A CM called me today to talk about FP+

[JZCubed]

September could actually be quite nice. The off peak times is usually marred by glitches not FP demand. One would think the software, hardware, website will continue to improve. One would think.

First, let me thank OP for the detailed outline. Thank you.

Next, one would think Disney would have made certain that MDE was working perfectly before moving on to another phase of testing (i.e., adding AP holders to the FP+ frenzy).

Frankly, the idea that a Disney 'manager' is still expecting numerous glitches through summer is lousy.

Because here's the thing - "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

I am not sure I want to be fooled twice into believing that a broken database will miraculously be transformed. Matter of fact, I have already been fooled for a second trip with the countless hours I just had to spend fixing my profile because of a broken database and incompetent Cast Members. It's not the planning that bothers me, it's a broken database and the belief that new functionality can be added before the original kinks are repaired.

I just cannot understand why Disney moves on to the next phase before they fix what is currently broken.

Let's start with the most basic - go to My Disney Experience and 'click' on My Itinerary. You get nothing of value. At this point in the process - Disney shows no shame in fixing what is obviously broken.

I have no faith that all will be better after the summer until I see fixed something that has been broken for many months.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

We were planning a trip in May but I pushed it back to November since I don't want to go during the testing period. I'm very hopeful this will all be worked out by then, otherwise I'll bump the November trip to May 2015.

At least this information is a little encouraging, in the end I go by everyone's personal reports.

 

[ilovemk76]

So they are hoping that guests will learn how to use the band at the Mickey head, and that's going to make the lines start moving faster.

But I thought WDW was primarily first time visitors. If that's the case, how does that ever get better?
You really cannot figure this out? The first day they do 3 FP+s. The second day they do 3 more and then 3 more the third day. By the 4th day, they have done this FP+ thing 9 times. They are no longer novices.


And on behalf of all those visitors who were unwilling guinea pigs in Disney's test....... I'm so happy they all got big fat discounts.

I would much rather be on vacation and having a great time then trying to convince everybody about my great knowledge of something that I have never used. You can enjoy typing the same sarcastic stuff (even when it is against the rules) all day long, day after day after day, but I rather enjoy visiting WDW with my family and friends.

 

[2Tiggies]

We were planning a trip in May but I pushed it back to November since I don't want to go during the testing period. I'm very hopeful this will all be worked out by then, otherwise I'll bump the November trip to May 2015.

At least this information is a little encouraging, in the end I go by everyone's personal reports.

Lol, you sound like me. I was thankful in October, in a twisted way, that I had needed to cancel that trip. At the time I felt I'd dodged a bullet in booking for June this year. I can't change again so I'm hoping for the best. I think this system is going to continue evolving well past November too, but the OP's information has offered a small thread of hope.

 

[ilovemk76]

Playing devils advocate for a minute. On a 5 day vacation, a first time visitor is going to line up their Mickey band at least 20 times. 5 times for admission and 15 times for FP+'s. As CM get better, they will be able to "train" the guests so that by the 3rd or 4th time they are old pros. So, for the other 16 or 17 times things will go smoothly.

The other issue right now is you're now only "training" first time visitors but untraining and retraining long time but infrequent visitors. Retraining repeat visitor may take longer. For the first time visitor, FP+ and MB and Mickey Heads is all they ever know. For the long time visitor, who kept their paper FP in a lanyard around their neck, they may have a tendency to continue to reach for their lanyard subconsciously even though they "know" they have a MB.

Friend of mine in the military have said it's much easier to teach someone to shoot who's never held a gun compared to someone who had been hunting. Because the hunter needs to unlearn habits.

It is not rocket science. We both prefer our bands with the heads on the side.

If we use different arms, DH and I wear our bands with the Mickey head on the outside of our wrists. If we use the same arm, one wears their band with the Mickey head on the outside of our wrists and the other on the inside. It makes scanning them really easy. We can access both FP+ return lines at the same time and go thru very fast. I usually do the inside of my wrist and then turn it back to the outside after the reader.

I am certain others will notice our extreme talent, and copy us.


