AP's to get 20 FP+ per quarter

[bcrook]

This is all really interesting and gives the new system some possible context. But my question is this: If FP+ makes the e-ticket rides less accessible and adding FP+ will make some of the lesser attraction lines longer, where is the net add for Disney guests? Is it literally just the ONE reserved FP per day for an E-ticket ride?

I haven't seen anything that says it is supposed to provide a net gain for customers. It is going to be DIFFERENT. I think it will change the experience, but not necessarily add anything. (I know some people will gain from it, and others will lose. the overall net game will go to the stockholders) The plan sounds quite ingenious really. Mousermerf's description sounds like a logical business plan very much like the DDP is a sound business plan (even though it didn't provide a net add for customers- lower quality food and $40.00 buffet prices).

I have 43 years of DVC left, I will figure out how to make it work for me. Most people won't even know any difference.

 

[bcrook]

I know this makes sense from a business perspective, and I think I would even welcome the book if it meant you could have a ticket for everything without long waits. But with the FP+ they are not including all the E tickets only a couple on each list, so they are forcing you to choose between geting a FP for each "good" ride or only getting to ride a few with the FP+. Their attempt to decide what people should enjoy makes me a little mad.

You could always Pay for another ticket booklet. Maybe we will be able to Pay for more FP+ reservations.

 

[mesaboy2]

That's the intention.

Shorter lines at E-tickets (if you use FP+ for it, ridiculously long line without - an "opt out" level line without FP+), longer lines at mid-level rides (the ones that are adding FP+ but "don't need it" as many would say - as people opting into FP+ will be assigned secondary attractions whether they want them or not) and then the "Freebies" will get more people.. not sure if that means "long lines" or just "lines" since most of them are walk-ons now.

I don't want to believe you, but I fear you may be right.

 

[Rosanne]

Reading all the posts... just doesn't sound like a plan I will embrace. I'm really glad I took my girls' as often as I have in the past. How soon is old FP going to be gone? I wonder if I can squeeze in one more trip before it starts. Then, I will wait and see what others report but it does not appeal to me from the sounds of it.

In good news, I will be able to save for my retirement and my kids' college funds much more fully without a Disney trip every 8-12 months.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Ticket books never gave you enough tickets to ride all the e-tickets.

I only meant I would be okay with a book if it did. What they did in 1959 doesn't really affect us now except that we borrowed the name E Ticket from that era.

 

[longhorns2]

Reading all the posts... just doesn't sound like a plan I will embrace.

In good news, I will be able to save for my retirement and my kids' college funds much more fully without a Disney trip every 8-12 months.

This. . We will go from 3 times a year to once every 2-3 years with some of the changes coming out. The good news will also be less people in the parks (less return frequent visitors) so possibly less need for FP anyway.

Obviously I'll still go, but I'm sad to say things like this will make it harder to do what we did in the past.

 

[Rosanne]

Forgive me if this has already been posted but are they doing this FP+ at DLR also? I didn't see anything about it on the DLR board. I'm hoping they aren't and if they are, that it doesn't start until after our trip In August. I don't have airplane tickets yet, though.

The biggest thing for me is that if we have to do reservations for when we'll want to use the FP+ it would just take the va out of my vacay. That's one of the reasons we don't like to do many TS restaurants.

 

[mesaboy2]

Forgive me if this has already been posted but are they doing this FP+ at DLR also? I didn't see anything about it on the DLR board. I'm hoping they aren't and if they are, that it doesn't start until after our trip In August. I don't have airplane tickets yet, though.

The biggest thing for me is that if we have to do reservations for when we'll want to use the FP+ it would just take the va out of my vacay. That's one of the reasons we don't like to do many TS restaurants.

Not anytime soon, but I'm sure it's being considered and will depend on how successful (or unsuccessful) it is at WDW. I dont know anything, but I feel safe in assuring you it won't be in place at DL before August.

 

[Rosanne]

Not anytime soon, but I'm sure it's being considered and will depend on how successful (or unsuccessful) it is at WDW. I dont know anything, but I feel safe in assuring you it won't be in place at DL before August.

Thanks so much for your quick response! I will be sure to stick with that plan, then.

 

[mbrittb00]

I'm a little curious about something. If they are going to allow people with MYW tickets (I.e. not staying onsite) to make FP+ reservations what happens if I buy tickets from say AAA make my FP+ selections, then my plans change, and I have to go months later? What happens to my tickets?

