My Un-magical FP+ Experience...

[Jessica14]

We are going in 21 days! I'm a planner but did find the FP+ system a bit off-putting. I quickly figured it out though. Full disclosure, we are EMH and RD people so we utilize that a lot. We also didn't go for things like ToT or RnR or A&E. We are still going to have lots of fun since we have never been very FP reliant anyway. Going with a positive attitude since we are flexible about our experiences and expectations.

 

[Suvadoo]

I'm not trying to be rude or snarky, but did you read the OP? There was no mistaking the tone of it and it was very off-putting. There are a lot of posts like the OP where it is inferred that anyone who likes FP+ is a cotton-headed ninny muggins.

I've read most of the posts on this thread and the snark seems to be more prevalent with the anti-FP+ posters.

The great thing about the boards is that you can choose to read a post or move on. IMO, the OP was venting about her experience. She has that right. Same with any and all who say FP+ enhanced their vacation.

But lets face it, posts like this one generate a lot of conversation and that's the reason I'm on the boards.

 

[Marionnette]

I'm not trying to be rude or snarky, but did you read the OP? There was no mistaking the tone of it and it was very off-putting. There are a lot of posts like the OP where it is inferred that anyone who likes FP+ is a cotton-headed ninny muggins.

I've read most of the posts on this thread and the snark seems to be more prevalent with the anti-FP+ posters.

And oddly enough, I have read every post in this thread and felt that there was a considerable amount of snide and snark coming from a select few (but very prolific at posting) pro-FP+ advocates. It just proves that your own perspective on the system can color the way you interpret a poster's intentions.

I've done 3 trips with FP+ thanks to having an AP. The first trip was a stay in Sept. of last year when only select resorts were participating and FP- was still in use. Boy, was it fun to be able to double (and even triple dip)!

The second trip was in March of this year. Spring Break is a lot busier than September! On top of that, no more FP- and everyone onsite was using FP+ but the tiered system was in effect for Epcot and HS. Offsite guests still could not schedule their FP+ in advance. Getting the FP+ that I wanted was not a problem and boy, was I happy that I didn't have to wait in line to make my choices once I entered the parks! Those lines for day guests were a nightmare! Even worse, standby lines were the longest that I had seen in a very long time. I had never seen a 2-hour wait for HM! I had mixed feelings about FP+. I got to ride TSMM because I was able to get a FastPass for the first time ever, but it meant sacrificing a ride on RnR. Not a great loss at the time because my back was killing me that trip but it would have been a big disappointment on another trip.

The third trip was in June. Everyone was now using FP+, including offsite guests. I got FP+ for 7DMTR just by being online at the right time (thanks to whoever posted when the FP+ option opened in MDE). I had to choose between TT and Soarin' which I dislike. The standby lines were once again unbelievably long for attractions that never seemed to have a line before. At least they added SDFP+ once you used up your first 3 FP+s. Unfortunately, those SDFP+ weren't the headliners. They were for those same attractions that would have had a minimal wait time pre-FP+, and you had to wait in line at a kiosk to find that out. Not feeling the love for FP+ at this point.

So, now we have a trip planned for Dec, which we may or may not do, the reason having nothing to do with FP+. The APs have expired, so now I'm looking at the possibility of spending about $80 pp per day to do 3 guaranteed attractions daily (not all of which would have been my 1,2 & 3 choices) and possibly 3 more before the park closes. It's not my idea of a great return on my dollars spent. So, I'm seriously contemplating only visiting Epcot and HS for Osborne Lights and CP, using 2-day tickets leftover from our *free* dining visit several years ago. We can hang out at the pool and have reservations for dinner at non-park restaurants. It will be nice, but not any different than any other vacation to a nice hotel in a warm climate.

