There is absolutely no down side to FP+ - just back!

[Alice515]

We've been testing it for the past 10 days. Despite some nice features of FP+, 3 FPs isn't enough. Period.

Are you NOT able to still get regular FPs too?

 

[MartDM]

Thanks for sharing your experiences with FP+ OP! Clearly there are a lot of strong opinions and speculation going on, so I am really appreciating you & others who have detailed your own experiences testing it.

I completely agree with the PP who stated that your opinion of FP+ correlates to your style of touring.

Back in the pre-kids days when we could be park commandos, I probably wouldn't have been happy about being tied down so specifically to a plan or losing out on multiple fast passes per day. Now, we don't typically get to the parks until about an hour after opening, need to take a midday break, and then go back out in the evening. Having FP+ will ensure we won't miss out on FPs that run out quickly or have to scramble to get back & forth across the parks to get FPs and then make our way back hours later to ride. It will also minimize waits for us on rides that didn't previously offer FP & make our touring more efficient. Those things really appeal to our current touring style as they will benefit us greatly! I kind of feel like we're being given an opportunity we missed out on previously.

 

[mistysue]

We have been using it with mixed feelings the last few days. Switching fp+ yesterday at EPCOT wasn't going to happen. We had a test track we couldnt make at 7 pm. In early morning there were no other times available. We were offered spaceship earth or turtle talk... which let me add makes no sense as a fp. They hold you in a pen at the back of the crowd. So unless you were going to have to wait for multiple shows before vyou got in, you are dedicating one of your slots to guarantee yourself one of the worst seats in the house.

I will say, it is great to feel a little less stressed about making rope drop. We already know we will get a pass for the ride and that the time is good.

As for the effect on lines, I have found myself wondering how much if the fp+ system and how much is other things. We got in line for "living with the land" yesterday and what should have been a 5 minute line took us 20 minutes. There were THREE separate "family reunions" with matching shirts and one person on an ecv. All three were large enough groups to get their own boat and all of them were just directed up front past the line. Thats the first time Ive felt like there might be something to that news story. On the new Ariel ride tonight there were enough slow downs for boarding that it effected the ride quality. I have no problems with people needing and getting accommodations but that large family matching shirt thing is making me skeptical. I dont get how they even convince them to let a group of 12-15 tag onto one GAC.

 

[kmb584]

I'm sure I'm bound to repeat at least some of what has been said as I haven't read through the responses, but anywho.

While I am happy to read that your MB/FP+ experience was both effortless and positive, I do hope that you realize you were merely part of a test group for a system that is still in the testing phase. FP+ began public testing in late 2012 and just a couple of weeks ago, Bob Iger announced that ~80,000 people had taken part in the testing phase. Compare that number to the ~120,000 people who enter the WDW parks daily. We are nearing the 1st anniversary of the 1st test phase and in that time frame, ~43,800,000 people have visited WDW. The people who have participated in the test compared to the actual number of visitors is, in my opinion, insignificant. In that same article, Iger also went on to say that a very large percentage of the feedback was positive; it'd be ridiculous to think that it wouldn't be. Those participating in the testing, especially since the introduction of the MB and the "glitch" of being able to double-dip, are able to book or rearrange FP+ times to better accomodate their needs, utilize FP+ and FP at the same time, etc. When the system is released to the public, I have an inkling that a lot of those with glowing reviews of their test are going to be singing a different tune.

When reality hits, there will be no moving TSMM to a later time slot because you happened to sleep in, there will be no "on the fly". The same can be said for other headlining attractions as well. You may plan on visiting DHS on the 3rd day of your vacation due to crowd calendar recommendations, but what happens if there are no TSMM time slots available for that day? Those of us who do plan around crowds will either have to rearrange our schedule or stand in an even longer stand-by queue. If an attraction goes down, or a show is canceled, you'll have the ability to schedule another FP+ selection. Great? No. Not now anyway considering almost everything is gearing up to be a selection. Who really wants to FP the Backlot Tour? It's like when I get a FP for Winnie The Pooh and the machine spits out the "bonus" FP for Mickey's PhilharMagic. I happen to be a huge fan of that particular show but it certainly isn't FP material.

