FP+ Capacity per Park Summary of Work so far 2/9/2013

[bcrook]

I've been really curious as to how this is going to work. Does anyone have any knowledge about when this technology is to be implemented in its entirety throughout the parks. I haven't found much info on it. Although we know now what our friends' groomsman was saying he couldn't talk about at their wedding a couple of years ago... It's definitely going to change a lot, and while I like everything about it so far (EXCEPT) the FP+ system, I guess my overall opinion is just going to have to wait. Hmm, we'll see!

We actually have a pretty good idea on how all the MYMagic+ stuff is going to work. The hardware is in place. Interactive queues, RFID entrances to parks and rooms, the FP+ machines are in place. We can see the app, and have seen quite a few glimpses of where that s going. All the magic bands are sitting in boxes waiting to be distributed. We know what the kiosks look like in the park.

It looks like the software and network side is not cooperating right now.

We have no idea when it will go into place, but based on press releases and the DVC magazine premature story, Disney was counting on this being in place already. So, who knows.

The FP+ component is most controversial, but the biggest area of concern there is if people can book FP+ and still use the FP system the day of. Also some people are concerned about booking rides far in advance and availability day of.

Time will tell, but I doubt there are any surprises that haven't already been explained in the interviews and the terms and conditions. It will change the way people tour Disney.

 

[Rileygirl]

Resurrected old thread!

I would have thought there would be a lot more testing happening right now, it is really one of the only quiet and low crowd times of the year left.

Maybe there are some big ugly bugs in the system.

 

[bcrook]

need the information again.

 

[bcrook]

Most curious about:

How many people a day will want to use FP+ for counter service.

 

[mom2rtk]

Most curious about:

How many people a day will want to use FP+ for counter service.

I don't see it ever taking off. Probably a few will use it at BOG. But beyond that? Nah. The problem is that if it's busy enough to need a CS fastpass, it's busy enough that you'll need it for rides even more.

 

[bcrook]

I don't see it ever taking off. Probably a few will use it at BOG. But beyond that? Nah. The problem is that if it's busy enough to need a CS fastpass, it's busy enough that you'll need it for rides even more.

What if they CS FP+ are not part of the three? Would people use them as bonus FP+? I am still not sure I would bother. I would never give one up for a ride.

But why does Disney think this is helpful? It is very prominent in the Terms and Conditions and they are making a big effort at BOG.

 

[mom2rtk]

What if they CS FP+ are not part of the three? Would people use them as bonus FP+? I am still not sure I would bother. I would never give one up for a ride.

But why does Disney think this is helpful? It is very prominent in the Terms and Conditions and they are making a big effort at BOG.

I think it would depend on how it played out in real life. If enough people used them to slow down the regular line, I'd fuss around about it, but do it myself.

That is the unintended side effect of adding fastpass to things that didn't need it before. Once it hits a certain level of usage, it slows down the regular lines so you really don't have much choice any more.

 

[FRANKTSJR]

I'm confused. They're saying 4 FP+ reservations per day. If I'm travelling with my Family of four will I be able to make the FP+ res. for all four people. Will each person be able to make them separately?

 

[bcrook]

I'm confused. They're saying 4 FP+ reservations per day. If I'm travelling with my Family of four will I be able to make the FP+ res. for all four people. Will each person be able to make them separately?

It's back to three a day. Once you link your family together, any person can schedule for anybody, or each person can change their own agenda and reschedule.

This is all through My Disney Experience the website and app.

 

[nrgrotn]

It's back to three a day. Once you link your family together, any person can schedule for anybody, or each person can change their own agenda and reschedule.

This is all through My Disney Experience the website and app.

Actually you can get 4 fast passes for MK if you use the fast picks. You can go back afterwards and customize them if you don't like the picks they've chosen for you. Others were saying it didn't work for the other parks, just MK.

 

[bcrook]

Digging through the numbers again now that tiering is back on the table.

 

[mom2rtk]

I thought the word "tiring" was more fitting.

 

[bcrook]

I think "tiring" might be just the right word.

