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

[GeorgiaHoo]

Because until you walk in the park that day, all options are still open. When you take the slip, you know what the weather is like. You know if your child is ill. You know what the standby wait is like. You know whether your child is finally brave enough to ride Rock N Rollercoaster. You know whether nobody slept well and you want to leave the park early.

Without a crystal ball, it's really hard to know those things 60 days out.

And most importantly, if you take a slip and it doesn't pan out, you aren't limited to only 2 more that day. The stakes are much higher when you can only get 3.

This is a really great point. We'd be able to hit the rides we wanted, walk around, maybe park hop, then in the evening if a ride line was too long we'd grab a FP and hit something else. And sometimes we'd grab a FP and wouldn't use it. In all the times we visited Disney (offseason in Jan.-Mar.) the only time we ever had a problem getting a FP was with Toy Story. Otherwise they were always available. Under the new system, I have to be at Splash Mountain between 7-8PM on May 2. Really, I want SOME flexibility in my vacation and don't want to have to plan where I'll be that far in advance.

 

[andeesings]

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.

This. THIS is my BIGGEST complaint about the FP+ system!!! I'm 33. My parents and I have been going to Disney as a family since I was three. I can count the times I've waited for Spaceship Earth more than ten minutes on one hand. Now??? 40+ minute waits for rides there was NEVER a wait for!! FP slows EVERYTHING down. Before I merely resented FP occasionally. Now I literally despise it. That you can't hop is awful. That you're restricted to three is awful- especially given that now every line has slowed to what seems like a snail's pace. The CMs all say it's really fixed everything and let it move faster because people who miss their times are locked out. I don't find that at all. And I bring my choirs to compete in Disney- and my groups stay together. Talk about a MESS. Before you could line up and get FP slips for around the same time, making sure the group stayed together. Do you know what is like at a kiosk trying to get the computer to give 25 people a ride time?! We can't book in advance, either. It's a TOTAL POOP SHOW. The new system might work for some people. But I HATE IT with an all- consuming passion.

 

[Ismo]

I see lots of complaints on this thread, which is understandable. Is there a thread for FP+ tips? A lot of us have trips coming up and there is little we can do to change the system.

Does anyone have useful tips/advice for making the most out of the current system? Anything you recommend skipping based on previous/recent experience with FP+?

 

[surferdave]

I see lots of complaints on this thread, which is understandable. Is there a thread for FP+ tips? A lot of us have trips coming up and there is little we can do to change the system.

Does anyone have useful tips/advice for making the most out of the current system? Anything you recommend skipping based on previous/recent experience with FP+?

The link in Mesaboy's signature is everything you need to know about Fastpass+ damage control.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3143281

 

[EPCOTatNight]

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.

Why so dramatic? Have you experienced it? I have, and I did repeat rides. I made FP+ the same day, NOT 2 months in advance. I also made FP+ while on the bus, in the resort, and in the parks. I also went to MK at 6, rode BTMR, Space Mountain, and Tomorrowland Speedway in less than 2 hours with no wait. I changed FP+ reservations if the standby wasn't long. I had a few technical glitches, but that took away maybe 3 minutes of my vacation time. I had the most relaxing trip to WDW that I've ever had. If we decided to go to a different park, we changed our FP+ that morning. I rode Soarin, Testrack, RnRC, ToT, and Star Tours all in the same day with a combined wait time of less than 1 hour. Is it better than old FP? Yes in some instances, and no in others. There are pros and cons to everything. Nothing is all good and nothing is all bad. I, at least complain about things that I've actually experienced; unlike most in this thread.

Sent from my IPad using DisBoards.

 

[2Tiggies]

Why so dramatic? Have you experienced it? I have, and I did repeat rides. I made FP+ the same day, NOT 2 months in advance. I also made FP+ while on the bus, in the resort, and in the parks. I also went to MK at 6, rode BTMR, Space Mountain, and Tomorrowland Speedway in less than 2 hours with no wait. I changed FP+ reservations if the standby wasn't long. I had a few technical glitches, but that took away maybe 3 minutes of my vacation time. I had the most relaxing trip to WDW that I've ever had. If we decided to go to a different park, we changed our FP+ that morning. I rode Soarin, Testrack, RnRC, ToT, and Star Tours all in the same day with a combined wait time of less than 1 hour. Is it better than old FP? Yes in some instances, and no in others. There are pros and cons to everything. Nothing is all good and nothing is all bad. I, at least complain about things that I've actually experienced; unlike most in this thread.

