Ok, here they come, WDW "vet" who hasn't been there in awhile has lots of questions!

[PrestonatorSR]

It took only a 3-year absence from WDW to put me totally out of the loop regarding all the new systems/practices. So, you will soon be getting lots of questions from me regarding our mid-July trip.

So, let's get started:

Random Question 1: So, with this absurd FP+ system (haven't used it, but know I hate it already ), am I only able to get a whopping 3 passes in the SAME PARK or can I, for example, book 2 at one park and another at a different park?

Random Follow-Up Question 2: So, once you've burned your 3 Fastpasses--and assuming you are unsuccessful landing additional Fps, how do you handle getting on attractions? Do you simply "suck it up" and stand in 2-hour lines, do you default to the less popular attractions, or do you hope to wait out the crowd and hope the lines magically recede at some point?

More to come...I'm sure...also for the record, I have a new name for this Forum, but I've actually been in this community since 2001--back when navigating Disney was a WHOLE LOT easier.

thanks in advance for your help!

 

[rwdavis2]

1. your first 3 must all be at the same park. After that they can be anywhere, 1 at a time.

2. If riding is a priority for the day then I get there at rope drop, hit the popular rides first and have the fastpasses scheduled for later. I won't stand in a line longer than 20, maybe, 30 minutes.

 

[BrianL]

Don't worry about FP+. It actually works really well. Remember that you can book your 4th FP of the day on your phone after the first 3 are used. Availability can be tight for the big rides though, but then again it always could. What FP+ has negatively impacted are the rides that used to have smaller lines, because now everything uses FastPass. It's a minor inconvenience though if you have a good plan and get there at rope drop.

 

[Forum Jumper]

We haven't been to the WDW Parks since 2014 and it seems there have been a lot of new/changes. Can the new things at the parks be listed? We don't want to miss anything on our upcoming visit.

 

[Hopefully]

How can you say "this absurd FP+ system" when you have never experienced it? With a negative preconceived view, you will have a negative time.
We actually like it better after experiencing it a few times now. Like a PP suggested, we go at Rope Drop and hit our favorite headliners early. We schedule our FP+ for late morning/early afternoon. On some days we decide to go later and stay later and we can now schedule FP+ for later in the day when more convenient.
IMHO the new system opens up lots of nice new possibilities to us.
Good Luck

 

[Mikie]

It took only a 3-year absence from WDW to put me totally out of the loop regarding all the new systems/practices. So, you will soon be getting lots of questions from me regarding our mid-July trip.

So, let's get started:

Random Question 1: So, with this absurd FP+ system (haven't used it, but know I hate it already ), am I only able to get a whopping 3 passes in the SAME PARK or can I, for example, book 2 at one park and another at a different park?

Random Follow-Up Question 2: So, once you've burned your 3 Fastpasses--and assuming you are unsuccessful landing additional Fps, how do you handle getting on attractions? Do you simply "suck it up" and stand in 2-hour lines, do you default to the less popular attractions, or do you hope to wait out the crowd and hope the lines magically recede at some point?

More to come...I'm sure...also for the record, I have a new name for this Forum, but I've actually been in this community since 2001--back when navigating Disney was a WHOLE LOT easier.

thanks in advance for your help!

1) Of your original 3, they must all be in the same park. You can choose only 1 or 2 in that park if you like, then start looking for extras in the park you plan to hop to. There is a Fastpass sub-forum here that has fantastic threads that go into every.little.detail - definitely Check it out!

2) definitely have a plan of attack for getting on rides with long lines early or late when lines are shorter and shows, parades, more minor attractions midday when lines are longer. Personally I like to use FP from around 11-2 when lines have built, then you can do pool break, or look for extra FP, do a show, etc.

 

[Lothlórien]

How can you say "this absurd FP+ system" when you have never experienced it?

Most likely it is because when you hear what others have to say and you read about how vast the changes are, it seems absurd to some.


OP - I hated it at first and there are still some aspects I don't like, but overall it works very well. I really like not having to whip out my park pass, room key, paper passes for attractions, etc. The process is much more simplified. Sure, there are limitations, but it is all doable.

 

[jlovesee]

Having been going to WDW every year (usually multiple times) since 2000, I shared your grudge against FP+, when it was new to me I had some concerns too. However, overall, I like it better. You do not have to run ride to ride gathering FP, you do not have to be there at opening if you want a chance at the FP for the headliner rides. To answer your questions:

1)There have been some recent updates to FP, one of which is you can pre-schedule UP to 3 fast passes, the pre-scheduled ones I believe have to be for the same park. However, once you hop you can schedule of the first 3 FP for a different park.

