Old FastPass vs FP+

[disney91]

Our first trip since FP+ next week and not really thrilled about the new system. We will take it in stride, but it is very difficult for our family of 7 to plan that far ahead and now most of the availability is late evening. Still looking forward to our trip, but will miss the old FP.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I'm in the same boat as the OP.

Our last trip was in Aug 2013, and used the old FP system (FP+ was in testing, but didn't affect us). For a few reasons, we haven't been back since, but we are now talking about a June 2017 trip.

From 2007-2013 we went to DW 7 times (5 onsite, 2 off). We knew the 2013 trip was going to be the last for awhile, which made the trip somewhat bitter-sweet. When we came home, I completely stopped all Disney related blogs/boards cold turkey; prior to this trip, I was on here multiple times/day getting the latest info and helping others and participating in good discussions (look at my post count!)

Now that I'm back, I feel like my entire mental binder of planning strategies is obsolete, and I need to start over like I did in 2007. Except, back then I didn't even know what I didn't know, so I didn't stress over not knowing. Now I know what I don't know, and also don't know if what I know is still correct! So now I am stressing!


I'm excited to be going back, but also sad knowing that the DW I remember is going to be so different! New MK hub. New rides. AK at night? Old rides gone. Frozen was just an adjective. And, of course, FP+. But, to quote Rafiki:

It is time.

My 15 year old is getting nostalgic for her youth (though she cried when I told her that American Idol is no longer there; she had been waiting for years to be old enough for it)
My 7 year old remembers our last trip, but just images mostly, nothing concrete, and really feels the need to see everything he sought of remembers.
My 4 year old is jealous he doesn't remember going at all! (We picked June 2017 to make sure he makes 44").

So, please look out for my questions to help me get caught up with everything Disney World, and hoping we all fall in love with DW all over again.

 

[elaine amj]

I'm in the same boat as the OP.

Our last trip was in Aug 2013, and used the old FP system (FP+ was in testing, but didn't affect us). For a few reasons, we haven't been back since, but we are now talking about a June 2017 trip.

From 2007-2013 we went to DW 7 times (5 onsite, 2 off). We knew the 2013 trip was going to be the last for awhile, which made the trip somewhat bitter-sweet. When we came home, I completely stopped all Disney related blogs/boards cold turkey; prior to this trip, I was on here multiple times/day getting the latest info and helping others and participating in good discussions (look at my post count!)

Now that I'm back, I feel like my entire mental binder of planning strategies is obsolete, and I need to start over like I did in 2007. Except, back then I didn't even know what I didn't know, so I didn't stress over not knowing. Now I know what I don't know, and also don't know if what I know is still correct! So now I am stressing!


I'm excited to be going back, but also sad knowing that the DW I remember is going to be so different! New MK hub. New rides. AK at night? Old rides gone. Frozen was just an adjective. And, of course, FP+. But, to quote Rafiki:

It is time.

My 15 year old is getting nostalgic for her youth (though she cried when I told her that American Idol is no longer there; she had been waiting for years to be old enough for it)
My 7 year old remembers our last trip, but just images mostly, nothing concrete, and really feels the need to see everything he sought of remembers.
My 4 year old is jealous he doesn't remember going at all! (We picked June 2017 to make sure he makes 44").

So, please look out for my questions to help me get caught up with everything Disney World, and hoping we all fall in love with DW all over again.

WDW is just as magical as ever. The awesome part about waiting so long is that you have SO many new, fresh discoveries!! The new stuff are by and large, huge improvements. You're going back to a place that is even more exciting than ever.

The hard part is - yes, your mental binder will need a complete refresh. My last BIG trip was in 2012. I'm still stuck on those strategies and have made several missteps in my short visits since. e.g. I keep going to Epcot late! In Dec 2014, I heard they were opening earlier, but it turned out they opened even earlier than I expected. Same for my March 2016 trip when again, I missed the tidbit about their early opening. And it's really challenging when you are so far behind the crowd.

As for FP+, there are incredible benefits to it. Yes, it's likely that a FP- super user won't get the same number of re-rides. But it is rather nice not to have to split off and send a FP runner. I was in DLR in 2015 and found myself missing a few elements of FP+ (even though we definitely were super users of their FP-). And magic bands are really magical

 

[bigbabyblues]

I posted earlier, but wanted to pop back in. I made our FP last night at 60 days out, and I didn't have any trouble getting what I wanted. One of them is 10 minutes later that I wanted, but that isn't a big deal to us. I used the website, and it was easy, didn't crash or anything, and went much easier than I thought it would.

