OK, just got back 3-22 loved FP+ and Magic Bands

[rastuso]

FP+ just DOESN'T bother some people like it obviously bothers you. Why does it matter? It's THEIR vacation and if they had a good time, they had a good time. What more do you want?

Again, I am in search of the positives of FP+. I keep reading people loving it, but when pushed for examples, it ALWAYS boils down to the same things that don't really matter to me, or the vast majority of non AP visitors, and of course one ride on TSMM after a nap.

All these FP+ lovers have GOT to have at least one good reason that is good for the average visitor, such as myself, thinking of a very short, likely 1 day at WDW trip, in the Fall.

-Jaosn

 

[Magpie]

I still read your response and see that FP+ did not improve your day at all, except for the obligatory mention of napping and then riding TSMM (really, again!?! Am I on Candid Camera?)

You seem to be someone who chose not to use FP- much, and do choose to use FP+. As such, you think FP+ is the reason for the things you are doing, when, for the most part, it is not.

-Jason

I didn't use FP much in the past because it wasn't necessary in the morning and because it wasn't available in the evening.

FP+, on the other hand, IS available in the evening, at the park of our choice. That's why we use it!

We went from rarely using FP, because it was rarely available to us, to using FP+ every day of our vacation. Thanks to FP+, we have more choice when it comes to what rides we can ride in the evenings.

There's no downside here... for us. Like I said earlier, your mileage might vary.

Please stop insisting I'm wrong, just because you aren't happy with FP+. My experience and opinions are just as valid as yours. I'm allowed to like FP+, and it doesn't mean I'm mistaken, stupid or deluded.

 

[pad406]

Please stop insisting I'm wrong, just because you aren't happy with FP+. My experience and opinions are just as valid as yours.

What works for one may not work for everybody, and does not negate other's concerns, BUT it works for them. So a happy customer

 

[Magpie]

Again, I am in search of the positives of FP+. I keep reading people loving it, but when pushed for examples, it ALWAYS boils down to the same things that don't really matter to me, or the vast majority of non AP visitors, and of course one ride on TSMM after a nap.

All these FP+ lovers have GOT to have at least one good reason that is good for the average visitor, such as myself, thinking of a very short, likely 1 day at WDW trip, in the Fall.

-Jaosn

If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you, and there's nothing anyone can say that you'll consider a "good reason". It's not our responsibility to convince you.

Your touring style is different. You want different things. Whatever the reason, there's likely nothing about the current state of affairs that will make you happy. That's okay! There's nothing in this world that guaranteed to make everyone happy (except maybe baby platypi... who doesn't love their adorable fat tummies and chubby little duck bills?).

I don't know if you represent the "vast majority of non AP visitors". Maybe you do... or maybe you don't. There's a poll on this page that seems to indicate most recent visitors are happy, and certainly Disney's not suffering from a lack of attendance.

Honestly, if I was in your shoes, I'd reconsider that one day Disney trip next fall. Maybe Universal will be more to your taste and a better use of your vacation dollars.

 

[JanaDee]

Please stop insisting I'm wrong, just because you aren't happy with FP+. My experience and opinions are just as valid as yours. I'm allowed to like FP+, and it doesn't mean I'm mistaken, stupid or deluded.

Please stop insisting others are wrong just because you are happy with FP+. My experience (and others) and opinions are just as valid as yours. I'm allowed to dislike FP+ and it doesn't mean I'm mistaken, stupid or deluded.

See what I did there?

 

[Magpie]

Please stop insisting others are wrong just because you are happy with FP+. My experience (and others) and opinions are just as valid as yours. I'm allowed to dislike FP+ and it doesn't mean I'm mistaken, stupid or deluded.

See what I did there?

Yeah, I see... except I didn't say "Rastuso" was wrong. I answer the questions posed and explained why *I* liked FP+ and why it worked for my family. I said if Rastuso didn't agree, that was fine. Everyone has different touring styles.

Rastuso responded by going, "Omigawd, naps and Toy Story AGAIN? I don't care about that. Gimme a REAL reason!"

Slight difference there...

 

[bklyn119]

Hi. I'm a long time lurker; thank you everyone for your insights and for your help in planning my vacation.

