My Un-magical FP+ Experience...

[maddhatir]

I really don't get the no planning attitude.

But if you don't like or can't stand to plan a thing, I think Disney World is a puzzling vacation choice, because *some* advance planning can greatly enhance your trip, and has been greatly advisable for some time now (ADRs and what not).

But booking advance FPs doesn't actually tie your hands at all. It just gives you some extra options. Now, if they started charging for missing your FP window, THAT would be restraining.

No judgment, really, but the reticence to go ahead and book SOMETHING really puzzles me.

This will be trip #20 for us. I've "experimented" with planning twice (spread sheet- ADRs- rope drop etc). Those 2 trips were not very enjoyable. I felt like I was rushing to be somewhere all of the time.

I know what Disney has to offer, we don't go in blind. We've done F&W, MNSSHP and MVMMCP many times, Keys to the Kingdom tour- Epcot Segway tour (had to cancel our Wilderness Back Trail Segway Tour b/c I was sick )

We do Disney during "off season" (does that exist anymore?) a majority of our trips are in Oct, Nov and Dec. we never had a problem with ride lines in the past so no need for FPs. We can usually get on rides like ToT in 20 minutes. We "stroll" through the parks- we are not on a mission. We know we will be back to visit Mickey again, no need to do it all in one trip. We are never in a rush.

in addition to the parks/water parks, our idea of enjoying Disney is sitting in the lobby of the AKL and having drinks (grab a comfy chair next to the fire pit) head out to the savannah to see the animals (it's fun at night when you get to use the night vision binoculars) no ressie meals at Flying Fish, The Hollywood Brown Derby.....La Hacienda de San Angel right AS Illuminations is starting! (YEARS ago we were in the MK and the fireworks were just about to begin. DH ran up to CRT to see if any tables were available- YUP- they escorted us right to a window seat <this is something that won't happen anymore ) Stop in for a glass of wine and a cheese plate at Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar. I look forward to having my morning coffee on our balcony at the BWV, we always get a BW view. We prefer the BWV b/c we can take our time and walk and from to 2 parks- no waiting for the bus.

So, we are NEVER puzzled- just always relaxed I just hope we can keep it that way b/c for us, no planning makes for better memories.

 

[crostorfer]

I love this thread. I love this thread so much.

 

[Jennygt]

Since most of us on these boards are "Disney Addicts", we can talk about not going to WDW because we dislike the changes they've made. And yes, at some point, Disney will begin to miss the money from the AP clients, the Vacation Club people, off-site guests and other repeat customers. But I think we're forgetting about the people who are there for the first time or come only once or twice a decade. Will these people even know about FP+ before getting to the parks? I doubt it. Think about their experience now - longer SB lines in previously walk-on attractions, more people milling about making the parks seem much more crowded, and getting on fewer rides. AND IF they know about FP+, their first experience might be the long line at the FP+ kiosk. I don't think these people will become repeat customers either. I do believe that at some point in the future, Disney will see a decline in attendance.

Also, let's talk about word-of-mouth. Since I hated my last trip last year, when friends ask me how the trip was I tell them about the changes and what it's now like. I can honestly say that at least 10 or so families decided NOT to go because of what I told them (and they were repeat visitors-going about once a year). They decided they could get more of their money's worth going elsewhere - and besides, there isn't anything new to see.

When will this begin to affect Disney? Who knows, but I think it will soon.

I agree, I have always been the disney champion in my life and have sent countless people wdw way, but now i just cant.

As for the nasty people here, I wonder what the true motives are, I would handle it as I do my three year old, just ignore it!!! The posts are borderline nonsense at times, just Let it go.... and feel free to have your own opinion.

as far as FP+ it does not work for the way my family tours, I am planning one trip so that my DD can see it all as a big girl, but after that it will be a while.... not to punish disney,,but to spend my money where we get the most out of it. Such a shame.....

 

[cakebaker]

So you took a poll and know that it was the vast majority of all DIS members? If you didn't, then how did you come to the conclusion it was the vast majority?

