Limiting all guests to 3 FP+ choices per day

[jlsHouston]

Thank you for contacting WDW - I also sent an email to guest services. 3 is def. not remotely close to what is available now. If it's not broke - don't fix it.

Someone had made a comment about Epcot and said to get FP for Soarin and Nemo - and to do TT as single rider. Ha. The line at Nemo goes fast no matter what time of year you are there, no need for FP - and I'm sorry, I don't want my 9 year old going in the single rider lane at TT...I want him to ride with an adult - or at least his big brother.

That was me, and you are probably right about Nemo, it was walk on over Thanksgiving and it was one of my FP+ choices namely because it was near Soaring not because it was worth the the FP...and I agree if single rider for TT is for a child I would be reluctant to go that route too. And herein lies the crap of the tiers at Epcot and HS...and then add that you can only do 3 FP+ a day and only 1 park.

Honestly once you pick your favorite e ticket ride for your FP+ at Epcot, it doesn't matter much how you pick the others. My grandkids are 7 and 9 and have done single rider on RnR, my daughter started them young so I wouldn't be hesitant about them as single rider on TT but had my daughter not exposed them to the roller coasters in such a manner at such young ages, I personally would never put them on TT or RnR or EE as a single rider until they were over 11....

Overall I think all of us that visit the parks regularly and have achieved success using the paper FP's are really dismayed at what FP+ is doing to direct and limit our park experiences.

 

[packerfan12]

That was me, and you are probably right about Nemo, it was walk on over Thanksgiving and it was one of my FP+ choices namely because it was near Soaring not because it was worth the the FP...and I agree if single rider for TT is for a child I would be reluctant to go that route too. And herein lies the crap of the tiers at Epcot and HS...and then add that you can only do 3 FP+ a day and only 1 park.

Honestly once you pick your favorite e ticket ride for your FP+ at Epcot, it doesn't matter much how you pick the others. My grandkids are 7 and 9 and have done single rider on RnR, my daughter started them young so I wouldn't be hesitant about them as single rider on TT but had my daughter not exposed them to the roller coasters in such a manner at such young ages, I personally would never put them on TT or RnR or EE as a single rider until they were over 11....

Overall I think all of us that visit the parks regularly and have achieved success using the paper FP's are really dismayed at what FP+ is doing to direct and limit our park experiences.

I don't understand the selection process. This is my first day of playing around with it as we within less than 60 days - so it just became available to access. What is an "e" ticket? Is that just the sign up online? What they send to your magic bracelet? My kids are 9 and 11 and have been riding coasters since they were 3 and soon as they were tall enough. They are also short for their age, so I still hesitate - but we could try it once and see how it goes - if I wait at the exit line. I'm still flabbergasted at this process. Even now - with fast pass the way it has been - wait times can be 90 minutes for some rides. So imagine all the people NOT in those lines because they are holding onto the fast pass - now they will also be in the line - making it what? A 3 hour wait time? Even with it being the most magical place on earth - I don't know if it's worth it to spend 3/4 of my day standing in line just to ride a few things. I know I sound horrible. I'm sorry to be the wet blanket. Like I said, just got our info on the fast plus recently and am still trying to digest it. Thanks for tips and advice.

 

[jlsHouston]

I don't understand the selection process. This is my first day of playing around with it as we within less than 60 days - so it just became available to access. What is an "e" ticket? Is that just the sign up online? What they send to your magic bracelet? My kids are 9 and 11 and have been riding coasters since they were 3 and soon as they were tall enough. They are also short for their age, so I still hesitate - but we could try it once and see how it goes - if I wait at the exit line. I'm still flabbergasted at this process. Even now - with fast pass the way it has been - wait times can be 90 minutes for some rides. So imagine all the people NOT in those lines because they are holding onto the fast pass - now they will also be in the line - making it what? A 3 hour wait time? Even with it being the most magical place on earth - I don't know if it's worth it to spend 3/4 of my day standing in line just to ride a few things. I know I sound horrible. I'm sorry to be the wet blanket. Like I said, just got our info on the fast plus recently and am still trying to digest it. Thanks for tips and advice.

Well I'm not the brightest lightbulb touring WDW, I am relatively new to the vacation experience. We first went back in 2011. I didn't figure out the FP system, my park commando daughter did....and I never saw a short heavy girl pushing a double stroller move as fast as her through MK on peak park days...that girl amazes me how much she can do and see with 2 kids in tow (they are no longer provided a rental stroller). Only @coachwnh and his family are more amazing in how much they can do and see in a day at WDW..haha

Basically back in November was the first time I used the magic bands and did the FP+ selections online. We were at WDW in the summer but there were no magic bands or FP+ stuff going on at that time.

