What are your thoughts about FP+ and DVC resort stays?

[hakepb]

Has the anticipated date for FP+ to be fully implemented been advertised?

In December, they added DHS to the existing MK FP+ trials...so they still have a bit of testing left..

 

[heynowirv]

Coming on the heels of Fastpass+ is Fastpass+ NextGen.

With NextGen, you decide in a year in advance exactly what you'll do every minute of every day of your vacation.

Then, when your vacation date arrives, you experience your vacation as a virtual vacation on your computer screen! Imagine, no waiting in line, in fact, no crowds or even any other people. Of course, one of the options will be to choose the crowd size you experience.

Another perk is not having to deal with the hassle of flying or driving down. Your vacation is ready to be started without delay.

Disney also promises that new attractions and experiences can be delivered quicker, as there will be no physical construction delays.

Fastpass+ NextGen - coming soon!

Total Recall--,,,Looking For McQuade

 

[aan1701]

I got to test it in Sep. I hated it. It was such a pain in the rear end. Trying to do ride times around ADR's. then trying to change stuff. Ugh. It sucked. I feel like others, next it will become a requirement to get a FP to go to the restroom. To bad they spent so much on it. I would like it if it never became a reality but that's not going to happen. Vacation is supposed to be stress free but FP+ in my opinion was anything but stress free.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

 

[WolfpackFan]

My fear with this FP+ thing is, right now we don't do many FP's. IF we do HS and IF we decide to ride TSM we will do a FP. But that is a big if, since we don't like HS in general and this last trip only went there once to see Osborne Lights. We also will get FP's for Soarin. But other than that we just hit the FP rides when it is low standby times. But with FP+, I can see all these people sitting back in their rooms loading up their day with FP+'s, taking FP's when they wouldn't even normally ride the ride. It will make it impossible for us "casual" users to do anything unless we join the bandwagon. And I refuse to spend my vacation stressing out, planning out everything we are going to do in a day. Like I said when I started this thread, when we leave the resort sometimes we don't even know where we're going.

I guess like others have said, we'll just have to see how it works out. Maybe it won't be bad at all. Maybe they will limit how many FP's you can get for a day, and folks like me won't see any difference. Our next trip is in October (unless I can convince DW to take a short trip in June), so hopefully things will be a lot clearer by then.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm not looking forward to it at all and here's why.

Once you select FP+, you can no longer use the FP. The expectation is that eventually FP will disappear as everyone is eventually forced to move to FP+.

You can not book the same ride, event, etc more than once a day. So if you want to do Space Mountain 2 times, the 2nd time will be in the standby line.

You can only book FP+ in one park per day.

You can book you FP+ months in advance. I like to decide day by day what I'm doing, not months in advance. And while you can make changes if you haven't used your FP+ yet for the day, what kind of availability will there be.

I will hate it for that reason, and I don't plan to use it at all, since I also prefer to be much more spontaneous on vacation that FP+ would allow me to be. I don't make dining reservations ahead for that very reason, and I certainly don't want to make ride reservations that way too!

 

[tjkraz]

I feel like others, next it will become a requirement to get a FP to go to the restroom.

Yeah, that seems like a realistic fear.

 

[OurDogCisco]

I'm worried because we are not the typical DVC tourist. We only come once every 2 to 3 years. So, we still are in the commando mode when we come. Plus, we can only travel peak season. For example, we come 4th of July week, Thanksgiving week and Christmas week. So, when we are here we do utilitize FPs and EMH. My family has more fun if our day is planned. Otherwise, the conversation goes like this:

ME: What do you want to do today?
FAMILY: I don't know
ME: What park do you want to go today
FAMILY: I don't know
ME: Okay let's go to MK
ME: What ride do you want to ride first?
FAMILY: I don't know

You get the idea. So, it is more fun if I'm in charge. Sadly, on our last trip I dislocated my elbow the day we were leaving for WDW. So, my family had to go ahead without me. I had to see a surgeon before I could get the okay to go. So, they went and I had all the ADRs done and the park days set. I gave them the schedule but they still didn't know what order to ride the rides, etc... They still had a hard time putting it all together. They spent a lot of time waiting in lines, looking at the map, etc... They weren't happy about it. But I think, some tourist are in the same boat and don't know how to plan out a day and get overwhelmed when they get there. My family was overwhelmed with me being back at home and in pain, my dhs smartphone broke when they got there, it was hot and crowded.

So, our next trip isn't until November so, I will be closely watching the boards trying to figure out how to make our trip enjoyable for our family. I can see how others that get to go multiple times a year won't be effected but we will be.

I'm also surprised how many of you haven't ridden TSM. That shocks me. We normally ride that at least 2 times every time we visit that park. We FP it once and then, immediately go in the standby line. After the ride is over we either go back in the stand by line if it is short if not we go Rock-D Coaster or TOT. We at that point if our FP window is up FP another ride. But again, I plan our days. If we decide to arrive late to DHS then, we usally only do the shows and non-existance lines for rides.

