This just in from Disney Parks blog!

[jade1]

So am I the only one who finds the argument that this change makes FP+ more like FP- to be kind of ridiculous? WDW spent what is rumored to be close to $2 billion and angered many, many loyal customers for a system that "approaches" the benefits of the system that was already in place. And people think the "FP+ haters" are crazy or ungrateful for not liking it? Ok.

If they allowed prebooking 3 FP- for headliners any time of day well in advance, I think many/most of us would have been fine with that. Be the same effect on the lines. How much of the rumoured $2 billion that would have cost I don't know. But the bands for room keys, park entry, FP+ storage, paying/purchasing are actually beneficial as well IMO. There is also more to the system yet to come IMO. Plus spend another $2 Billion in attractions going forward, or $10 billion, who cares?

 

[jade1]

Many of us will fondly remember the days of walking through FL and saying, Hey let's ride Small World.

Well, "remember" anyway.

 

[KYDisneyDad]

Well, "remember" anyway.

Excellent point. I proudly stand corrected!

 

[2Tiggies]

Agreed. Which is why it's laughable that some of the people that constantly complained about FP+, and turned every thread into a FP+ bashing session...are practically taking victory laps and patting themselves on the back.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Do people not realize with what is described in the article and what is being cheered by several in this post, is that we are headed very very quickly to a system where all rides are scheduled?? Just getting more fast passes the way described here means to be able to ride ANY ride, even the most minor ones, you will have to have a fast pass time scheduled no matter what time of day or night? Imagine standby lines much much worse than they are even now with the near 100% priority being given to fast pass. Rope drop strategy will be only a memory as FP slots begin at opening and stay filled until close.
Many of us will fondly remember the days of walking through FL and saying, Hey let's ride Small World.

I totally agree.

This is just moving towards a time when every ride will have a reservation. Ugh.

 

[Disneylover99]

Do people not realize with what is described in the article and what is being cheered by several in this post, is that we are headed very very quickly to a system where all rides are scheduled??

That's what I'm thinking. Bye, bye, standby.

 

[jade1]

Excellent point. I proudly stand corrected!

By the way, your point of appointment riding only isn't unwarranted. I think low season no, but busier season it will be more and more.

US has a Q-bot "watch" you wear, you walk up to an attraction and click the wait time, saves your spot and you come back then.So you never ride any sooner, but you never wait in a line. $39 a day per person.

 

[glamdring269]

I actually don't mind a world where all rides are scheduled to some degree. I may be in the minority but if I have to choose between walking around the park for 30 minutes vs. waiting in standby for 30 minutes I would choose walking every single time. That's why moving back and forth across the park grabbing FP never bothered me.

 

[amg35]

I totally agree.

This is just moving towards a time when every ride will have a reservation. Ugh.

Okay, let's not have this happen until after October please.

 

[*disgal*]

Well, well, well,........I take off one morning/afternoon from the disboards and look what happens. It will take me hours just to read all of this thread! lol

Ok, I will go back and read but wanted to ask this because I don't know how long it will take for me to find this info. We are in the parks the 13th and 16th of April. No one thinks this will be enacted before then, right? I mean, I know this is all guess work but....

After spending hours yesterday purchasing my tickets, setting up my MDE account for 8 people, scheduling my FPs, getting DH's opinion on the time I scheduled them, rescheduling them twice, any other adjustments to the FP+ system I think are going to kill me off. I don't think I can take it.

And by the way, I was THRILLED that MDE worked for me with no real problems and although I didn't get exactly what I wanted as far as time goes for my FPs I got pretty close. So I am very happy with that. It was MUCH harder though than I thought it would be to decide where you will be in the park and at what time but I will deal with that. My family is pretty understanding and my sis said she trusts me with the planning so what ya gonna do? I'm free help.

But I'm really hoping this new change doesn't go into effect before/while we are there. I decided at MK to tour sb early in the morn (8am to about 10:30) and schedule my FPs for in the evening. It will royally screw up my plan if it does happen before. ugh!

I have already ordered enough beer and wine from Garden Grocer, one way or another this trip is GOING to be "magical" !!!

Yep, I'm thinking all ingredients for Margarita's are to be bought pronto! If we crash and burn at the parks at least I have my pool time to look forward to!

 

[Angel Ariel]

It is a bit ironic to me that many who reprimanded those of us who didn't/don't like fp+ always said "it will change, once it is fully rolled out they will relax the rules, stop complaining." Now that that is exactly what is happening, many of those same people who said just wait, changes will come, are complaining about the changes that are coming.

 

[WillAustin]

I like this approach as well. I still wonder though if everyone is orebooking 3, will there be anything worth having an FP for left. I honestly think I'd rather prebook1 and then do day of like FP-.

