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

[ArwenMarie]

Yeah I know, but you already pay a huge premium to stay onsite. I can see where they might be headed though. The perks are slowly becoming less of a value for us. We like to stay at deluxe park resorts because of location mostly. We really don't take advantage of the other perks like EMH like we used to. So now we are thinking of moving back offsite and enjoying more that Orlando has to offer and saving a ton of money. The cost savings of staying offsite are hard to ignore. However, now with FP+ park strategies change and if they offered a perk like that for onsite with no noticeable increase in cost then yeah we would probably just keep staying onsite. If they offered a package like US, then it really depends on the cost and how it impacts the SB lines. If they offer the same package to everyone with the same price regardless of where you stay, then suddenly offsite becomes even more attractive since I can buy the ticket upgrade with the money I save moving off property.

And then offsite prices will go even lower compared to Disney if there ends up being a considerable onsite perk regarding FP.

 

[clsteve]

I felt like our quick picks were doing this, I can't test it anymore though. I would expect them to do it in the future since you are only getting 1 park/day anyway.

I was wondering last night, when they pull the FP- machines out are they also taking the FP return times signs down? So you won't be able to see what return times are without using the app. I just assumed they would take them out since it would probably keep most people from trying to change their times if they can't easily see that better times are available.

Good point.

 

[wisblue]

Of course you are not anti-Disney, anymore than those that like it are lazy, senile or uninformed.

You forgot to mention "Kool Aid drinkers" who think that Disney can do no wrong.

 

[g-dad66]

I was wondering last night, when they pull the FP- machines out are they also taking the FP return times signs down?

There won't be such a thing as a FP return time to be posted, will there? (Or at least, it would consist of multiple potential return times.)

Right now, at any point in time, there is a specific hour-long window at a specific time in the future for those getting a paper FP.

But with FP+ only, when one makes a FP+ reservation (akin to picking up a paper FP), there will be more than one specific hour-long window to choose from (unless, of course, FP+ capacity for the day has already been reached).

 

[Robo]

There won't be such a thing as a FP return time to be posted, will there?

Nope.

 

[OtherScott]

For example, if someone has a trip that begins the week before Thanksgiving and continues into Thanksgiving, it may be hard to explain why they can get more FPs on some days than others. The path of least confusion would be to set a low number that will work even with the busiest crowds. On less crowded days, if fewer FPs are reserved, that would result in more flexibility to make same day changes and/or shorter standby lines

Precisely. Managing satisfaction is about managing expectation, so from a PR stanpoint, 3 FP+ is the floor. In addition to the ebnefits you describe on less crowded days, I believe additional FPs will be available after use of the original 3.

If the goal is to lock the future guest in as early as possible, logic would hold that keeping a present guest in the park is as important.

Which is why FP+ will be available for free to non-resort guests as well.

 

[g-dad66]

Nope.

Wonder if My Disney Experience app tomorrow will show any FP return times for AK attractions?

If it does, could that mean that Disney is assigning FP+ return times (just like for FP- now), rather than giving the guest any FP+ time choices? That could certainly speed things up at the AK FP+ kiosks tomorrow.

 

[wisblue]

There won't be such a thing as a FP return time to be posted, will there? (Or at least, it would consist of multiple potential return times.)

Right now, at any point in time, there is a specific hour-long window at a specific time in the future for those getting a paper FP.

But with FP+ only, when one makes a FP+ reservation (akin to picking up a paper FP), there will be more than one specific hour-long window to choose from (unless, of course, FP+ capacity for the day has already been reached).

There should still be a Fastpass return time posted at the FP return line at each FP attraction. That is just the current time to help people see if their return window has opened up.

What there won't be (or at least isn't now) is a list of available times for FPs. I think that's what you are asking about: a sign that tells you what return time you can get if you get a FP now.

But, now that you bring it up, maybe they will be able to have some kind of sign at the FP+ kiosks (like the current electronic wait time boards at Epcot) that would list what attractions have FP available for that day. That would be pretty neat because it could eliminate the need to go to the kiosk, or log in to MDE, just to see if a particular attraction has FPs available.

 

[pilferk]

There should still be a Fastpass return time posted at the FP return line at each FP attraction. That is just the current time to help people see if their return window has opened up.

What there won't be (or at least isn't now) is a list of available times for FPs. I think that's what you are asking about: a sign that tells you what return time you can get if you get a FP now.

But, now that you bring it up, maybe they will be able to have some kind of sign at the FP+ kiosks (like the current electronic wait time boards at Epcot) that would list what attractions have FP available for that day. That would be pretty neat because it could eliminate the need to go to the kiosk, or log in to MDE, just to see if a particular attraction has FPs available.

