Planning not as fun anymore

[TiszBear]

I agree OP, I hate all the planning that has to be done so I decided for my trip at the end of September, I'm not planning anything. I don't understand why the changes other than to do updates but where is the fun of just going and experiencing Disney. Why plan every minute of your vacation? To the few people I have met who love the new FP+ and all the planning with ADR's to me they are missing out on the little experiences that happen. As I said why plan ever minute of a vacation, the purpose of a vacation is to enjoy a place to relax and reconnect with family and friends.

I have a few other things to say about this whole new "regime" for WDW but I will keep my opinions to myself as I am in the minority.

 

[mort1331]

I don't think I'm one of the few, just on this thread. I like the new system, it gives lots of flex to my day. If those who like the old style would remember if you wanted TSM and were not at RD, then you either waited in line or if there were any FP left it was for late at night. Well if you think the Frozen princesses or Mine Train would be any different then try to see the princesses when they were at Norway. Remember if you don't use your FP+ you can still go old school and wait in line.
The new app is a blessing for families with young ones, you can adjust on the fly, child acts up or is tired, change the venue or time. If you miss your time, your not SOL you still get that unused FP to use either at a later time same ride or new ride.
Ive been able to try out the system from when the trials first started, and it keeps getting better. Cant wait to see what else they come up with.

 

[BigAlsGal]

I really enjoy making my ADRs. Those aren't anything new to FP+. You've always had to schedule most of the popular ones 180 days out.

I wasn't sure about scheduling rides at first...but....I know what I want and like to ride. All I have to choose is 3. One around 11. One around 12:00. Leave space to take an afternoon break. Dinner around 6. And one ride in the evening. Easy peezy. I don't have a lot of things on my must do list so that probably helps.

I think the only people I feel bad for are first timers. They don't know what FPs they should and shouldn't schedule. They probably don't know mickeys philharmagic is practically walk on. They don't know Peter Pan is always a mad house. If they aren't doing their homework they really miss out.

All in all I think it's a decent system.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't think I'm one of the few, just on this thread. I like the new system, it gives lots of flex to my day. If those who like the old style would remember if you wanted TSM and were not at RD, then you either waited in line or if there were any FP left it was for late at night. Well if you think the Frozen princesses or Mine Train would be any different then try to see the princesses when they were at Norway. Remember if you don't use your FP+ you can still go old school and wait in line. The new app is a blessing for families with young ones, you can adjust on the fly, child acts up or is tired, change the venue or time. If you miss your time, your not SOL you still get that unused FP to use either at a later time same ride or new ride. Ive been able to try out the system from when the trials first started, and it keeps getting better. Cant wait to see what else they come up with.

I tried to adjust things on the fly in feb and it wasn't possible. No other options for my current FP time, no other times for my current FPs. Utterly denied and it was just me!

I got a beer in Epcot and just walked around, looking and chatting with CMs instead. Didn't want to do what I had picked and didn't want to stand in the standby lines.

 

[Longhairbear]

We use our points in CA instead of FLA the last 4- 5 years, but if we decide to go back to FLA we probably won't use FP+, the bands, or MDE. We rarely used FP before, and have never done rope drop. We are sure the new system is something we don't need, but if not using it impacts our vacation in a negative way, we simply will not go back. In that case we'll use our DVC in FLA as a home base to see the rest of FLA., or to just stay at our resort and relax.

 

[McCrae]

I completely agree with the OP.

My LEAST favorite thing about the whole FP+ is being on my phone alot of the times while I'm at the park. My kids still nap, get cranky, etc. So we have to change FPs around. I feel like I'm always on the phone, waiting for the slow internet connection (I usually abandon their wifi and just use my 3G) and wait for the glitchy app to load, etc.

I really dislike family time when someone is on the phone, and now that someone is me

We've also abandoned ADRs for this upcoming trip. With FPs scheduled, I simply can't be tied to a dining schedule as well.

Don't see how the new Fast pass + could make things worse? Under the old system you couldn't swap FP's. The new system appears to give you the flexibility you need.

