The Incredible message for my trip :)

[Planogirl]

Some of these comments are confusing and contradictory.

I see some saying that an advantage of FP+ is that you don't have to show up at the parks early because you already have ride times reserved. Yet I also see comments that you should show up early particularly in the case of tiering so that you can ride before the parks get too crowded. So which is it?

I agree with those who say that most of the experiences of the locals don't help much with planning occasional trips from out of state. Of course restaurant recommendations and when to ride things without any fastpass can be meaningful but some experiences don't really apply.

 

[amg35]

Hmmm. Both?

I explained my stance pretty clearly in my last post - if you have one ride reserved and you want to ride another tiered ride that day, go to rope drop if you are against standing in line. Otherwise, go later and wait in a line -what is a long line is relative. Or if you can, go another day and pick the ride then.

It just wasn't a problem for me.

 

[Planogirl]

Hmmm. Both?

I explained my stance pretty clearly in my last post - if you have one ride reserved and you want to ride another tiered ride that day, go to rope drop if you are against standing in line. Otherwise, go later and wait in a line -what is a long line is relative. Or if you can, go another day and pick the ride then.

It just wasn't a problem for me.

I appreciate the clarification. However some DISers have said that they enjoy not having to arrive at the parks early and also don't wish to wait in excessive lines and then say that you should arrive early to get around the tiers. I'm an early bird myself and always have been so there's no problem for me.

 

[momof2n2]

For how many people?

Me, DH, four kids 10+, and two 3-9. Tix from UCT.

I suppose if I was paying WDW resort fees I'd feel like as long as I was on WDW property I'd be getting ROI. Pft - for the cost of those rooms I probably WOULD feel like I needed to spend time at the motels/hotels.

We rent a (beautiful) 5-bed house for $106.25/night (tax incl.) that I only care to use for sleeping and eating some breakfasts in on our park days. While it does have a massive lanai and great pool, we're good with just a few days there.

Our trip last year to SW/BGT/Aquatica cost barely $230/day. We had one line-lingering experience, but otherwise rode ourselves silly over five days. Because we've HAD great experiences (great ROIs) it makes the changes at WDW more disappointing to us.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Me, DH, four kids 10+, and two 3-9. Tix from UCT.

I suppose if I was paying WDW resort fees I'd feel like as long as I was on WDW property I'd be getting ROI. Pft - for the cost of those rooms I probably WOULD feel like I needed to spend time at the motels/hotels.

We rent a (beautiful) 5-bed house for $106.25/night (tax incl.) that I only care to use for sleeping and eating some breakfasts in on our park days. While it does have a massive lanai and great pool, we're good with just a few days there.

Our trip last year to SW/BGT/Aquatica cost barely $230/day. We had one line-lingering experience, but otherwise rode ourselves silly over five days. Because we've HAD great experiences (great ROIs) it makes the changes at WDW more disappointing to us.

Less than $100 per day doesn't seem so bad. But if you can have as much or even MORE fun elsewhere, it does make sense.

We don't dislike Disney. We enjoy FP+. But we are coming down to some decisions because we do have other travel dreams. Us deciding to do this is not a referendum on Disney. But they aren't exactly cheap, so pricing out and experiencing other things is not a difficult decision.

But-as a local--I cannot be convinced Sea world is worth even a discount ticket. We have had them. Just has never been my cup of tea. When my favorite show features cats, dogs, and a pig at a park whose prevailing theme is Sea life--I take that as a sign. Lol.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Some of these comments are confusing and contradictory.

I see some saying that an advantage of FP+ is that you don't have to show up at the parks early because you already have ride times reserved. Yet I also see comments that you should show up early particularly in the case of tiering so that you can ride before the parks get too crowded. So which is it?

I agree with those who say that most of the experiences of the locals don't help much with planning occasional trips from out of state. Of course restaurant recommendations and when to ride things without any fastpass can be meaningful but some experiences don't really apply.

They are just different answers to different questions. Not different answers to the same
Question.

