What are DVC'ers opinion of the current FP+ program? I am concerned...

[erionm]

SO how does this FP+ work for those staying off site with APs?

We are DVC members and took advantage of the PAP deal last year. We have 3 trips planned with the APs but unfortunately don't have enough points for our trip in March, so we are staying at WBC.

Thanks!

Once you've had a MyMagic+ eligible resort stay, you can continue to take advantage of FastPass+ as long as you have valid park admission linked to your MDX profile.

 

[erionm]

How does FP+ work if you don't buy your tickets until you get to the gate? Do you have to have online availability to book them? We are going in May and were just going to buy park tickets when we got there, but maybe that is a bad idea??? Thanks!

Susan

You would not be able to make advance FP+ selections. If you purchase at the gate, you can make FP+ selections at one of the in-park kiosks. If staying at a WDW owned and operated resort, you can link the tickets to your MDX profile and use the mobile app to make FP+ selections (you could also use an in-park kiosk).

 

[disneypoor]

You would not be able to make advance FP+ selections. If you purchase at the gate, you can make FP+ selections at one of the in-park kiosks. If staying at a WDW owned and operated resort, you can link the tickets to your MDX profile and use the mobile app to make FP+ selections (you could also use an in-park kiosk).

Thank you! We are staying at BLT. I wonder how availability is if you wait until you get there--about the same as the FP system that used to be in place? Anyone have experience with waiting until they get there to book their FP+?

Susan

 

[JACKie SPARROW]

Once you've had a MyMagic+ eligible resort stay, you can continue to take advantage of FastPass+ as long as you have valid park admission linked to your MDX profile.

We stayed at BCV for 10 nights at the end of August. Would that make up eligible? I know we were not a part of the test group.

 

[edk35]

I read on another thread that the AP holders staying off site...are in the testing phase now as far as being able to make ressies for Fast Passes online. So it must be coming.

I also wonder how the Military tickets will work with this. I am guessing we will have to stand in lines at kiosks to book fast passes. I mean do we get to book online if we have a DVC trip booked? Anyone know?

 

[keishashadow]

I used it in November and loved it! Love being able to make fastpass reservations for any time of the day and not having to go to the ride to get them.

We were there 1/16 - 1/18 after cruise on the dream. Parks were busier than expected (not summer busy) likely due to MLK weekend approaching and tour groups.

We had booked our FP+ when first available and initially happy with the selections we were able to book. imo we failed 'the test'

With a 3 y.o. in tow we bailed on FP lines twice. The line for Star Tours was almost back to Indy. BTM's FP line wait was ridiculous. If you dig around here, somebody posted a picture of the FP+ that stretched back to the bridge by SpMt. We were looped thru posts & series of ropes to the right of the entrance but still a long wait.

What disturbed me more was the standby lines were really long, longer than I've seen them over past President's Day visits in MK. Kicker was the posted times were consistently far understated based upon length of lines I observed. I realize WDW often stacks up guests outside and there is a short end-run to the attraction boarding area but this wasn't the case.

I expressed concerns to CMs before we entered POC...guests lined out to walkway doesn't equal 30 minutes no matter how you stack them inside with both sides operating imo but was told the time had been newly posted. It took us a little over an hour to reach a boat. Same thing on Jungle Cruise. Standby listed as 30 minutes, checked with CM who verified the time...wound up escaping out the emergency entrance after an hour.

The FP+ only worked well for the rose garden viewing of wishes @ MK and the beauty & beast meet n greet in fantasyland.

Yes. They did work for parks that still had legacy FP paper machines. You can use any old room key with a magnetic strip that you didn't have ticket media attached to. Lots of controversy around this though, but they do work. We were given current room keys that worked and our APs also were able to pull legacy FP as well. But like I said, we went armed for battle, but mostly found the FP+ to be sufficient.

AKV wouldn't issue room keys for our recent stay since we had the magicbands. fyi, the machines were 'bagged' when we were there for the attractions we've checked. Not to be throwing any flames your way, but I don't consider a system working when you have to do an end run and use old room keys.

Thank you! We are staying at BLT. I wonder how availability is if you wait until you get there--about the same as the FP system that used to be in place? Anyone have experience with waiting until they get there to book their FP+?

Susan

I'd book something ahead of time. we were able to switch existing FP+ times on iphone while in the parks as long as it is before the window starts. We didn't run into any technical bugs as to the system going down for our three day visit.

