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

[estherhead]

For us, we spent slightly more time in slightly) standby lines than previously, but they usually moved fairly quickly. HOWEVER, we also spent no time obtaining fastpasses. Under old FP, we often spent a good deal of time crisscrossing the parks to USE our FP, and time sending a FP runner to obtain them. It was nice not having to do that any more. I think most people just don't like change. To me, FP+ gives me a chance to rethink they way we tour. I see 'touring optimization strategy' as kind of fun. We had things down pat under the old system. The new system is an opportunity to shake things up a bit, and rethink. Maybe we rode a few less e-rides. Instead we slowed down a bit and spent a little more time appreciating things like the new HM queue.

We are here now.

I totally agree with this. I was generally the FP runner. And I would get cranky by the end of the trip while everyone else was happy as could be since they had sat in the shade a lot while I ran a mile from btmrr to sm.

Yesterday we stood in one 30 min line. And the kids were surprised they had to stand in line & whined a little since they are spoiled. But I was happy as a lark. We did EE, KS, PW, ITTBAB, KRR, & lots of other stuff at AK. And then TT, Maelstrom, & SE at Epcot. And we took an afternoon break. And the kids stood in one line over 20 min.

That is pretty much exactly what we would have done with FP- only I would have walked about an extra 3 miles.

 

[Danadanes]

Hi all! First official post -- found the boards after Googling around and ending up at the podcast on Youtube. Lots of good info. After more research than I generally put even into work projects, the kiddo and I decided to stay on-property (first time ever) and will be at the park during the last week of May, in order to make SWW. Very excited. My question is about FP+. Since we're just shy of 60 days out, I had thought we would not be able to make our online FP+ reservations until tomorrow...and, indeed, that is true on the website...but on the mobile app, it seems I have the option to make (some) FP+ reservations. Here's what's odd. I can make reservations for rides, but ONLY at Epcot. I'm free to choose any one from Tier 1 and any two from Tier 2 but, again, only at Epcot. None of the other parks are offered as an option -- not yet, anyway. Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks!

We have the Same weird Epcot thing!

 

[DSLRuser]

was the mid-day and evening standby waits. I'm not sure if FP+ has anything to do with this or not, but there were waits for rides that I have never experienced, even during summer visits. Examples include, but were not liminted to BTMRR, Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth, Maelstrom, ToT, .

I agree here. The stand by lines were much longer between say noon and 5:00pm then I can ever remember.

I got to a point where we would not be in the parks at those times. 9:00am to noon at one park, pool during the afternoon, then 5:00pm to close at another. Which is why Park Hoppers were such a big use this time.

 

[estherhead]

I agree here. The stand by lines were much longer between say noon and 5:00pm then I can ever remember. I got to a point where we would not be in the parks at those times. 9:00am to noon at one park, pool during the afternoon, then 5:00pm to close at another. Which is why Park Hoppers were such a big use this time.

This is our second day and I totally agree. Today we have fp+ from 2-5 and thank goodness. Mornings and evenings are fine but midday is crazy.

Also, off site guests situation is terrible. I wouldn't even consider a WDW trip right now without staying onsite. They have to let them use MDE. Even tho I'm onsite, I'm annoyed at Disney for making the haves and have nots currently. If offsite people could make same day FP+ that would be fine. That can be the advantage. But to make them stand in lines instead of an ap? Stupid.

 

[twebber55]

I was skeptical. Buy we loved it.

We were doing a last minute trip, so I didn't get to book my FP+ until the 1st day we got there.

The one thing I found, which is opposite of what a lot of people thought before trying the new system, is Park Hoppers are a must. The reason being, is since you only have 3 FP+ for a park, you end up going super commando, and just doing what ever rides have the least wait times. Also, since you can schedule your fast passes for what ever time you want, you can easily do one park in the morning all on stand by, and a park in the evening using only your fast passes.

The second thing I noticed, is out side of you 1st day of planning, it is useless to schedule FP+ for your entire trip. Because of what I mentioned above, we were constantly riding what ever had the least wait time. We walked by Under the Sea with Ariel at MK one night around 10:00pm and were able to walk on. Meaning I was free to change when I had a FP+ for that ride another day.

So, armed only with an iPhone 5, I was happily able to manage our FP+ and Dinning reservations with ZERO issues. Not a single mishap, no glitches, no technology errors.

I will add this. Because of the new system, I will never stay off site again. As long as you move your FP+ stuff around at least the night before, you can basically get what ever ride and what ever time you want. But the day of, its a crap shoot. That's when all the off site guests cram into the FP+ kiosks and take up the scrap left by resort guests. And those kiosk lines were horrible in every park.

