FP + What we know and what we want to know

[UNCFanatik]

I agree, and I think many aspects of it will be really cool and personalized, however, I'm not so sure about the SMALL number of FPs you'll be able to reserve, the fact that you can't also use regular FP, and the non-Park Hopping aspect. It seems pretty useless from that perspective.

For example: I'm not a thrill ride person, so when we go to DHS I take my ticket and DH's ticket and go get TSMM FPs and he goes to ride TOT standby while I am at TSMM. Then, when our window opens, he uses his ticket to get a FP for RNRC and my ticket to get a FP for Star Tours. He is able to ride EVERYTHING so efficiently. Under this new system, it looks like we'll have to each use our respective allottments individually, which means less opportunity to customize our trip to suit EACH of our likes/dislikes.

I know you dont want to hear this and will disagree but you are using FPs in a way they arent supposed to be used. The FPs say they are non-transferable. You should already be using your FPs individually.

 

[SaraJayne]

The cat is officially out of the bag:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/07/b...t-meant-to-build-loyalty-and-sales.html?_r=1&

Not much new, except they don't say anything about it being available only to resort guests, etc. and that you can "pre-register" for the MagicBands.

And it does seem like personalized experiences will be dynamic, not just a chosen FP+ thing.

And I don't think this will solve the mentioned "gridlock".

You are also allowed 3 FP+ reservations.

 

[UNCFanatik]

You are also allowed 3 FP+ reservations.

I know they said that in the article, but has the number of FP+ reservations actually been finalized from Disney?

 

[ktrask]

You are also allowed 3 FP+ reservations.

As I was reading the article...I was wondering if perhaps it means that you can only book 3 in advance. Once you are there perhaps you can get more in park, but in advance you can only book 3.

If they limited people to a max of 3 per day I see some really angry people (me being one of them). I'm hoping that they just mean you can book 3 per day in advance, and any others will be you get what you get and you don't get upset.

 

[SaraJayne]

As I was reading the article...I was wondering if perhaps it means that you can only book 3 in advance. Once you are there perhaps you can get more in park, but in advance you can only book 3.

If they limited people to a max of 3 per day I see some really angry people (me being one of them). I'm hoping that they just mean you can book 3 per day in advance, and any others will be you get what you get and you don't get upset.

Details are vague, so no one really knows. All we have to go on right now is what Disney has said and that is 3 FP+ reservations.

 

[dawnhaze]

If they limited people to a max of 3 per day I see some really angry people (me being one of them). I'm hoping that they just mean you can book 3 per day in advance, and any others will be you get what you get and you don't get upset.

Yes, I can't imagine a lot of folks being pleased with a limit of three per day. I was upset when we thought it was four.

I've seen speculation that perhaps booking extra FP+ will be a perk for on-site guests, guests staying above a certain level of resort category, or even a paid option. Perhaps more than one of the above? This is what I really want to know.

 

[andyman8]

Yes, I can't imagine a lot of folks being pleased with a limit of three per day. I was upset when we thought it was four.

I've seen speculation that perhaps booking extra FP+ will be a perk for on-site guests, guests staying above a certain level of resort category, or even a paid option. Perhaps more than one of the above? This is what I really want to know.

Well, maybe (and I'm returning to speculation) you'll have three choices but there isn't aren't any groups. For example, at MK you could pick the three mountains, at Epcot, you could pick TT, Soarin', and Mission: Space, at DHS, you could pick TSM, ToT, and RnR, and at DAK, you could pick KS, EE, and Kali. I'd take that over "two major attractions and two minor attractions". Then again, it really depends on when you're visiting.

 

[MrRomance]

I think this is part of a bigger infrastructure change. Some things I've been thinking about and questioning in this are whether this is something that will be exclusive to resort guests (a "perk") along the same lines as Universal guests get the express pass? Are we going to be able to reactivate wristbands? What I mean by that is, if I go to WDW every year and I pay extra for one of these personalized wristbands that I've seen talked about, can I then reactivate that band next year?

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

This is just a complete guess. But, if I'm right, it'll be EASY for FP+ and regular FP to co-exist.

With FP+, you get to reserve 3 rides in advance of arrival at the park. Once at the park (and your ticket is activated), you can reserve more rides via FP+, one every two hours or so.

This would be why if you have FP+, you can't use regular FP; it would be like getting double regular FP, really.

And, why you can only reserve 3 per day; you can get lots more (relatively speaking) once you get to the park.

Also, maybe the 3 you reserve IN ADVANCE must be from the same park, but AFTER you park hop, you can reserve rides at the park for which your ticket is activated.

I'm probably wrong, and I just got my hopes up for nothing.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, maybe (and I'm returning to speculation) you'll have three choices but there isn't aren't any groups. For example, at MK you could pick the three mountains, at Epcot, you could pick TT, Soarin', and Mission: Space, at DHS, you could pick TSM, ToT, and RnR, and at DAK, you could pick KS, EE, and Kali. I'd take that over "two major attractions and two minor attractions". Then again, it really depends on when you're visiting.

I think they're going to have to stay with groups. Or they'll end up with all the predictable rides completely booked and nothing left but a bunch of second tier things that often don't even need FP.

Under the old system, they had a fair number of people who just didn't feel like running around the park picking up FP's. The easier they make it (as in from a phone) the more folks will be participating. And the faster the headliners will go.