Nit pick someone else- I'm not entertaining your arguing and baiting. I asked a serious question about something that I want to know about. I don't intend to parse words with you.

 

[DisUniversal]

And that I can understand- you don't like ANY planning really. It makes sense you wouldn't like the planning required for FP+.

Not true. I don't mind a dinner reservation here and there, perhaps tickets to see a show or two like Cirque or BMG and maybe even tickets for a hard ticketed event on a specific day, but to have to plan nearly every detail, only to have the plans come crashing down like a house of cards if any unforeseen circumstance interrupts the master plan is taking things more than a little to far.

I really don't think my opinion is in the minority either and don't see how FP+ can be called a good product when a very signification portion of the customer base has a strong dislike for it.

 

[Jennygt]

Maybe for one day, but I've never had a trip thrown off for days at a time.

I have and I get what op is saying.

 

[IamGroot]

I agree, I have always been the disney champion in my life and have sent countless people wdw way, but now i just cant.

As for the nasty people here, I wonder what the true motives are, I would handle it as I do my three year old, just ignore it!!! The posts are borderline nonsense at times, just Let it go.... and feel free to have your own opinion.

as far as FP+ it does not work for the way my family tours, I am planning one trip so that my DD can see it all as a big girl, but after that it will be a while.... not to punish disney,,but to spend my money where we get the most out of it. Such a shame.....

Let it gooooooooooooo

 

[cakebaker]

This will be trip #20 for us. I've "experimented" with planning twice. Those 2 trips were not very enjoyable. I felt like I was rushing to be somewhere all of the time.

I know what Disney has to offer, we don't go in blind. We've done F&W, MNSSHP and MVMMCP many times, Keys to the Kingdom tour- Epcot Segway tour (had to cancel our Wilderness Back Trail Segway Tour b/c I was sick )

We do Disney during "off season" (does that exist anymore?) a majority of our trips are in Oct, Nov and Dec. we never had a problem with ride lines in the past so no need for FPs. We can usually get on rides like ToT in 20 minutes. We "stroll" through the parks- we are not on a mission. We know we will be back to visit Mickey again, no need to do it all in one trip. We are never in a rush.

in addition to the parks/water parks, our idea of enjoying Disney is sitting in the lobby of the AKL and having drinks (grab a comfy chair next to the fire pit) head out to the savannah to see the animals (it's fun at night when you get to use the night vision binoculars) no ressie meals at Flying Fish, The Hollywood Brown Derby.....La Hacienda de San Angel right AS Illuminations is starting! (YEARS ago we were in the MK and the fireworks were just about to begin. DH ran up to CRT to see if any tables were available- YUP- they escorted us right to a window seat <this is something that won't happen anymore ) Stop in for a glass of wine and a cheese plate at Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar. I look forward to having my morning coffee on our balcony at the BWV, we always get a BW view. We prefer the BWV b/c we can take our time and walk and from to 2 parks- no waiting for the bus.

So, we are NEVER puzzled- just always relaxed I just hope we can keep it that way b/c for us, no planning makes for better memories.

Your type of trip sounds a lot like ours, we just have the details of the parks pinned down and don't mind doing it. We find we can plan and relax too, but that's just us. We do all the planning and stressing at home, then relax once we're there and hope it goes like we wanted. If it doesn't- well it will still be a great vacation.

Love the villa's by the way. BWV was our favorite. I was just remembering today getting a villa that looked out on the TOT from my bedroom.

 

[Jennygt]

Let me give it a try...

You wake up and downpours with lightning so delay going to the park for several hours missing the first two fast pass rides.

Next day over stay time at park to make up for previous day. No swimming. Kids are exhausted so oversleep the next day.

Beautiful weather and the entire family decides a full day at the pool would be fun. Why not? On vacation and it would be nice. Enjoying time around pool and eating meals by pool thereby missing the advance dining reservation made months ago.

