AP's to get 20 FP+ per quarter

[kaligal]

20 FPs a quarter would be fine. I'd like more, but its fine.

I wouldn't be able to schedule in advance, though. I'm not a big planner. No way I'd be online 6 months before my travel date, scheduling meals and hotels, much less FP ride times! I often decide to go and leave that day or the next.

Would these things be available last-minute or whenever we feel like using them?

 

[mesaboy2]

When I had my AP I certainly went more than 13 times a year but I'm one of those people who never use FP...I've seen/done everything I wanted so there's no need for me to waste a FP. Plus I won't wait in a line for more than 20 minutes so there's no need for one. Now if I did use FP a lot then I would be a little concerned about this supposed change so I can see why people are worried.

Universal's Premier AP has the Express access after 4pm but that's the only one of the three available that offers it.

Thanks, that explains why I don't know much about it. I know you know your stuff and appreciate you clarifying.

I believe that off site guests can purchase the unlimited pass. It is called the VIP pass and is quite expensive ($150 ish per day)

I knew of it, but figured the high price point would be a nonstarter for most and therefore not a good comparison.

 

[mesaboy2]

Interesting WDWToday podcast.

http://www.wdwtoday.com/article.php?story=20121220211417552

Can't say I'm excited about it now.

I've not listened to it yet. What did they say that turned you off?

 

[mbrittb00]

Thanks, that explains why I don't know much about it. I know you know your stuff and appreciate you clarifying.

I knew of it, but figured the high price point would be a nonstarter for most and therefore not a good comparison.

True, but sometimes of the year the single use ones can me as much as $60

 

[kaligal]

Phones lose charge. Sometimes, phones just stop working and you have to take them to Apple to make them work again or be replaced.

I would SO hate to see this turned into a computer thing that might work, but might not.

 

[Eclpz314]

Assuming that's true for a moment, would having these FP+s preclude access to regular FPs (as it apparently would resort guests) I wonder.... And would these be mutually-exclusive items only for days selected for FP+ use, for the quarter, or for the duration of the AP....

Discuss.

I am an AP holder who lives 10 min. away. I would use ALL my alloted FPs to ride TSM. We don't do rope drop and have only ridden that 5 times in the 3 years we've been here. Ok, maybe I'd throw a Soarin' or two in that bunch too!

 

[andyman8]

I've not listened to it yet. What did they say that turned you off?

How kind of you to ask; I apologize in advance for a lengthy post.

The first thing I realized (which I must have missed somehow) was that everyone would participate in FP+. Initially, I didn't see this as a problem, but then I hear resort guests get to pick their choices 180 days in advance. I don't plan my trips that far in advance and I still think deciding where I want to eat 6 months from now is insane. Anyways, if I want to get a FP+ for TSM, I'll probably have to get up at 7am 180 days in advance to book my package and get my FP+ reservation. Day guests get FP+ 60 days in advance.

Next, I didn't learn this from the podcast, but Disney seems that it is virtually eliminating the regular FP system. On average, I spend about 7 hours in the park on one day of a vacation. I could easily get at least 3 FPs for attractions of my choice if each return time is past 2 hours, which is only for select attractions. On average, I find that I usually get 5. These are for any participating attraction of my choice regardless of if I got a FP for it before, so I could get 2 FPs for Space, 1 FP for BTMRR, 1 FP for Space, and 1 FP for Buzz. Under FP+, I'd only be able to choose 2 of those attractions and not be able to ride one ride multiple times, and I don't get access to regular FP, so my only option is to wait in a long standby queue.

Finally, it's just too confusing. What if I have a FP+ for the MSEP but it thunderstorms (in the lightning capital of the world, mind you) and the parade is canceled? Seems like it would be a too bad moment, as I can't imagine many slots being available after the 11pm MSEP. I think the system could work if it was just offered to Disney Resort guests who could book them 60 days in advance and was used in conjunction with the regular FP system. That's how I initially pictured it.

It's worth noting that Jim Hill didn't seemed to thrilled about ti,

 

[mbrittb00]

How kind of you to ask; I apologize in advance for a lengthy post.

