Waterparks - afraid FP+ will ruin our WDW trips

[moreymouse]

Question for those waterpark fans - DW and I have been going to WDW about every other year in the 2nd or 3rd week in May since 2000. We love the waterparks (we're from PA) and make sure we get to each one every time we visit. DW doesn't like heights and because most of the waterparks attractions are built into a mountain, she loves them. Our last visit was in 2012 and we won't be going this year. Primarily because of FP+ and how everything needs to be planned ahead of time. The waterparks are weather dependant and therefore you can't plan them entirely ahead of time.

Does anybody else that likes the waterparks see this as an issue?

Signed,
Too much planning ahead.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

I'm not sure exactly what the issue is.

FP+ has no impact on the waterpark operations.

FP+ can be made each day as you arrive at the parks -- no planning ahead required. As long as you arrive close to rope-drop, you can get 3 FP+ reservations for your favorite attractions. The 60-day advance window facilitates uber-planners, advises Disney staff managers about anticipated guest flow, and allows Disney to sell more hotel rooms. It doesn't have to add any stress to your plans.

 

[minnie mum]

I also don't see what the issue is. May weather is usually very good. If you should have to push back a water park day, you can still do FP+ for that day as soon as you make that decision. Crowd levels aren't very high for most of the month, so availability shouldn't be that bad.

 

[kaybird]

We visit the waterparks almost everyday during our trips, weather permitting. Like the pp's not sure what your anticipated issue is. The GREAT thing about FP+ is the ability to change the times, or at the very least, schedule them for after the waterparks close. They have managed to make every aspect of touring easier for us, and what did you do with FP-? There was certainly a more than even chance of pulling one with a time scheduled during your waterpark hours!

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Wow. Fp+ now blamed for water parks! Next they are going to blame the crowds at universal on fp+.

I just got back this past week from Disney. Had no trouble with fp+. None. Didn't even plan everything put... Just went with the flow.

My suggestion- stop flipping out and just go. Don't panic about a system you have not seen yet based on a few negative people here.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

OP, have you thought about doing a waterparks vacation? A waterparks annual pass is only about $100 pp, and good for a full year. For another $40 or so, you can add Disney Quest. You could visit both waterparks multiple times over the course of your visit, schedule in some ADR's, visit DTD, and still have a "Disney" vacation without the super-planning ahead.

 

[minnie mum]

Wow. Fp+ now blamed for water parks! Next they are going to blame the crowds at universal on fp+.

I just got back this past week from Disney. Had no trouble with fp+. None. Didn't even plan everything put... Just went with the flow.

My suggestion- stop flipping out and just go. Don't panic about a system you have not seen yet based on a few negative people here.

Wow. Would you like some fries to go with that jumbo portion of snark?? Give the OP a break (and maybe an apology). It is their first family trip and they are simply voicing a concern and asking for feedback- not Someone unhelpfully telling them to just stay home.

 

[Alesia]

It is their first family trip

Where do you get that from this:

DW and I have been going to WDW about every other year in the 2nd or 3rd week in May since 2000.

they are simply voicing a concern and asking for feedback- not Someone unhelpfully telling them to just stay home.

Actually, she said the opposite:

My suggestion- stop flipping out and just go. Don't panic about a system you have not seen yet based on a few negative people here.

Moreymouse - I think you're over-thinking this. There is no reason why FP+ should affect your water park visits at all. There's a lot of panic on the disboards about FP+, but it's actually a lot more flexible than some posters would lead you to believe.

I agree with TiggerBouncy: Go. Enjoy your trip. Don't let what you read on the disboards freak you out.

 

[minnie mum]

Where do you get that from this:

Actually, she said the opposite:

Moreymouse - I think you're over-thinking this. There is no reason why FP+ should affect your water park visits at all. There's a lot of panic on the disboards about FP+, but it's actually a lot more flexible than some posters would lead you to believe.

I agree with TiggerBouncy: Go. Enjoy your trip. Don't let what you read on the disboards freak you out.

You are right. I mixed up two different threads that I was replying to. It was a different poster who was a first timer, who had been told to just stay home. The OP was making her first post, and I didn't feet that TiggerBouncy's reply was in any was helpful for a newbie.

 

[lazer]

This is what we did when we had waterpark passes and were testing fp+. Went to parks at rope drop and had fp+ set up for afternoon. That way, if the weather was nice we could go to the waterpark in the morning, skip rope drop, then have fp+ for the afternoon when it was more crowded. We were able to ride everything a few times if we made it to rope drop and then used passes in the afternoon (on days we didn't go to the waterpark). If we went to the waterpark, we still were able to ride our favorites, plus more. Hope that gives you some insight!

 

[slp87]

In the past, we were always able to change around our plans if the weather didn't cooperate on water park days. Now, we're locked in due to FP+. I tried scheduling most of my FP+ for afternoons so we can swap days if necessary. I agree with PP in trying to wing it in the morning when it's not as crowded and Savin FP+ for later in the day.

 

[moreymouse]

Slp87 & Lazer understand my concern and have offerred solutions. Thank you to all of you that responded (FYI - I didn't think any of you we're rude one bit, although maybe I should look up what OP stands for, LOL) However, ultimately I see that we'll (DW & I) need to either make compromises or possibly even miss out on some things that we otherwise wouldn't have because of a more regimented system that is being imposed upon us. I prefer to go to the other parks first thing in the morning and einjoying those rides throughout the day than getting on them late in the day. That way we beat the crowds. To me, its too much planning.

I hear what the rest of you are saying about just go and enjoy and that its not as bad as what the others say it is. However, I don't think you can totally discount what they're saying completely. Inevitably, until the bugs are really worked out (or most of them at least) things happen and it seems to always happen to DW. I think we'll wait at least until next year to go to Disney. In fact, we already booked for the Keys.

