My Un-magical FP+ Experience...

[tim123]

I love WDW to be sure, but size has little to do with it. I love DLR even more, and there's nowhere near the amount of land there. Comparing just DL (not the entire resort, just the 1 park) to MK, I'll take DL any day.

Yes yes I can certainly agree with you. I have always loved the sheer size of WDW, the land privately owned, the recreation, the road signs etc..The first time I went there it was all so magical for me..and still is because of its sheer mass.. For those who love DL and the MK and Universal…my comparison is a mute point. I love Tokyo disney too..And the one time I went to DL it was awesome!..
As far as an overall private land mass WDW is in league of its own.

 

[wdwrich]

There may be a couple hundred people on DIS who don't like FP+, but they will replace those people with THOUSANDS more who like to vacation like we do.

I'm not on either side of the FP+ debate yet as we haven't been to WDW since before it was instituted. But I was just wondering- where did you get those numbers?

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think that's a key piece of what a lot of the FP+ threads are missing... I think Disney is willing to sacrifice some of it's regulars (who probably don't spend as much as first time and potentially one time visitors) to have first timers and others "locked in" in advance. It does make it way more difficult to wake up and decide to go to HS instead of AK now, but it also makes it way more difficult for people to wake up and decide to go to Universal or SeaWorld instead of AK. And that, in turn, makes it easier for Disney to plan their staffing, park hours, etc, which means greater profit. Plus, now they are collecting all of this data on what people like, how people move around the park, how much and when they spend, etc. I'd bet my own paycheck that that data is going to mean money in the future.

I agree with this.

I do see a benefit for brand-new first-timers with FPP versus the old system. Even have 3 FPs prebooked before they leave home creates a schedule for them where before perhaps they were blindly walking in and grabbing a map.

I think there was a clear decision to take FPs away from experienced guests and ensure that they were given to first-timers.

(Of course, this could have been done by just promoting paper FP, but that wouldn't have locked people in as well, another stated goal.)

 

[Suvadoo]

There may be a couple hundred people on DIS who don't like FP+, but they will replace those people with THOUSANDS more who like to vacation like we do.

You're hoping this will happen, but FP+ requires a lot of support. Each new guest has to learn this new system it's not easy. Disney may decide that it is too expensive to continue supporting FP+ and they may dump it.
They could keep the portions of MDE that are beneficial and not costing them a bundle in support and a bundle in bad PR.

 

[JenG]

Yeah! no longer do you have to be at the park at the ungodly hour of 9am!

Now you have to be up at midnight 60 days before you even arrive at the park, when you'd rather be sleeping.

I would sooo much rather make a FP for TSSM at midnight a few months before than getting 3 kids and a grouchy husband up at 7am to eat breakfast then run to DHS to get a FP for a ride. It's a total no-brainer for me. And if I don't want to go to DHS that day...... I can always just get up and rope-drop a different day and run to the ride or ride at EMH a different night which I have done many times as well. It's not like the FP is my ONLY chance at a ride. It's just a for-sure time on a for-sure day.

 

[saskdw]

Careful with the capitol letters.. You will be accused of being stupid for your thoughts, opinions and expressions

I was merely communicating on the same level as the OP.

 

[tim123]

I would sooo much rather make a FP for TSSM at midnight a few months before than getting 3 kids and a grouchy husband up at 7am to eat breakfast then run to DHS to get a FP for a ride. It's a total no-brainer for me. And if I don't want to go to DHS that day...... I can always just get up and rope-drop a different day and run to the ride or ride at EMH a different night which I have done many times as well. It's not like the FP is my ONLY chance at a ride. It's just a for-sure time on a for-sure day.

That would require an open mind and a flexible attitude and a desire to enjoy your magic without a sense of entitlement.
Question how many years did WDW operate without fast pass? And did those families bring home memories to last a lifetime?

 

[Lucky4me]

dd and her dh got back today. She didn't make any fastpass times before arriving at their resort. Somehow they managed to have a great time. Mainly by arriving at the parks in the afternoon and not worrying about getting on every headliner. Longest line they waited in was 45 minutes.

Her only complaint and it was a big one, was the transportation at Port Orleans Riverside. Lacking in buses and seats. It was extremely frustrating for the first six days.
The last three days was somewhat better. She said they loved the boat to Downtown Disney and wished it went to DHS and Epcot.

She said next trip she'll likely play the 60 day out FP game. I told her to have at it, because I refuse. I'll stay offsite, buy multi day tickets to Universal and go to Disney just for a hard ticket party. There is no way I will be trapped into that kind of pre planning. It's insanity.

 

[saskdw]

Now you have to be up at midnight 60 days before you even arrive at the park, when you'd rather be sleeping.

Why?

I did my FP+ reservations at 11am CST which is 1pm EST the first day of availibilty and had zero issues getting everything we wanted. I then went back in a few days later and tweaked everything again with no issues. This is during Christmas time as well. Same thing last year when we went no issues and we were able to tweak FP times the morning of that day with no issues.

I also never get up at 5am to get Free Dining. We book online at a regular hour with no problems.

DIS makes everything into a huge panic when it really isn't.

 

[DisUniversal]

Careful with the capitol letters.. You will be accused of being stupid for your thoughts, opinions and expressions

 

[tim123]

I was merely communicating on the same level as the OP.