The first thing I realized (which I must have missed somehow) was that everyone would participate in FP+. Initially, I didn't see this as a problem, but then I hear resort guests get to pick their choices 180 days in advance. I don't plan my trips that far in advance and I still think deciding where I want to eat 6 months from now is insane. Anyways, if I want to get a FP+ for TSM, I'll probably have to get up at 7am 180 days in advance to book my package and get my FP+ reservation. Day guests get FP+ 60 days in advance.

Next, I didn't learn this from the podcast, but Disney seems that it is virtually eliminating the regular FP system. On average, I spend about 7 hours in the park on one day of a vacation. I could easily get at least 3 FPs for attractions of my choice if each return time is past 2 hours, which is only for select attractions. On average, I find that I usually get 5. These are for any participating attraction of my choice regardless of if I got a FP for it before, so I could get 2 FPs for Space, 1 FP for BTMRR, 1 FP for Space, and 1 FP for Buzz. Under FP+, I'd only be able to choose 2 of those attractions and not be able to ride one ride multiple times, and I don't get access to regular FP, so my only option is to wait in a long standby queue.

Finally, it's just too confusing. What if I have a FP+ for the MSEP but it thunderstorms (in the lightning capital of the world, mind you) and the parade is canceled? Seems like it would be a too bad moment, as I can't imagine many slots being available after the 11pm MSEP. I think the system could work if it was just offered to Disney Resort guests who could book them 60 days in advance and was used in conjunction with the regular FP system. That's how I initially pictured it.

It's worth noting that Jim Hill didn't seemed to thrilled about ti,

I've read the terms and conditions posted earlier in this thread (I'm pretty sure it is the same one that they are referring to) and while it does state that MYW ticket holders will be able to make FP+ reservations 60 days in advance it doesn't say anything about resort guests getting 180 days (unless I've missed something). It so talks about utilization of FP+ would prevent the ticket holder from using the old FP system, but nothing about the old FP system going away, so I'm not sure where that came from.

If the old FP system goes away that would be bad for us. As a family of 6 staying on site in the value resorts during value season for a week would cost us over $1500 for lodging only. We can stay offsite for less than 1/2 of that. If we had to stay onsite to be on equal footing with everyone else we would probably change our trips from once every 2ish years to more like 5-6 (or more) between trips.

Oh and the offsite at that price is MUCH better accommodations.

 

[larryz]

Sorry, I'm avoiding the stock market, etc. I sold a bunch of things yesterday and might actually be net-short by now. I'm trying not to be too giddy over my momentarily good fortunes.

Sounds like you need to plan a trip for February!

20 FPs a quarter would be fine. I'd like more, but its fine.

I wouldn't be able to schedule in advance, though. I'm not a big planner. No way I'd be online 6 months before my travel date, scheduling meals and hotels, much less FP ride times! I often decide to go and leave that day or the next.

Would these things be available last-minute or whenever we feel like using them?

A voice of reason -- thank you -- remember, it wasn't too long ago that people weren't even sure DVC and AP's would even GET FP+ opportunities...

 

[andyman8]

I've read the terms and conditions posted earlier in this thread (I'm pretty sure it is the same one that they are referring to) and while it does state that MYW ticket holders will be able to make FP+ reservations 60 days in advance it doesn't say anything about resort guests getting 180 days (unless I've missed something). It so talks about utilization of FP+ would prevent the ticket holder from using the old FP system, but nothing about the old FP system going away, so I'm not sure where that came from.

If the old FP system goes away that would be bad for us. As a family of 6 staying on site in the value resorts during value season for a week would cost us over $1500 for lodging only. We can stay offsite for less than 1/2 of that. If we had to stay onsite to be on equal footing with everyone else we would probably change our trips from once every 2ish years to more like 5-6 (or more) between trips.

Oh and the offsite at that price is MUCH better accommodations.