I'm curious to know if anyone was truly able to get a FP while they were at Disney (e.g. a day or two before) for a ride like soarin for some time before 2:00? When you spend thousands of dollars for a vacation you and plan so much, you hate to miss out on something. We have been fortunate and have been able to come back. I feel sorry for those that can't. Again, thanks for everyone's replies.

moreymouse

 

[Golf4283]

Question for those waterpark fans - DW and I have been going to WDW about every other year in the 2nd or 3rd week in May since 2000. We love the waterparks (we're from PA) and make sure we get to each one every time we visit. DW doesn't like heights and because most of the waterparks attractions are built into a mountain, she loves them. Our last visit was in 2012 and we won't be going this year. Primarily because of FP+ and how everything needs to be planned ahead of time. The waterparks are weather dependant and therefore you can't plan them entirely ahead of time.

Does anybody else that likes the waterparks see this as an issue?

Signed,
Too much planning ahead.

Slp87 & Lazer understand my concern and have offerred solutions. Thank you to all of you that responded (FYI - I didn't think any of you we're rude one bit, although maybe I should look up what OP stands for, LOL) However, ultimately I see that we'll (DW & I) need to either make compromises or possibly even miss out on some things that we otherwise wouldn't have because of a more regimented system that is being imposed upon us. I prefer to go to the other parks first thing in the morning and einjoying those rides throughout the day than getting on them late in the day. That way we beat the crowds. To me, its too much planning.

I hear what the rest of you are saying about just go and enjoy and that its not as bad as what the others say it is. However, I don't think you can totally discount what they're saying completely. Inevitably, until the bugs are really worked out (or most of them at least) things happen and it seems to always happen to DW. I think we'll wait at least until next year to go to Disney. In fact, we already booked for the Keys.

I'm curious to know if anyone was truly able to get a FP while they were at Disney (e.g. a day or two before) for a ride like soarin for some time before 2:00? When you spend thousands of dollars for a vacation you and plan so much, you hate to miss out on something. We have been fortunate and have been able to come back. I feel sorry for those that can't. Again, thanks for everyone's replies.

moreymouse

hah. So you "plan so much" but don't want to plan too much?

 

[lucyem]

Honestly I had the same concern. We were at wdw in dec. We had NO flexibility with times on fps. We missed favorite rides because of this when things came up. Lost all spontaneity. I keep hearing it is better now but we are going the week after Easter. Think crowds. And I'll believe it when i see it. So OP what I have done is make all fps for morning or evening. Then on good waterparks days we hit the waterparks or pool after lunch. On not so good days we will do something else.

 

[Golf4283]

Honestly I had the same concern. We were at wdw in dec. We had NO flexibility with times on fps. We missed favorite rides because of this when things came up. Lost all spontaneity. I keep hearing it is better now but we are going the week after Easter. Think crowds. And I'll believe it when i see it. So OP what I have done is make all fps for morning or evening. Then on good waterparks days we hit the waterparks or pool after lunch. On not so good days we will do something else.

We will be there easter weekend and have our FP+'s booked already. Looking forward to it regardless of crowd levels.

 

[jade1]

Question for those waterpark fans - DW and I have been going to WDW about every other year in the 2nd or 3rd week in May since 2000. We love the waterparks (we're from PA) and make sure we get to each one every time we visit. DW doesn't like heights and because most of the waterparks attractions are built into a mountain, she loves them. Our last visit was in 2012 and we won't be going this year. Primarily because of FP+ and how everything needs to be planned ahead of time. The waterparks are weather dependant and therefore you can't plan them entirely ahead of time.

Does anybody else that likes the waterparks see this as an issue?

Signed,
Too much planning ahead.

Couple questions-when you visit the waterparks, what time do you arrive and depart them?

And what else do you typically do those days?

Also how long do you stay at WDW and what type of tickets do you use?

 

[slp87]

We typically vacation for 9 days and will go to the water parks 2-3 times with the WP&M option. We like to arrive at opening to enjoy the slides without much wait. We usually stay about 4 hours. Sometimes we will go to a park that evening or have a nonpark day and go to DTD.

 

[Rhiannona]

Just wanted to throw this out there, just because you've made fastpasses for a certain day doesn't mean your locked in. You can easily change them on the fly in advance as you originally booked them.

Also, fastpass doesn't effect the waterpark, you still have to stand in line in the sun lol!

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

Moreymouse - I think you're over-thinking this. There is no reason why FP+ should affect your water park visits at all. There's a lot of panic on the disboards about FP+, but it's actually a lot more flexible than some posters would lead you to believe.

I agree with TiggerBouncy: Go. Enjoy your trip. Don't let what you read on the disboards freak you out.[/QUOTE]


GREAT ADVICE !!!!!

 

[Marthasor]

I'm curious to know if anyone was truly able to get a FP while they were at Disney (e.g. a day or two before) for a ride like soarin for some time before 2:00? When you spend thousands of dollars for a vacation you and plan so much, you hate to miss out on something. We have been fortunate and have been able to come back. I feel sorry for those that can't. Again, thanks for everyone's replies.

moreymouse

Yes, I'm at WDW right now. We weren't planning on going to a park tomorrow, but my DS now wants to ride TT, so at 4 pm this very afternoon I went on the MDE app on my phone and made FP+ for EP tomorrow and reserved TT for 9:05 - 10:05 am.

FP+ has worked well for us all week. I've been able to switch rides and times as we went along. This is our second trip with FP+. The first one, in November, didn't go as well, but this one has been much smoother and much easier. We been able to do everything we wanted to do and never stood in line for more than 10 minutes.