I do not want Disney to add the ability to Park Hop and schedule FP+ at multiple parks. But I do think the 3 FP+ limit needs to be bumped up to 4.

Bottom line is, Disney did their homework. The new system is designed very well and it JUST WORKS.

my question to you is should i FP+ for my morning park or my evening park...kepp in mind most of my dinner ressies are around 6:30

 

[estherhead]

my question to you is should i FP+ for my morning park or my evening park...kepp in mind most of my dinner ressies are around 6:30

I will hopefully know the answer to that by the end of this trip. Do you normally take an afternoon break? And at what time? That's the important question. What time is your natural afternoon break?

Our FP+ started yesterday at 4:00 at our pm park which was perfect. We took a break from parks from 1-4:00. But today our first FP+ was for 2:00. We didn't take a break. Our morning park: MK was insane by 11-11:30. We didn't care as we ate at Crystal Palace at noon and then left for DHS. BuT had I been planning on on staying at MK until 3:00 I would have wanted FP+ from 11-2:00. Then a break and then dinner, a ride or two, and the nighttime show.

 

[Nezumi Fan]

So after the oddness with Epcot FP+ reservations being available a day early (but only Epcot), I was able tonight, right at 9:00 p.m. PST, to make FP+ reservations for all eight days of our coming trip this May 25-June 1 for Star Wars Weekend -- hurray!

I have to say, it was stressful. It's hard to know what you're going to want to do 60 days out. There's also...

• which park on which day?
• which park has Magic Hours?
• what about dinner reservations? show reservations? experience reservations?
• are the reservations too close together? can we make it across the park in time?
• should we leave one of the day's three FP+'s open for impulse?

So much to consider!

 

[rastuso]

So, to summarize another LOVE FP+ thread, we have:

1. Parks are insanely crowded, so you should abandon them for about half of their operating time every day.

2. You must go uber-commando, then waste hours park-hopping for best results. (Wait, FP+ was supposed to allow us to skip RD, and sleep in, and STILL get that coveted TSMM FP+)

3. It's really neat to slow down, and look at things, since we only get 3 important rides.

4. Standby lines are MUCH longer everywhere.

5. Off-site folks are screwed.

And FuzzyLogic says this thread is the beginning of the end of the FP+ complaining?

I still am BEGGING to get a true explanation of how anyone loves this

-J

 

[rastuso]

I know, it's like I'm the only one gettting mind altering drugs from Disney every day. How is ANYONE seeing all of this as even remotely positive?

-Jason

 

[Magpie]

So, to summarize another LOVE FP+ thread, we have:

1. Parks are insanely crowded, so you should abandon them for about half of their operating time every day.

Okay, we always took afternoon naps, regardless of whether the parks were crowded or empty, whether we stayed onsite or off, or whether we used FP+, FP- or no FP at all (our first trip, I'm not sure it even existed!).

Going nonstop from 9am to 9pm (or later!) isn't our idea of fun. The one time I tried it, my husband fell asleep on a bench in Animal Kingdom. Since we're going to sleep anyway, we'd rather sleep in beds.

2. You must go uber-commando, then waste hours park-hopping for best results. (Wait, FP+ was supposed to allow us to skip RD, and sleep in, and STILL get that coveted TSMM FP+)

I don't consider the way we do things to be "uber commando" at all. Our natural rising time is around 7:30 am. This gives us plenty of time for breakfast in our room, a shower and a stroll out to our car or the bus.

We prefer breakfast in our room (porridge with raisins and nuts) because we find greasy fried breakfasts don't make us feel good the rest of the day.

We tour for a few hours in the morning when it's cool and the parks aren't crowded, have lunch, then we have a nice nap, and return in the evening for dinner and more rides and the fireworks. It's a very mellow way to tour, even if we ARE there at rope drop (or shortly after).

3. It's really neat to slow down, and look at things, since we only get 3 important rides.

Actually, I like all the rides. Except maybe Stitch. We never hurried in the past, and we're not hurrying now. It used to be that if we went to our evening park, we went knowing that the FPs would be all gone and we'd be riding the "Anytime Rides" like the Peoplemover (which I love!). Now that we have FP+, I'm actually getting to walk into our evening parks and ride some of the big rides (like Toy Story Mania) in addition to our beloved "Anytime Rides". Pretty neat!

It was so cool riding coasters in the dark last December. I'm really looking forward to doing that again, in a couple weeks, when we go back.

4. Standby lines are MUCH longer everywhere.

From what I can see on the Wait Time apps, they seem manageable enough. The basic principles still apply - if you want to ride Everest with no wait, ride it in the hour before Animal Kingdom closes. Don't head straight for Spaceship Earth first thing in the morning, ride it in the evening after everyone's headed up to the World Showcase. Etc...

