Preach it Pete!

[slapwhitey]

Pete, loved your tangent on the show this week about fastpass plus. I strongly feel that these folks letting FP+ make or break a Disney vacation is getting out of hand.

Do I find the parks more crowded....absolutely. Just walking around the parks now can be a challenge. I don't think crowds and lines have anything to do with FP+ and MDE. I just think there are more people going to the parks. I personally don't find the attraction lines much different than prior to FP+. I have stated in the past and still feel that FP+ has been wonderful for us. We no longer have to be at the park at rope drop. If I so choose, with proper planning, I can hit 2 parks in the same day and hit the headliners with little or no wait. This was absolutely not the case in the past. I returned recently and had a problem getting a FP for Mine Train prior to my arrival. The night before I was going to MK while I sat in my hotel room I was able to get a FP for Mine Train for the next morning. I didn't have to plan 16 years in advance. I didn't have to sit by my computer at 12:01 the day the window to book opened in order to get these things. I have still been able to do the attractions I want to do with almost less planning than I had to before. I no longer have to run to the back of the Studios at rope drop just to wait in line for 20 minutes to get a FP while the rest of my family was able to ride attractions with little or no wait.

It is just my opinion but I personally feel the folks that are vehemently against FP+ are the folks that would sometimes take advantage of some of the loop holes the previous system allowed. Now before folks get all bent out of shape I realize this is a broad stroke and I realize not all WDW visitors fall into this category. I can only speak of my experiences with pre-fastpass, original fastpass and now FP+ that this has been the best way for me to experience the parks. I recently had a day on my own at Universal without front of the line and had to wait in the standby line for every attraction I wanted to experience. Some long, some short. You know what? Nothing happened. I didn't "waste" my day waiting in line. I just waited with everyone else and enjoyed the attraction as much as the family in front of me and the family behind me. It didn't ruin my day, it didn't make the park less enjoyable. I completely agree with Pete that society now wants things how they want it and when they want it.

Disney's only responsibility is to make these attractions available to you. Not on our terms, just available. I find FP+ to be a fair way to do this. I realize that off site guests don't get the same availability as on site guests and that AP holders (of which I am) have a different set of parameters. That being said I do not think it's unreasonable for on site guests to have these perks. I fully expect someone paying for a full vacation package to have some advantages to those not staying on a full vacation package.

Do I sometimes wish I could just grab a fastpass and ride an attraction back to back.....sure. However, it has not soured my view on the parks and WDW as a whole. My family and I have discussed amongst ourselves that if someone truly hates and despises the new FP+ and My Disney Experience they just aren't using it right. We love it.

Enough from me....I'm out. (Mic drop)

 

[shanejoseph]

Thank you!

 

[Kristina4109]

I made my first FP+ trip this June and we had no complaints about the new system whatsoever. I can see how some people just will not like this system. Got it.

But, I think there's probably a lot of folks out there who are upset about the new system because they don't want to have to relearn how to vacation. If someone has spent years and years going to WDW with legacy FP, they might be too set in their ways to even consider how to use FP+ to their best advantage.

I get it. I'm an old dog who doesn't like new tricks. I have a cell phone that you have to flip open like an old Star Trek communicator. But I have absolutely no issue or problem with FP+.

I'm a Californian and I would LOVE to be able to ride Radiator Springs Racers without waking up at 6:00am.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I couldn't agree more! I used it several times, most during peak season, and absolutely love it!

 

[kbelle8995]

I tried FP+ didn't care for it. At the end of the day It just isn't the way I like to tour. So you know what I didn't use it the next time I visited. Of course now I am going to Universal instead

And taking a break from Disney. Next year I will consider my options again.

 

[SoScary'09]

I tried FP+ didn't care for it. At the end of the day It just isn't the way I like to tour. So you know what I didn't use it the next time I visited. Of course now I am going to Universal instead

And taking a break from Disney. Next year I will consider my options again.

I appreciate your post, kbelle. This is all that people need to do!
If you're unhappy with the system, explore other options. Take a break. Try another theme park. (^ Such honesty and maturity is refreshing to read.)

