FP+ is Live! Magic Bands in the park!

[magicbob]

Well put.

I'm really not a fan of their Avatarland plans. But you don't see post after post from me on threads that come up about it. Maybe one or two in the beginning saying "REALLY??? " But that's about it. I honestly just don't open those threads any more. Why? Because once it's done, I can turn and walk the other way. I can still enjoy the parks in the same way I would have in the absence of Avatarland.

But this Has the potential to substantially change the way I enjoy every inch of the parks.

I still head over to the rumors board occasionally to bash the proposed "Avatarland."

Mainly because I would SO much rather see that real estate in AK developed into an Australia section!

 

[Mad Hattered]

it doesn't draw in the older crowd (50+) that has no kids. It's main demographic is 10-25 female and 10-35 male.

You could not be more wrong about that stat.

 

[Rileygirl]

I may have been really guilty of dragging this thread down to a Uni vs Disney thing, and thats not at all my intention. I dont want Cyrano to spank me!

Some people love Disney, and hate Uni
Some people love Disney, and can tolerate or be indifferent to UNI
Some people love Disney, and can love Uni
Some people love Uni and hate Disney
Some people love Uni, and can tolerate or are indifferent to Disney
Some people love Uni, and love Disney.

And there are all different shades inbetween. And its all ok!

Lets instead, focus on this : terrific competition between the 2 corporations only makes us, the user win. Long live competition.

I personally hope disney feels the pressure, and I hope that they will do something about it, and I hope its not just bean counting.

So, I hope that this thread does not get closed because of a Uni vs Disney thing, because it will be my fault. And if it does, I totally apologize for it!

Dont spank me Cyrano, dont!

 

[WillAustin]

But this Has the potential to substantially change the way I enjoy every inch of the parks.

That's why the topic is such an active one. Those of us who have "figured out" the best way to vacation that works for our families are wary of it all getting turned upside down and feeling a negative impact.

 

[damo]

The Simpsons WOW what an imagination Gotta get over there

You might want to check out Transformers while you're there. Might be soft openings today.



Comcast has committed $150,000,000/ year for the next five years to new attractions at Universal Orlando Resort. We'll have to see which has the biggest effect on attendance....Fast Pass + or new rides. It will be interesting.

 

[Rileygirl]

You might want to check out Transformers while you're there. Might be soft openings today.



Comcast has committed $150,000,000/ year for the next five years to new attractions at Universal Orlando Resort. We'll have to see which has the biggest effect on attendance....Fast Pass + or new rides. It will be interesting.

WOW

 

[Squidgyness]

Yet 150m/Year for 5 years = 750m. Still 250m cheaper than FP+ at it's cheapest. Makes FP+ look a little expensive for a "magic band" to me.

Seems like a bargain for all the attention it's getting them.

I still think FP+ is going to result in more money from guests whether you like it or not, in the form of more price rises and ticket changes. Mark my words, if they don't boost attendance, they'll boost prices.

 

[damo]

Yet 150m/Year for 5 years = 750m. Still 250m cheaper than FP+ at it's cheapest. Makes FP+ look a little expensive for a "magic band" to me.

Seems like a bargain for all the attention it's getting them.

I still think FP+ is going to result in more money from guests whether you like it or not, in the form of more price rises and ticket changes. Mark my words, if they don't boost attendance, they'll boost prices.

Over the next 10 years, Comcast has committed $1.5 billion to Universal. Maybe that makes FP+ look more reasonably priced.


http://www.disunplugged.com/2012/11/28/universal-orlando-update-attractions-investments-and-rumors/

 

[agavegirl1]

I'm trying to wrap my head around how MM+ and FP+ could get me, specifically to spend more money. There is one scenario that comes to mind. If I were able to schedule a decent number of rides in advance or 3 (not tiered) rides in advance with 3 or 4 in the parks, I would indeed spend less time in line. Would I use this time to browse the shops? Probably but it wouldn't change my buying habits. What might change is that I would have time (and a reservation) to do a TS lunch as opposed to picking up CS which would add more to Disney's pocketbook. Others may be enticed by all the shiny offerings in the shops however.