2)I guess I am not sure what you mean by 2 hour lines, the only rides I have ever seen with anything like that are Soarin' and 7 Dwarfs, and yes usually those will not be available after you use your first three FP, but they wouldn't be available with the old FP system either usually after Noon or so. (and sometimes even earlier). Depending on time of day and time of year there will be options. I have gotten Big Thunder, Spash Mountain, Great Movie Ride, Tower of Terror, Star Tours, etc, later in the day.

Hope this helps.

Jennifer

 

[Nancyg56]

Yes there have been a lot of changes, and FP is one of them. I know there are deficits to the system for some, but for my family, it is a good system. WE plan out passes and still manage to hot a lot of SB attractions in decent time. I have yet to try to schedule a 4th, I never needed it. Perhaps now that you can use your MDE fo book it, I may on teh next trip.

THere is a thread that has a lot of info about the FP+ system, and if you take some time to learn how to tailor the passes for your family, you may be pleasantly surprised.

I will admit that I am a lackadaisical plane when it comes to the passes, I book em and make them work. I refuse to get worked up over attractions, so after deciding if we are arriving early or late, I book passes and then it's all good.

 

[hookedonears]

Don't worry about FP+. It actually works really well. Remember that you can book your 4th FP of the day on your phone after the first 3 are used. Availability can be tight for the big rides though, but then again it always could. What FP+ has negatively impacted are the rides that used to have smaller lines, because now everything uses FastPass. It's a minor inconvenience though if you have a good plan and get there at rope drop.

Been a while for us as well. Does DHS still have the FP+ tier system, or can we get FP's for both TSM and RR. We want to ride RR twice (first ride and last) and everything else once. Conventional wisdom would say that at RD, we race to RR stand-by and then have FP's for RR and TSM for later in the morning. If there is a tier system, how else can we accomplish our goal, without having to stand in 50+ minute standby lines and without having to race all over the park.

 

[BrianL]

Been a while for us as well. Does DHS still have the FP+ tier system, or can we get FP's for both TSM and RR. We want to ride RR twice (first ride and last) and everything else once. Conventional wisdom would say that at RD, we race to RR stand-by and then have FP's for RR and TSM for later in the morning. If there is a tier system, how else can we accomplish our goal, without having to stand in 50+ minute standby lines and without having to race all over the park.

DHS is still using tiering, so no TSMM & RnRC. I almost always get an FP for TSMM and also ride it at Rope Drop. The RnRC line wouldn't get too long on me doing that, though I know at HS these days things are strained (and I never go in the high season). So, yes, FP TSMM and ride RnRC at Rope Drop is a good strategy.

 

[hookedonears]

DHS is still using tiering, so no TSMM & RnRC. I almost always get an FP for TSMM and also ride it at Rope Drop. The RnRC line wouldn't get too long on me doing that, though I know at HS these days things are strained (and I never go in the high season). So, yes, FP TSMM and ride RnRC at Rope Drop is a good strategy.

Unfortunately, even if we race to RR and then race to TSM, there's still going to be a pretty good wait for TSM and we'll have had to race back and forth all over the park, which is what we're trying to avoid.

 

[BrianL]

Unfortunately, even if we race to RR and then race to TSM, there's still going to be a pretty good wait for TSM and we'll have had to race back and forth all over the park, which is what we're trying to avoid.

I didn't mean race to RnR first by any means. TSMM gets the much longer line s(we'll see how it goes with the 3rd track though). If you go to TSM at rope drop though, the line for RnR shouldn't get that long too early (it might these days, but in past experience it did not). At any rate, to minimize the running around, I say get a TSMM FP and rope drop RnR.

 

[hookedonears]

I didn't mean race to RnR first by any means. TSMM gets the much longer line s(we'll see how it goes with the 3rd track though). If you go to TSM at rope drop though, the line for RnR shouldn't get that long too early (it might these days, but in past experience it did not). At any rate, to minimize the running around, I say get a TSMM FP and rope drop RnR.

Hopefully the 3rd tract at TSM will alleviate some of the problem.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Don't worry about FP+. It actually works really well. Remember that you can book your 4th FP of the day on your phone after the first 3 are used. Availability can be tight for the big rides though, but then again it always could. What FP+ has negatively impacted are the rides that used to have smaller lines, because now everything uses FastPass. It's a minor inconvenience though if you have a good plan and get there at rope drop.

Echo this 150%!

 

[msmama]

Unfortunately, even if we race to RR and then race to TSM, there's still going to be a pretty good wait for TSM and we'll have had to race back and forth all over the park, which is what we're trying to avoid.

Give up on not wanting to run back and forth all over the park. Both my cousin and I commented on how, with the backlot/streets of America closed, it seems like you have to do a LOT of back and forth. Luckily it's small.

