AP's to get 20 FP+ per quarter

[Bonniec]

I'm local with Premium APs and have been completely out of the loop for all this. Is there some place to read up on what FP+ is? I didn't read through this whole thread so completely unaware of what is happening. I just saw that regular FPs might not be used anymore??

I'm already iffy with the loss of the discount. What exactly is happening with FP?

 

[crazycatlady]

Disney wants you to continue buying the hopper option. They apparently just don't want you to exercise it.

 

[crazycatlady]

So why is it ok to tell people without the lastest technology they must adapt, but not the people who want to sleep late?

I totally agree! I would prefer to sleep later than 6:30 am on my vacation, but not enough to have to battle lines all day so I choose to set my alarm and get up for rope drop. If other people choose to sleep in, they have made their choice, too, but then need to face the consequence of losing out on the least busy hours of the parks.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

So the rumor coming down the pipeline is that in addition to everything we've learned about Resort guests via the tests and website info, that Annual Passholders will be allotted FastPass+ per quarter - like January to March - to use whenever they want as long as they are within the FP+ guidelines (4 per day at MK, no multiple-park reservations - essentially same rules as resort guests).

The number being tossed around as the allotment per Annual Pass is 20 per quarter.

Discuss.

~I only read the first post and skimmed over the last two pages. But, this is quite possibility one of the dumbest rumors surrounding FP+, that I have ever read.

~I am rolling. on. the. floor. laughing. It is so dumb. My shoes can come up with better concepts for FP+ than this. The fact that so many people reacted to this makes me laugh even harder! Whoever started this rumor is just seeking to get a rise out of innocent posters and is probably sitting back laughing at them as they make haste to cancel their vacations while pitching a fit.

~The idea of Disney issuing 20 twenty Fastpass every three months is so incomprehensible and ludicrous. More than likely, Fastpasses will be limited per day and will not be any different than resort guests.

~According to the majority here, AP's weren't going to be able to get FP+ at all! It was only for deluxe/and or resort guests. Oh yeah, how much is this supposed to cost us again, lol?!

But, but, but the fabulousness of it all!

~Why do you always have to mock my opinion? I had no intention of ever posting in this thread. I think FP+ is going to be even more fabulous now! That's my opinion and I won't ever mock you for yours, I don't even care, really.


~Anyway, I am so excited about FP+, it's going to be so fabulous. The system was very broken. If regular Fastpass was so great, why was there an overwhelming amount of people who hoarded fastpasses to use later in the evening! It wasn't perfect -- every single day this forum was cluttered with complaint after complaint from guests who experienced problems using late FP's.

~There were more and more ugly confrontations and late FP usage was becoming problematic. Disney had to issue a nationwide press release to all of the media outlets labeling Disney guests as line cutters and Fastpass abusers, they made the message very clear, that the practice of using late FP's was not appreciated.

~Fastpass+ will give me more options and more freedom in the parks to tour the way I desire. I don't have to worry about waiting until some unknown time for my return window, and then another unknown time to pull another Fastpass, etc.

~I love the fact that I won't have to criss cross the parks just to pull a fastpass, it's very time consuming and tiring. I will already have my FP's before I enter the parks. Now, I can spend more time doing the things that I enjoy! So far, I have not found anything logical to make me not want FP+. Actually, I'm even more excited about FP+, plus I can't wait to buy the cute RFID bracelets to coordinate with my outfits. Yay!

~Heck, I should just start a rumor about AP's getting 10 FP's a day, everyday for the whole year. Is that better? Anyway, this is just total nonsense. Unsubscribed....

 

[RachaelA]

I'm completely lost. I read like 1/3 of this thread, but that just confused me more.

How about you guys just tell what the deal is when its announced so I can get all angry at Disney then? We're DVC members and have APs.

 

[mesaboy2]

~Why do you always have to mock my opinion? I had no intention of ever posting in this thread. I think FP+ is going to be even more fabulous now! That's my opinion and I won't ever mock you for yours, I don't even care, really.

