I can't stand booking fast passes months in advance!!!!!

[JasonP]

That is all. Needed to scream that. My wife doesn't understand. Absolutely insane that you have to book rides and meet and greets.....

 

[Tuvalu]

No, that would be the ADR. So many restaurants now have 2 or even 5 (!) day cancelation policies! That escalated quickly.

Sorry, but no.

Fantasmic! dining package--I received this:
Payment and Cancellation Policy
There is a 2-day cancellation policy and a $10 per person charge if you cancel within 2 days of the reservation or are a "no show" for the reservation.
Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party, I received this:

Payment and Cancellation Policy
There is a 5-day cancellation policy and a full price charge if you cancel within 5 days of the reservation or are a "no show" for the reservation.

Your initial post implied that "so many restaurants" now have 2 or 5 day cancellation policies. In reality, it is the Fantasmic dining package and Tomorrowland dessert party, which fall under a "special event" category, which is clearly spelled out at the time of booking.

Booking a regular ADR for breakfast, lunch or dinner (not part of a package or special) has only a 24 hour cancellation stipulation. Most ADRs fall into this category.

I prefer not to exhort people to worry about issues that likely do not affect them.

 

[KLinder7]

Yes it's crazy, but you can also find some comfort knowing the ride you want to go on the most is reserved for you. Just have to be willing to play the game that is called FP+

 

[ToTBellHop]

Your initial post implied that "so many restaurants" now have 2 or 5 day cancellation policies. In reality, it is the Fantasmic dining package and Tomorrowland dessert party, which fall under a "special event" category, which is clearly spelled out at the time of booking.

Booking a regular ADR for breakfast, lunch or dinner (not part of a package or special) has only a 24 hour cancellation stipulation. Most ADRs fall into this category.

I prefer not to exhort people to worry about issues that likely do not affect them.

Fair enough, and I was surely hyperbolic, though to be fair, lots of people would be affected by the expanded cancelation windows since the Wishes Dessert Party and Fantasmic Dining Package are very popular (and were 2 of my 5 ADRs, so to me, it seemed like "a lot"). When I went to the Wishes Dessert Party in 2013, it wasn't a 5-day cancelation window. Now it is. Hopefully, you trust the weather forecast 5 days out. A change in forecast last month created an issue for us, but we were able to use the current loop-hole that if you reschedule an ADR within the cancelation window, there's no penalty (and luckily there just happened to be an opening for 2 days later). A lot of that depends on how nice your agent it. I've hung up on a mean agent in the past over the cancelation policy (my sons had a stomach bug) and called back to get a more reasonable one.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Sorry, but no.

Fantasmic! dining package--I received this:
Payment and Cancellation Policy
There is a 2-day cancellation policy and a $10 per person charge if you cancel within 2 days of the reservation or are a "no show" for the reservation.
Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party, I received this:

Payment and Cancellation Policy
There is a 5-day cancellation policy and a full price charge if you cancel within 5 days of the reservation or are a "no show" for the reservation.

Neither the Fantasmic dining package nor the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party are what anybody is talking about when they discuss "ADRs", and I think you know that. It seems like you're just being difficult for difficulty's sake.

 

[sjhym333]

I am in the camp that believes that people worry too much about booking FP+. With the exception of the Frozen Meet and Greet I usually am able to get most of what I want to see a day before and many times the day of. Don't believe all the horror stories you have read about nothing is available. As a local and AP holder whose trips are always spur of the moment I find there are a lot of FP's available.

Having said that...you are going at Easter time. I would suggest that you get a general idea of what parks you may want to do on what days and take a few moments and grab some FP's. You know it is going to be busy, so why not do some preplanning and get FP's that you can always change or cancel once you get to the parks?

 

[ToTBellHop]

Neither the Fantasmic dining package nor the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party are what anybody is talking about when they discuss "ADRs", and I think you know that. It seems like you're just being difficult for difficulty's sake.

I would argue Disney is being difficult for difficulty's sake, and I consider anything that involves dining booked in advance to be an Advanced Dining Reservation. Maybe I'm being too literal, although I do get this message from Disney when I book the Fantasmic Package: "Thank you Kyle, your dining reservation is confirmed."

 

[rsoxguy]

Criticism of preconceived notions can be a delicate thing. One can be critical of an individual disliking the Fastpass system without having experienced it, yet no one would be critical if an individual were to state that they haven't experienced walking with a Winter coat through WDW in August and still hate the idea. Individual tastes sometimes require little more than a description for the sake of acceptance or rejection.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I would argue Disney is being difficult for difficulty's sake, and I consider anything that involves dining booked in advance to be an Advanced Dining Reservation. Maybe I'm being too literal, although I do get this message from Disney when I book the Fantasmic Package: "Thank you Kyle, your dining reservation is confirmed."

The Fatasmic package includes a dining reservation, but that's obviously not all it is.

The reason for the cancellation policy on those events is because there's a very limited capacity. People cancelling day-of or day-prior has a significant impact on Disney's ability to offer those spaces to other guests. Using desert party policies as commentary on dining reservations in general would be like complaining that Disney now makes you pick your park tickets for specific days because that's how MNSSHP tickets are sold.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Criticism of preconceived notions can be a delicate thing. One can be critical of an individual disliking the Fastpass system without having experienced it, yet no one would be critical if an individual were to state that they haven't experienced walking with a Winter coat through WDW in August and still hate the idea. Individual tastes sometimes require little more than a description for the sake of acceptance or rejection.

