This FP+ thing, Can Someone Break It Down For Me?

[RCMommy]

Okay, please don't throw arrows at me! I am just reading and reading so many different threads and posts on the new FP+ but I don't understand the overall synopsis.

We were some of those chosen in 2012 to use the very new trial FP+. We used it and it worked fine for us. I didn't think it was anything spectacular but I didn't not like it either.

I am completely neutral on the subject now as it has been a while, but what is it about this system that the majority of people seems to dislike so much?

When we did it you could book a ride or a few attractions (but they were not available to us at the time) I think it was three a day but I am not 100%
I understand that the stand by wait times are horrible now, but couldn't they be when FP+ wasn't around as well? I have certainly stood my fair share of time waiting in long lines. Is it that you are limited to three?

I am just trying to get a grasp on how it has changed to when we used it and why I am reading so many negative threads in regards to MP+.

 

[kappyfamily]

I've found that most people just don't like change. I'm leaving in 25 days and I'm going to hold off with my feelings until I see it for myself. Bottom line is I'm going to Disneyworld and am super excited!

 

[ekatiel]

I think most people are upset by the following things in order of popularity (just my observations from threads I've read):

1) You only get three a day. At MK, especially, this is a lot less than people used with FP-.
2) Epcot and DHS are tiered now, so at Epcot you can only have a FP+ for Soarin OR TT, not both. Most people were used to being able to FP both under the old system. Same thing for TSM and RnR at DHS.
3) You can only choose attractions at one park, which makes the park hopper option a lot less valuable. With FP- you could collect FPs at each park you visited, subject to availability, of course.
4) Off site folks don't get to book in advance and instead have to spend time waiting in line at a kiosk to book their FPs.
5) The App is clunky to use.

I'm sure I'm missing other things people don't like about the system. The above are just my observations from reading posts about FP+. We are planning on visiting again over Thanksgiving. I'm hoping they've fixed some of these problems by then. I can definitely see why people are upset.

 

[RCMommy]

I think most people are upset by the following things in order of popularity (just my observations from threads I've read):

1) You only get three a day. At MK, especially, this is a lot less than people used with FP-.
2) Epcot and DHS are tiered now, so at Epcot you can only have a FP+ for Soarin OR TT, not both. Most people were used to being able to FP both under the old system. Same thing for TSM and RnR at DHS.
3) You can only choose attractions at one park, which makes the park hopper option a lot less valuable. With FP- you could collect FPs at each park you visited, subject to availability, of course.
4) Off site folks don't get to book in advance and instead have to spend time waiting in line at a kiosk to book their FPs.
5) The App is clunky to use.

I'm sure I'm missing other things people don't like about the system. The above are just my observations from reading posts about FP+. We are planning on visiting again over Thanksgiving. I'm hoping they've fixed some of these problems by then. I can definitely see why people are upset.

Alrighty, now I am getting the gist...

My overall impression, is for those of us that have been multiple times it is not THAT big of a deal, but for first timers or hard core riders I can see where the problems start to rise.

They didn't have the app when we used FP+ or at least we didn't use it, but we did book on the website and then change at the little kiosks set up throughout the parks. We only had a kink once in the system.

My next question......what was the Disney peeps trying to achieve with this? I don't see how this would makes things "better" I guess the intent is to make the parks more 'fair' by by allowing more chances of getting on the popular rides. ??

 

[shalom]

My next question......what was the Disney peeps trying to achieve with this? I don't see how this would makes things "better" I guess the intent is to make the parks more 'fair' by by allowing more chances of getting on the popular rides. ??

That's my theory as well. Basically, they're pulling everyone down to the average (3 FPs/day), so people who were formerly able to pull five or more a day are the ones who're losing out.

But it will also give Disney more information about each individual's activities (Time compared them to "NSA-esque tracking devices"). That will make it easier to target their marketing -- offer people PINS who aren't likely to stay onsite otherwise, for instance, rather than offering them to people who are likely to stay onsite even without that discount. Whether you think that's good depends on what you think of Disney, I suppose.

