Fastpass+ Tier System begins?

[robpa]

I feel like we've met before...are you reincarnated?

Maybe

 

[robpa]

Yeah-- the only park I would want more than three would be MK. Epcot has two headliners, HS has 3, and AK has 3. So Mk is done in two days. I don't believe anyone will ever need a FPP for figment. or MS, or (insert attraction here).

I wouldn't rule that out, maybe not need but settle. If you have one fastpass to burn and there is nothing else left you will schedule that figment fastpass. Its human nature to not let a perceived freebee slip away

 

[robpa]

FP+ is IMO going to meld fp- with EMH to create the new perk for all and perk for staying on site. Really who would ever chose a fp for the rides we know have no lines? they need to force people to chose them.

you can have 5 fp+, but 3 of them are for hall of presidents, country bears, and the liberty belle.

One headliner, and one level 2.

Book at allstars, and you can have 2 at level 2.

Book at CBR, you get 2 headliners, one level 2, and 2 bottom feeders.

Book deluxe... and club level...

I just wonder where DVC will fall........

Right, they will see how little they can give before the proverbial poo hits the fan as far as guest outrage, then bring it up to a level they planned all along and everyone will bow down to Disney for their generosity

 

[Vickmeys]

I have already set up our FP+ for our November trip. So far, they seem unchanged, but I wonder if I should be concerned about this? Has anyone with Nov FP+ for both Soarin and TT been affected?

I have Soarin and TT FP+ scheduled for Nov. 14th, so far no change. I am not changing my FP+ for EPCOT, and have my FP+ selections printed.

 

[tjkraz]

We tested FastPass+ all the way back in December 2012 at MK and Hollywood Studios. During that test the tiers were utilized and frankly I'm surprised they were ever eliminated during later testing.

If you look at average attendance, there just isn't enough attraction capacity for everyone entering the park to ride every headliner. Epcot's 11 mil annual attendance averages about 30,000 per day. In a 12-hour operating day, Soarin can only accommodate half of the people entering the park with capacity of about 1300-1500 guests per hour.

Of course, not everyone wishes to ride every headliner. We've entered parks before just to wander, just to shop, just to dine. Even when we go to Epcot, we don't feel compelled to ride Test Track or Soarin every single time. But the thing that's impossible to quantify is exactly how many people fall into this "no plans to ride" group.

But then you have to look beyond averages and realize there are days when Epcot will draw 50,000...with less than 1/3 able to ride Soarin.

Disney doesn't want FP+ pre-booked weeks in advance. They need to be able to market a system where people entering the park day-of will still find ride times available. The only realistic way to do that is to make each guest choose between a reservation for Soarin OR Test Track OR fireworks viewing OR some similar experience.

Same is true at Hollywood Studios. Toy Story Mania and Rock n Rollercoaster cannot accommodate every guest. They'll have to force people to choose.

I always though the most equitable way of implementing FP+ would be to allow a certain number of pre-booked ride reservations and then allow for additional selections upon park entry.

Or they could turn it into a pay-for-play option so that only a fraction of theme park guests can pre-book. Giving some benefits to Disney hotel guests and pass holders for free, with others coming at a cost is one logical approach.

 

[tmadden]

this is the beginning of class warfare. Next they give more fast pass selections for headliner attractions fr deluxe resort guest. Penalizing people who are not millionaires but still love their kids just as much or more & want to give them a magical experience

 

[robpa]

this is the beginning of class warfare. Next they give more fast pass selections for headliner attractions fr deluxe resort guest. Penalizing people who are not millionaires but still love their kids just as much or more & want to give them a magical experience

That is exactly what some on this board hope happen. Maybe WDW wants to turn into a playground for the rich

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Maybe

Is it a sign of the Timez?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

That is exactly what some on this board hope happen. Maybe WDW wants to turn into a playground for the rich

I tend to fear the same thing...and in someways it's always been this way.

What if the drunken suits now feel like it has to be six
Figures at the barest of minimums to have earned "the privilege"?

But those that see "no problem" with this tact...and even outwardly support it...are standing on the tracks in front of the train in 99% of the cases. They will get steamrolled too.

Kinda like when the old man votes for political candidates who are financed by the type of guys who closed down the business he worked in to ship it somewhere else... And now his kids and grand kids live in a collapsing town with no livelihoods or hope...
And yet he still pulls the lever. It's like Stockholm Syndrome. Obey your oppressor.

I never said that disney parks should be affordable to everyone...that was never the plan. But to be tailored to only those without a care in the world is missing the map entirely as well.