I do like the new app for the park. If you haven't had a chance, download it and play around with it. I envision there will be long lines at the kiosks and those without a smartphone or computer at the resort will be out of luck. So, I don't see even playing ground for many people.

 

[Missyrose]

My fear with this FP+ thing is, right now we don't do many FP's. IF we do HS and IF we decide to ride TSM we will do a FP. But that is a big if, since we don't like HS in general and this last trip only went there once to see Osborne Lights. We also will get FP's for Soarin. But other than that we just hit the FP rides when it is low standby times. But with FP+, I can see all these people sitting back in their rooms loading up their day with FP+'s, taking FP's when they wouldn't even normally ride the ride. It will make it impossible for us "casual" users to do anything unless we join the bandwagon. And I refuse to spend my vacation stressing out, planning out everything we are going to do in a day. Like I said when I started this thread, when we leave the resort sometimes we don't even know where we're going.

I guess like others have said, we'll just have to see how it works out. Maybe it won't be bad at all. Maybe they will limit how many FP's you can get for a day, and folks like me won't see any difference. Our next trip is in October (unless I can convince DW to take a short trip in June), so hopefully things will be a lot clearer by then.

You'll still be able to take advantage of low standby times at rope drop. It's just that standby lines later in the day will likely be much longer than any of us are used to.

 

[DougEMG]

At the end of the day, I think about the 75% of the people that go to Disney completely clueless. They show up, and don't know there is no monorail to AK. They aren't going to plan what rides to on the computer before their trip.

Very true. Right now most people don't know how to use FP, I've picked up FP that have a quicker return time than the standby line wait time. So why would Disney do something that makes things even more complicated? I wonder if in the future they plan to let people do prebooked packages. So you go to your travel agent and they just book everything for you. So Day 1 is MK and here are your FP+ tickets, Day 2 is AK and here are your FP+ tickets, etc.

 

[tjkraz]

You'll still be able to take advantage of low standby times at rope drop. It's just that standby lines later in the day will likely be much longer than any of us are used to.

Don't know how you could draw that conclusion. If the overall number of FPs distributed decreases, the Standby lines will move faster with less capacity being given over to FP holders.

Very true. Right now most people don't know how to use FP, I've picked up FP that have a quicker return time than the standby line wait time.

That's not much basis for concluding that "most people" don't understand FastPass. Standby times change constantly. The wait time you see displayed may have been very different when some folks got in line.

Also guests can only hold one FP at a time. If I'm holding a FP for Splash and want to ride BTMR, the return times for BTMR are irrelevant.

There are times we will just ride Standby for the heck of it. If the FP return time is 30-45 minutes away and there's nothing we really want to do during that period, we'll just stand in line and chat, enjoy the queue, etc.

I wonder if in the future they plan to let people do prebooked packages. So you go to your travel agent and they just book everything for you. So Day 1 is MK and here are your FP+ tickets, Day 2 is AK and here are your FP+ tickets, etc.

I'm quite sure that many TAs will offer to book FP+ on behalf of their clients.

 

[MARY-IN-OH]

I got to test it in Sep. I hated it. It was such a pain in the rear end. Trying to do ride times around ADR's. then trying to change stuff. Ugh. It sucked. I feel like others, next it will become a requirement to get a FP to go to the restroom. To bad they spent so much on it. I would like it if it never became a reality but that's not going to happen. Vacation is supposed to be stress free but FP+ in my opinion was anything but stress free.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

We tested in Sept also, it was available at MK only when we tried it. I kept debating whether or not to add a post here, because all I could come up with to say about it is just as you said, "it sucked"

It was crazy how many attractions have tech difficulty so they end up having to honor late FP's and there are still bottlenecks when they open back up.

I think that the "old" fastpass, is/was a good compromise of planning and being in the moment, because you are deciding right in front of the attraction if you can commit to a time to be back. Not before you leave the house.

I guess I could see where it would be helpful during peak times like Christmas and Easter weeks etc., but thankfully for us we mostly travel in slower periods when you rarely even need fastpass.
mary

 

[Disbroads]

I got to test it in Sep. I hated it. I feel like others, next it will become a requirement to get a FP to go to the restroom.

Did they say whether or not men will need to specify if they're okay with standing room only when it comes online?

I'm sure it'll never come to that. Depends, really.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Okay, one of the big benefits to DVC is we go more often (at least once a year, maybe 2-3 times this year since we got the PAP). By going more often our trips are much more relaxed. We have never done the commando style park visits. In fact, quite often when we leave our DVC unit, we don't even know what park we're going to. We just take the first bus that shows up. We have enjoyed this type of WDW trip every since we joined DVC.

Now along comes FP+. From reading over on the Theme Park boards, with FP+ you will need to decide ahead of time which rides you are going to do and then make reservations ahead of time for Fast Passes. Plus they even have options in it for ordering ahead of time at CS restaurants. Basically when you leave your resort, you will have your day planned out ahead of time - which resort you're going to, when you're going to ride the rides and even what and when you will eat.

I know you won't have to use FP+ but when they do implement it, I can't imagine them keeping the old FP system around. Running two systems to me seems like would cause all kinds of problems. Anyway, the more I read about it the less I like it and the more concerned I am about how we will do our future trips. Like someone said over on Theme Parks are you going to have to start to schedule bathroom breaks also .

