Watch as the Dreams Unlimited Podcast team talks MyMagic+

[TiggerTrigger]

I'm really mixed on all of this. We've been going to WDW since the mid 1980s and I remember what it was like before any kind of FP and advanced dining. We were also usually going over spring break or 4th of July, so we were experiencing all of this at peak crowds. We had a blast on those early visits, but we waited in extremely long lines for everything and it wasn't uncommon for us to miss out on dining at some of our must do TS spots, especially in EPCOT. So, when we took our first trip after a long WDW hiatus and experienced it with ADRs and the original FP system, it was like this wave of common sense implementations had occurred during our absence.

Maybe it was because our return trip was our first time with our children, but being able to plan out our days with ADRs and touring plans for FPs vs non-FP attractions was a huge sanity saver. We also felt like we were getting a lot more for our $ since it made us more efficient and productive. Sure, it lacked the spontaneity that some people crave or can handle better, but here we were dining at the places we wanted to eat when we wanted to eat there and experiencing relatively short waits. It was like magic until FP+ came along.

I like certain aspects of FP+, but after a recent trip to DL during peak of peak crowds (Christmas to New Year's week), I realized that I can do a lot more with the old system. I did miss the convenience of wearing my ticket and FPs in my Magic Band and I missed not having hard to get FPs booked ahead of time so I wasn't having to 'run' at rope drop, but I think the lag time between pulling FPs in the old system (vs burning through your first 3 FP+s) enables you to get FPs for more high demand rides at DLR and ultimately ride more during the day. The only park at WDW that handles multiple FPs beyond your first 3 a bit better is MK, but even that starts to dwindle during peak times. We had so many days on our last WDW trip where there were just no decent attractions with FPs and it was either ride things we don't enjoy, repeat things we don't usually repeat or wait 140 minutes for something better. On the flipside, we noticed that people who normally go to DLR at non-peak times were blindsided by the fact that dining reservations are a must have there over the holidays.

I think there may be a good solution by blending the two concepts...i.e. maybe ADRs for popular restaurants and everything during peak times, FP+ for only higher demand attractions, a reevaluation of the tiers, and something to enable people to book more FPs in advance- including repeat attractions or multiple parks. Still, even if they find a way to implement all of this, it will never be a perfect system and we'll find some other issue to find fault if they made these sorts of changes. Plus, if they were to give us all of this...it wouldn't shock me if they also tacked on a fee for something they might call "Premium FP+."

 

[CampbellzSoup]

@WebmasterJohn I hope you guys can do a show on DVC and show the pros and cons that would be an interesting show.

 

[OKW Lover]

@WebmasterJohn I hope you guys can do a show on DVC and show the pros and cons that would be an interesting show.

ohh, that would be interesting. I suspect that there are a lot of different perspectives on that.

 

[old_faithful]

I'm really mixed on all of this. We've been going to WDW since the mid 1980s and I remember what it was like before any kind of FP and advanced dining. We were also usually going over spring break or 4th of July, so we were experiencing all of this at peak crowds. We had a blast on those early visits, but we waited in extremely long lines for everything and it wasn't uncommon for us to miss out on dining at some of our must do TS spots, especially in EPCOT. So, when we took our first trip after a long WDW hiatus and experienced it with ADRs and the original FP system, it was like this wave of common sense implementations had occurred during our absence.

Maybe it was because our return trip was our first time with our children, but being able to plan out our days with ADRs and touring plans for FPs vs non-FP attractions was a huge sanity saver. We also felt like we were getting a lot more for our $ since it made us more efficient and productive. Sure, it lacked the spontaneity that some people crave or can handle better, but here we were dining at the places we wanted to eat when we wanted to eat there and experiencing relatively short waits. It was like magic until FP+ came along.

I like certain aspects of FP+, but after a recent trip to DL during peak of peak crowds (Christmas to New Year's week), I realized that I can do a lot more with the old system. I did miss the convenience of wearing my ticket and FPs in my Magic Band and I missed not having hard to get FPs booked ahead of time so I wasn't having to 'run' at rope drop, but I think the lag time between pulling FPs in the old system (vs burning through your first 3 FP+s) enables you to get FPs for more high demand rides at DLR and ultimately ride more during the day. The only park at WDW that handles multiple FPs beyond your first 3 a bit better is MK, but even that starts to dwindle during peak times. We had so many days on our last WDW trip where there were just no decent attractions with FPs and it was either ride things we don't enjoy, repeat things we don't usually repeat or wait 140 minutes for something better. On the flipside, we noticed that people who normally go to DLR at non-peak times were blindsided by the fact that dining reservations are a must have there over the holidays.

