All FP machines to be removed from Animal Kingdom by next week and....

[Mkrop]

Many users of the new DAS are now using FP+ as well as the system for disabilities. FP+ is easier for many with disabilities to use because you don't have run across the park to get them.

That is a good point that I had not thought of...thanks!

 

[doconeill]

Don't they need to give us an incentive to stay onsite? If you drive ME isn't incentive. EMH is not enforced so anyone can do that. Still not an incentive if it's enforced IMO. Dining plans are not a value unless they're free.

Please explain.

 

[Vidia2]

Please explain.

I've never had my KTTW card checked during evening EMH. It's probably enforced during morning EMH to be able to enter the park but there aren't enough EMHs at all to make it worth staying onsite anyway.

 

[doconeill]

I've never had my KTTW card checked during evening EMH. It's probably enforced during morning EMH to be able to enter the park but there aren't enough EMHs at all to make it worth staying onsite anyway.

I haven't done evening EMH much lately, but the few times I have, I was checked at at least the E-ticket entrances.

As I understand it, they are supposed to be checking magicbands/KTTW cards now with portable units connected to iPads.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

That's not necessarily true. Disney just wants people to stay onsite and go to their parks instead of somewhere else. I don't think they really care if you book your FPs 60 days in advance or 1, or if you arrive at the park at opening or at noon.

I do think they care if you book your FP+ in advance, since they're spending the time and money to send out info to families who book even room-only reservations, with fridge magnets listing the date you can book your FP+. It's part of locking you in.

I won't try to define what is most "fair". However, my two personal concerns: (1) I have a child who has motion sensitivity issues and doesn't know what he can handle until he is at the park, starting to ride. Do I take a risk weeks ahead and hope this will be the day he finally feels ready for BTMRR? (2) We tend to start vacations at the end of week. When the system is being fully utilized, will I have trouble booking certain rides if everyone else's sixty-day window started six days earlier?

 

[Robo]

As I understand it, they are supposed to be checking magicbands/KTTW cards now with portable units connected to iPads.

Yes.
The reason that I'm familiar with this is that I've read CM reports that the batteries needed to operate those devices have been running down and some have been dying completely due to the continuous hard use.
The CM info was that the batteries specified can't take the discharge-recharge regime and the costs to replace all of the units or batteries was a part of the ongoing unforeseen higher costs to continue MM+ tests and operation.

Don't know the accuracy, but knowing how much hard use these devices would get, it sounds plausible.

 

[Vidia2]

I haven't done evening EMH much lately, but the few times I have, I was checked at at least the E-ticket entrances. As I understand it, they are supposed to be checking magicbands/KTTW cards now with portable units connected to iPads.

We don't use it often because the touring guides always advise against it. It hasn't been an incentive for us at all.

 

[doconeill]

Yes.
The reason that I'm familiar with this is that I've read CM reports that the batteries needed to operate those devices have been running down and some have been dying completely due to the continuous hard use.
The CM info was that the batteries specified can't take the discharge-recharge regime and the costs to replace all of the units or batteries was a part of the ongoing unforeseen higher costs to continue MM+ tests and operation.

Don't know the accuracy, but knowing how much use these devices would get, it sounds plausible.

Which again makes me not understand why they don't use the existing touchpoints to verify access.

 

[doconeill]

We don't use it often because the touring guides always advise against it. It hasn't been an incentive for us at all.

Then it seems that there is nothing they currently offer that entices you to stay onsite...

 

[Robo]

Which again makes me not understand why they don't use the existing touchpoints to verify access.

As you know, currently, the attraction touchpoints only register whether the wearer has a FP+ window open at that time.

I suppose at "park closing time" at an EMH park, a new program could start running that would light the green Mickey only if a guest was currently staying on-site.

(Oh good! MORE NEW SOFTWARE!!)

And, there are not touchpoints at ALL the attractions, of course.

 

[Laketravis]

I think this could be kind of tricky for Disney.

While park revenue and attendance are up this year, a glimpse at the details reveals:

Park and Resort Revenue is up due to price increases, not volume.

Resort occupancy is down YTD over the same period last year.

Increased attendance is coming from off-site guests.

(Source: Disney FY13 SEC 10Q filing)

So they need to come up with something to fill those empty resort rooms, but they also need to keep those off-site guests happy.

