The FP+ Gripe

[mbrittb00]

Do you mean the opening up the selection window earlier is better? Or making your selections earlier is better?

Making your selections as early as you are allowed to.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Making your selections as early as you are allowed to.

I know that I'll be logged on at 60 days... or 60+10 if that materializes... Just as I do with ADRs. When ready to make ADRs, I can easily be ready to align some FP+ with those dining times.

But, yeah... not big on leaving Disney-trip-reserved-items to chance, I'll definitely be on it as soon as I can be.

 

[Vertical]

This statement on the Disney website FP+ FAQ (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/fast-pass-plus/rides-without-fast-pass-plus/) concerns me:

"If you are not FastPass+ eligible, you are still eligible to use FASTPASS service. All FASTPASS tickets are subject to availability and are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis."

Well, heck, I just found out today (32 days out) that I am eligible, and that's because I happened to login today. I didn't get an email or other notice. So it asked me to link my passes, so I did. So now I guess I'm eligible.

I sure as heck hope that doesn't mean that I can't use regular FP for my trip in August, because I've looked at my FP options. Toy Story Mania at 9pm? I have a 6 year old for criminy, that isn't going to work. Safari at 2pm? NO - I have a Tusker House reservation at 1pm, nope. Fantasmic at 9:30pm? NO - as I said, I have a 6-year old. Only the crappiest times are offered to me for any FP+ plans, so I just hit "CANCEL" and am hoping for the best once we arrive.

And if this new system does come to fruition in this way, how many people are going to fork out extra money for a park hopper, when hopping becomes actually less helpful? Already I know now with new Fantasmic tiers, during busy season I'll have to be there in the morning to get an FP to get in - unless FP+ folks take them all. Ugh.

Mug wars, now this.

Can you clarify this? Do you mean the 'initial' times that MDE gave you were horrible choices, or after you selected a time grouping, you went into each individual FP+ reservation and tried to select another time, but even then had garbage times?

I think a lot of people don't understand that the first time selections that MDE gives you are not binding or your ONLY choices. You can change each and every one after the fact.

 

[JanaDee]

I know that I'll be logged on at 180 days... or 180+10 if that materializes... Just as I do with ADRs. When ready to make ADRs, I can easily be ready to align some FP+ with those dining times.

But, yeah... not big on leaving Disney-trip-reserved-items to chance, I'll definitely be on it as soon as I can be.

No more short-term planning trips for us. Almost all of our Disney trips have been planned within 8-10 weeks.

 

[isaboo]

I missed that the first time. There are some tabs you can click on that will give you other time slots...it will move them all earlier in the day or later in the day. Even after you choose one of the tabs you can still so some time changing. It's kind of time consuming but I finally got everything at times that works for us.

Can you clarify this? Do you mean the 'initial' times that MDE gave you were horrible choices, or after you selected a time grouping, you went into each individual FP+ reservation and tried to select another time, but even then had garbage times?

I think a lot of people don't understand that the first time selections that MDE gives you are not binding or your ONLY choices. You can change each and every one after the fact.

 

[Vertical]

I missed that the first time. There are some tabs you can click on that will give you other time slots...it will move them all earlier in the day or later in the day. Even after you choose one of the tabs you can still so some time changing. It's kind of time consuming but I finally got everything at times that works for us.

Yes, even beyond the initial tabbed choices, you can still change the times after all of that. THAT is when you really get control over the timing.

My philosophy was just pick ANY of the 4 tabbed choices, it didn't matter, and then go into each FP+ one by one and move it to when I actually wanted. The initial pass should NEVER be considered your only option(s).

I'm curious if the PP meant she got passed the initial tabs and went to change the individual FP+'s and THEN saw only garbage times.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

No more short-term planning trips for us. Almost all of our Disney trips have been planned within 8-10 weeks.

Apologies -- that post should have read 60 days ahead (as that is still what I believe Disney is saying).

But still... I take your point... I would probably be less optimistic if we vacationed this way.

All I would say is that it still remains to be seen how Disney manages these different buckets -- FP+ and standby -- and how much they release for booking at 60 days... whether they hold blocks until later or even for same-day FP+ booking. To be clear: they have not SAID they might do this -- but the system as I understand it would allow them that kind of flexibility, should they decide to.

