Not so magical bands

[Misjanuary1]

I think a week or even two weeks out to book FP+ is more realistic as you can see the weather forecast. I am a huge planner but 60 days out I really want to finalize where we eat, not what ride and when! Sept has unpredictable weather so while you can structure your day, you can't set it in stone.

 

[Magpie]

I can understand people being concerned.

Having been on these boards for sometime, I have seen the running theme

1. If you complain about FP before you've used it - "Oh it's not that bad! People are just making a big thing about nothing. Wait until you've tried it!"

2. If you complain and you HAVE used it "Oh it's not the final product yet (it more or less is the final product with maybe a few tweaks but the basis is there)

Apparently no one can say anything negative about WDW without someone coming long and complaining that you're complaining

I've noticed another running theme:

1. If you say you like FP+ before you use it - "Oh, well you won't be so happy once you're there!"

2. If you say you like it and you HAVE used it, "Oh, well it was a low crowd/high crowd time, you slept in/did rope drop, you used baby swap, your party was small/large, your vacation was successful despite not because of FP+, FP+ didn't do anything for you that FP- wouldn't have done better, basically, YOU'RE WRONG!"

Apparently no one can say anything positive about WDW without someone coming long and telling you why WDW sucks.

 

[stairstepmom]

They can't possibly be holding back many, if at all. For tomorrow, for 1 person, I only have 4 options for TSMM - one around noon and the rest late at night. For today, there's one late slot.

That's for 1 person.

When we were there in mid January, I could hardly ever move our times for our party of 9 ticket-holders. Even on a slow MK day mid-week, we wanted to move a 10:30a ETwB to later, and at 10a there was no availability. We had to run to FL so we didn't lose our FP+. If you're a solo traveler closing out the park, you might be able to manage. If you have a party of 4 or more and don't plan on staying till close, you might just be SOL.

It's ridiculous.

 

[morethananyonex]

I have never, in several trips, found any of the rides sold out days in advance. Much of the time i book FPs the morning of. I know they don't have anymore Anna and Elsa for awhile but that's an anomaly. Just so folks reading this don't think it's a regular thing to have rides sold out days in advance.

Have your several trips happened after March 31st when all guests got the ability to prebook?

I wouldn't want people thinking it's safe to hold off until the morning of when there's not really any information out there yet for what the situation is with 100% of guests being able to book at least 30 days out.

 

[Liljo22]

After spending 10 days at Disney and using the new Magic Band system, my family noticed a small glitch. The most popular rides at each park were sold out of fast passes days before. We did not want to plan out where we would go each day until we saw the weather forecast. One day was predicted to be hot and sunny but two tornados touched down at the airport causing monsoon like rain to hit.

My point is that knowing the park was sold out of fast passes days in advance, we went to Universal instead. My family did not want to deal with 2+ hour wait times for rides knowing we could pay a small fee at Universal and get an Express pass U-bot. The new Fastpass system actually pushed us away from Disney.

Do they care? No way. So what if 5 people went to Universal for the day instead of Disney. So they missed out on the $1000 we spent elsewhere. I'm thinking there should be a cap on how many FP's can be given out in advance. Just my two cents.

I am wondering about the small fee at Universal. Did you just get back? That small fee during spring break is between $80 and $100 a day per person for only 1 pass per ride and no Harry Potter. I don't know your situation but $400-$500 to skip the lines is not a small fee to me.

 

[pbruce706]

I've noticed another running theme:

1. If you say you like FP+ before you use it - "Oh, well you won't be so happy once you're there!"

2. If you say you like it and you HAVE used it, "Oh, well it was a low crowd/high crowd time, you slept in/did rope drop, you used baby swap, your party was small/large, your vacation was successful despite not because of FP+, FP+ didn't do anything for you that FP- wouldn't have done better, basically, YOU'RE WRONG!"

Apparently no one can say anything positive about WDW without someone coming long and telling you why WDW sucks.

I've noticed a running theme too:

1) If you don't like FP+ / MDE you'll complain about it no matter what someone has to say.

2) If you like FP+ / MDE you'll find good things to say about it no matter what someone has to say.