Over Thanksgiving this is what we found worked best if you were only going to use FP+ and no paper FP's:

Hit your park early and go directly to the rides that get long lines quickly (e ticket rides ) like the mountains or Peter Pan at MK, ToT, RnR and TSMM at HS, Soaring or TT at Epcot and EE at AK. Ride everything you can and use your FP+ selections for the last part of your park day rides OR if you are hopping, use your FP+ selections for the park you are hopping too.

Use EMH if you are staying onsite to also ride the more popular rides when park attendance is down slightly. It sounds like you will be going during March and a spring break time period and hopefully crowds won't be too bad and at least no terrible heat waves to contend with.

I think once you play around with your dining choices you will be able to see what rides you want to pull FP+ at what parks and it was rather easy to change things around on the fly we found, whether we did it ourselves using phones, or in the room on the laptop or at the concierge or at a park kiosk. SO you aren't locked in to your choice today, the way the system was in November you could easily change things around on the fly.

Don't stress, I am sure it will still be a wonderful vacation, YOU ARE GOING TO DISNEY in less than 60 days!!

 

[coachwnh]

Well I'm not the brightest lightbulb touring WDW, I am relatively new to the vacation experience. We first went back in 2011. I didn't figure out the FP system, my park commando daughter did....and I never saw a short heavy girl pushing a double stroller move as fast as her through MK on peak park days...that girl amazes me how much she can do and see with 2 kids in tow (they are no longer provided a rental stroller). Only @coachwnh and his family are more amazing in how much they can do and see in a day at WDW..haha

Basically back in November was the first time I used the magic bands and did the FP+ selections online. We were at WDW in the summer but there were no magic bands or FP+ stuff going on at that time.

Over Thanksgiving this is what we found worked best if you were only going to use FP+ and no paper FP's:

Hit your park early and go directly to the rides that get long lines quickly (e ticket rides ) like the mountains or Peter Pan at MK, ToT, RnR and TSMM at HS, Soaring or TT at Epcot and EE at AK. Ride everything you can and use your FP+ selections for the last part of your park day rides OR if you are hopping, use your FP+ selections for the park you are hopping too.

Use EMH if you are staying onsite to also ride the more popular rides when park attendance is down slightly. It sounds like you will be going during March and a spring break time period and hopefully crowds won't be too bad and at least no terrible heat waves to contend with.

I think once you play around with your dining choices you will be able to see what rides you want to pull FP+ at what parks and it was rather easy to change things around on the fly we found, whether we did it ourselves using phones, or in the room on the laptop or at the concierge or at a park kiosk. SO you aren't locked in to your choice today, the way the system was in November you could easily change things around on the fly.

Don't stress, I am sure it will still be a wonderful vacation, YOU ARE GOING TO DISNEY in less than 60 days!!

We do our best. There is no way to do and see what we do on a trip to WDW with three FP in one park. Not even close!

 

[jlsHouston]

We do our best. There is no way to do and see what we do on a trip to WDW with three FP in one park. Not even close!

Well if there is I bet y'all will figure it out and we will be following along on the live TR!!!

 

[EvilQueen-T]

All these new changes just feel so much more restrictive...more miserly on disney's part and in a year where they just posted record profits.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

I don't understand the selection process. This is my first day of playing around with it as we within less than 60 days - so it just became available to access. What is an "e" ticket? Is that just the sign up online? What they send to your magic bracelet? My kids are 9 and 11 and have been riding coasters since they were 3 and soon as they were tall enough. They are also short for their age, so I still hesitate - but we could try it once and see how it goes - if I wait at the exit line. I'm still flabbergasted at this process. Even now - with fast pass the way it has been - wait times can be 90 minutes for some rides. So imagine all the people NOT in those lines because they are holding onto the fast pass - now they will also be in the line - making it what? A 3 hour wait time? Even with it being the most magical place on earth - I don't know if it's worth it to spend 3/4 of my day standing in line just to ride a few things. I know I sound horrible. I'm sorry to be the wet blanket. Like I said, just got our info on the fast plus recently and am still trying to digest it. Thanks for tips and advice.