 

[Princess_Kirky]

We went to WDW in November last year - during free dining. The parks were packed and I found it a little difficult to get FP+ for the rides we wanted even at 60 days out at midnight. This was so annoying - nothing for 7DMT, Anna & Elsa, MSEP. Being able to only get one park per day was also a downer as we like to hop around. I think this issue should be fixed with the 4/10 updates but it felt limiting. We ended up not even using two of our FP+ at Epcot because the park was so full we decided to go back to the hotel for pool time (last day of FW which we did end up going back to Epcot but in the evening when things were calmer). It would have been nice to choose two FP+ for a later time - though there wouldn't really have been much to choose from since the parks were just so full and nothing of value was even available - no thanks on a FP+ for Captain EO... If it had been the old system maybe we would have had a better chance of nabbing a Test Track before we left for the hotel. I also find the tier system annoying. You wouldn't have that issue with the old system. You could get a FP- for any ride and multiple in one day if you felt like it!

We recently went to DLR and it uses the old FP- system. Oh, man! Way better. I miss you FP-!!! We didn't have to plan ahead so much and we could get FP- for what would be considered top tier rides - multiple in one day! We had a group of 7 with some that didn't care for coasters so we could use their FP- to ride multiple times in a row. Yes, I had to be a runner and get the FP- but that was fine. I like the exercise. I know this can be difficult for some and could detract from this system. Another point, it was a chillier day so the line for Splash was 5 minutes, we would have wasted a FP+ on that if we had been with the new system. With the old system it is easier to decide which rides are worth getting a FP for. Touring Plans told me to get a FP- for Haunted Mansion on that day - didn't need it as it was also a 5 minute wait - skip that step and get a FP- for Indiana Jones, yes!

So basically, for us, imo, FP+ is not a +.... FP- we love you and miss you!

 

[Roobear77]

We love the new system. I hated having to spit up our group so someone could go run to try to pull FP. I love being able to change things on my phone, and my favourite part is getting past that second tapstile and pulling up MDE to bump up my next FP to what would have been an overlapping time. Gets up through more quickly, don't have to wait around in an area for the next FP window, and then we go on to get our 4th, 5th etc. I can honestly say on our last trip there were days we got up to 7 or 8 FPs without much planning.

 

[bcrook]

I'm in the same boat as the OP.

Our last trip was in Aug 2013, and used the old FP system (FP+ was in testing, but didn't affect us). For a few reasons, we haven't been back since, but we are now talking about a June 2017 trip.

From 2007-2013 we went to DW 7 times (5 onsite, 2 off). We knew the 2013 trip was going to be the last for awhile, which made the trip somewhat bitter-sweet. When we came home, I completely stopped all Disney related blogs/boards cold turkey; prior to this trip, I was on here multiple times/day getting the latest info and helping others and participating in good discussions (look at my post count!)

Now that I'm back, I feel like my entire mental binder of planning strategies is obsolete, and I need to start over like I did in 2007. Except, back then I didn't even know what I didn't know, so I didn't stress over not knowing. Now I know what I don't know, and also don't know if what I know is still correct! So now I am stressing!


I'm excited to be going back, but also sad knowing that the DW I remember is going to be so different! New MK hub. New rides. AK at night? Old rides gone. Frozen was just an adjective. And, of course, FP+. But, to quote Rafiki:

It is time.

My 15 year old is getting nostalgic for her youth (though she cried when I told her that American Idol is no longer there; she had been waiting for years to be old enough for it)
My 7 year old remembers our last trip, but just images mostly, nothing concrete, and really feels the need to see everything he sought of remembers.
My 4 year old is jealous he doesn't remember going at all! (We picked June 2017 to make sure he makes 44").

So, please look out for my questions to help me get caught up with everything Disney World, and hoping we all fall in love with DW all over again.

I felt the same way about losing all my planning strategies. The worst for me was adapting to a new rhythm. In the past, we would grab a FP for a favorite ride a few hours later, and then find fun ways to kill the time in between. We enjoyed the minor attractions as filler.


But now it is possible to ride all three FP in a little over an hour, and then there are no more. So we just look at each other and wait for the evening shows. It's not near as much fun to do the minor attractions. Plus we miss being able to ride our favorites multiple times with a FP.

With the tiers in Epcot, we skipped either test track or Soarin each visit.

