To go or not to go?!?!?!?

[mlktwins]

Hi all! My family is heading off to Disney on April 29th and am planning to spend 3 days at the parks (1 each at MK, HS, and EP). We are also leaving on a Disney cruise on May 4th. I usually plan vacations at least 6 months in advance, but this time I only had 2 months.

As background, we went on our first trip to WDW during the 1st 2 weeks of December, 2011. My boys were 6.5 and it was the perfect age for them for a first trip. Thanks to the awesome info I found on the DISBoards, including info for Josh at easywdw.com and touringplans.com, I was able to plan an awesome trip. This was pre - FP+. We stayed off-site (we loved it and are doing it again this trip), spent 9 days in the parks (that included one day of MVMCP). We rode everything we wanted to ride, saw all the parades (from perfect spots as discussed on these boards ), viewed Wishes and Illuminations (also from awesome spots), saw most every character we wanted to see (including being 1st in line for the Seven Dwarves and meeting Beauty AND the Beast during MVMCP), the boys did Jedi training twice, we were able to ride TSM 4-5 time each day we went to HS, we rode Test Track several times in a row, etc. I would not have been able to pull all this off without this board and the old FP system. I wanted you guys to know that I value the information you provide and the help you give to use newbies!

So...to my dilemma. I know some people are pleased with FP+, but I've seen so many posts with negative comments and discontent over the new system. I'm wondering if we should even go. I would love your advice on what you might do given the circumstances!

As I said earlier, we are staying off-site again. I know there are people that think that is crazy and people that love staying off-site. I know staying off-site is now a disadvantage with the new FP+, but it is what it is. This trip, we just want to go on certain rides (the bigger ones like TSM, Test Track, ToT, Buzz, BTMRR, Soarin and not Peter Pan, It's a Small World type rides), we don't plan to watch the parades, we do want to watch Wishes, we may try to do Jedi training one more time, but I don't want to miss an opportunity for my favorite ride, TSM, and we don't need to see the characters as we will have the opportunity for that on the cruise. The boys went through the list of everything to do at the parks and we know what they do and don't want to do.

I have not bought our tickets yet and I'm a little nervous to. If we go, we plan to be there for rope drop, leave for a bit during the busy times, and come back for the evenings/night. I won't be able to schedule FP+ until we get to the park. Would you spend the money on tickets given the awesome experience we had before, and what things are like now for off-site guests? Unless they change, I can say that the crowd levels look really low for the days we would be there (a 3 for MK, 2 for HS, and a 2 for EP according to touringplans.com). These are highly or most recommended parks per easywdw.com as well.

We've thought about going to Universal instead, but the boys aren't into the big roller coasters yet and we are starting them on reading the Harry Potter series next year. We were planning to do Universal when they were older and could appreciate it more. We also went to Sea World our last trip and don't need to go back there.

If you have read this far , I would love any insight you can give given my situation. Also, if we were to go, where can I find the location of the CM's that are further in the park to schedule my FP+ for the day? One other question, should I assume that the lines for rides will be shorter during the new Fantasy parade and Electric Light Parade at MK?

 

[BrianL]

Go. It's not really the end of the world like so many are claiming. You can really only judge it by first hand experience. You can definitely still have fun and very likely will.

The biggest difference for you might be that your last trip was in the first two weeks of December, a traditionally ow crowd time, compared to May, though early May should be moderate, not super-busy.

If you're only measure of success for a trip is riding TSMM 5 times, well, that's not likely (honestly I don't know how you ever pulled that off at any time of year). It will be different, but certainly can still be enjoyable. I'd give it a shot.

 

[mlktwins]

If you're only measure of success for a trip is riding TSMM 5 times, well, that's not likely (honestly I don't know how you ever pulled that off at any time of year). It will be different, but certainly can still be enjoyable. I'd give it a shot.

Thank you for responding . I don't expect to have the luck with rides we did last time, but I'm hoping we don't have hour longs waits for everything. As for riding TSM 4-5 times, we were lucky I think. DH went straight for the TSM FPs while I was close to the front of the line with the boys for Jedi training sign-up. We met up and got in line for TSM immediately. That was one ride. We came back to use our fast pass and the stand-by line wasn't too long so we got in that line and came back out and used our FP. That was 3 rides. I can't remember if we got one more FP or stood in stand-by, but we rode a 4th time. Later that day, we went to check on the wait for the stand-by line when a CM handed us 4 TSM FPs . I think that was our first day. The second day I think we rode 4 times the same way, but didn't get the extra . Crowd levels were a 2 for that day I believe. Just didn't want you to think I was posting without really doing it. We got kind of spoiled from that first trip!