Sent from my IPad using DisBoards.

Nobody is questioning that you had a good experience with it. Some people have. No reason to doubt you. But many have had terrible experiences, and that experience often starts long before actually arriving at WDW and their views are just as valid because their experiences are just as real.

 

[Ismo]

The link in Mesaboy's signature is everything you need to know about Fastpass+ damage control. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3143281

Thanks SurferDave!

 

[Angel Ariel]

Nobody is questioning that you had a good experience with it. Some people have. No reason to doubt you. But many have had terrible experiences, and that experience often starts long before actually arriving at WDW and their views are just as valid because their experiences are just as real.

I don't have to be in the park to experience the slow loading, glitchy, battery-eating, poorly designed MDE website/app - which is one of my main concerns with this whole program. You don't even have to be using FP+. We made our hotel reservations/bought our tickets for November about 2-3 weeks ago, and MDE has already "lost" our reservations once. They came back, thankfully. I have to wonder, though, how many more times there will be glitches like that before November.

All of FP+ and MM+ requires a very solid IT base. Disney has years worth of poorly designed/functioning websites that haven't seemed to get much better with time. Their history makes it difficult to have faith that they will have the solid IT infrastructure that this huge endeavor will require.

 

[happymommy]

Just got back today from BWV. I also am NOT A FAN of FP+. We could go out early and get some FP and then later in the afternoon get a couple more. I do NOT LIKE FP+.

 

[mom2rtk]

Why so dramatic? Have you experienced it? I have, and I did repeat rides. I made FP+ the same day, NOT 2 months in advance. I also made FP+ while on the bus, in the resort, and in the parks. I also went to MK at 6, rode BTMR, Space Mountain, and Tomorrowland Speedway in less than 2 hours with no wait. I changed FP+ reservations if the standby wasn't long. I had a few technical glitches, but that took away maybe 3 minutes of my vacation time. I had the most relaxing trip to WDW that I've ever had. If we decided to go to a different park, we changed our FP+ that morning. I rode Soarin, Testrack, RnRC, ToT, and Star Tours all in the same day with a combined wait time of less than 1 hour. Is it better than old FP? Yes in some instances, and no in others. There are pros and cons to everything. Nothing is all good and nothing is all bad. I, at least complain about things that I've actually experienced; unlike most in this thread.

Sent from my IPad using DisBoards.

Sorry, but I'm not ready to invest $5K in Disney's grand experiment yet. I'll get my Disney fix on the other coast while I wait for them to work out the 7 or 8 kinks listed here.

I'm honestly glad it worked out for you. I would hate for anyone to invest what a Disney trip costs and come back home disappointed. Which is why it would be foolish of me to go just yet. It's not like I've never been to Disney. I know the parks. I know the layout. I know the crowd patterns. I know my family's touring style. And I know what it takes for us to come home happy with the value we got for our vacation dollar.

This isn't like reading reviews to decide if you want to see a movie. Admission to a movie can still be had for $6. That's a pretty low risk endeavor. I choose to play it a little more cautiously with my vacation dollars.

 

[jahber]

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.

I don't "own" any of my family's MDE accounts anymore because I stayed onsite with a friend in January (I'm a local with an AP). Then Disney decided to send all AP holders NEW magic bands. So, my and my kids' new AP magic bands (and my husband's, the one who didn't even STAY onsite, so he's never had one before) had to be customized by my friend and sent to her house. Then she has to ship them to me. And Disney IT is not sure they will ever be able to fix the situation. And we can't book and use FPs ahead of time until the MBs arrive at her house in Michigan and she finds time to ship them here (at MY cost--thanks, Disney!).

But other than those 9 things, it's the best thing ever for us!

 

[rt2dz]

I've used FP+, and not too long ago. It wasn't in the early stages of testing when only select resort guests had it, or even when all onsite was allowed use, but no offsite guests. I used it after Legacy FP had been completely removed, so I think my experience counts (probably more so than many proponents for FP). Not that i think you have to be in the park to form an opinion on it, but since many think that's a prerequisite... I am not a fan.

I think it's great that many love it. I'm glad it works for you (REALLY!), but I found it to be less than desirable, and I think a higher percentage agree with me than all out, full out fans of it.

