Any Reformed FP- Uber Users Who Have Embraced FP+ ?

[Laketravis]

Ah! FINALLY we can see the elusive yet successful strategy the Kidd recommends!

Although I'm really curious how he was able to walk on any attraction without FP the week between Christmas and New Year's after dinner in the parks? Must be magic!!

At Disney, our strategy was this: go early and ride mid-level rides SB during the first two hours. No lines. At mid-day, use a couple FP on headliners (no waits), see a show, and eat lunch. Skedaddle by 1:00 or 2:00 for a relaxing swim/break at hotel. Return in early evening to use additional headliner FP (no wait) and eat dinner. Late evening ride more low/mid-level rides, which would by then be walk-ons. This worked really well for us (at low crowd times) - we walked on to almost everything with no wait at all, and NEVER waited in line more than 10-15 minutes, that only on very rare occasions (Soarin' for example, where there is a bit of a wait even with FP). Granted, we are the type of people who like to do a variety of things throughout the day, not just ride three headliners over and over. This strategy worked really well for us..

This exact strategy works for us, with the same results, but during the busiest time of year. Did it in July and between Christmas and New Years and it worked like a charm. We would actually hit headliners at rope drop, and often hop to a different park later in the day with FP+ in hand.

And so, based on this next comment, I think we can all rest assured that your sweeping generalizations above are completely accurate and not intended to mislead people. Because they deserve better.

I just don't like it when I feel someone is purposefully trying to mislead people with sweeping generalizations that may not be true. The membership here deserves better.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Kidd, you seriously miss the point. I haven't complained about spending two weeks at WDW, and I certainly didn't state that I didn't enjoy them. I simply explained why I felt it was necessary to spend more time at WDW, and that was so we could justify the value for us.

Fair enough, you have my apologies. You obviously still enjoy WDW, however you feel compelled to do it. I think it's fair to say you feel the FP+ systems has far more drawbacks than benefits? It should be somewhat encouraging to people planning trips to WDW to know that you actually want to spend more time, as opposed to less, touring parks you love using such a flawed system. I respect that.

 

[Suvadoo]

You don't have to defend how you feel.

But you keep going back to: I'm glad it works for you, but it doesn't for me.

It works the same for both of us. We can both use it exactly the same. It does not systematically work better for me than anyone else. It is just a system. If it was malfunctioning the day you were there, then yes that would be one thing. Then you could say the system did not work for you. But it was there, and open to be used by you - to the same full extent that it was there to be used by me.

If you are leaving in Surrender, is your goal to simply keep going to WDW, and keep leaving in Surrender? Is that what you want? Do you not want to get to the root of why some people can ride headliners multiple times but you are leaving in surrender? I don't really care. But you're posting in a strategies forum. So you have to expect people to offer strategies on how to improve touring the attractions.

And if you assert that because you didn't get on a lot, that one cannot get on a lot and that FP+ is the reason, then I will challenge it, because FP+ can get you on a lot, if you choose to do so instead of leaving in surrender.

It is not a board to just posit "I don't like it, and I don't care to improve it or get more out of it I just want to voice that I don't like it". Especially if you reiterate the same sentiment in several threads talking about how to get more out of FP+.

You seem to be obsessed with telling me that my perceptions of FP+ are wrong. Why is that? I'm not trying to tell you that you're wrong nor am I trying to dissect the reasons you feel as you do.
Now that I've quoted what I previously posted, you want to pick apart my logic. These are my opinions and my experiences, I am not trying to make you or anyone else agree with me. Why can't you extend the same courtesy to me?

 

[DisneyKidds]

What's so hard to understand? HE DOESN'T LIKE IT. Who cares why? Why invest so much energy trying to prove/disprove (on both sides). Just get over it already. Use it, don't use it, like it, don't like it...whatever. Just let go of the bone already.

Good advice, I thank you for that. At the end of the day I don't care if Lake likes it or not. He's critical, but he has actually extended his stays, so it can't be that bad.

I just don't like it when I feel someone is purposefully trying to mislead people with sweeping generalizations that may not be true. The membership here deserves better.

 

[Suvadoo]

Plus you have to consider that even if park attendance is up by 5%, that doesn't mean that it happened evenly across every week of the year.

I contend that the greatest change that has happened in recent years has been the redistribution of crowds (to a certain degree) from higher (more expensive) seasons into the formerly slow (less expensive) seasons.

That seems very consistent with many of us who previously went at slow times complaining about how much worse it all is, while people going during the busiest seasons coming back saying "what's all the fuss about?"

Yup. that in combination with the Magic Kingdom being the only park that has anything new. I bet almost all WDW guests visit MK, but skip some of the other parks if their time is limited.

 

[Shaden]

Good advice, I thank you for that. At the end of the day I don't care if Lake likes it or not. He's critical, but he has actually extended his stays, so it can't be that bad.

I just don't like it when I feel someone is purposefully trying to mislead people with sweeping generalizations that may not be true. The membership here deserves better.

The fact that some people feel they need to extend their days, to get the same amount out of a trip, is precisely why some people think the system is bad ... so yes, it can be that bad.