 

[mousermerf]

I'm a little curious about something. If they are going to allow people with MYW tickets (I.e. not staying onsite) to make FP+ reservations what happens if I buy tickets from say AAA make my FP+ selections, then my plans change, and I have to go months later? What happens to my tickets?

They're on your account virtually. That's what the whole "you can convert 5 paper tickets" thing is all about.

Your account exists, it has a wristband or RFID, and your tickets are there - it's the data, not the paper that matters. Cancel your reservation and your FP+ either go poof automatically or you need to cancel the FP+ ressie.

 

[mbrittb00]

They're on your account virtually. That's what the whole "you can convert 5 paper tickets" thing is all about.

Your account exists, it has a wristband or RFID, and your tickets are there - it's the data, not the paper that matters. Cancel your reservation and your FP+ either go poof automatically or you need to cancel the FP+ ressie.

But I'm staying offsite, so I don't have a reservation to cancel. What happens if I forget to cancel my FP+ selections?

And what if I have 6 people in my family (which I do). Can only 5 of us participate in FP+ and the 6th has to continue using the paper ticket?

 

[mousermerf]

They'll cancel when you dont show up and use them...

You're acting like you can have park admissions that would somehow be retained even if you entered the park. You don't enter the park, your FP+ is void. You can't somehow get in and use the FP+ without having it deduct an admission from your account.

And the 5-ticket thing is per account. Each person is an account. You are assigned individual tickets. They're serious when they mean tickets are to be used by one person only.

 

[mousermerf]

You have to see the new WDW website to understand how tickets and everything work - but there's the "master" accounts and the little "travel party" people. All your kids will fall into travel party.. and you'll assign things to them.

They want names, ages, bdays, etc..for all dining reservations, FP+ - everything - for each person.

Your spouse will have their own "master" type account but by account linking she can agree to be under your account and thus have you assign events and reservations and tickets to her.

 

[mousermerf]

I made dining reservations on the new Disney World website..

I picked a time, party size, etc.. then it wants to confirm it under my account. It then asks me who will be attending to fill up the slots that the reservation has. It pops up and has you pick people from your list.. there's the sub accounts you created.. and any other "real" accounts you have permission to make reservations and plans for. For example I assigned a seat to my friend "Anony Mouse."

I don't know if Anony Mouse has a full acount - but via the website I can send her a request at her email address. If she accepts, it marks "Anony Mouse" in my travel party as being "for reals" her and her account. As a "for reals" account she can access the itinerary, see what plans are, pick favorites and suggestions, etc.. but if she was say, my child, I'd just have power to assign anything to her with her not having any control or input directly via the system.

 

[macraven]

I have nothing left to say. I'll leave you, permanently, with a sincere "Merry Christmas".

got your back.
sorry i wasn't on earlier.


you've always given great information.
keep up the good work.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

I haven't seen anything that says it is supposed to provide a net gain for customers. It is going to be DIFFERENT. I think it will change the experience, but not necessarily add anything. (I know some people will gain from it, and others will lose. the overall net game will go to the stockholders) The plan sounds quite ingenious really. Mousermerf's description sounds like a logical business plan very much like the DDP is a sound business plan (even though it didn't provide a net add for customers- lower quality food and $40.00 buffet prices).

I have 43 years of DVC left, I will figure out how to make it work for me. Most people won't even know any difference.

~Intially, the DDP was excellent, the guest always came out ahead, with great food, too! But, guests abused the loopholes SO bad, where Disney was losing a ton of money on it, I'm talking widespread rampant abuse.

~Whenever a loophole that has been widely abused is discovered, it is a standard corporate practice to drastically cut costs and impose drastic measures in order to recoup the estimated loss, in addition to making a profit.

~So, instead of abandoning a popular, profitable concept altogether, Disney dumbed the DDP down, just for profits.

~Refillable mugs are now getting RFID! That's so drastic to me, but when things are continually abused, this is the end result. I don't use refillable mugs, it's just an observation.

~The concierge lounges used to give out free bottled water, but guests abused that, now it's gone.

~Disney was not happy with late FP use, I have no problem saying this, because I used fastpasses late and it was awesome, but wrong is wrong!

