AP's to get 20 FP+ per quarter

[pouncingpluto]

Just as an FYI, for those of you who have APs, there's every indication that if you're staying at a Disney resort, you'd get the same allotment per day as any other guest at that resort. The rumors have pointed to the 20 per quarter allotment applying to non-resort guests.

If I could actually combine my AP + resort guest/DVC FP+s, I would be a very happy camper.

I hope they do another test period in early February, when we are going. How far out have they been announcing test periods?

 

[aubriee]

I truly doubt that the parks are going to be FP+ only. There's no doubt they're going away from the paper FP's. I believe everyone will have some sort of wrist band, or something which will be used as their park ticket and used to obtain FP's. FP+ in my opinion will be just an extra benefit that some guest will have the opportunity to participate in, if they elect to do so. I also believe that eventually, there's going to be a FP++ that guest will be able to pay for that will allow unlimited FP's for all attractions. The only thing I'm concerned about is the total FP inventory for each attraction. With FP+ and FP++, will the entire FP benefit be diluted?

Call me strange, but as much as I've voiced my opposition for Fast Pass+ and the way it would limit AP holders, I would love the option to buy Fast Pass++. One of the things that I love about staying onsite at Universal is their front of the line perk that allows me to hop right on a ride, then immediately hop back on the same ride repeatedly if I want to. My husband is not as big a fan as I am, so will only go down there maybe twice a year, but encourages my solo trips. On those solo trips I love to ride my favorite rides over and over. I have no problem riding Mummy 10-15 times in a row. I'd love to be able to do the same thing for Soarin, Star Tours, EE, the MK Mountains,and a few others and would have no problem paying for the ability to do so.

I wish they would either leave fast pass alone or else charge for it and have it unlimited like Universal's front of the line perk for onsite guests. I love fast pass and hate to see it limited to 20 per quarter.

 

[mbrittb00]

So, let me see if I can get this straight...
1. As an annual passholder, I can get 20 FP per quarter.
2. Resort members can do this online as part of their reservation. (I'm sure for DVC members who don't have APs, there would be some system in place, too)

If so, count me in as THRILLED!

Why?

By the end of this February, I will have spent 15 days at Disney World in the last year - spaced out over four trips. I'll have used a whopping 3 Fast Passes in that time. One for Kilimanjaro Safaris in August, one for Dumbo (does that count?) and one for Test Track this February. Why so few?
A. Don't ride thrill rides, so EE, R&R, ToT, and SM are essentially out.
B. Went on BTMMR during MSEP and rode it twice in a row with no line.
C. TRIED to get TSM fast pass, but they were gone already. (Surprise)

This new FP+ will work wonders for me. My next trip to WDW is 50 some odd days away. I already know, weather permitting, what parks I will be at which days and roughly when. I could tell you right now that I'd like a Test Track fast pass for Thursday, Feb 21st for 10AM. And maybe a TSM Fast pass for Saturday at 11:00am. Perfect! Now I can plan my comings and goings based on those two simple reservations.

And since I go to Disney a lot, there is no need for me to race around each park trying to get on every ride every time. If I don't get on Pan this time, then maybe next time. Same for Thunder Mountain. But I'll get to ride Spaceship Earth and the Land with no problem. Same with Buzz Lightyear, TTA, PotC, HM, Jungle Cruise. Probably not going to AK, and won't go to HS unless Fast Pass+ is instituted and I can schedule my TSM ahead of time.

I will not, repeat, NOT stand there at rope drop like Jackie Joyner-Kersee at the start of the 100 yard dash and sprint the length of the park to obtain the elusive TSM Fast pass. Instead, I'll be on the balcony of my Beach Club villa sipping coffee and enjoying life.

I'm glad to see this will work for you. But consider those that do want to do the highliners, or a family that only comes once every few years, or once in their life for 5-7 days. They want to do everything. FP+ will not work out well for them. Maybe Disney is wanting to encourge more people like you to attend the parks / get APs, but I suspect the other group is where they really make their money.

