Non-resort guests can not reserve FP+ early

[AliceandAriel]

This was not true when we were there during the 2nd of week of June last year. Paper FPs lasted until 11 or 12 for TSMM. It has only be true since FP+ has started being rolled out or maybe during the couple of most busy weeks. We have had no problem pulling 2 FPs for TSMM even during summer months. If they were running out by 9:30, there would be no possible way for anyone to get more than one.

Also not true. During the say it ran out at 9:30AM while I was there, I managed two FP+s. Grabbed one first thing at RD, then got on the ride standby. Rode standby, got off, used FP, then pulled another as soon as I got off. The difference in time was staggering- in the 20-odd minutes I rode three times, the FP time was up to 5:30, which was insane to me by apparently not unheard of by others.

The same can be said for Soarin and how their FP tickets have been vanishing since. And PPL in MK (which I totally don't get because I still haven't gone).

Even if you were to argue that, under the impression it was a slow day in WDW (like that happens anymore!), and it had FP until 12, you're still not on the same foot as 'everyone else' as people like to argue with the old system. That FP ticket you pulled at say, 11:30AM, would probably be for 7-8PM or later, depending on the park we're discussing and the closing time. Some families come into a park in the afternoon during long stays, and come in later than 11-12. Some come in at 11-12, but can't use a FP for 7-8PM at night or later because of plans.

 

[annacali]

But under the old system WDW was not doing anything to prevent me or anyone else from getting up and being there at 9am to get a FP. I had the same opportunity to do that that everyone else with a valid ticket had. If I chose not to do it, or chose to show up later, it was my choice. Now, with FP + right now I can't even access it at all ( I just did a trip with no FP+ access). And assuming things go as planned I will only be able to get a FP+ for TSM IF they aren't all gone in the 60 days before because resort guests have booked them all. Why should I think that the FP+ times I will have to choose from on the day of will be any better than the return times I may have had pulling a FP at 11 or 12 with the old system? Personally I think I was on more even footing with the old system...no one was making me stand in line behind the resort guests to get a FP.

 

[3happydancers]

The "perk" I referenced in this post was EMH, not FP+. You clearly didn't read the quote in my post.

Well, when following the posts that led up to your post, all were referring to FP+ as the "perk", using EMH as a reference. Therefore, when you use the word "it" when commenting on a post instead of stating exactly what you meant, one would understand this to mean the FP+, not EMH. Perhaps you were simply not as clear as you thought, or did not follow or understand the whole conversation.

 

[Networth]

You can compare the past to the present but that will not change the new system. It is here and here to stay, legacy FP is going away. Even though I love part of the system but hate other parts(tiering) I feel like complaining about it is useless. I had never rode TSMM before my last trip because the fastpass were always gone before I could get to the park, explain to me how that is fair? I didn't complain and moan I realized I would probably never ride it. Now the new system has come and I get a shot at it just like any other paying guest. So the argument can be made both ways. If anything Disney has made it so more people get to ride something at least once vs others riding it 3-4 times.

 

[Robo]

1- I feel like complaining about it is useless.

2- I had never rode TSMM before my last trip because the fastpass were always gone before I could get to the park, explain to me how that is fair?

1- If nobody complains about it, how will Disney know guests don't like it in its present form?

2- Equal opportunity?

 

[AmyB2006]

As for FP+ for off site--- Yes, we get to make them all at once AFTER the entire onsite population has had 60 days to make theirs.

It has already been noted that Disney releases "extra" FP+ reservations the day of, within 5 minutes of park opening. This allows off-site guests to get decent times on FP+.

I don't see how they can't do this if they're going to offer off-site guests the ability to make FP+ reservations, for the very reasons you're stating.

 

[Robo]

If anything Disney has made it so more people get to ride something at least once vs others riding it 3-4 times.

If that was a goal and intention, Disney could have made that change to the FP system (one FP per day, per guest, per attraction) at any time during the last decade.

 

[AmyB2006]

Well, when following the posts that led up to your post, all were referring to FP+ as the "perk", using EMH as a reference. Therefore, when you use the word "it" when commenting on a post instead of stating exactly what you meant, one would understand this to mean the FP+, not EMH. Perhaps you were simply not as clear as you thought, or did not follow or understand the whole conversation.

LOL, I understand just fine thanks.

To be honest, the same argument still applies. Just because you don't see it as a perk, doesn't mean it isn't part of the perks offered. "IT", meaning FP+ here.

But again, I don't think this is going to be an on-site perk only based system.

The only way it would be an on-site perk is if they offered on-site guests more FP+ reservations than off-site guests.

