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

[mom2rtk]

Is that photo in your signature from the Cinderella Happily Ever After dinner at the Grand Floridian?

Actually it is from MVMCP a couple years ago. However, I think they retired that group meeting this year. The 1900 PF dinner has all those characters, but they don't meet as a group.

 

[Autumnslight]

This is interesting. We're in WDW now, and headed to AK today. FP+ has been great - when you have it. But when your three selections are used up, or you can't change the time or experience for one of the selections because there is nothing else available, or the app just plain won't work, it pretty well sucks.

We had an awesome day at MK using FP+ on 12/8, but only because we were still able to pull paper FP, and I also used the trick where you can get almost unlimited FP+. Honestly, if I hadn't been able to game the system like that, we wouldn't have had nearly as great a day, in terms of being able to do so many rides. Obviously if I have to use the system in a way that Disney totally doesn't intend it to be used, in order to have an experience that my family considers good, then that's a problem.

Yesterday, we went to DHS. Neither my KTTW card or AP card would let me pull a paper FP. I was able to use the KTTW cards for my other family members (who do not have APs) with no problem though. I explained the problem to the CM at the FP machines, and he quickly gave me a paper Fast Pass Access card, which was supposed to let me pull paper FP in all the parks for just that day. It worked at DHS the rest of the day, but I didn't try it at another park. I didn't even know those cards existed. I wonder if they're the answer to people at resorts like Pop freaking out about not having access to paper FP. Not a good sign for paper FP supposedly going away.

Also, the app wouldn't let me change any of my FP+ selections all day long, Every time I tried, I got an error. Another guest randomly asked me if I knew how to change FP+, so I walked her through the process, and she also got an error and couldn't change hers. I kept trying every little while for a few hours before I finally just gave up and said the heck with FP+ for the day. We used paper FP to ride Star Tours a couple of times, used the TSMM FP+ that we booked weeks ago, and called it a day in terms of FP/FP+.

There were about 10 cast members stations around TSMM at about 4:30pm, dealing with guests about paper FP, FP+, the 105 minute wait, etc. The fact that there are so many issues with that ride in particular makes me certain that there are Disney executives out there who aren't sleeping because of what a gigantic cluster-you-know-what that attraction is.

There is no way Disney is ready to get rid of paper FP and full scale roll out FP+. But at this point, I think they're just in so deep and there's no stopping the train. Maybe ripping it off like a band aid, instead of prolonging the agony, is the right choice. Not really sure there are any other better, viable, choices. I guess we'll see.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have just heard that animal kingdom is set to remove all FP machines by next week. They will be the first park to do this.

So make sure to get yor FP+ selections done and finalized if you haven't done so already.

Also tomorrow Friday the 13th, day/offsite guests will be testing FP+ at EPCOT.

You were maybe only off by a few days, delmar.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/mymag...ning-next-week-at-disney's-animal-kingdom.htm

 

[surferdave]

You were maybe only off by a few days, delmar.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/mymag...ning-next-week-at-disney's-animal-kingdom.htm

 

[ArwenMarie]

I don't get the point of the offsite test. If everyone is eventually going to be able to prebook 60 days ahead, why don't they recruit non-resort customers to test that? This seems like they are testing something that isn't going to be a real situation in the future? Unless it is? I dunno, I am so confused.

 

[pigletto]

I don't get the point of the offsite test. If everyone is eventually going to be able to prebook 60 days ahead, why don't they recruit non-resort customers to test that? This seems like they are testing something that isn't going to be a real situation in the future? Unless it is? I dunno, I am so confused.

So is Disney.

Our first and only AK day on this trip is the 17th. So it looks like I will miss the fun by one day. Shucks.

 

[patty57]

I don't get the point of the offsite test. If everyone is eventually going to be able to prebook 60 days ahead, why don't they recruit non-resort customers to test that? This seems like they are testing something that isn't going to be a real situation in the future? Unless it is? I dunno, I am so confused.

Have they said that offsite guests will be able to prebook?

 

[Robo]

-there is nothing official about removal of FP machines. If they really do remove them during Christmas week, well, I feel bad for those Cast Members. If they just cover them for a day or so, they would probably see better results.