5. Off-site folks are screwed.

I can't comment on this, as I haven't stayed off-site recently.

These past few years, we've been staying onsite, and we love it! Mainly because of the awesome bus transportation from Pop Century, though. Nothing to do with FP+, though that's a nice little extra.

And FuzzyLogic says this thread is the beginning of the end of the FP+ complaining?

I wish that was true! I hate seeing so many people feeling miserable and angry. I don't tell any of my friends to come here any more, if they're planning a trip to Disney World. I direct them to EasyWDW, instead, where you can still get excited about your trip, find good tips for making the most of it, and not feel like their vacation is doomed before it begins.

I still am BEGGING to get a true explanation of how anyone loves this

-J

True? I think the OP gave you as true an explanation as they could. No one's lying to you. If you don't agree, that's fine.

Personally, I'm another person who loved FP+, both the concept and the reality as I experienced it last December. I'm not just messing with you, when I say that.

This is MY truth. Yours may differ.

 

[Lyndarella]

I have written this on several FP+ threads, and have received few comments. I was at WDW in Feb. I set all my FP+ before I left home. My problem was that every other day my MB said I had no FP+. I hesitate to re-visit WDW not because I can get only 3 FP+ per day, but because I may have NO FP+ at all, or at random times. (One day the MB started working later.) Every time I read how wonderful someone's trip was because of FP+ I wonder how it would have been for them if they were randomly told "you have no FP set." Am I the only one who's had THIS problem?

For all of us who actually used FP+ and didn't like it, maybe it would have been our best trip ever IF IT HAD ACTUALLY WORKED.

 

[Kate and Family]

I have written this on several FP+ threads, and have received few comments. I was at WDW in Feb. I set all my FP+ before I left home. My problem was that every other day my MB said I had no FP+. I hesitate to re-visit WDW not because I can get only 3 FP+ per day, but because I may have NO FP+ at all, or at random times. (One day the MB started working later.) Every time I read how wonderful someone's trip was because of FP+ I wonder how it would have been for them if they were randomly told "you have no FP set." Am I the only one who's had THIS problem?

For all of us who actually used FP+ and didn't like it, maybe it would have been our best trip ever IF IT HAD ACTUALLY WORKED.

No doubt about it - from all the posts that I have read - when the app is glitchy it really sucks the magic from the visit. IT needs to solve this.

I am so sorry that you had such a bad experience.

 

[mom2rtk]

No doubt about it - from all the posts that I have read - when the app is glitchy it really sucks the magic from the visit. IT needs to solve this.

I am so sorry that you had such a bad experience.

But wasn't legacy FP glitchy too? No..... wait......

 

[Nola Girl]

I have written this on several FP+ threads, and have received few comments. I was at WDW in Feb. I set all my FP+ before I left home. My problem was that every other day my MB said I had no FP+. I hesitate to re-visit WDW not because I can get only 3 FP+ per day, but because I may have NO FP+ at all, or at random times. (One day the MB started working later.) Every time I read how wonderful someone's trip was because of FP+ I wonder how it would have been for them if they were randomly told "you have no FP set." Am I the only one who's had THIS problem? For all of us who actually used FP+ and didn't like it, maybe it would have been our best trip ever IF IT HAD ACTUALLY WORKED.

Mine for my April trip have been disappearing lately. One day they are there the next day they are not. I am told the system is "glitchy" but don't worry they are still there. I plan to take a picture of them on a day when they are all present and accounted for on my iPhone as proof to take with me! My husband is a great with guest relations so I am not one bit concerned about getting on the rides I booked.

 

[Lyndarella]

I ended up going at Rope Drop to ride what I wanted, and hoping for the best the rest of each day. Next time I will carry a print-out of my set FP+s, as someone on another thread suggested. My trip was still magical, because I've seen most of it before and will be sure to go there again. I am afraid for first-timers and those who wait several years between trips, to have to deal with this mess. This was my first solo trip, so I was able to be flexible. None of the other people I have ever gone with would not have tolerated this well.....

 

[Magpie]

I have written this on several FP+ threads, and have received few comments. I was at WDW in Feb. I set all my FP+ before I left home. My problem was that every other day my MB said I had no FP+. I hesitate to re-visit WDW not because I can get only 3 FP+ per day, but because I may have NO FP+ at all, or at random times. (One day the MB started working later.) Every time I read how wonderful someone's trip was because of FP+ I wonder how it would have been for them if they were randomly told "you have no FP set." Am I the only one who's had THIS problem?

For all of us who actually used FP+ and didn't like it, maybe it would have been our best trip ever IF IT HAD ACTUALLY WORKED.