Who I think it works for:

1. Those who have never been, so anything is better than nothing.
2. Those without kids or very young (under 4) kids
3. Those with small traveling parties (4 or less, even with kids)
4. Those that never used FP anyhow
5. Those whose traveling parties have close interests

Why it doesn't work for us:

1. It is limiting to 3 per day when without zigzagging through the park, we often had 5-7
2. We can't park hop on a whim, because of FP tie-ins
3. We have a larger family, with age gaps in kids, and vastly different interests even with those that are close in age. Not everyone could do their favorite on a given day.
4. We never liked to hit RD, preferring to have everyone well rested, but now need to leading to the cranks
5. We are now overly scheduled v having a light plan
6. We actually did more running around to make sure we got every ride in that we could before lines got too terribly long.
7. Even RD is more crowded. We were at DHS for RD during EMH and only got one single ride in before the park opened to everyone and at that point, there instant 20 minute lines everywhere.
8. The app rarely worked in the parks for us
9. The line for the FP kiosks rival those for rides
10. Even when trying to switch, we found limited availability to absolutely nothing--so much for getting lunch when hungry because we may miss that FP or skip Jedi Training Academy so that we make sure we get on TSMM
11. Standby lines were in some case tripled. We had to wait 15 minutes to get on Figment!
12. Lines for FP were extremely long many times
13. Sometimes the bands didn't work (like at the room, or when trying to get on the ride, or at the ticket turnstiles, or when trying to use them for payment, etc). Adding up all those "little inconveniences" I think we lost a total of 6 hours over 7 days, in slow season. That's like an entire park day wasted. And yes, I did keep track of times.
14. The band itself is uncomfortable
15. I felt tied to the cell phone and since the app never worked, and the tracking needed to be on, it ate my phone battery. I had to buy an external charger. Guests who didn't have chargers, kept pushing and pulling to get to the plugs in lines. I hate being pushed (literally) by guests
16. Tiering meant missing wanted attractions in Epcot. I only want a FP for Soarin and TT.
17. I hate to be forced into taking FP for attractions I don't want. Someone else may actually want them. Waiting 15 minutes for Figment seems awkward to me, but I wouldn't FP anything with less than a 20 minutes, but someone else may want to walk on that no matter what because 15 minutes for this version of Figment seems unacceptable to them.

I'm sure, I could think of more, but those all come to mind pretty quickly.

What I did like, much to my surprise, using the band to get into the parks. It was nice not having to dole out admission media before getting into the parks, paying attention to who had which ticket, and needing to collect them up at the end. But that isn't really FP+ related.

I've expressed my displeasure to Disney. I'm sure they don't care. They are stuck with it now, although I can see half a dozen ways to make it better. We are still going in November, but we're spending less time at Disney. We're going to Universal for 2-3 days and to Busch Gardens. I'm thinking we may also go to LegoLand and/or Kennedy Space Center. Possibly even Gatorland with an airboat ride. Things I probably wouldn't have considered without Magic Bands and FP+. Really, shareholders should be very upset, but that is another thread.

 

[Claudia1]

A positive update:

Our last day was yesterday and we had to leave MK by 3pm to get our bus to MCO. I had 3 FP+s: meeting Mickey for pics, Dumbo, and BTMRR. The first was 10:15 for pics with our Main Mouse.

Arrived at 10am and the line was short so we didn't use our FP+. While in line, the app worked fast on DH's phone so I changed it to HM FP+ later in the day.

To do that, here is what I had to do. This took about 10-12 minutes in line.... so I was staring at the cell phone and not my family or my surroundings.
1) tried to change experience but HM was not available.
2) changed Mickey's FP+ time to what was available...5:30
3) changed experience to HM
4) changed time to HM to be done before we had to leave the park.

So, from 10am to 3pm. we had family pics with Mickey, rode Dumbo, BTMRR, HM, did stand-by for Splash, and had lunch at Cosmic Rays.

Now THAT was a more normal day for us but we would have been in standby lines the rest of the day if we did not have to get to a bus.

At least the app worked in our favor this time and nobody was dropped.

Still not a fan.

