My Uncle is CRAZY!!! - Not planning

[DANDAMAN1]

So I have a trip planned for June. April 8th is when we make our FP+ reservations. We planned our trip last December. At the time, my Uncle said we wanted to go too.(my uncle, 2 cousins, cousin in law, and 2 second cousins) So he booked at same resort. Well, with our FP+ date approaching, I asked about linking so we can FP+ together. Told him I could do it for all of us, or at least help him do his selections.

Well....he doesn't want to plan. He just wants to go. Says he'll worry about it when he's there. Doesn't even know what parks he's gonna go to. Will decide when there. That just seems crazy to me. NO PLANNING? This isn't six flags. You have to do some planning. My other Uncle, his brother, is a Disney expert. Goes every year, sometimes twice. Says he's gonna regret it. I always thought "who goes to WDW and not plan ahead or get FP+'s?"...well my uncle is one.

Anyone else just go and hope for the best? Or, also feel this is crazy and he'll regret it?

 

[Dave B]

Sorry but having "runners" and collecting fastpasses to use later than their window was not fair to all.

What does "runners" have to do with the quote, I read it three times to makes sure what I was reading, the OP never mentions runners at all???

 

[Pepper's Ghost]

FWIW, the First Amendment only applies to the government or government actors: it means the government can't, in general, prevent citizens from speaking on matters of public concern, or retaliate against them for doing so. In contast, ordinary citizens can tell other ordinary citizens to shut up as much as they want (and in turn, the people they tell to shut up have the right to keep on talking) without infringing on the Constitution.

But to your point, I agree with your sentiment: I hate how WDW has turned its vacations into a "planning challenge" whereby contestants must compete to be the first to snatch up all the "magical" opportunities they can (FP+, ADRs, hotel discounts) before others get to them. It's especially frustrating when Disney has the power and money to increase the number of those "magical" opportunities, and refuses to.

It didn't used to be that way (and at Disneyland/CA, it still isn't!). Disney's transparent use of WDW pre-planning to engineer "the bare minimum for an acceptable level of guest satisfaction" (mimimum staffing at rides and restaurants, minimum hours of park operation, etc.) is a bad look for the company in the long term.

Sorry, I don't want to debate with a Constitutional Law professor, because I'm terribly over-matched, but you take my point. Sure, you can say shut up, but spontaneous folk can say "go blow".

On the flip side, I feel like Disney should do better. Offer a limited amount of FP+ for those that want to book ahead of time and then offer the old way for passes for people who'd rather do it that way. Unfortunately the parks are just too busy anymore to be able to get the wait times down. I just checked today and Splash is at 140 minutes, Test Track is at 55 minutes, Slinky Dog is at 95 minutes, and FoP is at 150 minutes. Even the Coronavirus isn't slowing Disney down.

I wish there were better and/or easier ways to go to Disney again without the insane crowds and wait times. Honestly, if my daughter wasn't going to be 9 and my son wouldn't still be free (he turns 3 while we're there) I wouldn't be going again for a while. I love Disney, always have, but I feel like planning isn't as fun anymore because there's so much to plan so far ahead of time which ruins some of the excitement. My upcoming trip is also going to end up costing over $2000 more then when we went in September/October (exact same week!) in 2016. Same time frame. Same resort. Same amount of park days. Same amount of people (last time we took my 2 year old niece with us). It's just insanity.

In response to both of you, you're making my point for me. I love when we can all find middle-ground. I agree with all of the points you both make. I think same-day FP is the way to go. Book everything that morning at whatever given time. It would also minimize wasted FPs because I'm sure folks book FP+ 60 days out and then don't go for whatever reason.

FP truly is the reason for the insane lines though. I know the parks are more crowded, but eliminate FP and standby lines are cut to 25% of what they show these days. Splash would be 35 mins. TT: 15 mins, Slinky Dog: 25 mins, FoP: 35 or 40 mins. Can you imagine that? FoP a 35 min standby wait?

Totally agree with Kimberly's point. Disney is looking to cut staffing as much as possible and this is their way to accomplish this... supposedly. I honestly don't understand how though. Eliminate FP and you eliminate the one or two CMs at the entrance of the ride administering it. So where is the savings?

Don't they realize that while the lucky group of folks who have a FP are happy, you have a whole line of folks are waiting 4 times longer and getting p*$$ed off? I just don't get it.

 

[Pepper's Ghost]

What does "runners" have to do with the quote, I read it three times to makes sure. What I was reading, the OP never mentions runners at all???

Back in the day of paper FP at the entrance of rides, people would send their fastest and most trusted teenage kids (usually not the same kid, so they go in pairs ) running into the park from rope-drop, to get the entire group FPs.

EDIT: sorry, just realized you probably understood, but just mention that "runners" wasn't assumed. At first your message seemed like you didn't know what runners were, but you have to. lol

 

[Dave B]

We go every year (sometimes twice) and just got back from a February trip. We’ve never used the FP system and we get along fine. Did all the rides and shows we wanted. Only planning we do is planning ahead which park to visit (skip ones with morning early openings). We’re there for two weeks so if a particular ride has a long line, we just go on. No big deal. The idea of zig zagging thru parks and starring at a phone doesn’t appeal.

Having NEVER used the FP system, it is definitely your choice, why would you not look at it and see if you can skip a line by doing FP, even if its while you are in the park, sounds like going to the bank and telling them you don't want the interest or free money on your savings account, makes you go huh

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

What does "runners" have to do with the quote, I read it three times to makes sure what I was reading, the OP never mentions runners at all???

I was speaking to the point that that poster said legacy fastpass was "fair" but sending one person with all the tickets to get a fastpass isn't fair or right in my opinion.
At least with FP+ there is no running involved.
I will say that what they described later to me sounds more like they want Maxpass which honestly I would not be opposed to trying but not sure how well it would work on the east coast.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Over the years weve seen a huge difference in what can be done without a plan, what will help with somewhat of a plan and what is very critical in making sure an advanced plan is in place. Your Uncle can still have an enjoyable time but there will be a lot that he may/ will miss out on. Like weve said in the past about those who wont take advice from those of us who have been multiple times... We tried to tell you, so dont gripe about how bad Disney is when you come home. You can only offer help, its up to them to act on it.
Enjoy your time and know you did your best to help him out. Youll have two very different trips but yours will be the successful one.

 

[ELG13]

The few people I've seen try and go without a plan have hated it. They said it was awful and would never go again blah blah blah. I would push him to link with you and just tell him it's so y'all can have the trip together.

 

[jaklgreen]

I think that your uncle is "set in his ways", which is fine. But sometimes these people just need someone to explain things to them. He obviously does not understand how WDW has changed since his last visit. I would take one more time to sit with him and explain how different and how much busier it is since his last visit. I would not try to sugar coat it. Tell him what the average standby wait time is now. Good luck
This is why I don't travel with extended family. LOL

 

[Mickey5150]

If you want same day fastpasses go to Disneyland, if you want to plan ahead go to Walt Disney World, problem solved.