Why "We" Love FP- at Disneyland...

[sets14]

Really enjoyed your TR Mad. Whether or not you had to criss cross the park, and whether or not there were long standby queues, it looks like the 2 of you had a ball. Without the necessity of the hassle that is the FP+ system. Will everyone else experience the parks the same way you did? Probably not. But its nice to see that it can be done by some. Apparently some posters missed the "WE" in the thread title.

Heading to DLR for the first time in 5 years with DD this summer and am SO looking forward to using FP- again!.

Nevermind...

Op, I really am glad you had a great day. Disney done the way you like it is always a good thing and it sounds like you have mastered your strategy! I was just trying to add some perspective for those who might read this and think it was the norm. My bad for adding to a discussion. I look forward to reading more about your trip!

 

[grnflash]

Not sure if you were referencing me with the crabby bit. Not trying to be crabby at all. Just saying that it would be much more powerful to say one got 11 FP and avoided 30-60 minute lines than to think one grabbed 11 FP and skipped 5-10 minute lines. Context is everything. I once grabbed 9 FP in MK on a crowd level 2 day. Spectacular? Not really. It would have been spectacular on a crowd level 8 day. See what I mean?

If OP's FP's got them by lines that were all 30-60 minutes, bravo! But we don't know without the whole context and stand-by times. That was the point I was making, not that FP is bad.

I'd say bravo regardless of the standby wait times for the FP's pulled. We are a ride family and use FP as much as we can. With only a couple exceptions (TS we'll wait 30 on a busy day, RSR we'll wait extra just before park closing) our wait time limit is 20 min. So let's say we're at Space early and the wait is only 10. We'll still pull a FP then go ride Matterhorn before that line builds, probably hit Astro next followed by Buzz, then pull a ST FP on our way back to walk on Space. 4 rides easily in an hour, another FP in hand, repeated multiple times throughout the day. And as a plus all these ride locations are condensed so no traversing the entire park, pushing, running, etc. etc. or wearing out my young child either.

And on a separate note (not related to above quote), yes, I realize we are operating with a unfair advantage since we arrive at rope drop and know the parks very well and are using our knowledge of how and when the different ride lines build.

 

[molitva]

OP, you are my hero.

 

[WillAustin]

I'd say bravo regardless of the standby wait times for the FP's pulled. We are a ride family and use FP as much as we can.

Walking right on with a FP to skip a 5 or 10 minute line feels just as good as skipping a 60-90 minute line for us.

 

[aaturner]

Loved your trip report!!! We are heading to DL in June, first time since 1998, so excited. Will be interesting to see how our 14 year old feels about the old fp system. Most people dislike fp+, but its all he remembers. We went to WDW last summer and the visit before that he was 5 so doesn't remember much. He was shocked that you have to walk to each ride area to get the fast passes....."no kiosk to check all rides".....lol Had planned on trying those lobster nachos from the Cove bar, and after seeing your picture I definitely can't wait to try them!

 

[Ambear]

This needs less pictures of paper and more pictures of food!

This reminds me of how amazing the food is in disneyland. Glad you had a great trip!

 

[waldozer]

Awesome TR Mad! So fun to read!

Totally aggree

 

[AustinTink]

Love this thread. This is why we go to DLR every year and no longer feel the love over at WDW. It used to be so simple at WDW and it still is over in Cali. I hope it never changes, but I'm sure it's only a matter of a few years.

 

[guynhawaii]

Aloha,

Awesome post! Long live FP at DLR!

 

[sheetz]

This was worth reading just for the rhymes. Very clever!

 

[magicbob]

we actually gamed the system by letting us both go in for the Frozen M & G with the one FP we found on the ground (which clearly has stroller treadmarks on it).

FP abuse on multiple levels!!!!

First off, the family that dropped it obviously was taking more than their fair share and just callously tossed this one on the ground despite the fact that they had denied someone else of that FP.

Let's not even talk about YOUR ten FPs!!!!

And then you cheated and snuck an extra person in???? Have you no decency, Sir???????

 

[dbramer]

Too bad I will never be able to afford a cross-country trip to DL. I priced it out...almost 10k since we could not drive out there. Four of us flying cross-country is half the expense.

 

[Astridia]

Love this thread. This is why we go to DLR every year and no longer feel the love over at WDW. It used to be so simple at WDW and it still is over in Cali. I hope it never changes, but I'm sure it's only a matter of a few years.

I don't know about that. According to a recent article, Tom Staggs said MDE isn't coming to DLR. It would be cost prohibitive.

 

[Mickey&Mouse]

So to sum up one day it was like this...it wasn't all about FP. It should also be known that we walked 72.61 miles from Monday until Sunday. That also included a day at Newport Beach and Long Beach so that we would take a break from FP-...but mostly so we could touch the Ocean. We are weird like that...

Day one...

RSR...4 times...two with FP
TOT...4 times...three with FP
California Screaming...one with FP
Space Mountain....3 times...once with FP
Star Tours...twice...once with FP
Splash...once with FP
World of Color....once with FP Blue Section (best)
Bonus 11th FP we found on the ground for A & E but was able to use for both of us.

Other SB rides were:
Under the Sea (stupid ride regardless of Coast)
Monsters Inc
BTMR two times
Haunted Mansion
POC
Walk through the Tarzan tree house

Then there was lunch at Harbour Galley (Lobster Roll with chips)
6 beer stops
Dinner at Cove Bar (Lobster Nachos, two Micky Funwheel drinks and two Krauss Tower 10 IPAs)
13 cig breaks (nasty habit but we like to call it people watching...sounds more PC)
Various shopping stops

Some call that a week....we call it a day.

Friday was our "chill" day...



I can post more pics if anyone likes. I mean...we did go back to the parks that night for our Blue Bayou F! dinner package with premium seating...

Love your trip report and pictures!! It sounds like you guys had an awesome time!!

 

[crazycatlady]

Loved your report! DH and I were planning a fall WDW trip, but decided last week to try DL in September instead. Just booked 3 nights in San Diego followed by 6 nights at the GC on Saturday. So excited!!

 

[Astridia]

Loved your report! DH and I were planning a fall WDW trip, but decided last week to try DL in September instead. Just booked 3 nights in San Diego followed by 6 nights at the GC on Saturday. So excited!!

I am so jealous! I know you will have a marvelous time.

 

[GatorChris]

Love this thread. This is why we go to DLR every year and no longer feel the love over at WDW. It used to be so simple at WDW and it still is over in Cali. I hope it never changes, but I'm sure it's only a matter of a few years.

YIP! While I miss WDW (especially AK and Epcot), going to DL and doing things like they're supposed to be done just feels right. Granted, I've never experienced FP+. My last trip was Dec 2012 so we missed it. But even for a planner like me, it seems so confining. There is something about walking into DL and saying "Let's turn left, do this ride, grab a FP, hit these rides...." Basically, do what you want once you get there. Now I'm sure in the summer and holidays, getting FPs ahead of time might be ok. But giving up freedom for a little more "play it safe" hasn't gotten anyone in the country ahead, and it rings true with Disney. I can't imagine the chaos FP+ has caused with basic stand-by lines. I bet you can't walk onto Pirates anymore at the MK. Add the cost of flying cross-country and FP+ is prohibitive. I love the laid back feeling at DL. Something that WDW used to have.