We hop much more now too. If we burn out FP in DHS, we hop to Epcot for food and wait for Illuminations. And along with thousands of others, we hop to MK at night to catch parades and evening shows, because our FPs are gone.

We do ride the Little Mermaid more than necessary because its line is short.

We've still had fun. But Disney's plan to ration rides has been very effective. We ride about a third of the number of rides that we were able to do prior to 2013.

Best times for rides is still rope drop and park close. But even those are squeezed more now.

I think you will be surprised at how long some of the return lines are for FP+. For example, Peter Pan has a FP+ return line queue! I was shocked. I've had to wait close to 30 minutes for some FP lines. The one that always startles me is Spaceship Earth!

Off topic, but the buffets and character meals are so expensive now, that we save lots of money by avoiding them.

I did a July and October trip last year. Its definitely a different experience compared to 2012. We still enjoyed each other's company. You will have a good time.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

WDW is just as magical as ever. The awesome part about waiting so long is that you have SO many new, fresh discoveries!! The new stuff are by and large, huge improvements. You're going back to a place that is even more exciting than ever.

Maybe I've missed something but what new stuff has been opened since 2013 that are "large, huge improvements"?

 

[bcrook]

Maybe I've missed something but what new stuff has been opened since 2013 that are "large, huge improvements"?

The hat is gone at DHS?

 

[3DisneyFanz]

The hat is gone at DHS?

I'll take that. Of all the things gone at HS that's the only thing I won't miss.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I think it boils down to whether you are content to have your entire vacation planned out before you leave home and you're okay only riding the big ticket items once without a crazy long wait. If that's your style then FP+ is the system for you.

If you like to free flow vacation and decide what to do the night before or even that morning or even possibly riding things twice or in the case of EPCOT the two big rides without crazy waits well then FP+ isn't for you.

 

[Shanti]

I think it boils down to whether you are content to have your entire vacation planned out before you leave home and you're okay only riding the big ticket items once without a crazy long wait. If that's your style then FP+ is the system for you.

If you like to free flow vacation and decide what to do the night before or even that morning or even possibly riding things twice or in the case of EPCOT the two big rides without crazy waits well then FP+ isn't for you.

If you arrive at rope drop you can ride many good rides, even multiple times, without "crazy long waits". This is easier at MK, of course, where there are more rides.

Some posters talking about the changes are referencing bigger crowds & longer waits: most of that is due to the fact that WDW has had many more visitors in the past 2-3 years than it did in years prior, plus, the "insiders' season" of autumn/early winter is now a very popular time to go. More people equal longer lines and waits.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

If you arrive at rope drop you can ride many good rides, even multiple times, without "crazy long waits". This is easier at MK, of course, where there are more rides.

Some posters talking about the changes are referencing bigger crowds & longer waits: most of that is due to the fact that WDW has had many more visitors in the past 2-3 years than it did in years prior, plus, the "insiders' season" of fall is now a very popular time to go. More people equal longer lines and waits.

While exact numbers aren't released the companies that track attendance don't really think that the attendance numbers are all that earth shattering and are really just beating numbers from the 90s. You're also only talking about increases of 2 to 3 percent so it doesn't explain standby times going at a significantly higher rate.

I really think the only thing you really need to know about FP+ is that after all of the money spent developing the whole MDE and FP+ system only one park is using it and the others are fighting it off at every turn.

 

[bcrook]

"things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth."

There is a great deal of fiction being shared. It does make for good entertainment.

 

[Shanti]

While exact numbers aren't released the companies that track attendance don't really think that the attendance numbers are all that earth shattering and are really just beating numbers from the 90s. You're also only talking about increases of 2 to 3 percent so it doesn't explain standby times going at a significantly higher rate.

I really think the only thing you really need to know about FP+ is that after all of the money spent developing the whole MDE and FP+ system only one park is using it and the others are fighting it off at every turn.

What "companies that track attendance" are you talking about? I hope you're not referring to online crowd calendar websites, which have been unreliable the past few years.

Do you go to the parks often these days and see the crowds for yourself?

 

[elaine amj]

Maybe I've missed something but what new stuff has been opened since 2013 that are "large, huge improvements"?

I guess I still find a ton of magic at Disney, even though I do miss some of the old things I used to love.

