I was excited for changes, and it probably won't affect me too much either, but I can't help but think of how hard it could be during peak times. Although on another hand it could also be easier. I guess we'll see as it rolls out!
Cons: Interesting tan lines are a distinct possibility.
Ha! Never thought of that one!
Pro: Able to get late times without having to stampede/try to time FP return windows around ADRs.
For example, right now, if you want to start the day at MK and then hop to HS, your chances of riding TSMM are pretty much nonexistent. With FP+, you could start the day at MK, ride standby in the morning when lines are short, take an afternoon break, hop to HS for dinner, and then ride TSMM, RNR and TOT after dinner, guaranteed.
That's a very good point. I was thinking so much about getting the early fastpasses.
The biggest con for me is the no regular FP. As for spontaneity, is there the option to only utilize FP+ on certain days? If so, maybe have a day or two here and there that you utilize normal FP for?
I think you can do that for now, but eventually I think the plan is for FP to be gone altogether which could really stink.
Great pros and cons list Wendy!
One of my biggest concerns with FP+ when it completely rolls out is the huge number of attractions that will have FP that never did before, and didn't need it. Like Pirates for instance. It's not so bad during the testing phase as the amount of FP+ users is relatively limited. But when everyone (potentially) can use it (and well in advance of a trip) the available times for the big stuff may well be gone quickly. So everyone else is stuck with a FP for Tiki Room.
You think standby lines are long now...
Oh yeah, so true! Especially anyone planning a last minute trip or people who aren't aware that you have to book your rides. Imagine getting a Tiki Room FP+?
My other gripe is one you already touched on and that's the ability to book so far in advance. I'm like you, I like to plan, but not down to the ride.
It's just too much. I guess I like having my options open, you know?
A lot of people are really digging the whole thing, but again, when you have it in limited use AND the ability to still use regular FP, it really can't be anything but great.
Absolutely! When I think strictly about this upcoming trip, it's going to be awesome, but I worry about a time when the old FP is gone.
I will keep an open mind though. I don't like to judge anything completely until after it's in full use. It may be awesome.
I'm with you on that one 100%. I usually have some ideas rolling around in my head before hand, but I promise to give it a fair shot.
Thank you for your thoughts on it!
So, let me get this straight - if I preplan 3 FP's at one park and I go to another park in the evening I can still pull FP's?
Yes -- IF you have a KTTW card. Technically speaking as of now you can only use one system or the other, but people are getting around that with the MBs linked to FP+, and the KTTW for pulling old fashioned FPs. That's going to end at a later date though.
I am so torn as to what to do?
I have some FP's planned, but if I want to cancel them I can, right? And why the heck can't I just do one if that's all I want?
Yes you can cancel them and then (I think!) you're free to use the old FP system all the time no problem. Although I think you would still need a KTTW, if anyone can correct/confirm me on that? Hmmm if you only want to use one I think you can... although I didn't try it so I can't be sure.
[FONT="Book Antiqua] For me personally, without using it and hoping to find otherwise once in the park, but the cons outweigh the pros in this one by a fair bit. I'm a planner. I'd even go so far as to say I'm almost a super planner... but even though I don't mind planning my meals 180 days in advance and therefore planning a rough park outline then, I'm not excited about pre-planning which rides I will ride and when. Call me dramatic, but it just feels like spontaneity is dead with this system.
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I could have written this myself! For some reason, I don't mind planning the meals out 180 days in advance. If anything, it kinda helps me plan which park to be at which day. But to have to plan rides out by the day and then time of day...no thanks. I'm especially annoyed as with small kids you never know when one will become obessed with a particular ride that before was never even on the radar. I have no desire to explain "I'm sorry honey but 60 days again Mommy didn't know that you would want to ride Peter Pan so much and now all the FP+'s are gone and its an hour and half wait". Sheesh!
[quote="DisneyKid4Life, post: 49703910"]Great pros and cons list Wendy!
One of my biggest concerns with FP+ when it completely rolls out is the huge number of attractions that will have FP that never did before, and didn't need it. Like Pirates for instance. It's not so bad during the testing phase as the amount of FP+ users is relatively limited. But when everyone (potentially) can use it (and well in advance of a trip) the available times for the big stuff may well be gone quickly. So everyone else is stuck with a FP for Tiki Room.
You think standby lines are long now...
I will keep an open mind though. I don't like to judge anything completely until after it's in full use. It may be awesome.
In a way, it'll be nice knowing we can ride TSMM in the evening without having to get to the turnstiles at 8:40 just to follow the masses over to Pixar Palace.
I could have written this myself! For some reason, I don't mind planning the meals out 180 days in advance. If anything, it kinda helps me plan which park to be at which day. But to have to plan rides out by the day and then time of day...no thanks. I'm especially annoyed as with small kids you never know when one will become obessed with a particular ride that before was never even on the radar. I have no desire to explain "I'm sorry honey but 60 days again Mommy didn't know that you would want to ride Peter Pan so much and now all the FP+'s are gone and its an hour and half wait". Sheesh!
