UPDATE p. 37. I finally canceled. Too much uncertainty for us.

[larryz]

For us, it was sizing up to be an expensive hot mess. I told them when we canceled that we were waiting until the dust settled to see if we'd be back again. Until then, we may hit Universal again or even Disneyland.

Oh well..............

I can certainly understand and I commiserate!

I will NOT pay thousands of dollars to be a guinea pig for a mouse!

 

[kapoof]

I'm assuming you went in September ( 2 months ago?). September is about the slowest time of year at WDW. We've gone in September for several years & hardly even need fastpasses, except for biggest headliners. There is no comparing the wait times in September to busy periods. That's when fastpass was really effective.

Yes we were in septmber, but we have also been in March, June and January, with heavy crowds. We have gotten passes for rides like soarn, and test trak, that same day. I would not plan weeks out for rides via fast passes. How silly! I also wouldn't cancel a trip over fast passes. One can still have fun at disney without using them

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

Can't wait for our Dec trip. FP+ is the way of the future so I'm just going to embrace it !! I see no stress in it at all. WDW is just plain old fun no matter what ride or attraction or show you are doing.

 

[EMom]

You know, I am not bitter or angry at all. I am somewhat disappointed, as this was likely the last year we would be able to pull DD out of school for a trip. We were only going to pull her out for three days, so as to get a jump on Thanksgiving, but it was our last chance. The first half of the trip would probably have had low crowds, but the second half as we approached Thanksgiving was another matter.

I'd say "relieved" best describes how I feel. No more anxiety about whether we'll blow a small fortune on a trip that goes south. I think people fall into one of four categories, so long as they even begin to understand what is going on with FP+.

1. FP+ will probably work with our touring style, so we are going to WDW and figure we'll have a good time.

2. FP+ could be bad or good for us. We're just not sure. So we'll go and take our chances, since it's better to be at WDW than at work.

3. FP+ looks like it will not be a good fit for our family, but we're going and crossing our fingers it's not a disaster.

4. FP+ looks like it will not be a good fit for our family, and we are not willing to risk our vacation time and dollars on a vacation that is stacking up to be unfulfilling, so we will cancel.

So much depends on your touring style and family preferences. I know our family and I know what we are used to (and what we expect) from WDW. This trip won't provide us with that and with the year we've had, we cannot handle a minefield of a vacation.

So I am relieved to have it over and done with. Now I can start planning the next vacation, be it Disneyland, Universal or even Hawaii or Europe. Again, we'll look at WDW once this mess is settled and see whether it is a good fit for us or not. A girl can hope.

I appreciate you all being so understanding and supportive.

 

[cewewee]

Do you mind sharing what your adrs were? We are going that week and I have 3 days that I haven't been able to get ressies for. I'm sorry you had to cancel. I'm a bit concerned about all this fp stuff, too.

 

[Ametista]

This is what it comes down to. I love Florida and Kissimmee, but we have such high stress jobs/normal life that we MUST relax on vacation. We have a March 2014 reservation in an offsite home and I am still not sure about it. We just might end up on a 10 day Maui trip. Worse things have happened to people!

Only problem with that being the last time we went to Maui DS complained that, despite loving the snorkeling, there were no roller coasters.

 

[EMom]

Do you mind sharing what your adrs were? We are going that week and I have 3 days that I haven't been able to get ressies for. I'm sorry you had to cancel. I'm a bit concerned about all this fp stuff, too.

I had one for EIGHT people on 11/26 for Kona Cafe at 7:15.

The rest below are all for three people:

CRT 11/20 at 2:10

50s PT Cafe on 11/21 at 4:15 and 7:45

Boma 11/22 at 5:45

Garden Grill 11/23 at 7:10

Sci Fi 11/24 at 1:45

Mama Melrose 11/24 at 7:35

Raglan Road 11/25 at 7:15

Hope you can get one or more of those!

 

[Disnerdette]

Sorry to hear you're canceling your trip. I hope you'll check out DLR and do your due diligence with research ahead of time (as we are all interested in doing!) but keep in mind, DLR has exponentially more local AP holders who visit the parks after work and on the weekends (when they aren't blocked out) which makes for quiet mornings and very busy afternoons/evenings. We were visiting three weeks ago on a day that was forecasted to be moderately busy, and the park was at 93% capacity by 1 pm in the afternoon on a AP block out (except for Premium) day. I've come to realize that any Disney park is pretty much going to be busy regardless, so I go in expecting long lines, and when they're short I'm pleasantly surprised!

 

[coozieman]

I love FP as much as the next guy, but could never imagine canceling my trip over it.....too many other things to see, hear, explore, taste, experience at Disney...

Just my .02

 

[afnaechiquita]

I love FP as much as the next guy, but could never imagine canceling my trip over it.....too many other things to see, hear, explore, taste, experience at Disney...

Just my .02

mte. i understand if your family is used to pulling FPs all day, you're going to be frustrated, but there's much to learn about and enjoy in disney without doing the headliners.

 

[monty]

If you are the type of person to stress over changes you can't control and the uncertainties of not knowing what else may change then you should cancel. No point going on a vacation if you are going to be stressed.
You have done the right thing for you.

 

[cygnusx1jg]

Emom wrote:
"So I am relieved to have it over and done with. Now I can start planning the next vacation, be it Disneyland, Universal or even Hawaii or Europe."

All the best to you and yours, but with the economy being as bad as it still is and with a high percentage of people out of work and/or barely getting by paycheck to paycheck, I'm not going to say "sorry" to you like others have.