ETA: \We figured this out after the first day we used the band. (not sure if it was the park entrance or the first FP+)

 

[2Tiggies]

I am certain others will notice our extreme talent, and copy us.

I have a confession to make ... consider yourself copied That's a great idea!

 

[Minniesgal]

Playing devils advocate for a minute. On a 5 day vacation, a first time visitor is going to line up their Mickey band at least 20 times. 5 times for admission and 15 times for FP+'s. As CM get better, they will be able to "train" the guests so that by the 3rd or 4th time they are old pros. So, for the other 16 or 17 times things will go smoothly. The other issue right now is you're now only "training" first time visitors but untraining and retraining long time but infrequent visitors. Retraining repeat visitor may take longer. For the first time visitor, FP+ and MB and Mickey Heads is all they ever know. For the long time visitor, who kept their paper FP in a lanyard around their neck, they may have a tendency to continue to reach for their lanyard subconsciously even though they "know" they have a MB. Friend of mine in the military have said it's much easier to teach someone to shoot who's never held a gun compared to someone who had been hunting. Because the hunter needs to unlearn habits.

No being funny but how long does it take anyway to figure out how to line up a band to a Mickey head. The delays are more due to the bands not working and/or people chancing there luck and getting in without FP+s by claiming things are buggy. Once that is tightened up should speed up

 

[sWDWcopeland]

No being funny but how long does it take anyway to figure out how to line up a band to a Mickey head.

Harder than you think. They have to be in the 100% right place, close doesn't cut it (unless they have changed since December). And it's not just a blue or green light that comes on when it's aligned......the light goes in circles and takes a few seconds before you (and the CM) realize if it's green or blue. Although the light spinning around the big Mickey icon is cute, it would have been faster if a light on top or something similar lit up immediately.
You wouldn't think a few extra seconds per guest would make much of a difference but factoring in 3 seconds (just guessing here) per guest at entry turnstiles, and twice through fastpass+ lines does add up over the course of a day and result in taking longer to accomplish the goal of entry (turnstiles & rides).

 

[JimmyV]

Harder than you think.

The plastic admission tickets work much, much better. The day I don a MB is the day that there is no other option. So far, plastic cards remain a viable alternative. I saw too many frustrated parents twisting the bejeezus out of their 5 year olds' arms trying to do the Mickey Mind Meld. They were frustrated. The kids were frustrated (and sore), and all this frustration does is make people more nervous and less efficient.

 

[2Tiggies]

The plastic admission tickets work much, much better. The day I don a MB is the day that there is no other option. So far, plastic cards remain a viable alternative. I saw too many frustrated parents twisting the bejeezus out of their 5 year olds' arms trying to do the Mickey Mind Meld. They were frustrated. The kids were frustrated (and sore), and all this frustration does is make people more nervous and less efficient.

Did you manage to get a KTTW card on your last trip? I'm fine with MB's but I don't have a small child. I'm curious on behalf of friends for whom this may be a more workable alternative. I know you should be able to get a MB but was it easy to just request one or did the CM not seem to know about this option when you checked in? Sorry about all the questions. There is so much conflicting information based on totally different experiences out at the moment.

This is by far the most complicated trip I have ever planned and we have less scheduled for this trip (by past standards) than any other we have taken

 

[Itinkso]

The plastic admission tickets work much, much better.

I agree! The moment we touched our plastic Guest Passes to the tapstile, it was an immediate "green." I had been anticipating a few moments of waiting but that never happened at any of the tapstiles over nine days of usage.

I did notice a few guests who would pull their MBs out of their pockets and hold them onto the tapstile and it still took a few seconds. I wonder if it's just that the MB database search is much slower than a direct ticket search.

 

[JimmyV]

Did you manage to get a KTTW card on your last trip? I'm fine with MB's but I don't have a small child. I'm curious on behalf of friends for whom this may be a more workable alternative. I know you should be able to get a MB but was it easy to just request one or did the CM not seem to know about this option when you checked in? Sorry about all the questions. There is so much conflicting information based on totally different experiences out at the moment.