Since my March 2013 trip, there's 7DMT, the Star Wars fireworks, really nice new hub at MK (my nieces didn't even bother to use their Wishes FP+ since they happened on awesome 2nd row seats for the first MSEP just before it started- during the craziness of mid-March!), all the new shops/restaurants at Disney Springs, and if u are going later this year, the new Frozen ride and the AK Rivers of Light show. Also pretty sure Celebrate the Magic is new - the projection show in 2013 was slightly different. Didn't it have all the photos then? Plus new interactive queue at Peter Pan, new HM gift shop, a few new restaurants in the parks, Princess Fairytale Hall, and the new Festival of Fantasy parade.

Anyway, yes there have been some sad changes. But there have also been some good ones. Still, it's true - u can't tour the same way with FP+ that u could with FP-. We used to reride our faves multiple times too and now that's not really possible. And I still haven't managed to do both Test Track and Soarin on the same day (last couple of trips I was hopping and opted to save my FP for another park).

 

[3DisneyFanz]

What "companies that track attendance" are you talking about? I hope you're not referring to online crowd calendar websites, which have been unreliable the past few years.

Do you go to the parks often these days and see the crowds for yourself?

There are trade magazines that track these things and the numbers have been posted here many times over the years.

We haven't been in 6 months but last time we were there we really only experienced crowds in one park. However the other parks had lines at strange attractions despite parts of them being nearly empty. When we last decided to catch LMA the show was less than half full yet the Great Movie Ride had a 30 minute wait nearly the entire day. It's kind of interesting to consider rides that no one really cared about before drawing crowds now because people have to reserve something. In that regard the system does exactly what Disney wanted except based on our recent experiences they still can't push people into Stitch but I'm sure they'll figure it out sooner or later.

 

[Planogirl]

I can understand why people might enjoy having three prescheduled FP+ if they want to arrive later. That can be useful. However we are rope drop people and weren't "super users". We always got plenty of legacy fastpasses by just taking our time and enjoying the less popular attractions in between. Of course many of those less popular attractions have become steadily more crowded for many reasons.

I prefer legacy because of how simple it all seemed. MK isn't too bad as far as attractions go but it's frustrating to use our only useful FP+ at Epcot and then stand there looking at each other wondering what to do next. I go with people who can shop for a while but not for hours. DHS was almost as bad (and might be worse now) because of tiering and FP+ being gone for the few good rides still open. We had no issues with AK but for us that's more of a park to stroll around in.

It's just too much. Schedules and parties and extras and upsells. It's not my idea of a vacation when I have to deal with schedules every day at work. It was once easy to decide in the morning which park to visit and just go. I know that it can still be done but if we want to ride certain favorites it's not so easy.

Also I would schedule FP+ later in the morning until early afternoon and then you can possibly add more. It is still possible to do some things pretty easily first thing in the morning unless the new morning extra changes that at MK.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I guess I still find a ton of magic at Disney, even though I do miss some of the old things I used to love.

Since my March 2013 trip, there's 7DMT, the Star Wars fireworks, really nice new hub at MK (my nieces didn't even bother to use their Wishes FP+ since they happened on awesome 2nd row seats for the first MSEP just before it started- during the craziness of mid-March!), all the new shops/restaurants at Disney Springs, and if u are going later this year, the new Frozen ride and the AK Rivers of Light show. Also pretty sure Celebrate the Magic is new - the projection show in 2013 was slightly different. Didn't it have all the photos then? Plus new interactive queue at Peter Pan, new HM gift shop, a few new restaurants in the parks, Princess Fairytale Hall, and the new Festival of Fantasy parade.

Anyway, yes there have been some sad changes. But there have also been some good ones. Still, it's true - u can't tour the same way with FP+ that u could with FP-. We used to reride our faves multiple times too and now that's not really possible. And I still haven't managed to do both Test Track and Soarin on the same day (last couple of trips I was hopping and opted to save my FP for another park).

Sometimes time kind of runs together but I'll definately agree that the 7dmt is a significant new addition I just didn't recall it being a 2014 thing. As for the hub change I can't really get on board with all of the asphalt and concrete being an improvement. I know it can pack in more people but the look just isn't the same. Of course I'm also not likely to try and brave that area during MSEP and Wishes so kudos to your nieces for that one.

I do like the new look of Downton Disney but outside of the things that were always there it isn't much of a draw for us. I am really looking forward to the World of Coke though and I'm hoping it is very similar to the one in Atlanta in terms of exhibits. I do think it's funny that Pleasure Island was closed in large part because bars and clubs didn't really fit into the image Disney wanted at the time but the new plan has been to open up a lot more bars and restaurants. I guess as long as there is no comedy, dancing or Kungaloosh! then it's completely different.

 

[Shanti]

There are trade magazines that track these things...

What trade magazine?