids were not ready for Space) but it was available. We even left by 6:30 for ADR and due to MNSSHP so our first day was such a success we couldn't have been more pleased.

All other parks were the same except Epcot but even with picking TT over Soarin we waited about 30 minutes for Soarin, our longest wait of a 10 day trip...not bad in my books.