 

[keishashadow]

We decided to book a trip to Disney World Jan 9-16, 2015 and we used to get so excited for the trips but now with having to plan the whole trip ahead of going. Tonight we are struggling to decide what ADRs to book and I think it takes away from the whole trip now. We have to plan all our rides, all our dining and all of our days months ahead of the trip. With the new dining rules if you change your mind about a park or it rains you can get charged for cancelling after the 24 hour rule. We used to plan a little and wing it but that is impossible now. Disney is our favorite place but we have started planning other places for vacations becasue we don't want to be sick of the trip be fore we go.

I know it sounds like whining but I am wondering if anyone else feels this way. Please don't flame me, I still love Disney and will forever but I think they are taking a lot of the fun out of the experience

thanks letting me vent a little

Judy

I did my share of venting about the new system after participating in January where we experienced ridiculously long return lines. May/June trip this year was much better! Even able to get 7DMT FPs for opening day, although it took 3 hrs lol.

Was shut out of dinner for BOG last two trips @ 180 days, disappointing since it was very good for dinner.

imo the cancellation policy for dinner appears to be freeing up more relatively last minute dining opportunities. LeCellier & CA Grill and MK venues for party nights show availability for dates I've checked this year well past the 180 day mark.

 

[mouseclick1]

I was doing OK with my planning for my July 8-15 trip, until Disney changed their EMH hours around and completely eliminated all EMH evenings at MK during my visit. Disney made these changes less than two weeks before my trip. Not okay when Disney sets up a system that encourages you to play way in advance. It made the last minute changes that I was able to make very frustrating, which is not how you want to begin any vacation. Along with several other things that took place during the trip, I decided it's time to skip a year or two to WDW.

 

[BabsBunny]

I haven't minded the new system with the two trips my husband and I have taken with the bands and FP+. It worked out great. BUT we are going in January with four 18-21 year olds. Seeing that DH and I won't be going to the parks every day, maybe I'll pick two days and make FP+ for all of us together and let them figure out the other days.

 

[disney_bob]

I absolutely agree. Our trip next month is the first with FP+ and I really disliked planning out my fastpasses this far in advance.

That being said: nobody is forcing you to plan anything. Just like trying to walk up to that fancy new 5 star restaurant in your nearest city on a Saturday night at 7pm - you should expect to wait for a popular attraction if you don't make a reservation.

What would you rather do? Plan and be tied down or wing-it and wait or potentially not do something you wanted?

 

[sweetdana]

I think the fp broke the fun in planning for us too. The adrs was fun the planning on parks okay, but unless you decide what time you will get to and leave the park, ahead you will end up in too long of lines. In April, we ended up skipping the day at mk, due to just getting up to late and missing fp .. We were not interested in skipping snna+Elsa, sm and , tm, and the options left at 11 .. Made us go to pool.. We knew we were going to miss our last one with transportation time.

I am not looking forward to picking the rope drop and evening days 2 months in advance for my dd2... It is tough cause at 2 pm you have your fp .. Boom kiddos sleeping, and your options left no longer include 1st choices.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I have a love/hate relationship with My Disney Experience.

I love the fact that we can finally experience Toy Story Mania with being at rope drop.

We don't book any ADR's ahead any more.... been there and done that!

We are about to enter the Fast Pass + time frame for our upcoming trip and we will plan some things but not many.

We love park hopping and we never really know what park we will be in at dinner time, but it doesn't matter. We will eat someplace.

Just go and enjoy being at Walt Disney World with minimal plans..... you are on vacation!

I also feel conflicted. And like you, I also love that now I can ride Toy Story Mania without setting my alarm early. Also, like you we're soon to enter the FP+ time frame-August 5th for arrival October 4th. Maybe I'll feel differently when I start trying to book FP+s. Some in our party are interested in FP+s for different rides than others.

 

[Longhairbear]

I'm reading online that if you don't have FP+ for Soarin, and the Frozen M&G you get a regular FP for the standby line. It is being tested out from what I can tell.

 

[DougEMG]

After going through and booking 4 weeks of FP+, I'd have to agree that it isn't fun. I basically just picked a park and booked something at 11, 12 and 1. Is that what I'm really going to end up doing, I have no idea. I'm wondering if I should have done some bookings for the evenings only...I miss the old system.

 

[McCrae]

We really like the new system and find that it's added a lot of value to our holiday and staying on site.

We plan our FP's around any dining reservations we make.