 

[momof2n2]

Less than $100 per day doesn't seem so bad. But if you can have as much or even MORE fun elsewhere, it does make sense.

We don't dislike Disney. We enjoy FP+. But we are coming down to some decisions because we do have other travel dreams. Us deciding to do this is not a referendum on Disney. But they aren't exactly cheap, so pricing out and experiencing other things is not a difficult decision.

But-as a local--I cannot be convinced Sea world is worth even a discount ticket. We have had them. Just has never been my cup of tea. When my favorite show features cats, dogs, and a pig at a park whose prevailing theme is Sea life--I take that as a sign. Lol.

You lost me. Or I lost you. Our tix for 8 people comes to $2,525.60 for five days. That is $505.12 per day.

[We were blown away by the three parks. Manta was the most elegant ride I've ever experienced, and nothing about BGT disappointed us. I'm sure you can find many places to interact with sea life in FL, but we were delighted by the animals we saw (and fed and touched). And the all-day-dining features they offered were such a treat for this mom.]

We love to travel. Just drove from NY to OR and back. We love the beach. And we are doing an NCL cruise next year. (As a FL resident tell me you have taken the kiddos cruising!! You're rates are envy-inducing.)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You lost me. Or I lost you. Our tix for 8 people comes to $2,525.60 for five days. That is $505.12 per day.

[We were blown away by the three parks. Manta was the most elegant ride I've ever experienced, and nothing about BGT disappointed us. I'm sure you can find many places to interact with sea life in FL, but we were delighted by the animals we saw (and fed and touched). And the all-day-dining features they offered were such a treat for this mom.]

We love to travel. Just drove from NY to OR and back. We love the beach. And we are doing an NCL cruise next year. (As a FL resident tell me you have taken the kiddos cruising!! You're rates are envy-inducing.)

I left out two key words. I'm sorry for that.

Per person.

We track per person costs since there are 6 people we pay for right now. Net cost is always high no matter what we do. So the unit we break it down by is per person.

Have you been to Clearwater Aquarium? That is next on our list so we can see Winter. I don't mind not touching the animals because it gives me the heebie jeebies otherwise.

We did one Florida resident DCL and one non resident. We have to get 2 cabins so get hosed on the 3rd/4th passenger rates on regular lines and kid rates on DCL. So it costs us more per person average than folks we travel with as a result.

Went to Indiana recently. It was mostly a "business" trip for me and not really leisure. I would love to go back in tourist mode. Very lovely place.

And sorry for the OT discussion. Back to the regularly scheduled program.

 

[JimmyV]

... if you have one ride reserved and you want to ride another tiered ride that day, go to rope drop if you are against standing in line. Otherwise, go later and wait in a line -what is a long line is relative. Or if you can, go another day and pick the ride then.

While certainly not always the case, going another day is often a "locals" strategy and not as easy to do with guests who are only there for 5 or 6 days. So when you take the "go another day" option out of the equation, one is left with, (at tiered parks), go early if you want to ride another tiered ride, or wait in a very long line and burn much of your day. I don't think I am going out on a limb when I say that most visitors who are only in town for 5 or 6 days will want to ride many of the tiered rides. They are the headliners after all. So if we assume that one wants to ride multiple headliners at a tiered park, we are now down to one option.....Get there early. And this has always been the case. So I am not faulting FP+ for creating some new problem. It didn't. But this thread isn't about bashing the utility of FP+. It is about FP+ and its creation of spontaneity. And now that we have concluded that out of town folks with limited time who want to ride multiple headliners at tiered parks have to arrive early, the concept of spontaneity erodes. Some would even say evaporates.

 

[SmithSmith]

I appreciate the clarification. However some DISers have said that they enjoy not having to arrive at the parks early and also don't wish to wait in excessive lines and then say that you should arrive early to get around the tiers. I'm an early bird myself and always have been so there's no problem for me.

I've said this. I've given my answer long ago, but here it goes again.

