What's the final verdict on FP+ effecting standbys?

[toonaspie]

For those who have been to Disney since the implement of FP+ what's the final verdict on it's overall effects? I worry too much cause I'm going the week before Christmas which will be extremely crowded I take it.

Would you say that it's made standby lines better, worse, or have remained the same? And if so by how much?

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

It has made lines worse. That is because almost every attraction/entertainment has fastpass+ unlike how it is done at Disneyland where only a select number of attractions/entertainment has fastpass. It makes some rides that just had standby lines go by a lot slower than they used to be.

 

[Lewandowski]

It really depends on the ride. Some lines have decreased rapidly, while others are longer.

Here are some attractions that I find lines to be considerably shorter since the implement of FP+

Enchanted Tales with Belle
Pirates of the Caribbean
Under the Sea--Journey of the Little Mermaid
Dumbo The Flying Elephant
Princess Fairytale Hall
Soarin
Mission Space
Toy Story Mania
Fantasmic
Expedition Everest
Kilimanjaro Safaris

All of these attractions I have noticed considerably shorter lines. However I think there might be more reasons for some of them and not just because of FP+.

 

[mom2rtk]

It really depends on the ride. Some lines have decreased rapidly, while others are longer.

Here are some attractions that I find lines to be considerably shorter since the implement of FP+

Enchanted Tales with Belle
Pirates of the Caribbean
Under the Sea--Journey of the Little Mermaid
Dumbo The Flying Elephant
Princess Fairytale Hall
Soarin
Mission Space
Toy Story Mania
Fantasmic
Expedition Everest
Kilimanjaro Safaris

All of these attractions I have noticed considerably shorter lines. However I think there might be more reasons for some of them and not just because of FP+.

How could the addition of FP+, which is prioritized over standby, have caused the standby line to be shorter?

 

[Lewandowski]

How could the addition of FP+, which is prioritized over standby, have caused the standby line to be shorter?

I don't know LOL. I think since many people are using FP+ for those rides, they are not bothering to wait in line. It could be other reasons, but all the rides I listed have considerably shorter lines.

 

[disneymom0104]

I think the standby for Pirates is much longer now since FP+ than before. But we don't go at peak times so maybe that is why.

We just returned from our first FP+ trip. We had some of the lowest crowds seen in years, so I am not sure my perspective is entirely accurate, or would compare to Christmas time. One thing I noticed is that the FP+ line is catered to over SB nearly 100% of the time. If the CM sees people walking toward up the FP line, they will hold the SB line to let them pass. Then a few SB go, until someone else is coming in the FP line. That being said, we waited in zero SB lines outside the first 1.5 hours of park operation. Being able to modify originally made FP (minus 7DMT, PP and FEA), to earlier times once one FP was scanned, and then the ability to add 4th+ FP (one MK day I think we had 13 FP+) made it so we literally never waited in a SB line. Since people are canceling FP+ every second, the selection changes every second- and I was able to get the time I wanted (which was for the minute I was done with the current ride) for the entire day by modifying. I imagine in peak crowds the availability isn't there. So I still have mixed feelings about FP+, even though it worked really, really well for us. If you do have to stand SB- be prepared to wait a lot longer than you used to.

 

[Lewandowski]

I think the standby for Pirates is much longer now since FP+ than before. But we don't go at peak times so maybe that is why.

LOL, I rode Pirates of the Caribbean at around 3:30pm on August 7 last month, and it was a walk on!

 

[3Gsandme]

How could the addition of FP+, which is prioritized over standby, have caused the standby line to be shorter?

By redistributing the load, is my guess by use of their data. Their copious amounts of data. I'm a data nerd and I would LOVE to see their data.