But you have no problem with Fuzzy's comments above right ?

That you (meaning everyone) absolutely CAN get tons of stuff done, and have a great time, etc etc.

No consideration for families that can't tour all day, or can only go during absolute peak times, or have difficulty early rising, or have very limited numbers of days to travel or limited amounts of time in the parks, etc etc.

It appears you only have problems if people make a comment negatively about the system that you perceive as a generalization. I don't think I have ever seen you nit pick someone who posted something positive about WDW or the FP+ system.... maybe I missed it, that's entirely possible. I certainly don't read all your posts, but I sure have read a pretty solid sample. Not a single comment I can remember of you doing the same to someone with a positive review ... interesting that.

 

[MrInfinity]

You seem to be obsessed with telling me that my perceptions of FP+ are wrong. Why is that?

I have never said your perception is wrong! I'm a huge advocate of everyone's right to their own opinion.

But if you jump from your opinion of it being that it's bad, and that you could not use it to get on a lot of rides, to it is bad and it cannot be used to get on a lot of rides, you are over-generalizing and saying things that are not true.

FP+ definitely can be used effectively to get on a ton of rides.

Now if you wish to delve into why you have had less than satisfactory results, I'm happy to engage. If you prefer to just keep leaving the parks in surrender, more power to you. Just don't imply that this will be the norm, because most people come out here to find ways to beat these crowds not surrender to them.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Lake - no time to dig into the details of your spreadsheet right now, but it looks frightening familiar to the spreadsheets I used to keep!

I like the info though. One thing.....you gave us a spreadsheet (plan). You stated that you don't mind rope drop, and that you can close the park with the best of them. A lot about what you could do, but you still haven't told us what you actually DID do. I assume you must have had a day where you only did your 3 FP+ attractions, and then had long lines for every other attraction while you were there, otherwise why would you have made that statement. I've already put very specific details out there in various threads about what we actually did, which rides, in which order, and how long we waited, for both December 28 and December 30, when we did 12 to 15 attractions a day, not including parades and fireworks. Can you give us something like that for the day that led to your '3 and long lines for everything else' statement? I really think that is a fair question, and would be useful information for people planing their approach to a particular park.

 

[MrInfinity]

But you have no problem with Fuzzy's comments above right ? That you (meaning everyone) absolutely CAN get tons of stuff done, and have a great time, etc etc.

Do you disagree?

Would you say: "Because of FP+, one can no longer get tons of stuff done in a day at Disney World or have a great time."?

I'm guessing NO. You could not universally assert that with any sense of credibility, since clearly millions of people are going and having a great time.

No consideration for families that can't tour all day, or can only go during absolute peak times, or have difficulty early rising, or have very limited numbers of days to travel or limited amounts of time in the parks, etc etc.

Seriously? I travel with 4 kids under 12. Twice we've had a baby in a stroller and had to deal w the stroller lots, midday naps, feedings, diapers, etc. I've travelled during some busy times... And difficulty rising did I mention we travel with 4 kids to get up and dressed? Do you realize how "mom I'm hungry" impacts your morning rope drop strategy? You just have to improvise a lot.

 

[DisneyKidds]

But you have no problem with Fuzzy's comments above right ? That you (meaning everyone) absolutely CAN get tons of stuff done, and have a great time, etc etc.

Not quite. Sure, everyone absolutely CAN (of course barring unusual circumstances beyond our control, or physical or mental limitations, or a myriad of things that might not apply to the majority of guests), but they may not have a great time if they don't like what they have to do to accomplish it. But they could. The FP+ system doesn't necessarily prevent them. I can lead any horse to water, but it doesn't mean they will like the taste when they drink it!

But guess what, for someone who doesn't like to get up early and stay late, the results under FP+ might be a little worse (primarily longer SB lines for mid level attractions), but they may not have been that great under FP- either.

 

[Laketravis]

I like the info though. One thing.....you gave us a spreadsheet (plan). You stated that you don't mind rope drop, and that you can close the park with the best of them. A lot about what you could do, but you still haven't told us what you actually DID do.

Ahh, but Kidd - that wasn't the deal. It's not about what I actually did, it's about what you recommend I should have done, remember?

In terms of rope drop and closing the parks, you can safely assume from my plan that the days that don't say "sleep late" means we did rope drop. And the nights preceding those days that say "sleep late" we closed the parks past midnight. Other nights, we stayed late enough for parades/fireworks.

As for the rest, it should be fairly easy for you to pull archives on TP and point me in the direction of those evening walk-on attractions during a busy holiday period that you said are the results of your successful strategy.

A slight twist, though - you'll notice that some days don't have FP scheduled on this particular plan version. That's because we only had 10 day park hoppers ahead of time. But we were staying for longer than that, and well - you know - MDE will only let you schedule for as many days as your tickets are for. Darn complications. So we planned on upgrading to AP's while there (thus the reminder note on one of the days) so that we could then schedule FP's for those days we previously couldn't.

Of course, that meant having to do so with little if any advance so the selections were quite limited at the time.

