Really Not Wanting To Do Disney Now With FP+ being introduced

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by rvoice100

Are there no normal fastpass machines now?

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The old, 'normal' fastpass machines are now all gone from all parks. The old paper fastpass system is no more.

Originally Posted by rvoice100

Are the normal queues going to be huge now if so many people can pre book?

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I believe, and Disney says, that the normal standby queues will be no longer - and probably no shorter - than they were before. The number of people allocated to the fastpass queues will probably be no different now than it was before.

Originally Posted by rvoice100

Any idea when the fastpass+ will be available to everyone and not just guests?

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The Fastpass+ system is available to everyone now! All guests now use the new Fastpass+ system. However, onsite guests can prebook their FP+s up to 60 days beforehand whereas offsite guests can currently only book their FP+s on the day.

[Guest]

I have read somewhere else that fast pass + for offsite guests booking via the app will hopefully be up and running by late march but I can't say how true this is until i see more proof

[tonymc]

Like the OP, I am also having serious misgivings about the new FP+ system in it's current format.

In previous years, even during August, we have regularly used 7 or 8 FPs in a day. Admittedly, we tended to make sure we visited the "least busy" parks on any given day, and as a result, found that even at MK it was still possible to be issued FPs at 9pm for a return time within the hour for rides such as Big Thunder/Space Mountains, Buzz Lightyear etc.

In addition, we found that on the odd occasions we took advantage of morning EMH in a park, we would them hop to another "less busy" (by the guides) park, where again we found we could obtain FPs with a reasonable return window.

However, the current FP+ of limiting to three FPs, only a single "tier 1" ride in those, and being unable to get FPs at a second park the same day, just does not seem workable to us. We have always been pleased at the amount of rides we have been able to get done in the Disney parks compared to other parks, merely by understanding the old FP system and taking advantage of it.

I had voiced my concerns to Disney back in December, but only got a response when I chased them up earlier this week. I had a call from a "Guest Experience Services" CM, and the impression I was getting was that all Disney staff have been told to project the vision that FP+ is the best thing since sliced bread etc etc.

Despite the potential problems that the FP+ system in it's current format would cause us as noted above, I was told that the benefits linked with MDE were having everything on one ticket/band etc, you could book your FP+ times in advance (thereby being even more restrictive than having to plan your ADRs in advance), there would be far more rides available to choose FPs for (but conveniently forgetting that no-one will be able to FP say Soarin' and Test Track in EPCOT on the same day), character meetings would be possible (not something we would be bothered with), and you wouldn't need to carry a credit card around with you (again conveniently forgetting that previously on-site guests could link a credit card to their room key to charge to).

I was also told that there had been good feedback about the new system - all fine and well at quiet times, but as has been mentioned in other posts, how will it be come June with the US school holidays, and then into July/August with UK visitors also joining the scrum!

It was mentioned that the system is still in it's Beta testing phase, and that it is possible that the system may be changed/tweaked in light of experience, so there may be a glimmer of hope.

To me, given that the cost of a stay at OKW has increased by some 75% between our stay in 2010 and this year (albeit acknowledging that the exchange rate has had an impact on prices), we are actually being given less for more money - not an ideal advertising line I suspect! The irony was, like a number of others posted, receiving a glossy flyer from WDW extolling the new system.

Right - rant over. Off to book our final ADRs for what may be our last visit...

[Worrypenny]

When we went last month we were able to book our Fast passes for the week via MDE app. After we arrived and swapped our VH voucher for our 7 day ultimate tickets, we scanned them into the app. It recognised the tickets and we were able to plan the whole weeks' fast pass+ . We could also change rides/times on the go. We didn't go near a kiosk once and never had any problems.
Admittedly, it's not 60 days in advance but it meant we could still plan our short visit in conjunction with weather reports and the busy day guide.
Hope this information is useful.

[tonymc]

Having just been checking over a few things in our itinerary, I have also realised that a possible underlying factor in Disney only allowing 3FPs/day is that people will then be forced to spend more days in the Disney parks so that they can make best use of their 3FPs.

For example, a 14 day ticket would in theory give you 42FPs over the course of the holiday. However, that assumes you are wanting to visit a park every day. For us, we have two days planned in St Augustine, and day at Universal, and a couple of days in water parks, thereby reducing our FPs by 15.

Again, I'm failing to see this as a "benefit" as Disney keep telling us. TBH, it seems as if the new system is mainly for the benefit of the Operations Teams within Disney to allow them to utilise staff more efficiently (i.e. do it with less staff), and also to please the bean counters by forcing more people to stay in the parks and hence spend more.. However, I really do hope that my negative perceptions of the new system are proved wrong when we visit.

[Guest]

I'm glad I'm not returning this year. I remain to be convinced that this will be anything other than a detriment to my Disney enjoyment in the future. I have to go in peak summer and I stay off site. got no intentions of staying on site at any point in the future. I'll watch developments this summer with interest.

[shedenuk]

We are staying off site and our MDE is saying we can start booking fastpasses on 9th May. I will see what it's like but It certainly won't put me off doing Disney.

[sophiepop]

I must have had my blinkers on when this new systems happened!

How does it work if I just buy one day Disney ticket? We do a day at magic kingdom and buy it the day before at dtd. How do I book my fp's and do I really only get 3

Thanks

[TractorBoy]

We stay on site and will be there in March/April. We have already done the fastpasses for our stay. 3 a day is fine by us, it enables us to book the rides we really like and want to go on. If walking round we are able to go on others then fine but will most definitely not be losing any sleep if we cannot.

As for doing other things outside of the parks that is not a problem for us as all we have done is book the passes for later in the day/evening which enables us to go somewhere else or shopping or a game of golf.

If passes are booked for the morning then all we will do is hit the rides booked and then leave and do something else and come back later for the fireworks/parades

[themeparksandy]

I don't like the fact that you can't use 3 fast passes for any ride in 1 park.

Like In Sept 2011 at Epcot only Test track and Soarin had a queue over 30 mins long. Mission Space Green side 5 mins and Orange side 15 mins. The rest of future world attractions were walk on. The boat ride had a queue in Epcot but I heard that was down to problems with the doors to the theatre.
So FP+ should include all Epcot attractions to choice.
I can understand at MK as they have lots of E ticket attractions. But I hate that you can't pick the 3 most busy attractions at the park. Like I did with the old system.