The Future of Fast Pass Plus

[theSurlyMermaid]

This is typical of the VAST MAJORITY of Disney guests. And your post is what gives me hope whenever I am on these boards. The FP system IS cool. The website IS cool. The app IS cool. And Magic Bands ARE cool. The [mostly] negative stuff you are reading here comes from people who truly go to WDW too many times. They think they have it down to a science. They are claim to be Disney fans. But many of them simply complain about anything new and different. It's obvious that "change" is not a good thing to many of these people.

I have been to Disney loads of times and I've never complained about a single change., though Priority Seatings to ADRs 180 days in advance. When Fastpass arrived I thought it was the coolest thing ever because it truly did make things easier and was pretty user friendly. And it didn't require the amount of planning this does.

This is just taking things too far. I can see where it addresses some issues (ie. having to send someone over to a ride for a Fastpass) but it went way overboard.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I've seen two reactions from people who aren't that experienced and are making plans to go. One thinks that it's cool to have FP+ set ahead of time. The other says that it's a lot of trouble and doesn't really want to bother with it. I guess that it depends on personality and how much someone likes to plan. The only change I see as possible is the ability to book the fourth FP+ online rather than at a kiosk. I'm not clear on why that isn't already in place now.

Yeah, I don't know if first-timers like it while they are preplanning, but I could see some of them being relieved once they get there.

I think they are deliberately keeping the 4th FP for in the park at the kiosk to put a bit of a deterrent in the process. Which I actually like in a way...selfishly, if I am already in the park I want the extra FPs!

 

[btk2333]

We hate FP+. We have done 1 trip with it, and it really hampered us. We knew we didn't like it, but we didn't realize how much we hated it, until we spent 5 days at DL last week.

The only thing I liked about FP+was having that 1st fast pass of the day that I usually made a run for in the morning, especially Soarin and TSM. Other than that, we hated having to plan our day in advance, having to run from area to area to make our times, not being able to look at the wait times for a ride and decide if we even needed a fast pass; not being able to compare a wait time of a ride to when a fast pass would kick in if we pulled one and then possibly pull a fast pass and do everything else in the area while we waited for it to kick in etc. We hated constantly being tied to a phone, the glitchy app, the inability to change our FP+ based on how the day was going and the standby waits are, etc.

We realized how awful it really was when we spent a wonderful 5 days at DL last week without it. We aren't DL newbies, we have been alternating between DL and WDW. After doing FP+ at WDW, DL felt so much more relaxed and happy. We didn't have our day planned in advance other than our meals. We could do what we wanted in the order we decided we wanted to do it ON THAT DAY. We weren't tied to a FP that we had to use or try to switch, if we got there and the ride had a 10 or 15 minute wait. We just got in the line and didn't pull a FP. More than once (like we used to do at DL), we would walk up to the ride and it would have at 40 minute standby, but fast passes that also kicked in within 40 minutes or an hour, so we would pull the FP, and get other stuff done in the area while we waited for it to kick in. Other than pulling my phone out here and there to check wait times in an area we were thinking of heading too, I kept my phone put away and DD didn't complain I was on it all the time (like she did at WDW with FP+). We didn't run into a bunch of stressed out guests dealing with FP+ or complaining about apps, times etc. like we did at WDW. I didn't get ran into multiple times by guests messing with the MDE app which happened at WDW. The atmosphere was so much more pleasant and relaxed- it felt like WDW before FP+ and we loved it. We are going to give FP+ one more try at WDW, but if things haven't changed and the parks still have the same feel, I think we will be having more non-Disney trips and we will stick to DL, until we miss EPCOT so much that we feel the need to hit WDW again. EPCOT is the only thing we miss when we are at DL.

It sounds like DL is the best place for you to vacation now

 

[JanaDee]

This is typical of the VAST MAJORITY of Disney guests. And your post is what gives me hope whenever I am on these boards. The FP system IS cool. The website IS cool. The app IS cool. And Magic Bands ARE cool. The [mostly] negative stuff you are reading here comes from people who truly go to WDW too many times. They think they have it down to a science. They are claim to be Disney fans. But many of them simply complain about anything new and different. It's obvious that "change" is not a good thing to many of these people.

You must not read many threads on the TPAS board if you still think the website and app are "cool".

 

[mom2rtk]

I really get tired of the argument: it isn't a requirement.

No one ever said it was a requirement!

I said, "It is an awful lot of work."

Actually, riding rides isn't a requirement.

If one is happy with waiting in line for 10-30% of the days capacity they can shun FP+.

 

[Planogirl]

Actually, riding rides isn't a requirement.

If one is happy with waiting in line for 10-30% of the days capacity they can shun FP+.

To take it even further, going to WDW at all isn't a requirement.

I never get that comment either.

 

[btk2333]

You must not read many threads on the TPAS board if you still think the website and app are "cool".

I actually love the website and the app- they glitch sure, but they still give me a taste of the magic when I'm at home- sometimes I just log in to see upcoming plans!

It's slick, I am lucky enough to not have any issues with the app when at the parks, at least not manageable (sometimes I have to close the app and open it again or something, but that's my old standby fix for any technology). It's much easier to switch a FP+ on the app than it was to go across the park to get a legacy FP. It's so easy to change a dining reservation on the app instead of calling WDW-DINE (which I used to have as a speed dial in my phone we would change reservations so much)- not mention I can check ADR availability without waiting on hold and talking to someone, can get it almost instantly on the app or website.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

You must not read many threads on the TPAS board if you still think the website and app are "cool".

I've read plenty of the rants on these boards. I've also used the website and the app with no problems. So my experience has been a positive one.

 

[mom2rtk]

I've read plenty of the rants on these boards. I've also used the website and the app with no problems. So my experience has been a positive one.

