We arrive DISNEY on Friday.. KIND OF NERVOUS..second guessing stuff

[edk35]

about the new FP system!! We have 24 trips under our belts..... and this new system has me a bit freaked out. We have ours booked, we have our days planned as far as the crowd calendars go..... we have a few adr's but I have this uneasy feeling about this trip. I have never worried too much about which rides or which areas to hit first ....with the old FP system but now I am kind of wondering how to handle MK.

Any tips/advice?????

 

[leebee]

I hear ya. We are off for trip 26 in October and I feel JUST the way you do! I have decided I am going to take a deep breath and not worry about it. I am already adjusting my mind to the "it's not gonna be about the rides" and if we need to leave and go back to the resort (or over to Universal ) we will. I have also only made a few ADRs for this trip, instead of one for every night. I WON"T take the chance on losing my deposit, on paying Disney extra money for NOT doing something. WHo knows? Maybe we'll eat at Emeril's instead of Jiko for DD's birthday dinner! I am tired of feeling jerked around by Disney!

 

[edk35]

I hear ya. We are off for trip 26 in October and I feel JUST the way you do! I have decided I am going to take a deep breath and not worry about it. I am already adjusting my mind to the "it's not gonna be about the rides" and if we need to leave and go back to the resort (or over to Universal ) we will. I have also only made a few ADRs for this trip, instead of one for every night. I WON"T take the chance on losing my deposit, on paying Disney extra money for NOT doing something. WHo knows? Maybe we'll eat at Emeril's instead of Jiko for DD's birthday dinner! I am tired of feeling jerked around by Disney!

I am also wondering if we did the right thing with fast passes. Most of ours are at night... with the hope that we can rope drop a lot...particularly in MK. Then I am reading that people are having success getting the 4th and 5th and so on with their fast passes after using their 3. HOWEVER, I am not liking the whole GO TO A KIOSK to do it. UGH So then I am thinking.... are we screwing ourselves by not getting the fast passes earlier in the day.... so then when we do the standby line ...it's even longer. THIS PRE TRIP STRESS IS GOING TO MAKE ME

 

[Nohal]

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I am second guessing all of our FP+ also. I have to stop looking at what I have booked for ADR's and FP+ cause its making me crazy. I just have to learn to go with the flow. We are rope drop people and after reading that there aren't many benefits anymore I am worried. I have to put my paper away and say "it is what it is"

 

[tsme]

I feel the same way. We go to Disney ever year, but this year I'm totally freaking out with all the changes & all the horror stories online. I'm just hoping that everything falls into place & if not then I hope we can shrug it off.

 

[Riverhill]

Feeling the same way. Traveling with entire family and trying to get everyone organized this far in advance is crazy. My 70 year old mom has no clue which park she wants to go to which day. Let alone nailing down a ride time. Fast plus + is too much work. Normally I love planning but this is sucking the fun out of it for me.

 

[edk35]

Friends of ours went the week of 4th of July. Their plan of action was to go at rope drop and also use their fast passes in the late morning....out around lunch time. They did do a couple of evening fast passes at EC because they were staying at BC so they went to EC a lot. They had a lot of luck with rope drop especially at MK. I am hoping we do too.

 

[Amanda999]

I am also wondering if we did the right thing with fast passes. Most of ours are at night... with the hope that we can rope drop a lot...particularly in MK. Then I am reading that people are having success getting the 4th and 5th and so on with their fast passes after using their 3. HOWEVER, I am not liking the whole GO TO A KIOSK to do it. UGH So then I am thinking.... are we screwing ourselves by not getting the fast passes earlier in the day.... so then when we do the standby line ...it's even longer. THIS PRE TRIP STRESS IS GOING TO MAKE ME

So funny! I'm kicking myself for doing all morning FP+! Ugh. (And I'm so not doing the kiosks either. Was at WDW Feb. and June 2014, and the lines were never short. And, my kids complain alot if I started waiting in a kiosk line: the line doesn't end up at a fun ride. Just seems to be a line for no reason to them.)

