Not a fan of FP+..positive update #193 (sort of...)

[mom2rtk]

How about a price increase for an already expensive vacation? Gotta pay for the "enhanced" guest experience.

Yep. That early price increase in the midst of all of this really was salt in the wound for a lot of people.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

So, our next spring break will be spent....at the beach! We are AP holders and DVC members and hate the FP+ system. 50 minute standby wait at Pirates?!? 25 minute standby wait for It's a Small World?!? 50 minute standby wait at Haunted Mansion?!?

Yes, I know this is Spring Break week, but oh my! Even at Christmas I didn't see these kinds of waits.

We found ourselves doing our 3 FP+ and then leaving the parks each day. So, if Disney's desire is to drive people from the parks, this is working!

Karen

 

[mom2rtk]

We found ourselves doing our 3 FP+ and then leaving the parks each day. So, if Disney's desire is to drive people from the parks, this is working!

Karen

I keep seeing more and more people saying this. I just can't believe this is what Disney had in mind. I know they want room for more guests in the parks during peak times, but I can't believe it's going to pay off the rest of the year, which is the majority of the time. They have to prefer for people to stay in the parks, spending money.

I can't believe these people doing 3 rides and leaving aren't deciding to check out other things to do in Orlando.

And I can't believe these "3 and done" people are rushing back to their rooms to book a bounceback trip.

 

[WishnDisney]

Full disclosure: I have not experienced fp+ so perhaps I am not entitled to an opinion.

Last year was our first WDW vacation as a family. We had such a great time we are going again. Same time in June because that is the only time we can go. The spectre of fp+ has hung over both vacations. Ridiculous. The rules change on a monthly basis. I have no clue how to plan because of this. I am willing to plan. I've spent two years planning now. I don't even know how translate last years experience into this year's vacation.

The notion of fp abuse escapes me. Everybody had the same opportunities. There are consequences to our choices. Last summer I chose to do RD to ensure less waiting and better opportunities for FP at headliners. Yes, it was vacation, but if I wanted to relax, I would have gone to the beach not WDW.

I still plan to RD. I know people are speculating that it might not be as useful since there are fp+ available at that time. But do we really think the people who would not get up for fp- will be there early for fp+?

I have no idea how this will all play out. But I think there is just some craziness. Selecting fp for rides you don't want because you need 3. Unlimited mailings of MB for more than one trip, etc. Planning 60 days out for rides when you have no idea about weather, kids, etc. The fear that if you want to change things you won't be able to. And really, even if you love fp+, I think the implementation has been a case study in what not to do.

Whew. Got that off my chest. Take it for what it's worth.

 

[Missyrose]

Last summer I chose to do RD to ensure less waiting and better opportunities for FP at headliners. Yes, it was vacation, but if I wanted to relax, I would have gone to the beach not WDW. I still plan to RD. I know people are speculating that it might not be as useful since there are fp+ available at that time. But do we really think the people who would not get up for fp- will be there early for fp+?

By and large the park-opening FP+ reservations haven't affected rope drop ride too! too much. You're totally right, there will be a fair number of people who have 9 a.m. FP+ reservations scheduled that simply won't feel like getting to the park that early. You may just find yourselves getting held up at the standby/FP+ merge areas as CMs let everyone with a FP+ through. So maybe a five-minute wait on a rope drop ride that used to be completely walk-on.

 

[laceemouse]

I have seen comments like this a number of times and they kind of confuse me. In the old FP- world you went to a kiosk and got a slip that scheduled you for a time block. In the new FP+ world you use the site, the app, or a kiosk and you are scheduled for a time block. Both systems resulted in you getting "scheduled" for rides. Why is the guest getting to choose a time worse than getting a random one from a machine?

Agree 100% MAYBE in the old days, when a CM would let you ride even if you showed up AFTER your FP- return time, you were not locked in. BUT as soon as they said you have to ride during the time listed on your FP- then yes, you are right, the FP- locked you in to a time.

With the old FP system often the return time did not work for us, say we had a meal booked during that time on the other side of the park or something. With the new system I can pick a return time that works for us.

Pros and cons to both IMO, but no one wants to hear that.