But regardless, not to complicate the task for you - simply assume that each day we were able to obtain 3 FP's for what we wanted at times that were strategically correct. I'm anxious to see what your recommendations are for those walk on attractions without an FP we must have overlooked after dinner in the parks!

And thanks for acknowledging my effort to provide clear, distinct information - I was actually responding to Fuzzy who seems to have conveniently missed my post based on his lack of response.

 

[Suvadoo]

I have never said your perception is wrong! I'm a huge advocate of everyone's right to their own opinion.

But if you jump from your opinion of it being that it's bad, and that you could not use it to get on a lot of rides, to it is bad and it cannot be used to get on a lot of rides, you are over-generalizing and saying things that are not true.

FP+ definitely can be used effectively to get on a ton of rides.

Now if you wish to delve into why you have had less than satisfactory results, I'm happy to engage. If you prefer to just keep leaving the parks in surrender, more power to you. Just don't imply that this will be the norm, because most people come out here to find ways to beat these crowds not surrender to them.

I never implied this was the norm for everyone! I was only speaking for myself. How many times do I have to keep saying the same thing? My posts reflect my thoughts and opinions, no one else's. I can't believe how hard you are trying to undermine what I have to say.

 

[jade1]

No consideration for families that can't tour all day, or can only go during absolute peak times, or have difficulty early rising, or have very limited numbers of days to travel or limited amounts of time in the parks, etc etc.

Sorry to sneak in here-but I have posted also at nauseum how much better FP+ was for us absolute peak time and not arriving early in the day. FP- would have been long gone and 100 minute waits.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

Its not! its really really not. Your trip will not suck if you are not there at the crack of dawn. Your family won't hate you if they miss something if youre realistic and still plan fun activities.

 

[Laketravis]

Sorry to sneak in here-but I have posted also at nauseum how much better FP+ was for us absolute peak time and not arriving early in the day. FP- would have been long gone and 100 minute waits.

I totally agree with that, and think that is the greatest strength of being able to reserve in advance for just about any time of the day. So if arriving at Epcot on New Year's Eve and being able to enjoy Test Track, Mission Space, and Figment (or Nemo, or EO, or Living with the Land - pick one) with virtually no wait is success for you, more power to you!!

 

[supersnoop]

Hey neighbor! We're pretty close here in central TX.

...

Case in point - if crowds at WDW have increased dramatically, where is the corresponding dramatic increase in Tier One standby wait times? There isn't.

Howdy, neighbor.

In this case, isn't there some top threshold where people just stop getting in line; where the wait time alone drives people from Tier One rides over to the historically lower wait rides? I've routinely seen Tier One wait times posted higher than actual, and I've assumed Disney does that specifically to drive people to other rides. I think much of the increased wait times can be attributed to attendance and capacity controls, more so than FP+

Personally, we knew how to work the old FP system. We were really big on stretching the return times, since they accepted "expired" fast pass tickets for the whole rest of the day. Since using FP+ for our last two trips, I've found that I feel like I didn't accomplish as much, but, when I review what we were able to get done, we've done more. On 12/30, one of the busiest days of the year, we rode 12 rides, including Space Mountain twice and all three of our FP+, all before our 11:30 a.m. lunch reservation. On the way to lunch, I was able to pick up our fourth FP+, and, if I remember correctly, we grabbed a fifth after that.

So, in my experience, the perception just plain doesn't match reality. We're doing as much or more as we did before.

 

[HollieS]

Anyone have their spreadsheet plan from a FP- stay? that you enjoyed

and a plan under fp+ that also worked for you



Keeping with the theme of "people who have adapted from one style to the other"

 

[Laketravis]

Howdy, neighbor.

In this case, isn't there some top threshold where people just stop getting in line; where the wait time alone drives people from Tier One rides over to the historically lower wait rides?

I'd like to think that's the case, but it's a psychological fact that long lines beget longer lines.

I saw 100 minutes SB/50 minute single rider waits for Test Track, 60 minute wait times for Spaceship Earth the week after Thanksgiving, and they weren't overstated. And the park wasn't any more crowded than I've seen in the past. In fact, it actually seemed less crowded and I attributed that to everyone being in a line.

Personally I never could understand why anyone would wait in line for an hour for something that only lasts a fraction of that time, but they do. And during the busiest of times? A three hour wait for Test Track or Soarin? No thanks.

 

[Laketravis]

Anyone have their spreadsheet plan from a FP- stay? that you enjoyed

and a plan under fp+ that also worked for you



Keeping with the theme of "people who have adapted from one style to the other"

I posted my two-week itinerary from last month in a recent post; while I don't still have a copy of one from our past one-week stays, this one provided the same level of enjoyment for us that previously only required one week. I'd say we adapted

 

[Love Tink]

Its not! its really really not. Your trip will not suck if you are not there at the crack of dawn. Your family won't hate you if they miss something if youre realistic and still plan fun activities.

My family does not consider 8:45am the crack of dawn. In fact, it seems bizarre to me that anyone does.

We also don't consider rope drop a punishment. It's awesome.