If I want to go to a place with a bunch of pampered clowns spending phoney earnings...I'll go to Dubai

 

[wendybeth75]

We were chose last December to do a limited test for FP+. This was previous to the magicbands and we just had cards. At that time we could only pick one major and 2 from the other lists. It made it difficult at Hollywood studios and Animal Kingdom as the headliners are often the only rides you really need a FP for in off season. I think it would be more reasonable to allow 2 headliners.

 

[robpa]

I tend to fear the same thing...and in someways it's always been this way.

What if the drunken suits now feel like it has to be six
Figures at the barest of minimums to have earned "the privilege"?

But those that see "no problem" with this tact...and even outwardly support it...are standing on the tracks in front of the train in 99% of the cases. They will get steamrolled too.

Kinda like when the old man votes for political candidates who are financed by the type of guys who closed down the business he worked in to ship it somewhere else... And now his kids and grand kids live in a collapsing town with no livelihoods or hope...
And yet he still pulls the lever. It's like Stockholm Syndrome. Obey your oppressor.

I never said that disney parks should be affordable to everyone...that was never the plan. But to be tailored to only those without a care in the world is missing the map entirely as well.

If I want to go to a place with a bunch of pampered clowns spending phoney earnings...I'll go to Dubai

Or DC This is kind of why I stopped going(had a bad vibe about the direction they were heading) I know you are DVC so it might be a little harder for you. Although I think you are and original DVC owner so you can get out and make some money on the deal. I've found lots of great and relaxing places to vacation since that don't cost nearly as much.

Off topic but I see you are from Jersey, I grew up in Jersey.

 

[Networth]

You guys do realize taking screenshots or printing out FP+ selections and than showing a CM will do nothing. If they "manually" remove our FP+ choices showing them a screenshot will not do anything. Its not like making a online purchase and needed proof etc. They are testing the system and reserve the right to change/remove choices. Read the legal if your bored enough.

 

[kenthanson]

We tested FastPass+ all the way back in December 2012 at MK and Hollywood Studios. During that test the tiers were utilized and frankly I'm surprised they were ever eliminated during later testing.

If you look at average attendance, there just isn't enough attraction capacity for everyone entering the park to ride every headliner. Epcot's 11 mil annual attendance averages about 30,000 per day. In a 12-hour operating day, Soarin can only accommodate half of the people entering the park with capacity of about 1300-1500 guests per hour.

Of course, not everyone wishes to ride every headliner. We've entered parks before just to wander, just to shop, just to dine. Even when we go to Epcot, we don't feel compelled to ride Test Track or Soarin every single time. But the thing that's impossible to quantify is exactly how many people fall into this "no plans to ride" group.

But then you have to look beyond averages and realize there are days when Epcot will draw 50,000...with less than 1/3 able to ride Soarin.

Disney doesn't want FP+ pre-booked weeks in advance. They need to be able to market a system where people entering the park day-of will still find ride times available. The only realistic way to do that is to make each guest choose between a reservation for Soarin OR Test Track OR fireworks viewing OR some similar experience.

Same is true at Hollywood Studios. Toy Story Mania and Rock n Rollercoaster cannot accommodate every guest. They'll have to force people to choose.

I always though the most equitable way of implementing FP+ would be to allow a certain number of pre-booked ride reservations and then allow for additional selections upon park entry.

Or they could turn it into a pay-for-play option so that only a fraction of theme park guests can pre-book. Giving some benefits to Disney hotel guests and pass holders for free, with others coming at a cost is one logical approach.

A nice, logical and well reasoned response.

 

[skier_pete]

Why is everyone so shocked and outraged by this. When FP+ was originally announced and tested, this was how it was presented, that there would be two tiers of pre-booked FP.

Face it, not everyone is going to be happy. If you let everyone book Soarin, Test Track and Maelstrom, then the people that want to go to the park last minute (such as AP holders) are going to be upset they can't get any FP for the prime rides. If you limit the # of prime rides, last minuters will be happy that they've left some FP available for them, but the planners will be pissed they can't schedule all the rides.

I think I'll save my anger until the "final" system is actually in place. I never expected it to be an improvement anyways. I used to be able to get 5-8 FP per day, and if the new system limits me to 3, that won't be an improvement. However, I will just use the system as best as it can be used.

 

[MommaChip]

I was able to make ours with multiple headliners..but was not able to select illuminations or character spot... any ideas??

 

[MommaChip]

Also, I thought you were supposed to be able to reserve fastpasses for parades and some restuarants, namely be our guest for lunch. Anyone have any luck with that?

 

[tjkraz]

Everything is still in a testing phase. Options will come...options will go. Policies can change on-the-fly.

It's basically "what you see is what you get" until they go live and establish set policies.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I tend to fear the same thing...and in someways it's always been this way.