E ticket is just a left over term from when you had to buy individual tickets to the rides. It's used here all the time to mean the rides that have the longest lines. JlsHouston gave you a good list of those rides. If you make the parks at rope drop, use all emh's the fastpast + can actually be a good thing if you park hop. The one thing we didn't have any trouble with on our November trip with the magicband was our fastpasses. It worked every time. I think we'll all learn how to finesse the magicband fastpass+ just like we did with the paper fastpasses.
I do really hope they give us more than 3. I can live with three in non-busy times, but it will really put a crimp in our vacation if we only have 3 during peak times.

 

[Stacy Courtney]

Good Evening all- This is my first post ever
Like many others, I am very frustrated with FP Plus. I have been going to WDW for years. We have 8 year old twins and we have been taking them here since they were 2. We have come to master the legacy Fast Pass System. We always average 8-10 fast passes a day easily and I am furious that we can no longer do that. My husband would stay with the kids and head to a ride and wait in line and I would run to a ride across the park and grab Fast Passes. We had a Fast Pass in play at all times. Last year we rode TSM at HS 5 times in one day (we did score a bonus FP from SciFI diner because my husband ordered two Reubens and the waitress did not believe he could eat it and he did so she gave him a FP LOL)!! It is so unfair that they are punishing people that want to make the absolute most of their vacation and ride as many rides as they can. I see NO benefit to this Fast Pass + and limiting us to only 3 Fast Passes a day AND only at one park. I cannot figure out why they are doing this. We are headed there in May and I am already stressed about this. And the tier FP at Epcot and HS are ridiculous. Who would ever FP Nemo or Indiana Jones etc. The choices in the tiers are crazy. The fact that you cannot FP Soaring and TT is insane. Those are the only two rides you need a FP there. I hope and pray they up the number before we head there in May! I love Disney so very much but right now I am one very disgruntled and disappointed fan!

 

[Horizons19]

Good Evening all- This is my first post ever
Like many others, I am very frustrated with FP Plus. I have been going to WDW for years. We have 8 year old twins and we have been taking them here since they were 2. We have come to master the legacy Fast Pass System. We always average 8-10 fast passes a day easily and I am furious that we can no longer do that. My husband would stay with the kids and head to a ride and wait in line and I would run to a ride across the park and grab Fast Passes. We had a Fast Pass in play at all times. Last year we rode TSM at HS 5 times in one day (we did score a bonus FP from SciFI diner because my husband ordered two Reubens and the waitress did not believe he could eat it and he did so she gave him a FP LOL)!! It is so unfair that they are punishing people that want to make the absolute most of their vacation and ride as many rides as they can. I see NO benefit to this Fast Pass + and limiting us to only 3 Fast Passes a day AND only at one park. I cannot figure out why they are doing this. We are headed there in May and I am already stressed about this. And the tier FP at Epcot and HS are ridiculous. Who would ever FP Nemo or Indiana Jones etc. The choices in the tiers are crazy. The fact that you cannot FP Epcot and TT is insane. Those are the only two rides you need a FP there. I hope and pray they up the number before we head there in May! I love Disney so very much but right now I am one very disgruntled and disappointed fan!

Welcome to the boards!! I think you are the second person I saw join today because of FP+. I agree with everything you said. I think many of us will be watching to see what changes they might make. I sent a long email to them today about our annual December trip that was a huge disappointment because of FP+. Hopefully everyone will do the same. Change will only happen if we make our voices heard.

BTW, we have twins too!

 

[coachwnh]

Welcome to the boards!! I think you are the second person I saw join today because of FP+. I agree with everything you said. I think many of us will be watching to see what changes they might make. I sent a long email to them today about our annual December trip that was a huge disappointment because of FP+. Hopefully everyone will do the same. Change will only happen if we make our voices heard.

BTW, we have twins too!

Writing and emailing WDW is the only way to really make sure they understand our concerns. After speaking to a supervisor at AK in December, he assured me that all emails and letters are read!

 

[Disneyfamily4]

Sorry, but I don't believe your numbers are correct at all. If you look around, you will see as many 50+ as youngers. And if you look, you will see a majority of the people on the scooters are under 40 or so and overweight more than old. And you will see tons of people without children. I think those of us over 50 and those without children, probably use the fastpasses more than the young people with children. We make the rounds faster. We don't have to stop and take care of small children or decide who wants to ride what. We are well over 50, and we used fastpass to the most as do most of our friends. We use fastpass more to keep from waiting in those long lines. My husband is almost 70 and he rides every single ride except Mission Space Orange. And, I do not believe we are the exception. 50 is not old. I have more energy than my 18 year old. I always out walk and out last her when we are in Disney.

I never said these were actual numbers, I was just giving examples of how all surveys conducted will get watered down to get the numbers needed.

