Spontaneity at WDW Gone

[Angel Ariel]

And I am sorry that was your experience. I'm not trying to invalidate any personal experiences, I was responding to the poster stating it was "absolutely mandatory" to get FP at midnight at 60 days if you want A&E or 7DMT. If you state that something is "absolutely mandatory" then one example to the contrary disproves it.

I was actually planning on logging on at midnight and I got my days mixed up, so when I got the email I was concerned - due to these reports on the DIS of the NECESSITY of the midnight bookings. Turns out I didn't need to be worried.

Oh I know you weren't invalidating my experience, I guess I was just more getting to the point that - there's no way to know (for A&E and 7DMT specifically) if you *need* to get on at midnight or not. Some people have had success getting on later, but many have not. People booking over Christmas week had a lot more luck (from multiple posts I read here) than many people did over the less busy October and November times, so you can't really rely on crowd levels to determine whether or not midnight is necessary.

If A&E or 7DMT were something someone *really* wanted to make sure they did on their trip, and I were helping them plan, I would be telling them to be online at midnight at 60 days to book it. There's just too many variables to know when it is necessary to be online at midnight and when it isn't.

 

[Hokie2000]

Runners were NEVER required under the old system. I think some folks just like having the self appointed title of Runner.

Whoa, I responded to your first statement and didn't notice your second at first.

I guess you better try to scrub the DIS of any old references to FP runners. Like I've said multiple times - no aspect of a WDW vacation is a REQUIREMENT (besides paying the bill). Some people chose to get FPs for their whole party w/o having to have their whole party at the FP kiosk. This was a common practice. And now some of those people prefer that instead of doing that, they have FP+ prebooked. Why is this difficult?

 

[Hokie2000]

Not sure what existential point you are trying to make. Sure, lots of angst can be avoided by staying home. But how does that add to the discussion? Waiting for Ana & Elsa could become Waiting For Godot. Should we wait? Should we go? We must wait!

You missed my point entirely.

 

[JimmyV]

You missed my point entirely.

No. I got it. One can always reduce a debate to an existential impossibility. But what's the point?

 

[Money82]

Neither statement is true.

False

 

[Priory]

I was surprised how much spontenaity I had with FP+. More than I imagined. I regularly swapped times on my phone in order to go with the flow. There was more availability than I anticipated as well. Of course some maneuvers weren't possible but under legacy those same attractions would run out early anyway. I don't love fp+ but it was better than expected. Honestly the dining reservations were the spontenaity killers this trip.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

This is what I don't understand. If you like FP+ that's great, but why are people compelled to defend it with absolute falsehoods? If FP+ is fantastic, why not defend it with accurate information? By saying the FP+ does not require any more pre planning than Legacy, the credibility of the pp becomes questionable.

. What is so hard about saying: "FP+ is great. We love it. It does require a bit more planning. But that planning pays off in spades!" It is hard to read all the threads about "My 60 day FP date is approaching...HELP!" and not conclude that the level of pre-trip planning has increased. Ignoring that does erode credibility.

What is is hard a it recognizing that it is a) a choice and b) doing this earlier is not tantamount to increased effort generally speaking?

What is so hard abiut recognizing that all this pre-planning isn't "necessary" anymore than having what one poster calls an exaggeration of he if a FP runner?

ETA: what is so hard about remember the days where planning posts were non-stop?


Apparently it is so hard that the only response is "false" and "not true" thus invalidating the experience of others (taboo apparently unless it is in solidarity to condemn FP+). That makes the makes the credibility of the binary repsons see questionable.

People panicking over a midnight 60 day reservation date have gotten ... Freaked out by the paranoia condemners and I don't blame them one bit. Our 60 day window started for our next trip and you know what? The Ewrth continues to rotate on its axis. I'm not panicked or scared and this far the only pre-planning was a 10 minute phone call to book a Chase visa sale with QSDP. At the rate I am going, I may show up on the door step having done nothing and still get FP+ While sitting on our bed watching Stacey.