Brief question:

We're a family of five staying offsite. If we rope drop at Hollywood Studios, can I pick three fast passes for the family at Magic Kingdom while they are doing their standby thing? Or do I have to be physically in the park in which I am selecting my fast passes?

Thanks in advance.

 

[seus-mouse]

Thank you all for the important info. I've read through here more than once to began putting our FP+ strategy together.

Forgive me if this has been answered already.

We're staying offsite, hopping, doing AK at rope drop every morning and getting our fast passes for the second park of the day...in your opinions, based on the observations that the FP+ kiosks are very crowded...would it be better to get our later day FP+'s as soon as we get in, or later AFTER we ride our early low crowd rides?

Has anyone seen a lull in FP+ kiosk lines? Could it have been because all the FP+'s were gone?

My DH has always been the FP runner and he and his flip-flops are hoping to make this new system work well in our family strategy.

Thanks all you fine folks,
and thank you OP, I'm glad you had a good time.

Holly

 

[FLchick415]

Again, I am in search of the positives of FP+. I keep reading people loving it, but when pushed for examples, it ALWAYS boils down to the same things that don't really matter to me, or the vast majority of non AP visitors, and of course one ride on TSMM after a nap.

All these FP+ lovers have GOT to have at least one good reason that is good for the average visitor, such as myself, thinking of a very short, likely 1 day at WDW trip, in the Fall.

-Jaosn

Well right there is your problem. It's not YOUR vacation, so why would it matter to YOU? It mattered to the person you asked.

You don't like FP+. That's fine. I understand. But some people do and they're not wrong for it.

 

[JanaDee]

OP, I forgot to add I'm glad you had a glitch-free trip.

 

[Magpie]

Thank you all for the important info. I've read through here more than once to get began putting our strategy together.
Forgive me if this has been answered already.

We're staying offsite, hopping, doing AK at rope drop all of 5 mornings and getting our fast passes for the second park of the day...in your opinions, based on the observations that the FP+ kiosks are very crowded...would it be better to get our later day FP+'s as soon as we get in, or later AFTER we ride our early low crowd rides?

Has anyone seen a lull in FP+ kiosk lines? Could it have been because all the FP+'s were gone?

My DH has always been the FP runner and he and his flip-flops are hoping to make this new system work well in our family strategy.

Thanks all you fine folks,

Holly

Have you found EasyWDW.com yet? He answers some of these questions in his cheat sheets: http://www.easywdw.com/category/cheat-sheets/

For instance, for the Magic Kingdom, he says:

It’s unnecessary to schedule your FP+ experiences first thing in the morning because there are so many choices and specific attractions don’t run out that quickly, but most guests should consider stopping at a recommended kiosk after the first three or four steps of their Morning Plan before long lines materialize. While Town Square Theater is recommended, bypass it first thing in the morning because lines there will be longer.

This post here, has FP+ kiosks in the Magic Kingdom sorted in order of Least Busy to Busiest: http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorized/magic-kingdom-cheat-sheet-day-1and-fastpass-kiosks-part-1/

I don't see where Josh has made a specific recommendation on when to visit the Hollywood Studios kiosks, but I'd think you'd want to hit them early, before the Toy Story FPs are gone. But pick a kiosk at the back of the park or in an inaccessible location (Josh has listed all the locations in his Cheat Sheet for Hollywood Studios).

I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time!

 

[AshleeH]

I'm glad to hear a good review of it for a change. I think this will be how our vacation pans out in October. It is what you make of it, and I'm looking forward to trying it. The time I (personally) will save being the "runner" for our family will be spent actually enjoying more time with them.

 

[seus-mouse]

Thanks, Magpie! You rock.


Holly

 

[rastuso]

If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you, and there's nothing anyone can say that you'll consider a "good reason". It's not our responsibility to convince you. Your touring style is different. You want different things. Whatever the reason, there's likely nothing about the current state of affairs that will make you happy. That's okay! There's nothing in this world that guaranteed to make everyone happy (except maybe baby platypi... who doesn't love their adorable fat tummies and chubby little duck bills?). I don't know if you represent the "vast majority of non AP visitors". Maybe you do... or maybe you don't. There's a poll on this page that seems to indicate most recent visitors are happy, and certainly Disney's not suffering from a lack of attendance. Honestly, if I was in your shoes, I'd reconsider that one day Disney trip next fall. Maybe Universal will be more to your taste and a better use of your vacation dollars.