Its funny I have never been in the love or hate FP camp..or felt strongly one way or the other..until this recent thread..but its easy to see here how strongly and passionately people here feel about the system. Honestly I think those of us who like the system are in the minority here on these boards and its comforting when someone like you posts your opinion..

 

[saskdw]

I would sooo much rather make a FP for TSSM at midnight a few months before than getting 3 kids and a grouchy husband up at 7am to eat breakfast then run to DHS to get a FP for a ride. It's a total no-brainer for me. And if I don't want to go to DHS that day...... I can always just get up and rope-drop a different day and run to the ride or ride at EMH a different night which I have done many times as well. It's not like the FP is my ONLY chance at a ride. It's just a for-sure time on a for-sure day.

 

[DisUniversal]

I was merely communicating on the same level as the OP.

But, we were informed that "!!!!!" was a synonym for hate, so...your post was a bit confusing as it seemed positive.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Why?

I did my FP+ reservations at 11am CST which is 1pm EST the first day of availibilty and had zero issues getting everything we wanted. I then went back in a few days later and tweaked everything again with no issues. This is during Christmas time as well. Same thing last year when we went no issues and we were able to tweak FP times the morning of that day with no issues.

I also never get up at 5am to get Free Dining. We book online at a regular hour with no problems.

DIS makes everything into a huge panic when it really isn't.

For those that travel when the park operating hours are shorter, the FP+ availability is less.

At 60 days at midnight, I couldn't get even 1 A&E FP+. Within 10 mins all 7DMT FP+ were gone as well (I managed to get those right away, but couldn't change times 10 mins later when I was trying to modify as there were none left).

Only 2 attractions, yes, and it certainly doesn't make or break our trip, but if I had waited until the time you had, those are 2 things that we *want* to do that we would not have been able to get.

I'm very happy for you, sincerely, that you were able to get everything you wanted and not have to be online at midnight. I hope you can appreciate/accept that that is not the case for everyone.

 

[tim123]

Why?

I did my FP+ reservations at 11am CST which is 1pm EST the first day of availibilty and had zero issues getting everything we wanted. I then went back in a few days later and tweaked everything again with no issues. This is during Christmas time as well. Same thing last year when we went no issues and we were able to tweak FP times the morning of that day with no issues.

I also never get up at 5am to get Free Dining. We book online at a regular hour with no problems.

DIS makes everything into a huge panic when it really isn't.

My experience is the same. Twice now. And even as we speak 25 days out.

 

[saskdw]

Its funny I have never been in the love or hate FP camp..or felt strongly one way or the other..until this recent thread..but its easy to see here how strongly and passionately people here feel about the system. Honestly I think those of us who like the system are in the minority here on these boards and its comforting when someone like you posts your opinion..

Negativity about everything runs wild on DIS. Negativity loves company thats why they post here. I feel the need to counter it every once in a while when I have time.

 

[GrumpyBa*D]

I wish I got to go to WDW every year for 43 years. You would think by now you would figure out whens the best time to go.
Funny I just came back and was there last October too. FP+ was a non issue. Never needed them. And when I did it was great to show up and walk on whatever. I did everything I wanted. Some people just love to gripe and turn the energy negative. Another family could have been there when you were and gone home happy as clams. Wonder why? 43 years huh? Maybe its time to take a break from the place you hate? No?

And there it is. Let the flames begin....so said when you can't even voice YOUR OWN opinion without someone blasting you

 

[wdwrich]

I would sooo much rather make a FP for TSSM at midnight a few months before than getting 3 kids and a grouchy husband up at 7am to eat breakfast then run to DHS to get a FP for a ride. It's a total no-brainer for me. And if I don't want to go to DHS that day...... I can always just get up and rope-drop a different day and run to the ride or ride at EMH a different night which I have done many times as well. It's not like the FP is my ONLY chance at a ride. It's just a for-sure time on a for-sure day.

This illustrates just how different families can be. We are early birds and we love rope drop and morning EMH, and wouldn't tour the parks without being there at opening.
As mentioned in a previous post, we haven't yet been to WDW with FP+. I expect we'll try to reserve ours for late in the day at a park other than the one we start the morning in. We'll see how that works for us.

 

[Suvadoo]

This illustrates just how different families can be. We are early birds and we love rope drop and morning EMH, and wouldn't tour the parks without being there at opening.
As mentioned in a previous post, we haven't yet been to WDW with FP+. I expect we'll try to reserve ours for late in the day at a park other than the one we start the morning in. We'll see how that works for us.

I hope it works great for you. Just one question. Why are you going to WDW when DLR is in your own backyard?

 

[Allison]

I see that the snarky (yes snarky) replies started on page one. Those don't help anyone! If FP+ ruined the OP's vacation then FP+ ruined the OP's vacation. It's not up to me or anyone else to decide whether the OP had a good trip or not.

Some people go on about magic but reacting that way is definitely unmagical.

You mean, for example, these snarky posts on page one?

Now you and I will calmly sit back until the " experts" come in and tell you everything you did wrong......

Amen! Now let us wait for the flaming. I leave next week and am nervous with all the recent vacation reviews. I love Disney. Loved the old fast pass and hate having to try and figure out a whole trip 6 months in advance..first for dining then 60 days for rides....PITA and damn stressful

It certainly goes both ways.