The Incredible message for my trip :)

[mom2rtk]

There is parsing. Lots of it on this thread.

Nothing like what Disney is trying to accomplish by associating FP+ with the term "spontaneous".

I find it quite cheeky on their part, borderline absurd.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Nothing like what Disney is trying to accomplish by associating FP+ with the term "spontaneous".

I find it quite cheeky on their part, borderline absurd.

Then I wonder why invest so much time into complaining about it?

Just seems there are better things to do in life if this truly is not working out for "you" (generic usage).

Why engage in negativity and add stress?

(Not being sarcastic, I just truly don't understand why folks bother so much with something they seem to hate so much.)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I couldn't pay attention to anything in the video, because as an animator myself, I couldn't help but gawk at the terrible compositing of movie clips from the Incredibles, and the new animation of a talking computer. Half of Edna's shots were from behind, so they wouldn't have to change the mouth animations. I'm sorry, but it was so distracting to me...

I am the same way with live tv productions. I get it.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Frequency of visits makes a huge difference in perception IMO.

I've pretty much given up consuming any blogs/podcasts/Youtube whatever by folks who live locally. Their touring experiences are just not relevant to me anymore. I like to hear more about how tourists planned their days using FP+.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Frequency of visits makes a huge difference in perception IMO.

I've pretty much given up consuming any blogs/podcasts/Youtube whatever by folks who live locally. Their touring experiences are just not relevant to me anymore. I like to hear more about how tourists planned their days using FP+.

If that is the case, then when we had infrequent visits due to not living in Florida, I found our 2012 to be the most frustrating ever. For us, even though it was under legacy, it did not make the trip and cheaper. I hated the prices we paid for the tickets and from a psychological standpoint, I struggled with ensuring we got our money's worth. We had fun, but it was one of the most stressful trips we had.

It is unfortunate that those who do get to go frequently have their opinions discarded. Makes one wonder why those who have not used FP+ are given more merit.

 

[mom2rtk]

Frequency of visits makes a huge difference in perception IMO.

I've pretty much given up consuming any blogs/podcasts/Youtube whatever by folks who live locally. Their touring experiences are just not relevant to me anymore. I like to hear more about how tourists planned their days using FP+.

I feel exactly the same way. I discount much (not all) of what I see from locals I know visit frequently, just because they don't approach their visits with the same priorities and limitations I do. So I just don't find it helpful.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Then I wonder why invest so much time into complaining about it?

Just seems there are better things to do in life if this truly is not working out for "you" (generic usage).

Why engage in negativity and add stress?

(Not being sarcastic, I just truly don't understand why folks bother so much with something they seem to hate so much.)

I would imagine these conversations on the DIS, sharing our viewpoints about something - even if it negative - can be stress relievers rather than stress creators. Being able to talk about and sympathize with others who understand your love of something and why you may not like something that's happening can be quite helpful to many people. I don't know about anyone else here, but I don't have a lot of Disney fan friends IRL. Certainly not Disney fan friends I can talk to the way I can about various subjects here.

We're all here because we love Disney. Whether we like all aspects of what Disney is doing or not, we all have a love of Disney or we wouldn't be here in the first place. We should all be able to talk and share viewpoints, both positive and negative.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Frequency of visits makes a huge difference in perception IMO.

I've pretty much given up consuming any blogs/podcasts/Youtube whatever by folks who live locally. Their touring experiences are just not relevant to me anymore. I like to hear more about how tourists planned their days using FP+.

This is one of the reasons I enjoy the DIs Unplugged DLR edition. They do a segment where the team helps a listener plan their trip. They do a few segments leading up to the trip, and then a follow up segment after the trip. I believe they are just this week finishing up segments with a listener they helped plan a trip for in June. I wish the Orlando edition would do something similar, at least occasionally.

 

[cakebaker]

I tend to pay attention to those who have actually used FP+ over a long period of time, with multiple visits. With FP+ what matters to me is what you experienced with crowd levels and lines on rides that are ridden standby and what park conditions are.

There's a reason the "experts" like Josh all live locally. It's the only way to really get a handle on the day to day changes in the parks.


Those who only visit for a day or visit very infrequently don't have enough knowledge to know first hand what the trends are. A one time shot does not show much.

 

[Angel Ariel]

It is unfortunate that those who do get to go frequently have their opinions discarded. Makes one wonder why those who have not used FP+ are given more merit.

I can only speak for myself. I am not discarding the opinions of those who are local. I completely appreciate what your experience is. Saying my experience in inherently going to have a different perspective because I cannot go to the parks more than once/year is not discounting your experience. Your experience is still absolutely valid. Mine is just different. Different isn't bad or good. It's just different.

 

[ElsaColon]

I love FP+. I know it's an unpopular opinion but I do believe it helps with spontaneity. Although I did like the old FP system you have to make sure you were at the park where you wanted to use your FP in the morning or at least before lunch so all the good FP wouldn't be all gone. This is especially true for Epcot and HS. I like Epcot but I don't like going in the morning. I would much rather go to MK, HS or AK in the morning then use my FP in the afternoon for Soarin and Test Track. It allows me to go to my early morning rope drop park and do whatever I want while still knowing I have my FP secured at the next park.

 

[mom2rtk]

I tend to pay attention to those who have actually used FP+ over a long period of time, with multiple visits. With FP+ what matters to me is what you experienced with crowd levels and lines on rides that are ridden standby and what park conditions are.

There's a reason the "experts" like Josh all live locally. It's the only way to really get a handle on the day to day changes in the parks.


Those who only visit for a day or visit very infrequently don't have enough knowledge to know first hand what the trends are. A one time shot does not show much.

