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

[momof2n2]

I am so sad that we chose this year to surprise our kids with a Christmas trip to WDW. If I could take it back, I would. But as it is, we're going. That train has left the station.

I am trying so hard not to let this madness get to me. DH and I keep saying, "There's nothing we can do about it. We have to plan as best as we can, and the rest is out of our hands." Not exactly the kind of vacation we'd been hoping for, you know? And certainly not during the Christmas season.

Every time I think it can't get any worse, it does. The (potential) removal of FP- machines during the height of the season is the last straw. It's just so absurd!! But again, out of our hands.

I'm going to try very hard to keep an open mind. But as it stands, I really am starting to wonder if this self-proclaimed "Disney Geek" is ready to move on to other vacation endeavors. Time will tell.

You're right. It stinks that you have to take on that kind of attitude for a vacation.
I hope you are pleasantly surprised and the trip becomes memorable for other reasons besides rides.

Absurd is a great term for all of this.

 

[bcrook]

I understand what was said at the D23 expo, and as with every other thing said during testing, I take it with a grain of salt.

Now you are just be contrary. By the way, when are we going to get a new song?

 

[momof2n2]

Being a scientist, I love an exercise in numbers as much as anyone. However, have any of these numbers changed from pre- to post FP+? We're still talking the exact same ride capacity, right?

Personally, I'd rather check in 60 days earlier, find out the only fast pass to Soarin' is at 7PM, rather than get there at rope drop, run to Soarin' (we enter through IG) and find out once we get there the only FP+ available is at 7PM.

Ah. Yes. But. Are they or are they not going to be holding some back. Thinking you are possibly locked out at 60 days - do you (hypothetically) switch days around. Or do you hope they will release more?

You don't have to answer! . I'm just trying to punctuate how the lack of specifics is so frustrating.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Now you are just be contrary. By the way, when are we going to get a new song?

LOL, they keep getting moved to the off-topic forum.

 

[Sammie]

The thing that simply amazes me in all of this "the world as we know it" has come to an end endless discussions is that many, many people had fabulous vacations year round before there even was Fastpass.

Also so many of you that are wailing so loudly is that even after Fastpass, there were many, many people that never got them, because they were gone .

If this program makes the distribution of the Fastpasses more evenly distributed then how can that possibly be a bad thing.

 

[bcrook]

LOL, they keep getting moved to the off-topic forum.

In the Community boards. Found your second one. Awesome. Nice work.

The thing that simply amazes me in all of this "the world as we know it" has come to an end endless discussions is that many, many people had fabulous vacations year round before there even was Fastpass.

Also so many of you that are wailing so loudly is that even after Fastpass, there were many, many people that never got them, because they were gone .

If this program makes the distribution of the Fastpasses more evenly distributed then how can that possibly be a bad thing.

Hi Sammie,

I wonder if the off site guests think it is distributed more evenly the last two months and for the next month?

Just for the sake of reference. What if the DVC guests staying on points had been shut out of the entire process while all regular paying guests and off site guests were able to use FP+. I don't think the DVC group would be very happy. That is similar to what is happening to the guests at Bonnet Creek and any number of other resorts.

As for the future, when everybody is onboard. I think everyone complaining fears this will be an online battle weeks in advance. I am not sure that is more evenly distributed either.

Regardless, people like you and I will always be at the top of the FP struggle because we will be online 60 days out getting what we need.

 

[clsteve]

8. It is no hardship for us to make FP+ reservations 60 days in advance. I usually have a rough idea what parks we are going to each day, even though we usually don't make more than 1 or 2 ADRs on a trip. Personally, I think anyone who regularly makes ADR's has already ceded the right to object to FP+ on the grounds that it requires you to plan every minute of every day. I think that argument is overdramatized anyway. If you follow our strategy, and use hoppers, we are not committed to where we start our day.

Your strategy (bolded) has been a good strategy, but I'm becoming increasingly concerned about how it's going to work going forward. The key is being able to book afternoon FP+'s. Plus, what's going to happen to RD.