I don't fit into any of your 3 scenarious. My 51st WDW vacation is in October. I have read and re-read every article on the new system. I am 100% for change, but that 100% is for positive change. Yes, the world is becoming more technologically advanced by the minute, but I'm a firm believer in not fixing something that isn't broken. When FP was introduced, I was elated as it provided a chance to secure a spin on a favorite, headlining attraction without a 2 hour wait. I'm still a fan of the FP system as is and utilize it to my best advantage on every vacation.

I'm also an AP holder and an avid fan of park hopping. We spend 10 full days in WDW every 6 months and hop on anywhere from 7-10 of those days, each time. FP+ is going to limit my FP choices. I pull and use, at the minimum, 5 FP per day. When FP+ rolls out en masse not only will I be limited to 3 per day but those 3 must be within the same park. That's a huge disadvantage for me. DD's new favorite ride is Soarin' and on 4 separate occasions in April/May, we found ourselves hopping to Epcot, pulling FPs for Soarin' and enjoying other attractions until our FPs were valid. No longer will we be able to do that.

 

[WillAustin]

Are you NOT able to still get regular FPs too?

We can also get regular FPs now. I don't believe that will be case in the future.

EDIT: Actually, we've been able to get more FPs each day than ever before. That's not indicative of how it's going to shake out eventually though.

 

[coozieman]

I'm not going to lie. Paper fastpass is awesome. I am an aggressive rider. Always having a fastpass for a ride as soon as I can get it. Never standing in standby unless there was no fastpass. Grabbing fastpasses for my favorites multiple times a day. It was the life.

I would probably get 8-10 fastpasses a day. No more of that. I will still go. I will still love disney. My touring style is forcibly changing. It will cause us aggressive riders to standby more. It's gonna be a bitter pill for me and all who tour fast and furious. I guess if you're a slowpoke and ride 4-5 rides a day yeah.....you'll probably love it. I'm a 15-20 ride girl.....well......not anymore .

How do you know Bigal that you will no longer be able to ride 12-15 rides pet day? I did on a very busy MK day...

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

When it is finally rolled out, FastPass+ will level the playing field. Whether a person is a veteran park goer or a newbie, all will have the same opportunities.

Except for those that plan last minute trips, day trippers, those with no smart phones, those who can't download the app to their device and/or those that make no contact online with Disney or use their app. I have family that are headed down in Oct and they have not once signed onto Disney's website. Is that a level playing field for them?

Let's see what was required to use the current FP system....just show up. How did the current system limit anyone? It can't be because they didn't learn about FP- because they would also have to learn about FP+ to use it fully.

Yep, seems like FP+ is a much more level playing field to me.

 

[JanaDee]

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

It's time to realize that the old days of getting 8 FP's are long gone

To tell my family that we should be happy about this fact because it is okay with your family is kind of condescending. I wouldn't tell you that 3 FP+s isn't enough for your family because that is your family and you have the right to decided what works best for your family. But you don't have to place to tell me that our family being disappointed with 3 FP+s isn't right. I believe there have been many that have expressed concern with the new system that have said they are glad it worked for you. But just because it worked great for you and your family doesn't mean we can't have concerns with the way it is currently working in testing.

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

You know, I can totally see why some people would like FP+.

But what I don't understand is the absolute drive to tell those of us who don't like it why we're out of our minds or stuck in the last century.

Are some people really just incapable of seeing that this is takeaway for some folks?

For our style of touring, it is ride rationing. Until they let us pick the same ride for more than one slot, it will be a takeaway. A pretty substantial one at that.

It is a definite takeaway for larger families. We have a 3YO girl, and 4 boys 14,13,12,and 9 now I have to decide which 3 things to pick from PP for the youngers to Space for the olders. And if I pick differnt for each age group then I only get to ride one or the other with one group of my kids. Now that isn't a family vacation for me anymore as I have to either choose which of my kids to ride with or do long standbys to ride with both. Now we're also throwing characters in the mix like ETWB which my will not want to miss but my boys wouldn't be happy burning a FP+ on. We love meeting characters as well as the rides so 3 is simply not enough when you add in so much to the system.

 

[nkosiek]

I just came back and though wasn't involved in the testing, the biggest issue I found besides not seeing very many people with the bands (meaning a small test group overall) was the fact that the MDE app and their wifi coverage in the park BLOW!!!