 

[angelmichelle]

I think this is part of a bigger infrastructure change. Some things I've been thinking about and questioning in this are whether this is something that will be exclusive to resort guests (a "perk") along the same lines as Universal guests get the express pass? Are we going to be able to reactivate wristbands? What I mean by that is, if I go to WDW every year and I pay extra for one of these personalized wristbands that I've seen talked about, can I then reactivate that band next year?

I speculate yes, because one article mentions how Disney plans to have personalized MagicBands and designer ones and well, ones that cost extra $$$$ so I would assume you'd keep, and after you leave (check out?), it's de-activated.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes, I can't imagine a lot of folks being pleased with a limit of three per day.

Not even if it came with a magical pink bracelet?

 

[SaraJayne]

Not even if it came with a magical pink bracelet?

Not even if it came with a magical pink (or purple or green or red or blue) bracelet.

 

[Squidgyness]

Lets be honest, it doesn't really matter whether you can book 3 or more fp+'s in advance, TSMM, Soarin', Expedition Everest et al will be ridiculously booked up for fastpasses almost as soon as the window opens regardless, thus damaging the value of your pre-bookable passes anyway.

I'm sure Disney is convinced that limiting the number of big rides you can book will help, but just look at the ADR system and the rate fastpasses run out now. Assuming that their expectations of a high rate of use are met, do they seriously think the headliners won't be booked up weeks in advance during busy times? Even with only one headliner FP+ per day, you can guarantee no one using the system will let that baby go to waste. It'll be the first thing they do.

If they give you 2 FP+ headliner reservations, you can guarantee Soarin and TT will be booked faster than you can blink during busy weeks. This won't change a thing beyond making it so those who turn up on the day to book their fastpass+ in the morning, or the night before, will stand less chance.

 

[bigAWL]

This is just a complete guess. But, if I'm right, it'll be EASY for FP+ and regular FP to co-exist.

With FP+, you get to reserve 3 rides in advance of arrival at the park. Once at the park (and your ticket is activated), you can reserve more rides via FP+, one every two hours or so.

This would be why if you have FP+, you can't use regular FP; it would be like getting double regular FP, really.

And, why you can only reserve 3 per day; you can get lots more (relatively speaking) once you get to the park.

Also, maybe the 3 you reserve IN ADVANCE must be from the same park, but AFTER you park hop, you can reserve rides at the park for which your ticket is activated.

I'm probably wrong, and I just got my hopes up for nothing.

From what I've been reading/understanding you will only use either FP+ or reg FP, but not both. When you opt in to FP+, you give up your paper or non-RFID card tickets and get the RFID braclet (or whatever form it takes). That RFID braclet won't work in the legacy FP machines.

I wonder how long the legacy FP system will remain around. I can't imagine they would keep maintaining it for very long just for those who don't want to use FP+.

 

[DisneyWillow1975]

I've been lurking on this site for some time, and haven't really paid attention to the FP+ threads. I was waiting for official announcements, which was probably a big mistake. Has anyone seen any mention of other types of tickets (besides APs, YES, MYW). We use complimentary park hoppers for our trips, and I'm not sure if we'll be completely out of luck for any FP or FP+ once the new system is in place. We're already trying to come up with a new touring style, since we're used to 2 adults and we'll be 2 adults and 2 infants for our next trip.

 

[Planogirl]

Is it really thought to be only three FP+ allotted per day? Ugh.

I've been mulling over how I'd handle this. For example, at DHS I'd hope to get TSMM, Star Tours and RnR Coaster. But that leaves out ToT. We could ride standby but I just wonder how that will work out with a set number of FP+ riders assigned at any given time. I can't wrap my mind around whether it will makes the lines worse or better.

 

[andyman8]

I think they're going to have to stay with groups. Or they'll end up with all the predictable rides completely booked and nothing left but a bunch of second tier things that often don't even need FP.

Under the old system, they had a fair number of people who just didn't feel like running around the park picking up FP's. The easier they make it (as in from a phone) the more folks will be participating. And the faster the headliners will go.

I think that's my predominant concern (aside from no standard FP). To me, this sounds like the whole ADR problem (picture TSMM as BoG or 'Ohana). The only way to avoid that really is to group attractions (though everyone will forgo anything else in a group just to pick TSMM) or just save some times for each attraction to release until the day of; they would release some 60 days, some 30 days, some 1 week, some day before, and some the day of. There's really no good way to go about this.

 

[Squidgyness]

Is it really thought to be only three FP+ allotted per day? Ugh.

I've been mulling over how I'd handle this. For example, at DHS I'd hope to get TSMM, Star Tours and RnR Coaster. But that leaves out ToT. We could ride standby but I just wonder how that will work out with a set number of FP+ riders assigned at any given time. I can't wrap my mind around whether it will makes the lines worse or better.

Depends.

For me, theoretically if I had the chance I'd book Star Tours, ToT and another thing, but not RnRC or TSMM, so for me its good since TSMM is the busiest, so should hopefully attract a correspondingly high number of people booking FP+'s. Therefore I get less competition on other fastpasses.

If you really like the most popular rides in each park though, you'll be in trouble since people with only 3 fastpasses will gravitate towards them first.

 

[Bearybear]

I saw somewhere that this should be ready by "March" We'll be there in the beginning of the month. I hope it isn't a nightmare while they switch things over. I guess with this new system, if it is really only 3 per day (with or without limits on headliners) it will make RD even more important.