What if the drunken suits now feel like it has to be six
Figures at the barest of minimums to have earned "the privilege"?

But those that see "no problem" with this tact...and even outwardly support it...are standing on the tracks in front of the train in 99% of the cases. They will get steamrolled too.

Kinda like when the old man votes for political candidates who are financed by the type of guys who closed down the business he worked in to ship it somewhere else... And now his kids and grand kids live in a collapsing town with no livelihoods or hope...
And yet he still pulls the lever. It's like Stockholm Syndrome. Obey your oppressor.

I never said that disney parks should be affordable to everyone...that was never the plan. But to be tailored to only those without a care in the world is missing the map entirely as well.

If I want to go to a place with a bunch of pampered clowns spending phoney earnings...I'll go to Dubai

I don't normally agree with a lot of things you say on here, but you've been spot on throughout this thread.

 

[mjstaceyuofm]

We went down and tested Magic Bands and FP+ Nov. 2-4. Hit DHS, MK, then Epcot. We were able to book all top-tier attractions with our 3 FP+ selections per day. No tiering at all for our test phase. Did TSMM, RnRC, ToT at DHS, All 3 mountains on FP+ at MK and Soarin', TT and MS at Epcot. We are DVC and bought annual passes with the DVC discount. Associating tickets, room keys, etc. to the magic bands (presumably because all were booked/bought separately) was ridiculously painful. Thank goodness we had patience. We bought the APs last year when DVC had a crazy good deal on them and were using a voucher code. That confused the heck out of will call to redeem our AP's and put them on the MB. Then they tied the wrong APs to the magic bands. Their solution was to cross out our names and re-write names with a sharpie associating the cards to the right person... Then we had to visit the front desk 2x to get my wife and youngest son's magic bands to open the door to our room.

All in all, I think the system has potential, but there are so many kinks it is most definitely not ready for prime-time. Not to mention the FP lines for the bigger attractions (in all parks) were ridiculously long just to scan your magic band and get in line. The line for BTMRR extended to the briar patch shop. No joke.... And the FP line to Soarin' took 20 minutes from the time we entered the queue until we were lined up to watch the boarding video. Ouch.

I can honestly see tiering of rides and distribution of FP+ based on resort level becoming a reality. The entitled class aren't going to be willing to spend that kind of money and get hosed on park experience. Disney doesn't want to see that money walk... Just one of my opinions on this whole thing. I have a lot more opinions, but I think one we can agree on is that if WDW had more "Top Tier" attractions in every park the system would work better. It's a shame they didn't take some of that $1 billion for this system and put it towards rides/experiences....

 

[robpa]

We went down and tested Magic Bands and FP+ Nov. 2-4. Hit DHS, MK, then Epcot. We were able to book all top-tier attractions with our 3 FP+ selections per day. No tiering at all for our test phase. Did TSMM, RnRC, ToT at DHS, All 3 mountains on FP+ at MK and Soarin', TT and MS at Epcot. We are DVC and bought annual passes with the DVC discount. Associating tickets, room keys, etc. to the magic bands (presumably because all were booked/bought separately) was ridiculously painful. Thank goodness we had patience. We bought the APs last year when DVC had a crazy good deal on them and were using a voucher code. That confused the heck out of will call to redeem our AP's and put them on the MB. Then they tied the wrong APs to the magic bands. Their solution was to cross out our names and re-write names with a sharpie associating the cards to the right person... Then we had to visit the front desk 2x to get my wife and youngest son's magic bands to open the door to our room.

All in all, I think the system has potential, but there are so many kinks it is most definitely not ready for prime-time. Not to mention the FP lines for the bigger attractions (in all parks) were ridiculously long just to scan your magic band and get in line. The line for BTMRR extended to the briar patch shop. No joke.... And the FP line to Soarin' took 20 minutes from the time we entered the queue until we were lined up to watch the boarding video. Ouch.

I can honestly see tiering of rides and distribution of FP+ based on resort level becoming a reality. The entitled class aren't going to be willing to spend that kind of money and get hosed on park experience. Disney doesn't want to see that money walk... Just one of my opinions on this whole thing. I have a lot more opinions, but I think one we can agree on is that if WDW had more "Top Tier" attractions in every park the system would work better. It's a shame they didn't take some of that $1 billion for this system and put it towards rides/experiences....

Someone posted a link about how this is supposed to work with attractions in Avatarland. I didn't read the entire article but it seemed like it would be rather cool. So I guess they had to outlay money for this step to get to the next. Although $1 billion seems like an awful lot to pay. However seeing how many problems they have had with step 1 who knows how long it would take to get step 2 operational.