This paranoia induced by those saying OMG-it's so necessary and critical if you don't spend the MORE time that is required (not a reference to the marathon postings but the posters who are now insisting that it is a necessity if using the system), well--that is on you for creating that.

I refuse to freak out over a vacation or trip of any kind that will be just fine by taking a rational approach to it and not a "frenzied must line up at Best Buy in a tent 5 days early lest I miss the opportunity for a $2 television and Christmas is ruined" approach.

YMMV

But if you feel the need to stay up at midnight or 1am 60 days earlier, feel fee to do so, but please recognize it is your choice you make of your own free will and not necessity except to you[/] because your experience can indeed be invalidated if you insist OR imply that it is a status quo must do necessity. Because it isnt. And one or two attractions that book up does not a necessity make. (Again, not directed at Angel Ariel as she has given her final word that her experience we her own and I have moved on to the general statements being made.)

Heck--you can't even get a BOG FP until 30 days (Or 27 or whatever the magical number that isn't 60 is).

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

So now FP running is going to be disputed. Like that term hasn't been used about 5 bazillion times on this board?

I was the FP runner in my family, yes I CHOSE to go get FPs by myself because I knew the parks best and it was most efficient. Now I CHOOSE to use FP+, which I have found works well for my family and removes the self-inflicted burden of being the FP runner. Now that I'm not FP running anymore I realize that it kinda sucked.

I didn't complain about being the FP runner w/ legacy FP. I just did what I thought was best at the time; I considered FP to be a perk. I still consider it to be a perk, now with the bonus of not having to pull fastpasses from machines located at the individual rides.

With that being said - I don't think I'll like using the kiosks for 4th FP and I'm not sure if I'll bother w/ them. And I agree that the extra pre-planning is a real thing. I personally like all the planning but I can understand that some people don't. Just like FP running, it's not a requirement, but since the option exists a lot of people might feel compelled to do it even though they think it kinda sucks.

I didn't think I would bother with the kiosks either. I remember the (seemingly) long lines and on a prior trip was grateful we were onsite and could use MDE instead.

Then, we had a surprise guest with us last week. It was a non -park day for her family but she and my daughter (BFFs) worked their magic and convinced her parents to allow her to join us. As it happened, I could not ride certain rides due to pregnsncy so she just used my FP for those. And then it came to the 4th. We went to the kiosk in Tomorrowland with our family tickets and her unlinked ticket--told the CM we needed to try and overlap. He had me do the family first. And then she hadn't had her first 3, yet so we still had to pick her 3 but could change. We got the desired attraction (Space Mountain) and I think we spent all of 5 minutes and definitely less than 10 doing this.

On a busier day, the wait might be longer and perhaps your first choice is not available, but to was surprisingly easy and much like using the app. And if I recall, linked tickets only needed on in the party to access and then you could pick for everyone who was ready for a 4th. I don't think he scanned all the tickets in that set where we wanted a 4th.

YMMV of course, but wanted to comment since we had been avoiding the kiosks as we had no need for them, but it was the only way to do the 4th FP.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It seems folks have issues reading--I was looking for another post and came across my original respond to Ariel where I explicitly stted and acknowledged her experience was her own. Live and learn. Doesn't change any of my follow up commentary as I was indeed speaking generally.

I think your experience is what happened with you.

And you tie that to FP+.

But -- planning around marathon weekend has been something participants and non-participants had to do prior to FP+. It is not unique to FP+ trying to her around to the venues and meet ones race "obligations". I participated in 2005, 2006, and 2008 and remember how it was to plan around Expo, group meets, (for me ) Team Pasta Parties and Victory parties and so on. FP+ could go away and that planning would not and how much required depends upon all your planned activities.

And for us, though YMMV--we don't use touring plans. We used disboard advice on doing the park on party days and avoiding EMH morning parks if staying off sight. I don't see a need to follow touring plans which still seems to be following someone else's schedule.

There are those who were über planners well before FP+ and some aren't. Both remain possible under the new program.

I do understand how it may be more planning for someone but I wanted to comment that the marathon "anomalies" are pretty standard with Marathon weekend.

Yes--more planning for someone as with ALL trips, marathon or otherwise.

