Why is this new FP+ system FREAKING ME out and making it so hard to book our trip?

[edk35]

For the FIRST time EVER...I am so on the fence about booking our 2014 trip. Even our dd that did the college program there and keeps saying how much she misses Disney (last trip for us was last Aug.) thinks we should HOLD off and wait it out a while to see if any changes are made to the new system. I am SOOOOO ON THE FENCE. We DO LOVE to ride a lot of rides...and don't mind waiting in lines for a reasonable amount of time, but the old system ALWAYS worked for us so nicely all these years. We do enjoy the resorts and stuff off the beaten path too. SO I know we will have "other" stuff to do. I guess I am worried about THE UNKNOWN... having "fish out of water" feelings. UGH

 

[kittyab]

We were there in Nov. I booked everything, reservations, fp+ online. I linked it all to my magic band with no issues.

If I had any problems I just called Disney and they walked me through it.

 

[edk35]

We were there in Nov. I booked everything, reservations, fp+ online. I linked it all to my magic band with no issues.

If I had any problems I just called Disney and they walked me through it.

It just seems like so much work. LOL Also, I honestly think from reading these boards that the system is kind of messed up. I don't know. I have always just loved booking trips, planning, anticipating and now it just seems so different. I guess I won't know until we just BOOK AND GO.

 

[gdrj]

No way would I let FP+ impact my scheduling of a vacation. I know there are people who say they would get 5 fast passes or more a day. We also do not set a strict schedule. I currently am setting my FP's for our Easter trip and kind like some of the options. On a couple of days I was able to schedule 3 FP's that took up only a few hours of the day which will work great for us, before and after that we can do as we wish, and I can sleep in if I want and don't need to run to soaring in the am to get on it 5 hours later

 

[Skrutti]

I hope the fastpass+ system will allow us to be able to take it easy in the mornings. And not need to rush to the parks. It would be perfect to reserve fastpass for Toystory at 11. That was impossible before.

 

[dreaming4disney]

We just used it for the first time. There are some kinks to be worked out, but it didn't ruin the trip. I don't like that everything has to be so well planned in advance now.

The worst instance for us: arrived at MK to ride Space Mountain. The ride was closed. The CM's couldn't do anything for us. They had us go to Stitch ride where the CM there could try to find us another ride. She got us on Thunder Mountain, but by then we had to run to the ride or we would have missed our time cutoff.

That wouldn't have worked if the park was very busy.

 

[carol1231]

It think its just a matter of taking some time, getting started and doing it.

Spring break will be our first time with the magic bands, and I'm looking forward to it. Friends of mine have said that if your plans change, it was easy to re-adjust your fast pass times thru the MDE app.

Have fun!

 

[edk35]

Saw this on Facebook yesterday...I hope it does change.

http://www.doctordisney.com/2014/02/12/reports-say-disneys-fastpass-tested-without-limit-three/

 

[wiigirl]

Saw this on Facebook yesterday...I hope it does change.

http://www.doctordisney.com/2014/02/12/reports-say-disneys-fastpass-tested-without-limit-three/

 

[Chuck S]

It just seems like so much work. LOL Also, I honestly think from reading these boards that the system is kind of messed up. I don't know. I have always just loved booking trips, planning, anticipating and now it just seems so different. I guess I won't know until we just BOOK AND GO.

I hope the fastpass+ system will allow us to be able to take it easy in the mornings. And not need to rush to the parks. It would be perfect to reserve fastpass for Toystory at 11. That was impossible before.

Like you, edk, I felt like it was a lot of work and I felt I needed to pre-plan an entire 8 night trip for my trip last November. Now that I have actually used the system, I realize there is a bit of a learning curve.

1) As Skrutti said, you don't need to be there for rope drop. I pre-booked most of my FP+ for shortly after park opening. I should have booked them for times after lunch, with the exception of Toy Story and Soarin' everything was pretty much a walk on in the mornings.

2) I overplanned. I had usually planned 3 or 4 dining reservations during an 8 night stay. In November, I made ADRs everyday. Too much food and really unnecessary for my dining choices. Note that I do not do Character meals or other high demand venues. Nor was FP+ even necessary for each and every day of my trip...and sometimes a ride would break down and I'd miss the FP+ time anyway.

In the future, unless traveling with a sizable group (there will be 16 of us in 2015) I will pretty much go back to my more laid-back style of planning. It will be fine. I will use FP+ some days, not others...and only for the busiest of attractions, though I realize that you HAVE to book 3 FP+ on a given day, go ahead and use one or two FP+ for less popular attractions, or even attractions that always seem to be busy but aren't a must do, like Peter Pan.

edk, don't stress, don't overplan if you like to do some things spur of the moment. Plan some days, don't plan others. You'll find hitting a happy medium between booking everything and booking nothing will be fine and very enjoyable.

 

[paults]

We just got back from VGF/BWV and we were a little concerned about FP+. I booked all fast FP's at home and used 8 of 12 and we had no problems at any time. I even made a switch on my Iphone with no problem.

FP+ shouldn't stop you from booking your room at least.

 

[Anal Annie]

Denise you can't NOT plan a trip bcuz of it. It definitely makes touring different tho.

Unlike some of these other posters who think it will make for lazier mornings we found it pushed us up and out even earlier for our 1st park of the day bcuz of the 1 park / 3 per day restrictions. We arrived 30-45 min before rope drop each morning at our first park of the day since we knew everything would have to be done standby. While it was great for our evening park it totally made our mornings miserable and I think it is completely worthless for Epcot since there are so few rides there and the ones they DO have are tiered. But it WAS nice to know we had rides booked for our evenings.

We felt they were a little awkward to wear and they were the first thing to come off when we got back to our room. They were convenient for purchases and meals.

I just hope they eventually revise the 1 park a day and 3 / day limits and make them more flexible to use. For now tho you just have to plan wisely to make them work.

 

[edk35]

Denise you can't NOT plan a trip bcuz of it. It definitely makes touring different tho.

Unlike some of these other posters who think it will make for lazier mornings we found it pushed us up and out even earlier for our 1st park of the day bcuz of the 1 park / 3 per day restrictions. We arrived 30-45 min before rope drop each morning at our first park of the day since we knew everything would have to be done standby. While it was great for our evening park it totally made our mornings miserable and I think it is completely worthless for Epcot since there are so few rides there and the ones they DO have are tiered. But it WAS nice to know we had rides booked for our evenings.

We felt they were a little awkward to wear and they were the first thing to come off when we got back to our room. They were convenient for purchases and meals.

I just hope they eventually revise the 1 park a day and 3 / day limits and make them more flexible to use. For now tho you just have to plan wisely to make them work.

Hey girlie!!