Next day at park someone does not feel well so leave park early. Back at hotel after a nap, feeling better so return to park with no fast passes in hand.

I could continue, but readers of the Disney Forum, does this not describe the experiences of many guests at Walt Disney World?

We always enjoyed our numerous trips to Disney World without fast passes because we could plan on what we would like to do yet roll with the circumstances each day and enjoy the variety of options available at any given moment. This included waiting to go onto the most popular rides.

Yes I know what you are saying, I shutter to think what real life does to FP+

 

[Angel Ariel]

So it's the having to follow a plan for 3 rides in advance that you don't like, correct?

I get it, I don't see it as huge deal, but you obviously do. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that if that is one's only problem with fp+, it seems to not be that big a deal. Pile it on top of other objections and it means more.

It isn't just 3 rides, though...that's where it's getting us. It's needing to know what time we're going to get to the park that morning/early afternoon so that we know what times we can realistically plan for.*.

When we park hop and use FP+ in an afternoon park, it's needing to plan what time we'll want to leave park #1 and how long it will take to get to park #2 so that we can choose appropriate times. We've honestly never paid much attention to how much time it took to get from park to park, and I've had to ask more questions about that on these boards for this trip than I ever have.

It's needing to arrange those FP+ not only around the above 2 things, but also around the ADRs which were planned so much earlier and are much harder to re-schedule (especially during Free Dining, which our trip is during).

In the past we never planned the first two things. We showed up to the park whenever we showed up, and however long it took to hop it was what it was. As for ADRs, we used apps (Disney's Mobile Magic, Lines, Mousewait...all of the above) to check return times before going to an attraction, and if it was during or close to an ADR time, we didn't bother to head over to grab a FP in the first place.

*I will say that this trip is a bit different in terms of planning around morning times than other trips. Usually, we get there within an hour or so of park opening. But this trip DH is running the wine and dine 1/2 marathon, and the finish line party (which we are going to) goes until 4am. It's our first trip alone since DD was born, and we want to enjoy things like that party that we can't do when we have DD. I have no idea how late we'll be out (it'll probably be 1am or so before DH even finishes the race), nor do I have any idea what time we'll want to wake up. But we want to do DHS and AK that day (AK is open late..I want to see it at night, as I never have), so the FP+ for DHS (which requires it way more than AK) can't be scheduled for too late in the afternoon either.

 

[crostorfer]

I have and I get what op is saying.

Been there too. Spring Break. We were bored the grand majority of our trip. Outside of our chosen 3, we had nothing to do. The lines were too long for comfort. Every single day we wandered around aimlessly, then just gave up and went back to the hotel and sat around.

 

[cakebaker]

I really don't think my opinion is in the minority either and don't see how FP+ can be called a good product when a very signification portion of the customer base has a strong dislike for it.

Did you take a poll to know that it's a significant portion?

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I don't know, I think there was a significant number that didn't like fp- especially when you read about how few actually used it- what was that number I read- 30%? 50%?. There was probably a significant number that didn't like the long lines that came from no system for rides.

The question I suppose is how big is that number and will it increase over time or will people adjust to the system and learn to work with it as best they can.

Nobody knows the answer to that.

 

[Jennygt]

Why all the angry backlash for those who are not having a good experince with Fp+? I dont get it? they dont like it... the end

 

[Jennygt]

Been there too. Spring Break. We were bored the grand majority of our trip. Outside of our chosen 3, we had nothing to do. The lines were too long for comfort. Every single day we wandered around aimlessly, then just gave up and went back to the hotel and sat around.

So really would you go back for that experience? Prob not

 

[flicx]

Why all the angry backlash for those who are not having a good experince with Fp+? I dont get it? they dont like it... the end

Believe me there are those who sympathize with you. The poll on here agrees that many aren't having a good experience too. You can see by the sheer number of bad experience threads, it has issues. However many think it will get better and people will love it. Others like me think it is time for the scrap yard for the new system. Don't let it get you down, we'll see what will happen in the end.

