Allocated seating trial at Fantasmic***Now with another new twist, see page 15, #288***

[bcrook]

There's not enough space to squish everyone in to just one show during peak. The 10 sections plus overflow are full during the first showing, and 5-6 sections are full for the second depending on the night. Squishing people would not make enough room to accommodate 6 more sections

Well that is good news.

 

[bcrook]

If we are a group of 5 and I say we are 6, is there any way for them to know we are really only 5? I'm assuming not everyone needs be present to get a ticket?

Lol. Booking a throwaway seat!

 

[bcrook]

My guess, is they will go with a system similar to the one in place at DLR. There, the fastpass assigns a section for you to be "seated" in (just sitting on the ground there), they also have specific sections allocated to the different F! dining packages. We did the Blue Bayou F! dining on May 22, were given our fastpass tickets at dinner and were able to arrive just a few minutes before the show started with no problem at all. So I see the assigned sections being the route that will be taken, and probably cutting (so to speak) the sections that exist into a lower and upper type category. so basically have 20ish sections for assignments, with some or all of a section reserved for the dining packages.

And the DAK show would most likely follow suit.

But why make people show up to grab a ticket? Why not just disconnect it from the system and let people grab them virtually?

I can't even keep track any more what WDW is trying to accomplish?

At least at DLR, there were plenty of attractions to keep me entertained and I was never far away to grab any FP I wanted. WDW is massive and messy right now.

I just can't comprehend DHS losing this key attraction from the FP Pool. My mind is spinning. I've got a big group heading down with me again in October, it's time for me to schedule food and wine seminars and soon rides (scheduling rides! Smh). I have no idea now what things will be like even in October.

The simple solution is to cross off yet another attraction in a continually diminishing list.

 

[Jeff from Texas]

And the DAK show would most likely follow suit.

But why make people show up to grab a ticket? Why not just disconnect it from the system and let people grab them virtually?

Since I was describing the current system at DL I used the terminology that is used there, since they are still using paper fastpass. At DHS the testing is being done with FP+ and the magicband, and I feel that eventually they will be allowing booking of FP+ through the MDX system. I'm curious to hear about/from people that have gone through the testing and how well/poorly it worked.

 

[SureAsLiz]

Update: Phase 2 - reserved section/row (not seat) 7.24 - 10:30 showing

Today I went to just the 10:30 showing of F!

I arrived around 7:15. They were out of space for large groups for the 9:00 showing, but still had room for smaller ones.

Again I was just given an already printed pass rather than having one printed for me. Today I was in Maleficent row G


The Frozen fireworks started at 9:40 rather than 9:45 and even with holding back since I was by the stage, I still made it over by 10. There was a line for standby that was pretty significant. I don't know if they just hadn't let people in or if there was a bottleneck, but everything was moving by the time I made it in the FP line. The show also started a few minutes late without an announcement which I have never seen. (also, I think they updated the bubble sequence of the water screens. Rapunzel and Tiana were both there who I know weren't there originally, and I'm pretty sure weren't there earlier this week, but I also don't really pay attention to that sequence so I'm not 100% positive)

I get to my row and I am the first one there. They ask me to move to the very end which is of course right behind the pole


I see a couple of rows have issues with being full and people being squished. It seemed like this only happened with large (numerically) families, so maybe the counting was different today and they chose to keep families together (the first night I saw at least one family sit 3 in one row and 3 in the next). But there are also rows that are virtually empty. So either people didn't show up, or the seats were misdistributed. Also, the seat number stickers had been removed, so it was back to how it looked before.


Standby is definitely more full than FP. Whether this is because people just didn't grab passes or they ran out, I don't know
(this was about 10 minutes to show)

I did end up moving over into the Pocahontas section and down a few rows because I did not appreciate the pole blocking my view and I just got a new camera I wanted to play with. I grabbed the best spot I could without crossing over people (Moved from left-of-isle seat in Maleficent G to right-of-isle seat Pocahontas E)
(my view before moving)
(my view after moving)


I did want to ask the industrial engineering guy about seat assignments, but he only did one count and never came back down so I didn't have a chance.
Again, Mickey was reserved for the dining package but was interestingly more full than the other day (still not full, but there were more than 10 people total)


Without having gone to the 9pm showing, I can't fully compare the two versions of the test, but I will say that the seats may have actually worked better as far as distribution goes. The rows that were completely full were miserable while the row in front of or behind them was virtually empty.

Like I suggested upthread, families gave themselves a buffer between each other that the seats didn't allow for. It wasn't much, but it was something that happened. I will be going to the section test as well next week so I can give my thoughts on all three versions.

 

[bcrook]

Since I was describing the current system at DL I used the terminology that is used there, since they are still using paper fastpass. At DHS the testing is being done with FP+ and the magicband, and I feel that eventually they will be allowing booking of FP+ through the MDX system. I'm curious to hear about/from people that have gone through the testing and how well/poorly it worked.

I wasn't disagreeing with you. I think you are right. They will end up with a DLR system that works well in DLR. I was trying to say that it can't work at WDW as easily because the resort is huge. It would be difficult to get the show tickets while at another park or in SureAsLiz case at work or waiting at home.

 

[bcrook]

Great reports SureAsLiz! Thank you.

 

[maxsmom]

I will be going to the section test as well next week so I can give my thoughts on all three versions.

So how long is this test going on for?

 

[mom2rtk]

Thank you so much for the detailed reports SureAsLiz!

I hadn't even thought about the poles. So can I assume that with assigned seats someone would have been behind that pole and been obligated to actually sit there? If so, that's just awful. This is the sort of thing that happens with every bit you move away from personal choice.