Uhhhhh, yeah, well be staying at Universal, where money is spent on attractions, not RFID bands, and ride rationing systems. I'd love to do an E ticket run like I usually do, but Disney can't support that anymore, since they refuse to build new ones, as attendance keeps increasing.

-Jason

 

[rastuso]

Well right there is your problem. It's not YOUR vacation, so why would it matter to YOU? It mattered to the person you asked. You don't like FP+. That's fine. I understand. But some people do and they're not wrong for it.

I said me, or nearly any non APer. Most of the Plusses are really things you could do with FP. So the people aren't loving FP+, they are just loving things they now have to do, instead of actually ride something at a theme park.

-Jason

 

[Tasmen]

I said me, or nearly any non APer. Most of the Plusses are really things you could do with FP. So the people aren't loving FP+, they are just loving things they now have to do, instead of actually ride something at a theme park.

-Jason

Why do you keep coming into these threads? You say it is to seek 'answers', but the answers people give you, you simply ignore. You do not like FP+. That's fine. You do not have to. You cannot please all of the people 100% of the time.

Yes, FP+ is going to mean a change in the way people do things. It will mean a change in the way MY FAMILY does things. We were FP runners that got all we could through the day, used up what we could before we were done and then gave the others away to other people.

We absolutely will have to change how we tour, but am I sad about this? Not really. It's Disney... I will have fun no matter what. My fun doesn't have to be your fun just as your fun doesn't have to be mine.

 

[Tasmen]

duplicate post - deleted

 

[Robertfam08]

I'm in the trenches of planning our first trip. I've been watching the boards for months as all of the FP+ stuff has played out. Thank you for this thread, OP, I am happy to read a positive experience! Mine will be different than yours, but I still think FP+ is ideal for our family.

We will be a young family with three very small children on our first trip to the World. It would have been nearly impossible, or at least very stressful, for one of us to run around trying to collect fast passes for our family. Either one parent would be left with three little kids and two strollers or the entire family would have to truck it across the park fetching fast passes. No thanks. I'm also not interested in, say, the run to TSM with three little ones, and that is one of the few rides our entire family can enjoy at HS.

Most of our days will be spent touring in the morning, taking an afternoon break, and then returning in the evening to enjoy our FP+ choices and entertainment. No need to even hop. And in the parks that will be half-days for us, FP+ may not even be necessary…except maybe for TSM, which we will happily use in the morning. I'm aware that the changes don't work for everyone, but FP+ will be a godsend for us. We would not have utilized FP optimally otherwise, even though we would have wanted to. It just wouldn't have worked logistically for us.

 

[amcc]

Uhhhhh, yeah, well be staying at Universal, where money is spent on attractions, not RFID bands, and ride rationing systems. I'd love to do an E ticket run like I usually do, but Disney can't support that anymore, since they refuse to build new ones, as attendance keeps increasing.

-Jason

I have used the FP+ system recently with 4 kids and I have to agree with you. We enjoyed our trip but FP+ just did not add anything to our trip. It mechanically worked but that is it. And, knowing what FP- potentially allowed ALL of us visitors to do, I just don't understand how anyone can say that Disney has given any of their visitors anything (the afternoon TSMM FP an exception). They've taken away from ALL of us while Disney is trying hard to convince us that they've given us $1B+.

I can learn how work with FP+ and enjoy my different (lesser) vacations but I can't say that Disney has fundamentally improved the Disney-going experience for us.

 

[FLchick415]

Uhhhhh, yeah, well be staying at Universal, where money is spent on attractions, not RFID bands, and ride rationing systems. I'd love to do an E ticket run like I usually do, but Disney can't support that anymore, since they refuse to build new ones, as attendance keeps increasing.

-Jason

That's good! You SHOULD go where you feel you get the most value for your money. But don't talk down to people because they don't feel the same as you do. You ask questions, but apparently don't like the answers people give you because it's not the answer YOU wanted. I don't LOVE FP+, but I don't hate it. I never used legacy FP much to begin with, so FP+ does absolutely nothing to change the way I tour the parks. But, I'm able to go at low crowd times because I live in Florida. I know a lot of other people don't have that luxury.