Be grateful you can afford to go on vacation and that you have a job to take a vacation from. Not everyone can or does.

 

[Jennasis]

Emom wrote:
"So I am relieved to have it over and done with. Now I can start planning the next vacation, be it Disneyland, Universal or even Hawaii or Europe."

All the best to you and yours, but with the economy being as bad as it still is and with a high percentage of people out of work and/or barely getting by paycheck to paycheck, I'm not going to say "sorry" to you like others have.

Be grateful you can afford to go on vacation and that you have a job to take a vacation from. Not everyone can or does.

What on earth makes you think the OP isn't grateful for the ability to go on vacation or to have a job??

 

[Planogirl]

Emom wrote:
"So I am relieved to have it over and done with. Now I can start planning the next vacation, be it Disneyland, Universal or even Hawaii or Europe."

All the best to you and yours, but with the economy being as bad as it still is and with a high percentage of people out of work and/or barely getting by paycheck to paycheck, I'm not going to say "sorry" to you like others have.

Be grateful you can afford to go on vacation and that you have a job to take a vacation from. Not everyone can or does.

Apples and oranges IMO. I don't think that being concerned about being a part of this change has anything to do with being employed. I do agree that it's good to be grateful to be able to afford to go though.

This thread makes me think that if Disney was just more upfront about plans and goals then maybe fewer people would so worried about what could happen. I see a lot of uncertainty in some of these posts and I feel that too and don't care for it.

 

[cygnusx1jg]

A few of the replies to emom's original post were saying they were sorry that they had to cancel their trip.

I'm just trying to make a point that at least they are in a position to take a vacation.

Just so much whining on this board---makes me think about a passage in Howard Stern's first book.

The secret to life is enjoy, even if you are not enjoying. It's like trying to lose weight--stop eating so much! People say "I have to have things a certain way" or "This has to happen exactly the way I want it". Get put in prison and solitary confinement for a month and see how your perspective changes.

The American Adventure in EPCOT is right. No country has ever gotten better when so much emphasis is put upon their leisure.

 

[tenaseewalker]

I think it would be a lot better if they would just get rid of the fastpasses altogether. Let everyone stand in one line that moves a lot quicker. Fastpasses slows down the lines.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

I can't imagine canceling a trip because I couldn't double dip.

Is it not a possibility that you can opt OUT of FP+ and JUST pull old fashioned FP's?

If you can't do both you can do just one or the other?

Are the old fashioned FP's not going to be there anymore? Or is it only if you stay onsite and have FP+ that you cannot ALSO use the old fashioned FP's?

So basically all this staying on property so you can get FP+ and double dip is now backfiring and ppl are ONLY getting FP+ if you stay onsite? Meaning if you stay onsite you can ONLY use FP+ and NOT FP regular?

 

[kathie859]

OP--I agree that if planning and anticipating changes stress you out, you did the right thing in canceling your WDW trip.

I just don't get the angst. I guess it boils down to what type of vacationer you are. We plan an ADR for each day and research what park to do on what day but certainly don't feel the the success of the trip is tied to FP+ and/or the availability of FP. I understand WDW is in test mode and don't expect them to get it perfect from the get-go. If it's a big deal for patrons perhaps it's best to sit out while the product is being developed. Heck, we used to go to WDW with NO advance planning and always had a blast regardless of our ignorance

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

I just don't get the angst. I guess it boils down to what type of vacationer you are. We plan an ADR for each day and research what park to do on what day but certainly don't feel the the success of the trip is tied to FP+ and/or the availability of FP. I understand WDW is in test mode and don't expect them to get it perfect from the get-go. If it's a big deal for patrons perhaps it's best to sit out while the product is being developed. Heck, we used to go to WDW with NO advance planning and always had a blast regardless of our ignorance

What bothers me most about these FP+ posts is that everyone is trying to tell everyone else how to enjoy their vacation. Kathie859, like you, I don't feel that getting FP makes or breaks my vacation, but it clearly does for the OP. Disney has changed the rules... their perogative. But, that doesn't mean it does or will work for all people. Would people willingly go to an expensive all-inclusive resort that is testing their kitchen, not knowing what kind of food you would get? No, because that simply wouldn't fly outside WDW.

I DO expect Disney to get something this big right before they roll it out. They are not a charity. People keep stressing that they are a business, and here to make money. This is DISNEY we are talking about - the paragons of service that companies the world over try to emulate. And, not only are they delivery sub-standard product and services, they are changing things and being practically secretive about it. People are putting their trust in them, and investing a lot of money to get the vacation that suits them, only to have rugs repeatedly pulled out from underneath them.

I understand why OP is cancelling her vacation, and I think it sucks that she has to.

 

[Planogirl]

OP--I agree that if planning and anticipating changes stress you out, you did the right thing in canceling your WDW trip.

I just don't get the angst. I guess it boils down to what type of vacationer you are. We plan an ADR for each day and research what park to do on what day but certainly don't feel the the success of the trip is tied to FP+ and/or the availability of FP. I understand WDW is in test mode and don't expect them to get it perfect from the get-go. If it's a big deal for patrons perhaps it's best to sit out while the product is being developed. Heck, we used to go to WDW with NO advance planning and always had a blast regardless of our ignorance

I agree with the PP that everyone vacations differently and what works for you or me won't necessarily work for everyone else.

For example, I love to see old historic buildings but I know that some people would go out of their minds if they trudged along with me. Some people I know love to shop or gamble but I'll take a pass. If riding a lot means a lot to someone then it just simply does.

I do agree that it's not a make or break situation for me either, at least not yet. They have definitely pushed my buttons a few times though.