 

[senecabeach]

Again PLEASE .....as I stated on pg.11..
Let me sincerely apologize to those taking issue with my use of the word "newbie". I AM SOOO SORRY if it was taken derogatorily and a poor choice of words in trying to distinguish an every year visitor and one who frequents WDW.... It certainly wasn't meant to be demeaning to anyone.

I'm sorry that I've caused so much havoc expressing my "entitled" opinion of the frustration (not hatred) of this new more restricted ride system in a place I have & do love to vacation for many years....

I returned from my 18 day DVC trip a few hrs. before and was still crazied about missing (for the 1st time) some tier 1 rides and 60 days out getting DMT only once and 2 shows of Fantasmic (on the same night) were standing room only for the standby line.

Guess Disney spoiled me...being @ RD & never waiting more than a half an hour in line for any WDW attraction I wanted to ride...ever....and back to rest & enjoy the pool in the afternoon.

Geeeezzzeeee....Maybe I'm older than dirt...but...I absolutely know/knew how to DO Disney!!
I liken it to when mom/dad used to tell me/you about the "Good Ole Days" and we were/are too young to understand its concept.

I think the FP+ technology/progress is good....the delivery is lousey..just keep the old way of getting FP's...1 at a time, maybe 2 "SPONTANEOUSLY" and exactly the rides you want and less people will miss or blow off a ride .... This is not rocket science...use the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) system !!

That said...don't be afraid to try/use it. Maybe it'll work for your family.....it just works much "LESS" for mine. Different strokes...right??


Good luck!! Going to plan my April 15 trip now..


One thing for sure...memories of the "Good Ole Disney Days" are Great!!

 

[Luvchefmic]

OP I saw your post on page 11 Thanks I can relate with so much you say, also " old as dirt " lived in Queens and we were at the 1964 World's Fair too ...would love to get together when you are down here again

 

[itchin2go]

And just for the record, I rarely used FP (maybe for BTMRR or EE) but we DID arrive at RD and took advantage of low lines until nearly 2pm. Obviously those days are now long gone.

Oh, AndreaA, are they really? (meant 100% sincerely, with a big *sigh* on the end!)

I am SO concerned for our upcoming trip. We were just like you, sporadic users of FP, maybe one at Soarin or Test Track in the a.m. because we rope dropped the other, may an extra one for TSMM just so we could ride it twice (once at rope drop and once with FP), maybe one for BTMRR or Splash depending on how long standby was once we made it over there after rope dropping Fantasy Land. But that was it.

We were not FP super-users. Our trips really hinged on standby. I am positively alarmed by what I have read about stand-by lines for middle of the road attractions.

 

[Laketravis]

.... lived in Queens and we were at the 1964 World's Fair too ...

Wow, that brought back memories - my great grandmother lived in Brooklyn and took my brother and I to the World's Fair in 1964. Quite an event that was.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Wow, that brought back memories - my great grandmother lived in Brooklyn and took my brother and I to the World's Fair in 1964. Quite an event that was.

Every time I get up there and see the world sphere ( or remember the show King of Queens ? ) the memories truly come flooding back. Yes quite an event. I think I will spend the weekend trying to find if any pictures have survived too many moves.

 

[wdwrich]

Every time I get up there and see the world sphere ( or remember the show King of Queens ? ) the memories truly come flooding back. Yes quite an event. I think I will spend the weekend trying to find if any pictures have survived too many moves.

Me too! I grew up in NYC and was 10/11 years old at the time of the fair. I remember the World's Fair hat my parents bought for me and my brothers. Also remember we had to pay extra to ride It's a Small World. My favorites were the General Motors and Ford Pavilions. Rode them many times.
Come to think of it- The 1964/65 World's Fair made quite an impression on me. Maybe that's why EPCOT has become my favorite WDW park.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I was 10 Rich...OP I think we need a 1964 World's Fair reunion Dismeet Ruthie

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yeah...except for the part about the price being the same.

Well, the 59,000+ Cast Members surley can't be expected to work for the same money they did ten years ago. Would you? Health insurance costs (a lot) more, overall operating costs are up, stockholders expect profits...