 

[doconeill]

As you know, currently, the attraction touchpoints only register whether the wearer has a FP+ window open at that time.

I suppose at "park closing time" at an EMH park, a new program could start running that would light the green Mickey only if a guest was currently staying on-site.

(Oh good! MORE NEW SOFTWARE!!)

Well, they are connected to a screen that can display information on what is scanned...and connect to the computers that say "yea" or "nay". I don't think it would be that much of a stretch to be able to switch to "EMH mode".

Beside, what's one more buggy bit of software at this point?

And, there are not touchpoints at ALL the attractions, of course.

But quite a few at least, enough to be effective.

I don't think anyone's going to "cheat EMH" just to ride the Liberty Belle for two hours.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I don't think anyone's going to "cheat EMH" just to ride the Liberty Belle for two hours.

Five minutes ago I wasn't going to. But you sir, are brilliant!

 

[Vidia2]

Then it seems that there is nothing they currently offer that entices you to stay onsite...

We usually get the dining plan so have stayed onsite for that. We did the math on the last trip and we paid for more food than we got so it's gone down hill. Free dining and advanced FP+ are incentive. If advanced FP+ is available to offsite then that becomes very attractive. I'd rather stay at Universal and alternate parks and use express pass + there. I think there are entire threads on this topic already though. LOL

 

[Vidia2]

I don't think anyone's going to "cheat EMH" just to ride the Liberty Belle for two hours.

I think some people would cheat (and do) just on principle because no one should get to be in the park when they can't. But you're right. It probably wouldn't be a substantial amount of people.

Some EMH hours are worth it because who doesn't want to be at MK at 3 am to witness every variation of meltdown?

Touring guides never recommend these parks though so if you follow those you are avoiding them until EMH and then not making the trip because it's not worth the one extra hour.

 

[bcrook]

I think this could be kind of tricky for Disney.

While park revenue and attendance are up this year, a glimpse at the details reveals:

Park and Resort Revenue is up due to price increases, not volume.

Resort occupancy is down YTD over the same period last year.

Increased attendance is coming from off-site guests.

(Source: Disney FY13 SEC 10Q filing)

So they need to come up with something to fill those empty resort rooms, but they also need to keep those off-site guests happy.

Insightful. That is a trick.

Disney can keep hoping that universal keeps adding great new rides, because everyone has convinced me around here that new attractions at universal helps Disney more than park building the rides. Harry Potter London opening this summer should be a gold mine for Disney. So I've been told.

 

[mom2rtk]

As you know, currently, the attraction touchpoints only register whether the wearer has a FP+ window open at that time.

I suppose at "park closing time" at an EMH park, a new program could start running that would light the green Mickey only if a guest was currently staying on-site.

(Oh good! MORE NEW SOFTWARE!!)

And, there are not touchpoints at ALL the attractions, of course.

Sounds like a great excuse......errrrrr........ reason....... to limit the attractions open during EMH.

 

[wisblue]

Right. Otherwise, there would be no such thing as EMH's and other perks like....like.....like.....okay, I can't remember the others but EMH is definitely one of them.

So Disney does it, Universal does it (FOTL and early admission), I suppose it wouldn't be unusual for off-site guests to not have access to an FP system if Disney decided they wanted to keep that option for on-site guests only.

Unless, of course, Disney believed the Standby line situation would be so bad for off-site guests that it wouldn't meet even a minimum level of guest satisfaction.

That's why I expect offsite guests to have at least some, if not equal, access to FP+.

 

[clsteve]

I think this could be kind of tricky for Disney.

While park revenue and attendance are up this year, a glimpse at the details reveals:

Park and Resort Revenue is up due to price increases, not volume.

Resort occupancy is down YTD over the same period last year.

Increased attendance is coming from off-site guests.

(Source: Disney FY13 SEC 10Q filing)

So they need to come up with something to fill those empty resort rooms, but they also need to keep those off-site guests happy.

Like what's happening at DAK on the 18th...

 

[wisblue]

I think many of us have been saying this very thing for a very long time.

I'm not quite understanding your point here...?

I'm responding to your comment that execs will be fired if more people don't arrive at park opening or make their FP+ reservations 60 days out.