As for the target audience that go to Disney, Disney is catering to the 20-45 with children demographic, not the 50+year old guest. With gaming systems, toys, souvenirs, Disney Animated Movies etc; Disney only cares about them, because they are most likely to purchase something Disney monthly for their family and not just on BDays and Christmases from their grandparents.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

I never said these were actual numbers, I was just giving examples of how all surveys conducted will get watered down to get the numbers needed.

As for the target audience that go to Disney, Disney is catering to the 20-45 with children demographic, not the 50+year old guest. With gaming systems, toys, souvenirs, Disney Animated Movies etc; Disney only cares about them, because they are most likely to purchase something Disney monthly for their family and not just on BDays and Christmases from their grandparents.

Then why did they try to water down the survey by using the over 50's when they want to make the group you talk about happy?
You said that the numbers were watered down by asking 50+'s and people without children. That would have skued it the other way as those of us over 50 and without children use fastpass religiously to keep from waiting in those lines. We never used less than 4 a day in a particular park unless there was no crowds that day. Simply the fact you think over 50's have more health problems would lend to them using it more to stay out of long lines. They didn't ask which rides you use fp for, so even if--and I don't believe this to be true--over 50's and people without children only rode things like Jungle Cruise, PP, Buzz, etc., then they would still be using more than 1.5 per day. People with small children are more limited to what they can ride and the time they have to ride if they have to wait for ride share at the E rides.
You are probably right that Disney is after the 20-45 visitor, but it would not have watered down the survey if they asked the over 50's the fastpass question, IMO. I would think they would ask the people with young children and babies as their time would be limited in the parks each day. Most people with small children on this forum are constantly saying they take a break and go back for a nap or swim. We don't have to do that. We stay in the park opening to closing most days. They don't need fastpass for IASW, Aladdin, Tea Cups, Philarmagic, and all those Meet & Greets. That would really limit the time they would even have to get a fastpass.
There's always two or more outlooks to things. I have no problem with people not agreeing with me. But, if I see something I don't think is correct and I can give my take on it without being rude (not saying you have been rude), then I give my opinion. This is all just my opinion from years of experience in the parks.
Whichever outlook is correct, and it could be a combination of both, we all would love to be able to get more fastpasses and be able to get them in more than one park per day--the over 50's as well as the 20-45 group.
I have answered surveys from Disney that were absolutely written so they would get the answer they want. I got one about the magicbands that was written like that.
They could have asked people who didn't have a clue how to use fastpass. I have met many people in the parks who didn't know how to use them, or thought you had to pay to use them. If they asked enough of that group, then even if others had responded they get 4 or more, then the numbers would have been totally out of whack as to reality of those who know how to use them and how many are truly used.

 

[Lucky]

Then why did they try to water down the survey by using the over 50's when they want to make the group you talk about happy?
You said that the numbers were watered down by asking 50+'s and people without children.

No, as he said he was just giving an illustrative (and probably extreme) example of how sometimes businesses or advocacy groups can design surveys to produce the results they want. I don't think he was trying to say that this is what WDW actually did.

 

[Dwarful]

I understand there is a tiered system at Epcot....is there also one at HS? I am dreading our 60 day mark.

 

[englanddg]

I understand there is a tiered system at Epcot....is there also one at HS? I am dreading our 60 day mark.

Yes. Your choices are:

Select One:

• Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
• Fantasmic
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
• Toy Story Midway Mania

Select Two:

• American Idol Experience
• Disney Junior – Live on Stage
• Great Movie Ride
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
• Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show
• Muppet Vision 3D
• Star Tours
• Tower of Terror
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid

 

[Disneyfamily4]