I don't mean they are a bit wonky, but they stink. The old Disney Parks app was three times better in terms of wait times, finding characters, and ease of use. The current app took forever to load, froze numerous times, and doesn't automatically update. If there are FPs to be traded into/out of when the full rollout occurs, how the hell is anyone going to be able to book them when their app SUCKS. I can't adequately explain just how bad an experience it was trying to use it.

 

[olenygiants]

I don't think it is going to be as bad as sine some people think, but I do think that it will affect different people differently based on touring styles. Some negatively, some positive.

Look at it this way. Say 80,000 people visited the magic kingdom today and no one used fp+, but continued with the old system. All of the rides would continue and the shows would go on. Take the exact same scenario and take away old fastpass system and insert the new one. Guess what? 80,000 people still visit the magic kingdom, the rides operate the same number of times as before, and the same amount of shows go on. Someone is still filling those spots of the 80,000 people in the park. But it is more balanced out.

If Disney continues with 3 fp+ per person, then no one would be able to have much of an advantage over the next person. It balances out.

The new system seems positive for the laid back person, but for those that tour more aggressively, it clearly appears it is going to be negative.

The aggressive tourist will ride less rides, while the typical laid back tourist will now probably ride more.

But in the end everything balances itself out. There are still the same number of seats filled using the same number of people in the park.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Rip]

Don't forget: You TESTED FP+
So for sure you easily could change and switch and did your reservations on same day... But when it is in use for all, this will change. You have to make all the reservations for the cool rides many many days in advance and you will not be able to change them easily for the Major Rides.
3 Fastpasses a day? A joke for me. No park hopping? A joke for me.

 

[Mad Hattered]

 

[Rip]

You know, I can totally see why some people would like FP+.

But what I don't understand is the absolute drive to tell those of us who don't like it why we're out of our minds or stuck in the last century.

Are some people really just incapable of seeing that this is takeaway for some folks?

For our style of touring, it is ride rationing. Until they let us pick the same ride for more than one slot, it will be a takeaway. A pretty substantial one at that.

For two reasons: they don't understand that they are just testing now and that this isn't how it's actually going to work when fully implemented and they do not understand that both systems hinge on ride capacity.

Yes, I'm sure a lot of the testers love it, I'm also sure that when fully implemented it will not work as well for anyone that doesn't want to plan out their vacation in that sort of micro-detail.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

 

[Chumpson]

Multiple FP guy here....we are the minority and Disney cares about the majority. More people like to sleep in and like to get FPs when they do. This will make them happy, but it sucks for us.

I also read something I am more concerned about as rumors are mulling around....0 FP+ for off site per day, 1 FP+ for value, 2 FP+ for Mods, and 3 FP+ for Deluxe. If this were to happen, I would find myself never going to DL again. I can't afford the higher priced resorts and won't wait in long standby lines. Getting one FP just wouldn't cut it, we are worried about only getting 3, but it could be even less.

Guess I would just have to find other places to vacation.

 

[Kristine316]

 

[AThrillingChase]

I am all for fp+. and yes I hope it will level the playing field. I really thing fast passes should be limited to one per person per ride per day. I think those people who hog fast passes for the same ride all day are selfish. Some one here posted they rode EE 11 times in one day. I am assuming with fp so now with the new system 10 other people can enjoy a ride that might have gotten run out of fp's. seems fairer to me. After all I paid good money too!

...there are currently rules for this. Getting 11 FP for space mtn. in a row is extremely unlikely, to say the least. There is a 1 FP per every 2 hours, or until the 1st FP expires. You have every opportunity to jump in there in those multiple 2 hour periods and go to town. When they run out at 2pm, it is not due to someone hogging them all. It is due to a lot of people in general. If you want a popular ride it is just best to plan ahead. Not 180 days ahead, but same principal.


As for EE, I have done that many times in a row. Because the standby was rarely long and, well, I waited. So that is likely factored into the PP 11 rides (again, FP has rules not just take your fill). So I think calling people who choose to FP space mtn over dumbo or the little mermaid selfish is a tad rude.

 

[Sammie]

Also DVC members are not excluded, they just did a test at Bay Lake Towers, not sure where you got that info. The roll out is going to Jambo House with arrivals in early September and Beach Club Villas.

I am surprised they went ahead and let you test in advance of the planned schedule.