Anyhow, Disney knows exactly how many people the ride can accommodate a day and they know how many people ride the ride and they know when they are riding. If they know POTC is busiest at 2pm they are going to 1) release less FP+ for that time and 2) use FP+ to distribute that crowd. Some of those 2pm riders will have a FP+ at 1pm or 3pm, decreasing the 2pm load. The downside is, of corse if POTC is walk on at 10am, FP+ Has distributed riders into less busy times thereby increasing waits during those times. I think what we would find, if we had the data, is that the total minutes per day of waiting for any given attraction hasn't changed.

 

[miamimi]

According to Josh on EasyWDW, FP+ has increased the SB wait times. This has been my experience when I've visited. But right now, the crowds are light so FP+ is great according to most who are visiting.

 

[BLLB]

I think Soarin' and Toy Story Midway Mania stand by have been reduced by the third track/theatre rather than FP+.

 

[hiroMYhero]

I think Soarin' and Toy Story Midway Mania stand by have been reduced by the third track/theatre rather than FP+.

I agree.

Princess Fairytale Hall now has decreased Standby times because Anna & Elsa are now at Epcot where increased capacity has also kept their wait times low.

 

[Dbktmc]

I think the standby for Pirates is much longer now since FP+ than before. But we don't go at peak times so maybe that is why.

We just returned from our first FP+ trip. We had some of the lowest crowds seen in years, so I am not sure my perspective is entirely accurate, or would compare to Christmas time. One thing I noticed is that the FP+ line is catered to over SB nearly 100% of the time. If the CM sees people walking toward up the FP line, they will hold the SB line to let them pass. Then a few SB go, until someone else is coming in the FP line. That being said, we waited in zero SB lines outside the first 1.5 hours of park operation. Being able to modify originally made FP (minus 7DMT, PP and FEA), to earlier times once one FP was scanned, and then the ability to add 4th+ FP (one MK day I think we had 13 FP+) made it so we literally never waited in a SB line. Since people are canceling FP+ every second, the selection changes every second- and I was able to get the time I wanted (which was for the minute I was done with the current ride) for the entire day by modifying. I imagine in peak crowds the availability isn't there. So I still have mixed feelings about FP+, even though it worked really, really well for us. If you do have to stand SB- be prepared to wait a lot longer than you used to.

I have been to Disney at least 4-5 times since FP+ was introduced. I never, not even once, thought to move my remaining FP reservations earlier once my band was scanned. I can't tell you how many times I was completely annoyed by having to just wait for my "window" to open up. You made my day. Especially since we are returning in 13 days. THANK YOU!!!!!

 

[disneymom0104]

I have been to Disney at least 4-5 times since FP+ was introduced. I never, not even once, thought to move my remaining FP reservations earlier once my band was scanned. I can't tell you how many times I was completely annoyed by having to just wait for my "window" to open up. You made my day. Especially since we are returning in 13 days. THANK YOU!!!!!

You are welcome! It took me about 3 days to really get comfortable and figure the app out, but once I did it was great! Obviously there are a few that you won't be able to adjust, but most can be done easily! People are switching stuff around all the time so if the exact time you want isn't there one second, it might be one second later. You could possibly use all 3 of your pre booked FP+ in one hour by moving them up.

 

[MermaidMommy]

As PP noted, Josh has posted extensively on the effects of FP+ on lines, and his conclusion is that it has increased standby lines, particularly for rides that didn't used to have FP. Rides like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth, etc. now often have significant lines, when they didn't in the past.

 

[miamimi]

As PP noted, Josh has posted extensively on the effects of FP+ on lines, and his conclusion is that it has increased standby lines, particularly for rides that didn't used to have FP. Rides like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth, etc. now often have significant lines, when they didn't in the past.

I think that's the saddest part of FP+, losing the rides with little or no waits when the crowd level is a 5. Now, the People Mover has a wait! I always knew that I would be waiting for an E-ticket attraction, so waiting 5 minutes less for this type of attraction is no benefit, IMO. But the last time I was there I waited 40 minutes for IASW (posted wait was 20 minutes). That's a big loss, since before FP+ I never waited longer than 15 minutes for IASW.