I'm in the minority. I've never had a problem with FP+, never a single glitch. But I've read the horror stories, so I suppose that I'm neutral to the concept. FP+ saves walking time, it saves gopher time. I don't feel like I had to learn vast amounts of new information in order to use it. But have there been problems? You bet.

My family members on our last trip hated the bands. They hated everything about them. They wearing them. They hated scanning them. All of it. It took away from the "traditional magic," and yes, they're set in their ways.

FP+ has its shortcomings, but I don't think it's necessarily signaling The Great Fall of WDW. To me, it only feels like the parks have gotten more crowded. So if you're displeased with the system and have had enough, stop griping and take a break. Try Universal. Try a cruise. Your options are limitless. I, on the other hand, will be scanning my ridiculous magic band and hopping on Soarin' that much faster.

...Ok, maybe not that much faster.

Hope you have fun at Universal, kbelle

 

[Newsies]

Agreed! I've been thinking this since the beginning. All of my FB groups have members who post about how they hate FP+ and how it's making them not want to go to Disney and blah, blah, blah. To me, FP+ is a relatively simple and useful concept. It's great. Anybody who cries about how they hate FP+ because it "makes everything too planned" makes me roll my eyes. You don't have to use it. You don't even technically have to utilize it if you have one (though you should really cancel it for someone who will). You are not obliged to "overplan" your vacation, so calm down.

 

[Go Vols]

Used FP+ last May. I do not like it and the extended standby lines that it creates. We went in early May of this year and the lines were long while the crowds were low to moderate. Waiting 50 minutes in early May for rides like POTC and IASM was unheard of prior to the new system. I am taking a break and spending more time in Universal for the next couple of years. It is a lot less stressful.

 

[Tonyz]

Completely agree! I'm so sick of people complaining about FastPass+ like they just torn down the Castle or something. It works fine, and even if you can't get every ride you want, who cares? Aren't we supposed to be diehard passionate fans of Disney World? Isn't there a little more to this place than some rides? Stop being so concerned with what you might not be able to do and just enjoy being in Walt FREAKING Disney World!

 

[slapwhitey]

Completely agree! I'm so sick of people complaining about FastPass+ like they just torn down the Castle or something. It works fine, and even if you can't get every ride you want, who cares? Aren't we supposed to be diehard passionate fans of Disney World? Isn't there a little more to this place than some rides? Stop being so concerned with what you might not be able to do and just enjoy being in Walt FREAKING Disney World!

Can I get an AMEN!

 

[Hunterr]

I can't believe people would actually cancel their trip or decide not to come back because of FAST PASSES.

I personally don't like the new system, but it's not a deal breaker.

I wish they would have just made it strictly for in-park guests at centralized location(s) to reserve times. It's awesome that you don't have to run around to each individual attraction like the old way, but it sucks that you're competing with resort guests to book a fastpass.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I have never scammed the fast pass system.

I am not on Facebook moaning and whining.

It has changed the way I think about Walt Disney World and I have always been a huge fan.

Folks who are fans are welcome to their opinion, just as those who are not are welcome to theirs.

I would suggest that if you are tired of hearing complaints or the complaints make you roll your eyes, then maybe you should stop reading the threads where people are discussing this.

I have voiced my opinion that I am not a fan of this.

I'm happy if it works for you. It doesn't for me.....and that's my opinion.

 

[SoarinSC]

Completely agree! I'm so sick of people complaining about FastPass+ like they just torn down the Castle or something. It works fine, and even if you can't get every ride you want, who cares? Aren't we supposed to be diehard passionate fans of Disney World? Isn't there a little more to this place than some rides? Stop being so concerned with what you might not be able to do and just enjoy being in Walt FREAKING Disney World!

Hear Hear! I like the new system...it's made my visits smoother...so no complaints from me.

 

[tjevans]

You don't have to use it. You don't even technically have to utilize it if you have one (though you should really cancel it for someone who will). You are not obliged to "overplan" your vacation, so calm down.

