Reviews of FastPass+ (Retired)
Reviewed by MouseDaddy Review Date: 01/04/2014
Rating: (3) Recommended
We were not very impressed with this aspect of the MB/MDE experience. Didn't like the idea of being limited to FP+ being categorized...for instance, couldn't get FP for both Mission:Space & Soarin' or Splash/Space Mountains. One or the other along with 2 other attractions. Also, limit of 3 per day was disadvantage for park hoppers.
I had a problem with phone app and changing FP's. We got to park late one day and missed first FP+ for BTM. I tried to secure us another FP for later in the day but was given message restricting me from doing so as I had 3 FP's active. But one was already expired so I should have been able to establish another.
I also encountered issue with MDE site. When I went to establish FP+ for my party of six, system would only allow me to set up FP+ for 3 of us. DW, DD & DS could not secure FP+. At each attraction, I explained to cast member on duty issue I had encountered and they let all 6 of us on via the FP. But frustrating that I encountered the problem and since I had to have all ticket & res info to Disney in order to get MBs, didn't feel like I had time to work with customer service to get issue corrected.
I experienced issue with MBs and park entry. We had several complimentary 1 day park tickets that I had linked to MBs. At entry, MB would not work and I had to show paper tix. I was advised that paper tickets will not link to the MB as plastic tickets will. Perhaps that was issue for FP+ as well? It would have been nice to have website inform me of need to manually link paper tix at time of set-up and prior to the trip.
It's a great idea but they have a bit of work to do to eliminate the bugs and make it more guest-friendly.
Pros:
Early bookingCons:
limitation on atractions;limit of 3 per day;could not get kids FP+Reviewed by goofy284 Review Date: 12/25/2013
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
We were selected to try the magic bands during our trip in Dec 2013. The idea is good because you know you will have fast passes for your favorite rides and attractions. However if it does not work you are on your own.
Our fast passes never worked. Every time we went to get on a ride, we were told we had no fast passes and were told quite rudely to go away. This was not the Disney I knew and since I had booked dining reservations around these fast passes, we were stuck with waiting in long lines for rides we had fast passes for. I would go to the fast pass help kiosk in the park and they would bring up my fast passes no problem but it never worked at the gate. After a week of this, I finally went to guest services at the magic kingdom where after many tears they found that there was a web site problem when I picked my fast passes and they were never linked to my magic band! All of my fast passes were expired as we never used them. This was a nightmare to say the least and ruined our whole trip. If Disney is going to use a system, they need to be sure it works.
Pros:
knowing you have a fastpass for your favourite ridesCons:
If it does not work you will get no helpReviewed by emmhorton Review Date: 12/14/2013
Rating: (3) Recommended
We liked the idea of booking fast passes from home, our resort, our phone. Sure beats walking all the way to Test Track to pick up fast passes for later in the day. Right? No… In the past we could get a fast pass for soarin, then later for test track, then could head to MK and pick one up for Splash Mountain…. not anymore.
1. Attractions are lumped into categories. You can only choose 1 "popular" attractions, such as Test Track. You are then also given 2 more fast passes for rides such as Living with the Land or Turtle Talk with Crush. Then that's it. 3 is your limit. You can make changes, but still limited to your categories.
2. You must choose all 3 fast passes for one park. This is a HUGE negative for those who park hop. In the future, we may bypass the park hopper option.
3. Once your tickets are linked to your magic bands, you no longer have the option of fast pass versus fast pass plus.
4. While being able to use the my magic app, you spend a lot of time on your phone instead of interacting with your family.
Fast pass plus is a great idea but still needs some tweaking!
Pros:
good ideaCons:
too many constraintsReviewed by pluto3 Review Date: 11/22/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
Used the fast pass plus in October 2013. Were able to secure passes the morning for same afternoon. Possibly because it is still new, however, if you do not want to get to the parks at the very opening (and stay hours), this gives you an option to enter in the afternoon, see three attractions and still make you ADR's!
Pros:
ability to get fast-passes before entering parkCons:
have to plan aheadReviewed by FoxzLem Review Date: 11/20/2013
Rating: (3) Not Recommended
We were there in October and were part of the testing.
Hated the entire experience and felt like we were tied to our phones checking on things (not why I go on vacation - I go to get away from it all).
We were with a group of 20 people was almost impossible to get on the rides together unless we waited in stand-by line. Got to HS for early hours and couldn't get on Toy Story until 6:30 at night for regular FP which eliminated park hoping that day.
Don't like having to plan out rides 60 days in advance.
Feel that you should be scaned into the park to get a pass.
Pros:
noneCons:
takes away all spontaneity of the tripReviewed by Ohiost13 Review Date: 11/20/2013
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
We did not stay on property, so we were not able to use this. Fast passes were for very late in the day or not at all. Stand by wait time was 80 minutes. Also, spoke to someone who used it and did not like it, because they were running from fast pass scheduled ride to the next. Go back to an even playing field.
Pros:
NoneCons:
Fast passes gone for the dayReviewed by Murrellfam Review Date: 11/20/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
Main problem, sometimes there are glitches...but if you plan your fast passes for the second park you are in...it helps since you won't get fast passes any other way...a little bit if planning goes a long way
Love magic bands and fast pass+
Pros:
Setting times for rides ahead of timeCons:
NoneReviewed by ajrob Review Date: 11/19/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
Used the fast pass+ for those long line rides, Toy Story, Buzz Lightyear, Soaring, Test Track. It was awesome. We even used it to meet, Mickey Rapunzel, and other princesses. It beat standing in long lines. Just rememeber to time the passes right. Don't fast pass+ something on side of the park and think you will get to the other ride on time. Make your time schedule flow and you'll get to ride everything you want.
Pros:
easyCons:
noneReviewed by speedybb Review Date: 11/19/2013
Rating: (6) Recommended
I REALLY like the concept of reserving fast passes in advance to ensure we get on our favorites. As well as reserving FP's for fantasmic (though we didn't try and don't know how that would work)
This is a good start but not there in my opinion.
When my wife and I travel, we take one day that we pretend we are much younger then we are and see 3 parks in one day (the rest of the time we are enjoying our hotel).
What I don't like is you can only select fp's from one park.
(This doesn't make sense, since I did buy park hoppers afterall and that is Disney's program, they should allow you to if you have that type of ticket.)
I also don't like that once in the parks, you can not reserve another fast pass (which would likely solve my concerns from above)
I don't like that in epcot you can only select one of the "good rides" and then have to pick from the other rides that at least when we go have little or no wait anyways. When I first went in about a month before my trip it was an option. However we changed days and had to cancel and the new update wouldn't allow it.
If you carry your phone it is not hard to track but I could see if you don't that it would be difficult to manage your FP's
All in all, I give an A for effort and a C for execution
Pros:
Able to reserve times to see fav rides before going to parksCons:
multipleReviewed by cmusschoot Review Date: 11/15/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
I like the magic band and the ease with which we were able to reserve fast pass times. We never had an issue with our reservations not being there. I guess we were lucky.
I do not like the limit of 3 fast passes per day, and only at one theme park, this makes it more difficult for families wanting to park hop.
