New DisneyParksBlog on MyMagic+ and FP+

[SaraJayne]

Originally Posted by skater

Isn't it funny that we all believe the sound posts are the ones we agree with . I'm not being snarky - its that way for most of us .

Yes, it is human nature.

[Melodious]

Originally Posted by Waddler

Yeah! It's already waiting at your door and $30 has been charged to your account. Call 1-800-W-DISNEY to opt out.

There are some days it would definitely be money well spent In fact many hotels I've stayed at in Europe I swear it did cost that much. I just don't find it terrible for them to use data to try to personalize experiences or marketing *shrugs*

[beccy1606]

My family (all adults!) are those lunatics taking it in turns to run off and grab fastpasses for everyone in our party lol, so the part about being able to pre-book them sounds like a fantastic idea to us!

It was a pain in the **** having to split up and of course, the rest of us couldn't queue for anything else while we waited for the 'runner' to get back anyway! It would be great for someone like me who likes to plan our days with military precision lol.

My main concern would be a limit to the number you can have in a day. We used the fastpass system all day long; every time our current window for a ride opened, we would grab fastpasses for something else and ride shorter queues in between to maximise how much we could fit in. (With limited time at the parks and coming all the way from the UK that's imperative!).
We also like to park hop so if there is also a one park per day limit that may also be problematic!

Another good thing about the bands though would not be having millions of pieces of paper flying around or the millions of different photocards we somehow ended up with! All photos on one wristband would also be a good thing for us!

With regards to losing the bands, there are pros and cons. I like the idea of combining things as much as possible and only having one thing to worry about (reducing the risk of losing things). On the flip side, if you do lose the band, you lose everything at once (room key, money, photos, fastpasses, park ticket) lol! Hmmm.... think i'm still undecided!

[Melodious]

Originally Posted by Planogirl

Why is it that some people can't see that everyone doesn't tour in the same way? Some people are unhappy because this new technology doesn't appear to fit their touring style so it's understandable that they would be critical. There always has to be a group who bash them for not finding everything involving Disney to be perfect though.

Personally, I don't want to preplan my trips to such a large degree. I don't want to be tied to a particular park and to rides and show so far in advance. It just doesn't suit me. It also won't keep me from visiting other area attractions which I'm sure is at least part of the goal here.

You are correct. It will not suit everyone, nothing does. I think part of the problem is that we still don't actually know how it will be implemented and whether it will look different six months after that. Also, the previous FP system didn't work for me so I'm simply expressing my own opinion that I am excited and looking forward to a new system. My positive opinion is just as valid since no one cared that I didn't like old fastpass with enforcement. I just had to deal with it

[GoofEeyore26]

Originally Posted by Ryansdad0727

Ii think I will keep my paper ticket and continue to hoard FP's first thing in the morning. Even with the "new" FP policy we can still easily use 5 to 8 FP's in a day. And with child swap...forgetaboutit... How will they check at the rides for EMH with no key card..... Are they going to scan everyone?

Originally Posted by mmmhf

Obviously I'm hoping that when the site is functioning I will be able to book at 60 days just like I can with dining at 180. If not I will go and still enjoy. No big deal. It doesn't look like they are doing away with regular fastpass so I will have that (I'm sure fewer but we rarely use them anyway). I'm not worried. It will all workout.

Just a heads up, they WILL be doing away with the current Fast Pass system. An EVP indicated as such on an interview with an Orlando TV station yesterday. The goal is to have everyone opt-in to using the RFID so they can target, mine, and gather information - if they don't "force" this opt-in the projected revenue will fall apart. Don't for a second think Disney is making a 2 billion dollar investment just for guest "experience." It's a business.

Originally Posted by bcrook

That is one good thing about this FP+ - it isn't going to be able to replace EMH. If anything, EMH will be needed to be expanded now so that onsite guests can actually ride the headliners more than once.

The goal is to eventually phase out EMH completely because they are losing money having the parks open those extra hours (hence already cutting Evening EMH). The benefit of staying onsite will be the 60 day window for FP+.



One thing that bothers me is that we like to park hop. This system appears to be set up to deter people from doing that. You can only book FP+ for one park a day, AND you will not be able to get FP at another park. So you're essentially left with waiting on lines at the end of the day or beginning...your choice. I for one try to avoid lines at all costs, and this will be a problem.