First, a disclaimer. I haven't experienced FP+, and I don't have a trip planned anytime in the foreseeable future, so as my father would say, I don't have a dog in this hunt. So, consider these the observations of a neutral third party.

You're right, you don't have to use it. You also don't have to go on any rides or see any shows at WDW. You can just walk around. You will have a much different experience than those who do use FP+ or those who do go to rides and attractions.

Saying you don't have to use it is false. If you want to get the most out of your trip (which, I would posit, to most people means the most attractions with minimal waits), you do have to use it.

Now, I have not gotten yet to Pete's comments in the podcast (I arrived at work just as he was about to start), but from what another said, I take it he said something about what I call the microwave mentality--people wanting what they want and wanting it now. It is true that is a societal problem. But it is also true that Disney, through it's implementation of fastpass, has trained--maybe not explicitly, but trained nonetheless--guests to tour in a certain way to get the most out of their trip. Complaints are to be expected.

On top of that, by opening the FP+ window at 60 days for onsite guests as opposed to 30 days for offsite guests, Disney has, for the first time, really differentiated between onsite and offsite guests. Note, that I don't have a problem with this because I think staying on site should give you some type of perk. Before, there may have been EMH, but there has never (that I'm aware of) before been an advantage (during normal park operating hours) to staying onsite as opposed to offsite.

While I am glad that some guests are able to get same day or night-before FP+ for headliners, you have to admit that is the exception rather than the rule. Before, if I was staying offsite and you were onsite, and we arrived at the same time at the admission gate, we had an equal chance at getting a fastpass for a given attraction.

 

[Dizzytime]

I have never scammed the fast pass system.

I am not on Facebook moaning and whining.

It has changed the way I think about Walt Disney World and I have always been a huge fan.

Folks who are fans are welcome to their opinion, just as those who are not are welcome to theirs.

I would suggest that if you are tired of hearing complaints or the complaints make you roll your eyes, then maybe you should stop reading the threads where people are discussing this.

I have voiced my opinion that I am not a fan of this.

I'm happy if it works for you. It doesn't for me.....and that's my opinion.

Yeah, not a fan either. There have been soooo many posts, polls, etc about FP yeay or nay that I think it's a dead horse by now. On the other hand it's still a topic that's posted, and I just posted my opinion again, too so...ha! who's to say? right?!

That reminds me to mention what a good board/forum this place has turned out to be. I'm liking it more and more as the years go by, and really appreciate all of the leeway the mods give in the back-and-forth, especially lately. Thanks DisneyKevin et al.

 

[DisneyKingpin]

You can't teach old dogs new tricks.

 

[DisneyKevin]

You can't teach old dogs new tricks.

Sure you can and any number of other cliches.

Doesn't mean they have to like it.

New does not necessarily equate to "better".

 

[Kristina4109]

Very true. However, I'm going into it with this attitude: I love Walt Disney World. Even though I live within easy driving distance of Disneyland and love going there as well, I can't forget or give up my first love.

I can A) decide that FP+ and all the changes are too much and will destroy my magical place and stop going or B) realize that Disney is not going to backtrack and pull the plug on FP+ after investing so much money into it, try my best to make the best of it, and still enjoy that magical place.

I chose B. My June trip was wonderful. (Despite awful humidity - 19 years of Disneyland's blessed dry heat has spoiled me.) At no point did I think, "this FP+ is ruining my vacation" or "I'm not having as much fun as I used to."

That's just me and my opinion, of course. I realize that for some people, these changes are just too much of a hassle and they're not going to have a good time at WDW anymore. I'm not trying to tell them that they're wrong. I'm just respectfully disagreeing, from a personal standpoint.

 

[Disney4Shaw]

Much of this boils down to the attitude you choose to have during your vacation or day in the park. You may or may not like the changes, but whether you let them spoil your fun or not is up to you. If you are "over it" and need a break from Disney World, OK, but I'm still going.

 

[DisneyKevin]

If you are "over it" and need a break from Disney World, OK, but I'm still going.

As it should be.