I advocate RD, and used it to great benefit during my last trip. However, things will be different on my December trip and I don't feel the need to RD most days. My main reason for skipping it is because this will be a Christmas centric trip. I'm not interested in riding as much as I can, I'm interested in soaking up as much Christmas as I can. Another reason is the fact that there will be cooler temps this visit, and I don't feel the need to take a midday break to escape the heat. Now considering I appreciate the parks more at night than during the day, I decided spending the afternoon and evenings (& late EMHs) was going to be my best bet. The last reason influencing my decision to skip RD is because I was given extra anytime FPs for this trip. (FWIW, I had decided to skip RD before I was given the extra FPs.)

I can't speak for anyone else, but I do think there are many factors people use when deciding whether to RD or not. Whether that's sleeping in or having late nights or visiting other parks. You can advocate both because it's not like you have to commit to one or the other. One can easily RD one day and then skip it the next.

 

[JimmyV]

One can easily RD one day and then skip it the next.

This is especially true if one wants to spend the better part of a day at World Showcase. The 11:00 opening time gives a good reason to sleep in. I suppose one could say that getting to WS at 11:00 is "going at RD", but I don't look at it that way.

 

[DoingDisney]

They are just different answers to different questions. Not different answers to the same
Question.

I would agree, except they often come from the same posters:

"Legacy FP didn't work for us and how we tour, We never got any FPs for TSMM (or Soarin' or TT), because we didn't rope drop and by the time we got to the parks they were all gone"

"FP+ is amazing, we rope dropped, rode a whole bunch and then had our FPs for later in the afternoon/evening"

Literally from the same people.

Or "FP+ is amazing, no need to wake up and get to the parks anymore!"

"Your best strategy is to rope drop, ride while waits are low and then use your 3 FPs"

Again, literally from the same people, sometimes within minutes of each other often in different threads, sometimes even in the same thread.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would agree, except they often come from the same posters:

"Legacy FP didn't work for us and how we tour, We never got any FPs for TSMM (or Soarin' or TT), because we didn't rope drop and by the time we got to the parks they were all gone"

"FP+ is amazing, we rope dropped, rode a whole bunch and then had our FPs for later in the afternoon/evening"

Literally from the same people.

Or "FP+ is amazing, no need to wake up and get to the parks anymore!"

"Your best strategy is to rope drop, ride while waits are low and then use your 3 FPs"

Again, literally from the same people, sometimes within minutes of each other often in different threads, sometimes even in the same thread.

Looks like folks adjusted their strategy.

I know that I respond to questions in context, but I am sure you will find something you perceive to be a contradiction that really isn't.


Welcome to the DIS, btw!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

This is especially true if one wants to spend the better part of a day at World Showcase. The 11:00 opening time gives a good reason to sleep in. I suppose one could say that getting to WS at 11:00 is "going at RD", but I don't look at it that way.

We "rope dropped" World Showcase 2-3 weeks ago. When did this become a thing? Lol!

We saw folks rushing to something but we didn't know what. We did figure out as we caught up to where they stopped that it was for a character meet and greet, we assume. But it was a funny at the time because we couldn't think of a reason. We were just done with FW and heading the slow way to our lunch ADR.

So I don't see it as a rope drop. But some people certainly did that day.

 

[DoingDisney]

Looks like folks adjusted their strategy.

I know that I respond to questions in context, but I am sure you will find something you perceive to be a contradiction that really isn't.


Welcome to the DIS, btw!

THanks for the welcome.

These statements have been made in conjunction questions about which system is better, by the same people. It is not "adjusting" to state legacy FP wasn't as good because if you showed up in the afternoon FPs for headliners were gone so you "never rode them" but that FP+ is great because by showing up at Rope Drop you are able to ride a whole bunch of stuff, thats just trying to misrepresent things in order to serve a narrative.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

THanks for the welcome.

These statements have been made in conjunction questions about which system is better, by the same people. It is not "adjusting" to state legacy FP wasn't as good because if you showed up in the afternoon FPs for headliners were gone so you "never rode them" but that FP+ is great because by showing up at Rope Drop you are able to ride a whole bunch of stuff, thats just trying to misrepresent things in order to serve a narrative.