Just because Disney now offers its own planning service, not a single guest is made mandatory to ever use it even if they change an attraction or two or a popular restaurant to FP only. Because these see not mandatory activities for anyone regardless of Stacey's "must do" marketing spiel.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Almost everything in life does. But we are discussing generalities here. And in GENERAL (and by general I mean for a significant majority), the old system required less planning. That's what you don't seem to get despite the fact that multiple posters have already corrected fallacies in your logic.

There are no fallacies in my logic.

But nice try.

Because on on Earth do people have vacations by doing LESS than what they did before on an app that made things easier? You wil find that more people in general than you give credit to have this experience.


It also seems that you are bent on insisting the necessity and mandate of this pre-planning. That is very much a fallacy.

 

[Suvadoo]

What is is hard a it recognizing that it is a) a choice and b) doing this earlier is not tantamount to increased effort generally speaking?

What is so hard abiut recognizing that all this pre-planning isn't "necessary" anymore than having what one poster calls an exaggeration of he if a FP runner?

ETA: what is so hard about remember the days where planning posts were non-stop?


Apparently it is so hard that the only response is "false" and "not true" thus invalidating the experience of others (taboo apparently unless it is in solidarity to condemn FP+). That makes the makes the credibility of the binary repsons see questionable.

People panicking over a midnight 60 day reservation date have gotten ... Freaked out by the paranoia condemners and I don't blame them one bit. Our 60 day window started for our next trip and you know what? The Ewrth continues to rotate on its axis. I'm not panicked or scared and this far the only pre-planning was a 10 minute phone call to book a Chase visa sale with QSDP. At the rate I am going, I may show up on the door step having done nothing and still get FP+ While sitting on our bed watching Stacey.

This paranoia induced by those saying OMG-it's so necessary and critical if you don't spend the MORE time that is required (not a reference to the marathon postings but the posters who are now insisting that it is a necessity if using the system), well--that is on you for creating that.

I refuse to freak out over a vacation or trip of any kind that will be just fine by taking a rational approach to it and not a "frenzied must line up at Best Buy in a tent 5 days early lest I miss the opportunity for a $2 television and Christmas is ruined" approach.

YMMV

But if you feel the need to stay up at midnight or 1am 60 days earlier, feel fee to do so, but please recognize it is your choice you make of your own free will and not necessity except to you[/] because your experience can indeed be invalidated if you insist OR imply that it is a status quo must do necessity. Because it isnt. And one or two attractions that book up does not a necessity make. (Again, not directed at Angel Ariel as she has given her final word that her experience we her own and I have moved on to the general statements being made.)

Heck--you can't even get a BOG FP until 30 days (Or 27 or whatever the magical number that isn't 60 is).

Let's get to the basics: FP+ = more preplanning than legacy FP. Plain and simple. I never said anything about getting up at midnight 60 days out. Oh, and let me add the caveat: if you choose to use the FP+ system.

If this were not true, why would Disney have a complete ad campaign saying, " Reserve your rides from your recliner"?
It's great that you love FP+ but why don't you defend it with truths about the system instead of trying to convince everyone FP+ requires no pre-planning? Even Disney disagrees with this statement!

 

[MsThumper]

This is exactly us!

Look at the park calendar and book adrs at 180 days out as usual. I know what park I'm going to be at so now I plan rides at 60 days. No big deal. Since we don't hop and rarely ever used more than 3-4 fp anyway fp+ works out perfect for us!

FP was a crapshoot of when your return time was going be. How spontaneous is that? At least now I know ahead of time when need to be somewhere and anytime in between I can do what I want.

This is also exactly us. We were never able to make the legacy fast pass system work for us.

 

[Klismania]

Infrequent poster here. This is my experience:

In the late 90's/early 2000's I visited WDW at least once each year and sometimes twice. I went to WDW as often as my yearly bonus would allow. Then, due to layoffs and underemployment, I didn't go to WDW for 10 years.

