FP+ is now completely worthless if you are staying offsite.

[ArwenMarie]

That stinks, it really does.

What did you get in the other parks?

 

[tony67]

I really don't see an issue with Disney giving more options to those staying on site, but I think they need to throttle the FPs so there are a few available at the 30 day mark.

Maybe 20-25% at the 30 day mark and those staying offsite and onsite would then have access to those.

Then maybe another 10% available day of.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I really don't see an issue with Disney giving more options to those staying on site, but I think they need to throttle the FPs so there are a few available at the 30 day mark.

Maybe 20-25% at the 30 day mark and those staying offsite and onsite would then have access to those.

Then maybe another 10% available day of.

Yeah, but if they have onsite customers booking at 60 days, I don't think that they are going to want to hold any back at that point, as they risk people canceling if they don't get a good selection.

This also might be why they are doing these no standby-line tests...to free up that capacity for pre-booking.

 

[tony67]

Yeah, but if they have onsite customers booking at 60 days, I don't think that they are going to want to hold any back at that point, as they risk people canceling if they don't get a good selection.

This also might be why they are doing these no standby-line tests...to free up that capacity for pre-booking.

Yeah, but they are also being a bit short sighted here.
I talk to more and more people at work and in pubs that see no reason to go back to Disney ever. They did their one trip and they did not enjoy it. Not specifically because of FP+, but just unhappy with the whole experience in general.
I also talk to more and more people doing a Universal only weekend trips from Boston and NY.

If people can't get a FP and then go and can't even wait in line for ride they will think twice about going to Disney again. I'm sure the people that were told they could not wait in line for TSM will think twice about going back. I'm sure the people that don;t even know this site exists who show up and are told they can;t wait in line for BOG will think twice about going back. I'm sure people who show up at a half empty restaurant and are told there are no tables available (there have been comments of some restaurants are not taking walk ins even though there is availability on the app) will think twice about going back.

I'm 90% sure I'll be skipping F&W next year and doing a Universal only long weekend and I've been to every F&W at Epcot and to Disney at least 30 times over the last 20 years.

The bean counting penny pinchers have ruined Disney IMO, from food to FPs.

I'm sure Kool-Aid man will show up now and say "Oh yeah! Good riddance - more FPs for me!"

 

[ilovebassets]

Disney must make soooo much more money from the people that stay on site vs the people that stay off. More than half our total vacation amount is paying for on site lodging and everything that goes with that (golf cart rental, grocery supplies, extra meals on site, extra recreation like mini golf, camping stuff like smores). It's purely a business decision for Disney to keep the people that give them the most money the happiest.

When attendance starts dropping because people are so unhappy about their trips, then Disney will change things. But why would they change anything right now with record high attendance?

And as others have said, it's not like you can't do those extra popular attractions. Rare exception notwithstanding, standby lines are always available.

 

[StarWarsJez]

I can certainly empathise with you I hate FP+ because it makes non on-site holiday makers feel like second class guests as you are effectively screened out if the top top attractions.

Like you I don't have the time to check back twenty times a day to see if an attraction magically become available. As an experiment this year I did check back 20 times over a 2-week period for Anna/Elsa and 7DMT and never got a sniff.

We queued for 7DMT yesterday morning first thing (although found out that hotel guests had been allowed in for a bonus EMM which wasn't on Disney's site/MDE - thanks for nothing Disney!) and it took 45mins which was okay - although WOW what a disappointing ride!

I think I hate FP+ most though as Disney has spent a ridululous amount of money on an 'administration' system, INSTEAD of improving the attractions in it's parks. It's sad that they saw a greater return on investment from FP+ than on building some sorely needed attractions in AK, DS and EP

 

[Abdul Saleem]

Seems like Disney has a thing against big families that have to stay offsite because onsite accommodations are not available. One of my wives is set to have twins and that will leave us no choice but to stay elsewhere.

 

[kalc12345]

Even if you are staying on-site you may not get a FP for the top attractions. They go quickly!!

My problem is having to plan every minute of my vacation. It is a VACATION for heavens sake!! I take a vacation to get away from schedules. I hate all the changes Disney is making. This upcoming trip will probably be our last for a while.

 

[cakebaker]

Big surprise. Really. OMG I didn't see this coming at all!!!!! Its my 30 day window, I sign in for my fast pass selections at midnight eastern time, but lo and behold everything good has "ended for the day".
This includes:
1. 7DMT
2. Meet and Greet with Anna and Elsa
3. Enchanted Tales with Belle
4. Main Street Electrical Parade
5. Festival of Fantasy Parade

So basically, unless you stay onsite, you will not get fast passes to anything really good, because the onsite peeps with their 60 day window get to pick and choose first. So now, after 9 years of multiple Disney trips a year, I am left with the left overs.

Later baby. This is our last Disney trip. It was fun. Now it just sucks, and its a waste of money. Maybe we will manage to receive some leftover scraps and my daughter will be able to meet Anna and Elsa at the Christmas party or something.