This is by far the most complicated trip I have ever planned and we have less scheduled for this trip (by past standards) than any other we have taken

I bought our tickets long before FP+ had even been announced and received them in the mail. We stayed at the Dolphin, so MB wasn't even an option. But if you book a room and ADRs through Disney and buy tickets from UT or AAA and get hard plastic, you can have those transferred over to a MB, but I do not believe that you are required to.

 

[msdroz]

- Goal is to be completely rolled out by the start summer
.

Gosh I hope you are right! We debated between September and June and decided on June so we don't have to pull my son out of school. After booking I found out about the one park a day rule and that's very disappointing as we purchased park hoppers too. I really do hope it is all adjusted by summer!

 

[bcrook]

Gosh I hope you are right! We debated between September and June and decided on June so we don't have to pull my son out of school. After booking I found out about the one park a day rule and that's very disappointing as we purchased park hoppers too. I really do hope it is all adjusted by summer!

Fully rolled out is referring to having all guests on line, not necessarily removing tiers, increasing FP numbers, or adding hopping.

 

[msdroz]

Fully rolled out is referring to having all guests on line, not necessarily removing tiers, increasing FP numbers, or adding hopping.

I guess we'll be guinea pigs for market research We don't get to Disney often so I really need to stop stressing about it. It is what it is *sigh*

 

[bcrook]

I guess we'll be guinea pigs for market research We don't get to Disney often so I really need to stop stressing about it. It is what it is *sigh*

It will be different, but...

Rope drop, stay late, use your three FP. It will be fine. Enjoy your trip. You are right, it is what is.

 

[JimmyV]

It will be different, but...

Rope drop, stay late, use your three FP. It will be fine. Enjoy your trip. You are right, it is what is.

Yep. Right now, the antidote to FP+ is RD. Which is why we won't be going back until the final iteration of FP+ is established, hopefully with some real improvements. 5 straight days of RDs with early operational hours took its toll. RD with 9:00 openings is far more user-friendly than RD with 8:00 openings. If you go in the "off" season, most parks open at 9:00 which really helps.

 

[2Tiggies]

I bought our tickets long before FP+ had even been announced and received them in the mail. We stayed at the Dolphin, so MB wasn't even an option. But if you book a room and ADRs through Disney and buy tickets from UT or AAA and get hard plastic, you can have those transferred over to a MB, but I do not believe that you are required to.

Thanks

Yep. Right now, the antidote to FP+ is RD. Which is why we won't be going back until the final iteration of FP+ is established, hopefully with some real improvements. 5 straight days of RDs with early operational hours took its toll. RD with 9:00 openings is far more user-friendly than RD with 8:00 openings. If you go in the "off" season, most parks open at 9:00 which really helps.

Rope drop is great but as you say, there is a limit to how many consecutive days you can back-to-back rope drops and late nights. I am also not too reassured about rope drop being the solution to all these challenges right now because previously, nobody was running through the FP line at 8 am ....

 

[JimmyV]

Thanks



Rope drop is great but as you say, there is a limit to how many consecutive days you can back-to-back rope drops and late nights. I am also not too reassured about rope drop being the solution to all these challenges right now because previously, nobody was running through the FP line at 8 am ....

The benefits of RD are indeed watered down a bit. But at Epcot and DHS (with tiers and limited headliners), that benefit is still huge. I cannot envision doing both Soarin' and TT, or all three of TSM, RnR and ToT in the same day without knocking off the non-FP rides in the first 10 minutes of park opening.

 

[2Tiggies]

The benefits of RD are indeed watered down a bit. But at Epcot and DHS (with tiers and limited headliners), that benefit is still huge. I cannot envision doing both Soarin' and TT, or all three of TSM, RnR and ToT in the same day without knocking off the non-FP rides in the first 10 minutes of park opening.

Yes, common sense is starting to prevail for me in that regard, with the deepest thanks to those who have kept me informed by posting their experiences and advice. I have all our plans for this trip running through the printer as I speak because I am about to sit down with DD and re-hash them all taking into account the above. Never put as much work into a trip ever! And yet here I am back to the drawing board yet again. Now watch them change it all before my FP window opens up and then again once I've booked them