Then why did they try to water down the survey by using the over 50's when they want to make the group you talk about happy?
You said that the numbers were watered down by asking 50+'s and people without children. That would have skued it the other way as those of us over 50 and without children use fastpass religiously to keep from waiting in those lines. We never used less than 4 a day in a particular park unless there was no crowds that day. Simply the fact you think over 50's have more health problems would lend to them using it more to stay out of long lines. They didn't ask which rides you use fp for, so even if--and I don't believe this to be true--over 50's and people without children only rode things like Jungle Cruise, PP, Buzz, etc., then they would still be using more than 1.5 per day. People with small children are more limited to what they can ride and the time they have to ride if they have to wait for ride share at the E rides.
You are probably right that Disney is after the 20-45 visitor, but it would not have watered down the survey if they asked the over 50's the fastpass question, IMO. I would think they would ask the people with young children and babies as their time would be limited in the parks each day. Most people with small children on this forum are constantly saying they take a break and go back for a nap or swim. We don't have to do that. We stay in the park opening to closing most days. They don't need fastpass for IASW, Aladdin, Tea Cups, Philarmagic, and all those Meet & Greets. That would really limit the time they would even have to get a fastpass.
There's always two or more outlooks to things. I have no problem with people not agreeing with me. But, if I see something I don't think is correct and I can give my take on it without being rude (not saying you have been rude), then I give my opinion. This is all just my opinion from years of experience in the parks.
Whichever outlook is correct, and it could be a combination of both, we all would love to be able to get more fastpasses and be able to get them in more than one park per day--the over 50's as well as the 20-45 group.
I have answered surveys from Disney that were absolutely written so they would get the answer they want. I got one about the magicbands that was written like that.
They could have asked people who didn't have a clue how to use fastpass. I have met many people in the parks who didn't know how to use them, or thought you had to pay to use them. If they asked enough of that group, then even if others had responded they get 4 or more, then the numbers would have been totally out of whack as to reality of those who know how to use them and how many are truly used.

I absolutely know that there are always exceptions to every rule. As someone pointed out, they mentioned that they see a lot of younger people riding scooters as well as older people. Like I said, there are always exceptions.

Now do I believe that every adult 50 and older do not go on rides.. Of course not.

My parents are in their 70's. Once in a while when they come with us. My dad tries to keep up and he does a lot of rides with his grandchildren. However, My mom has no interest at all, because of motion sickness. Everyone of course is different.

I am talking about the MAJORITY. The Majority of all families with children ages 20-45 get way more than 3 fast passes a day. That is a fact.

The Majority of all 50 +, along with Senior Citizens, do not utilize 3 fast passes per day. On a lot of the eticket rides, you will see signs that say people with stints for their hearts, high blood pressure, motion sickness, etc should not ride this ride. I know this is just Disney's recommendation, but the overwhelming demographic that these disorders effect, do listen to these warnings and stay away from these rides. Now again, I know some younger people suffer from the same things, but look at the stats on WebMD, The majority of these illnesses effect the 50+ demographic.

We can disagree all day about this, but all polls you see and read about anywhere are all watered down. Things can be changed so very easily if you include, or chose not to include, a certain group of individuals that were polled.

To lower the stats on fast passes used, the Cast Members you see, who are always awaiting guests on the other side of the turnstiles, probably also approach parents with children, under the age of three. These parents are not taking their children on any of the Eticket rides and for the rides their children are able to go on, fast passes may not even be available for that ride. Again, this is just another example of how a certain demographic effects the big picture for everyone.

Plus, we have no idea when these people were surveyed. One year, I went to Disney in September. I never used fast passes at all. Do you know why, because the wait time for every single ride was less then 20 minutes. However, now that my kids are in school and I have to go to Disney During Peak Season, I was using 6-8 per day. So for example, Disneys Survey concluded that the average guest uses 1.5 fast passes per day. However, if you get rid of the group who was surveyed September through December. The amount used mostly would rise significantly.

 

[Dwarful]

thanks englanddg. I guess I should have expected this.

 

[Disneyfamily4]

No, as he said he was just giving an illustrative (and probably extreme) example of how sometimes businesses or advocacy groups can design surveys to produce the results they want. I don't think he was trying to say that this is what WDW actually did.

Exactly, we will never know how Disney conducted this survey.

From personal experience, I am just saying how things in big business work. For my job, the board of directors will hold a meeting and will explain, we need stats that show homeless shelters were at capacity, high % wise, in order to get more funding. An insider will then tell us the three shelters that were no where near capacity and those shelters wont be included in the survey, because they will bring the numbers down. Like I said with Disney, they only want to give people 3 fast passes a day. A survey was done to justify giving out only 3 fast passes per day. Coincidence????? no way. they planned it and got the numbers needed to justify change.

 

[LaurenTheSLP]

Yes. Your choices are:

Select One:

• Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
• Fantasmic
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
• Toy Story Midway Mania

Select Two:

• American Idol Experience
• Disney Junior – Live on Stage
• Great Movie Ride
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
• Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show
• Muppet Vision 3D
• Star Tours
• Tower of Terror
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid

This is such a shame! It's too much control over FP+ in my opinion. Where's the fun in that for guests???

 

[DisJosh]

Currently @ WDW. We are a bit irked by the limit of three FP's as well. The real annoyance to me is that we paid for hoppers and can't use them to their full advantage because our FP choices are limited to one park. Concierge here told me that this is not how the system will remain but it is what it is for the time being.