 

[KYDisneyDad]

Agree 100% MAYBE in the old days, when a CM would let you ride even if you showed up AFTER your FP- return time, you were not locked in. BUT as soon as they said you have to ride during the time listed on your FP- then yes, you are right, the FP- locked you in to a time. With the old FP system often the return time did not work for us, say we had a meal booked during that time on the other side of the park or something. With the new system I can pick a return time that works for us. Pros and cons to both IMO, but no one wants to hear that.

Agreed! So many people on both sides of this it seems don't acknowledge the facts that are pro or con on both sides of this.

I'll admit that 5 years ago the current system would have worked pretty good for us. DD was 5yrs old and couldn't (or wouldn't) ride most rides. She was all about characters and meet and greets. Now however she is All about the rides! Bottom line is with the new restrictions our ability to enjoy our park days is significantly reduced ( on top of once again higher ticket, food, and merch prices)!
I could learn to live with the three a day and having to schedule rides 2 months out actually if they would do away with not allowing same attraction fastpass and the tiers. And removing FP from rides that never needed it!!

 

[morethananyonex]

Lots of people acknowledge there are pros and cons to both systems. It's rare to see someone that says neither had any redeeming qualities.

What some people fail to realize is pros of FP+ do not outweigh the cons for some people, just like pros of FP- did not outweigh the cons for others. Choosing times is cool, but I would give that up for the old FP- system in a second. Just the same, I'm sure some people liked that FP- did not have tiers for example, but they would still take the FP+ system if they had to choose. It's not impossible to acknowledge good things FP+ brings while disliking the system overall. Most people do.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Agree 100% MAYBE in the old days, when a CM would let you ride even if you showed up AFTER your FP- return time, you were not locked in. BUT as soon as they said you have to ride during the time listed on your FP- then yes, you are right, the FP- locked you in to a time.

With the old FP system often the return time did not work for us, say we had a meal booked during that time on the other side of the park or something. With the new system I can pick a return time that works for us.

Pros and cons to both IMO, but no one wants to hear that.

We generally used FPs in the window, so that wasn't a con for us

And as for having a meal booked on the other side of the park...TBH, that just didn't happen to us all that often. If it did, we just didn't pull a FP, no big deal...we'd go back and get one after dinner. So that wasn't a con for us, really.

I'm not saying there weren't cons to the system, but for US and how we tour, there are far more cons to FP+ than there were to legacy FP.

 

[Shaden]

We found ourselves doing our 3 FP+ and then leaving the parks each day. So, if Disney's desire is to drive people from the parks, this is working!

Karen

I keep seeing more and more people saying this. I just can't believe this is what Disney had in mind. I know they want room for more guests in the parks during peak times, but I can't believe it's going to pay off the rest of the year, which is the majority of the time. They have to prefer for people to stay in the parks, spending money.

I can't believe these people doing 3 rides and leaving aren't deciding to check out other things to do in Orlando.

And I can't believe these "3 and done" people are rushing back to their rooms to book a bounceback trip.

I agree, but I have to say this is how its shaping up for us as well.

Having scheduled our FP+s for our coming 2 week trip, our days are already shaping up much differently.

Looks like we will be in the parks for RD, FP starting at 11 or 11:30, out of the parks by 1 each day.

In the past, we would still be grabbing a new FP at 1, probably grabbing some lunch, that FP would hold us in the parks for a while, and then we would grab another, or two, and we would be in the parks til 3, 4, 5 ... and then there would be no point in leaving the park if we were coming back for Dinner reservations.

I am actually pretty worried about our TS dinner ressies as it is. We don't have them every night (we usually would, but didn't want to lock in too much before we were able to plan out our FP+s) ... but in the past on the few days we left the park in the afternoon, we sometimes wouldn't feel like heading back for dinner reservations. I mean, leave the park at 2 or 3, and then have a ressie at Via Napoli at 7 or 8 ... its just such a long walk back ... and ... if we have a few drinks by the pool in the afternoon ... we just get lazy.

I am thinking if we leave by 1 ... will have more time for drinks, and less ambition to return for dinners ...

 

[pigletgirl]

I don't understand the hostility of FP+. I can only think of the positives of it.