My experience with Disney tells me that they constantly collect and incorporate guest feedback (not make EVERY PERSON happy -- that's obviously not possible). I'd expect them to collect feedback up to, during, and forever after FP+ rollout -- and to adjust where they can/should to satisfy as many guests as possible. JMHO.

 

[Tara8595]

Can you clarify this? Do you mean the 'initial' times that MDE gave you were horrible choices, or after you selected a time grouping, you went into each individual FP+ reservation and tried to select another time, but even then had garbage times?

I think a lot of people don't understand that the first time selections that MDE gives you are not binding or your ONLY choices. You can change each and every one after the fact.

None of the 4 selections were ideal. Either they picked 'alternate' activities that we weren't interested in (Dino/Everest - too scary for my son and he isn't even tall enough), or the times were crappy - too late, or during lunch, or during the parade, etc. I just used the examples to illustrate - though they are true examples.

We always go back to our room between lunch and dinner to rest, go to the pool, etc., so there's no option to 'opt out' of any time block like that, and certainly no way to say you want to do something in the morning or whatever.

Like I said - the real concern is the statement that leads me to believe that because I'm ELIGIBLE, that I can't use regular FP-. Though another thread eludes to a quote from a cast member who said you can opt out. So I hope that's true so I can just use the regular machines. My guess right now is that they are using advance FP+ to fill the least desirable time slots.

 

[delmar411]

None of the 4 selections were ideal. Either they picked 'alternate' activities that we weren't interested in (Dino/Everest - too scary for my son and he isn't even tall enough), or the times were crappy - too late, or during lunch, or during the parade, etc. I just used the examples to illustrate - though they are true examples.

We always go back to our room between lunch and dinner to rest, go to the pool, etc., so there's no option to 'opt out' of any time block like that, and certainly no way to say you want to do something in the morning or whatever.

Like I said - the real concern is the statement that leads me to believe that because I'm ELIGIBLE, that I can't use regular FP-. Though another thread eludes to a quote from a cast member who said you can opt out. So I hope that's true so I can just use the regular machines. My guess right now is that they are using advance FP+ to fill the least desirable time slots.

Well actually you could book 1 attraction in the morning then book the rest in the evening. That seems pretty simple. Or save all your bookings for the evening and do SB in the morning.

 

[Vertical]

None of the 4 selections were ideal. Either they picked 'alternate' activities that we weren't interested in (Dino/Everest - too scary for my son and he isn't even tall enough), or the times were crappy - too late, or during lunch, or during the parade, etc. I just used the examples to illustrate - though they are true examples.

We always go back to our room between lunch and dinner to rest, go to the pool, etc., so there's no option to 'opt out' of any time block like that, and certainly no way to say you want to do something in the morning or whatever.

Like I said - the real concern is the statement that leads me to believe that because I'm ELIGIBLE, that I can't use regular FP-. Though another thread eludes to a quote from a cast member who said you can opt out. So I hope that's true so I can just use the regular machines. My guess right now is that they are using advance FP+ to fill the least desirable time slots.

No but that's just my point - AFTER you choose one of those four tabbed choices, you can go back in each individual reservation and move it around to whenever you want. I was curious if you had done that at all.

I had that same problem - the initial tabbed choices were horrible. I want a break mid-day.

I eventually just picked one, then went in and moved all of them so that some were in the morning, some were evening, so that I never had a FP+ during my 'break' time.

It's never going to give you that arrangement in the initial tabbed choices, you have to customize to get that. But in order to customize, you have to select one of the tabbed choices.

EDIT: and I am 100% sure you'll still be able to use traditional FP.

 

[rt2dz]

This is a broad statement, but it fails to take into account that many would still come to WDW even if the FP system were abolished altogether. By many, I mean tens of millions. They have established their customer base. Yes, they could lose that customer base, but not based on something like this.

They are investing billions of dollars in this system. Whether we like it or hate it, they are going to implement it.