Another possibility, I would get so much accomplished that I could leave the park entirely. Well, there is the "new" shopping mecca Disney Springs. That might just get a few more dollars out of my stingy hands.

I'm anxious to see what rolls out.

 

[Squidgyness]

Over the next 10 years, Comcast has committed $1.5 billion to Universal. Maybe that makes FP+ look more reasonably priced.


http://www.disunplugged.com/2012/11/28/universal-orlando-update-attractions-investments-and-rumors/

Running the risk of dragging this topic a little off course, but that assumes that in the next 10 years Disney won't be spending some more money on expansion...

But still the fact that out of that 1.5BN they have 850 million still to spend after 3 major additions must be a nice thing for them to have. I wonder if the imagineers are going to get the same amount to spend on attractions in the next few years...

Will FP+ damage ride additions that's the thing. Unfortunately they have piled so much cash into this thing it will have to be implemented in some form or anther I think. Alas, my hopes of it being cancelled are dashed. Maybe it will still be modified...

And agavegirl that's a nice thought, but if a supposed minority using about 6-8 FP a day are affecting standby lines so much and causing Disney to tweak the FP system, what would happen if a much larger group of people were using a lot of fastpasses? I shudder to think...

 

[Rileygirl]

I'm trying to wrap my head around how MM+ and FP+ could get me, specifically to spend more money. There is one scenario that comes to mind. If I were able to schedule a decent number of rides in advance or 3 (not tiered) rides in advance with 3 or 4 in the parks, I would indeed spend less time in line. Would I use this time to browse the shops? Probably but it wouldn't change my buying habits. What might change is that I would have time (and a reservation) to do a TS lunch as opposed to picking up CS which would add more to Disney's pocketbook. Others may be enticed by all the shiny offerings in the shops however.

Another possibility, I would get so much accomplished that I could leave the park entirely. Well, there is the "new" shopping mecca Disney Springs. That might just get a few more dollars out of my stingy hands.

I'm anxious to see what rolls out.

Perhaps you get the fp+'s that you want, but darn it, its sort of spread out throughout the day. One in the mid morning, a couple early afternoon and wow, 'suprise and amaze', you picked up a space for just before dinner, this one pops up on line just before you leave on your trip

(those naughty bean counters!)

 

[agavegirl1]

Perhaps you get the fp+'s that you want, but darn it, its sort of spread out throughout the day. One in the mid morning, a couple early afternoon and wow, 'suprise and amaze', you picked up a space for just before dinner, this one pops up on line just before you leave on your trip

(those naughty bean counters!)

 

[d1gitman]

getting back on the whole FP+ thing, even though i wonder if/how it will all work, i gotta still drink the kool-aid and believe Disney knows what they are doing. i know Disney is not infallible, far from it. However, let's remember that Disney has written the book on theme parks and crowd control. I'd like to believe that MM+ is more than a hair-brained scheme to incorporate cool technology with only the intent of bilking us into more shopping. I'd like to think they are applying their decades of knowledge and data to further enhance our experience. yes, i'm sure they are trying to find ways to do what i call "speed things up to slow things down", essentially make the attraction process smoother and keep guests from only being tied to lines and FP running so that we have more time to smell the roses. smelling the roses to some is sitting on a bench and people watching, for others it's doing the park at random and to some it does mean shopping and spending.

I have a hard time believing that Disney expects to merely shuttle guests into shopping mode, rather i think they are working on ways to enable the guest to have more freedom of choice with their time whether it be shopping, dining, shows, parades, people watching, etc....

Time will tell but i firmly believe that MM+ and FP+ are part of an evolutionary master plan that factors in future ideas and plans that are unknown but to a select few.

Even though i can't see how pre-bookings and potentially being limited to only 3 FP+ per day can work or be an improvement, I still believe that there is much much more to this than meets the eye and 5 or 10 or 20 years from now there will be other things that come to light.