I see what you're saying but the theory is that such a minute portion of guests at the parks would have FP access, it wouldn't benefit Disney in any way to still offer it, so they could easily "declare" "old" (aka modern "paper" tickets) as "unusable". That's WDWToday's theory anyway. I just think FP+ will cause way to much confusion.

I also agree with Scopa that sometimes I wonder if different parts of corporate WDW don't even consult each other when making decisions.

 

[mom2rtk]

I am an AP holder who lives 10 min. away. I would use ALL my alloted FPs to ride TSM. We don't do rope drop and have only ridden that 5 times in the 3 years we've been here. Ok, maybe I'd throw a Soarin' or two in that bunch too!

From what I've read so far, it seems you would not be able to use all 20 slots for TSMM. You get 3 choices per day at DHS, and no duplication of rides. It seems like no partial days either.

I see what you're saying but the theory is that such a minute portion of guests at the parks would have FP access, it wouldn't benefit Disney in any way to still offer it, so they could easily "declare" "old" (aka modern "paper" tickets) as "unusable". That's WDWToday's theory anyway. I just think FP+ will cause way to much confusion.

I also agree with Scopa that sometimes I wonder if different parts of corporate WDW don't even consult each other when making decisions.

Let's call it "obsolete technology".

Sort of like the Lights of Winter.

 

[Laketravis]

Yield management, folks......I'm telling ya.

I particpated in the FP+ trials last week. A few impressions:

1. First thing I realized was I should have written down my choices and times. At least with a paper FP you can pull it out of your pocket and look at it to see the times. I find myself doing that several times a day because, well, the time window for an FP is not the sort of brain minutia I want to have to keep track of. And while there is a monetary incentive NOT to miss most ADR's (because of CC confirmation), people keep a list of those with them. But FP+ is an RFID card that tells you nothing. You can't look at it and see what's coming up next at what time.

2. Second thing I noticed was that I would receive an email itinerary of my FP+ choices for that day - often several hours after the times for the FP's, Nice to be reminded that I was supposed to have been on TSM an hour ago.

3. Third thing I noticed was that FP and FP+ were putting pressure not only on Standby lines, but also the FP lines. I've never seen an FP line for Space Mountain reach back to the Lunching Pad on a Wednesday in early December before but I did last week.

4. Fourth thing I noticed - turning more things into "experiences" increases the number of choices available, thus providing more resource yield and spreading users out over a broader base. But I found myself reserving things I normally would not have even participated in or attended because, well, I still have 2 of my 4 choices for that day left over because I couldn't reserve SM or BTMR more than once. And that both bothered and disappointed me. At what point does a ride on the parking lot Tram qualify as a participating resource? Okay, that's a little cynical but illustrates the concept.

So Disney is going to accomplish what they need to accomplish by micro-managing guest demand, but personally I think there is going to be a lot of pushback on this.

 

[andyman8]

Let's call it "obsolete technology".

Sort of like the Lights of Winter.

I can see it now.

From the Official Disney Parks Twitter Account

Note:The regular tickets at Walt Disney World have been enjoyed for years. But tech to scan the tickets is obsolete, prompting us to retire the tickets.

 

[Suellen]

20 FPs a quarter would be fine. I'd like more, but its fine.

I wouldn't be able to schedule in advance, though. I'm not a big planner. No way I'd be online 6 months before my travel date, scheduling meals and hotels, much less FP ride times! I often decide to go and leave that day or the next.

Would these things be available last-minute or whenever we feel like using them?

But remember what the speculation is ~ you can use 5 days worth of FP+ so if you go to DHS you only get three, you can't split your day and you can't split your 20 FP's up over multiple days (exceeding 5).

That is the kicker for me.

Along with the fact... for example it is 5:10 now and I'm trying to decide if I take the girls to a park ... or just DTD for dinner.

So:

A. I'm not going to blow 4 of my 20 for tonight
B. I probably wouldn't be able to get ANY headliners anyway.

 

[patty57]

Mousemerf is a writer that uses his blog to hawk his books about WDW.

Ohhhh...now I see. Thanks for the info.

