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

[katmu]

I guess it all depends on what causes one to "stress out" in regards to a WDW vacation. For me having to plan in advance to avoid crowds and long waits/lines adds a level of stress unique to WDW, including planning for RD and FP. Now that stress would be less during low crowd dates, or longer trips (more days to experience the parks) and less expectations or need to go on the most popular rides (sometimes multiple times in a day!), instead just simply do and walk the parks and experience all that WDW has to offer. Vacation time and budget is just so limited to begin with, so I think for many people the "stress" results from attempting to get the greatest value for their time and money. But perhaps for many people simply going to WDW and doing whatever is possible in terms of rides, events and attractions, is what they enjoy then it is a "stress free" trip.

This is how I'm looking at our upcoming trip in January. Even if we don't get to ride on every ride at a given park, we are away from work and out of the cold weather in Minnesota in January and we are getting to spend 8 full days together as a family. I have found the FP changes a bit confusing but I'm trying to make the best of it. We'll have a good trip either with or without FP+.

Although my kids are now college age, so I can understand why someone with younger children would find it more stressful.

 

[rebbyparker]

I am crossing my fingers and saying a prayer as well. We lived in a stupid motel for two months, waiting on our house so I sympathize deeply. Everything else will work out as soon as you get into your house.

 

[North of Mouse]

I can't believe all of the FP drama. It's getting a little pathetic. Does anybody here seriously believe that people are cancelling their entire vacations just because of uncertainty surrounding FP+ testing? I don't believe it for a minute. The OP's first few sentences were all I needed to come to this conclusion. There are obviously some other things going on in the OP's life that justify cancelling their trip.

It would seem that some people are using FP+ and MB's as an excuse for cancelling, rather than a reason. There is a difference. I have not bothered to read this entire thread, but I'm sure there have been the customary "I'm sorry. You have to do what's best for your family", and "Great, less crowds for my trip during the same week" replies.

You absolutely must do what's best for you and your family. And if that means cancelling a WDW trip, then sobeit. But please. For the love of Mickey. Don't make Disney your excuse. Take a look at what's important (it's not Fastpass) and then accept the real reason (or reasons) why you had to cancel your trip.

Denial ain't just a river on The Jungle Cruise.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

OP here and I'll be as clear as possible. Had all this mess with FP+, tiered attractions, etc. NOT been going on and it had been WDW as usual, there is ZERO doubt in my mind that we would have taken the trip instead of cancelling it. We were looking forward to it and needed a fun trip after a fairly crappy year. We looked forward to our WDW fix and suspending reality for a week or so. WDW was meant to relieve the stress, but all the uncertainty and constant changes were ADDING to the stress. I don't usually pay a fortune to have stress added to my life.

So yes, FP+ and all it entailed actually DID directly cause us to cancel the trip. Maybe you don't see it as a valid reason to cancel, but since you're not paying for my trip, your opinion as to validity matters not at all. Not everyone thinks as you do. Maybe that's hard for you to grasp, but it's true.

So if you were not having said "crappy year", would you have still cancelled your trip? If you were having a normal, or a great year, would you still be planning your trip and dealing with all the FP+ "mess" anyway?

 

[Planogirl]

Fantaluminishes, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. Some of us are also entitled to ours and mine is that I disagree. People aren't all cut from the same cloth and they aren't all going to think just like you. I've seen enough from the OP to believe her and even if I didn't I wouldn't in essence call her a liar. Really?

 

[rebbyparker]

So if you were not having said "crappy year", would you have still cancelled your trip? If you were having a normal, or a great year, would you still be planning your trip and dealing with all the FP+ "mess" anyway?

Well, I'm having a wonderful, great, fantabulous year and I'm seriously considering cancelling to offsite. I could also, alternatively purchase extra tickets for all of us from UT, and use them to pull FP- but as I don't think that's the intent for this test, I ruled that out. But, believe me, I am considering a great many things. A great many things that didn't come into play until Disney started changing the rules by the day.

 

[EMom]

So if you were not having said "crappy year", would you have still cancelled your trip? If you were having a normal, or a great year, would you still be planning your trip and dealing with all the FP+ "mess" anyway?

