WOW, FP+ is worse than I even imagined

[eyehartdisney]

My take on the issue? Why would anyone do disney if it wasn't #4?

4. going when FP has historically been unnecessary

 

[rastuso]

My take on the issue? Why would anyone do disney if it wasn't #4?

Kids and Halloween

 

[mzadell]

Maybe I'm in a minority here, or maybe it was #4 on OPs list of why FP+ works for some people, but my trip earlier this year (Memorial Day weekend - not a 'down' time for the parks), I didn't make ANY FP+ reservations until the day I visited the parks and the only things I wasn't able to snag were reserved seatings for some of the evening shows.

Maybe it's luck, but whatever it is, all I can say is that I've had very positive experiences with FP+ over the old system.

 

[KiKi Mouse]

Maybe I'm in a minority here, or maybe it was #4 on OPs list of why FP+ works for some people, but my trip earlier this year (Memorial Day weekend - not a 'down' time for the parks), I didn't make ANY FP+ reservations until the day I visited the parks and the only things I wasn't able to snag were reserved seatings for some of the evening shows.

Maybe it's luck, but whatever it is, all I can say is that I've had very positive experiences with FP+ over the old system.

Were they for 7DMT and/or A&E?

 

[mzadell]

Were they for 7DMT and/or A&E?

7DMT was still a soft open and we didn't do A&E, but even for other E-ticket attractions at other parks, we were good same-day.

Like someone pointed out earlier, I don't mean to sound like I'm rallying against the people who have had issues with FP+, I'm simply sharing my positive experience as proof that it can work, even though it may not always work.

 

[kelsma03]

So, after realizing about a year ago that FP+ was going to ruin WDW vacations, and in spite of the many who "love the flexibility of only getting 3 rides, but they can sleep in", I had my first encounter with this abomination today.

Looks like you made your mind up a year ago.

 

[slickpoetry]

Looks like you made your mind up a year ago.

All I'm going to say is it looks like the OP got exactly what he wanted.

 

[maxiesmom]

Thank you for being the ONLY sane voice of reason in 3 pages of posting. Your eloquent post was a very nice way to ask everyone to just shut the crap up. Haha. Now if only the ones that exhale pixie dust would heed your advice....

The only way to not hear an opposing opinion is to not post. And that is true about every subject, not just FP+. People shouldn't only be allowed to post if they are in agreement with the OP. About whatever subject that is at hand.

I do think the whole FP+ system is set up to entice people to stay on site. I don't consider it unfair for Disney to reward people who are staying at their resort with perks like that. We all have the same opportunity to chose off site or on site.

I will say too that as someone who has stayed off site more than once that it really makes me think staying on site is the only way to see WDW, at least during any busy time of year.

 

[KiKi Mouse]

7DMT was still a soft open and we didn't do A&E, but even for other E-ticket attractions at other parks, we were good same-day.

Like someone pointed out earlier, I don't mean to sound like I'm rallying against the people who have had issues with FP+, I'm simply sharing my positive experience as proof that it can work, even though it may not always work.

I think for anything outside of 7DMT and A&E you are fine. The newer attractions are in high demand and the more people you have in your party the harder it is.

 

[smitch425]

Good advice in general, but again not applicable when using an MNSSHP ticket. The system could only show him available FP+ between 4 and 7 PM. There's not much wiggle room there!

As mentioned, an MNSSHP ticket allows booking for the entire day. In fact, the system just recognizes the ticket as a one day admission to MK, not even for a specific date. I used one of my sets of MNSSHP tickets to book FPs for the day before our FD package starts, but I will actually enter the park that day with my package ticket, not my MNSSHP ticket. We have a room only stay Oct 17-19, and a FD package Oct 19-26. I will pick up our package tickets on Oct 17, and that is the only day I could not set up FPs for.

As for the OP's frustrations, the system is not perfect. It does take time to do some tweaking to get exactly what you want (or close to it). We always stay on site, so I can't speak to the availability at the 30 day mark, but when I scheduled our FPs for our upcoming trip, I had no trouble at all booking 9 days of FPs. I was done within in hour, and got A&E one day and 7DMT on two different days.

As with any change, there will be some who love it, some who hate it, and some who will make the best of the situation they are given. I'm somewhere between the love it/make the best of it range. I love the flexibility it offers, but the process could be easier for changes. There is no right or wrong opinion here. Everyone is different and everyone will have different experiences with the system. No side of this is "the right side".

OP, I hope you have a great trip!

 

[lugnut33]

FP+ is awesome when the parks are dead (of course, how many times are you able to show up and the parks are dead?). We ran into one such day last Tuesday and holy crap can you work the system. We knocked out our 3 mandatory FP+ by 1 PM and then literally went from ride to ride using FP+.

For example, Got off SM around 1:30 and went to FP+ kiosk to get our fourth FP+. We wanted Jungle Cruise and there was a time available 5 minutes in the future so we took it (at the time JC had about a 20 minute standby wait), walked across the park and walked on JC. As soon as we got off JC we went to the kiosk and scheduled PoTC about 5 minutes in the future. Got off that and went back to JC to schedule HM and so and so on. It was incredible.

Keep in mind, that will only work when the parks are DEAD.

I still really dislike FP+ though.