We don't spend all day in the parks and like to do other things.

We don't miss the scramble for FP's that occurred under the old system.

I can see how the system is not great for people who don't like to plan ahead, but for us it's almost perfect...could do with a few tweaks here and there.

 

[McCrae]

I think the fp broke the fun in planning for us too. The adrs was fun the planning on parks okay, but unless you decide what time you will get to and leave the park, ahead you will end up in too long of lines. In April, we ended up skipping the day at mk, due to just getting up to late and missing fp .. We were not interested in skipping snna+Elsa, sm and , tm, and the options left at 11 .. Made us go to pool.. We knew we were going to miss our last one with transportation time.

I am not looking forward to picking the rope drop and evening days 2 months in advance for my dd2... It is tough cause at 2 pm you have your fp .. Boom kiddos sleeping, and your options left no longer include 1st choices.

I don't see how you are in a worse position because of the new system.

Under the old system if you arrive late in the parks their was a good chance you would not get a FP for the ride you wanted.

When we used FP's we always have them starting later in the day... That way if we decide to get up later we can without missing our FP's send god same time if we wasn't yo get up early we can go to the parks send get on the rides with minimum wait times and know that we have FP's we will use later.

To me it's a win win

 

[granmanh603]

Well we went with DD family in July and had to coordinate with her family. Worse was had to have AP added to band...or so we thought after 35 min at GS. Next AM didn't work another 1hr in MK at special place in side park that could fix it.. tried to do it inbetween FP+ times but took so long the CM gave us a unattached FP+ and we did finally meet up with other half of party and get to ride 7DMT. MB worked at few days kinda at entry but then stopped so we just skipped parks and gave up. Have to deal with it now for Oct. As for getting more FP+ in after noon... yeah sure if you want whats left that you could mostly walk on anyway. At MK finally had to wait for 45 to do POC, the only good thing is getting to ride TSM but we used to do that anyway because we go early to parks. Maybe had to book later FP+ but then the parks are crowded. What we noticed is early in day less crowded and after 11 it starts to grow in crowds. It just really is not fun anymore...We have been going for 14 years now 2X a year and have done everything and really do no want to wait on a long standy by line to do anything. At least in Oct we can wander around F&W until they start do FP+ for the food lines! This is the first time I am not looking forward to going and dealing with all this.
As I have said before we were the people who like to just go out and pick a bus day of.
I can see how some like this but for us is is spoiling the experience.

 

[castle1]

And, I don't like the fact that all of the park passes have to be purchased before you can make fastpass choices. In order to get the more popular rides, this would have to be 60 days out. What if someone in the party decides not to go or can't go or whatever! This happens when you are dealing with older children and adults who might be coming along. We usually bought our park passes when we got there.

 

[Jennasis]

I'm okay with FP+ in theory...I am NOT okay with MDE. Not the app, not the site. Not at all. Disney's IT infrastructure is a joke. I've had to make calls to IT...CALLS TO IT!...to fix issues with my vacation plans caused by system glitches (and one thing a member of our travel party did).

I did not enjoy scheduling FP+. It felt like I was taking the SAT's. Completely stressful. I kept trying to calm myself by saying I could (hopefully) change thing if I needed to once in the park...with the exception of some headliners (7DMT, TSMM, Soarin etc). Plus the entire system crashed about 10 minutes into my scheduling (at 1am no less...which was after waiting an hour at midnight for the site to open).

Here we are a year later and there are STILL major glitches and issues.

 

[Simba's Mom]

And, I don't like the fact that all of the park passes have to be purchased before you can make fastpass choices. In order to get the more popular rides, this would have to be 60 days out. What if someone in the party decides not to go or can't go or whatever! This happens when you are dealing with older children and adults who might be coming along. We usually bought our park passes when we got there.

And what if you're dealing with a child who's borderline height so she may or may not be eligible? I asked on another board about that-should I make FP+ for her if she's n-o-t q-u-i-t-e 40" now, so she may or may not make it. If she doesn't, I asked, will they give her another FP+ or does she just lose 3 that day and just get 2? No one could answer me. So I don't know whether to FP+ BTMRR for her or play it safe, and get the third FP+ for another ride I'm sure she'll be eligible for.