We have another short trip booked end of May. I hope that they've managed to get this current hot mess whipped into shape by then. Although, perhaps typical repeat guests will have decided it's not worth their time to visit and the decline in guests will afford shorter standby times. The cynic in me is waiting for WDW to offer 'for fee' additional FP+ to guests.

 

[gdrj]

We were off-site for Xmas but have AP's. At that time only could get FP in park.

While there AK switched to FP+ only. We were able to get FP+ in the park. We were able to select 3 FP from about 11 AM until 430 which worked great for us.

We were with family who wanted to use as many FP as possible and 3 at AK was fine. The FP line was longer/slower, mostly because people with magic bands were learning how to use instead of having a FP ticket (once you got past showing the MB it moved at normal time and speed for us). While I don't see it as the sky is falling as others have in many of the other threads (and for them it might be true). For me I'm happy that I can schedule, maybe even just 1 ahead of time. For us trying to get the traditional FP at HS for Rock N roll and/or Tower or Terror would seem to work for 1 but not both based on our arrival time or how long we would be at park. Hopefully the "tier" program is tweaked as it moves forward so we can get both, and to give flexibility for multiple parks (even if the 2nd park has to be done from the park).

I am amazed at the hatred being spewed and a lot of "final straw" comments. Of course if that is how someone feel about vacation, they probably should spend their money where they will enjoy themselves.

We are about 2 weeks out form being able to schedule FP+ for our next trip and am looking forward to it.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I think MK needs MORE than 3 a day. Don't like the tiering at EC or HS either. I can see the pros of being able to book times ahead of time...just don't like the number they are giving each day.

Those are pretty much our issues with the FP+. Limited to 3, only valid in one park per day and the tiering at DHS and Epcot. If it reaches a point that it needs to be planned more than a day in advance I'll be even less happy.

The pluses are booking TSM ahead of time (but then there's the tiers) and booking FP's for later in the day so we can relax in the morning. But given the choice we'd choose to not be limited to 3, no tiering and to have it available at another park if we hopped.

As it is there's no getting around the need to deal with it but I'll express my unhappy opinion to Disney when I can.

 

[edk35]

Those are pretty much our issues with the FP+. Limited to 3, only valid in one park per day and the tiering at DHS and Epcot. If it reaches a point that it needs to be planned more than a day in advance I'll be even less happy.

The pluses are booking TSM ahead of time (but then there's the tiers) and booking FP's for later in the day so we can relax in the morning. But given the choice we'd choose to not be limited to 3, no tiering and to have it available at another park if we hopped.

As it is there's no getting around the need to deal with it but I'll express my unhappy opinion to Disney when I can.

 

[Anal Annie]

We were there 1/16 - 1/18 after cruise on the dream. Parks were busier than expected (not summer busy) likely due to MLK weekend approaching and tour groups.

We had booked our FP+ when first available and initially happy with the selections we were able to book. imo we failed 'the test'

With a 3 y.o. in tow we bailed on FP lines twice. The line for Star Tours was almost back to Indy. BTM's FP line wait was ridiculous. If you dig around here, somebody posted a picture of the FP+ that stretched back to the bridge by SpMt. We were looped thru posts & series of ropes to the right of the entrance but still a long wait.

What disturbed me more was the standby lines were really long, longer than I've seen them over past President's Day visits in MK. Kicker was the posted times were consistently far understated based upon length of lines I observed. I realize WDW often stacks up guests outside and there is a short end-run to the attraction boarding area but this wasn't the case.

I expressed concerns to CMs before we entered POC...guests lined out to walkway doesn't equal 30 minutes no matter how you stack them inside with both sides operating imo but was told the time had been newly posted. It took us a little over an hour to reach a boat. Same thing on Jungle Cruise. Standby listed as 30 minutes, checked with CM who verified the time...wound up escaping out the emergency entrance after an hour.

I'd book something ahead of time. we were able to switch existing FP+ times on iphone while in the parks as long as it is before the window starts. We didn't run into any technical bugs as to the system going down for our three day visit.

We have another short trip booked end of May. I hope that they've managed to get this current hot mess whipped into shape by then. Although, perhaps typical repeat guests will have decided it's not worth their time to visit and the decline in guests will afford shorter standby times. The cynic in me is waiting for WDW to offer 'for fee' additional FP+ to guests.