I can only guess at what we would have done. Minus a crappy year, I know we would have been LESS likely to have cancelled, but my hunch is that we would have cancelled anyway. We aren't "soak up the atmosphere, grab some dinner and enjoy being off work" people at WDW. If I want atmosphere, good food and a break from normal life, I'm going to Paris. We are early in/late out, ride, ride, ride people at WDW. We pull 6-8 FP a day and know how to work a park to maximize what we can do.

We have found that with careful planning, we can do every attraction we want to do (we usually skip Stitch, Captain EO, Tiki Room and a few others) at least once and many 3-6 times. Yes, that is in a lower crowd season. We really don't lounge by the pool....I can do that in Texas for most of the year. Sometimes, we do CS only so as to maximize ride time. As I said, we vacation hard. But WDW was never stressful, just busy.

I could deal with booking ADRs, as I always had great luck booking what I wanted. But booking FP+, especially with tiers, is not a good fit for us. And I don't want to have to haul a phone around, checking on/changing things. I don't want to be in a park full of people who do. With us on FP+ and our friends (whom we were meeting some days) on regular FP, coordinating rides together was looking to be too dang hard.

The way we travel, we hit a low crowd park and may even change that park last minute if the crowd predictor changes. We get there early, start pulling FP, and ride anything in the area that has a short standby time. The second we can pull another FP, we do. Rinse, repeat. We usually work a park in zones. Our most glorious day was when we got to MK for early entry and managed 9 or 10 rides the first 90 minutes. They were just walk on, really. Now granted, most were just short kiddie rides, but still amazing. Wonderful morning.

Unless it is the slowest day ever, I do not see FP+ allowing us our normal 6-8 EE, 4-6 RnR and ToT and even 2-3 TSMM, with 1-2 times on most other attractions. That means we'll get to do much less of what makes us most happy. I think Disneyland may well be a better fit for us now and I am sure Universal is.

It's 100% WDW's right to change, but it's in our best interest to be aware of whether or not those changes are a good fit for our individual family. And these changes don't work well for us. If someone still wants to go, I wish them a fantastic time. I want them to have a great trip and feel it was money well spent. These changes will work well for some and even great for others. A large percentage of first timers will never form an opinion, as it will be all they know. And WDW will keep on going just fine.

I realize some posters are convinced these FP+ changes are not a valid reason for THEM to change their vacation, but how close minded does a person (not necessarily you) have to be to be unable to fathom that the changes ARE a valid reason for others to cancel? Do they really think everyone vacations, acts, thinks, feels the same way they do? Or that at a minimum, they should? If so, they should try wrapping their head around the fact that some people wouldn't go to WDW for free.

So while I cannot say 100% whether we would have cancelled if we'd had a good year, I am pretty darn certain we would have.

 

[rebbyparker]

I can only guess at what we would have done. Minus a crappy year, I know we would have been LESS likely to have cancelled, but my hunch is that we would have cancelled anyway. We aren't "soak up the atmosphere, grab some dinner and enjoy being off work" people at WDW. If I want atmosphere, good food and a break from normal life, I'm going to Paris. We are early in/late out, ride, ride, ride people at WDW. We pull 6-8 FP a day and know how to work a park to maximize what we can do.

We have found that with careful planning, we can do every attraction we want to do (we usually skip Stitch, Captain EO, Tiki Room and a few others) at least once and many 3-6 times. Yes, that is in a lower crowd season. We really don't lounge by the pool....I can do that in Texas for most of the year. Sometimes, we do CS only so as to maximize ride time. As I said, we vacation hard. But WDW was never stressful, just busy.

I could deal with booking ADRs, as I always had great luck booking what I wanted. But booking FP+, especially with tiers, is not a good fit for us. And I don't want to have to haul a phone around, checking on/changing things. I don't want to be in a park full of people who do. With us on FP+ and our friends (whom we were meeting some days) on regular FP, coordinating rides together was looking to be too dang hard.

The way we travel, we hit a low crowd park and may even change that park last minute if the crowd predictor changes. We get there early, start pulling FP, and ride anything in the area that has a short standby time. The second we can pull another FP, we do. Rinse, repeat. We usually work a park in zones. Our most glorious day was when we got to MK for early entry and managed 9 or 10 rides the first 90 minutes. They were just walk on, really. Now granted, most were just short kiddie rides, but still amazing. Wonderful morning.