 

[minniemous]

Why so dramatic? Have you experienced it? I have, and I did repeat rides. I made FP+ the same day, NOT 2 months in advance. I also made FP+ while on the bus, in the resort, and in the parks. I also went to MK at 6, rode BTMR, Space Mountain, and Tomorrowland Speedway in less than 2 hours with no wait. I changed FP+ reservations if the standby wasn't long. I had a few technical glitches, but that took away maybe 3 minutes of my vacation time. I had the most relaxing trip to WDW that I've ever had. If we decided to go to a different park, we changed our FP+ that morning. I rode Soarin, Testrack, RnRC, ToT, and Star Tours all in the same day with a combined wait time of less than 1 hour. Is it better than old FP? Yes in some instances, and no in others. There are pros and cons to everything. Nothing is all good and nothing is all bad. I, at least complain about things that I've actually experienced; unlike most in this thread.

Sent from my IPad using DisBoards.

I agree however I do understand if someones else's experience was not good I might also be really upset.

That being said I really had a great trip. One thing I loved was I would have a Fast pass scheduled for say Tower of Terror and then check the wait time and see it was so short that would change our fast passes on the fly to something else.

Also liked being able to change the fast pass if we decided we needed a break. It was no problem. I guess where the trouble comes in is if it is a really busy ride and you can only go once and then wait in line. Being that this is always how we did it and had no need to go on the ride over and over again it did not bother us.

We were able to go on every ride we wanted. I always have to add that we did go the slowest time so I imagine this might be a different story during a busy time.

 

[Day-Day]

A positive update:

Our last day was yesterday and we had to leave MK by 3pm to get our bus to MCO. I had 3 FP+s: meeting Mickey for pics, Dumbo, and BTMRR. The first was 10:15 for pics with our Main Mouse.

Arrived at 10am and the line was short so we didn't use our FP+. While in line, the app worked fast on DH's phone so I changed it to HM FP+ later in the day.

To do that, here is what I had to do. This took about 10-12 minutes in line.... so I was staring at the cell phone and not my family or my surroundings.
1) tried to change experience but HM was not available.
2) changed Mickey's FP+ time to what was available...5:30
3) changed experience to HM
4) changed time to HM to be done before we had to leave the park.

So, from 10am to 3pm. we had family pics with Mickey, rode Dumbo, BTMRR, HM, did stand-by for Splash, and had lunch at Cosmic Rays.

Now THAT was a more normal day for us but we would have been in standby lines the rest of the day if we did not have to get to a bus.

At least the app worked in our favor this time and nobody was dropped.

Still not a fan.

I haven't visited with the Legacy FP turned-off but I am planning for our visit in early May. I was really happy with the way I could schedule our shortened arrival day. With the flight arrival at 11:11am and a rental car we should be able to do all we want during our visit to Animal Kingdom on that day. Like you mentioned, the disappointment started to set in when I started planning for our "normal" days.

We'll see how things work out; we are visiting during a time period that is forecasted to have somewhat low crowds.

 

[jharaldson]

I really am not sure how you would know any of those things 60 days out.

You must have a better weather forecaster than I do.

I agree that is not known but that is not what I was saying:

before they leave for the park that day

I was implying if those things are of great concern and you don't have confidence in the MDE mobile app or the network at WDW then make your FP+ reservations before you leave for the park on your desktop, laptop, or tablet using the website.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I agree that is not known but that is not what I was saying:

I was implying if those things are of great concern and you don't have confidence in the MDE mobile app or the network at WDW then make your FP+ reservations before you leave for the park on your desktop, laptop, or tablet using the website.

That presumes that there continues to be a lot of same day availability. With offsite guests starting to be able to prebook, I have my doubts that the current state of availability will remain.

 

[mom2rtk]

I agree that is not known but that is not what I was saying:



I was implying if those things are of great concern and you don't have confidence in the MDE mobile app or the network at WDW then make your FP+ reservations before you leave for the park on your desktop, laptop, or tablet using the website.

So now I'm required to travel with a computer?

 

[Angel Ariel]

So now I'm required to travel with a computer?

Well, there is always the hotel computers..most of them have busines center areas with 1 or 2 desktops, right? Next thing we know, there will be lines to access MDE on those as well

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, there is always the hotel computers..most of them have busines center areas with 1 or 2 desktops, right? Next thing we know, there will be lines to access MDE on those as well

I could be wrong about this, or maybe things have changed since the last time I asked.... but I thought only the business center locations had this available. Maybe CSR and GF?