 

[doconeill]

Interesting thought...IF you can use both AP and reservation FP+ in the same period, THAT could be how they'd monetize FP+ - by getting those that want additional FP+ experiences to upgrade their tickets to APs.

However, I'm not sure they will allow that yet.

 

[mbrittb00]

Call me strange, but as much as I've voiced my opposition for Fast Pass+ and the way it would limit AP holders, I would love the option to buy Fast Pass++. One of the things that I love about staying onsite at Universal is their front of the line perk that allows me to hop right on a ride, then immediately hop back on the same ride repeatedly if I want to. My husband is not as big a fan as I am, so will only go down there maybe twice a year, but encourages my solo trips. On those solo trips I love to ride my favorite rides over and over. I have no problem riding Mummy 10-15 times in a row. I'd love to be able to do the same thing for Soarin, Star Tours, EE, the MK Mountains,and a few others and would have no problem paying for the ability to do so.

I wish they would either leave fast pass alone or else charge for it and have it unlimited like Universal's front of the line perk for onsite guests. I love fast pass and hate to see it limited to 20 per quarter.

Universal also has a 1 time for each attraction front of the line pass that anyone can purchase (even those not staying onsite). I suspect that if Disney went with a pay for FP service it would be something like this.

 

[MichiganDVC]

I can see where someone who doesn't do thrill rides might love this. But that's very much the minority of people at Disney.

Hmmm....rides with longest wait time right now:
MK: Space Mountain, Peter Pan, Dumbo
EP: Soarin', Spaceship Earth
HS: Toy Story, RnR, ToT
AK: Everest, Kilimanjaro, DinoSAUR

Yes, half of those listed are thrill rides. The other half are not. I would argue that Pan is just as appealing to as many people as Space Mountain is.
So, what is the difference, exactly, for you to wait in a line for Space Mountain while I wait in a line for Pan? Same wait time, both have FP.

I've said it before... People who come to WDW and think all there is to do is ride rides, all of them, several times in a row. There is so much more to see and do at every park...its not just about riding the rides. If it is, go to Universal instead.

There are a total of 3 rides I will never do at WDW: ToT (heights), RnR (inverted), and Mission: Space (just won't). Of the other thrill rides, I've either been on them before (EE, SM) or would consider it. So I wouldn't say based on the fact that I will not go on three rides that I am out of the majority of vacationers at Disney. No, I'd argue that I still try to go on as many of the same rides as everyone else. Its just not that important for me to go on every ride, every time, several times. I can easily walk past a ride that is too busy (BTMRR) and skip it entirely or wait for a less-busy time. And you won't catch me on Disboards crying about it the next week - how my trip was "ruined" because I couldn't go on "this" ride or "that" ride.

Now, if they shut down the beer stand in Mexico, we'll get the tears....

 

[aubriee]

I'm glad to see this will work for you. But consider those that do want to do the highliners, or a family that only comes once every few years, or once in their life for 5-7 days. They want to do everything. FP+ will not work out well for them. Maybe Disney is wanting to encourge more people like you to attend the parks / get APs, but I suspect the other group is where they really make their money.

In my case, I am an AP holder, who love to ride the head liners over and over, but do not want to stay onsite. I can stay at Bonnet Creek for less than half what a Deluxe with WDW would cost, but will still be physically on property. Over several trips per year, that price difference will easily pay for my rental cars and probaby another trip. FP+ would not work out for me either, if I'm allowed only 20 FP per quarter. I'd be spending most of my time in stand by lines.

Interesting thought...IF you can use both AP and reservation FP+ in the same period, THAT could be how they'd monetize FP+ - by getting those that want additional FP+ experiences to upgrade their tickets to APs.

However, I'm not sure they will allow that yet.