Fast forward to 2013. The job market (and my salary) was improving. I went to WDW in October and really enjoyed using a MB instead of getting FP tickets. I'm a spur-of-the-moment touring person. I decided which park I was going to when I woke up that day and I don't use PS for restaurants. When I'm hungry, I find someplace and eat. Doesn't have to be fancy. I chose my FPs on the bus ride to the park. When all my FP's had been used, I used the single-rider line with no issues. Everything was uber-convenient and I rejoiced in the new technology!

Then my October 2014 trip came around and my experience was markedly different. I couldn't get the FPs I wanted even a day or two ahead of time. Sometimes I'd only use the first FP and then, while having to wait an hour or two for the next FP time to open, I'd get in line on another ride. Wait times were 30 minutes or more in SB lines and even the single rider lines were long. I remember waiting for over an hour for Splash Mountain and wondering the entire time why I was wasting my time standing in line when I could be on a bus back to my resort and get in the pool (it was very hot on my trip).

Most of the time I'd only use one or two of my FP+ selections and then leave without cancelling the third. Too much trouble.

Bottom line: I won't be going back to WDW every year and maybe not even every other year. It's just too much money to spend for the privilege of waiting in line for hours on end in the heat when I could be spending less money at a plush resort on the shore of Lake Michigan or in the Florida Keys for my vacation. Maybe I'll make Disney a occasional journey and go every fifth year or so.

I used to love planning my trips, obsessing over the weather, what I'd be doing, where I'd be staying, how much fun it was going to be! But now I feel like I've now outgrown it; something I NEVER felt when I was going all the time only 10 years ago.

While the parks may be packed and the hotels fully booked right now, I'm predicting that this misstep will be only a short-term gain for Disney. Sure, they may make a pile of money on it for three or five years, but it'll be at the expense of the repeat business that always carried WDW through the tough economic times. I'm predicting that as others have the same experience I had, that return rate is going to go down and Disney will have to spend a lot more money trying to lure people back into the habit of making WDW a priority vacation choice.

Bottom line: I still love all things Disney and I still love WDW. But I'm no longer as excited and eager to plan a trip as I used to be. Recent past experience has told me that my ROI just isn't as good as it used to be. While I now have the money to go to WDW every year, I simply don't have the time (or the desire) to stand for hours on line in the hot sun waiting for the few leftover choices of experiences available because everyone else took the time slots for those experiences three or six months ago.

My October 2014 vacation was nice, but it wasn't worth the money I spent and I left feeling cheated. In the future, annual WDW vacations will be getting a 'Fast Pass' from me.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I disagree with the OP. I just woke up and decided to do MK this morning instead of Epcot. I went on MDE and made FPs for Mansion, Mine Train, and Peter Pan.

 

[Hokie2000]

I didn't think I would bother with the kiosks either. I remember the (seemingly) long lines and on a prior trip was grateful we were onsite and could use MDE instead. Then, we had a surprise guest with us last week. It was a non -park day for her family but she and my daughter (BFFs) worked their magic and convinced her parents to allow her to join us. As it happened, I could not ride certain rides due to pregnsncy so she just used my FP for those. And then it came to the 4th. We went to the kiosk in Tomorrowland with our family tickets and her unlinked ticket--told the CM we needed to try and overlap. He had me do the family first. And then she hadn't had her first 3, yet so we still had to pick her 3 but could change. We got the desired attraction (Space Mountain) and I think we spent all of 5 minutes and definitely less than 10 doing this. On a busier day, the wait might be longer and perhaps your first choice is not available, but to was surprisingly easy and much like using the app. And if I recall, linked tickets only needed on in the party to access and then you could pick for everyone who was ready for a 4th. I don't think he scanned all the tickets in that set where we wanted a 4th. YMMV of course, but wanted to comment since we had been avoiding the kiosks as we had no need for them, but it was the only way to do the 4th FP.

Thanks for letting me know your experience. Last time we went the 4th FP wasn't an option so I'm not sure how it will work for us, but it's good to know that it can be pretty easy even if you don't have a standard situation. I figure that we will take into account SB lines and try the kiosks if we are around them, but I doubt I will seek them out. More like if we come across them when the timing is right and it will save us some time on POTC or barnstormer (my kids loooooove the Barnstormer!). I will report back with my results - less than a month to go!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Glad it worked for you. Really, I am. Can you tell us more detail, and which rides you switched to when you say "we hit all the rides we wanted".