Everyone who understands the system and wants to parkhop needs to reserve these. Meaning, afternoon reservations are going to be the most sought after when the 60 day reservation window opens. Conversely, they also need to be at the 1st park RD for standby riding only. FP+ reservations, however, are now starting at park opening. If, Disney also holds back same day, in Park, FP+ reservations, RD becomes even more important to those who do not have FP+ reservations - same day tickets, off-site, tour groups, whatever.

What I'm getting at is:

1. Later FP's will become higher value commodity than early FP's (starting 60 days out)
2. RD will become a higher priority to a larger population - with FP+ return times also starting at park opening

6. You are clearly ignoring the possibility that there will be some FPs withheld for same day use. That issue has been discussed separately, and I will accept it for now. You are also ignoring the possibility of overbooking of FP+ to recognize the fact that some people who make reservations will end up not using them. I think it is inevitable that there will be at least some overbooking, and it could be significant based on Disney's analysis of what percentage of FP+ reservations are actually used.

Good point, but I think they have a solid handle on this with FP-and will use the same methodology for FP+. No need for us to overcomplicate it with an algorithim. The HUB had an excellent post on how they do this. They can go from a 4:1 ratio to 7:1 to 10:1 ratio of FP+ versus standby guests allowed in the ride. Remember, Disney doesn't as much care if you actually ride, they care that you're in the Park they planned for. If you're not riding, you're doing something else (like spending money). If the standby goes quicker, that's not a bad thing, from their perspective. Heck, with MM+, they can even see if you're in the park or not and can re-allocate the FP+ if you aren't (if they're to that point of sophistication).

 

[fla4fun]

I just got back from a 10 day trip. I had booked FP+ for five of the days, and left the other five free to "wing it", as I prefer to be spontaneous on vacation. Out of the five days I had FP+ booked, I cancelled all of them but one. I cancelled them the evening before or the morning of, so the cancellations were fairly last minute. I am sure I am not the only one who changes their mind about what they want to do or where they want to go, regardless of how much advance planning Disney would like us to do.

The big thing to me is that we need the ability to book them individually so it's not an all or nothing scenario. Sometimes, I only want one FP+ - so I can either not book any, or book three and only use one, which limits the FP+ available to other people. They could still limit the total per day - just allow us to book and/or cancel them individually so they won't go unused. Otherwise, we'll end up with a cancellation fee on the FP+ just like on the ADR's.

 

[TreeSapp]

Haven't caught up on thread yet. Just in the parks now.

When i asked a CM at Everest about the FP machines going away. She gave me kind of a sly look and said "we're getting rid of the paper." I asked "so it just won't print anymore but maybe I can do this?" ::held my MB up to the machine:: and she said "yeah, something like that"

Don't know what it means exactly. But I'm hoping it just means the less 'wasteful' paper will be replaced with electronic FP- tied to the bands along with pre-registered FP+

 

[DebbieB]

I can't seem to find any updates to the original point of this post. Has it been confirmed that AK is removing traditional FP machines already? We are offsite guest next week, over Christmas.

Who knows. I just read another thread that it's a one day test for AK.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3209285

The sad part is many people are freaking out over stuff that isn't even fact. It's rumors, conjecture, guessing, being presented as fact. I'm taking a wait and see attitude.

 

[sixxmum]

I really hope so, as I'll always be in the lowest group staying offsite.

 

[bcrook]

Who knows. I just read another thread that it's a one day test for AK.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3209285

The sad part is many people are freaking out over stuff that isn't even fact. It's rumors, conjecture, guessing, being presented as fact. I'm taking a wait and see attitude.

Whose freaking out? Most posts are reflective and analyzing. What ifs.

And if it is one day... It is only time before it goes everyday. I don't understand that line of reasoning. Disney isn't doing this stuff just to mess with people. It's not limited time magic. December 18th FP Kiosk day. Go crazy folks.

 

[rebbyparker]

Whose freaking out? Most posts are reflective and analyzing. What ifs.

And if it is one day... It is only time before it goes everyday. I don't understand that line of reasoning. Disney isn't doing this stuff just to mess with people. It's not limited time magic. December 18th FP Kiosk day. Go crazy folks.