 

[JimmyV]

The only way to not hear an opposing opinion is to not post. And that is true about every subject, not just FP+. People shouldn't only be allowed to post if they are in agreement with the OP. About whatever subject that is at hand.

But it is very different to say: "Sorry you had the experience you did. We used FP+ and MDE and had a very different experience. Our family loved it."

...than it is to say....

"You obviously didn't know what you were doing. You should have done more research. FP+ works great for people who understand how it works and you obviously had no interest in even trying to find out."

Both posts would, technically, be "opposing opinions". And both are "allowed" on this site. But doesn't one of the two sound more genuine and doesn't the other sound petty and pointless?

 

[Nancyg56]

Trust me, I HATE that I have to overthink about my WDW vacation 30 days out. It sucks. But Disney has forced me to do it. Any other visit, at this point, I had ZERO worries about when and what rides I would hit at MNSSHP in a month.

I'm sure positive thoughts will open up all the FP+, so I'll do that. Should have thought about that earlier. Oh wait, it's #3.

-Jason

Jason- I do have tix and am staying onsite, so I was able to book at 60 days out. I admit i was a bit stressed, because my family traditionally do not plan out our park days except who is racing for that first FP, and which direction we turn, straight or left. My DD reminded me that this trip I do not need to beat feet to my first FP choice.

I think the difference in our outlook, yours and mine, is our mindset. I know this is different, and I am willing to see how it goes, but do not and have not had any preconceived idea of how this will be.

I am not a believer in overthinking vacations, and I think that may be why I am looking forward to seeing how it works out, and have not decided it is a bust before I get there

Looks like you made your mind up a year ago.

That is the problem IMO.

I do think the whole FP+ system is set up to entice people to stay on site. I don't consider it unfair for Disney to reward people who are staying at their resort with perks like that. We all have the same opportunity to chose off site or on site.

I will say too that as someone who has stayed off site more than once that it really makes me think staying on site is the only way to see WDW, at least during any busy time of year.

Bingo! I think Disney has made a lot of marketing decisions that entice folks to stay onsite, and FP+ is only one of them. DME, the DDP (At least when it was a bargain) ADR's 180 +10....I don't have any issues with that, because I get to decide if it is worth it to me. If yes...I run with it. If no...I go elsewhere.

 

[Pfau]

Wow, I never realized that, I guess standing in long lines is an excellent alternative. Who needs fastpass, when long lines are there.

But really, FP+ will have minimal impact on our visit, since it's a Party, but this little glimpse into it's inner-workings solidify my belief that the only people who like it are those that are happy with 3 rides a day, and allow Disney to kidnap them at the airport.

The FP+ threads would only have helped the one detail of deleting a FP and not being able to reschedule. But that is hardly one of the highly publicized "features", and it took me quite a while to find info regarding it in a search.

The threads would have done nothing to make FP+ more available to me.

-Jason

I don't have a dog in this fight as the last time I visited Disney was before Fastpass even existed but just wanted to ask ... what does this mean?

 

[hopemax]

I do think the whole FP+ system is set up to entice people to stay on site. I don't consider it unfair for Disney to reward people who are staying at their resort with perks like that. We all have the same opportunity to chose off site or on site.

I'm staying onsite, but I don't get to reserve FP+ in advance, because I have the audacity to use a CM guest pass.

My friend is staying onsite, but she upgraded her DL AP to the 2-park premiere AP at DL, but MDE doesn't recognize the ticket, so she can't make FP+ in advance. IT says if she sets up FP for the person in her room who has a more standard ticket, then they can copy that person's FP+ to her account.

BUT...they want to tour with my parents who are locals, who again, CM tickets so they can't set it up in advance. So whatever they set up may not even work out, the day of!

So wonderful "resort" benefits for them, huh. Split up or can't use your benefits. Bought the wrong ticket, depend on IT to set up your FP.

You can get screwed as a resort guest just as easily because your friends & family doesn't fit into the "anticipated pattern for the majority of our guests."

 

[Pfau]

... and sorry you had a sucky time, OP.

 

[MPB82]

I think he means magical express the bus that takes you to disney, I can't see how you (OP) had any openness to this idea you seemed hell bent on making this NOT work

 

[JimmyV]

I don't have a dog in this fight as the last time I visited Disney was before Fastpass even existed but just wanted to ask ... what does this mean?

It's a reference to Disney's Magical Express that picks up on site guests at the airport leaving them with no transportation of their own to leave the property.

 

[Pfau]

I think he means magical express the bus that takes you to disney, I can't see how you (OP) had any openness to this idea you seemed hell bent on making this NOT work

It's a reference to Disney's Magical Express that picks up on site guests at the airport leaving them with no transportation of their own to leave the property.

Oh. Got it! Thanks!

(That's part of it I'm looking forward to, as a matter of fact. I think enough about traffic, driving, etc. in my daily life being from the DC area. I don't even WANT to feel a steering wheel for 8 days. )

 

[Buffalo2Disney]

I might be confused on this whole situation here, but if you only have MNSSHP tickets which means you can't enter the park until I think 4PM, even under the old paper fastpass system I would think by then all paper fastpasses would have been distributed for "Dwarf Hill" and Belle. So essentially you would have had the same result you have now, right.