FP+ is Live! Magic Bands in the park!

[darnheather]

I was attempting to agree with you.

I was just explaining why your idea would work with the MagicBands...
because they already have your phone number and other personal info in the current ticket system...
which will also become a part of the new MagicBand system.

Thanks it's cool.

 

[Planogirl]

If I understand it correctly, Universal gives you those passes free if you stay on site, or you can purchase them otherwise. But it's just one charge and it applies to all attractions.

What a few posters have mentioned here is the with this new system that WDW could potentially start charging not only for FP's (which presumably wouldn't be for every attraction, unlike Universal's front of the line), but also charge for the best places to view fireworks, the best parade viewing spots, the best seats for shows, etc. - premiums on multiple items.

My point was Disney is expensive enough. If they start creating a tiered user-pay system for everything they run the very real risk of turning a lot of people off. Disney is no longer the magical place it has been, but a dollar hungry, money-grubbing corporation (ok, well they are probably already that last part, but this will make it very glaringly in your face).

Universal maybe a Disney wannabe wrt theming, etc, but they've got the thrill rides, HP and new attractions coming online. What does Disney have coming on line? Something that sounds like it could create longer waits, and congestion, while trying to squeeze every dime they can out of their customers.

This is part of the problem. Universal is no longer a wannabe when it comes to theming. They are working hard to improve and doing so rapidly. Disney should never become complacent.

Something a previous poster said about what all these people would do if not waiting in line (either because this works, or because it lengthens standby so people just wander round till the they find a decent time or their next fp) really got me thinking.

The shops and walkways are already pretty busy (they were back in 09, can't imagine they'd be any better recently), so if this gets does people out of lines for whatever reason, they'll be even busier. Always assuming of course that's what disney wants and is aiming for. Its what they SAY they want anyway.

I agree. I still want better merchandise if I will have extra time.

Yes, but I can ride new rides over there. If I have to pay to avoid hour long rates, I would rather ride something new.

I don't think Disney should start charging to use Fastpass+ but I really think they want to. They can tie in hotel and ticket prices to the number of Fastpass+ you get daily. They can charge $$$ for an all access front of the line Magic Band.

I think it will be a slow process so people can adjust to the idea. They will also price the system in order to generate the most profit. They will lose some customers. But eventually they will make back the initial investment.

I think that Disney will eventually start charging for fastpasses in some capacity. I believe that this is just the beginning of a long process.

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

Universal has you PAY for their "skip the lines" pass ??? And that's ok but you people are complaining that Disney MAY someday do the same ?? Yes it's free to hotel guests but if Disney did the same for their hotel guests I'm guessing this board would be shut down from the influx of hatred for a company wanting to make money. Money that they CONTINUALLY put back into the parks and other areas of the complex.

By the way the skip the line pass is NOT on every ride and not available on harry potter.

 

[agavegirl1]

Universal has you PAY for their "skip the lines" pass ??? And that's ok but you people are complaining that Disney MAY someday do the same ?? Yes it's free to hotel guests but if Disney did the same for their hotel guests I'm guessing this board would be shut down from the influx of hatred for a company wanting to make money. Money that they CONTINUALLY put back into the parks and other areas of the complex.

The "Officially announced projects that have shown construction are "New" Fantasyland and Disney Springs, a re-theming and expansion of the shopping venue at DTD. (Apparently some construction trailers have shown up and this will be phased since it will remain operational)

By the way the skip the line pass is NOT on every ride and not available on harry potter.

But...if you stay on site you get a whole hour before park opening in Hogsmeade and if you book a package you get a breakfast appointment at Three Broomsticks and a meal.

Last year in California I actually paid for the Express Pass for the day since it was August and it was a "gee I'm in California lets go to USH" kind of a trip. No plans were made though we did make it at park opening.

 

[freediverdude]

Let's play with this for a second. What feasible way does Disney have to limit the number of days a passholder can make FP+ reservations? Would it go back to the long-ago debunked theory of X number of FP+ reservations per quarter?

Let's say there is a kook who moves to Orlando and decides for his first year of living there he wants to go on Space Mountain every day. Short of limiting the number of days a passholder can use FP+ (and thereby basically limiting how much they use their AP), how can Disney stop this?

Well, there is a limit just based on what we know already. They're only going to be available 60 days out, correct? So that limits us to only playing with a 60 day time frame at a time as it is. So basically Disney has to decide if they want to limit how many fastpass days passholders/castmembers can book within the next 60 days. True, they don't want people just going in and booking for every weekend for the next two months, only intending on showing up one weekend. So they will have to place an arbitrary limit, that's just the common sense of it. The only other option would be to have you place a credit card deposit that you lose if you don't show, after a certain number of free ones. But I don't realistically see that happening, at least not at first. So we're left with an arbitrary number for each 60 days. What's appropriate? 10? 15? Who knows.

 

[jade1]

Not if we had to use MDE

Touche

 

[ArwenMarie]

Yes, but I can ride new rides over there. If I have to pay to avoid hour long rates, I would rather ride something new.