You saw that before the edit! Good one. . You are correct though. After making and changing reservations for a group of ten, tiring is perfect.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

I think one thing not a lot of people are accounting for is not everyone is going to use FP+. Not everyone uses the Fastpass paper system. You could make an assumption that anyone who doesn't use social media likely won't use FP+. I, myself, only filled out half my trip of FP+s. The Fastpasses will not be to capacity, and everyone won't use their FPs.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think one thing not a lot of people are accounting for is not everyone is going to use FP+. Not everyone uses the Fastpass paper system. You could make an assumption that anyone who doesn't use social media likely won't use FP+. I, myself, only filled out half my trip of FP+s. The Fastpasses will not be to capacity, and everyone won't use their FPs.

..... which would drive me nuts. I log in 60 days out and the selections are gone. I get to the park that morning and the choices are gone. If people don't use them later in the day when do they show up in the system as available? DO they show back up in the system?

I really REALLY do not want to need to be checking my phone on a buggy app all day long to try and "catch" some random unused FP that just happens to show back up.

 

[mickeyfan0805]

..... which would drive me nuts. I log in 60 days out and the selections are gone. I get to the park that morning and the choices are gone. If people don't use them later in the day when do they show up in the system as available? DO they show back up in the system?

I really REALLY do not want to need to be checking my phone on a buggy app all day long to try and "catch" some random unused FP that just happens to show back up.

I've wondered this as well and I've begun to wonder if they will ever make it back into the system at all. Say someone has a 10am FP+ slot. At 11am, the system recognizes it was never used. That space, however, ended up being filled by a standby user (1 extra standby person got in between 10 and 11 due to the no-show of a FP+ user). So, this does not actually create any open slot for later in the day - it is just filled by those standing in line.

The only exception to this might be cancelled/changed slots (ie - the 10am FP+ holder goes on at 9am and changes the FP+ time to 2pm, making the 10am open in the system). But this would only apply to advance cancellations, not no-shows.

The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that any progressive availability of FP+ on the day of visit will be composed, primarily, of pre-planned slots that were withheld for distribution at certain points throughout the day.

 

[mom2rtk]

I've wondered this as well and I've begun to wonder if they will ever make it back into the system at all. Say someone has a 10am FP+ slot. At 11am, the system recognizes it was never used. That space, however, ended up being filled by a standby user (1 extra standby person got in between 10 and 11 due to the no-show of a FP+ user). So, this does not actually create any open slot for later in the day - it is just filled by those standing in line.

The only exception to this might be cancelled/changed slots (ie - the 10am FP+ holder goes on at 9am and changes the FP+ time to 2pm, making the 10am open in the system). But this would only apply to advance cancellations, not no-shows.

The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that any progressive availability of FP+ on the day of visit will be composed, primarily, of pre-planned slots that were withheld for distribution at certain points throughout the day.

I still don't think they will hold any slots back. And my best guess is that they are gathering data now for the typical percentage of no-shows and just overbook to that level from the get-go.

If they play some sort of game where they hold back slots, then release them in waves, and I have to keep checking my phone all day to see what pops up, I'll just be done. Playing FP roulette is just not my cup of tea. Neither are 2 hour lines.

 

[bcrook]

I think one thing not a lot of people are accounting for is not everyone is going to use FP+. Not everyone uses the Fastpass paper system. You could make an assumption that anyone who doesn't use social media likely won't use FP+. I, myself, only filled out half my trip of FP+s. The Fastpasses will not be to capacity, and everyone won't use their FPs.

Everybody doesn't use fastpass now, but more will after the goes full scale. It does change the dynamics. Usage among the die hards will stay the same. Newbies will be intrigued by possibilities. Some will ignore because the technology. But there will be an increase in usage among the experienced who enter the park later in the day. Those people were shut out of the popular fastpasses. Now those people will have thousands locked away for ate arrival.

If the net gain in fastpass usage doesn't go up substantially, this will be a huge failure for Disney. There plan is to get as many people as possible locked in, and locked in early.

After the marketing blitz occurs, fastpass+ and magicbands will be common knowledge. And don't forget that tout groups and travel agents will now be able to schedule all this in advance.

Usage will be high, availability low... If this is a success.