That's what happens when you "give" the food away- free dining is the scourge of the earth I tell ya!

The Dining Plan Free promotion isn't twelve months a year. Considiting basic food purchasing was an overall financial decision blamed on the promotion.

Wow, that brought back memories - my great grandmother lived in Brooklyn and took my brother and I to the World's Fair in 1964. Quite an event that was.

My brother and me and my sister. Its why I'd be devastated if Carousel of Progress ever closed.

 

[Hokie2000]

And oddly enough, I have read every post in this thread and felt that there was a considerable amount of snide and snark coming from a select few (but very prolific at posting) pro-FP+ advocates. It just proves that your own perspective on the system can color the way you interpret a poster's intentions.

So, now we have a trip planned for Dec, which we may or may not do, the reason having nothing to do with FP+. The APs have expired, so now I'm looking at the possibility of spending about $80 pp per day to do 3 guaranteed attractions daily (not all of which would have been my 1,2 & 3 choices) and possibly 3 more before the park closes. It's not my idea of a great return on my dollars spent. So, I'm seriously contemplating only visiting Epcot and HS for Osborne Lights and CP, using 2-day tickets leftover from our *free* dining visit several years ago. We can hang out at the pool and have reservations for dinner at non-park restaurants. It will be nice, but not any different than any other vacation to a nice hotel in a warm climate.

Personal bias toward/against FP+ is definitely a factor, and I guess there's enough snark on both sides to feed into it!

Are you going during Christmas? We usually go during slow times but next year I'm planning on the week before the week of Christmas, which I know is busier than I'm used to. We have the DVC discount APs so the ticket price is less of a factor. I figure that it will be a much different trip as far as expectations go.

I haven't gone during Christmas week since I was a kid and I've never gone during the summer or Spring Break. Since I don't have that perspective, how easy was it to use fastpasses before as opposed to now? I was under the impression that all the rides (not just the headliners) had crazy lines - I've seen the extended queue pictures on EasyWDW! So with legacy FP did you get to ride more rides, or get more duplicate rides on popular rides? When the FP- return times became enforced didn't it cut down on some FP- use? I'm honestly curious since I have no real experience with super-packed parks.

 

[itchin2go]

I'm not trying to be rude or snarky, but did you read the OP? There was no mistaking the tone of it and it was very off-putting. There are a lot of posts like the OP where it is inferred that anyone who likes FP+ is a cotton-headed ninny muggins.

I've read most of the posts on this thread and the snark seems to be more prevalent with the anti-FP+ posters.

This is interesting.

I did not read any bad tone into the OP. I read it as exasperated and frustrated, but nothing really more than that.

That may be because I really don't know whether I'm pro-FP or con-FP, because I haven't experienced it. I click on the "FP sucks" posts and "FP rocks" posts with the same level of interest.

 

[Hokie2000]

This is interesting.

I did not read any bad tone into the OP. I read it as exasperated and frustrated, but nothing really more than that.

That may be because I really don't know whether I'm pro-FP or con-FP, because I haven't experienced it. I click on the "FP sucks" posts and "FP rocks" posts with the same level of interest.

You know what, now that I've gone back and re-read the OP, you're right - I juxtaposed other threads about FP+ and the comments following the OP w/ the intensity of the OP. It was pretty intense w/ the caps, spacing, and font colors, but not rude toward other posters.

 

[Vivianne]

I was 10 Rich...OP I think we need a 1964 World's Fair reunion Dismeet Ruthie

Lol. I grew up in Brooklyn. I was old enough to remember the 1964 World's fair. In my dreams my father would have taken us since there was no money. But I remember my sister's MIL lived right in the area with the sphere in the 80s. I was jealous lol. I have since made up for it with our Disney trips. I also love the Carousel of Progress. It's a must-do on our trips. We did it last week. It was crowded & I was glad it was still there.