[luulu1999]

Originally Posted by AaronInWI

Meh, I'm going to hold off until people actually start using it before passing judgement. Right now, my biggest concern is the tan line that I'll get on my wrist.

And for the record, we only go once every 2-3 years, and I still consider our infrequent trips very relaxing. If an attraction has a shorter wait time, we ride/see it. If not, we move on. We enjoy what we do experience, and don't stress about what we don't get to experience. Makes for a much more enjoyable trip. But that may not fit everybody's idea of a successful Disney trip, either.

We went to DL for Christmas and it was our first trip ever and that's how we were we would just go on the ones with the shortest waits....we had a few must do's that we would wait a little longer but if it said more than 30 mins we skipped it!!

I too would like to have more facts before making a decision to me I don't think its too bad of an idea once the kinks get worked out...im sure at first it will be a little hectic

[UNCFanatik]

Originally Posted by GoofEeyore26

One thing that bothers me is that we like to park hop. This system appears to be set up to deter people from doing that. You can only book FP+ for one park a day, AND you will not be able to get FP at another park. So you're essentially left with waiting on lines at the end of the day or beginning...your choice. I for one try to avoid lines at all costs, and this will be a problem.

I would still think one could park hop effectively under the proposed FP+ program. There will still be that segment of people that do not want to get up early on vacation and do rope drop. You could make Rope Drop at one park and minimize your time in line and then hop over to another park where you have made your allotment of FP+ reservations. Personally, this would be my daily strategy when/if FP+ meant the eventual demise of the regular FPs. I would park hop MORE not less.

[luulu1999]

Originally Posted by txaggie94gigem

I think I will treat them like the Kttw cards....I will carry all the little ones in my backpack....one thing I wish they would offer is a nonremovable one for little kids that way if they get lost CMs can get info on how to contact parents! And kids do get lost from good parents! so there could be some positives from this system....

Thats a really good idea for the lost kids....I only have two kids and will keep their bracelets with me!!

[GoofEeyore26]

Originally Posted by UNCFanatik

I would still think one could park hop effectively under the proposed FP+ program. There will still be that segment of people that do not want to get up early on vacation and do rope drop. You could make Rope Drop at one park and minimize your time in line and then hop over to another park where you have made your allotment of FP+ reservations. Personally, this would be my daily strategy when/if FP+ meant the eventual demise of the regular FPs. I would park hop MORE not less.

You make a good point, i was actually thinking the same thing. One problem is usually after the first 1.5 hours in a park the lines get past what i'm willing to wait (30 min). That is usually when we pull out the fast passes. Also for that second park you will really only have FP+ for 2 rides that need it, not 3.


I will say it will be nice to have reservations for popular rides the day we arrive.

[Mad Hattered]

Yeah, the stupid blog wouldn't post my response. I just love how they are making themselves look good and that people agree with this move. I think the joke will be on Disney.

[mmmhf]

Originally Posted by GoofEeyore26

Just a heads up, they WILL be doing away with the current Fast Pass system. An EVP indicated as such on an interview with an Orlando TV station yesterday. The goal is to have everyone opt-in to using the RFID so they can target, mine, and gather information - if they don't "force" this opt-in the projected revenue will fall apart. Don't for a second think Disney is making a 2 billion dollar investment just for guest "experience." It's a business.

The goal is to eventually phase out EMH completely because they are losing money having the parks open those extra hours (hence already cutting Evening EMH). The benefit of staying onsite will be the 60 day window for FP+.

That is what I am worried about. We are going in June and planning to stay in Wyndham Bonnet Creek but I am afraid to make the reservation because I don't know exactly what is going to happen with the Magic Bands and Fastass+. I'm so confused. I don't want to lose the opportunity for fastpass so I'm in a dilemma. When can we expect to know more information? In June will regular fastpass be gone? Struggling to make the commitment to off site. I just wish I knew more!!!!