 

[Brian Noble]

But under the old system WDW was not doing anything to prevent me or anyone else from getting up and being there at 9am to get a FP. I had the same opportunity to do that that everyone else with a valid ticket had. If I chose not to do it, or chose to show up later, it was my choice. Now, with FP + right now I can't even access it at all ( I just did a trip with no FP+ access). And assuming things go as planned I will only be able to get a FP+ for TSM IF they aren't all gone in the 60 days before because resort guests have booked them all. Why should I think that the FP+ times I will have to choose from on the day of will be any better than the return times I may have had pulling a FP at 11 or 12 with the old system? Personally I think I was on more even footing with the old system...no one was making me stand in line behind the resort guests to get a FP.

You are right about all of this. But, Disney appears to have decided to leverage the parks to increase the revenue in the resorts. Is it fair? In some sense, yes---everyone has the same opportunity to book a Disney resort room. Of course, not everyone has the same means. That's not pleasant, especially for those on a tighter budget. But, it is what they appear to be doing assuming offsite guests do not have access to FP+ advance bookings.

Disney could have made that change to the FP system (one FP per day, per guest, per attraction) at any time during the last decade.

Better late than never I suppose!

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

I think most people understand the price difference of a normal sized family and a large family. For large families, that is a choice to have a large family and something that should have been thought of before continuing. Kids are great but having a lot can have a large impact on your world. It is not the typical norm. I do think Disney's answer to large families are the villas. They accommodate 5-6 people and provide a kitchenette too which can help save money when dining.

 

[AmyB2006]

I think most people understand the price difference of a normal sized family and a large family. For large families, that is a choice to have a large family and something that should have been thought of before continuing. Kids are great but having a lot can have a large impact on your world. It is not the typical norm. I do think Disney's answer to large families are the villas. They accommodate 5-6 people and provide a kitchenette too which can help save money when dining.

This would be thinking logically though. Not everyone thinks this way.

Just the other day on this very board, someone was basically blaming Disney for her having to spend a little extra money to accommodate her 5 person family.

 

[momof2n2]

I think most people understand the price difference of a normal sized family and a large family. For large families, that is a choice to have a large family and something that should have been thought of before continuing. Kids are great but having a lot can have a large impact on your world. It is not the typical norm. I do think Disney's answer to large families are the villas. They accommodate 5-6 people and provide a kitchenette too which can help save money when dining.

? 5-6 barely begins to accommodate most of the families I know. Then again, we rented houses when we only had 2 kids...

 

[AmyB2006]

? 5-6 barely begins to accommodate most of the families I know. Then again, we rented houses when we only had 2 kids...

Some of the larger villas can accommodate up to 12.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

Imagine it, Disney 2015, FP+ and EMH for all onsite guest only.

Gone are the days of running to TSM and grabbing a paper FP. Imagine waking up leisurely. Enjoying a breakfast without the feeling of "get going". Knowing that the rides your kids really want to go on is already in your MagicBand. I think what Disney has observed and heard is that families don't want the stress that can often come from planning a Disney vacation. People are sick of running around they just want to have a nice vacation.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

This would be thinking logically though. Not everyone thinks this way.

Just the other day on this very board, someone was basically blaming Disney for her having to spend a little extra money to accommodate her 5 person family.

I have not blamed Disney. I completely understand that everything costs more with three kids and my littlest is totally worth it. I don't blame Disney for me having to buy five park tickets.

I have merely pointed out that, for some families, the financial difference between staying onsite and offsite is significant. Not a little money but rather at least $700 for the week. This is intended to inform people who might otherwise not understand why switching to an onsite resort is a significant financial burden for some families, including the person who argued that families could stay at a value resort for $85.

I have also pointed out that, since Disney wants to encourage more families to stay onsite, it is possible for a budget-type hotel to accommodate families of five or six in one affordable room. Some hotel chains (e.g. Comfort Inn) target this market, while others (e.g. Holiday Inn) do not.

I was under the mistaken impression that AoA was going to have budget accommodations for families like mine and was looking forward to staying there until I learned that families of five could only stay in the $300+ rooms. I haven't quite gotten over the disappointment, but I am looking forward to our night at POR, which I last visited as a family of three.

 

[blessedby3]

I think most people understand the price difference of a normal sized family and a large family. For large families, that is a choice to have a large family and something that should have been thought of before continuing. Kids are great but having a lot can have a large impact on your world. It is not the typical norm. I do think Disney's answer to large families are the villas. They accommodate 5-6 people and provide a kitchenette too which can help save money when dining.