Well, TBH, there might have been SOME freaking out on my part early on. But I'm better now.

 

[Silock]

What I think the people, who never got up for RD because they wanted to sleep in and so never got FP-'s, are trying to say is they never got ANY apples before so now they get one.

Well, someone is at fault for that, but it's not those of us standing in line to get a FP when we are allowed to do so.

 

[bcrook]

Well, TBH, there might have been SOME freaking out on my part early on. But I'm better now.

 

[btk2333]

2. RD will become a higher priority to a larger population - with FP+ return times also starting at park opening).

Rd is already a huge priority and still a very small number of people take advantage of it. I just don't see this changing. A large proportion of the visitors to the parks just don't want to get up early on vacation or can't get their family out of bed etc.

You see it all the time- people intend to get to morning emh parks during the emh hour however they don't actually get in the bus line until much later. I just don't see rd getting much busier with fpp.

 

[Sammie]

In the Community boards. Found your second one. Awesome. Nice work.




Hi Sammie,

I wonder if the off site guests think it is distributed more evenly the last two months and for the next month?

Just for the sake of reference. What if the DVC guests staying on points had been shut out of the entire process while all regular paying guests and off site guests were able to use FP+. I don't think the DVC group would be very happy. That is similar to what is happening to the guests at Bonnet Creek and any number of other resorts.

As for the future, when everybody is onboard. I think everyone complaining fears this will be an online battle weeks in advance. I am not sure that is more evenly distributed either.

Regardless, people like you and I will always be at the top of the FP struggle because we will be online 60 days out getting what we need.

Not sure I understand your comment about the off site guests, were they not allowed to pull legacy Fastpass while resort guests were testing and pulled their 3 Fastpass+.

 

[btk2333]

Haven't caught up on thread yet. Just in the parks now. When i asked a CM at Everest about the FP machines going away. She gave me kind of a sly look and said "we're getting rid of the paper." I asked "so it just won't print anymore but maybe I can do this?" ::held my MB up to the machine:: and she said "yeah, something like that" Don't know what it means exactly. But I'm hoping it just means the less 'wasteful' paper will be replaced with electronic FP- tied to the bands along with pre-registered FP+

I thin that's probably a combination wishful thinking on your part and marketing on disneys part.

Their line is probably that they're moving to the electronic system but not really admitting that fast pass is going away (because their new system is fast pass now). The sly look was probably because he knew this was slightly misleading but the majority of park guests (those not on fan sites and message boards complaining) don't actually know the difference. The majority of these people probably never got more than 3 fast passes in a day anyway and don't fully understand the changes.

 

[bcrook]

Not sure I understand your comment about the off site guests, were they not allowed to pull legacy Fastpass while resort guests were testing and pulled their 3 Fastpass+.

Did you read the reports of off site guests showing up and all headliners were gone by 10:00 am. Even during busiest summer times I could pull headliners much later in the day. They didn't have the same access. It didn't (isn't) working well for them at all. They are getting the leftovers. It gets worse when it gets more crowded of course.

With only 8000 Kilimanjaro safaris fastpasses available, one can see how the on site guests could eat them up before the park even opens.

 

[btk2333]

Well, someone is at fault for that, but it's not those of us standing in line to get a FP when we are allowed to do so.

Disney probably wants broader satisfaction. They want a larger proportion of their guests to benefit from a few shorter lines. Disney knows exactly how many rides will make an average guest happy (I think the number is around 9 for an average guest). If people now are getting 10 fast passes a day they may be riding 20 rides while another family is riding 5 The family riding all the rides is happy but the other family isn't. From a purely numbers standpoint Disney wants both families happy and is trying to redistribute fast passes so both families are happy. They are gambling that the family who used to ride 20 will be happy riding 10. It makes sense for Disney to think like this.

In my opinion there will always be certain families that learn the system in advance and do their research (those of us on the dis and other boards) we may need to slightly tweak our torun but we will maximize our value and number of rides in a different way. I am not concerned about fpp and think it has a ton of potential (I've done three trips with mbs so far and had no problems whatsoever). If we have to do things slightly differently that's ok - we will still have great vacations.