~There has to accountability on both sides, as both can be equally greedy.

 

[mesaboy2]

got your back.
sorry i wasn't on earlier.

you've always given great information.
keep up the good work.

Merry Christmas, macraven!

And thanks.

 

[bcrook]

~Intially, the DDP was excellent, the guest always came out ahead, with great food, too! But, guests abused the loopholes SO bad, where Disney was losing a ton of money on it, I'm talking widespread rampant abuse.

~Whenever a loophole that has been widely abused is discovered, it is a standard corporate practice to drastically cut costs and impose drastic measutes in order to recoup the estimated loss, in addition to making a profit.

~So, instead of abandoning a popular, profitable concept altogether, Disney dumbed the DDP down, just for profits.

~Refillable mugs are now getting RFID! That's so drastic to me, but when things are continually abused, this is the end result. I don't use refillable mugs, it's just an observation.

~The concierge lounges used to give out free bottled water, but guests abused that, now it's gone.

~Disney was not happy with late FP use, I have no problem saying this, because I used fastpasses late and it was awesome, but wrong is wrong!

~There has to accountability on both sides, as both can be equally greedy.

I understand. My point was that FP+ is not really a net gain for customers. Maybe it is to close loopholes or change dynamics like mousermerf is explaining. But overall, this is based on business decisions.

I also understand that you are very excited about the changes, and you will use it to your advantage. I probably will too. I think I will adjust ok. But, I do think it is a net loss overall. Kind of like when the DDP changed and no longer covered gratuity. The DDP is still marketed as a money saver, but it sure isn't as good as it once was.

This brings us back to OP. any fastpass+ limit on annual passes would be a net loss in benefits.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

I understand. My point was that FP+ is not really a net gain for customers. Maybe it is to close loopholes or change dynamics like mousermerf is explaining. But overall, this is based on business decisions.

I also understand that you are very excited about the changes, and you will use it to your advantage. I probably will too. I think I will adjust ok. But, I do think it is a net loss overall. Kind of like when the DDP changed and no longer covered gratuity. The DDP is still marketed as a money saver, but it sure isn't as good as it once was.

~This is such a great post! Anyway, I totally agree that DDP is no longer a value. I have done the math, but I love the convenience of having all meals paid in advanced, it feels like an all inclusive vacation, and there is no sticker shock when you check out.

~Unfortunately, the gratuity was removed due to customer demand. Several, posters and guests complained to Disney about "undeserving" servers getting tips. I didn't get it, either. But, I was really sad when Disney stop paying the gratuity. It was a huge loss for the guests that tip and tip well.

~Okay, with FP+, try to look at it this way. First and foremost, I mostly perceive this as a necessary technological upgrade. I feel confident in saying that Disney categorizes Fastpass as an essential working component of the parks overall operating infrastructure. The technology has changed drastically over the past 14 years.

~Let's look at the technology -- in 1999 Intel releases 366 and 400 MHz Celeron processors, priced at US$123 and US$158 each. This was the state of the art technology. The first Apple ibook was released later that year utilizing the same specs.

~Fast forward to today -- our cell phones are rocking 32GB and can do just as much as a computer, in some aspects more! This is where we are today. I'm positive that this technological breakthrough has impacted your life at home and at work. Has your office gone wireless and paperless, yet? The transition is not easy, it's a real pain. But, now I love it! So, why does Disney have to function with dated obsolete technology, when we have adapted to the rest of the world around us?

~Remember, it wasn't too long ago when we all had to update our televisions! The government issued vouchers for people to update the televisions, that was drastic, but we have all adapted since then.

~What I value the most about FP+, is my time. It sux to have to run all the way over from Tomorrowland to Frontierland just to pull a FP. Okay, I have my FP for Space Mountain, but my return window is open for Splash Mountain is about to expire, so I have to race back over to Frontierland, it's not exactly across the street.

~Now, I can spend time touring a land in it's entirety, without running from here to there just for FP's. FP+ will afford me the freedom to tour the way I've dreamed of. I would rather wait a few more minutes in line than criss cross the parks just to collect FP's. Right now, regular fastpass controls my vacation. My park touring style is compromised by the return window on my fastpass and the time I can pull another fastpass, etc.

~Honestly, it's okay to be skeptical, but I think you are going to be delightfully surprised with the flexibility and freedom that FP+ can deliver.