3) If you're in the silent middle (hopeful majority) you're reading all this and trying to figure out the best plan for your upcoming trip.

Seems the same names keep bubble sorting up to the top of both the "FP+ suxors!" list and the "FP+ awesome sauce!" list.

 

[Claudia1]

After spending 10 days at Disney and using the new Magic Band system, my family noticed a small glitch. The most popular rides at each park were sold out of fast passes days before.

We spent 8 days there two weeks ago and saw the same thing. We had a party of 11, so changing was nearly impossible the day before. A couple of days I tried to change them before the park opened on the "day of" and the availability was increased. However, the chaos of getting little ones and tired bigger ones around PLUS dealing the MDE was prohibitive.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm glad you enjoyed your FOTL passes but they are not CHEAP. What did that run you for a family of five?

No one gets fotl unless you're on a wish trip.

The op didn't say she got express pass, but that she could get the Q-bot system (well I think she said U-bot but it's Q). Different system. From what I've read it's very similar to an electronic FP-.

When we were there in mid January, I could hardly ever move our times for our party of 9 ticket-holders. Even on a slow MK day mid-week, we wanted to move a 10:30a ETwB to later, and at 10a there was no availability.

I was at Epcot feb 2 just before and during the Super Bowl. I was interested in some smaller rides and made the FP+s before hitting the road. (We had taken a bump from our flights, got a hotel room thanks to United, and hubby and son remained to watch the game in the lobby while I played) when I got there I found the first ride was a walkon. Tried to change to something else. "No other experiences for your time." Rode, was done before my return time was done, tried to change other things around. Nothing. Nothing available for the other things I already had but wanted different times for, nothing available on different rides for my times.

I was solo, and it was NOT busy.

I said forget it, got a big beer in Canada, and wandered around chatting with CMs instead.

Had a good time, but would have liked to hit soarin without waiting in the line. Oh well!

 

[Andtototoo]

Yes. I personally know three families who have done just that and for the same reasons this year. The common factor for all of them was unwillingness to map out a work-day like schedule for every day of their vacation. Even an office diary doesn't usually fill up with appointments 60 days in advance.

That's pretty much what I said in an email I sent to Disney after our trip. If I wanted to map out a military strategy, I'd join the military. It's one thing to plan your vacation, but I've NEVER wanted to be one of those people with a detailed itinerary of my Disney visit. I still don't and having experienced the FP+, I did not like being locked in and I did not like being able to ride fewer rides per day. The value of the ticket has gone down while the price has gone up.

 

[maryj11]

I like being able to make fastpasses ahead of time but then I thought now I feel like we will be rushed to stay on schedule and I wanted it to be more relaxing this time and not set on a timer lol

 

[mom2rtk]

Has anyone figured out yet if they are stills saving FPs to release every morning? I know they had to do that before since there was no means of off-site booking in advance. But now that offsite can book in advance, I'm wondering if that has changed?

 

[Shaden]

Has anyone figured out yet if they are stills saving FPs to release every morning? I know they had to do that before since there was no means of off-site booking in advance. But now that offsite can book in advance, I'm wondering if that has changed?

This is a great question....

 

[5Hfan]

That's pretty much what I said in an email I sent to Disney after our trip. If I wanted to map out a military strategy, I'd join the military. It's one thing to plan your vacation, but I've NEVER wanted to be one of those people with a detailed itinerary of my Disney visit. I still don't and having experienced the FP+, I did not like being locked in and I did not like being able to ride fewer rides per day. The value of the ticket has gone down while the price has gone up.

LOL been married to my military husband for almost 19 years, and he eats, breaths and lives the military 24/7, and even he doesn't want to plan such a regimented trip!! It's supposed to be a VACATION! I'm trying to figure out how it all might shake out enough to plan, he won't even talk about it...

 

[5Hfan]

I have never, in several trips, found any of the rides sold out days in advance. Much of the time i book FPs the morning of. I know they don't have anymore Anna and Elsa for awhile but that's an anomaly.

Just so folks reading this don't think it's a regular thing to have rides sold out days in advance.

was that before or after offsiters started being able to prebook too?

