WOW, FP+ is worse than I even imagined

[magicbob]

Sure, we didn't have the same selection of FPs as we would if we booked them 30 or 60 days out, but I can accept that when I am getting free admission.

Bolded makes all the difference in the world.

 

[rastuso]

Bolded makes all the difference in the world.

Yeah, right? I would gladly take zero FPs if I got in for free.

-J

 

[JimmyV]

I would gladly take zero FPs if I got in for free.

-J

Depends on the circumstances. If I had a 5 day pass and I received an offer to add a day for free on the condition that on that extra day I would get no FPs, or instead I coud pay to upgrade a 5 day pass to a 6 day pass and get FPs for the 6th day, I would pay. And even if we were talking about simply buying a one day pass at rack rate, I would rather pay for my ticket and get FPs if I was going on an 8, 9 or 10 crowd level day than get in free on such a day and have no FPs. Getting in free and roaming around with no options other than hour long waits is not worth the savings to me. I'd rather pay and have a line-beating strategy. But to each his own.

 

[Luckybee]

Yet there is an endless stream of people claiming they were at WDW this Summer, and even holiday weekends, and rode limitless rides, and got 8 FPs.

And then of course it's the "stay positive" folks. Like telling your husband to stay positive when he was looking at an 80 minute SB sign would have REALLY helped.

At this point I wonder if FP+ has already scared off a lot of folks, or the Wizard has drawn them away. I mean, 20 minute waits at the worst in early August? Really?

Or, has the whole FP+ crap gotten so many people into this mode of going to the park to use their 3 FPs, and then pay for an expensive meal, then leave. Perhaps there are enough people falling into that trap, but again, I don't see it, because if there were 20 minute waits in early August, I doubt folks would go to their room early.

There seems to be a lot of anecdotal posts in this thread that really don't seem to jive with reality. Unless the multiple rides folks are mentioning were on the teacups.

I would love to cut through the biased examples and get a good idea of what is really happening. Disney has complete control over everything. They can change how many and when they release FP+s, and really impact people. Heck, maybe they are limiting early FP+ release, and holding back more. Or maybe they are giving out fewer FP+ to begin with. Or maybe attendance is flat, but average length of visit is dropping.

Whatever is happening, the MDE site is a horrible, user unfriendly site. Once you get your first FP+s chosen, changing them is insanely hard, since you can only change the ride OR the time. There may be tons of new Dwarf Hill FP+ this morning, but the odds of me finding them are fairly nil, since I can only look at 3 5 minute periods out of 42 or so that would work for me.

And I can't restart and only choose one FP, and save the other 2 for late releases. I have a feeling a LOT of people don't realize they are spending more time on MDE than they are saving at the parks.

regardless, I am now stuck in MDE, since I have Mansion FPs that I don't want to lose, but I'll never know what else is out there, except for the 3 time slots I have for other FPs, without spending tons of time on MDE, and risking screwing things up more.

But I'll stay positive, and I'm sure everything will work fine. Well, I'm positive my days at Universal will be filled with much better rides, so there's that. And I'm positive I won't be spending much time at WDW for the next 3-5 years.

-Jason

Jason...I have one day of tickets Im not using for FP (arrival night and we're just doing a late dinner at Epcot)...if you'd like, and if the day isn't one that we have FP's for(since I couldn't then look at options), I'll be happy to check things out for you. If you wish you could send me a pm or post...I could look at it tonight if that helps at all.

 

[Luckybee]

Depends on the circumstances. If I had a 5 day pass and I received an offer to add a day for free on the condition that on that extra day I would get no FPs, or instead I coud pay to upgrade a 5 day pass to a 6 day pass and get FPs for the 6th day, I would pay. And even if we were talking about simply buying a one day pass at rack rate, I would rather pay for my ticket and get FPs if I was going on an 8, 9 or 10 crowd level day than get in free on such a day and have no FPs. Getting in free and roaming around with no options other than hour long waits is not worth the savings to me. I'd rather pay and have a line-beating strategy. But to each his own.

Me too....One thing I know for sure is that we're in the we'd gladly pay to purchase extra fp's camp.

 

[Luckybee]

While it's a bummer that you are spending less hours in the parks than you would have liked to otherwise, I think that is a feature of FP+ from Disney's POV, not a flaw. That's exactly what they want. Even with five-six hours of park time, they know they will probably get the same amount of money from you, one meal perhaps, etc.

I agree about the shorter trips, really calls those into question especially when there is airfare involved.