What's everyone thinking? (I realize this all opinion at this point) Will offsite guests not be able to make fastpass+ reservations 60 out? They have to accommodate offsite guests somehow. (Hopefully!) I can't imagine disney only allowing on site guests to have a fastpass and offsite no option at all. Of coure they could make offsite guests pay for it like universal and in that case it may be worth staying onsite. CONFUSED!!!

[skp]

I think everyone is really getting caught up in the "3 fastpass thing" which has not been officially announced by Disney.

I can totally see Disney offering more FP per person depending on the time of year. Christmas week? You only get 3 pp. A Tuesday in February? You get 5 pp.

Disney has ALWAYS catered to those with more money who invest in the property. Celebrities, Golden Oak Ranch Owners, Rich people who can afford tours, and every perk has always been slanted towards who has more money and/or more knowledge and just plain luck.

I think people just hate change. Those of us who find ways to squeeze as much out of disney as we can will learn to work this system to our advantage, just like old systems.

As the population grows, and with the expansion of credit in the last 30 years, I'd say a Disney vacation is more possible for most families and parks that used to comfortably hold a high of 30,000 people now regularly hold 40,000 and Disney is going to keep trying to find ways to better satisfy MORE of those people per day so that they continue to spend money while theyre there AND they continue to come back.

If it completely sucks, Its much easier to fine tune an electronic system, than it is to fix an entire park (California Adventure for example) so let Disney try to make the experience better, and possibly fail, only to give us something even better. I'm excited to invest in a really cute wristband with my name on it, and possibly some AP details that reg guests won't get. When we go, we rarely commando the day, so if I cant plan to do Space Mtn next Tuesday, maybe I'll get to it next month. Thats not any different than how we do Disney now...

Im excited...

[ScrampShopper]

Do I need to create a MY Disney Experience account for my husband? I do all the trip planning and I have an AP, my hubby will have a 10 day hopper (not yet purchased), and we are staying at Beach Club. Will I be able to book FP+ for everyone on my reservation, or does each adult need their own account linked to the reservation and have their tix/AP pre-registered? I hope they let me do it for the whole room and assume that my hubby will have a valid entry into the park for the day, just like booking ADR's.

This is too complicated. The only thing I don't have a problem with is the wristbands!!

[Disney_Ohana]

Originally Posted by skp

I think people just hate change. Those of us who find ways to squeeze as much out of disney as we can will learn to work this system to our advantage, just like old systems.

If it completely sucks, Its much easier to fine tune an electronic system, than it is to fix an entire park (California Adventure for example) so let Disney try to make the experience better, and possibly fail, only to give us something even better. I'm excited to invest in a really cute wristband with my name on it, and possibly some AP details that reg guests won't get. When we go, we rarely commando the day, so if I cant plan to do Space Mtn next Tuesday, maybe I'll get to it next month. Thats not any different than how we do Disney now...

Im excited...

I agree.

I'm excited too!

[Planogirl]

Originally Posted by Melodious

You are correct. It will not suit everyone, nothing does. I think part of the problem is that we still don't actually know how it will be implemented and whether it will look different six months after that. Also, the previous FP system didn't work for me so I'm simply expressing my own opinion that I am excited and looking forward to a new system. My positive opinion is just as valid since no one cared that I didn't like old fastpass with enforcement. I just had to deal with it

I agree with you 100%. I was referring more to the posts about paranoia and never being happy and not liking change and so on. I don't consider myself particularly paranoid and I'm pathetically easy to please. Plus I love change if it's fun and/or logical. I do hope that the new system works well for you.

Originally Posted by UNCFanatik

I would still think one could park hop effectively under the proposed FP+ program. There will still be that segment of people that do not want to get up early on vacation and do rope drop. You could make Rope Drop at one park and minimize your time in line and then hop over to another park where you have made your allotment of FP+ reservations. Personally, this would be my daily strategy when/if FP+ meant the eventual demise of the regular FPs. I would park hop MORE not less.

That can be difficult during busy times. Many of the rides can be inundated after only a few hours but this could of course change with people more evenly distributed if that comes to pass.

Originally Posted by Mad Hattered

Yeah, the stupid blog wouldn't post my response. I just love how they are making themselves look good and that people agree with this move. I think the joke will be on Disney.

This is why I haven't bothered to post there. My view is somewhere in the middle so I imagine that they won't want to hear it.