 

[Jeff from Texas]

I wasn't disagreeing with you. I think you are right. They will end up with a DLR system that works well in DLR. I was trying to say that it can't work at WDW as easily because the resort is huge. It would be difficult to get the show tickets while at another park or in SureAsLiz case at work or waiting at home.

It can work very well at DHS, it's just change that it seems everyone hates at all times.

DHS has a huge advantage over DLR in that it has a dedicated theater for F!, instead of shutting down the walkways around Rivers of America to make seating for the show. The fastpass for Fantasmic! and World of Color at DLR are separate from the rest of your fastpass system, in that getting one early in the morning doesn't prevent you from getting another fastpass immediately for a different attraction. As for park hopping, it's the same issue that you've always had a WDW park, you have to be in the park to get the fastpass. The people that plan to go to DHS and stay all day are going to end up with the better seats than those that just want to show up before the show in the evening. Unfortunate for WDW is that park hopping is so time consuming because of the size, but it does really do wonders for the immersion factor, unlike DLR where park hopping is really encouraged because there is only 110 yards between entrances of DL and CA, but you have more intrusion of the "outside" into the parks because there is a major freeway and surface streets right outside both parks.

BTW, I'm having an interesting time with this, and there is nothing personal intended or taken in this. It's helping me get some of my thoughts together in a more organized manner about the comparison between WDW and DLR. Wish I lived a little closer to either park so that I could go more often, but that allows me to continue dreaming about a Disney Texas parks system.

 

[mom2rtk]

Are we really back to "people just hate change?"

 

[SureAsLiz]

So how long is this test going on for?

Tuesday.
Tuesday/Wednesday was seat assignments
Thuersday/Friday was row assignments
and Monday/Tuesday will be section assignments

As far as they have announced, this will be the extent of the tests

Thank you so much for the detailed reports SureAsLiz!

I hadn't even thought about the poles. So can I assume that with assigned seats someone would have been behind that pole and been obligated to actually sit there? If so, that's just awful. This is the sort of thing that happens with every bit you move away from personal choice.

Yeah, with the seats (and the busier 9pm showing for rows) someone was assigned to sit there. Obviously someone is always going to have to sit there when it is crowded, but it generally if you show up early it gives you the freedom to choose and empty seat without obstructions, and this opportunity wasn't there. The only way I got around it was by breaking the rules and moving.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yeah, with the seats (and the busier 9pm showing for rows) someone was assigned to sit there. Obviously someone is always going to have to sit there when it is crowded, but it generally if you show up early it gives you the freedom to choose and empty seat without obstructions, and this opportunity wasn't there. The only way I got around it was by breaking the rules and moving.

Choosing to sit behind a pole because you got to the theater late seems far preferable to me. This would just tick me off. I'm glad at least during this test you were able to move.

 

[M2J3]

If we are a group of 5 and I say we are 6, is there any way for them to know we are really only 5? I'm assuming not everyone needs be present to get a ticket?

Whoa.
Big. Fat. Loophole.

Who wouldn't do this? You're a group of 5; you say 7. Instant buffer zone / shifting space on uncomfortable benches / ability to scoot slightly left or right of the tall guy in front of you.

Gonna really throw off the numbers for the powers-that-be, though.

 

[Jeff from Texas]

Are we really back to "people just hate change?"

Well, just look at the earlier comments in this thread.

Disney fans (really fans of anything) seem to have a really vocal section that cries out against ANYTHING changing, doesn't mean that it isn't necessary, or needed to make the whole of WDW better for everyone.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, just look at the earlier comments in this thread.

Disney fans (really fans of anything) seem to have a really vocal section that cries out against ANYTHING changing, doesn't mean that it isn't necessary, or needed to make the whole of WDW better for everyone.

I've seen these very same posters begging for change in other areas.

 

[SureAsLiz]

Whoa.
Big. Fat. Loophole.

Who wouldn't do this? You're a group of 5; you say 7. Instant buffer zone / shifting space on uncomfortable benches / ability to scoot slightly left or right of the tall guy in front of you.

Gonna really throw off the numbers for the powers-that-be, though.

If they keep this in the future, I'm sure it will be like the current FP kiosks are now - you scan a card/band and select who in your party you want the passes for. Then I'm guessing (pure speculation) your assignment would be in MDX so you could access it from the app. Or they will take a step back and have a machine that spits out paper passes so that CMs can check you are in the right spot when something goes wrong

 

[Jeff from Texas]

Whoa.
Big. Fat. Loophole.

Who wouldn't do this? You're a group of 5; you say 7. Instant buffer zone / shifting space on uncomfortable benches / ability to scoot slightly left or right of the tall guy in front of you.

Gonna really throw off the numbers for the powers-that-be, though.

But, this system being tried out is only the first step, physically handing out passes to the shows, going into the next phase of testing would probably involve being moved into the FP+ system and being directly tied into the number of tickets you have either present or in your MDX group, so that takes out that loophole.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Well, just look at the earlier comments in this thread.

Disney fans (really fans of anything) seem to have a really vocal section that cries out against ANYTHING changing, doesn't mean that it isn't necessary, or needed to make the whole of WDW better for everyone.

What is better about this plan for the guest than the Fantasmic FP that they already built into the app?

If you really want the FP, you will book it. Or you can book a dining package. If it's not as important that you have a prebooking, then you will go standby or try to get a FP later in the day.

It's the mixing of the paper and the electronic that makes no sense to me.

They did this with the Frozen sing-a-long last summer. It wasn't in the FP system yet. You had to get there and get a paper ticket at some point during the day. Then they moved it into MDE as a prebooked FP (Tier Two) which makes much more sense.

Maybe they need to move Fantasmic into tier 2.

 

[Jeff from Texas]

I've seen these very same posters begging for change in other areas.

And a group that is quiet about this change would be in an uproar because that change is happening to something that they don't see a need for change.