 

[Suvadoo]

It really surprises and saddens me that so many people who have made several, if not dozens of, trips to WDW are apparently proud of themselves for talking other families out of going just once.

I feel sorry for those children who have been deprived of the opportunity to experience for themselves the thrill of that first sight of the castle and the characters because someone convinced their parents that going to WDW requires too much planning.

Maybe some of the frequent visitors should consider that one of the reasons the magic is gone for them is that they have visited so often.

There's always Disneyland with a smaller castle , great characters and best of all, no FP+

 

[Josh Hendy]

...
MY WISH...
I want the team/developer of the "new & improved"(HA-HA) FP+ to:

"Bring his/her family to WDW", use FP+ like the common folk.....then tell me how wonderful it was...dragging kids back & forth through the parks from 1 end to the other....and ...take note of ALL the rides he/she and family DIDN'T GET ON!!!!!!!!

...

It isn't so much the team/developers who needed to tour the park, it's the "suits" or executives who approved and signed off on these changes. They didn't visit the parks and try to experience what it would really be like for the average visiting family.

It's one thing to sit in a committee and convince yourself and the other nodders and yes-men that the pain of being restricted to only 1 headliner attraction per day would be totally offset by the hugely fantastic advantage of being able to plan your rides 60 days in advance. But suppose as an entirely simulated exercise you took one of these high-paid execs and made him (or her) actually sit down and book their family vacation for a busy time of year and decide exactly which 3 or 4 rides, in what order, at what time, on exactly what days they would like to experience. And if they didn't do it at midnight on the 60th day, a flunky should have told them, "Ah, ok boss, but under the new system you probably won't get on the latest attractions ... and, um, by the way ... you probably won't get on both Soarin' and Test Track unless you ride on Figment and watch Captain EO first."

Then the flunky could have followed the exec around the park on their simulated touring day and told them, "Um, yeah there's always the standby queue for Test Track but, uh, you see, uh, 90% of the seats are reserved for people who booked it at the 60 day window so in order for our test to be realistic, you'll have to stand here for 80 minutes then we can ride it."

Without spending a dime on the new system, other than writing the functional specifications describing the behavior of the system and outlining the required user inputs, Mr. or Ms. Exec could have absolutely figured out how guests would experience the changes and which brilliant ideas were actually smart and which ones are completely dumb.

But Nooooooooo!!!!! They didn't do that. Too bad. But hey, that's what golden parachutes are for!!!

 

[Jennygt]

Believe me there are those who sympathize with you. The poll on here agrees that many aren't having a good experience too. You can see by the sheer number of bad experience threads, it has issues. However many think it will get better and people will love it. Others like me think it is time for the scrap yard for the new system. Don't let it get you down, we'll see what will happen in the end.

But I totaly respect people who enjoy Fp+ when they vacation as well, I just feel like the pro fp+ crowd gets angry very quick, I know I am generalizing but just a vibe i get. Thats when I start to wonder who is behind the posts? Know what I mean?

 

[amym2]

I haven't read all of the posts, but I'll chime in that we just returned yesterday from WDW and had a fabulous time despite the insane crowds. We heard numerous people commenting that October has NEVER been like this. With the exception of a Tuesday at MK, the parks were packed by 11am. So I was thankful we had afternoon FP+ planned out because under the old FP system, we would have been out of luck. We hit rides at RD and had FP+ for afternoon/evening and it worked out even better than expected. With a party of 8, it was a pain to get some of the FP, and we didn't use them all (some people preferred resort time), but it was nice to know where we were going to be and when. I'll admit, I am a planner and enjoyed the planning part, and if that wasn't the case, I'm sure I would have been frustrated going into the trip. Obviously, based on the crowds the last couple of weeks, FP+ isn't irritating enough people that they are opting out of WDW vacations!!

 

[Planogirl]

45,000+ posts and you still don't get that since the implementation of FP+ this is arguably the rudest message board on the net?

Nope. I don't accept it and likely never will.