Any thoughts? Or am I making a mountain out of molehill. Won't be the first time . I have to say, using all of our points at HHI is looking more and more attractive.

I am very concerned. I am afraid this may result in the sale of the remaining points (AND NO, please don't contact me with your offers!)

I am a late booker. So am I only going to be allowed to ride Stich, eat at QS and visit gift shops??? Hmm.. sounds real appealing doesn't it!

 

[Golden Rose]

Clearly, I'm in the minority on these boards, but I'm really looking forward to fastpass +. It will work extremely well for us, or at least we can make it work well for us. We generally go to WDW for a week 1 to 3 times a year. We always make a lot of ADRs because I hate waiting in lines for mediocre food, and I prefer a more relaxing meal.

We are not early risers. (Ok, our toddler and the designated parent to get up with her are, but the other parent and our DS aren't.) We never make it to the parks at anything resembling rope drop. We don't stay for too long at this stage, either, because we bring the kids back to the resort in the afternoon for a swim and/or rest.

Despite the fact that it is one of the rides DS most, we've only made it on TSM once ever. There isn't enough at DHS to keep my young children entertained for long enough to wait for the FP return times available by the time we get there, if there are passes left at all. We live with it, and just remind our son we'll be back again soon and we'll ride it again some time. We would love to be able to schedule a few key rides weeks or months in advance.

The way we generally plan a trip right now is to have a lunch ADR in the restaurant of our choice at a particular park for 3 or 4 days of our vacation. This way we get lunch in a few of our favorite restaurants (CRT, Coral Reef (which is DS's favorite), Yak & Yeti or Tusker House, and Brown Derby or Sci-Fi), and know we'll plan a day in each park. On the days we don't book a lunch, we make sure to book a dinner at a favorite signature restaurant in a hotel, so we aren't looked into any particular park. That way, we have a few structured days, and a few flex days to go to whichever park we feel like hitting again, or just relax at the resort. It would be perfect to be able to add a couple of pre-booked Fastpasses for the days we've got the lunch ADRs booked.

We wouldn't pre-book fastpasses for every day of our vacation; that would feel too constraining. We would use them for one park per trip, and then hope they have either a regular fastpass available or some last minute times available on our flex days.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I make few ADR's, I decide which park to visit the night before or the morning of. I like spontaneity on vacation and Fastpass+ is another notch towards total programability which I try to stay away from. My daily life is structured/disciplined enough, vacation is a whole other thing! With that said, I haven't tried it yet so I'll wait to issue final judgement!

 

[DougEMG]

For those that are interested, the Disney Park Experience Terms and Condition are posted online at the Disney web site at

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/media/park-experience-terms-and-conditions.html

 

[mjc2003]

I have gone back and forth on this, and ultimately I don't think it's a big deal either way. Many people don't currently use fastpass and it's right there in front of them. I think the amount of people who will go out of their way to plan months in advance is minimal; remember, you have a lot of people who are making their first visit or one of just a few visits in their lifetime, and are not even aware of these innovations. I just spoke to a friend at a new years party who told me they are going in May to WDW. I asked where they were staying, and he informed me that they wouldn't be booking until March b/c of unclear work schedules. Many people plan their trips weeks or just a few months in advance. I mentioned this all to my friend and he and his wife just rolled their eyes and said "sounds like too much, we're just going to let the kids run around and try to keep up with them".

Because DVC'ers plan so much further in advance, you could argue that we're preconditioned to take advantage of Fastpass+ better than the average visitor. And realistically, how heartbroken am I going to be if I miss a ride? The kids have been on them all, and we always find something to do. I think most people will be setting up their times the day off, in the parks. Maybe 1-2 days in advance from the resorts (will they put fastpass+ kiosks in the lobbies to encourage use? Probably, they won't spend all this money and not make people aware). Most DVC'ers will ultimately end up booking a few rides along with ADR's and I wouldn't be shocked if the sentiment is not mostly positive after the first year or so.

However, like all things we must wait and anticipate, but I think we have to trust that Disney is not out to ruin the experience, only enhance it, and while they're not always successful they're pretty darn good.

 

[bighoo93]

I'm skeptical about FP+, but will just have to see how it shakes out at when fully implemented. At first it seems kind of ridiculous to me to reserve ride times months in advance of going to a theme park. But then, how much sillier can it be than getting through the Hollywood Studios gate, grabbing the entire families' tickets, and literally sprinting through the park to Toy Story Mania to secure FPs to return 5 hours later?

 

[ses1230]

So am I only going to be allowed to ride Stich, eat at QS and visit gift shops??? Hmm.. sounds real appealing doesn't it!

Well since they are testing picking your QS time, we might only be eating mickey bars and popcorn.
Unless of course they want you to make a reservation for snacks, too.

I'm trying to reserve judgement on the whole FP+ thing but my initial thought is I don't like it, especially if you are limited to 4 per day like in the trials.

 

[Dee77]

Any idea when this new system is going into effect?