 

[crostorfer]

That's my theory as well. Basically, they're pulling everyone down to the average (3 FPs/day), so people who were formerly able to pull five or more a day are the ones who're losing out.

But it will also give Disney more information about each individual's activities (Time compared them to "NSA-esque tracking devices"). That will make it easier to target their marketing -- offer people PINS who aren't likely to stay onsite otherwise, for instance, rather than offering them to people who are likely to stay onsite even without that discount. Whether you think that's good depends on what you think of Disney, I suppose.

It's Disney's version of Animal Farm. Welcome to vacation socialism.

And OP, add to the above list of detractors the fact that you may not choose the same ride twice. That's more of a deal breaker for me than the limit of 3.

 

[RCMommy]

Sheesh, I can definitely understand that people are upset that someone now essentially dictates what we can do each day in the park, versus being able to go about it in our own fashion.

My family never got more than 3 fastpasses a day in any trip. So to me that would not be a downside.

To limit, for example a FP for only TT or Soarin' I don't really get. Epcot does not have many "thrill" rides to offer so to limit people to FP for only one seems backwards to me.

For Soarin' for example the FP were long gone for the day by mid morning if not earlier so it would seem to me there is a fair share of people getting those FPs, why all of a sudden is it a problem?

 

[RCMommy]

I just had to add to my above post...

I know people who have not yet visited WDW because they are intimidated by the whole planning process and the fear of getting all of it in and getting their monies worth. (you can tell them they won't, but newbies need to learn on their own)

I have a friend who is so overwhelmed by planning a seven day trip that if I now tell her she has to plan which ride at a certain time frame on a certain day or they might not be able to get on that ride without a long wait -- may literally send her batty!

 

[noahdove]

RCMommy, I am with you, the more I read the more confused I get. I leave in 99 days and I am worried I don't mind change at all, in fact I love it, IF it works... I was hoping I could park hop and save time all the way around. But, I guess there is no need for hoppers now as it won't save anytime..

 

[RCMommy]

RCMommy, I am with you, the more I read the more confused I get. I leave in 99 days and I am worried I don't mind change at all, in fact I love it, IF it works... I was hoping I could park hop and save time all the way around. But, I guess there is no need for hoppers now as it won't save anytime..

I think many of us that have been many times may not like the change but won't see it as such a big deal but for people just going for the first time or the true "theme park commandos" - Disney may be in for a few complaints.

 

[shalom]

or people just going for the first time or the true "theme park commandos" - Disney may be in for a few complaints.

I think the true commandos are the most outraged. Theoretically, as CMs work with the new system and get used to it, it could be a real benefit to people going for the first time, because a CM could sit down with them and make sure they get to some of the rides they were "shut out of" before by lines so long they or their kids weren't willing to wait. Once the returning people get the hang of the system and work it through the automated kiosks, CMs could keep an eye out for those who look generally lost, then send them to an FP+ kiosk where someone could walk them through it.

I think part of what Disney's trying to accomplish is to make sure the first timers get the opportunity to get on rides that used to run out of FPs early in the day, by shutting the experienced out of multiple rerides with FP, forcing them to "pay the same price" (in time) as the average patron. Whether it will actually end up helping first timers, I dunno. It's definitely (and predictably) frustrating the true commandos, so Disney's gotta be hoping for some kind of payoff somewhere, I reckon.

 

[crostorfer]

Sheesh, I can definitely understand that people are upset that someone now essentially dictates what we can do each day in the park, versus being able to go about it in our own fashion.

My family never got more than 3 fastpasses a day in any trip. So to me that would not be a downside.

To limit, for example a FP for only TT or Soarin' I don't really get. Epcot does not have many "thrill" rides to offer so to limit people to FP for only one seems backwards to me.

For Soarin' for example the FP were long gone for the day by mid morning if not earlier so it would seem to me there is a fair share of people getting those FPs, why all of a sudden is it a problem?

Because not all of us ride Soarin. We'll never ride it again, even with no wait at all. I want three FP+ slots for Test Track. I used to be able to do that. Now, I can ride once, then go eat. That is essentially the only reason for us to visit EPCOT now: food.