Jennasis
DIS life goes on
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2000
- Messages
- 35,672
It's not a secret 'round these parts. I'm what most would call a "hater" when it comes to MDE and FP+. Since my first experience with FP+ I have been a vocal critic. I. Don't. Like. It. I felt it detracted from our trip last year so much that I vowed to not use FP+ at all for our trip this coming December. HOWEVER, there were a few things I knew we were going to need (like a FP+ for Soarin' early in the am so we could rope drop Test Track, and a FP+ for, God help me, the FoF parade...but more on that in a moment)...
Let me start off by saying, overall the process wasn't so bad. Certainly not as bad as the first time. Mostly due to the fact that the window opened at midnight like it was supposed to and the system didn't crash 5 minutes into the process (which it did last year). I still maintain that the system is clunky by design, though I understand the thought behind it (they hope uninclined folk will simply choose the awful times the system gives them when they first select their 3 attractions rather than give people the ability to SEE all the available times and pick what they want straight off the bat). However, I did get the attractions I was looking for, at times I wanted. There WERE FP+ for 7DMT, though we did not choose them as I think our passes would be better spent on a ride more worthy.
The thing I wanted most was a FoF FP+ and that KILLS ME because I think it is beyond ridiculous to even offer FP+ for things like parades and fireworks. HOWEVER...sigh...we never ever do midday parades because I refuse to line up an hour early in the hot sun/cold for them and for the most part I've found day time parades lame. This parade, being new to us still, seems to be worth making an effort to see but I still refuse to waste an hour of my time trying for a curbside spot. So FP+ it is, and yes, we were able to get one for it. Score!
I really wanted a FP+ for Fantasmic! but since we have a TSMM pass for earlier in the afternoon I can't get one until day-of after we use our original 3. Hopefully there will be some left at 5:30pm when our passes are done. Not holding my breath, and we only even contemplated getting FP+ because we're meeting friends that afternoon/evening and wanted to make sure we'd get in to the show without lining up an hour or two early.
So, in conclusion, from a bonafide hater, I would qualify this year's foray into MDE to be successful. I don't like the concept of FP+ and I still find the process clunky. Where things will really be noticeable for me will be in USING the system in the parks again. Last time I felt scheduled to death, but DH has been reminding me that we are not married to our passes and can simply not use them at anytime (which is silly, as someone else could have used them. With old FP we only pulled passes we intended to use). Honestly the true enjoyment of FP+ is going to have to come from me retraining myself to no longer think of Fast Pass like I use to...as our golden ticket/something of value. I have to retrain my brain to think of it as something far less...something totally throw-away-able.
Luckily, this old dog can learn new tricks. I think on our last trip I was "doggedly" trying to hang on to how legacy FP worked. There's been plenty of time now for me to get over the loss...mourn if you will...and now I am ready to, if not embrace, at least accept the new system and work around its MANY many flaws.
So from a hater, this time so far, I hate it less.
Let me start off by saying, overall the process wasn't so bad. Certainly not as bad as the first time. Mostly due to the fact that the window opened at midnight like it was supposed to and the system didn't crash 5 minutes into the process (which it did last year). I still maintain that the system is clunky by design, though I understand the thought behind it (they hope uninclined folk will simply choose the awful times the system gives them when they first select their 3 attractions rather than give people the ability to SEE all the available times and pick what they want straight off the bat). However, I did get the attractions I was looking for, at times I wanted. There WERE FP+ for 7DMT, though we did not choose them as I think our passes would be better spent on a ride more worthy.
The thing I wanted most was a FoF FP+ and that KILLS ME because I think it is beyond ridiculous to even offer FP+ for things like parades and fireworks. HOWEVER...sigh...we never ever do midday parades because I refuse to line up an hour early in the hot sun/cold for them and for the most part I've found day time parades lame. This parade, being new to us still, seems to be worth making an effort to see but I still refuse to waste an hour of my time trying for a curbside spot. So FP+ it is, and yes, we were able to get one for it. Score!
I really wanted a FP+ for Fantasmic! but since we have a TSMM pass for earlier in the afternoon I can't get one until day-of after we use our original 3. Hopefully there will be some left at 5:30pm when our passes are done. Not holding my breath, and we only even contemplated getting FP+ because we're meeting friends that afternoon/evening and wanted to make sure we'd get in to the show without lining up an hour or two early.
So, in conclusion, from a bonafide hater, I would qualify this year's foray into MDE to be successful. I don't like the concept of FP+ and I still find the process clunky. Where things will really be noticeable for me will be in USING the system in the parks again. Last time I felt scheduled to death, but DH has been reminding me that we are not married to our passes and can simply not use them at anytime (which is silly, as someone else could have used them. With old FP we only pulled passes we intended to use). Honestly the true enjoyment of FP+ is going to have to come from me retraining myself to no longer think of Fast Pass like I use to...as our golden ticket/something of value. I have to retrain my brain to think of it as something far less...something totally throw-away-able.
Luckily, this old dog can learn new tricks. I think on our last trip I was "doggedly" trying to hang on to how legacy FP worked. There's been plenty of time now for me to get over the loss...mourn if you will...and now I am ready to, if not embrace, at least accept the new system and work around its MANY many flaws.
So from a hater, this time so far, I hate it less.