That is a broad assumption. I never said no one will go to WDW. I never said they would lose *any* customer base, although if this does massively tank, I'm sure they will lose some of their customer base. For some, this is the nail in the coffin to increasingly high prices (resort prices have more than tripled in less than 10 years--just one example), less maintenance, CMs that aren't as trained as they used to be, meals that re becoming more generic, lower quality souvenirs, etc. What I was saying was that if this fails and guests are unhappy and complaining all around, Disney will adjust things. To much time spent on guest recovery for ANY business is a loss.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Crispyduck3173]

We were also eligible for the fastpass+ test, I called up on two separate occasions to make sure I understood the trial before I linked up my tickets. As part of the trial we will be getting wristbands, and the fastpass+ rides...we will ALSO be allowed to use the regular fastpasses by asking for a disney resort card as has always been the case. The trial is just that, a trial. It can also be stopped at any time, to go back to the regular experience. They are hoping for around 2,000 trialist a day, during the August trial

 

[Tara8595]

Well actually you could book 1 attraction in the morning then book the rest in the evening. That seems pretty simple. Or save all your bookings for the evening and do SB in the morning.

If morning slots were available, yep.

 

[rt2dz]

I would also like to add that in addition to being a very small sample, you are looking at near 100% parcitipcation. Not sure what the participation in FP+ will be once it goes live, but safe to say something less than 100%.

One conclusion that I think it safe to draw is the early you can make your FP+ selections the better.

While I agree that it won't be 100% participation--I don't even think the test is 100% participation--I do believe more people will use FP+ than FP classic. While there is a ton of info on FP classic, it takes some effort to know it is there. With Magic Bands, MDE and at check-in people will be encouraged and continually prompted to sign up for FP. Or so I'm guessing. I'm also thinking more FP+ will go unused than regularly pulled FP. Possibly from people who cancel their trip, but forget about FP+ or those that changed their day due to illness, over sleeping, deciding to not hop to the second park, etc. If they had never been in the park to begin with, they wouldn't have pulled any FP, leaving them for others. Not a big concern of mine, but something that makes me go Hmmmmm.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Lindy Loo]

We were also eligible for the fastpass+ test, I called up on two separate occasions to make sure I understood the trial before I linked up my tickets. As part of the trial we will be getting wristbands, and the fastpass+ rides...we will ALSO be allowed to use the regular fastpasses by asking for a disney resort card as has always been the case. The trial is just that, a trial. It can also be stopped at any time, to go back to the regular experience. They are hoping for around 2,000 trialist a day, during the August trial

So when we fly over from the uk we are 6, 000 fasspasses down each day...... :-(

 

[Crispyduck3173]

Yes, 6,000 spread over 4 parks and multiple attractions. That is a small dent for a trial period...you'd have to think 5-15% will not be redeemed due to last minute changes in plans

 

[tirecarver]

We received our magicbands today. We will staying in the World for 15 days, going to the parks for 10. We scheduled the must have rides that the kids wanted in the first visit to each park, after that we are leaving it up to what ever comes up that we are walking by. If the lines are to long its on to the next ride, show or character that we can find.

Howard

 

[Vertical]

We received our magicbands today. We will staying in the World for 15 days, going to the parks for 10. We scheduled the must have rides that the kids wanted in the first visit to each park, after that we are leaving it up to what ever comes up that we are walking by. If the lines are to long its on to the next ride, show or character that we can find.

Howard

Great attitude and sounds like a good plan.

 

[jhaig]

How much of an effect will FP+ have if, like our family, we go on an off time (Sept, Oct, Jan, etc.), get to RD each morning, and have our 3 scheduled FP+ rides ready to go each day? I say slim to none.

The world will not end if we can't get on Soarin' 15 times in a day.

 

[glammadiva]

How much of an effect will FP+ have if, like our family, we go on an off time (Sept, Oct, Jan, etc.), get to RD each morning, and have our 3 scheduled FP+ rides ready to go each day? I say slim to none.

The world will not end if we can't get on Soarin' 15 times in a day.

I agree! I think people are borrowing trouble as my grandma would say. None of us know, its all conjecture at this point. The testing will help iron out flaws and once it goes into full operation I would not be surprised to see adjustments. Stay calm and Disney on!