What is so bad about it?

Doesn't it take the pressure off a bit?

It seems as though it'll be easier for our family.

 

[mesaboy2]

I don't understand the hostility of FP+. I can only think of the positives of it.

What is so bad about it?

Doesn't it take the pressure off a bit?

It seems as though it'll be easier for our family.

1. Max 3 per day.
2. All in one park.
3. Tiers in two parks.

How any of these are positives escapes me, entirely.

Other than that, it's terrific.

 

[mom2rtk]

1. Max 3 per day.
2. All in one park.
3. Tiers in two parks.

How any of these are positives escapes me, entirely.

Other than that, it's terrific.

No ride repeats.

Other than these 4, it's the best thing ever.

Oh, and the technical glitches.

Other than those 5, it's the best thing ever.

Oh, and you need to know the weather and what your kids will feel like riding and where you will be 1-2 months in advance.

Other than those 6, it's the best thing ever.

 

[2Tiggies]

I don't understand the hostility of FP+. I can only think of the positives of it.

What is so bad about it?

Doesn't it take the pressure off a bit?

It seems as though it'll be easier for our family.

Mesaboy2 and mom2rtk have pretty much summed it up.

It may work very well for your family. It doesn't work for me. That said, I really hope it works out nicely for you. I have nothing to gain by anyone having a bad experience with it. Some people do like it. It just depends on how you tour and what you want/need out of your park day.

It is also much easier if you don't have various ages and interests to cater for
I wish you well

 

[JimmyV]

No ride repeats.

Other than these 4, it's the best thing ever.

Oh, and the technical glitches.

Other than those 5, it's the best thing ever.

Oh, and you need to know the weather and what your kids will feel like riding and where you will be 1-2 months in advance.

Other than those 6, it's the best thing ever.

Having to wait in long lines to get to a kiosk to get your FPs.

Other than those 7 things, it's great.

Oh. And having to wait in makeshift, unthemed queues outside of the ride entrances only to later race through the actual themed queues.

Other than those 8 things, I can't think of any negatives.

 

[mesaboy2]

Clearly I didn't try very hard.

 

[mom2rtk]

Clearly I didn't try very hard.

That's ok. You have promise. We'll work with you.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

I don't understand the hostility of FP+. I can only think of the positives of it.

What is so bad about it?

Doesn't it take the pressure off a bit?

It seems as though it'll be easier for our family.

Having three booked from home is a positive, but it doesn't outweigh the negatives.
Imagine you get one or maybe two days at MK every two years. You have five people in your family, all with different interests, including three kids who don't know if they're ready for coasters and a dad who has occasional motion sickness. You spend fourteen hours at the park. You have a son and dad who prefer fetching FP to standing around waiting for the girls to eat, go potty, ride the carrousel, etc. Now, instead of everyone deciding what big rides they feel like that morning and using six or seven FP without trying very hard, you get to pick just three ahead of time. Oh, and standby lines are a bit longer than you're used to for family favorites like Haunted Mansion and PotC because they now have FP+. Months before your trip, you get to study wait time data, trying to guess which rides will need FP+ and what time you'll reach them, because good luck making changes at the last minute. A few weeks before you leave, one child's FP+ start randomly disappearing and reappearing on MDE. Then, the day before you leave, your parents from Florida announce they will be joining you for the day as offsite guests and want to ride Splash with you. Much less pressure than the old way.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

Having to wait in long lines to get to a kiosk to get your FPs.

Other than those 7 things, it's great.

Oh. And having to wait in makeshift, unthemed queues outside of the ride entrances only to later race through the actual themed queues.

Other than those 8 things, I can't think of any negatives.

Having to wait in long lines for rides that never had them (Living with the Land) because Disney is offering "fastpasses" for rides that didn't need them in the first place.

 

[JimmyV]

Having three booked from home is a positive, but it doesn't outweigh the negatives

It can be distilled down to this: Just as with the Dining Plan, Disney implemented a system that benefits them. It is designed to enhance their bottom line. Now it is up to them to convince us all that it was really designed to benefit us. They are counting on our love for WDW to cause us to forget that what is good for shareholders and what is good for consumers are rarely synchronous.