What is your solo experience with FP+?

[mickey1968]

There are tons of threads on other parts of the boards about FP+. The haters are more vocal than the likers (not a surprise!). I was at WDW Halloween week last year and stayed at POR so I got to test the MBs and FP+ before it rolled out to everyone and before they added in the tiering. It worked pretty well for me. I was able to sleep in on most days and still got to ride Soarin' and TSM without waiting forever. That made me very happy!

I'm curious, what have been other solo traveler's experiences? Has it worked smoothly for you or did you have problems? Did it cramp your style or give you more freedom?

 

[karly05]

It worked fine for me (I was there 2/6-2/12). Admittedly, I'm a rope drop/park open person anyway, and had the luxury of being there at a low(er) crowd time, so didn't need a lot of FPs to begin with. Added to that, I don't do some of the thrill rides, and my beloved Splash Mtn was closed, so there weren't a lot of things I really needed it for.

My best use was on Monday - I started the day at Epcot to see Anna and Elsa and eat lunch at Kringla Bakery in Norway, but planned to do Fantasmic at DHS that night. I pre-booked my FPs for late day at DHS so I got a third go at TSM (after RD and FP+ on Sunday).

What I would really like to see happen with FP+: Keep the pre-booking with the current limits (tiers where they exist, 3 per day, no hopping) - BUT once you're in a park, allow you to get additional FP+s within that park as much as you can, subject to availability, like an electronic version of the old FP.

 

[winterman]

I had a 7 day stay at POFQ last Nov. I made my FP+ plans about a month ahead. My son joined me for the first 3 1/2 days. He didn't buy his tickets til we checked in at the resort. Our first park day was the next day. I was able to copy all of the FP+s to him, as soon as he got his ticket. One of them had a time that was 5 minutes different from mine but that still left a 55 minute overlap. I liked the FP+. My favorite thing is that I can ride TSMM without a long wait, even if I don't arrive at rope drop.

 

[ZehnJahren]

I scheduled them all but for one reason or another I only used a couple overall. Either I didn't feel like crisscrossing the park, or I didn't feel like riding, or I decided to leave the park my FP+ were in early. I would have lost my FP- had I done this, too!

I did use my FP+ for TSMM and Soarin without having to rush in at morning time, but I'm a rope-dropper anyway! I had a TT FP+ (before tiering) also but I just got in the single rider line and skipped everyone in line anyway.

 

[dahirsh]

worked well for me. I loved being able to change a few on the fly. And being able to ride TSM when I arrived at the park mid afternoon. But I was also there when I could double up using fp and fp+, so time will tell what I think of it next trip

 

[PeterPanic]

Briefly, I was there the last week in January. I strolled in to MK at 11:30 am, went to the kiosk. Asked for a Fastpass for Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion and Peter Pan. I got one for 12:40 for JC, HM for 1:50 and Peter Pan for 2:50.

I took my time and wondered over toward JC. I stopped and looked at the castle, chatted with some people, went to the Tiki Room and got to JC about 5 minutes early. I went on immediately. There was about a 35 minute wait in Standby. I left there and rode Pirates, went to Peco's and had lunch. Walked over toward HM. There was a "dance party" thing going on with the Country Bears, so I watched that for a while, then went to HM. I didn't notice the standby time for that one, sorry! Then to Philharmagic, Small World and over to Peter Pan, walked on. The standby for that one was about 50 minutes.

The key thing is that I have never been able to get a FP for JC or Peter Pan in the past under the old system. I was very pleasantly surprised. Amongs other things I then rode the Peoplemover X2, CoP, Buzz Lightyear and Stitch. I was out of the park before 6 pm.

The next day Epcot, arrived at almost the same time, about 11:15 am. Got a fast pass for SSE, Living with the Land and Soarin. (Test Track was broken) don't remember the times exactly on that day, but, I saved about 10 minutes on SSE (no big deal), Living with the Land I didn't use because it was a walk on either way. Soarin was for around 4:30 walked on, with a 70 minute standby line watching. I also went on UoE, Mission: Space, The Seas with Nemo, and Imagination along with spending time exploring Innoventions. Oh, yea, had a nice lunch in the Land building too.

No glitches either at park entry or FP. Worked great for me and made touring the parks easier to plan with all three FP's in hand all at once. I don't know how it will work during the busy season, but, I was great for me.

 

[mickey1968]

Thanks guys for sharing your experiences. I am beginning to think that FP+ is another thing about Disney that is easier when touring solo.

Peter, it sounds like we have similar touring styles. I like a leisurely start and a leisurely pace. I have been going at semi-slow season (Halloween week) the last two trips. I am going in mid-May for my next trip and I expect it to be a little bit busier maybe, but not by much. I hope everything works as smoothly this trip as it did in Oct/Nov and as smooth as you had it.

 

[PeterPanic]

Thanks guys for sharing your experiences. I am beginning to think that FP+ is another thing about Disney that is easier when touring solo.

Peter, it sounds like we have similar touring styles. I like a leisurely start and a leisurely pace. I have been going at semi-slow season (Halloween week) the last two trips. I am going in mid-May for my next trip and I expect it to be a little bit busier maybe, but not by much. I hope everything works as smoothly this trip as it did in Oct/Nov and as smooth as you had it.