I don't think Disney should start charging to use Fastpass+ but I really think they want to. They can tie in hotel and ticket prices to the number of Fastpass+ you get daily. They can charge $$$ for an all access front of the line Magic Band.

I think it will be a slow process so people can adjust to the idea. They will also price the system in order to generate the most profit. They will lose some customers. But eventually they will make back the initial investment.

And our credit cards will be stored in the app, how convenient

I agree on the hotel tie-in, they could even use it as room incentives as well, package up some sort of Deluxe Fastpass+ if you book this room on these dates, that kind of thing. Or tiered tickets like you said, sort of like how now you can "build your own ticket" with park hoppers, or waterparks, etc.

Limitless possibilities.

 

[Squidgyness]

And our credit cards will be stored in the app, how convenient

I agree on the hotel tie-in, they could even use it as room incentives as well, package up some sort of Deluxe Fastpass+ if you book this room on these dates, that kind of thing. Or tiered tickets like you said, sort of like how now you can "build your own ticket" with park hoppers, or waterparks, etc.

Limitless possibilities.

Given that FP's link with ticket reservations, I would think they'd choose the tiered ticket if they do raise prices for more FP.

That way they would encourage EVERYONE to pay more money. They could price the tickets by month/week. After January 1st for example the prices could drop 30% to encourage off-peak trips. Then in the height of summer, a rep could sell sell sell up priced tickets.

"Oh, its busy this time of year sir, why not get the super-duper-uber-FP-extraordinary-ticket for only $999.99? Oh sir, staying offsite in a villa? No problem! Tickets are available to all! We here at Disney don't believe in discriminating against offsite heathe- I mean, valued guests in the parks."

That is if they do decide to offer a tiered access system sometime in the future (A debate I think is irrelevant for the next couple of years imo). They'd have to limit the number of upgrades available or price them accordingly to stop too many people buying them and flooding the park with FP's.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Given that FP's link with ticket reservations, I would think they'd choose the tiered ticket if they do raise prices for more FP.

That way they would encourage EVERYONE to pay more money. They could price the tickets by month/week. After January 1st for example the prices could drop 30% to encourage off-peak trips. Then in the height of summer, a rep could sell sell sell up priced tickets.

"Oh, its busy this time of year sir, why not get the super-duper-uber-FP-extraordinary-ticket for only $999.99? Oh sir, staying offsite in a villa? No problem! Tickets are available to all! We here at Disney don't believe in discriminating against offsite heathe- I mean, valued guests in the parks."

That is if they do decide to offer a tiered access system sometime in the future (A debate I think is irrelevant for the next couple of years imo). They'd have to limit the number of upgrades available or price them accordingly to stop too many people buying them and flooding the park with FP's.

True, lots of reasons that a tiered ticket would be the way to go. They already have the tiered ticket system in place, this would just be an add-on.

I agree, they would have to limit how many upgrades are available as well. Sorry sold out!

 

[Rileygirl]

deleted

 

[WillAustin]

The tub size is the total amount of FP+ available on any given day at that theme park, The hot water is the tier 1 fast passes, so 'e' attractions, the cold water is the tier 2 fast passes, (b attractions, cs fp+s ect).

I still don't believe the tub will be big enough to allow much more water to be added from the "same-day FP+" faucets.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I still don't believe the tub will be big enough to allow much more water to be added from the "same-day FP+" faucets.

I agree. The more I think about this, the more I think that there won't be many same-days for headliners anyway.

 

[magicbob]

if I want Toy Story between 10 and 11 am, then we can try to schedule that. You actually have a little more control than with the old system. I decide that day that 10 to 11 doesn't work, I simply log onto my app on my phone and change it or go to a kiosk within the park to make changes. . .

Good luck with that. Because the FP+ reservations for TSMM will probably all be gone by 9am...


9am sixty days before you arrive, that is!!!

 

[Rileygirl]

I respectully suggest you are wrong regarding the size of the bathtub.. I thought so too at first. I really did. However, even with rudimentary calcualtions based on a 20% hourly rate of of fast passes, combined with the overal OHRC, (and it could actually be 60%) that not only will the tub be big enough to do this, at the MK on a consistent basis, this system will allow for 5 or 6 prescheduled fp's and more then one level 1 most of the year, and still dump thousands of fp's in the system on the day of. Just do the math. DHS should be able to consistently deliver extra as well. Weak links are epcot and AK

And the value of this entire system is completely diminished if all fps were dumped into the system at the 60 day mark. In my opinion

I have to edit my comments above again. If the theory is that this new system is to make the newb or casual visitors time much better then they are currently having, why would they allow all the good fastpasses to be gone on the first day they are released, at the first hour. I suspect that a good percentage of the population Disney is trying to target are INDEED the people who by there tickets either 1 month in advance, or even one day in advance. I think the mouse's preference is that the further out they can get accurate data the better, but even 1 month, or 1 week or even 1 day is going to overall improve the guests experience, and provide better data and control. And in order for the casual visitor to have a pretty decent time, some pretty decent fast passes need to be available 2 weeks before, even a day before, even the day off. As time goes on, the mice get better trained, and buy their tickets earlier.....

