Spontaneity at WDW Gone

[Money82]

But Wis .... there's SO MUCH MORE to do at WDW than rides, right?

Ha. Of course, you can enjoy a nice stroll through fantasyland at 2pm. I love jumping scooters and trying to navigate around double strollers.

Or perhaps you could enjoy looking at the beautiful souvenir shops. My house could use a few more items made in China.

Or, perhaps one of those beautiful parades. I love standing behind people with children hoisted up on their shoulders.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Anyone get the feeling that we've got some passionate Disney employees posting here in an effort to defend FP+ at all costs?

Based on post count and join date, you would actually be more likely to be a CM than most others in this thread.

 

[Laketravis]

Would you read that differently?

I wouldn't read it at all. Personally, I'm not that concerned about what might be available 60 days out. Seems ridiculous to me that such a condition exists to begin with.

 

[wisblue]

Anyone get the feeling that we've got some passionate Disney employees posting here in an effort to defend FP+ at all costs?

That definitely doesn't apply to me. But, you do realize that you could just as easily say that there are some passionate Universal employees who post here in an effort to bash Disney and promote Universal at all costs.

 

[Money82]

No, you suppose wrong.

These charts cover 7DMT, TSMM, and a variety of shows and character greetings.

In the introduction it says "Only the attractions that get booked up in advance are listed. Other attractions are normally available on the day."

I am reading this to say that FPs for things like Soarin, Test Track, RNRC, all of the rides at DAK, Peter Pan, the mountains, etc. are "normally" available same day. That may not mean that they are available each and every day, or that they last all day (which I know isn't true), or that there is a wide selection of times. But it's a far cry from saying that you have to book in advance to get anything good.

Would you read that differently?

Soarin, TT, and PP have NEVER EVER been available same day as far as I have seen.

 

[Money82]

Based on post count and join date, you would actually be more likely to be a CM than most others in this thread.

That's funny. The fact that I give objective analysis automatically eliminates me as being a CM. You on the other hand?

 

[Money82]

That definitely doesn't apply to me. But, you do realize that you could just as easily say that there are some passionate Universal employees who post here in an effort to bash Disney and promote Universal at all costs.

I don't go to Universal and don't post anything about it ever.

 

[HulkBuster]

Soarin, TT, and PP have NEVER EVER been available same day as far as I have seen.

these are tipicaly avail same day you must not check ofen

 

[Laketravis]

Ha. Of course, you can enjoy a nice stroll through fantasyland at 2pm. I love jumping scooters and trying to navigate around double strollers.

Or perhaps you could enjoy looking at the beautiful souvenir shops. My house could use a few more items made in China.

Or, perhaps one of those beautiful parades. I love standing behind people with children hoisted up on their shoulders.

Fortunately for us we are able to go for extended periods of time - so we can afford to take a few afternoons and/or evenings and spend them at the pool or a resort lounge or even Downtown Disney. That's how I discovered the best bargain in all of WDW, $7.25 tequila sunrises!

If we were only able to go for 3,4, or 5 days at a time I know I'd certainly feel different and most likely would be concerned that we wouldn't be able accomplish enough to justify the cost of the trip. But when we are able to amortize the fixed costs like airfare and AP's over many days, the cost per day is much less and we don't feel as pressured to get our money's worth.

 

[wisblue]

I wouldn't read it at all. Personally, I'm not that concerned about what might be available 60 days out. Seems ridiculous to me that such a condition exists to begin with.

Way to change the subject.

The immediate issue is about what kind of FPs someone could get without planning way ahead.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Anyone get the feeling that we've got some passionate Disney employees posting here in an effort to defend FP+ at all costs?

No more than the feeling I get that there are passionate Universal employees posting here in an effort to bash FP+ at all costs.

 

[katallo]

I will say, that there were a couple days where we switched our days to Magic and I was unable to get FP+ for 7D or Peter Pan. So that right there should tell you everything you need to know about "spontaneity."