Dan

I missed this the first time. Appreciate you inquiry.

We were able to preview wait times on the app which was helpful. In the past, we would use the centralized ride boards and before that the actual walking to each attraction (eep).

As always, YMMV-- but I will say we traveled with multiple large families who were able to customize and do things on the fly as well. Busier times may not permit as much[/] flexibility. So this is a reflection on now the system worked for us at the time of year we opted to vacation. And it is also a reflection of where we did not permit it to dictate anything for us. We always felt we had the control and free will to change our touring plan at any time on any day consistent with how we have always traveled. (I do mention the FP- method quite a bit, but that, too, was always our choice and to not let that rule us.)

We made a somewhat last minute decision for our arrival day (Sunday 11/30) to hit MK first instead of EPCOT to get a ride on Haunted Mansion which would be closed the rest of the week. The park opened at 8am and one of our families vacationing with us had stayed the Prior 2 nights at our home. Plan was for 9am park arrival, so we would not be making the 8am opening time. Also, activating our APs took a little longer than expected since we had 6 passes.

Arrived to the park and family checked Mine Train wait and it was less than an hour. We also double checked Haunted Mansion and it was short. So they opted for that and I handled bags so they could skip bag check. I took my time walking up Main Street and decided to get a ring as I had to stop wearing my ring that morning due to edema. Then I walked to mine train and realized I was hungry. Walked to Gaston's to get veggies for a snack and then back to mine train. Time elapsed at this point since we separated at bag check was about 45 minutes. I waited about 10 minutes and there they were coming out of the mountain. After, we headed to HM where the there was nearly not a wait. By the time we queued up with the crowd, the crowd was the next group in. Afterwards, we visited the new shop before getting that day's allocation of Sorceror's cards at the station in Liberty square. I think we were out of there by 11. Could have gotten out 30 minutes sooner, but I was 27 weeks pregnant which slows my walking pace down significantly.

Our fastpasses in EPCOT were times with the the family we were traveling with and ours commenced around 11:20 at Seas with Nemo. Probably not necessary but we were with friends who had not been in 5 years and that is what they chose. We made a choice to bump those to later (discussed this prior and then opted to follow through).

We had check in that afternoon. Our family had driven 2 vehicles to the parks. To save time, my husband moved one vehicle to EPCOT while the rest of us rode the monorail per kid request. And again--because I am slow--he caught up to us shortly after we entered and stopped at club cool. We did edge him out though as we did arrive first in case folks were wondering.

Rest of the day, we winged it for the most part. Did world showcase and some Perry missions as well as shopping. We rejoined the other family and dads then headed to condo to check in around 3ish.

My family decided to not do Seas as we wanted to hang out with friends as they toured WS hunting out pressed penny machines. Our Soarin' FP was around 6. Dads were slightly delayed in getting back due to hanging out a little too long at the condo.

They got back and both parties used their FP before we all headed to dinner at Biergarten with ADRs for a party of 7 and party 6 secured literally 24 hours earlier. (They were booked when we checked 2 nights earlier and I suggested checking again the night before for cancellations.) It took ~40 minutes post ADR to be seated. We were not and did not expect to be seated together.

Then after, sent my kids off to ride TT standby per their request and we closed the park with that. Our friends were tuckered out and headed to the condo after dinner.

The rest of the week:
Each day, we would switch any FP if the wait was minimal once we got to a ride. I am pregnant and my 4yo is only 39 inches. So I did have some FP for her and I that often were unnecessary and I would switch them sometimes and not others. Or I would switch then to match the family so someone could repeat a ride.
Monday was DHS--
Family had FP for Star tours, RNR (broke down during window so could be used for anything), and TOT.
Daughter and I has FP for VOTLM (not needed and bumped for muppets which we ended up never using because she had other plans), TSM, and Disney Junior show.
Because of height restrictions and pregnancy limitations that had nothing to do with FP+, day was intentionally planned to be mostly separate.