We are a family with 4 kids. When we travel other places than WDW…we have to get a room that has 2 beds and a pull out. I understand that we need a bit more space, but we are able to get that room at regular hotels for about $30 more than a standard room. My complaint with WDW is that I have to pay hundreds more per night for a room to fit my family. If it can be done at hundreds of hotels throughout the US with a minimal price increase, I feel like WDW should be able to offer a room at a bit more than a standard room price instead of making it double or triple the price.
I don't plan my family size around my WDW accommodations…thats just a crazy statement.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

Imagine it, Disney 2015, FP+ and EMH for all onsite guest only.

Gone are the days of running to TSM and grabbing a paper FP. Imagine waking up leisurely. Enjoying a breakfast without the feeling of "get going". Knowing that the rides your kids really want to go on is already in your MagicBand. I think what Disney has observed and heard is that families don't want the stress that can often come from planning a Disney vacation. People are sick of running around they just want to have a nice vacation.

Maybe that's what it comes down to in the end. Some of us don't know how to vacation like that and really don't want to. We love the thrill of waking up early, hurrying to the parks, and maximizing our trip. It's the type-A personality. Every member of my family is incapable of sleeping in on vacation because we're too excited about what we'll be doing that day. We're the people at the breakfast buffet at 7 a.m., even on a cruise "sea day." Our parents and grandparents were the same. But I totally understand that not everyone is like us, and possibly we are a bit crazy.

Meanwhile, for the first time ever, I'm feeling stressed planning a Disney trip because I have to make a decision in a few weeks about what rides to fastpass without knowing what my kids will feel like and what the crowds will be like.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

We are a family with 4 kids. When we travel other places than WDW…we have to get a room that has 2 beds and a pull out. I understand that we need a bit more space, but we are able to get that room at regular hotels for about $30 more than a standard room. My complaint with WDW is that I have to pay hundreds more per night for a room to fit my family. If it can be done at hundreds of hotels throughout the US with a minimal price increase, I feel like WDW should be able to offer a room at a bit more than a standard room price instead of making it double or triple the price.
I don't plan my family size around my WDW accommodations…thats just a crazy statement.

This reminds me of the times I've tried to find a hotel on certain websites and received the message, "Please reduce the number of children."

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

I don't plan my family size around my WDW accommodations&that's just a crazy statement.

And in return Disney doesn't plan its resorts around your family size, and other large families. Not trying to be rude but i just don't get why you think a large company like Disney would want to make that much of a global impact when the US family norm is still 4 people. Yes, in your world maybe large families are the norm but its not typically and Disney has to market and please the families that they can accommodate.

I totally get the Type A planner. I don't see how planning your rides now is causing more stress, the underlying truth is that people are scared they are going to have a bad time or make a bad choice and they have been saving all this money and devoted all this time into a "perfect' trip. We get up at 6 everyday. This past vacation we slept in which meant 730 HAHA not that late. We still did breakfast, and finished new and old fanstasyland, lunch at Beast castle tommorrowland. And we did the dreaded ohhh no stay away EMH at MK! We were done with the park by wishes and really had a blast. I love having FP+ it gave me peace of mind and we enjoyed our trip even more. We were able to change times on the fly and it was perfect.

 

[morethananyonex]

Imagine it, Disney 2015, FP+ and EMH for all onsite guest only. Gone are the days of running to TSM and grabbing a paper FP. Imagine waking up leisurely. Enjoying a breakfast without the feeling of "get going". Knowing that the rides your kids really want to go on is already in your MagicBand. I think what Disney has observed and heard is that families don't want the stress that can often come from planning a Disney vacation. People are sick of running around they just want to have a nice vacation.

Except FP+ only currently allows that for my family at one park. One. Out of 4. I'm supposed to be excited for that? A system that truly did allow us to take it slow but still reserve the rides we want would be awesome.

At Epcot, we cannot reserve both rides that would allow us to take it slow. At DHS we cannot reserve all 3 rides that would allow us to take it slow. At MK we can reserve 3 rides but there are many more we enjoy that still have considerable waits. All FP+ has done for us is schedule some of the FP- we would have pulled in advance. We still need to get to the parks when they open in order to enjoy all the attractions we like without a huge wait. Nothing has changed in that respect. If you want to minimize your waits you still can't have leisurely mornings, just like before.

It's funny that you mention the stress from planning, I have never felt stress planning a WDW vacation, until this trip. Trying to book appointment after appointment after appointment is much more planning intensive than it ever used to be. Then you add in the constant stalking of the WDW site waiting for certain FP+ to open up (parades, fireworks, BoG) not exactly stress free. For every person who feels FP+ has made their vacations easier, there's a person who feels the opposite as well.

You can't make a blanket statement that Disney wanted to make vacations less stressful. It simply wasn't their stated purpose of FP+. It does sound a lot nicer than Disney wants to lock people into their parks before they leave home though, doesn't it?