I mean for God's sakes, I saw people being turned away from Beaches & Cream because they didn't have a reservation. A burger & ice cream joint turning people away because they didn't have an ADR. Lots of spontaneity there.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Beaches and Cream is the most ridiculous. Seriously, a FP with a credit card hold for ice cream is over the top. We were there in March and everyone we spoke to took the family somewhere else for ice cream.

 

[Money82]

No more than the feeling I get that there are passionate Universal employees posting here in an effort to bash FP+ at all costs.

I haven't seen too many people bashing FP+ on this thread. Only one specific feature of it.

FP+ serves a purpose and can be useful. However, nothing is perfect. And where FP+ fails is in the spontaneity of touring. Anyone who can't admit that is biased and I believe has a secret agenda as it's an obvious flaw of the system that shouldn't require 17 pages of threads to hash out.

 

[Laketravis]

Way to change the subject.

The immediate issue is about what kind of FPs someone could get without planning way ahead.

Wis, you introduced the subject then asked me if I read it differently. I was totally sincere when I told you I don't read it at all. And upon further thought, I still believe it is a ridiculous scenario to begin with. The fact that we are even talking about making a reservation for a 90 second experience that may not be available 60 days in the future is bizarre in any other context.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I seem to remember you talking about riding Space Mountain 6 times in a row or something like that but, if that wasn't you, I'll retract that part.

I know I've mentioned in previous conversations that my brother and nephew rode BTMRR 6x in a row at park opening in 2013. It was about the only "thrill" ride that DNephew enjoyed that trip, so when he loved it, and there was no line, my brother was happy to let him go on it many times.

I haven't read further than this post, so I don't know what LakeTravis' response was, but if he didn't say it, then maybe mine is what you're remembering.

 

[Money82]

Way to change the subject.

The immediate issue is about what kind of FPs someone could get without planning way ahead.

God forbid someone wanted to switch a day to Epcot last minute. They could enjoy front of line access to the mindblowing Spaceship Earth, the take your breath away Captain EO spectacular, and the ever popular Nemo & Friends. What a Godsend.

 

[wisblue]

Soarin, TT, and PP have NEVER EVER been available same day as far as I have seen.

I haven't tried myself for TT or Soarin because, just like with paper FPs, we ride those things in the morning when we don't need FPs. But, there was just a post a few days ago (I think on another thread) in which someone who was complaining about FP+ said that he could get a FP for either TT or Soarin in the morning, but he was upset becuase he couldn't get both.

As for PP, during one of our recent visits, we were looking for FPs at MK around 2 PM and PP was available, but the return time wasn't good for us so we took Space Mountain instead. So, I have no idea how much availablity there is, but it is more frequent than NEVER EVER.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I will say, that there were a couple days where we switched our days to Magic and I was unable to get FP+ for 7D or Peter Pan. So that right there should tell you everything you need to know about "spontaneity."

I mean for God's sakes, I saw people being turned away from Beaches & Cream because they didn't have a reservation. A burger & ice cream joint turning people away because they didn't have an ADR. Lots of spontaneity there.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Only if spontaneous = being able to ride 7dmt any time you want the precise moment you demand it
Or spontaneous = I want a hamburger and ice cream NOW and Beaches and cream is the ONLY place that I can get exactly that.

That sounds more synonymous with the demands of a 2 year old rather than the definition of spontaneous.

Shoot, what if you wanted Starbucks but the like was 10 minutes long? There goes the spontaneity because you cannot have it this instant. *stompy feet*

 

[Money82]

The fact that we are even talking about making a reservation for a 90 second experience that may not be available 60 days in the future is bizarre in any other context.

Have you heard about Disney's latest project? They're exploring bathroom FP+. You get to reserve a specific time to take a dump 60 days out. How cool is that? The unfortunate folks who don't plan ahead have to leave the park and head back to their home resort to take care of business.

 

[wisblue]

God forbid someone wanted to switch a day to Epcot last minute. They could enjoy front of line access to the mindblowing Spaceship Earth, the take your breath away Captain EO spectacular, and the ever popular Nemo & Friends. What a Godsend.

Read my trip report (linked earlier in this thread) to see what you can do if you get to EPCOT at opening without FPs.