Family did TSM at rope drop and I am not sure what else they did other than connect with one of our traveling families at some point. Not sure if I moved some FPs or not, just don't remember.

DD and I did VOTLM first and then stopped for a cupcake on way to TsM. After TSM she wanted to sit and play with a souvenir and timing was right for a break, so we did standby at the Frozen sing along. Joined up with dad for lunch on the back lot and then played in the snow. Then it rained which interfered with playground plans. So I don't recall what we did before GMR. Then cream cheese pretzel before playground.

I had no interest in Fantasmic--and another family we were traveling with were moving over to MK after a day at AK. With no FP, we headed to MK anyway. Dinner at Casey's on the curb while waiting for our friends. Finished, they arrived around 6/6:30 and we headed to Tomorrowland. Bigs went on Space Mountain standby while moms took short kids onto People mover. And then there were varied plans after that that took bigs to other mountains while we took kids on tea cups, pooh, and IASW. Back to tea cups for nearby potty break and distant MSEP viewing while waiting for folks to return before one last ride on Buzz and my family going home. We headed to exit just after 9 pleased with what we accomplished in ~3 hours for an unplanned park visit. Our friends has FP throughout the evening. They are late night people, so this worked for them after a day at AK and no need for FPs.

Tuesday was MK:
Mine train at rope drop. Once again not needing my FP with my daughter and bumping around to rides she picked from the list. We achieved her goals of mine train, Ariel ride, and meeting Ariel. ETA: Forgot that we also did Dumbo and she rode Barnstormer twice with dad. I think this was before Ariel. Asked if she wanted to eat in the beast castle. Yes. Headed at 9:45 to wait line where she resumed playing with her souvenir stamp set. This restaurant was not our plan but our touring limitations did to height and condition had us touring separate from the family and it was perfect for a mommy daughter date.

Ate lunch then met with our family and another for PP then ISAW. Then I am foggy on plans. By about 2, teens were..revolting. Why? Sorceror's was calling their name and that monopolized their time. Around 3:30, I noticed that my ankle that I has broke in March had become VERY swollen. A bit of a surprise but not totally unexpected since I was pregnant and had not really worked that ankle out out. That closed my afternoon as I headed to first aid for ice and elevation.

Park closed at 7, but I am pretty sure we left a little earlier than that.

Wed, we had planned a return to MK for more repeats and sorcerers and to (initially) ride rides we didn't get FP for on Tuesday due to limit of 3. We had ridden most of those choices the day before and switched things to known repeats.

But first was a breakfast for 24 at Whispering Canyon Cafe that morning around 10am--this a planned non-early day. We parked at TTC and then boated to WL via MK. During breakfast, permission was granted for mundaughter's BFf to join us on a day her family did not plan to do parks. We had no FPs for her. But I didn't need mine, so she piggy backed on some rides that way. (I have no doubt we could not have aligned some choices for her if we needed to, but there was no need for that.)

Not totally sure how the afternoon went except that after a couple do hours of rides, it was back to Sorcerer's, then buzz light year followed by an ice cream snack and more Sorceror's. We were able to set up FPs for the friend and our 4th FP around 4pm for a space mountain ride at 6:10ish. My oldest had an on-line class I would not let her miss, so she, I and my short kid left the park at 5. Not sure what my husband did for the rest of the evening. I do know they had fun.

Thursday was AK where FPs were virtually unneeded.
With our safari FP at 10am and planned with another family, we got to park at rope drop and bigs did EE twice and for to Kali before I did. Short person and I did a stop and smell the roses walk to Kali--but then headed left instead of right. Oops.

Got to Kali, where my whole family rode twice and got 100% drenched to their delight. We then did the Maharaja jungle trek (at this point just waiting for our friends to arrive) before getting to the Safari for our FP. Posted wait seemed awful short compared to the line. We were grateful to bypass that.