 

[suemom2kay]

No one gets fotl unless you're on a wish trip.

The op didn't say she got express pass, but that she could get the Q-bot system (well I think she said U-bot but it's Q). Different system. From what I've read it's very similar to an electronic FP-.

Well u may not GET FOTL but they're SELLING FOTL quoted from Uni's website.


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[rluey29]

Hey, just sayin' that if I can find FP's available TODAY during spring break, I find it hard to believe that there was nothing available DAYS IN ADVANCE. Just cause it is on the internet, does not mean it is true. Check FP availability for yourself for today and the next few days.

We are local and have had some FP+ be out days ahead as well. TSMM, TT, Soarin, even Mission space was out two days in advance.

 

[maciemouse]

We were there the weekend of March 15th. We had to switch some days around because when we tried to book Test Track and Soarin the fast passes were all gone too! I tried to book the night before. We switched parks. I like having something in place with FP+, but on the other hand, I hate having to plan, plan , plan when I am on vacation. We are park hoppers and like to make decisions the day of depending on what the kids feel like doing that day.

 

[neville04]

Regarding pre planning and locking our choices in, I feel the same way about hard ticket items. Should I buy a ticket for MNSSHP and take a chance that it will rain or kids will be sick? (last time at WDW, it rained, was unseasonably cold and kids were sick - yikes). Or do I take a chance on buying a ticket when we get there, choosing the day that looks best, on the hope it will not be sold out.

.

when did you go last year to the MNSSHP? ... w are looking at going in the end of october- i hope its not cold!

 

[Kate and Family]

when did you go last year to the MNSSHP? ... w are looking at going in the end of october- i hope its not cold!

Oh.. I can see how my post was misleading. The time when it was cold, and we were sick, was not during a party - it was while we were at WDW for my granddaughters first visit. But it made me think how unpredictable circumstances can be, and made me cautious regarding paying for an expensive hard ticket event.

Actually, I am talking about planning for this year. Hoping for the end of October as well!. I have never been to MNSSHP - and it has been on my wish list for years. Years ago went to the MVMCP. Bought the tickets ahead of time, planning to do the party on our first day. We had car trouble and did not get to WDW until it was too late to go. We were staying on property, and I had mentioned to the CM checking us in, how disappointed we were. She sprinkled us with some pixie dust, and issued new tickets for the next day. One of the best perks of staying on property, is that sometimes, CM's can help you out, when things do not go right.

Now I am thinking of waiting closer to our visit to buy tickets. Keep checking on availability and if I see the parties for my time frame start to fill, then snag one quickly. Hopefully, the longer we can wait to buy a ticket, the better we will be able to pick a good day to go. I will be kicking myself if I miss our opportunity, because I wanted the perfect day. Hmmm... do I really want to live on the edge?

 

[cel_disney]

Oh.. I can see how my post was misleading. The time when it was cold, and we were sick, was not during a party - it was while we were at WDW for my granddaughters first visit. But it made me think how unpredictable circumstances can be, and made me cautious regarding paying for an expensive hard ticket event. Actually, I am talking about planning for this year. Hoping for the end of October as well!. I have never been to MNSSHP - and it has been on my wish list for years. Years ago went to the MVMCP. Bought the tickets ahead of time, planning to do the party on our first day. We had car trouble and did not get to WDW until it was too late to go. We were staying on property, and I had mentioned to the CM checking us in, how disappointed we were. She sprinkled us with some pixie dust, and issued new tickets for the next day. One of the best perks of staying on property, is that sometimes, CM's can help you out, when things do not go right. Now I am thinking of waiting closer to our visit to buy tickets. Keep checking on availability and if I see the parties for my time frame start to fill, then snag one quickly. Hopefully, the longer we can wait to buy a ticket, the better we will be able to pick a good day to go. I will be kicking myself if I miss our opportunity, because I wanted the perfect day. Hmmm... do I really want to live on the edge?

Just watch closely - the parties towards the end of october tend to go from available to unavailable VERY quickly/unpredictably ... And usually too early to negotiate things like the weather...not saying you have to buy them in May, but maybe August...