Yes, we did have this problem, but a castmember helped us on the first day, and advised that before we left our hotel room each morning we should take a picture of our FPs with our cellphone. (We didn't have access to MDE on our phones, just on our laptops, which we obviously wouldn't bring to the parks.)

After that, whenever we occasionally got the blue circle o'death, we'd just pull out our cellphone, showed the castmember at the entrance to the ride the picture from that morning, and say, "See?"

Every single time, the castmember waved us through without any fuss. So, we weren't inconvenienced by the slightly flaky magicband-to-MDE connection at all. (Especially since we'd be carrying our phones anyway.)

I'm hopeful that we won't need the photo this trip, but we'll still take one anyway.

 

[glamdring269]

After that, whenever we occasionally got the blue circle o'death, we'd just pull out our cellphone, showed the castmember at the entrance to the ride the picture from that morning, and say, "See?"

Every single time, the castmember waved us through without any fuss. So, we weren't inconvenienced by the slightly flaky magicband-to-MDE connection at all. (Especially since we'd be carrying our phones anyway.)

Seems like a good way to get some extra FP+ in the future... (I'm joking... sort of.)

 

[tinkerpea]

I did FP + as part of the trial start of November for 2wks I loved it.....BUT that was because I was part of the trial! And even though I didn't pull any extra legacy FPs " because I forgot" lol I didn't need to!
Lines for FP was not very busy as it was a trial.

I love the idea of MBs however I have been watching very carefully the ride times from the app and what people have been saying and compared to other years the lines have gone up dramatically!
We have booked for June- July 4th wk this year and I only booked as we should have gone in May but hubby is now being deployed and the only time they would give him off was these 3wks .
I honestly thought with doing rope drop and having FP+ it would be magical and doable now I am far far from positive about this next trip, I fact I called up to see what the penalty would be to cancel my flights and if it was not for the fact we would lose £2400 on top of what it cost us to change the flights from May I would have cancelled,
But I have 3 excited boys and this coupled with losing money has made us decide this trip will be more of a pool trip " with rides" which is very sad since I could have gone anywhere for around £10,000 cheaper and sat by a pool!

 

[rastuso]

Okay, we always took afternoon naps, regardless of whether the parks were crowded or empty, whether we stayed onsite or off, or whether we used FP+, FP- or no FP at all (our first trip, I'm not sure it even existed!).

Going nonstop from 9am to 9pm (or later!) isn't our idea of fun. The one time I tried it, my husband fell asleep on a bench in Animal Kingdom. Since we're going to sleep anyway, we'd rather sleep in beds.



I don't consider the way we do things to be "uber commando" at all. Our natural rising time is around 7:30 am. This gives us plenty of time for breakfast in our room, a shower and a stroll out to our car or the bus.

We prefer breakfast in our room (porridge with raisins and nuts) because we find greasy fried breakfasts don't make us feel good the rest of the day.

We tour for a few hours in the morning when it's cool and the parks aren't crowded, have lunch, then we have a nice nap, and return in the evening for dinner and more rides and the fireworks. It's a very mellow way to tour, even if we ARE there at rope drop (or shortly after).



Actually, I like all the rides. Except maybe Stitch. We never hurried in the past, and we're not hurrying now. It used to be that if we went to our evening park, we went knowing that the FPs would be all gone and we'd be riding the "Anytime Rides" like the Peoplemover (which I love!). Now that we have FP+, I'm actually getting to walk into our evening parks and ride some of the big rides (like Toy Story Mania) in addition to our beloved "Anytime Rides". Pretty neat!

It was so cool riding coasters in the dark last December. I'm really looking forward to doing that again, in a couple weeks, when we go back.



From what I can see on the Wait Time apps, they seem manageable enough. The basic principles still apply - if you want to ride Everest with no wait, ride it in the hour before Animal Kingdom closes. Don't head straight for Spaceship Earth first thing in the morning, ride it in the evening after everyone's headed up to the World Showcase. Etc...



I can't comment on this, as I haven't stayed off-site recently.

These past few years, we've been staying onsite, and we love it! Mainly because of the awesome bus transportation from Pop Century, though. Nothing to do with FP+, though that's a nice little extra.



I wish that was true! I hate seeing so many people feeling miserable and angry. I don't tell any of my friends to come here any more, if they're planning a trip to Disney World. I direct them to EasyWDW, instead, where you can still get excited about your trip, find good tips for making the most of it, and not feel like their vacation is doomed before it begins.



True? I think the OP gave you as true an explanation as they could. No one's lying to you. If you don't agree, that's fine.

Personally, I'm another person who loved FP+, both the concept and the reality as I experienced it last December. I'm not just messing with you, when I say that.

This is MY truth. Yours may differ.

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

 

[FLchick415]

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?