AP's to get 20 FP+ per quarter

[andyman8]

Folks in the spirit of Christmas cheer a bit of latitude is being given to keep this thread open.
Please stay respective of all posters and all views

Not to bring religion into this, but Merry Christmas everyone!

And thank you Cyrano for an outstanding Christmas gift. This thread has made my day!

 

[JZCubed]

Will FP+ work for everyone?

No, but it fills the Void that current FP cannot accommodate.

Seemingly, as per the OP, you may have a choice of the FP or FP+, but not both.

FP+ fills that Void for people who have equal information for obtaining FP, but chose to enjoy Disney is an alternative fashion.

Disney is for families of all shapes and sizes. We should not have to run to get a FP multiple hours before intending to use them. Especially, if there is an alternative to satisfy the problem.

Disney wants me to go to DisneyQuest and other empty attractions in the morning...But if my only way to ride ToyStory on a short line or obtain FP is by going to HS in the morning, then current FP clogs the queue. FP+ may smooth out this problem....I can chose to ride at 7pm....and you can chose to ride at 9am....and you can get a FP too.

All FP users win by using FP or FP+. Original FP users can go to HS to ride TS early and often (and I was not in your way); I arrived at 7pm and you were gone. I went to HS when I wanted, not because I had to in order to beat the crowds. We can say the same for Soarin', Test Track, etc.

I believe that FP+ is more egalitarian than current FP, we can all get them before arriving and we each get the same number.

I believe that FP+ will not work for everyone, but at least we are on equal footing before we arrive....and you can still use FP system if FP+ is not right for you. FP+, as we currently understand it, may well work better for people who want to simply arrive to the Parks later or want some of the alternatives like 'preferred' seating for fireworks and parades. Or you can chose to manage your FP's by using the current system.

 

[WillAustin]

I do think everyone here thinks they will now be able to ride TSMM without hassle. My jury is still out on that. Remember. Capacity is a constant. They can dress it up and put a lot of bows on it......... but capacity is what it is.

I'm skeptical anyone will be getting FP+ for TSMM the night before, although if I were Disney, I'd probably keep a block of them that only gets released 1 or 2 days in advance so there will be room for people to make changes or book at the last minute.

 

[donalduck]

Is there somewhere that you have to sign up for this test or do they just pick people at random?

 

[Robo]

I believe that FP+ will not work for everyone, but at least we are on equal footing before we arrive..

Why are we not on equal footing before we arrive... now?

We cannot guarantee equality of OUTCOME.
We can only try to provide equality of OPPORTUNITY.

 

[mom2rtk]

Is there somewhere that you have to sign up for this test or do they just pick people at random?

The test is over. And people arriving my ME were chosen at random just ahead of their trips.

 

[Robo]

Is there somewhere that you have to sign up for this test or do they just pick people at random?

Sorry, but the test has concluded for this time-period.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm skeptical anyone will be getting FP+ for TSMM the night before, although if I were Disney, I'd probably keep a block of them that only gets released 1 or 2 days in advance so there will be room for people to make changes or book at the last minute.

They don't do that for dining. So I'd be surprised to see them do it for FPs. Who knows though......

 

[Meriweather]

Ohhh.............not liking the sounds of this at all.
We go every other year, the other year is DLR.
We go, usually 3 times a year for 14 days.
We just finished a WDW year, so won't be back until Jan. 2014, so this will be implemented by then.
That is not very many FP for a 14 day stay. And if 2 stays happen to be in the same quarter............

We like the way FP works now. It is good for us.......I'm sure there is never going to be anything that will make everyone happy.

 

[mousermerf]

They don't do that for dining. So I'd be surprised to see them do it for FPs. Who knows though......

But people cancel - so if you if really want something it's possible to get it. I just booked Le Cellier for lunch on NYE, which has been sold out for months.

Everyone talks about "equal footing" but it's not equal. If you pay less in admission you shouldn't get all the same perks. If you haven't committed to arriving at the 60 day mark (that's how far out the terms of service say the system will allow reservations) why should you be allowed first pick?

People rant about "first come first serve on day-of is fair!" to maintain the system as is - why isn't first come first serve at 60 days out just as fair?

It really boils down to it not being the best for a particular personal situation and them not wanting it to change. Fine, that's how people work, but don't pretend the whole new system is awful and will not work for anyone or that you're even giving it any contemplative distance.

For a large number of guests this will be a big improvement. They'll be able to get FP+ for TSMM and Soarin.

As for FP+ selling out - it's from those groups. They wont let you go and grab the mountains together at Magic Kingdom. That's intentional. You have to make a choice and that's so that other guests can also get a ride on a mountain.

 

[mousermerf]

Ohhh.............not liking the sounds of this at all.
We go every other year, the other year is DLR.
We go, usually 3 times a year for 14 days.
We just finished a WDW year, so won't be back until Jan. 2014, so this will be implemented by then.
That is not very many FP for a 14 day stay. And if 2 stays happen to be in the same quarter............

We like the way FP works now. It is good for us.......I'm sure there is never going to be anything that will make everyone happy.

Two stays of 14 days in one quarter?!?! That's 28 days out of 90.

Yes, I can firmly say Disney does not want their APs to be utilized that way.

 

[JZCubed]

For everyone that thinks FP+ is great because you don't want to have to get to the park early and some FPs sellout by the time you get there, will you get up at 6AM, 7AM, 60 days before your trip so you can get the FP+ before the FP+'s sellout for your chosen dates?