I think there may be a good solution by blending the two concepts...i.e. maybe ADRs for popular restaurants and everything during peak times, FP+ for only higher demand attractions, a reevaluation of the tiers, and something to enable people to book more FPs in advance- including repeat attractions or multiple parks. Still, even if they find a way to implement all of this, it will never be a perfect system and we'll find some other issue to find fault if they made these sorts of changes. Plus, if they were to give us all of this...it wouldn't shock me if they also tacked on a fee for something they might call "Premium FP+."

I agree with Tigger Trigger. I could usually get FP for the high demand attractions my kids wanted to enjoy with the old system. It took arriving at rope drop and using a FP runner but we were happy to do that if we made the most of our day. Such efforts are no longer rewarded. Our last 2 Disney vacations have been to Disneyland to avoid FP+.

 

[WebmasterJohn]

I hope you guys can do a show on DVC and show the pros and cons that would be an interesting show.

A show about DVC is certainly on the horizon.

 

[JosephWDW]

Just popping in to let you guys know that there is currently an issue with the audio feed for this show but it should hopefully be fixed later this afternoon!

IS it working now?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

@WebmasterJohn I hope you guys can do a show on DVC and show the pros and cons that would be an interesting show.

I really like that idea ... and maybe go through the difference between buying from Disney, buying from Resale, and renting points, etc.

 

[disneysteve]

We've now done 3 trips since FP+ started. And I'm someone who is in Kevin's camp and has been visiting WDW since the 1970s. I've gone from ticket books to passes to legacy FP to FP+. I've seen it all.

Do I like FP+? Yes and no. It works. As Nikki alluded to, it didn't necessarily work when it first debuted but I think they've pretty well fixed all of the bugs.

What do I like? We have started skipping rope drop, but that isn't entirely due to FP+. It's also just due to us wanting a more relaxing vacation that includes sleeping later than we do at home. We do go on the night before, once we decide which park we're going to, and book 3 FPs. That at least guarantees us (for the most part) that we will get to do those 3 rides.

What don't I like? There are certain rides that we are just never, or very rarely, going to get to ride again because the FPs "sell out" well in advance. They really need to reserve a portion of the available FPs for same day access. I don't see us ever riding Soarin', TSM, or Mine Train unless we go in at rope drop and head straight for them (which we have done). Yes, I know we can go stand in line but that's just not happening. Yes, we're spoiled. I admit that. But we are not wasting an hour or more of our day standing in line for a 90 second ride. It just isn't that important to us.

I don't like the whole way you book FP times. I would much rather them show a list of available times and let me pick the time I want rather than giving packages of 3 rides together with varied pre-set time groupings. Let me book one at a time at the times of my choice based on availability. After the 3 FPs are used, I should be able to book the 4th and more on the app. I shouldn't have to go to a kiosk for that.

What I don't like most of all about MDE is that it forces - okay, maybe "forces" is too strong - or at least greatly encourages guests to be staring at their phones all day. I see it when I'm in the park. No longer are folks strolling around taking in their surroundings. Their eyes are locked on their phones. When is our FP for Test Track? How long is the wait for BTMRR? What's on the menu at the Commissary? Maybe I'm being the crotchety old man here but I miss the days when people were present in the moment. I'd love to leave my phone in my pocket all day but I can't because I need it to navigate the new system.

As for MagicBands, our trip last month was our first time using them. They were fine. They worked. I didn't mind wearing it nearly as much as I expected - except the one day when the temperature got warm. Then I had to take it off after a couple of hours. Sorry but having a big thick rubber band around my wrist when it's hot and humid just isn't enjoyable. When we go in July, I suspect I will not be wearing my band.

 

[disneysteve]

I hope you guys can do a show on DVC and show the pros and cons that would be an interesting show.

A show about DVC is certainly on the horizon.

If you do a show on DVC, I hope you include someone on the panel who is anti-DVC so that it isn't just a big sales pitch. I'm not sure whether or not you have anyone on the team who can fill that role. If not, I'd suggest bringing in a friend or listener who can add some balance to the conversation, just as you did with the MDE/FP+ conversation.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

If you do a show on DVC, I hope you include someone on the panel who is anti-DVC so that it isn't just a big sales pitch. I'm not sure whether or not you have anyone on the team who can fill that role. If not, I'd suggest bringing in a friend or listener who can add some balance to the conversation, just as you did with the MDE/FP+ conversation.

Well that's exactly what I would want in it - not a sales pitch. It makes it sleezy if it is which the podcast team doesn't do....I'm sure Pete it non dvc

 

[disneysteve]

I'm sure Pete it non dvc

Pete owns DVC. He's told the story many times about going with John and buying in.