 

[Wendybird55]

As someone who will be going for her 30th time the August...the one point / question I have for most of you is....except for 7DMT, chances are you've been on the attractions and rides you enjoy/like multiple times over the many times you've visited Disney. Also, chances are since you've already been to Disney so many times, you most likely will go again sometime in the future.
So why get nervous about possibly waiting longer then usual for a ride or deciding to skip a ride because of a long wait of lack of FP+?

Just enjoy Disney and chances are with your experience, know-how and planning you will get to do most, if not, all of everything you wanted to do. FP+ is new and does have its bugs and it may be hard for some to adjust touring plans if you used the previous FP system often. But this is not your first time at Disney. There is so much you already don't have to contend with as far as knowing what to do and where to go and such...you're ahead of
so many others that your getting concerned for nothing really.

As we all know there are variables on any trip we have no control so why worry when it won't change much. Just enjoy...you're on vacation...I'm sure we'll all have a great time.

 

[vtownpatty]

As someone who will be going for her 30th time the August...the one point / question I have for most of you is....except for 7DMT, chances are you've been on the attractions and rides you enjoy/like multiple times over the many times you've visited Disney. Also, chances are since you've already been to Disney so many times, you most likely will go again sometime in the future. So why get nervous about possibly waiting longer then usual for a ride or deciding to skip a ride because of a long wait of lack of FP+? Just enjoy Disney and chances are with your experience, know-how and planning you will get to do most, if not, all of everything you wanted to do. FP+ is new and does have its bugs and it may be hard for some to adjust touring plans if you used the previous FP system often. But this is not your first time at Disney. There is so much you already don't have to contend with as far as knowing what to do and where to go and such...you're ahead of so many others that your getting concerned for nothing really. As we all know there are variables on any trip we have no control so why worry when it won't change much. Just enjoy...you're on vacation...I'm sure we'll all have a great time.

I totally agree with this! We are going at the end of September for our 4th time. We are not über planners. We make ADR's based on what parks we want to visit (doesn't bother us to plan this ahead of time). We have never used park hoppers so I think that helps keep things easier for us. We made FP reservations for things we don't want to miss - everything else is just extra for us. No matter what rides, shows, etc we make it to, just being at Disney is enough for us. I also agree with taking it easy and know that even a bad day at Disney is a great day! Hope your trip is wonderful!

 

[Jennasis]

It's because I've been to Disney so many times (30 or so myself) that I'm worried. I know what I like and what I like to do, and have been able to successfully do it for all my past trips. I would like to continue doing those things, but have no idea how that will work or if it will work with the new system. Despite the many snags I've already run into dealing with MDE and scheduling FP+, I'm trying to maintain some positivity that I will be able figure it all out once I've got "boots on the ground".

 

[PrincessAli]

We visit Disney at least once and usually twice ( one year 4 times!) a year. It has gotten so now that if we can't get a FP time or the stand by lines are long--we go have a Dole Whip (or another favorite snack) and enjoy the atmosphere! I don't stress on any thing anymore--not worth it!

 

[harbin]

Don't worry!! We love FP+! No need to mad dash at RD, as I know we have everything scheduled! We always go at busy times, and have had no issues. Relax, go with the flow, and have a great time. Try to remember, you are on vacation!!

 

[Wendybird55]

We visit Disney at least once and usually twice ( one year 4 times!) a year. It has gotten so now that if we can't get a FP time or the stand by lines are long--we go have a Dole Whip (or another favorite snack) and enjoy the atmosphere! I don't stress on any thing anymore--not worth it!

I understand this feeling as we have our favorites and now with my son (he's 7) I want to make sure he gets to do the things he enjoys most. But, that being said. over the past years it's the things we haven't done before in lieu of missing some of our favorites that I've enjoyed the most. I've found not rushing to make sure I go to all the rides and attractions we want or have to go on, gives us opportunities to encounter other great things. Like the time my son ran into "PUSH" and had a great encounter because we weren't rushing to go on Space Mt. or Speedway. Or the various street shows we see just strolling by, or the time we just decided to try Pirate League because we ""happened" to be there when it started and DS got picked to "fight" with Jack Sparrow. So many of those "magical" and special encounters have happened outside of a ride or attraction and of course unplanned.