This is exactly what we ran into as well. The posted standby times were worthless and inaccurate 90% of the time. DH kept trying to check wait times on his phone before we would head to an attraction but we felt we really couldn't go by what anything SAID. We also had to endure that horrid wait at POC…I don't think we've EVER wound our way through all the way back to the front entrance. I am SURE we've never waited an hour for it before, even over spring break.

Those are pretty much our issues with the FP+. Limited to 3, only valid in one park per day and the tiering at DHS and Epcot. If it reaches a point that it needs to be planned more than a day in advance I'll be even less happy.

The pluses are booking TSM ahead of time (but then there's the tiers) and booking FP's for later in the day so we can relax in the morning. But given the choice we'd choose to not be limited to 3, no tiering and to have it available at another park if we hopped.

As it is there's no getting around the need to deal with it but I'll express my unhappy opinion to Disney when I can.

+ 1 - same complaints & concerns with us too.

 

[vicki_c]

We stayed at BCV for 10 nights at the end of August. Would that make up eligible? I know we were not a part of the test group.

Not unless you got Magic Bands on that trip, which it sounds like you did not. You have to have an on site stay to get a MB. Once you have a MB, then as an AP holder, you could book FP+ for a future visit (up to 60 days out) even if you're not staying on site. But at this time, the only way to get a MB is with a on site stay. I think eventually AP holders are supposed to get MBs, but so knows when that will be?

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

We also loved the experience when we vacationed in November. But we had a perfect situation.

No tiering
Low crowds
Ability to pull FP-, although we rarely did

I think it is a totally different experience now and also believe the size of the crowd dramatically impacts your trip. I do understand others frustration with it and hope that Disney will continue to make appropriate improvements.

 

[Psychodisney]

I picked my FP+ yesterday for our 5 park days in March. I was surprised how long it took me to complete the process. Certainly not a very efficient process and that is coming from someone who is very familiar with WDW and has read tons of threads here. Must be a real headache for those less knowledgeable!

 

[Anal Annie]

I picked my FP+ yesterday for our 5 park days in March. I was surprised how long it took me to complete the process. Certainly not a very efficient process and that is coming from someone who is very familiar with WDW and has read tons of threads here. Must be a real headache for those less knowledgeable!

I agree that the initial process was tedious - my problem was with the times they tried to offer me. I didn't like any of the pre-set times as I knew they wouldn't fit our schedule and I wanted to plan things in a logical order so we wouldn't have to criss-cross the parks too much - that was very time consuming to get everything changed.

 

[Marine Mom]

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!! We never used FP in the past as we found it to be a pain but with the new system, I think it is great. Worked great for us a couple weeks ago.

 

[princesslillybug]

Could someone explain the tiering in certain parks?

 

[edk35]

Could someone explain the tiering in certain parks?

From what I have read ....at EC you have to chose between categories and choose between Test Track and Soarin the 1st category then you choose 2 rides in the 2nd category.

At HS you have to choose between Toy Story and Rock and Roll then choose 2 in the 2nd category or something along those lines.

Not sure about MK but the fact that YOU CAN ONLY get 3 at MK is crazy in my opinion. There are far more attractions there.

 

[princesslillybug]

Thanks for explanation. Can definitely see how this could be an issue.

 

[Anal Annie]

Could someone explain the tiering in certain parks?

From what I have read ....at EC you have to chose between categories and choose between Test Track and Soarin the 1st category then you choose 2 rides in the 2nd category.

At HS you have to choose between Toy Story and Rock and Roll then choose 2 in the 2nd category or something along those lines.

Not sure about MK but the fact that YOU CAN ONLY get 3 at MK is crazy in my opinion. There are far more attractions there.

At HS for example you can't choose BOTH RNR and TOT. You can only pick 1 or the other. At Epcot you can't pick BOTH TT and Soarin' - you can only pick 1 because they're in the same tier group. (And there is no option to pick the same ride twice anywhere.)

 

[DebbieB]

At HS for example you can't choose BOTH RNR and TOT. You can only pick 1 or the other. At Epcot you can't pick BOTH TT and Soarin' - you can only pick 1 because they're in the same tier group. (And there is no option to pick the same ride twice anywhere.)

At DHS, you can choose RnR and ToT. RnR is group 1, ToT is group 2. You can't pick RnR and TSM, both are group 1.