Unless it is the slowest day ever, I do not see FP+ allowing us our normal 6-8 EE, 4-6 RnR and ToT and even 2-3 TSMM, with 1-2 times on most other attractions. That means we'll get to do much less of what makes us most happy. I think Disneyland may well be a better fit for us now and I am sure Universal is.

It's 100% WDW's right to change, but it's in our best interest to be aware of whether or not those changes are a good fit for our individual family. And these changes don't work well for us. If someone still wants to go, I wish them a fantastic time. I want them to have a great trip and feel it was money well spent. These changes will work well for some and even great for others. A large percentage of first timers will never form an opinion, as it will be all they know. And WDW will keep on going just fine.

I realize some posters are convinced these FP+ changes are not a valid reason for THEM to change their vacation, but how close minded does a person (not necessarily you) have to be to be unable to fathom that the changes ARE a valid reason for others to cancel? Do they really think everyone vacations, acts, thinks, feels the same way they do? Or that at a minimum, they should? If so, they should try wrapping their head around the fact that some people wouldn't go to WDW for free.

So while I cannot say 100% whether we would have cancelled if we'd had a good year, I am pretty darn certain we would have.

 

[Shaden]

I feel you. I have many of the same thoughts and concerns. If it weren't for the fact that we rented DVC points that are non-refundable, I'd likely have done the same. As it is we changed from getting APs to go again in 2014.

Leave the place to the apologists. Maybe when revenue goes down, the powers that be will consider they actually need to deliver a great experience rather than just assuming that the masses will continue to come and jump through hoops for the pleasure of dropping every dime they can into the mouse's pocket.

I hope you can find a great vacation for you and your family. Maybe someday the World will return to a low stress happy place.

I am in the same boat as you, we rented DVC for our upcoming trip, and we locked in because we got a GREAT deal. We had already upgraded our passes to APs which expire MID May before we finishes our last trip, planning on returning within the year. But I am very worried about how this trip is going to go. We were actually going to BUY DVC in the spring, but were just starting to hear some of the unpleasant rumors of FP+ so decided to hold off on that and rent for a year first.

Now, I wish I was in a position to possibly cancel, not that I would yet at this point, May is still a long way away, but, if we get the final details, and some of the first reports of the system 100% rolled out, and it looks as bad as I think its going to, we would cancel. If we went online and couldn't book our headliners 60 days out, we would cancel. But, we are locked in, and thats that. I am trying to stay positive about the trip, looking at other things to do, wild africa trek, water parks etc ... but in the back of my mind, I fear this will be our last disney trip. FPs have been central to our previous trips. We are not spending $5000 (flights, rooms, tickets, food) to stand in line. If I want to do that, I can go to the local amusement park here for $26.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

Fantaluminishes, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. Some of us are also entitled to ours and mine is that I disagree. People aren't all cut from the same cloth and they aren't all going to think just like you. I've seen enough from the OP to believe her and even if I didn't I wouldn't in essence call her a liar. Really?

First: ALL (not some) of us are entitled to our own opinions. Second: I don't know which posts you are reading, but I can assure you that I have not called anybody a liar. I asked a simple question. You quoted my question. Care to explain where I called OP a liar?

You are right on the "same cloth" thing. Unfortunately, most DISSERS are of the same ilk. This makes opinions like mine unpopular, to the point where others feel the need to pile on to (often angrily) point that out. After 12 years on these boards you develop a thick skin.

But you can't argue about the fact that this FP+ nonsense has gotten out of hand. Most of the people whining about it haven't even given it a chance. For the record. I used FP+ in September. I double-dipped maybe three times in 11 days. I found the entire test to be great.

 

[Jennasis]

First: ALL (not some) of us are entitled to our own opinions. Second: I don't know which posts you are reading, but I can assure you that I have not called anybody a liar. I asked a simple question. You quoted my question. Care to explain where I called OP a liar?

You are right on the "same cloth" thing. Unfortunately, most DISSERS are of the same ilk. This makes opinions like mine unpopular, to the point where others feel the need to pile on to (often angrily) point that out. After 12 years on these boards you develop a thick skin.