 

[wdwrich]

I was 10 Rich...OP I think we need a 1964 World's Fair reunion Dismeet Ruthie

Count me and DW in!

 

[itchin2go]

You know what, now that I've gone back and re-read the OP, you're right - I juxtaposed other threads about FP+ and the comments following the OP w/ the intensity of the OP. It was pretty intense w/ the caps, spacing, and font colors, but not rude toward other posters.

Not a big deal ... and you're right, it's easy to get some of these threads confused.

Tone is a weird thing on the internet too .....

 

[Marionnette]

Personal bias toward/against FP+ is definitely a factor, and I guess there's enough snark on both sides to feed into it!

Are you going during Christmas? We usually go during slow times but next year I'm planning on the week before the week of Christmas, which I know is busier than I'm used to. We have the DVC discount APs so the ticket price is less of a factor. I figure that it will be a much different trip as far as expectations go.

I haven't gone during Christmas week since I was a kid and I've never gone during the summer or Spring Break. Since I don't have that perspective, how easy was it to use fastpasses before as opposed to now? I was under the impression that all the rides (not just the headliners) had crazy lines - I've seen the extended queue pictures on EasyWDW! So with legacy FP did you get to ride more rides, or get more duplicate rides on popular rides? When the FP- return times became enforced didn't it cut down on some FP- use? I'm honestly curious since I have no real experience with super-packed parks.

We will be there in early December. I've never attempted to go during Christmas. Neighbors went a few years ago (pre-FP+) and said that they had a great time but had no intention of doing it again.

I have been to WDW every month of the year, except February. Some of the worst lines pre-FP+ were around the 4th of July but even then, IASW wasn't more than a 20 minute wait. We did EMH mornings when they were available and managed to ride our favorite headliners at least twice in a day by using FP- and SB.

I'm an obsessive rule-follower and we never tried to use expired FP-s unless the attraction was down when our return time came. We would send a "runner" to get FP-s while the rest of the family took a rest room break or grabbed a snack. We would do the attractions with shorter SB lines while we waited for the next FP- window to open.

Once we did what we wanted at one park, we would hop to another and pick up FP-s for one or two attractions there. I really miss that with FP+. When (if) I purchase tickets again, I won't add hopping to them because of FP+.

Looking at the MK on the MDE app right now (1:00 PM on Friday 10/24), SB wait times are not horrendous IMO. HM, PoTC, Space and Splash are 35 minutes, 7DMTR is at 60 mins. If this were July and not October, I would say that those are tolerable wait times. At Epcot, there's a 30 min. wait for JIYI and that's just about 20 minutes more than I ever saw for that attraction in the years leading up to FP+. Living with the Land is a 20 minute wait and last year it was a walk-on in late September. Spaceship Earth is at 30 minutes (again, it was almost a walk-on last fall) BUT Soarin' has a SB of only 60 minutes and TT is at 80 mins where you would have waited 120 mins or more last fall.

So, it appears that Disney's objective of spreading the crowds out more by using FP+ has been somewhat successful. That doesn't mean that it enhances the guest experience but I'm not sure that an "enhanced guest experience" was the primary goal.

 

[ST1TCH]

Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, did you like the play?

 

[W.E.D.]

It saddens me that so many long time Disney fans are losing interest in WDW due to ALL of the changes going on that diminish the value of our vacation. It's not just FP+ that is upsetting the faithful, but that program is an easy target.

I know people will say, "but the parks are packed" so Disney is doing something right. However, I'm firmly convinced that a couple of years from now there may be attendance problems due to base erosion. For every one long time Dis'er that comes on here to express their displeasure with the changes (and let me repeat, it's not just FP+ that's the problem) I bet there are a lot more that just walk away quietly.

I agree with you, because those of us "veterans" who are upset and not returning as often, or ever, are telling our newbie friends that the place has changed for the worse and they might want to reconsider their visit as well.