Sorry but I disagree about the money part. Yes they're getting one meal most days but that will be it. It is only 5-6 hours of park time on 3 days...the other 4 are about 3-4 hours. Normally we're pretty big shoppers. We would take breaks throughout a longer day and shop. I've planned for no shopping because of fp+. I've got our fp's thrown in a couple of rides in between, booked a few park dinners ie: CRT and then we're out. Unlike the days I have booked for Universal (where I expect we'll be in the parks for 8 hours +) we have planned to the minute where we'll be when. Doesn't leave time for spontaneous shopping. Also we aren't there as long to have our 2 meals a day ....which we likely would have otherwise. (keep in mind during our on property portion we're staying at the Dolphin, not a D resort ...so if we're doing meals at the hotel it isn't D getting our money then...and when we're off property they def wont be) It serves D well to keep us at the Parks longer not shorter....last trip we spent in the $1000's shopping. (dh likes it more too....this trip Ive planned the Malls in Orlando instead..I don't have to worry about fp's there.....lol)
This is our longest Orlando trip ever. I wont go into a long diatribe as to why that is but normally we tend to do D as an add on to something else for 4 or 5 days. That wont be happening in the future because of FP. We have one more trip booked for next May...we may or may not keep that one but I know that we wont be booking many more. I've spent more time on this one then I did planning a months trip to Australia and the South Pacific which to me is just nuts.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Sorry but I disagree about the money part. Yes they're getting one meal most days but that will be it. It is only 5-6 hours of park time on 3 days...the other 4 are about 3-4 hours. Normally we're pretty big shoppers. We would take breaks throughout a longer day and shop. I've planned for no shopping because of fp+. I've got our fp's thrown in a couple of rides in between, booked a few park dinners ie: CRT and then we're out. Unlike the days I have booked for Universal (where I expect we'll be in the parks for 8 hours +) we have planned to the minute where we'll be when. Doesn't leave time for spontaneous shopping. Also we aren't there as long to have our 2 meals a day ....which we likely would have otherwise. (keep in mind during our on property portion we're staying at the Dolphin, not a D resort ...so if we're doing meals at the hotel it isn't D getting our money then...and when we're off property they def wont be) It serves D well to keep us at the Parks longer not shorter....last trip we spent in the $1000's shopping. (dh likes it more too....this trip Ive planned the Malls in Orlando instead..I don't have to worry about fp's there.....lol)
This is our longest Orlando trip ever. I wont go into a long diatribe as to why that is but normally we tend to do D as an add on to something else for 4 or 5 days. That wont be happening in the future because of FP. We have one more trip booked for next May...we may or may not keep that one but I know that we wont be booking many more. I've spent more time on this one then I did planning a months trip to Australia and the South Pacific which to me is just nuts.

I hear you. So it sounds like they are possibly losing another meal and lots of shopping. If you did that much shopping in the parks that you aren't going to do now, then they are losing!

My point was that I think Disney would prefer to have more people coming through the park each even if each person stays less time per day. If they wanted each person to stay longer in the park each day, they would be building more ride capacity. Instead, they are going with this ride-rationing and lock-em-in strategy. And of course, all of their marketing to enjoy the WDW resorts as well

 

[wisblue]

Yeah, right? I would gladly take zero FPs if I got in for free.

-J

Regardless, we were able to do a lot more than 3 rides without advance FPs. On the day we started at MK, we did the mine train, the 3 mountains, Little Mermaid, Small World, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, and Jungle Cruise, and had lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern before going to Main Street to get ready for the parade. We got FPs for BTMRR before lunch and HM and JC after. We didn't try to get more FPs because we spent the evening at Epcot, but if we had spent the whole day at MK we could have done more.

Bottom line, the suggestion that without advance FP+ you only can do 3 rides without waiting in long lines is flat out not even close to true.

 

[Suvadoo]

Regardless, we were able to do a lot more than 3 rides without advance FPs. On the day we started at MK, we did the mine train, the 3 mountains, Little Mermaid, Small World, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, and Jungle Cruise, and had lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern before going to Main Street to get ready for the parade. We got FPs for BTMRR before lunch and HM and JC after. We didn't try to get more FPs because we spent the evening at Epcot, but if we had spent the whole day at MK we could have done more.

Bottom line, the suggestion that without advance FP+ you only can do 3 rides without waiting in long lines is flat out not even close to true.

I'm sorry if you mentioned this in a previous post, but what was the date of this visit?

 

[wisblue]

I'm sorry if you mentioned this in a previous post, but what was the date of this visit?

First week of August.