LOL.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I can only speak for myself. I am not discarding the opinions of those who are local. I completely appreciate what your experience is. Saying my experience in inherently going to have a different perspective because I cannot go to the parks more than once/year is not discounting your experience. Your experience is still absolutely valid. Mine is just different. Different isn't bad or good. It's just different.

That is appreciated!

I hope we can all learn from each other.

Now that we are back local, I would not disregard someone who only comes once a year on free dining (or whatever) just because their circumstances are different. In fact, I do look to those folks for opinions because there are good nuggets of information contained within.

I hope folks don't find my information bad just because I come more often. As far as I know, it doesn't make the dining experience or the ride experience or the Wishes FP experience all that radically different.

 

[mom2rtk]

That is appreciated!

I hope we can all learn from each other.

Now that we are back local, I would not disregard someone who only comes once a year on free dining (or whatever) just because their circumstances are different. In fact, I do look to those folks for opinions because there are good nuggets of information contained within.

I hope folks don't find my information bad just because I come more often. As far as I know, it doesn't make the dining experience or the ride experience or the Wishes FP experience all that radically different.

I don't find the information from locals bad. I do find much of it not pertinent to my touring style and priorities. The locals who post here are extremely helpful in a lot of things, but their FP+ priorities will usually be different from mine.

Dining questions, character questions, things like that ...... I find it very helpful to hear from the locals.

But FP+ (which is what this thread is about) is another matter.

 

[NMAmy]

Then I wonder why invest so much time into complaining about it?

Just seems there are better things to do in life if this truly is not working out for "you" (generic usage).

Why engage in negativity and add stress?

(Not being sarcastic, I just truly don't understand why folks bother so much with something they seem to hate so much.)

Based on the number of posts you've made on this thread in the last hour or so, I'd wonder the same thing about those who invest this much energy into defending a company's commercial? Some people think the claim of spontaneity is ridiculous--it's a valid viewpoint even if you don't agree with it. It's a discussion board and people are free to post both sides of a topic.

 

[LOL!]

After watching the short video, I suppose I interpret the message a bit differently.

The only reference to spontaneity is at 1:51 with the statement that FP+ will "allow you even more time to be spontaneous".

They didn't say FP itself is spontaneous. In fact, I would interpret it to mean that FP+ is not spontaneous but using it affords more time to be spontaneous. As in, you've quickly used up your 3 FP's for the day - now what are you going to do?

And that is truly spontaneous!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Based on the number of posts you've made on this thread in the last hour or so, I'd wonder the same thing about those who invest this much energy into defending a company's commercial? Some people think the claim of spontaneity is ridiculous--it's a valid viewpoint even if you don't agree with it. It's a discussion board and people are free to post both sides of a topic.

I was speaking of the overall negative talk of FP+. If in general, something negatively impacts you so much, why bother? It is a valid question after all and not to be confused with a claim the viewpoint was invalid.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't find the information from locals bad. I do find much of it not pertinent to my touring style and priorities. The locals who post here are extremely helpful in a lot of things, but their FP+ priorities will usually be different from mine.

Dining questions, character questions, things like that ...... I find it very helpful to hear from the locals.

But FP+ (which is what this thread is about) is another matter.

Well, whenever you are up to it, I do wish you would share your experience. I know the information would be helpful to many.

And fair enough that my touring style may be different.

 

[sharonped]

Frequency of visits makes a huge difference in perception IMO.

I've pretty much given up consuming any blogs/podcasts/Youtube whatever by folks who live locally. Their touring experiences are just not relevant to me anymore. I like to hear more about how tourists planned their days using FP+.

*THIS* in MY OPINION these two types of visitors are on completely opposite ends of the spectrum. The level of anxiety for someone taking a 5-, 7-, or 10-day trip paying thousands of dollars JUST for airfare for their family, not to mention having to find a place to sleep -either on or offsite- assuming they do not have relatives in the area; to do AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE in their once every 2 or 3 or 5 year trip is very, very different than a local. Not discounting EITHER touring style's experiences; I expect there are negatives to touring as a local just as there are to touring as a well ...tourist.

 

[itchin2go]

Are you discrediting her experience? Because it sounds as though you are by using your experience as proof that hers could not be.

Thanks for asking.

No, here's what I was doing. I was legitimately asking if she was serious, because it sounded like the kind of statement that could be offered facetiously. I didn't know whether that was the case, so I wanted to ask. I *try* not to assume to much. It gets me into trouble.

Then, I offered my experience (which is probably what caused me to ask whether she was serious). My experience *seemed* to be very different that what she described. Doesn't mean either of us is wrong.

When two people have had wildly different experiences at the same theme park, there could be lots of things going on to account for those differences. The only answer is not that she's wrong, or lying, or misrepresenting. That wasn't my allegation and I'm glad I could clear it up. It's actually why I asked the question, rather than assuming.

Back to the original question: Does FP+ allow for more spontaneity? My opinion is no. Others can have their opinion. My default position will never be that Disney told me so, so it must be so. I run the question through my brain, plug in my experiences and form an opinion. In my experience, there is still room for spontaneity in a Disney vacation. There was always a great degree of planning required for us to do what we wanted. Sure, you can plan things on the fly, but that potentially left us out of experiences we wanted. So spontaneity always took a hit. I think it took an additional hit with FP+. I think there are still room for spontaneous moments, but I think it's really a stretch to say it allows for MORE spontaneity.

That is all. To be clear, I don't hate FP+. As I said, upthread, I don't even mind the extra planning. I'm one of those weirdos who loves the planning. It's why I'm here (on the boards so much). But I am not under the illusion that when I am booking my FPs, it's a spontaneous activity or that when the family actually has those experiences, that there was anything spontaneous about it.

And the truth is, spontaneous doesn't equal good, and planned doesn't equal bad. They're just different.