After all, what do we all envision each park, MK in particular, to look like that far downt he road? the same? not a chance. just existing attractions rehashed like Stitch? i think there will be much more to come than just those types of changes.

 

[Robo]

If Disney HAS designed a FP+ system that WORKS, it would:
A- Put it into operation.
B- Fully explained it.

Since they have done neither, the reasons they have not may be:
A- They don't want to show their plan for competitors steal.
B- The system doesn't work.
C- ?

 

[Planogirl]

The comments that no one beyond a certain age likes Universal always makes me laugh. I certainly do and I have a kid in college and several people I know that are older like it too. We don't see only teenagers while we're in the parks. People have different tastes after all.

That aside, I agree that a strong competitive spirit between the two (or more) companies only helps everyone. The constant Disney against Universal bit seems so pointless.

 

[agavegirl1]

So, I re-watched a few portions of the interview with Tom Staggs from the D:All Things Digital Conference and this idea stood out as a money maker.

Your child could get online prior to your trip to custom design a doll which would pop up during IASW with a personalized greeting such as "Happy Birthday Bobby" or what have you. No mention of cost was made in the interview but of course this would not be a "free" feature. Disney is not going to create, program and install a doll for IASW gratis. Guests in and around Bobby's boat will wonder how they did that and want the same experience for themselves.

Although it is slightly creepy, I think this particular deluxe feature could generate some cash.

 

[Rileygirl]

If Disney HAS designed a FP+ system that WORKS, it would:
A- Put it into operation.
B- Fully explained it.

Since they have done neither, the reasons they have not may be:
A- They don't want to show their plan for competitors steal.
B- The system doesn't work.
C- ?

c) its not ready yet.

And that has got to be killing Disney I think. They wanted to do it in April. (I think) and they couldn't. Some indicators are they will want to do it in June, along with ticket price stuff, but thats mostly my speculation.

But the longer the delay, the harder it is to make a big impact on the short term summer vacationer, something I suspected Disney wanted to do, because they were going to do it in april.

I cant help but feel, we are in for some great fireworks from Disney. Maybe its optimism, and maybe I have over estimated Disneys concern for Universal. But it could make for the most entertaining disboard threads this june. I hope so!

 

[doconeill]

So, I re-watched a few portions of the interview with Tom Staggs from the D:All Things Digital Conference and this idea stood out as a money maker.

Your child could get online prior to your trip to custom design a doll which would pop up during IASW with a personalized greeting such as "Happy Birthday Bobby" or what have you. No mention of cost was made in the interview but of course this would not be a "free" feature. Disney is not going to create, program and install a doll for IASW gratis. Guests in and around Bobby's boat will wonder how they did that and want the same experience for themselves.

Although it is slightly creepy, I think this particular deluxe feature could generate some cash.

Something like this is actually one of the rumors of the "personalized experiences". However, it was going to be digital, not a physical doll, so the costs in that case are minimal.

I cannot see them somehow creating a physical doll for each, then having them on standby for whenever that particular guest happens to be on the attraction.

All of these enhanced experiences will likely be computer-driven.

 

[agavegirl1]

Something like this is actually one of the rumors of the "personalized experiences". However, it was going to be digital, not a physical doll, so the costs in that case are minimal.

I cannot see them somehow creating a physical doll for each, then having them on standby for whenever that particular guest happens to be on the attraction.

All of these enhanced experiences will likely be computer-driven.

Now this makes much more sense. Mr. Staggs made it sound like a physical doll but that would be pretty crazy and unrealistic. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Squidgyness]

If Disney HAS designed a FP+ system that WORKS, it would:
A- Put it into operation.
B- Fully explained it.

Since they have done neither, the reasons they have not may be:
A- They don't want to show their plan for competitors steal.
B- The system doesn't work.
C- ?

C - Could be some internal dissent over what this will be.

Also, can anyone else imagine a family with a little boy going through it's a small world and...

"Here it comes! We got a surprise for you Christopher!"

Then you see the little doll and it says...

"HELLO LAUREN." or "HELLO <RESERVATION NOT FOUND>"