I am a bit fixated on the Unleash the Villains on Aug.23 as DS LOVES Villains and fortunately we will be at Disney during this event and have tickets. At first I was worried about the crowds and how could I make sure DS meets all his favorites Villains and making sure we get to see all the great shows and have a good spots for the fireworks, etc. Plus this is the first time this is a ticketed event and it's one -day-only so I don't have the help of past goers to rely on. Then I realized, no matter what, it will be a great time for all of us and all I can do is plan what I can and enjoy the rest.

Also, I think we worry more because we are so well informed about everything. We also tend to forget that our experience and knowledge helps us to navigate through any potential problems or unforeseen alterations to our plans so that we end up doing the things we really want to.

Wishing you all the best for your upcoming trip and lots of pixie dust so things go smoothly.

 

[OB1]

From an over 35 trip veteran - we went for a 4 day trip that included a few days of Memorial Weekend. Like you, we were not certain about FP. We did our best guess, and it worked out well. Some days, we picked our hop park for the later afternoon, since like you, we do rope drop. Otherwise, we did mid morning to try for the extra FP. It seemed that by the time we used up our FP, the selections were slim, so we really never used the 4th FP.

As for the Kiosk, the lines were not ever bad. Remember - in the past you would have to walk to an attraction (takes time), get your FP from the machine (sometimes a wait), then travel to what your next attraction (more time). Now, you just find a kiosk, and try for your extra FP. There are enough of them, that you should not have to travel too far.

Sounds like you have done your homework and have a good plan for your family. We were never the commando FP people, so your type of plan works. If you want as many FP as possible, then you book everything at the start of the day. We did that during Star Wars Weekend at DHS, and were open to book extra by 12:30. We only found 1 attraction that interested us by that time.

 

[wrighter]

I feel ya!!

There are many of us veterans who are doing our best to adapt to this new system. We were "lucky" enough to feel our way through it for the first time during the week between Christmas and New Years - and then again Easter Week!

My suggestion for you is this: Try to go into the vacation knowing that it will be a "learning experience." You've done as much as you can do - and you really won't know what you've done "right" and what you've done "wrong," as it pertains to your family, until you're there and living it. Some things will absolutely work for you, and some things won't. And you'll spend some amount of time learning how to juggle those things "on the run." But after a day or two you'll know how to maneuver through the whole thing and you'll be good to go.

Try to relax. There will be kinks! But you're a pro - you can handle them!!

 

[ktlm]

My advice to you is that it is what it is, and there is no sense stressing yourself out over it. Just roll with it and enjoy yourselves no matter what. As far as specifics, my advice would be in the early morning just hit the rides that you would normally get a FP for, but that you couldn't due to your 3 limit. Know that reports are that at rope drop the lines are a little longer than they used to be, which I am sure is because people are coming early because they know their FPs are now limited, and by the time they can get a 4th, there may be nothing good left. Even so, the lines will only get worse during the day and should be shorter than they will be in the afternoon. Then focus on the rides that you would be really upset if you missed and go from there. Yes, it is more hassle and different, but you can still have a lot of fun.

We have been once since FP+ started. We hated it, but at least we were still at WDW. Although I would say it wasn't as enjoyable as all of our trips in the past because of all the issues with MDE, the increased standbylines from FP+, the rigidness of FP+, the criss-crossing the park instead of focusing on area, and the feeling that we weren't getting as much done as we are used to doing, it was still pretty darn fun! For your next trip, you might think about giving DL at try- we just went a couple of weeks ago, and I realized just how much we disliked FP+ when we had a wonderful 5 days of total freedom and not being attached to a phone or app.

 

[edk35]

THANKS EVERYONE.... I KNOW I HAVE TO CALM DOWN AND GO WITH THE FLOW... I will try.. really try. LOL We too like the off the beaten path things... so we will enjoy ourselves.