But you can't argue about the fact that this FP+ nonsense has gotten out of hand. Most of the people whining about it haven't even given it a chance. For the record. I used FP+ in September. I double-dipped maybe three times in 11 days. I found the entire test to be great.

You quite clearly stated you don't believe the OP.

Then again, I couldn't begin to fathom WHY she would need to defend her decision or reasoning.

 

[surferdave]

We were actually going to BUY DVC in the spring, but were just starting to hear some of the unpleasant rumors of FP+ so decided to hold off on that and rent for a year first.

Be sure to stop by a few of the DVC kiosks in the parks and resorts and give them that feedback, I doubt there's any better way to get Disney's attention.

 

[Shaden]

First: ALL (not some) of us are entitled to our own opinions. Second: I don't know which posts you are reading, but I can assure you that I have not called anybody a liar. I asked a simple question. You quoted my question. Care to explain where I called OP a liar?

You are right on the "same cloth" thing. Unfortunately, most DISSERS are of the same ilk. This makes opinions like mine unpopular, to the point where others feel the need to pile on to (often angrily) point that out. After 12 years on these boards you develop a thick skin.

But you can't argue about the fact that this FP+ nonsense has gotten out of hand. Most of the people whining about it haven't even given it a chance. For the record. I used FP+ in September. I double-dipped maybe three times in 11 days. I found the entire test to be great.

You quite clearly stated you don't believe the OP.

Then again, I couldn't begin to fathom WHY she would need to defend her decision or reasoning.

Indeed he/she said exactly that, implicitly calling the OP a Liar.

Seondly Hahahaha This makes opinions like mine unpopular ... the disney apologist opinion is unpopular here !!?!? hahaha too funny.

 

[bcrook]

Visitors also pay good money for single day tickets to other major theme parks without FP and yet spend hours in line for a few rides. And apparently if there are long waits and lines at WDW rides that are many WDW visitors also willing to wait - if not there would be no lines to begin with! The point is that lines and long waits are common in many popular theme parks and acceptable to many visitors even though others like you and me would never stand and wait one hour long for ANY attraction or line.

As to impact of changes to FP, really depends on how much having easy access to multiple FP is a key factor in your visit along with being able to use FP to manage large crowds and/or ride the most popular ride multiple times in the same day - again those may be key to you but perhaps not majority of visitors? WDW certainly has the data on existing FP to know exactly the percentage of park visitors any given day/crowd size that use various numbers of FP.

My guess would be that WDW already knows that the majority of visitors in a park in a given day do not use more than 3 FP, thus running tests of FP+ based on that data. I am quite certain here on the boards, and us experienced WDW regulars, greatly overestimate the percentage and number of park visitors that use/depend on FP as part of their park planning and actual visit.

Don't forget, it's not just about the magic #3. It is about booking them months in advance and not having flexibility to switch. This is happening right now, and over half of Disneys customers don't have access to the big glaring +.

 

[EMom]

I am crossing my fingers and saying a prayer as well. We lived in a stupid motel for two months, waiting on our house so I sympathize deeply. Everything else will work out as soon as you get into your house.

Two months in a hotel? God love you. I probably could have handled two months in this apartment, but six may be the death of me. A few minutes ago, I couldn't figure out if my upstairs neighbors were just screaming to communicate while their HUGE (150 pound) dogs ran around or if there was a physical altercation going on. Just couldn't tell. But it put me on edge. They have gotten quiet, so I guess it wasn't a fight. I grew up in the quiet of the country and am not cut out for this, although I have managed to adapt to the suburbs. The new house has 1/2 acre, so the neighbors are a bit spread apart. Thank goodness. It has a killer kitchen and it will be nice to get back to cooking and baking again.

 

[EMom]

First: ALL (not some) of us are entitled to our own opinions. Second: I don't know which posts you are reading, but I can assure you that I have not called anybody a liar. I asked a simple question. You quoted my question. Care to explain where I called OP a liar?

You are right on the "same cloth" thing. Unfortunately, most DISSERS are of the same ilk. This makes opinions like mine unpopular, to the point where others feel the need to pile on to (often angrily) point that out. After 12 years on these boards you develop a thick skin.

But you can't argue about the fact that this FP+ nonsense has gotten out of hand. Most of the people whining about it haven't even given it a chance. For the record. I used FP+ in September. I double-dipped maybe three times in 11 days. I found the entire test to be great.