 

[mousermerf]

For those who forgot what Staggs said in 2011:

Disney’s 2011 Investor Conference February 17, 2011

"In addition to focusing on expanding our physical assets, we're also spending considerable time and energy to fundamentally change the way our guests experience our properties.

As we've discussed in the past, consumers are changing. They have increasing access to information, an increasing array of choices, and an increasing desire and expectation for personalization and recognition. So, we need to transform the guest experience to reflect that. We know that our guests love creating great Disney memories with their friends and their families.

We also know they don't exactly relish waiting in line, checking in at the resorts, worrying about missing their favorite attractions, or feeling uncertain about how to best navigate and access our properties.

In the coming years, we'll introduce a broad, integrated set of systems and tools that will help us create a more seamless, personalized experience, and help guests to get more out of those visits with us.

That's our ultimate goal, to welcome more and more people, while making their experience more satisfying, more personal, and more immersive. We've launched a number of initiatives over the years, including FASTPASS and Magical Express, and they've been incredibly popular with our guests. But, we plan to take these kinds of enhancements even further Giving our guests faster and better access to the fun is a centerpiece of our investment in technology.

As a result, we're currently developing an innovative system that will, in essence, create a version of FASTPASS for the entire Disney vacation. We define the Disney guest experience as beginning from the time a potential guest sits down at the computer or picks up a phone to make a reservation.

Our tools will help them better understand all that we have to offer and better plan their time with us. They'll be able to create a personalized itinerary that gives them the exact Disney vacation they want.

Guests will be able to reserve times for their favorite attractions and character interactions, secure seats at our shows and spectaculars, make dining reservations, and pre-book many other favorite guest experiences all before even leaving their house.

We also plan to simplify the check-in process, so that guests will arrive at their resort with room key in hand so they will be able to go straight to their room or to a theme park, again allowing them to get to the fun faster.

...

We're also developing the means to better assess and manage guest traffic throughout our theme parks, so we can use entertainment experiences, characters, and other forms of Disney magic to help improve the flow of guests during peak periods and drive increased utilization as a result for our parks.

Through this work, we'll put better information into the hands of our cast so they can deliver an even better and more personalized service for our guests. Now, it will be some time before we roll out the bulk of these initiatives, but we're well into development and, in fact, have a number of patents pending on our approach. So, it's too early for me to say much more than that. But, our vision here is clear and we see a real opportunity to further enhance and differentiate the Disney vacation experience."

 

[mousermerf]

For the record, utilization is the number of people who ride an attraction versus the capacity. If a ride takes 100 people an hour and only 70 ride, it is at 70% utilization.

Disney considers unused ride capacity or the "utilization gap" to be wasted investment and resources. They want you on the less popular rides and not re-riding the e-tickets which are at or near 100% utilization. In fact, those rides turn potential guests away due to the lengthy queues.

So while it may upset you to find it out, Disney does not want you doing what you do to ride an e-ticket 2 or more times per visit. They are putting in processes to stop you.

 

[Raenstoirm]

What about the non-local AP holders such as myself? We come for either one extended visit per year or two smaller trips, so we tend to buy APs. If we take the longer trip, I can only use Fps for a few days of my trip? Thats not fair! I am paying big bucks for APs. I'd just as soon buy regular tickets if the only way I can get FPs is with them!

 

[Missyrose]

What about the non-local AP holders such as myself? We come for either one extended visit per year or two smaller trips, so we tend to buy APs. If we take the longer trip, I can only use Fps for a few days of my trip? Thats not fair! I am paying big bucks for APs. I'd just as soon buy regular tickets if the only way I can get FPs is with them!

There's some speculation that AP holders who stay onsite might get the same FP+ onsite privileges as other onsite guests who are using MYW tickets. If that's the case, I'd be much happier than trying to figure out how to ration my AP's ration of FP+ over the course of a 10-day or 14-day trip.

 

[DougEMG]

This new FP+ system sounds worst as it is eliminating a lot of flexibility that the current FP has. Right now I think I'd rather stay onsite at Universal than use the new FP+ system at WDW.