But your example is at least predicated on facts. I know I wouldn't like walking through WDW in a winter coat in August because 1) WDW is generally hot in August (fact), 2) winter coats warm you (fact), and 3) I am uncomfortable being warmed in an already-hot environment (fact). Much of the criticism of FP+ is based on the notion that same-day or day-before fastpasses are impossible to come by, which is not a fact.

 

[ToTBellHop]

The Fatasmic package includes a dining reservation, but that's obviously not all it is.

The reason for the cancellation policy on those events is because there's a very limited capacity. People cancelling day-of or day-prior has a significant impact on Disney's ability to offer those spaces to other guests. Using desert party policies as commentary on dining reservations in general would be like complaining that Disney now makes you pick your park tickets for specific days because that's how MNSSHP tickets are sold.

Agree to disagree then. Some of us like to defend clearly unreasonable policies from Disney more than others, but in the end, you are right--Disney can have policies like this because they are limited capacity dining opportunities and every seat will fill up even with a 3-year cancelation policy.

 

[rsoxguy]

But your example is at least predicated on facts. I know I wouldn't like walking through WDW in a winter coat in August because 1) WDW is generally hot in August (fact), 2) winter coats warm you (fact), and 3) I am uncomfortable being warmed in an already-hot environment (fact). Much of the criticism of FP+ is based on the notion that same-day or day-before fastpasses are impossible to come by, which is not a fact.

And someone else might say, "I really don't like having to reserve Fastpasses so far in advance because 1) I hate to plan a day so far in advance (can be a fact), 2) I hate the notion of having to plan a day meant to be relaxing around the need to get to a reserved event at a certain time (can be a fact).

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Some of us like to defend clearly unreasonable policies from Disney more than others...

If I go make any one of the following reservations for a year from now and then try to cancel ten seconds later, I'm going to pay a cancellation fee:

• Tickets on almost any airline
• Hotel room through any any online booking site
• Rental car through any online booking site

What you can an "unreasonable policy," I call "much MUCH better than the industry standard."

 

[CaptainAmerica]

And someone else might say, "I really don't like having to reserve Fastpasses so far in advance because 1) I hate to plan a day so far in advance (can be a fact), 2) I hate the notion of having to plan a day meant to be relaxing around the need to get to a reserved event at a certain time (can be a fact).

Both 1) and 2) are predicated by your opening clause "I really don't like having to reserve...", so both points can be tossed out the window. Fastpass+ is 100% optional and if you do choose to participate, you can participate right up to the very day you decide to enter a park.

 

[rsoxguy]

Both 1) and 2) are predicated by your opening clause "I really don't like having to reserve...", so both points can be tossed out the window. Fastpass+ is 100% optional and if you do choose to participate, you can participate right up to the very day you decide to enter a park.

You seem to miss my very simple point that someone should be free to dislike something based on a description and their personal tastes. Fastpasses reserved months in advance/ don't like the idea. In any case, I haven't stated my like or dislike because that isn't the point. You seem headstrong in defending the Fastpass reservation system, and that's alright. We are here to exchange ideas.

 

[sjhym333]

Same with dining reservations. The policy is pretty clear when you sign up about cancelling reservations. I don't get the idea of complaining about the cancellation policy after you have made reservations. If I don't like the policy I choose either to not make the reservations or I make pretty darn sure that as the reservation gets close to when I can cancel without penalty that I want to keep the reservation. It's not like Disney is trying to pull a fast one on its guests. They ask for a credit card # and inform about the cancellation policy.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

You seem to miss my very simple point that someone should be free to dislike something based on a description and their personal tastes. Fastpasses reserved months in advance/ don't like the idea. In any case, I haven't stated my like or dislike because that isn't the point. You seem headstrong in defending the Fastpass reservation system, and that's alright. We are here to exchange ideas.

I have no opinion on FP+ because I haven't yet used it after full rollout. I've only done testing. I'm just trying to point out that the "months in advance" thing is a myth.

These FP+ are available for TOMORROW, exactly one day from now. All mountains were also available.

 

[rsoxguy]

I have no opinion on FP+ because I haven't yet used it after full rollout. I've only done testing. I'm just trying to point out that the "months in advance" thing is a myth

By the by, my first post above within this thread had nothing to do with your posts. They were focused on earlier posts. In any case, we are all entitled to an opinion and I wish you well.

 

[sjhym333]

I have no opinion on FP+ because I haven't yet used it after full rollout. I've only done testing. I'm just trying to point out that the "months in advance" thing is a myth.

These FP+ are available for TOMORROW, exactly one day from now. All mountains were also available.

THIS!!! I was able to get Anna and Elsa yesterday also.

 

[erasure fan1]

I have no opinion on FP+ because I haven't yet used it after full rollout. I've only done testing. I'm just trying to point out that the "months in advance" thing is a myth.

These FP+ are available for TOMORROW, exactly one day from now. All mountains were also available.

THIS!!! I was able to get Anna and Elsa yesterday also.

Could you do me a solid and see if you can get 7dmt and Anna & Elsa for my trip last summer? Oh wait, you can't because they didn't have them a month out from my trip (let alone the day before). We all get you don't HAVE to plan that far out. But if you think I'm going to take my chances with my now $1700 tickets for our trip this summer, you are nuts. So what choice do I have? I either plan the max time out or roll the dice. Seems like a pretty easy choice.

 

[TotalOrlando]

We personally love Fastpass+, but that's because we've learned how to make best use of it over the last year.
But when we think back to those ever so magical first visits to WDW, we can't help think that this definitely knocks that ability to explore and enjoy almost completely on the head!
No first timer can be prepared for what's in store unless they've done a ton of research!
Can you imagine turning up at a theme park and realizing that one of the restaurants your kids wanted to visit was booked 6 months ago?