~Anyway, I am so excited about FP+, it's going to be so fabulous. The system was very broken. If regular Fastpass was so great, why was there an overwhelming amount of people who hoarded fastpasses to use later in the evening! It wasn't perfect -- every single day this forum was cluttered with complaint after complaint from guests who experienced problems using late FP's.

~There were more and more ugly confrontations and late FP usage was becoming problematic. Disney had to issue a nationwide press release to all of the media outlets labeling Disney guests as line cutters and Fastpass abusers, they made the message very clear, that the practice of using late FP's was not appreciated.

~Fastpass+ will give me more options and more freedom in the parks to tour the way I desire. I don't have to worry about waiting until some unknown time for my return window, and then another unknown time to pull another Fastpass, etc.

~I love the fact that I won't have to criss cross the parks just to pull a fastpass, it's very time consuming and tiring. I will already have my FP's before I enter the parks. Now, I can spend more time doing the things that I enjoy! So far, I have not found anything logical to make me not want FP+. Actually, I'm even more excited about FP+, plus I can't wait to buy the cute RFID bracelets to coordinate with my outfits. Yay!

~Heck, I should just start a rumor about AP's getting 10 FP's a day, everyday for the whole year. Is that better? Anyway, this is just total nonsense. Unsubscribed....

If you're still reading, the honest answer is because its so easy. Nine times out of ten, your posts on this subject are boilerplate and one-note, without any sensible reason why you're so excited about it. I'll give you credit this time though, as at least you came up with some cogent reasons why this system may benefit you.

In thread after thread where most everyone else appears far less excited about it than you are, I see some really good reasons for posters to be so. But rarely do I see any "attaboys" or "attagirls" from you understanding their points, yet you highlight the outliers who had positive experiences with limited tests and conclude that the whole thing will be...great...with no consideration for scale or for the experiences of those who were not selected for the tests.

That's why, since you asked.

 

[LisaTC]

I'm completely lost. I read like 1/3 of this thread, but that just confused me more.

How about you guys just tell what the deal is when its announced so I can get all angry at Disney then? We're DVC members and have APs.

This seems to explain it fairly well...http://micechat.com/17855-walt-disney-world-fastpass-plus/

I've found, personally, that the current FP system has always worked well for us and we just got back from a week at the World yesterday 12/22. We rode BTMRR 3 times, Little Mermaid, Goofy's Barnstormer and other attractions at MK we wanted to ride based on fastpasses. At DHS, we did arrive at park opening or slightly after and did go straight to TSM to get FP, then went to TOT and rode standby. We did the same for TestTrack & Soarin' at Epcot and Kali at AK...rode standby for others as we arrived early in the am. I guess a "theoretical" problem I see with the + is if you didn't want to spend a whole day at a park, I would hope you'd get a time that fit into your schedule. For us, DHS, is a few hour park. We like TSM and looking around a bit and Indiana Jones, but it isn't our favorite park. We'd probably ride TSM and leave 2 hours later. MK we'd be there most of the day as Epcot, so it wouldn't be as much of an issue.

All CM's we encountered were diligent about return times and we planned our time around our FP, purposefully. It worked well because we worked it the way, I feel, it was intended.

The RFID's were in place for the room locks, purchases (midway during our trip, so it didn't work for us and we had to Swipe our KTTW the old fashioned way...big deal, not!) LOL It was also available for entry into Epcot, but it wasn't advertised too much at the Epcot line. We just figured it out.

I will say that when we rode TestTrack for the 2nd time at the end of our evening at Epcot that most of the riders were FP, it seemed! LOL.

I think it will be like everything else, we won't know until it happens. I cannot see them excluding AP's and nonResort attendees at the end of the day, which was some of the initial rumor mill. There will be some way that it will work. It does need serious tweaking.

 

[hookedonears]

I guess the only question I have about the new FP+ system is; Are the new FP+ FP's going to be taken out of the existing inventory of FP's for each attraction? If they're going to be in addition, my fear is that the FP lines will eventually be about as long as the stand-by lines.

