What FP+ has done to our touring.

[oldfastpassxpert]

It's an interesting change. I will be going in May for the first time since the switch. I was very hesitant initially as I had very good success in the past using crowd patterns and FP's.

I'm not going to stress it though. I know Disney will fix it if it needs to be fixed. I've gotten my kids on a ton of rides, it's not like it's our first time.

 

[Kidanifan08]

I am cautiously optimistic about FP+. We have not used it yet, but we have a short stay coming up in 4 weeks. We have done our FP+ selections and already made changes to those without any trouble.

I anticipate using the FP+ options primarily in the evening, much like other posters. We have an almost 8yo, so we are still up early for RD. We have had great success getting on several rides in the hours between park opening and noon. With FP-, we have often found that we are held back by waiting for an early afternoon FP-. Now with FP+, we know that we will get those premium rides in 2-3 times over our 8-10 day stay, so I can see this being a great opportunity to get back to the resort and enjoy the pool and other amenities during the mid-day.

I don't think Disney is going to lose much on us. For us, the park hopper option will still be utilized, although we have been AP holders for the past 2 years. I anticipate doing RD at one park and then going to another in the evening to use FP+ and have dinner. We will still buy the few select souvenirs that we like to buy and we have our favorite snacks that we will buy when we are in the parks, even if we are not there as long as usual.

We have frequently had FP- tickets that we have given away or thrown out because we were tired of waiting for our FP- timeframe. With FP+, I anticipate that we will use all of our FP's, since we can put them in a time that fits with our touring plan. I do feel sorry for the first time visitor. This process is very confusing and the website does not make it any easier for them.

 

[tjkraz]

Second, I do not recall people saying they were going to stop going to the parks because they did not like the old FP system. There are, however, lots of people indicating they will be spending their vacation dollars elsewhere because of the new FP+ rules. Even if its 50-50 or 70-30 in favor of the new system, Disney will be losing a significant portion of Disney loyalists.

We'll see. People have a way of overreacting and making false assumptions before they've personally experienced a change of this magnitude. I've seen countless threads from people who assume FastPasses will be gone weeks in advance for many attractions. That's just not the case...and there's no reason to believe it will ever happen.

Additionally, Disney HAS lost business over the years from people who have a miserable experience and simply do not return. Especially during peak periods. Even for high capacity attractions like POTC and HM, it's not uncommon for Standby lines to exceed an hour, and paper FPs for other attractions to be gone early in the days and/or offer an undesirable return time.

Tell those guests they guarantee a ride on any three attractions--at ANY time of their choosing--with minimal wait time--and suddenly the parks seem a lot less daunting.

 

[jade1]

For people like me FP+ is going to cost Disney $$$.

Let's use my last trip as an example. I decided I wanted to ride Toy Story Mania while I was there. In the past this meant getting to the park early, getting a fast pass and killing a few hours riding rides, having some food etc.

Now.. I booked my FP time. Showed up, rode ride and left. Time spent in park, less then 45 minutes. Money spent in park. ZERO

Not to mention the entire" YOU WILL PLAN YOUR VACATION DOWN TO THE LAST MINUTE" has me so turned off that I am planning to go to Universal. Sure I have to stand in line but at least they will have new stuff to see and I won't be standing line for a scratchy film viewing of Soarin' or the Great Movie Ride where the most recent movie update was at least a decade ago, or other rides and attractions that haven't been updated in decades.

Maybe Avatar will do something for me but for a solo adult traveler Disney hasn't added anything worth going out of my way to see in a long time IMHO (Sorry but hauling Fantasyland ride clones over from DL and installing a boring show for a meet and greet didn't do much for me LOL!)

I am so over Disney dining that I either eat at the Swan/Dolphin or offsite. Sorry but the food is boring, the service is subpar and the prices don't reflect either of those issues. I can eat better food near my house so why spend extra for sub par food and service?

Overall I don't see FP+ making DIsney any money off of me but I know others would step on their grandmother to throw cash at Disney so as a stockholder I am glad!

Any reaction to the survey?

-Option A suggested fixing the 3 FP+ limit by changing it to a rolling 3, meaning after you use one you can book another. The 4th (and 5th, 6th etc.) would be subject to availability, but in Epcot and DHS they could be additional tier 1 choices if they were available.

-Option B suggested fixing the 3 FP+ limit by opening up an additional 4th FP+ once the first 3 are used (subject to availability again). This option also lets you choose another tier 1 FP. This is a revolving 4th FP+, so you can keep booking if after using it.

-Option C suggested fixing the 3 FP limit by offering a 4th FP+ selection available to book starting at 1 PM each day. Again, this is a revolving FP+ that you can keep booking after subject to availability. Same as the other options, this one lets you pick from tier 1 for the 4th FP subject to availability

 

[gdrj]

This is our second DVC trip where we have used FP+, and I now know one thing for sure it has done for our Disney touring. At least for us, we find we spend far less time and money in the parks than we used to and far more time just relaxing at the resort and going off site to eat and shop. That's a good thing for you

With Disney making this move and building so many DVC resorts, they may actually be shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to those of us who have traditionally spent the most time and money there over the years. I'll disagree I think DVC brings in huge dollars, that's why they keep building

For neither our 10 day trip in Dec. nor this one so far have we gone back into the parks after we have come back to the resort. We have gone to the parks in the morning to experience lower crowds, and have come back to the villa and either cooked our own meal or gone off site do dine in the evening. Even the thought of going back to see Wishes or Illuminations holds no interest, because it means battling the crowds for a spot to watch something that we've seen dozens of times just to hold our viewing spot.

If these last two trips with FP+ are any indication, this might just have cured me of some of my Disney excess. I am even thinking of how and where I can exchange my points for places other than Disney locations. For 17 years I have been saying that purchasing DVC was the best thing we ever did. Now I'm starting to rethink that.

OK so you have had 17 years of enjoyment, your family dynamics have probably changed and dare I say you probably have gotten 10 years older in those 17 years We tour differently, and there are parts of the Parks that I hope never change, and there are parts I wish they would and haven't. Sounds too me that FP+ is a good thing for you and after 17 years of I'm assuming fond memories, it probably is good for a change. Last year we went to Key West for the first time and can't wait to go back. Of course with us 15 years into DVC we have been to Disney more in the past few years than ever before. We are using FP+ in April and can't wait to NOT have to hurry up to get to key rides. That we will have time to enjoy the Boardwalk bakery in the AM and stroll to EPCOT later in the morning for our Soaring FP at 11 AM.