If I have my ADR for Brown Derby at 4pm so that my child can see the Pixar Parade before going to dinner, and I plan on seeing Fantasmic after dinner - then you bet I'd like the opportunity to get a FP+ for Toy Story or RnR or ToT at 7:30pm. Similarly, if I know that I can arrive in Magic Kingdom for my ADR at BoG so that my young child can be awake for the fireworks, then FP+ works for me at Peter Pan & Dumbo too....I'll only be in the Park from 3pm until after Fantasmic or Fireworks....that's all my child (and many young children) can take at the Parks. FP+ works for families with small children and others who have a different set of needs while vacationing.

FP+ gives me a chance of getting to the Park later instead of feeling as if I must get there by 9am.

And it's not just Toy Story - Soarin', Test Track, and those few others in every Park.

But more to the point, it is not clear that FP is being eliminated, but rather, FP+ is being added as an additional option.

 

[Meriweather]

Two stays of 14 days in one quarter?!?! That's 28 days out of 90.

Yes, I can firmly say Disney does not want their APs to be utilized that way.

Yes, sometimes we do Oct and Dec.

 

[Robo]

Two stays of 14 days in one quarter?!?! That's 28 days out of 90.

Yes, I can firmly say Disney does not want their APs to be utilized that way.

If Disney did not want their AP's to be utilized that way, they could simply make it an AP rule.

What about the AP-owning "snow birds" who park their campers and live at Ft. Wilderness all winter?

 

[mousermerf]

If Disney did not want their AP's to be utilized that way, they could simply make it an AP rule.

And they have seriously considered eliminating the AP program entirely several times because of such problems.

No, the way they fix it is to eliminate the means by which people choose to tweak the system to be outside the acceptable norms.

You can show up for 28 days in a 90 day period - but you cant get FP+.

 

[JZCubed]

Why are we not on equal footing before we arrive... now?

We cannot guarantee equality of OUTCOME.
We can only try to provide equality of OPPORTUNITY.

Because we cannot all be at the Front Gate for Rope drop.

I'll use your construct - "We can only try to provide equality of opportunity,".... by eliminating the need to rush to the front of the line at a particular hour in order to obtain a FP with a Return Time that may not resemble the current time.

Your suggesting the 'early-bird' offers an equal opportunity; I am suggesting otherwise.

Current FP only offers one way to get a FP and it may not resemble the current time. Therefore, in my opinion, FP neither provides equal outcomes nor opportunity.

Being an early-bird is fine for some, but what about people with ADR's for breakfast - should they have to chose between FP or dining with Mickey?

People who want to enjoy activities just in the evenings or want to do some activities on travel days, why shouldn't there be way to accommodate their needs too?

FP+ is a way to accommodate the needs of people who want the option to use FP when they need it, not when they can obtain it by arriving at a Park early or getting to a FP machine at a time that doesn't cause a conflict with an ADR or travel schedule.

There is no reason to believe that current FP is being eliminated, just FP+ being added. More options are a good thing. No?

 

[Traveliz]

Two stays of 14 days in one quarter?!?! That's 28 days out of 90.

Yes, I can firmly say Disney does not want their APs to be utilized that way.

I don't know -I think they like me using my AP that way because in the past year on one of those two week visits I brought with me a niece and nephew (without APs) who had to do and see everything; another trip I brought another niece and nephew for a graduation trip (and they had to buy tickets), another trip ...well you get the idea. I am going to be there for January and in that time frame I have a niece and nephew visiting for ten days who will be buying tickets, a family friend (3 adults, 1 child, and 1 infant) who will be visiting me and buying tickets....so even though my AP use may seem excessive I bring alot of non AP visitors along all year round.

And really? Can you really firmly say Disney does not want their APs to be utilized that way? I can tell you obviously work for Disney but are you in statistics for them? And if you were I doubt they would want you speaking for them.

Liz

 

[jahber]

The way I see it, AP holders aren't being punished for being local...they aren't being punished at all. You are just getting less FPs because you paid less for your tickets.

Maybe Disney is not profitting much from APs and wants to get rid of them eventually or make people want to buy regular tickets?

Unfortunately for Disney, we would not go to WDW at all if we didn't have passes, which were a gift. We would not spend money on food and souvenirs, and we wouldn't spend money to stay at a hotel a mere 45 minutes away from our house for my son's birthday. It doesn't sound like much on its own compared to an out-of-towner's big vacation, but it adds up. If it didn't, why would Disney offer perks to locals? If we don't spend our money at WDW, we'll spend it down the road at Universal or...gasp!...spend it in another state or country altogether.

As it was with the crazy crowds this year, we are seriously debating asking for Universal passes instead. And if we only received the 20 FP+ (either now or in the future) per quarter? We would not renew. No way. We have to decide soon, so I'm interested to hear what comes of this.

 

[OurDogCisco]

But people cancel - so if you if really want something it's possible to get it. I just booked Le Cellier for lunch on NYE, which has been sold out for months.

.

Really people are going to cancel their FP+ tickets? Is Disney going to add in more fastpasses if the FP+ reservation person doesn't show up.

 

[skmommy]

We are just back and were there during the FP+ testing. As we stay offsite we did not participate in the test. My initial impression is that the new system is not a "+" at all. Our morning at HS the Toy Story FP ran out before 10am....we were there at rope drop (8:45) and could not get a second fast pass because by the time our window opened they were gone. I know..."cry me a river"...we still rode 3 times that morning with less than a 15 minute wait each time, but I have never seen the FP gone so early and it had to have been because of the # of FP+ that added to the system. I am not seeing how the 2 FP systems can coexist reasonably. At this point I am really glad we have no plans to go back in the next few years due to life in general. It will give us time to see how all of this plays out.

Add us to the "it is not broken...leave it alone" crowd.