I would too, but getting any more beyond the first 3 is a step in the right direction and something I can be happier about. If we can't have it the old way, the possibility of additional FPs after the first 3 is as good as I was hoping for.

...are practically taking victory laps and patting themselves on the back.

Why not? This should be fun and light-hearted.

:

 

[msdroz]

Beggars can't be choosers. This change would make it similar to the old system with a step of improvement. The old system did not allow you to schedule the time of a fast pass. You also had to wait until you previous fast pass window closed before you could get an additional one. So, you had to use fast passes early with the old system in order to use several.

In my opinion, this change would give us the benefit of the old system plus the new ability to schedule your first 3 60 or 30 days before arriving. I don't see how anyone can spin this as a bad thing when comparing to the current fast pass+ or the old legacy fast pass system.

The old legacy allowed for park hopping

 

[glamdring269]

The old legacy allowed for park hopping

The ability to use FP across parks was mentioned in the blog as well.

 

[msdroz]

The ability to use FP across parks was mentioned in the blog as well.

That would be wonderful, we are staying at the YC and it is such a great location for park hopping Thanks!

 

[clsteve]

It is a bit ironic to me that many who reprimanded those of us who didn't/don't like fp+ always said "it will change, once it is fully rolled out they will relax the rules, stop complaining." Now that that is exactly what is happening, many of those same people who said just wait, changes will come, are complaining about the changes that are coming.

And change is gonna be around for awhile. So many things just this one change can impact.

I can just see the TP guys going "What the heck! I just finished that RD spreadsheet.....!"

 

[wdwfanatic316]

Well, well, well,........I take off one morning/afternoon from the disboards and look what happens. It will take me hours just to read all of this thread! lol

Ok, I will go back and read but wanted to ask this because I don't know how long it will take for me to find this info. We are in the parks the 13th and 16th of April. No one thinks this will be enacted before then, right? I mean, I know this is all guess work but....

After spending hours yesterday purchasing my tickets, setting up my MDE account for 8 people, scheduling my FPs, getting DH's opinion on the time I scheduled them, rescheduling them twice, any other adjustments to the FP+ system I think are going to kill me off. I don't think I can take it.

And by the way, I was THRILLED that MDE worked for me with no real problems and although I didn't get exactly what I wanted as far as time goes for my FPs I got pretty close. So I am very happy with that. It was MUCH harder though than I thought it would be to decide where you will be in the park and at what time but I will deal with that. My family is pretty understanding and my sis said she trusts me with the planning so what ya gonna do? I'm free help.

But I'm really hoping this new change doesn't go into effect before/while we are there. I decided at MK to tour sb early in the morn (8am to about 10:30) and schedule my FPs for in the evening. It will royally screw up my plan if it does happen before. ugh!


I am feeling the same way, but we go in May. I've spent hours figuring out the best way to tour, setting up FP times (all in the evening) and then they put this announcement out and now I'm rethinking everything! It wouldn't be as bad if they would at least tell us when these changes are happening! I mean really, if they're going to put this announcement out there, they could at least let all of us testers know when the changes will be in effect. In the end maybe the change will be for the better, but who knows.

 

[karly05]

I guess I don't understand why this is good news...if you have to wait until you use your 3 fast passes, then most of the fast passes will already be gone.

Or otherwise then you have to schedule all your fast passes first thing in the morning, which will kind of ruin the idea of getting there early for rope drop to get on rides w/out waiting.

THIS THIS THIS! Having to use all 3 before you get any more is NOT such a great deal. Same question raised when this came up in the poll - what if you want to prebook a FP+ for MSEP/Illuminations/etc.?

When they sent out the survey, I thought the idea of getting a new one each time you use one was great. I can't believe "use all 3" was the most popular answer. (I know, I know, Disney's trying to push more people into early time slots.)

I have stayed out of most of the FP+ threads, but come on, Disney, this is not the answer.

 

[dissupermom]

I got to page 5 (of 23) of this thread...
when WDW introduced FP+, people got upset.
when WDW introduced the tiers, people got upset.
when WDW said you can only get three, people got upset
people got upset all any one, or all three of these things. now that WDW has heard the gripes and introduced remedies to the issues that people have, people are still getting upset (what about RD-pers? what happens in the evenings when we change parks? why use 'entitlements'? lines will be longer....
I'm telling you, WDW will eliminate FP all together and get rid of the problems. everybody stand in line! everyone can't be pleased... why can't people just be happy?!!

 

[mjr0483]

Once this goes into affect, alot of people are going to have to shift their entire FP+ strategy.

If you have to burn your 3 existing FP+ to get add ons then you will have to start booking earlier times. It remains to be seen what the availability of the add on FP+ is and if it is even worth doing if the selection is slim to none.

I get with the current strategy all the morning slots were left open due to the fact of the people trying to book what is interrupted as the busiest times of the day.

This is going to be fun...