So... do they tell the guy with the truck they don't need it, or what?

 

[ArwenMarie]

Have they said that offsite guests will be able to prebook?

I think so? Im not sure. They keep saying all guests.

 

[patty57]

I think so? Im not sure. They keep saying all guests.

I know, right? Who the heck knows? I can't remember anything about offsite guests "prebooking", but I don't really remember yesterday either.

 

[btk2333]

I think so? Im not sure. They keep saying all guests.

They've said all guests will be able to use the system- they've not said anything about how early off siters will be able to book. I'm guessing they will not be able to book as early as people staying on site.

 

[Robo]

They've said all guests will be able to use the system- they've not said anything about how early off siters will be able to book. I'm guessing they will not be able to book as early as people staying on site.

Well, there's THIS thread.

The 30-day thing may be woven into the mix in some way. (Or not, of course.)

I've got some fresh batteries for my flashlight if the vigil for the these things runs for a few late nights.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, there's THIS thread.

The 30-day thing may be woven into the mix in some way. (Or not, of course.)

I've got some fresh batteries for my flashlight if the vigil for the these things runs for a few late nights.

The snow and ice are moving in. Did you have something better to do?

 

[stairstepmom]

So much for crowd control. I wouldn't want to be within 20 feet of those kiosks...they will come in droves, the angry, confused people...

They were smart to start at AK, and hopefully they'll now have time to hire extra security at HS and EP and invest in some decent riot shields and pepper spray

 

[My3Princez]

They've said all guests will be able to use the system- they've not said anything about how early off siters will be able to book. I'm guessing they will not be able to book as early as people staying on site.

My guess, and that's all it is, is that offsite guests will be able to enter a park on day 1 of their trip and pick FP+ for the length of their tickets.

 

[Robo]

My guess, and that's all it is, is that offsite guests will be able to enter a park on day 1 of their trip and pick FP+ for the length of their tickets.

We're mixing up two different discussions concerning off-site resort guests...

What has been announced for next week for FP+ "day-of" at DAK is not the same as what's been forecast for off-site FP+ after the full roll-out.

What will ultimately happen?

Tick. Tick. Tick.

 

[sixxmum]

*headdesk*

Our trip is 3 weeks out and getting more complicated, it seems, by the second. I'm now realizing I need to buy a different ticket for DS who probably won't ever use the rest of the days on this 10 day no-exp ticket because of the RFID being linked to fingerprints. We have been with fingerprinting several times before, but we sometimes ended up with another person in the group's ticket and it didn't seem to be a problem. Sounds like now it's more efficient.

 

[ckelly14]

The current Terms of Use specifically says that MYW ticket holders and AP holders will have 60 day access to FP+. So yes, this has been stated officially. Whether or not they change this is going forward....anything is possible.

 

[My3Princez]

We're mixing up two different discussions concerning off-site resort guests...

What has been announced for next week for FP+ "day-of" at DAK is not the same as what's been forecast for off-site FP+ after the full roll-out.

What will ultimately happen?

Tick. Tick. Tick.

What have they forecast for off-site FP+ after roll-out? I'm genuinely curious about it and haven't stumbled across that yet. I'd love to give offsite a try, but wonder how that part will work. (Acknowledging, of course, that it is all subject to change...)

 

[kennythepirate]

We're mixing up two different discussions concerning off-site resort guests...

What has been announced for next week for FP+ "day-of" at DAK is not the same as what's been forecast for off-site FP+ after the full roll-out.

What will ultimately happen?

Tick. Tick. Tick.

I thought the original My Disaster Experience plans were:
On site guests 2 or 3 months out.
Annual Passholders - limited to a certain number of uses per quarter
Off site - walk up and use kiosk. There's no way an offsite guest can join MDE.

I don't recall any announcements that pertained to day guests using the FP+ booking in advance. The advance part is basically the only bonus on-site guests have. They already cut the Extra Magic Hours program to the point it's almost useless and raised the prices on the Dining Plans to the point it doesn't really save people money, unless they are planning to eat a lot of unnecessary desserts. Proximity to the parks, buses and early FP+ are the only real benefits of the $1000+ Grand Floridian rooms these days. Oh and "magic."