I don't see it that way. But okay.

But lest you think I contradict myself--I always think Rope drop is the optimum way to go.

Ask my mom. She finally gave up and told us kids to just go have fun. No parks for her until she had coffee. Lol.

My husband and I were the type to check into our hotel room at 7am to make rope drop.

I think the one poster you mentioned is speaking specifically about TSMM. Not all headliners.

 

[Pmlocke]

I really feel sorry for those who feel they have to plan their entire stay at WDW. I do understand that when you are traveling with your children there are expectations that need to be met, such as going on certain rides and not wanting to wait in long lines. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. My wife and I have traveled with children and grandchildren. Now we go alone. For the first time as a solo couple we were able to fully enjoy the parks. No longer did we have to get up early so that we could make the rope drop and run over to whatever ride the kids wanted to be on. No more long lines because we can now go in the off season and enjoy the parks at a quieter time. No getting the fast pass because when we walk past a ride, if the wait is more than 20 minutes-we keep on walking. No schedule at all. In the morning at breakfast we make the decision then where we will be spending the day. And when I say the day I mean we go to a park for several hours, have lunch then head back to the resort (always ASMusic) for 4-5 hours of quiet time at the pool. Then it's back to another park for dinner and more fun. We are both in our 60's and let me tell you, Disney gets better as you age. We now travel every year and find that each time it is the most relaxing, fun-filled, exciting, pleasant experience of any vacation we have ever taken. When was the last time you went to WDW and can say you had a relaxing vacation? So, for those of you who are planning out every detail, cramming as much "fun time" as you can squeeze in, remember this. One of these days you will be tempted to go down for a week-just the two of you. You'll love it.

 

[larryz]

I love FP+. I know it's an unpopular opinion but I do believe it helps with spontaneity.

On the contrary, liking FP+ is not an unpopular opinion. We love that you love it.

What we don't like is when folks try to tell us we're WRONG for not liking it, because: (pick a reason) we're doing it wrong, we're resistant to change, we were abusing loopholes, or we are part of some anti-FP+ conspiracy.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

On the contrary, liking FP+ is not an unpopular opinion. We love that you love it.

What we don't like is when folks try to tell us we're WRONG for not liking it, because: (pick a reason) we're doing it wrong, we're resistant to change, we were abusing loopholes, or we are part of some anti-FP+ conspiracy.

But we get told we are wrong or ficticious reasons why it worked for us.

 

[momof2n2]

I really feel sorry for those who feel they have to plan their entire stay at WDW. I do understand that when you are traveling with your children there are expectations that need to be met, such as going on certain rides and not wanting to wait in long lines. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. My wife and I have traveled with children and grandchildren. Now we go alone. For the first time as a solo couple we were able to fully enjoy the parks. No longer did we have to get up early so that we could make the rope drop and run over to whatever ride the kids wanted to be on. No more long lines because we can now go in the off season and enjoy the parks at a quieter time. No getting the fast pass because when we walk past a ride, if the wait is more than 20 minutes-we keep on walking. No schedule at all. In the morning at breakfast we make the decision then where we will be spending the day. And when I say the day I mean we go to a park for several hours, have lunch then head back to the resort (always ASMusic) for 4-5 hours of quiet time at the pool. Then it's back to another park for dinner and more fun. We are both in our 60's and let me tell you, Disney gets better as you age. We now travel every year and find that each time it is the most relaxing, fun-filled, exciting, pleasant experience of any vacation we have ever taken. When was the last time you went to WDW and can say you had a relaxing vacation? So, for those of you who are planning out every detail, cramming as much "fun time" as you can squeeze in, remember this. One of these days you will be tempted to go down for a week-just the two of you. You'll love it.

Um. Nope. Not me. By the time my now 2 yo is too old to come with me I hope my now teens have some trips with their kids I can tag along with.
(I can't fathom bring kid-free. Down right dread it.) ❤