So that means nobody else has issues?

 

[pigletto]

I've read plenty of the rants on these boards. I've also used the website and the app with no problems. So my experience has been a positive one.

So you just have an inability to empathize with people who have had major problems? Many many people. It's been all hunky dory for you, so it's "cool" and everyone else is a whiner? Gotcha.

 

[btk2333]

So that means nobody else has issues?

So you just have an inability to empathize with people who have had major problems? Many many people. It's been all hunky dory for you, so it's "cool" and everyone else is a whiner? Gotcha.

Of course not- PP didn't say that either. It's just as ok for people to say that things worked for them as it is for people to complain about glitches.

There are people on these boards that are petrified that there's no way the new system will work for them. I"m sure they'd like to hear from the people for whom the technology worked just fine

 

[pigletto]

This is typical of the VAST MAJORITY of Disney guests. And your post is what gives me hope whenever I am on these boards. The FP system IS cool. The website IS cool. The app IS cool. And Magic Bands ARE cool. The [mostly] negative stuff you are reading here comes from people who truly go to WDW too many times. They think they have it down to a science. They are claim to be Disney fans. But many of them simply complain about anything new and different. It's obvious that "change" is not a good thing to many of these people.

And I'm with you on the "rope drop" and "touring" thing. Rope drop makes a sense because it is technically how they used to open most of the parks (by holding guests at a rope, and having an announcement of sorts to open the park). The term "touring" makes me crazy. This is coming from people who have been to these parks multiple times over many years. I don't get it, and it sounds a little crazy. If you are visiting for the first time ever, then I guess you are "touring" the parks. Other than that, it's just strange to refer to your time in the parks as "touring".

Of course this is just my opinion. I will be in the minority, and several people will call me out on this. This is called "flaming". Watch how it works. It's quite amusing.

Welcome to the boards. Use them with a grain of salt. You are going to have a great vacation.

This would be the post I took exception to. Of course people can be positive about it. We had no major issues with it on our trips. If it worked for everyone properly and equally I may be even more excited about it. But I am able to understand others frustration even if I wasn't the one directly affected.

 

[maclondon]

Is it just me or does FP+ seem like an awful lot of work for a vacation?

SNIP

How do you think the average park goer is coping with FP+?
Do you believe FP+ will last?
If so, do you think it will remain as it is, or think it will be modified?
What modifications will be made?

Well its a little effort vs spending 3 or 4 hours in queues in the parks.

plus its FAIR - you can't just buy your way into the front of the queues - I always give evil looks to the QBot people at legoland - its more than the tickets to get those for all 5 of us on a trip.

this is at least free!

on the other hand having to book so much - rides, ADR so far in advance is a bit of a bummer - esp as best laid plans never go to routine when theres kids involved!!

mac

 

[dkrauss]

I really get tired of the argument: it isn't a requirement.

No one ever said it was a requirement!

I said, "It is an awful lot of work."

Perhaps I should re-word............If doing the FP+ is "such hard work" (really ) then JUST DON'T DO IT! Why complain/whine about sitting at a computer and setting up a few rides at WDW. If this optional ability is soooo taxing than JUST SAY NO!!!. You don't have to do it.............but then you are..........and complaining about it all the way.................

And if its that taxing, then I ask why go to WDW at all...............? If the FP+ process is so much hard work.............you must be exhausted with everything else there's been to plan...........

You're right I don't like the "requirement" argument either...............I like this one better. You may not.............and that's ok

Doug

 

[mom2rtk]

And if its that taxing, then I ask why go to WDW at all...............?

Actually, I think there's a fair number of people asking themselves that very question a lot lately.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

And that's exactly it, Doug. After this, I WON'T be going back to Disney for a long, long time. If ever, if I can figure out a way to dump DVC. So for me, problem solved, after this "vacation" coming up.

 

[btk2333]

Actually, I think there's a fair number of people asking themselves that very question a lot lately.

And if that number becomes big enough to affect Disney's profit numbers and/or attendance, then we may see changes but as long as attendance is through the roof (as evidenced by people continuing to report that the parks are busier than they've ever seen, even at "slow times") then Disney has little incentive to change their product.

 

[btk2333]

And that's exactly it, Doug. After this, I WON'T be going back to Disney for a long, long time. If ever, if I can figure out a way to dump DVC. So for me, problem solved, after this "vacation" coming up.

how many DVC points do you have? I may be interested in buying them on the cheap if you're that desperate.

Like I said in another post- if enough people do this and attendance/profit go down, then Disney may change things, as long as attendance trends continue as they are, then they are likely to stay the course.

 

[mcberry]

I don't fully understand the viewpoint that it's a lot of work. It took me about 3 minutes of time to make my selections and now I'm set until my trip in September. To me it's no more work than when i used to have to gather up everyone's KTTW, head over to an attraction to get FP and hope the time is right, didn't interfere with other plans, etc.

I think both systems have advantages and disadvantages, but for the average guest it will help them to get what they want, when they want - with the exception of the new attractions of the year that have heightened demand.

As for MDE - yes it has glitches, but current software philosophy is that it's a continuous work in progress and the sooner software can realize business vague the better. It's better than having no app at all and will continue to improve based on feedback and ever changing market needs.

 

[dkrauss]

Actually, I think there's a fair number of people asking themselves that very question a lot lately.

Although those who post on the DISboards are a small sampling of the total who visit WDW.......usually the most "hardcore". Wow........sincerely that does make me sad. Disney's gotten so difficult for you that you won't return. I can't imagine its "just" the FP+ that is causing this feeling. Unfortunately I doubt that 1000 or 5000 people on DISboards deciding to stop visiting will have any impact on the changes taking place.

Perhaps not visiting for a time will help all those who are unhappy.

Doug