You did not use the word "liar." But your meaning was clear. It simply wasn't that well hidden or subtle.

 

[rebbyparker]

Two months in a hotel? God love you. I probably could have handled two months in this apartment, but six may be the death of me. A few minutes ago, I couldn't figure out if my upstairs neighbors were just screaming to communicate while their HUGE (150 pound) dogs ran around or if there was a physical altercation going on. Just couldn't tell. But it put me on edge. They have gotten quiet, so I guess it wasn't a fight. I grew up in the quiet of the country and am not cut out for this, although I have managed to adapt to the suburbs. The new house has 1/2 acre, so the neighbors are a bit spread apart. Thank goodness. It has a killer kitchen and it will be nice to get back to cooking and baking again.

I'm am praying that you get in your new house (it sounds lovely and quiet) before the holidays and away from the craziness.

 

[EMom]

I'm am praying that you get in your new house (it sounds lovely and quiet) before the holidays and away from the craziness.

Thanks. I am ready to decorate a tree or two, turn on that fireplace and have a nice, relaxing evening.....If I could get my hands on a butterbeer, it would be perfect.

 

[rebbyparker]

Thanks. I am ready to decorate a tree or two, turn on that fireplace and have a nice, relaxing evening.....If I could get my hands on a butterbeer, it would be perfect.

Butterbeer!!! I'm drooling now.

 

[disneyerin]

So if you were not having said "crappy year", would you have still cancelled your trip? If you were having a normal, or a great year, would you still be planning your trip and dealing with all the FP+ "mess" anyway?

Believe it or not, WDW used to be the place to go when you wanted to get away from all the stress, the worrying, the rush. It was like going to Hawaii but a kajillion times more magical (sorry Hawaii lovers): You make a hotel and plane reservation and that's it. Your biggest concern is what to pack and how sad you're going to feel when you have to come home.

Then you get there. You walk into the park and think "What do I want to do now?" and then you do it. When you get hungry you look at your list of restaurants and pick one. It's a world opposite to the one you left at home. Its a place you don't have to control. It's a place where you don't have to make sure you "get there first" or grab that "now I get to get on my ride within a tolerable amount of time" special pass before (God forbid) someone else gets it and has the great time you wanted but now can't have.

I cannot begin to describe what that magic felt like. It felt joyful, relaxing, and (excuse the corniness), healing. And it was simple. It was a place you looked forward to when life got to be too much. It was a gift for all of us who needed to get off the "hamster wheel" and experience the moment completely. No particular plan, just what felt fun at the time.

I don't care what anyone says, you'd have to be a little bit crazy not to want a trip like that if you had a bad year. The problem is, if some of the things you loved so much about WDW was experiencing spontaneity, and "discovering" as opposed to "planning", while being able to ride all your favorite rides and eat at your favorite restaurants, those times are pretty much over, But, some of us have been slow to catch on. It's hard to let go of something that you have loved so much. The DIS boards over the past few months have been filled with WDW veterans "catching on" and sharing how crappy they feel about it.

Some people use WDW to simply just have a blast. And it's the perfect place for that. And all the planning for FP+s, and ADRs, and running at rope drop to get there before everyone else just adds to the fun and magic. But many of us went to WDW for the peace and absence of stress; because we didn't need to plan anything. We didn't have to be faster or more "on the ball" with our strategizing than the other disney guests in order to get that dinner reservation, or spend half an hour less waiting for a ride.

We just simply showed up.

It sounds like that's what the OP was wanting. We all still want it. But she received some new information, found out that what she was wanting was no longer WDW, and decided not to go. If you were stressed out from work, or "life" and began planning on going to Hawaii for that peace and quiet you feel lying on the beaches, and then found out that the beaches were only going to be open one hour a day while you were there, you might decide not to go. Would that mean that you canceled because you had a stressful life? Perhaps, but maybe the beaches are what you loved about Hawaii, and now without the beaches it's just not that appealing to you.

The OP loved WDW because of the way it was. And the way it was, made a chaotic, busy, "planned" life literally float away for a time. Why would he want to go back if WDW didn't feel like that anymore to him?

And why is it so important that she "own up" to the REAL reason she's not going? Really?
Can't she just not like the changes and have that be enough?