Anyone already post that paper FP will be gone at MK as of 1/14?

[mom2rtk]

Can offsite guests not use their smart phones? I'd be on my Disney experience typing in my ticket number & reserving my FP+ while in line for Enchanted Tales.

My understanding is that offsite guests can only use the app for viewing reservations, not for making or changing them. So far.

 

[sixxmum]

Unless something changes, offsite guests cannot use smartphones. They need to use the kiosks. And, few offsite guests are pulling more than 3 FP per day at this point for the headliners, because the FP have been gone by mid day, since a good portion of them are reserved online by onsite guests.

We wrapped up our trip today without FP+. We weren't able to pull more than 3 sets of FP- any day, and I think that only happened one of the five days. The days that we weren't in a park in the morning, there weren't really FP- left for the headliner type rides, so we didn't pull any.

 

[morethananyonex]

Can offsite guests not use their smart phones? I'd be on my Disney experience typing in my ticket number & reserving my FP+ while in line for Enchanted Tales.

No, not at the moment. In park kiosks only.

Could be--or by waiting I might lose the opportunity to get an attraction and/or time we want. I'm so excited to play "FP+ Kiosk Roulette" and find out.

I know it sucks. There are people unhappy in all situations at the moment.

From what we've seen so far, chances are you'll be okay if you wait half an hour or so after opening. It is a risk, but IMO it's a small one. It's a crappy situation, but we can't change it.

 

[mom2rtk]

I know I'm in the minority, but I'm THRILLED legacy FP will be gone from MK. We check in on 2/1 and I was upset that off-site guests could pull lots of FP at MK (due to low crowds) while on-site guests are limited to 3. I don't mind FP+ near as much if all guests are truly limited to 3 each.

What does it matter what other people are getting if you still only get 3? It's still a sub-par experience.

I can see not being happy that some were possibly eligible to get more, but it wouldn't make me feel better to have it all settle in at the lesser level. I'd still dislike it just as much.

 

[Networth]

One of the new perks to stay on-site is advanced FP+ selections. For the premium Disney charges to stay on site I see this as fair. And I also stay off site every once in a blue moon. I'm only 2 hours away from Disney so if I head to Orlando for the weekend I'll Priceline something on I-Drive. But when I so a "Disney Vacation" I stay on site for the perks, other wise why pay the premium?

 

[mom-2greatkids]

We're a family that always made the most out of FP and used the system very efficiently. However, DH and I have been saying for years that we wished FP would be done away with. Sure, you save time for rides you have a FP for, but standby times for FP rides are artificially inflated due to the FP line. We've been visiting WDW annually for 15 years, and sporadically before that, and we just don't think FP is as helpful as it is perceived.

 

[agavegirl1]

We're a family that always made the most out of FP and used the system very efficiently. However, DH and I have been saying for years that we wished FP would be done away with. Sure, you save time for rides you have a FP for, but standby times for FP rides are artificially inflated due to the FP line. We've been visiting WDW annually for 15 years, and sporadically before that, and we just don't think FP is as helpful as it is perceived.

During slower times I really didn't use a lot of FP-. Just used RD and hoppers to maximize our time. Always used a "wait time app". Really, used about 2 FP- per day.

I think my plan will still work fine. Just have to deal with WAY MORE advanced planning.

 

[wisblue]

If I were an offsite guest visiting MK next week with relatively low crowds, I would get to the park at opening on a non EMH day and do as many of my favorites as possible before even worrying about FPs.

If I saw a kiosk with nobody waiting I MIGHT stop and get some FP+ reservations for later in the day.

With the number and variety of attractions at MK I question whether many, if any, things will run out of FPs before noon (if they run out at all) especially with everyone drawing from the FP+ pool and a lot of people being totally confused about how to use them.

How many times have FPs run out before noon at the MK, even over Christmas week this year with double and triple dipping and much larger crowds?