 

[3Gsandme]

Sorry but I disagree about the money part. Yes they're getting one meal most days but that will be it. It is only 5-6 hours of park time on 3 days...the other 4 are about 3-4 hours. Normally we're pretty big shoppers. We would take breaks throughout a longer day and shop. I've planned for no shopping because of fp+. I've got our fp's thrown in a couple of rides in between, booked a few park dinners ie: CRT and then we're out. Unlike the days I have booked for Universal (where I expect we'll be in the parks for 8 hours +) we have planned to the minute where we'll be when. Doesn't leave time for spontaneous shopping. Also we aren't there as long to have our 2 meals a day ....which we likely would have otherwise. (keep in mind during our on property portion we're staying at the Dolphin, not a D resort ...so if we're doing meals at the hotel it isn't D getting our money then...and when we're off property they def wont be) It serves D well to keep us at the Parks longer not shorter....last trip we spent in the $1000's shopping. (dh likes it more too....this trip Ive planned the Malls in Orlando instead..I don't have to worry about fp's there.....lol)
This is our longest Orlando trip ever. I wont go into a long diatribe as to why that is but normally we tend to do D as an add on to something else for 4 or 5 days. That wont be happening in the future because of FP. We have one more trip booked for next May...we may or may not keep that one but I know that we wont be booking many more. I've spent more time on this one then I did planning a months trip to Australia and the South Pacific which to me is just nuts.

But, does Disney lose out on anything with this plan? You say you won't be shopping because of FP+, which is fine, but you paid for a full day and lose half. Disney just made money on you. They planned on having you for a full day, using resources and man hours and you left. Now, it's your choice and I totally understand making changes based on how Disney as changed, but you're not sticking it to Disney, in the end. In addition, when your party departs and another comes in, the capacity doesn't increase which also makes for shorter lines and happier patrons. If a lot of people share your mindset, it will become a suggested tour strategy to hit the parks in the mid to late afternoon after the pros have come in, spent their fastpasses and left.
This would be an awesome strategy for me, because I like to sleep in.

Also, if you don't think your money is funneling to Disney via the Swan and Dolphin, you're misguided. Disney is NOT letting them sit there for free.

 

[Sandy321]

Depends on the circumstances. If I had a 5 day pass and I received an offer to add a day for free on the condition that on that extra day I would get no FPs, or instead I coud pay to upgrade a 5 day pass to a 6 day pass and get FPs for the 6th day, I would pay. And even if we were talking about simply buying a one day pass at rack rate, I would rather pay for my ticket and get FPs if I was going on an 8, 9 or 10 crowd level day than get in free on such a day and have no FPs. Getting in free and roaming around with no options other than hour long waits is not worth the savings to me. I'd rather pay and have a line-beating strategy. But to each his own.

I hear that - and I'd rather go to Universal than to try and spend hours in this complicated FP+ system.

I love reading the 'low crowd" stuff, not that I believe it for one minute, I remember going during spring break, and I've gone in early Oct - Columbus day - and reading here "low crowds in Oct, not what we found! FB lines were long that weekend, and I'd read here posts that said low crowds, I thought, I don't want to see HUGE crowds then!

on the upside, I've learned to time our long lines, and sometimes (Spaceship Earth, Pirates, HM) they moved faster than I expected, but now with all these rides FP+ I don't know, but we're still going in June, it is what it is, but I hope my family will see its no longer the Disney we remember and we'll move over to Universal or other vacations!

or I could be wrong...

 

[Angel Ariel]

Regardless, we were able to do a lot more than 3 rides without advance FPs. On the day we started at MK, we did the mine train, the 3 mountains, Little Mermaid, Small World, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, and Jungle Cruise, and had lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern before going to Main Street to get ready for the parade. We got FPs for BTMRR before lunch and HM and JC after. We didn't try to get more FPs because we spent the evening at Epcot, but if we had spent the whole day at MK we could have done more.

Bottom line, the suggestion that without advance FP+ you only can do 3 rides without waiting in long lines is flat out not even close to true.

If you don't mind me asking, what were the SB waits like for the rides you didn't FP? Crowds when you were there are similar to what our dates are projected to be..just trying to get an idea of what to expect.

 

[wisblue]

If you don't mind me asking, what were the SB waits like for the rides you didn't FP? Crowds when you were there are similar to what our dates are projected to be..just trying to get an idea of what to expect.

The MK day was AM EMH, and we went right to the mine train, were off of that by 8:15, then did Space Mountain (10 minutes), and Little Mermaid (no wait). Obviously, doing the mine train before FPs start is a big help. We got our FPs by Philharmagic about 9, then did Splash (10 minutes), and Pirates (5-10 minutes, they were putting people from standby into the FP line) before using a FP at BTMRR. I think the posted wait time there was about 20 minutes. The wait at Small World was no more than 10 minutes, even though it was posted at 20 (almost nobody using FPs).

Because of the nature of this trip (we were helping our daughter move out) and the heat, we didn't move as quickly from ride to ride as we do sometimes. Someone with more determination could have done more than we did.