 

[mesaboy2]

I guess the only question I have about the new FP+ system is; Are the new FP+'s going to be taken out of the existing inventory of FP's for each attraction? If they're going to be in addition, my fear is that the FP lines will eventually be about as long as the stand-by lines.

 

[Rosanne]

The law of "unintended consequences."

For every fix, there must be a series of additional fixes added to correct the first fix.

Leave the FP system, the heck, ALONE.

I read the first 9 pages and am about to give the computer up to my 6 year old for a bit.

I wish they would leave FP as it has been. I see so many problems. I fear they are trying to go the route of Universal Studios.

Last spring break my little family was enjoying a visit to WDW and we had purchased one day tickets to Islands of Adventure. We did not realize we were in for a rude awakening. We got up early and headed over to Universal. Long story short, we hardly got to ride anything at all and spent most of the the day in line. I think we rode 5 rides with none of them being the top rides. We learned then that you had to be staying in a Universal resort to make much use of the rides or you could spend about $50 each to receive some sort of front of the ride pass. We left Universal less than impressed. I knew that if we ever went back we would have to stay on-site but the money-grab was to "in-your-face" for our family.

That's the way I feel about this new system that seems to be coming to WDW. The cost of the hotels and tickets have skyrocketed way past inflation in the past few years. For years we have extreme penny-pinched to make WDW a once a year vacay because we loved that "in the magic" feel. Now I am feeling it is more of a money-grab and less magical. I do not think the changes are meant to enhance the guest experience but to add revenue in the most calculating way. I get adding revenue but this one feels too cold. When I start feeling like a dollar sign instead of a person I will hate to leave Disney (we have truly loved it) but I will make plans for less expensive, more educational venues like D.C., Chicago, Boston, N.Y., Atlanta (We have family nearby in each of these.)

I just feel the fun factor is being squeezed out.

 

[OurDogCisco]

One thing I noticed about Disney is that they really don't do any special dining options for AP holders. For example, I would say most visitors know that they are at least going to Disney in 6 months. They have to plan, make travel arrangements, etc. so, the reality is that they can make dining reservations. So, a local who holds an AP has to either plan in advance or look online the the night before they want to eat out and take what is leftover. They don't always get the best dining time or eat at their favorite place. Disney does not hold back reservations for AP holders. So with their track history I don't see them doing anything fair for AP holders at all. :-(. I do not live locally but I do buy the annual pass but I know when I'm going.

 

[hookedonears]

FP+ FP's decreasing the inventory is the only way I see such a plan working. I realize that it opens up a can of worms with no shows, but I really can't see any other way.

 

[Missyrose]

Why do you always have to mock my opinion? I had no intention of ever posting in this thread. I think FP+ is going to be even more fabulous now! That's my opinion and I won't ever mock you for yours, I don't even care, really.

He mocks you because you tend to make yourself an easy target. You keep jumping into threads in which people are having real discussions about possible changes and you attempt to dump hot pink pixie dust all over their concerns. I understand you're happy about the new system, but to dismiss others' concerns is just inviting them to turn their snark toward you.

~Anyway, I am so excited about FP+, it's going to be so fabulous. The system was very broken. If regular Fastpass was so great, why was there an overwhelming amount of people who hoarded fastpasses to use later in the evening! It wasn't perfect -- every single day this forum was cluttered with complaint after complaint from guests who experienced problems using late FP's.

The overwhelming number of people who hoarded FPs until evening (myself included) did it because it was a smart touring plan that worked well for us. We'd get to the parks at RD, ride rides with short waits, picking up FPs along the way. We'd leave the park for lunch and a little swimming or rest back at the resort and then come back in the late afternoon/early evening and use the FPs until the parade and fireworks.

Before I ever read about the ability to use late FPs here on the DIS, I heard it from several CMs on my 2009 trip. They made the announcement at the beginning of Carousel of Progress. "Don't forget, your FPs are goo until the end of the day, so don't forget to use them!"