 

[morethananyonex]

If I were an offsite guest visiting MK next week with relatively low crowds, I would get to the park at opening on a non EMH day and do as many of my favorites as possible before even worrying about FPs.

If I saw a kiosk with nobody waiting I MIGHT stop and get some FP+ reservations for later in the day.

With the number and variety of attractions at MK I question whether many, if any, things will run out of FPs before noon (if they run out at all) especially with everyone drawing from the FP+ pool and a lot of people being totally confused about how to use them.

How many times have FPs run out before noon at the MK, even over Christmas week this year with double and triple dipping and much larger crowds?

This is my thinking too.

At Epcot and DHS I probably would not chance waiting and losing the ability to FP the couple rides that need it. At MK it's pretty rare to see FP- run out now. Watching the MDE app through all the double/triple/whatever dipping MK still had FP- during the day. I also haven't heard anybody report FP+ being sold out at any of the MK attractions yet. I imagine if you wait a little bit after entering MK to book FP+ you'll still get everything you want.

MK works because it has so many attractions, AK works because there are so few headliners yet you can FP them all because there are no tiers, but I would be more concerned about DHS and Epcot if I were an offsite guest. You absolutely need the FP and to use rope drop to minimize waits there.

 

[magicbob]

So much negativity... and it's not even coming from me!

The fat lady is warming up her voice now....Lol.

Three of the four phases of MM+ that affect ticketing have taken place.

First was the "test" of magic bands at resorts. The test never ended, it's now permanent.

Second was/is the removal of KTTW cards at the onsite resorts. The "test" will never end, it will evolve into a roll out as well.

Third is the removal of FP- from the parks systematically. Yes you guessed it, this "test" will not end and just evolve into a permanent status.

Fourth, here comes the fat lady onstage, will be when Disney announces that they will begin selling additional FP+ reservations by tier for an additional fee. It's a common sense progression, keyed to make Disney more revenue by changing from an all you can eat buffet style of ticketing (FP-) to a new digital a la carte E ticket system (FP+) whereby you pay for how ever many you want over and above what you are given with the purchase of your park ticket.

Not rocket science here, just common business sense. Wait for it, and enjoy the opera. She has a beautiful voice...

Winds in the east, mist coming in.
Like somethin' is brewin' and bout to begin.
Can't put me finger on what lies in store,
But I fear what's to happen all happened before.

In all my frets about FP+, I still believed deep down that, when paper fastpasses left MK, the number of FP+ for that park would increase to four or five. Because, unlike the other parks, there are plenty of rides that people want to fastpass. I was willing to accept tiers in exchange for the increase. Most of the fastpasses I want are not top tier.

Seriously, three fastpasses at MK??? My days of fastpassing my kids' favorite rides and MY mountains are gone for good???

Unless something changes, offsite guests cannot use smartphones. They need to use the kiosks. And, few offsite guests are pulling more than 3 FP per day at this point for the headliners, because the FP have been gone by mid day, since a good portion of them are reserved online by onsite guests.

We wrapped up our trip today without FP+. We weren't able to pull more than 3 sets of FP- any day, and I think that only happened one of the five days. The days that we weren't in a park in the morning, there weren't really FP- left for the headliner type rides, so we didn't pull any.

 

[crostorfer]

One of the new perks to stay on-site is advanced FP+ selections. For the premium Disney charges to stay on site I see this as fair. And I also stay off site every once in a blue moon. I'm only 2 hours away from Disney so if I head to Orlando for the weekend I'll Priceline something on I-Drive. But when I so a "Disney Vacation" I stay on site for the perks, other wise why pay the premium?

It's not that great of a perk to stay at the Polynesian for $500-$800 a night, in a room that anywhere else in the world would be worth half that amount, when you ONLY GET THREE SELECTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That isn't a perk that is worth staying on site in a deluxe for. This is ridiculous. Those of us that go during high season are absolutely getting the shaft.