My main observation is that the approach of arriving at rope drop and doing popular things right away is still the way to go, and before 11 AM I didn't see any lines that seemed too long. After that I wasn't paying as much attention because we focused on lunch, using our FPs and the parade. I think the posted waits at JC and HM were both about 30 minutes, which doesn't strike me as that unusual because we usually have to visit at busy times.

 

[Luckybee]

But, does Disney lose out on anything with this plan? You say you won't be shopping because of FP+, which is fine, but you paid for a full day and lose half. Disney just made money on you. They planned on having you for a full day, using resources and man hours and you left. Now, it's your choice and I totally understand making changes based on how Disney as changed, but you're not sticking it to Disney, in the end. In addition, when your party departs and another comes in, the capacity doesn't increase which also makes for shorter lines and happier patrons. If a lot of people share your mindset, it will become a suggested tour strategy to hit the parks in the mid to late afternoon after the pros have come in, spent their fastpasses and left.
This would be an awesome strategy for me, because I like to sleep in.

Also, if you don't think your money is funneling to Disney via the Swan and Dolphin, you're misguided. Disney is NOT letting them sit there for free.

Well actually they didn't make "money" from us. They made money from Aeroplan since we used points for our passes

The point is not to "stick it to Disney" . I could care less about that. Im interested in our experience, and so far with FP+ it has been far too much of a pita to do this again any time soon. Im sure we'll enjoy the trip but as I said it will be different from the past, and based on what im seeing with MDE, and hearing on these boards I don't think for us the changes are positive. Doesn't mean they wont be for others and Im sure there are others who will make up for what Disney will now be losing on us in the future....as I said I don't care at all one way or the other. We don't make vacation decisions based on the company but rather based on what we like or don't But without doubt they will lose money on us this trip and certainly in the future from the trips we wont likely make. It may be that after this trip we'll change our minds but so far as I said I doubt it .

 

[Luckybee]

I hear you. So it sounds like they are possibly losing another meal and lots of shopping. If you did that much shopping in the parks that you aren't going to do now, then they are losing!

My point was that I think Disney would prefer to have more people coming through the park each even if each person stays less time per day. If they wanted each person to stay longer in the park each day, they would be building more ride capacity. Instead, they are going with this ride-rationing and lock-em-in strategy. And of course, all of their marketing to enjoy the WDW resorts as well

I agree with you...that has to be the strategy otherwise it would make no sense at all !

 

[magicbob]

My point was that I think Disney would prefer to have more people coming through the park each even if each person stays less time per day. If they wanted each person to stay longer in the park each day, they would be building more ride capacity. Instead, they are going with this ride-rationing and lock-em-in strategy. And of course, all of their marketing to enjoy the WDW resorts as well

Don't forget that the price structure for MYW tickets has always encouraged longer stays as opposed to longer days. This is an extension of that mindset (i.e., locking guests in for more days). Do a little bit each day in the parks, but plan a longer vacation to get it all done over the course of your entire stay. It seems like the difference is that it feels neccessary to stay longer just to get everything done.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Don't forget that the price structure for MYW tickets has always encouraged longer stays as opposed to longer days. This is an extension of that mindset (i.e., locking guests in for more days). Do a little bit each day in the parks, but plan a longer vacation to get it all done over the course of your entire stay. It seems like the difference is that it feels neccessary to stay longer just to get everything done.

Good point. That's exactly what they want and they are doing everything they can to try to force customers into that pattern.

Speaking of length of trip, I think they are very concerned about losing days. We just got back from a week-long split trip, Uni and Disney. We received a survey this week that wanted to know how many days we were in Orlando, how many days we spent at Disney, and what parks we visited in Orlando, with a list of all of the parks, WDW, Uni, SW, etc. They also wanted to know where we stayed since I guess they could figure out we didn't stay onsite.

 

[LSUfan4444]

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.

What else needs to be read in this thread other than the first sentence? OP's mind was made up a year before their trip that it was going to be ruined.

 

[isabellea]

I was also at WDW early August and haven't waited more than 20 minutes for anything. On August 5th at MK we did everything we wanted (sometimes twice) and our longest wait was Jungle Cruise FP+ line. Okay we didn't do the big mountains but we pretty much did everything else! The key that day was rope drop. We had a pre-opening ADR at CRT and when the crowd went to 7DMT and A&E we went to Peter Pan. Before 10:30am we had done PP, Pooh, M&G with Ariel, Under the Sea, Barnstormer twice and Dumbo. No FP+ for any of those. Total we used 5FP+ that day: A&E, Belle, Jungle Cruise, Speedway and Buzz. I personally like FP+ and I hope they don't start to charge for them. I would change the system slightly to allow additional FP+ by phone because the kiosk do suck.