 

[KingLlama]

By the way, that was a terrific show about MyMagic+. I thought Heather brought some very well-informed takes to the discussion, and had some very valid points, but Tracey's counterview was well-reasoned as well. John did a nice job playing down the middle, and Kevin's views, though he may not have thought of them in this way, seemed more wistful than negative.

I had never even thought of how FP+ affected standby lines, but it makes sense. I still stand by my opinion that FP+ made my last trip more relaxing(I found myself nodding in agreement with Tracey on more than a few occasions), but I thought others' viewpoints were presented well also.

Great show, gang.

 

[OKW Lover]

Pete owns DVC. He's told the story many times about going with John and buying in.

I don't recall his stories quite that way. I don't think Pete does own DVC.

 

[disneysteve]

I had never even thought of how FP+ affected standby lines, but it makes sense.

FP+ definitely affected standby lines negatively. This has been discussed extensively in other places. Along with what was mentioned on the show, the new system has also driven guests to formerly low volume rides because of the tier system for FPs. Rides that didn't use to have (or need) FP now have them and have long lines that never previously existed.

Adding FP to rides that weren't designed to have them actually messes with the whole design system. Omnimover rides, for example, are specifically designed to handle high volumes of guests while minimizing waits since the line is always moving. FP throws a wrench into that system by stopping and starting the line.

 

[disneysteve]

I don't recall his stories quite that way. I don't think Pete does own DVC.

You would know better than me. I'll retract that statement. If Pete is not a DVC fan, then he can certainly speak to the other view on the show. Although even with that, I'd like to see them include info on offsite options in that conversation. So often, I hear people justify their DVC ownership by saying they needed that extra space and wanted the kitchen facilities, ignoring the fact that all of that is available for a fraction of the price offsite.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I seem to remember pete saying that while he was with John that john purchased dvc and he consistently talks or used to talk on the show about perhaps owning

 

[OKW Lover]

If Pete is not a DVC fan, then he can certainly speak to the other view on the show.

Pete will certainly speak his mind.

From what I recall (and I haven't talked to him directly about this for some time) he has considered DVC a few times but just didn't buy. It didn't seem to be a case of not being a fan of DVC (I think he likes the facilities) but more of the price. Again, I shouldn't be putting words in Pete's mouth so I'll stop here.

 

[shanethesaint88]

I'm not that big a fan of fast pass plus. I don't think it gives me the same value as it used to.
We used to go get fast passes for just the "E Ticket" attractions. For example, at MK the only fast passes we would get were splash mountains, space mountain, and thunder mountain. And we would get them over and over and over again. In the meantime we would ride the "lesser rides" such as pirates and haunted mansion and jungle cruise. These rides never had long lines because they are not meant to have fast pass. I mean haunted mansion is continously loading, it should never have a crazy wait time. This allowed us to ride our favorite attractions multiple times. And still enjoy the other rides with minimal wait times.
And the tier system at epcot and HS is just God awful to me. I hate it. Hey I know you wanna soarin and test track but sorry ya can't do it. Why not instead pick one of those and get a FP for journey into imagination. Cause we all know that ride has those killer wait times that you need a FP or you just won't get on it. Smh

 

[TheMaxRebo]

By the way, that was a terrific show about MyMagic+. I thought Heather brought some very well-informed takes to the discussion, and had some very valid points, but Tracey's counterview was well-reasoned as well. John did a nice job playing down the middle, and Kevin's views, though he may not have thought of them in this way, seemed more wistful than negative.

I had never even thought of how FP+ affected standby lines, but it makes sense. I still stand by my opinion that FP+ made my last trip more relaxing(I found myself nodding in agreement with Tracey on more than a few occasions), but I thought others' viewpoints were presented well also.

Great show, gang.

Fully agree - and I too found myself nodding in agreement with Tracey as I think her touring style is most similar to that of my family and FP+ works for us

I think it is clear though there are different touring styles and this isn't the best for everyone, but I think with the crowds Disney is trying to disperse the crowds away from a few headliners and also trying to better guarantee that a family that is on that "once in a lifetime" trip, with a little planning can get on all/most of the headliners at least once. This very much negatively impacts people who are re-riders or non-planers

The only argument I challenge is when people say FP+ is bad because they figured out how to maximize the old system. That doesn't meant he new system is better or worse than the old system, just that it is different and now you need to figure out how to best maximize the new system.

 

[Jennygt]

I really enjoyed the podcast on this topic. I am 14 days away from my 60 day fp window and I am getting stressed out. I am an uber planner but I guess the unknown of this system is freaking me out. We have alot to cover this trip with two young children. I am hoping for the best and trying to focus on the positive aspects of FP+. I was the runner in the past so I have to say I wont miss that part. Since our recent trips have been with very young children we had to be on a schedule so I don't mind following a schedule. I hope it works out for us.