~There were more and more ugly confrontations and late FP usage was becoming problematic. Disney had to issue a nationwide press release to all of the media outlets labeling Disney guests as line cutters and Fastpass abusers, they made the message very clear, that the practice of using late FP's was not appreciated.

Now you're just making stuff up to suit your own pixie-dust fueled cause. If you've ever had a conversation with a CM or manager since March, you would know that ending late-FP usage had absolutely NOTHING to do with late usage becoming more problematic. It had EVERYTHING to do with this new system. For the system of ride reservations to work, Disney has to have pretty precise knowledge of where people will be and when. Late FPs would throw off those algorithms completely. So to get the parks ready for the new system, they discontinued their practice of accepting late FPs.

And there was never a "nationwide press release" about the change in practice of accepting late FPs. It was simply a change in their internal system and the only way people knew things had changed were by CMs here on the boards telling us and having CMs stationed at the FP machines (along with signs) explaining that late FPs would no longer be accepted. And for that matter, Disney has never labeled the people who used late FPs as line cutters and FP abusers and to suggest anything different is just silly.

~Fastpass+ will give me more options and more freedom in the parks to tour the way I desire. I don't have to worry about waiting until some unknown time for my return window, and then another unknown time to pull another Fastpass, etc.

I'm very glad you're so excited about the system. I'm sure it will make your trips 10 times more magical.

~I love the fact that I won't have to criss cross the parks just to pull a fastpass, it's very time consuming and tiring. I will already have my FP's before I enter the parks. Now, I can spend more time doing the things that I enjoy! So far, I have not found anything logical to make me not want FP+. Actually, I'm even more excited about FP+, plus I can't wait to buy the cute RFID bracelets to coordinate with my outfits. Yay!

This may be the one place we agree on anything -- not having to criss-cross the parks. That was a big reason why we liked using late FPs, you would collect them and then use them in a way that allowed you to group attractions that were similar to each other. If we had two Space Mountain FPs and one each for BTMRR and Splash, we'd use the two Space FPs, then head back and do BTMRR and Splash.

We've been back twice since they started enforcing FP windows and it did result in a lot more walking across the park.

 

[andyman8]

I've done my best to summarize the latest info on the dreaded FP+ in a somewhat concise article. Take a look.

http://www.disneyparksplanning.com/apps/blog/show/21306421-third-round-of-fastpass-concludes

Feel free to share any comments or corrections (I don't have time to read it over for spelling or typos) in the comments. Thanks and happy holidays!

 

[bcrook]

I've done my best to summarize the latest info on the dreaded FP+ in a somewhat concise article. Take a look.

http://www.disneyparksplanning.com/apps/blog/show/21306421-third-round-of-fastpass-concludes

Feel free to share any comments or corrections (I don't have time to read it over for spelling or typos) in the comments. Thanks and happy holidays!

Good summary Andy.

 

[mousermerf]

Umm.. am I the only one who sees that the person who thinks it's "fabulous" disregards the info about the FP+ limits for APs entirely and claims it's totally bogus...?

 

[Suellen]

Does anyone have concerns that you won't be able to get FP+ for all rides? You can't get Splash Mountain, BTRRM, and Space Mountain all in one day?

I thought the goal of FP was to keep guests out of lines and in stores and spending money on food. This seems more designed to keep you out of one line while simply waiting in another.

 

[larryz]

Umm.. am I the only one who sees that the person who thinks it's "fabulous" disregards the info about the FP+ limits for APs entirely and claims it's totally bogus...?

Whether it is or isn't, irregardless, we'll have to live with whatever system it turns into.

FP or FP+, random or scheduled, it's still gonna be WDW, and I'll adapt/adopt to match my touring style (or vice versa) and I'll still have a great time!

Thanks for all the different (and differing) points of view!