 

[Wendybird55]

I would also say go, but I don't see the overwhelming big issue with the new systems as others do. It could be because we are not "ride junkies" in that our enjoyment and satisfaction with a Disney vacation is not based largely on how many rides and attractions we get to go on and see and how many multiple ride experiences we can have.

If your family is very big on the rides and wants to experience as many as possible within your stay, then FP+ may cause some frustrations for you. If you have a more leisurely approach to touring Disney and are flexible to which rides you go on based on crowds and lines, then I think FP+ won't have much of an affect on you.

From what I've been reading FP+ seems to be most frustrating to those who enjoy strategizing and planning their park and ride schedule and have over the years perfected a strategy based on using the old FP system. They enjoy experiencing all the top rides more than once without long waits and with their system can get on all the rides they want and still have time to relax by the pool or enjoy a good meal experience.

If you fall within this category, you may want to double think your decision. But, if you just want to take advantage of the fact you can add some park days to your Disney cruise - then go ahead and have a great time. Also, this is an add on to the "big trip" which is the cruise so all your vacation expectations aren't based solely on your park experience.

I would go if I had the chance...but that is me..I recently booked 2 Disney World trips - one in August and another in September for MNSSHP and I'm not concerned at all of ill-effects from FP+ I know we'll have a great time regardless of how many times we may or may not be able ride Splash Mountain.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Hi ?

If I'm doing the math correctly, your boys are about nine/ten now.

I don't know exactly what choice you should make, except that I don't think you should rule out Universal Studios. If you've never been, then I think you would have a blast 'discovering' it. Even if you don't do the biggest rollercoasters- I don't- there is still a ton of fun things to do there.
the biggest tip I'd give though is that Universal offers lots of ways to get wet in the parks!

If your boys are comfortable midlevel attractions like Splash and Star tours they will find plenty to love about Universal.

Overall, I think WDW has more to offer than Universal but seriously, Universal does much better job of catering to what boys like! Far fewer princesses!

Universal also has some of the best individual attractions. If your boys like Buzz, they will seriously love Men in Black. They will rave about Spiderman.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I agree with previous poster, try Universal! If you're doing a Disney cruise, you'll get your Disney fix there. If you can, stay onsite. The hotels are super fun and if you get the Express Pass, you will have a blast.

 

[BrianL]

Thank you for responding . I don't expect to have the luck with rides we did last time, but I'm hoping we don't have hour longs waits for everything. As for riding TSM 4-5 times, we were lucky I think. DH went straight for the TSM FPs while I was close to the front of the line with the boys for Jedi training sign-up. We met up and got in line for TSM immediately. That was one ride. We came back to use our fast pass and the stand-by line wasn't too long so we got in that line and came back out and used our FP. That was 3 rides. I can't remember if we got one more FP or stood in stand-by, but we rode a 4th time. Later that day, we went to check on the wait for the stand-by line when a CM handed us 4 TSM FPs . I think that was our first day. The second day I think we rode 4 times the same way, but didn't get the extra . Crowd levels were a 2 for that day I believe. Just didn't want you to think I was posting without really doing it. We got kind of spoiled from that first trip!

Oh, it's not that I didn't believe you, but you were very lucky. One thing to realize is that it was not the norm and that not all trips are equal in that regard. In my expereince, each trip is fun and different for different reasons and that's okay. Holding up a potential trip to the high standard of your previous one could lead to dissappointment, though I think you'd still have a wonderful time.

Also, if you do want to try Uni, it's great too! I don't think you can go wrong with either really. It's not all roller-coasters, though there are fewer attractions overall. I don't think the new Harry Potter thing will be open by your trip, though that might be a good thing as you won't have to deal with the crowds for it.

 

[mlktwins]

I just wanted to say thanks to those that responded! I sat the boys and DH down and told them this will be a different trip than last time. We may have longer waits, the FP system has changed, etc. I laid out all the fun things to do at Universal. The boys (they are almost 9) still want to go to Disney. Good news is that FP+ for off-site guests will be in place before we go. That may help some. Also, I got a good deal on 5 day tickets through Undercover Tourist. For $78 total, instead of 3 days, we will have 2 extra days to go back and see anything we missed the first time. There goes our down day .

We are getting excited. I am just going to enjoy my family and things will be what they are.

Thanks again!