Don't know party make up but remember RnR has single rider line.

 

[Sevey13]

Can I be honest? Maybe it's just me reading your post in a particular way, but you really come across as very negative about the whole Disney vacation experience. Disliking things before you even try it, using hyperbole about lines, talking about having to just 'suck it up' and deal with it, etc. If you don't think you are going to have fun, why go?

The first step to Wilderness Survival and Enjoyable Disney World Trips is P.M.A. - Positive Mental Attitude!

 

[Shanti]

It took only a 3-year absence from WDW to put me totally out of the loop regarding all the new systems/practices. So, you will soon be getting lots of questions from me regarding our mid-July trip.

So, let's get started:

Random Question 1: So, with this absurd FP+ system (haven't used it, but know I hate it already ), am I only able to get a whopping 3 passes in the SAME PARK or can I, for example, book 2 at one park and another at a different park?

Random Follow-Up Question 2: So, once you've burned your 3 Fastpasses--and assuming you are unsuccessful landing additional Fps, how do you handle getting on attractions? Do you simply "suck it up" and stand in 2-hour lines, do you default to the less popular attractions, or do you hope to wait out the crowd and hope the lines magically recede at some point?

More to come...I'm sure...also for the record, I have a new name for this Forum, but I've actually been in this community since 2001--back when navigating Disney was a WHOLE LOT easier.

thanks in advance for your help!

1. You have to get the initial FP's for one park (you can choose to book 1, 2 or 3 in advance), but once in the park & after you've used your initially booked FP's you can add another FP even if it's in a different park, & you're not in that other park yet.

2. You can book more FP's, one at a time, after using your advance FP's. Availability will vary based on how crowded things are- but in general, don't expect easy access to headliners the same day via FP. Also, you don't have to use your FP's immediately. In fact, my preferred method is to rope drop & hit rides when lines are lowest, then after a few hours when the crowds are really building, switch over to FP+. EMH are very helpful, too, if you stay onsite.

3. Keep an open mind and don't hate anything you have no experience with. That's a good maxim for life as well as the parks.

 

[PrestonatorSR]

Can I be honest? Maybe it's just me reading your post in a particular way, but you really come across as very negative about the whole Disney vacation experience. Disliking things before you even try it, using hyperbole about lines, talking about having to just 'suck it up' and deal with it, etc. If you don't think you are going to have fun, why go?

The first step to Wilderness Survival and Enjoyable Disney World Trips is P.M.A. - Positive Mental Attitude!

Oh dear Sevey, I guess I will have to be a bit more clear about my sarcasm (I thought using a smiley face after "I know I already hate it" might signal my intended sarcasm; perhaps the wink emoji would have been more of a direct signal.) We have been to WDW 14 times and we love it. Of course, I know I have to give it a chance. But let's also be a bit real for a minute. The hyperbole about lines is not hyperbole. When you go in the height of summer, 100+ minute waits are VERY COMMON on the major attractions. That's why, in all seriousness, I'm concerned about FP+. In the pre FP+ days, we had a wonderful system to maximize Fastpasses so that we did not have to endure long lines. Now the FP+ system forces me to make decisions 2 months out and boxes us in to a limited set of choices. I'd like to have a little more flexibility than trying to determine what our collective preferences will be 60 days in advance. There's zero chance to go with the flow in this new system, it surely appears to me. Trust me, we will have fun--always have at WDW. But I don't think there's anything wrong with questioning or being concerned about the wisdom/impact of Disney's changing practices.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

That's why, in all seriousness, I'm concerned about FP+. In the pre FP+ days, we had a wonderful system to maximize Fastpasses so that we did not have to endure long lines. Now the FP+ system forces me to make decisions 2 months out and boxes us in to a limited set of choices. I'd like to have a little more flexibility than trying to determine what our collective preferences will be 60 days in advance. There's zero chance to go with the flow in this new system, it surely appears to me. Trust me, we will have fun--always have at WDW. But I don't think there's anything wrong with questioning or being concerned about the wisdom/impact of Disney's changing practices.

My two cents after about 1-3 trips per year since 2005 or so... FP+ is... DIFFERENT. It is BETTER in some respects, and WORSE in others.

I would just say that going with a truly open mind is the best thing to do IMHO.

Not to say that YOU are doing this, but if I had gone on my first FP+ trip filled with the dread that was rampant on these boards, I would have had entirely the wrong expectation set -- at least for my family!

You at least have the benefit now of hearing from many people who have had POSITIVE experiences with it to balance things out. And even some of the "shut it down because of FP+" crowd has softened a good deal.

I wish you an AWESOME first-trip-post-FP+!! I will NOT promise that you'll love it... just that maybe it won't be as bad as you'd expect.