 

[Missyrose]

Does anyone have concerns that you won't be able to get FP+ for all rides? You can't get Splash Mountain, BTRRM, and Space Mountain all in one day?

I thought the goal of FP was to keep guests out of lines and in stores and spending money on food. This seems more designed to keep you out of one line while simply waiting in another.

Yes, this is one of my main concerns. It would be one thing if you could make 4 FP+ reservations per day, but you could pick the attractions. But to say you have to burn two of those reservations on attractions such as Haunted Mansion or Mickey's Philharmagic really irks me.

 

[bauer1168]

~I only read the first ~Anyway, I am so excited about FP+, it's going to be so fabulous. The system was very broken. If regular Fastpass was so great, why was there an overwhelming amount of people who hoarded fastpasses to use later in the evening! It wasn't perfect -- every single day this forum was cluttered with complaint after complaint from guests who experienced problems using late FP's.

~There were more and more ugly confrontations and late FP usage was becoming problematic. Disney had to issue a nationwide press release to all of the media outlets labeling Disney guests as line cutters and Fastpass abusers, they made the message very clear, that the practice of using late FP's was not appreciated.

~Fastpass+ will give me more options and more freedom in the parks to tour the way I desire. I don't have to worry about waiting until some unknown time for my return window, and then another unknown time to pull another Fastpass, etc.

~I love the fact that I won't have to criss cross the parks just to pull a fastpass, it's very time consuming and tiring. I will already have my FP's before I enter the parks. Now, I can spend more time doing the things that I enjoy! So far, I have not found anything logical to make me not want FP+. Actually, I'm even more excited about FP+, plus I can't wait to buy the cute RFID bracelets to coordinate with my outfits. Yay!

~Heck, I should just start a rumor about AP's getting 10 FP's a day, everyday for the whole year. Is that better? Anyway, this is just total nonsense. Unsubscribed....

I think the main reason they would hoard the FP's was because Disney didn't really enforce the time(s) you had to return in the past. Therefore, it helped their way of touring the parks.

I don't see it as abuse, just a case of doing your research and asking cms if they could return after the printed time, if the cm said it was ok, or would let you through, that's fine. If you don't ask, you'll never know.

Only 3 ways I can think of that one MAY be able to abuse the FASTPASS system.

1. I have read that the FP kiosks themselves have a button at the back of them that, when/if there is a problem with accepting someones card, a cm could press this button on the back and it would distribute a FP for that guest. If one was to look for an unoccupied kiosk or see a cm distracted at another kiosk, one could simply press this button at the back as much as they'd like and it would spit out FP's (again, only read about that, have no other proof so it could be a load of rubbish).

2. The cm who you give your FP to inside the queue area just takes the FP off you without looking at it. You could have a legitimate FP for say, Buzz Lightyear from 1pm-2pm that day, and take with you weeks/months/years of old, unused FP's for different attractions. Use the Legitmate FP to show the cm at the the entrance to the FP queue, then give the second cm one of your old unused FP's. Do it twice, wait for the cms to rotate and repeat.
I have never, nor would I ever do this, my apologies if I offended anyone with this point. It is merely to try and put my point across about the difference between abuse of the FP system and knowing how it works and using it to its fullest, whilst following Disney's rules/terms.

3. People printing off their own copies and selling them on eBAY.

Those 3 points to me, are FP abuse

If you are looking forward to FP+ then that is fine, and I totally and fully respect anyone who thinks that.
My worry is, as I have made in other posts, is that you make your booking for MSEP one night, and then it is cancelled due to the weather. That to me, is a wasted FP+ right there. I'm sure Disney will compensate by offering a FP+ for another attraction whilst the park is still open, but for some, they may feel that's not good enough.

What if you want to change your FP+ reservation due to a reason, you go try to log onto the disney app/website and it is experiencing 'technical difficulties', or the battery in your phone dies?

Again, i'm not attacking anyone with this comment, I appreciate and respect anyone who disagrees with me on this. I've found this thread to be a great discussion which has been done on peaceful terms