Yeah I agree, I don't mind the meals at 180 days because it helps me get my mind around which parks for which days. I can definitely see it being difficult with children! Things change on the fly!
I agree that I think this is going to make rides that were previously little to no wait, now have a long wait. I also don't think there is going to be too much changing of FP+ on the fly when it has been rolled out to everyone and they have already picked their times. I don't think there are going to be too many open spots left even though they say they are going to hold some back.
Last year when I tried FP+ there was nothing available when we wanted to change things the day of.
That said, I too am hoping that it is a great thing and I will adjust to change and new things...no matter how much I don't want to!!!
Hahaha yes, this is so true. I resist change but always adapt.
Christine
I'm definitely more on board with MBs, FP+ on the other hand... I also hope they can work out some of the issues. I'm sure they'll make it happen somehow.
If someone had ever told me that I'd be picking my rides 2 months out, I'd have said, "Now THAT'S a little too much pre-planning on my part."
Yes that's just it, there are some really awesome benefits to the system!
But on the other hand, everyone will be going after those limited attractions, and I can see a lot of people getting angry if they weren't able to get any for the ride they wanted throughout the length of their trip.
And as far as the whole booking thing goes, I can see the casual visitor to Disney being taken by surprise at the early booking window. I had friends on facebook who were downright shocked when I posted about my meal 180 day mark arriving. Can you imagine telling them to choose attractions that they've never even been on before?!
I feel bad for anyone booking a last minute trip or something like that, unable to get any fastpasses.
However, all that being said, if the FP+ system works out like it's supposed to, all your pros will be nice advantages to touring Disney. Not having to rush across the parks, not even having to freak out if you don't make it to rope drop in time.
If the cons could be eliminated... or smoothed out at least, the pro list would be pretty awesome.
It should prove interesting...
I never saw you had a new PTR, and it's months old at this point! I've just been going through it and seeing that our dates coincide - I think that's the second time that's happened! I'm coming in on 11/12 and staying through the 16th; staying at Pop.
Heyyyy!!Glad you found me! We overlap? Cool!
Mine is a bit of a last minute trip; I just booked about a week and a half ago, and I'm going through the same "is it worth it?" spiel about FP+. I think as long as I can pull regular FP I'll try it out, but it's definitely not worth it to me to only get the 3 choices!
As long as both options are open there are no downsides... but once that's gone... well anyway. Only 3 choices is really restricting!
I have probably been putting too much thought into if we're going to try using the FP+ system. The more I think about it, the more undecided I become.
I'm the same, I have to just stop thinking about it because I'm making it worse for myself!
Part of me thinks this could work out well for my family. I think if all goes according to my plan it could make traveling with an infant easier. Ideally, we can ride attractions without a height requirement in the morning and later use a scheduled FP in the evening when our little one will most likely be sleeping.
On the other hand, my little guy seems to develop plans of his own throughout the day, and we are at his mercy. I imagine we're not the only ones with this predicament, then again we're still amateurs. Lately he likes sleeping in his stroller, but not his carseat. Who knows what he'll like three months from now.
That's got to be hard, babies are totally on their own schedule! Hopefully it will still work out well for you!
Joining. Have to go back and catch up.
Just had to mention that I checked out your first TR and saw that you were there the same time as us in 2011. We were in that same crush of people at Wishes on Oct 1st. That unpleasant experience is why I just booked the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party this morning. Want to be able to enjoy Wishes with all 12 of us together and not get pushed and shoved the whole time. Chairs, no one to cut in front of us and dessert
AHhh I love the dessert party! Hahaha that's why I booked it last year too. The anniversary fireworks was a disaster!
Glad that you had that little bit of Disney Magic when you found that 40th Anniversary button on the ground.
We had planned an early morning ADR at Crystal Palace that morning (totally forgetting about the Anniversary) so we didn't get the pictures in front of the castle with no people around because the enormous crowd of people waiting to get in that morning made it impossible. However by being there we did all get the buttons and special park maps for that day.
Ohhh cool! Still, being there first thing on the anniversary would have been fun!~
Oh and BTW, I stayed at AKL on my last solo trip and LOVED IT! You are going to have such a great time there!
I am looking forward to going back to Pop, and definitely looking forward to a longer solo trip this year - even doing MVMCP. I didn't see - are you guys doing it this year? You probably mentioned it and I'm just drawing a complete blank. I'll be at the 11/14 party!
I'm doing the BOG dance myself. I don't think there's a single table in the whole place for 1.
What a great analysis of Magic Bands and FP+!!! I haven't really needed to pay much attention since I don't have a trip in the hopper, but I have followed posts on the trip report boards and on the Yacht & Beach Club FAQ thread, since the resort has been a testing resort since August. But I will have to figure out how it all works if it rolls out in 2014. I have offered to help out in an advisory role (but have not been invited to go) with the 8th grade class trip. I am having trouble wrapping my head around trying to manage the bands for the group of around 200 people. They are broken up into smaller groups, between 8-20), but who gets to pick what to FP and when? Some may recall from my trip report that not everyone plays well together, and that's not just the kiddos.
At least they're still trying though!
That sounds good to me!