 

[magicbob]

If the theory is that this new system is to make the newb or casual visitors time much better then they are currently having, why would they allow all the good fastpasses to be gone on the first day they are released, at the first hour. I suspect that a good percentage of the population Disney is trying to target are INDEED the people who by there tickets either 1 month in advance, or even one day in advance. I think the mouse's preference is that the further out they can get accurate data the better, but even 1 month, or 1 week or even 1 day is going to overall improve the guests experience, and provide better data and control. And in order for the casual visitor to have a pretty decent time, some pretty decent fast passes need to be available 2 weeks before, even a day before, even the day off. As time goes on, the mice get better trained, and buy their tickets earlier.....

If this happens, it will punish the "planners" even further. They will have to keep checking back every day for 60 days to see if their desired FP+ time has been released yet. Meanwhile, the happy go lucky neophyte just gets lucky and scores the most desired FP+ times because he waited until the last minute to purchase his tickets.

Can someone please explain to me why "first come first served" has apparently become a hate crime in this day and age?

 

[capegirl]

They will also manipulate the overall temperature and fill line of the tub, if MK is getting full to fast, or DHS is not getting enough. The can do this by pulling things out of inventory, just as easily as putting it in.

If the fast passes are indeed going to be prorated throughout the 60 days, and even throughout the day of, why would anyone need to book at the 60 day mark?

Valid question, and I have two words for you. Psychology and Knowledge. Very few people will know how this system is working, will have it figured out.


How is it possible a newbie, who indeed has bought into the idea to buy their pass 60 days in advance, how will disney educate them on the planning, and which ones are best?

I have to say I think disney has no intention on trying to educate anyone, or try to get them to plan.

Would the potential of this not blow the doors off the current marketing system of random emails? Flyers, Newspaper ads? Would it not totaly reinvent marketing that is seen today for theme parks specifically, and perhaps the open market as well?

Yes! Your bathtub analogy makes perfect sense. It would be a necessity for them to control FP+ during busy times. This would be different from the whole ADR process; once the popular dinning reservations are gone, they are gone for good unless someone happens to cancel. They could never let this happen with attractions. Agreed, I do not believe they have plans to 'educate'.... they will want visitors to instead focus on fun the apps., etc. Many people will not care about figuring out this new system to make it work for them.
I also agree that this system would reinvent the Disney marketing that we are now familiar with.

 

[mom2rtk]

If this happens, it will punish the "planners" even further. They will have to keep checking back every day for 60 days to see if their desired FP+ time has been released yet. Meanwhile, the happy go lucky neophyte just gets lucky and scores the most desired FP+ times because he waited until the last minute to purchase his tickets.

Actually it does still benefit the planner. Because the planner will fuss and fume about it, but will indeed keep checking back until they get what they want.

Once we had our BOG ADRs for our December trip (what a FIASCO of poor IT, poor infrastructure and poor management decisions THAT day was!) we got a crazy idea that it would be fun to eat in both castles in the MK on the same day. CRT was already booked. But if you set your mind to something you can often make it happen. I knew if I kept checking, I'd find something and I did. The first time I got wasn't great, but I took it and kept checking back. Eventually I got exactly what I was after.

Most newbies aren't going to go to that trouble. You can bring a horse to water but you can't make him drink. Many of us planners are apparently thirsty enough to not only seek out the water, but drink quite heavily once we get there!

But there IS a point at which even I will decide it just isn't worth the effort. Bringing it down to the individual ride level could prove to be that point.

Can someone please explain to me why "first come first served" has apparently become a hate crime in this day and age?

So true.

 

[damo]

Universal has you PAY for their "skip the lines" pass ??? And that's ok but you people are complaining that Disney MAY someday do the same ?? Yes it's free to hotel guests but if Disney did the same for their hotel guests I'm guessing this board would be shut down from the influx of hatred for a company wanting to make money. Money that they CONTINUALLY put back into the parks and other areas of the complex.

By the way the skip the line pass is NOT on every ride and not available on harry potter.

There are only two rides it is not available for. One is a very low capacity ride that is meant for children called Pteranadon Flyers and the other is Forbidden Journey.

I totally expect Disney to start charging for fastpasses. I think you'll probably get 3 free (one from each category) and then be able to pay if you want more or have the number free increase depending on what level of hotel you stay at.

 

[agavegirl1]

Fascinating Rileygirl. I think you may be onto something. I've also considered the marketing opportunity of the ap. If just about every website I go to knows I have recently visited a site for comfortable shoes and suggests them to me, what could the Disney ap do with our information. I mentioned that the data would likely include what we purchased and when as well as where we have eaten etc. In addition to suggested ADRs based on cancellations or open tables, why not special "coupon code" deals to purchase similar items in the park you are "scheduled" for the next day. Or if you bought a Pluto plush in the morning, the next time you check the ap they offer a M&G FP time for Pluto.

For many guests, this would seem fun and give them the sense they are getting some great bonus experiences. Others (me) would be freaking out at the data mining going on while I was in the park. Big Brother, leave me alone.

 

[Rileygirl]

deleted