Your ride problems can be solved by doing rope drop. There's really no need for a fp for MSEP or FFP, there are lots of places to watch this from. It's a huge overstatement to say that because 4 things you wanted weren't available, out of all the things there are to to at WDW, that you can't get anything.


But, bottom line is people staying on site pay a fortune to be there or put up with less than wonderful hotels in order to get the perks of being on site. You on the other hand, get to the perk of paying much less for what can be much better accommodations. Can't have it all.

 

[Texas Barbie]

It is possible to get those FP by checking back. I couldn't find much at my 60 day window, did not stay up til midnight, but checked at 32 days out and got 7DMT and MSEP.

I think what will affect Disney's attendance will not be fp+ but ebola. Not necessarily the parks, but the plane travel.

 

[cakebaker]

Seems like Disney has a thing against big families that have to stay offsite because onsite accommodations are not available. One of my wives is set to have twins and that will leave us no choice but to stay elsewhere.

Not sure how many people are in your family, but Disney has accommodations that can sleep quite a few in one room- Some are pricey, but they are there.

But true, Disney has not build on site condos or homes that can house dozens of people. I doubt they have enough demand to justify that.

 

[tony67]

It is a VACATION for heavens sake!! I take a vacation to get away from schedules. I hate all the changes Disney is making. This upcoming trip will probably be our last for a while.

So true - there is enough stress in our everyday lives already and now people are stressing about what ride they will do in 60 days or where they will eat in 180 days.

It no longer feels like a vacation to me.

 

[StarWarsJez]

My problem is having to plan every minute of my vacation. It is a VACATION for heavens sake!! I take a vacation to get away from schedules. I hate all the changes Disney is making. This upcoming trip will probably be our last for a while.

100% agree, we hate the level of pre-planning FP+ expects.

We normally go in the Summer but this year we decided to delay till October so it was quieter - but seemed as busy as our last time (July 2013 so no FP+)

I feel this will be our last trip to Disney for a few years. It certainly seem to us like FP+ has made normal standby lanes longer.

 

[Suvadoo]

Universal charges for their Express Pass system and Cedar Fair charges for their Fast Lane system. As far as I'm aware, Disney remains the only one that offers this service at no extra charge.

Disney charges a lot more for their tickets, so I think the cost of FP+ is built in to the ticket price.

 

[Networth]

You pay more. You get more. Seems pretty straight forward and fair to me?

Not that I like the system but I understand the point of 30/60, they want you to stay on-site hence the "perk". They have been trying to get guests to stay longer on-site since at least the late 80s

 

[Suvadoo]

You pay more. You get more. Seems pretty straight forward and fair to me?

Not that I like the system but I understand the point of 30/60, they want you to stay on-site hence the "perk". They have been trying to get guests to stay longer on-site since at least the late 80s

At this point, I think a lot of people are feeling that they're not "getting more". Nowadays, if you really want "more" I think you have to stay on site and attend additional hard ticket events. I know there are plenty of people that are willing to do this and think it's worth every penny.
I'm just not one of them.

 

[scottandtisha]

As far as I'm aware, Disney remains the only one that offers this service at no extra charge.

Actually, I disagree. I'm staying offsite in a 2BR condo for $600/wk. To get something REMOTELY close to this at Disney, I'd have to pay at least $300/night (a VERY conservative estimate). So, they will offer me the FP+ service 60 days out for a mere $1500 add'l charge.

I get what they're doing, but the cost difference is too extreme. I'd be willing to pay extra to get the larger booking window ... not $1500 extra.

 

[moobar25]

Seems like Disney has a thing against big families that have to stay offsite because onsite accommodations are not available. One of my wives is set to have twins and that will leave us no choice but to stay elsewhere.

Not sure how many wives or kids you have but there are the 3 bedroom villas. Those sleep 12 people plus kids under 3yo don't count. These r located at Bay Lake Tower, Boardwalk, Grand Floridian, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Saratoga Springs.

 

[cakebaker]

Disney charges a lot more for their tickets, so I think the cost of FP+ is built in to the ticket price.

I only know Universal vs WDW but no, they don't charge a lot more. They're actually cheaper when you compare ftl vs fp+.

A 1 day, 1 park ticket at Universal is $96. Two parks is $136 and that's without the ftl added in. Add ftl pass that isn't valid for some of the most popular attractions is $190.

1 day MK ticket-$99, add park hopper option to get 4 parks- 143. That's with fp+ of course.

So actually, WDW is cheaper.

 

[cakebaker]

Actually, I disagree. I'm staying offsite in a 2BR condo for $600/wk. To get something REMOTELY close to this at Disney, I'd have to pay at least $300/night (a VERY conservative estimate). So, they will offer me the FP+ service 60 days out for a mere $1500 add'l charge.

I get what they're doing, but the cost difference is too extreme. I'd be willing to pay extra to get the larger booking window ... not $1500 extra.

$300 doesn't come close to what a condo like resort would cost

But you get the choice- pay what it costs to get what they offer, or don't. That's what on site guests do. You don't get the $600 a week condo AND all the perks.