Then it was more repeats using a mix of FPs on EE (because we has them and hadn't used then yet). And then miss 39 Inches wanted to ride Kali...again for a third time and again for a 4th time. We then told her Disney had a rule about not riding more than your age and headed to Dino land. (Lunch was quick bites mom grabbed while folks repeatedly rode rides she could not. Friends had brought lunch to the parks.). Rode dinosaur dumbo while bigs rode the spinning coaster ride two or twelve times. Dads found beer and dinosaur broke down. Opted for Nemo show. Then dinosaur was ridden when it recovered. Short people played at the playground. Dinner and then Lion show at park close. (I skipped that because I was done for the day.). We did miss Bug's life but mostly because we have done that attraction a million times and just made no attempt to do that because we didn't want to.)

Friday was legoland.

Saturday we hung out with friends before they left town mid afternoon and we opted for EPCOT again. Hit SE before splitting up and I headed to WS to have a cronut, ride Mexico ride, repurchase a souvenir that had an unfortunate accident with a liquid and pick up treats in France. My husband and kids had fun shopping and having dinner and playing piggy bank adventure before we headed to TT with FP.

And that was that.

Pre-planning for this trip:
ADR for 24 at WCC (not tied to FP+)
Condo reservations (not tied to FP+ and my friend spent the same amount of time she did 2 years who which was find out who wanted to go, monitor availability in her time share, book, collected money from families).

Purchase tickets (same as always-bought when we were financially ready to do so.)

Link to MDE (this was new, done on the Friday 2 days prior to departure and took less than 10 minutes. Our accounts had been set up for our February trip in less than 10 minute back in January).

FP selection(time spent posted earlier, wasn't long given I sat with my friend and we played around with overlapping rides on some days for some rides)

An ADR for Biergarten (unrelated to FP+ )

Planned rope drop days and non-rope drop days (as I have since 1992).

For what we did, this was our least planning intensive trip and we had a great time. We remained flexible and the world did not end because we didn't plan when we apparently were supposed to based on posts here. And while we did do everything we wanted--I will confess that I really didn't. But to my knowledge, FP+ didn't make me pregnant.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Let's get to the basics: FP+ = more preplanning than legacy FP. Plain and simple. I never said anything about getting up at midnight 60 days out. Oh, and let me add the caveat: if you choose to use the FP+ system.

If this were not true, why would Disney have a complete ad campaign saying, " Reserve your rides from your recliner"?
It's great that you love FP+ but why don't you defend it with truths about the system instead of trying to convince everyone FP+ requires no pre-planning? Even Disney disagrees with this statement!

I just posted my experience as I missed when someone asked for it ahead of time.

Feel free to continue that a marketing campaign requires more of you than in the past. They also hAve a must do campaign. If it rules you life as to what is necessary, then so be it.

Disney making something AVAILABLE as an option does not make it a requirement or require "more" of you.

It does not have to and that is the point even if you use the system. And that is truth.

 

[Hokie2000]

No. I got it. One can always reduce a debate to an existential impossibility. But what's the point?

The point is that absolute statements on either side are easily refuted. So it doesn't make sense to nitpick wording on pro-FP+ posts, yet give a pass to anti-FP+ declarations that include "have to" "necessity" "mandatory" etc etc. My point is that it's all voluntary and based on personal preferences, so saying that FP+ makes a person do something is as silly as saying FP- made a person do something. It's not Skynet!!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Thanks for letting me know your experience. Last time we went the 4th FP wasn't an option so I'm not sure how it will work for us, but it's good to know that it can be pretty easy even if you don't have a standard situation. I figure that we will take into account SB lines and try the kiosks if we are around them, but I doubt I will seek them out. More like if we come across them when the timing is right and it will save us some time on POTC or barnstormer (my kids loooooove the Barnstormer!). I will report back with my results - less than a month to go!!

No problem!

I hope it is fun.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The point is that absolute statements on either side are easily refuted. So it doesn't make sense to nitpick wording on pro-FP+ posts, yet give a pass to anti-FP+ declarations that include "have to" "necessity" "mandatory" etc etc. My point is that it's all voluntary and based on personal preferences, so saying that FP+ makes a person do something is as silly as saying FP- made a person do something. It's not Skynet!!!!

Amen!