I think the OP was referencing the signs over the FP- kiosks/entrances. Usually there were 2 clocks..one showing the current time one showing the FP return time.

The one showing the FP return time would, you think, get turned off/removed.

 

[wisblue]

Wonder if My Disney Experience app tomorrow will show any FP return times for AK attractions?

If it does, could that mean that Disney is assigning FP+ return times (just like for FP- now), rather than giving the guest any FP+ time choices? That could certainly speed things up at the AK FP+ kiosks tomorrow.

I doubt if that's what they will be doing tomorrow because that would seem to defeat ta major purpose of the test.

One way I could see them speeding up the lines is to have CM's in the line answering questions and asking guests what attractions they want and what times they want, (kind of like a place like Earl of Sandwich has a person who hands out menus and answers questions while people are in line) so people know what they want when they get to the point where the reservations could actually be booked.

What's more frustrating than standing in line for 10 minutes at a counter service restaurant and then having a parent ask the kids what they want when they get to the cashier, and then waiting some more while everyone looks at the menu board?

 

[wisblue]

I think the OP was referencing the signs over the FP- kiosks/entrances. Usually there were 2 clocks..one showing the current time one showing the FP return time.

The one showing the FP return time would, you think, get turned off/removed.

I think that's what OP meant too. The way I remember it, the sign marked "Fastpass Return" marks where the FP return entrance is and has a clock with the current time.

The place with the return times for which FPs are available are at the FP machines and are marked something like "Fastpass Distribution".

 

[Mad Hattered]

I'm pretty sure that since people are now forced to have their faces buried in their phones at all times that we will all be very aware of the current time.

 

[wisblue]

I'm pretty sure that since people are now forced to have their faces buried in their phones at all times that we will all be very aware of the current time.

Not me, I don't carry a phone.

People who have their faces buried in their phones (at WDW and otherwise) do it by choice, not necessity).

 

[rebbyparker]

I'm pretty sure that since people are now forced to have their faces buried in their phones at all times that we will all be very aware of the current time.

That HAS popped up more in a few trip report threads I've read. That people feel more tied to their phones.

 

[doconeill]

I doubt if that's what they will be doing tomorrow because that would seem to defeat ta major purpose of the test.

One way I could see them speeding up the lines is to have CM's in the line answering questions and asking guests what attractions they want and what times they want, (kind of like a place like Earl of Sandwich has a person who hands out menus and answers questions while people are in line) so people know what they want when they get to the point where the reservations could actually be booked.

What's more frustrating than standing in line for 10 minutes at a counter service restaurant and then having a parent ask the kids what they want when they get to the cashier, and then waiting some more while everyone looks at the menu board?

If it works like the Swan/Dolphin setup, you won't get to choose individual times, but you select the three attractions, and then times will pop up. You can ask for new times for all three, and keep doing it until you get times you like...but it seems that they do have a lot of control over how they are spread out that way.

This could have changed - I did the S/D test the first week they had it.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Not me, I don't carry a phone.

People who have their faces buried in their phones (at WDW and otherwise) do it by choice, not necessity).

No wonder you love this new system so much. You don't use FP and you don't use a phone. Sounds like a win for you!

 

[morethananyonex]

Not me, I don't carry a phone.

People who have their faces buried in their phones (at WDW and otherwise) do it by choice, not necessity).

I would call it a necessity now at WDW, although it may not be to you specifically. If we want to change our plans on the go, we have no choice but to bury our faces in our phones or find a kiosk and change it there.

I think it's a little silly to pretend this new system doesn't require more phone usage.

 

[mesaboy2]

No wonder you love this new system so much. You don't use FP and you don't use a phone. Sounds like a win for you!

Careful. I've been told I was "insulting" for saying as much.

 

[g-dad66]

If it works like the Swan/Dolphin setup, you won't get to choose individual times, but you select the three attractions, and then times will pop up. You can ask for new times for all three, and keep doing it until you get times you like...but it seems that they do have a lot of control over how they are spread out that way.

This could have changed - I did the S/D test the first week they had it.

Let's hope that it's easier to select and change times than it currently is on MDE. I mean some folks report that they spend an hour or more doing it..

Of course, that's for multiple days. For just one day, maybe it would take only 10 minutes or so for each party to make their FP selections?

 

[Mad Hattered]

Careful. I've been told I was "insulting" for saying as much.

Well, it wasn't meant to be "insulting" to Wis, but it appears her touring style is more atypical than most.