True, I have readily admitted that I didn't go at a busy time, but, I never do, so the fact that I could get FP's for the times that I got them, as late as I arrived, totally impressed and surprised me. Before, even if you could get a FP when you got there late, by the time your window arrived and you tried to get another one, they would be gone. So who knows, I guess we will find out.

I'm sure that the simpler one keeps the request the more likely it is to happen. Making things more complicated then they actually are, is part of the glitch problems when there is one.

 

[pharaoh]

I was there solo in the second week of January when they officially stopped offering legacy FP. My experience was perfect. I did go during one of the slowest times of the year, however, so I know that positively impacted my experience. I also took advantage of RD because I wanted to spend all day in the parks.

I booked all my FP+s about a week in advance, didn't have any trouble getting what I wanted. I was also able to easily change my choices using the App, even during the time of my return window. For example I had a 5:55PM return for Thunder Mountain and I decided around 6:05PM that I didn't want to ride it, so I used the MDE app and changed it for Enchanted Tales with Belle at 6:55PM instead. I even arrived a couple of minutes early and was waiting by the entrance, and the CM actually bypassed my Blue Mickey and let me through a couple minutes early. (It was seriously maybe 3 minutes, so not a huge exception was made).

I can see why a lot of people have negative thoughts about FP+. The booking process was easy for me, but I was a solo traveler during a very slow time. The website is CLUNKY as all heck, as is the MDE app, so I can see making changes for a larger party being a pain. I have the latest iPhone and the app crashed on me a couple of times.

 

[laurabess]

I visited during a busy time and while the fast pass+ technology worked well (with the exception of some problems with the app), I really didn't like the system. I chose my attractions weeks in advance, but when I arrived at Epcot (in the afternoon after morning meetings) I was unable to change my late afternoon FP+ attractions because there were no more times left. Also, I am not used to waiting in long Disney lines (we were very efficient with the legacy fast pass) and I was unwilling to stand in line for many of the attractions. One of the two nights I was at WDW, I wound up going back to the room early.

 

[SwimChicSQ]

It worked really well for me ( and for other two people when they were there) in early January. I'm a rope drop type person and found that FP worked REALLY WELL when I park hopped. I did one park in the morning, and then hit the second park after lunch using my FP+ and was able to feel like I got to see and enjoy more because I didn't have to run pell mell every morning for the high demand rides. Hoping that my trip in May will go just as well!!

 

[beltwaybarry]

I used it in January when I was there solo for the marathon, and Dopey Challenge, running for four straight early mornings. My time in the parks was tight, and I found it helpful for planning certain attractions at certain time frames that would work for me. I was quite happy with it.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

I went solo the first week of December and FP+ worked great for me as well.

I think we have a huge advantage going solo because with single rider lines on TT, RnRC, and EE it frees up our FP+'s for other rides.

The only problem I had was my FP's didn't show when I scanned my MB, I had to show the app on my phone at every FP entrance, otherwise I loved it.

 

[ebtbmom]

Just did my 2nd solo 2/27-3/2, LOVE going solo even though everyone thinks I'm a weirdo!

When I'm solo I focus more on roaming around and soaking up ambiance so FP+ didn't negatively effect me at all, some days I didn't even use them all. I'm also an avid rope dropper (not intentionally, I can't sleep in because I'm so excited) which made it all the more unnecessary.

I anticipate when I travel with extended family that it may be more of a pain but hopefully by then they'll tweak it a bit.

 

[1nfrequent]

I can only talk about this from a planning POV so far (off in a couple of months) but I've found planning FP+ incredibly easy and I like the fact that I can plan my passes for the afternoon/evening and at the same time get my lunch reservations in so I can have a leisurely meal.

I'll be interested to see how it works out in practice but so far, I think this is great for solo travellers, although I can definitely see it being a pain for families.

1F

 

[Lyndarella]

I was there solo in Feb. I set up my FP+s before I left home. My MB worked about every other day. Fortunately I go to the parks early, so didn't need them all. One day I was given a "your choice" FP when I complained, and later in the day my MB started working again! I liked FP+ for use late in the day, but overall I had better luck with the old system.

I will never stand in line at a kiosk to see when I get to stand in line. If I have trouble with a MB again, which I fully expect to, I will just try to have a Plan B.

 

[aaathomas]

I visited solo for a few days in Feb. and returned yesterday from a March visit (just as the spring breakers came in!) FP+ worked fine for me as a day guest. I linked my base ticket with no expire option to "My Disney Experience" and all was fine. I liked being able to make changes through the day. Don't like being limited to three per day.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Will they have a Fastpass+ for MNSSHP, to reserve time with characters, or viewing spot for parade or fireworks?

 

[jagfanjosh3252]

Will they have a Fastpass+ for MNSSHP, to reserve time with characters, or viewing spot for parade or fireworks?

Doubtful. They never had any Legacy Fastpass before.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Doubtful. They never had any Legacy Fastpass before.

Well, a note to any CM's reading this: I think it would be a good new idea!