Take a look at the first line of my ticker. This has been a long time coming. I'm still considering changing this trip to onsite at Universal and going there twice this year instead of heading south on I-4. Better deal for my money.

 

[thehowells]

You don't get more fast passes staying in a deluxe now, why should you get more with the new system?

 

[crostorfer]

You don't get more fast passes staying in a deluxe now, why should you get more with the new system?

Yes. They don't get them NOW. Let's revisit this in 6 months and see where things are. I think my complaint is a valid one. We'll see.

 

[surferdave]

I saw the ending. You won't like it. Mickey wins.

I think we're talking South Park Mickey here!

 

[Laketravis]

Hadn't checked back since my last post, did I miss anything? I take it everybody is excited about these changes and looking forward to how great they are going to be for everyone?

 

[Jennasis]

The fat lady is warming up her voice now....Lol.

Three of the four phases of MM+ that affect ticketing have taken place.

First was the "test" of magic bands at resorts. The test never ended, it's now permanent.

Second was/is the removal of KTTW cards at the onsite resorts. The "test" will never end, it will evolve into a roll out as well.

Third is the removal of FP- from the parks systematically. Yes you guessed it, this "test" will not end and just evolve into a permanent status.

Fourth, here comes the fat lady onstage, will be when Disney announces that they will begin selling additional FP+ reservations by tier for an additional fee. It's a common sense progression, keyed to make Disney more revenue by changing from an all you can eat buffet style of ticketing (FP-) to a new digital a la carte E ticket system (FP+) whereby you pay for how ever many you want over and above what you are given with the purchase of your park ticket.

Not rocket science here, just common business sense. Wait for it, and enjoy the opera. She has a beautiful voice...

I'm sure she does....but it doesn't change the fact that I don't enjoy opera.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

I know this is still just a "test" but so far everything seems to be going as the "sky is falling" doom and gloomers have predicted:

This is not a supplemental FP system.
We really get only three per day, even at MK.
Off-siters get access, but no advanced reservations and they have the joy of waiting at kiosks while at the parks.
Tiers at DHS and Epcot seem here to stay. Can't imagine they'll go, if Disney wants any FP left over for off-siters.
WDW doesn't hesitate to make drastic changes w/ little warning.
The Mine Ride opening has been delayed, according to several rumors.
Things are not looking good for other new park developments, e.g. the rumored Star Wars land.

 

[Minnie222]

I understand all this negativity and the frustration, I am among one who wants the peaceful FP- system back. However, I am happy enough to hit the park and see some characters, then sitting here in the cold.

They spent TOO much money on it that they will not go back to the old system. If all these MBs and FP+ prove to hurt their income, we will see the end of all these tests.

 

[Masonmj84]

One of the new perks to stay on-site is advanced FP+ selections. For the premium Disney charges to stay on site I see this as fair. And I also stay off site every once in a blue moon. I'm only 2 hours away from Disney so if I head to Orlando for the weekend I'll Priceline something on I-Drive. But when I so a "Disney Vacation" I stay on site for the perks, other wise why pay the premium?

In FP+, the evil minds of Disney marketing have managed to create a system that is worse for everyone, but because it is relatively less worse for on-site guests, it is now percieved as a "perk" for staying on-site.

Brilliant!!!

 

[mom2rtk]

I know this is still just a "test" but so far everything seems to be going as the "sky is falling" doom and gloomers have predicted:

This is not a supplemental FP system.
We really get only three per day, even at MK.
Off-siters get access, but no advanced reservations and they have the joy of waiting at kiosks while at the parks.
Tiers at DHS and Epcot seem here to stay. Can't imagine they'll go, if Disney wants any FP left over for off-siters.
WDW doesn't hesitate to make drastic changes w/ little warning.
The Mine Ride opening has been delayed, according to several rumors.
Things are not looking good for other new park developments, e.g. the rumored Star Wars land.

Man, where do I sign up for some of this magic? Time to schedule another trip!