Since I don't want to pay Disney's high prices for rooms, (when I can get a condo much cheaper), but I do want to keep my AP so I can make multiple trips down there every year, I wish they would come up with a way I could get more than 20 FPs per quarter. Again, I wouldn't even mind paying for them. Just don't limit them!

 

[mbrittb00]

Hmmm....rides with longest wait time right now:
MK: Space Mountain, Peter Pan, Dumbo
EP: Soarin', Spaceship Earth
HS: Toy Story, RnR, ToT
AK: Everest, Kilimanjaro, DinoSAUR

Yes, half of those listed are thrill rides. The other half are not. I would argue that Pan is just as appealing to as many people as Space Mountain is.
So, what is the difference, exactly, for you to wait in a line for Space Mountain while I wait in a line for Pan? Same wait time, both have FP.

I've said it before... People who come to WDW and think all there is to do is ride rides, all of them, several times in a row. There is so much more to see and do at every park...its not just about riding the rides. If it is, go to Universal instead.

There are a total of 3 rides I will never do at WDW: ToT (heights), RnR (inverted), and Mission: Space (just won't). Of the other thrill rides, I've either been on them before (EE, SM) or would consider it. So I wouldn't say based on the fact that I will not go on three rides that I am out of the majority of vacationers at Disney. No, I'd argue that I still try to go on as many of the same rides as everyone else. Its just not that important for me to go on every ride, every time, several times. I can easily walk past a ride that is too busy (BTMRR) and skip it entirely or wait for a less-busy time. And you won't catch me on Disboards crying about it the next week - how my trip was "ruined" because I couldn't go on "this" ride or "that" ride.

Now, if they shut down the beer stand in Mexico, we'll get the tears....

I'll give you that Peter Pan is just as appealing to some as Space Mountain is to others. But what about those who like both? As well as Winnie the Pooh, BTMRR, Dumbo, Jungle Cruise, etc. I would prefer to be able to get a FP for all of them, rather than having to pick 1 or 2.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

In my case, I am an AP holder, who love to ride the head liners over and over, but do not want to stay onsite. I can stay at Bonnet Creek for less than half what a Deluxe with WDW would cost, but will still be physically on property. Over several trips per year, that price difference will easily pay for my rental cars and probaby another trip. FP+ would not work out for me either, if I'm allowed only 20 FP per quarter. I'd be spending most of my time in stand by lines.



Since I don't want to pay Disney's high prices for rooms, (when I can get a condo much cheaper), but I do want to keep my AP so I can make multiple trips down there every year, I wish they would come up with a way I could get more than 20 FPs per quarter. Again, I wouldn't even mind paying for them. Just don't limit them!

Maybe this is exactly where Disney can charge for it. I envision this as being a resort perk (like EMH priviliges) but perhaps charge for off site/day guests, with AP holders getting a slight discount for the perk vs off site MYW holders?

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

By the end of this February, I will have spent 15 days at Disney World in the last year - spaced out over four trips. I'll have used a whopping 3 Fast Passes in that time.

Not quite. It seems that the FP+ must be used in groups. For instance, if you use FP+ at MK, you are to use 4 of them. Even if you only schedule 1 FP+, you'll lose 4 over the course of the day.

Of course, this is rumor/speculation. But, if this turns out to be the plan, you'll use up all of your FP+ in 5 days.

So, assuming you used your 3 FP+ on 3 different days of your trips, you'd have actually spent 12 FP+.

 

[MichiganDVC]

I'm glad to see this will work for you. But consider those that do want to do the highliners, or a family that only comes once every few years, or once in their life for 5-7 days. They want to do everything. FP+ will not work out well for them. Maybe Disney is wanting to encourge more people like you to attend the parks / get APs, but I suspect the other group is where they really make their money.

But that's just it. Why is it that when a family comes to Disney once every two years, they only care about whether they could ride ToT 5 times or not?

Maybe I am the oddball here, but my experiences at Disney are different. As a kid, I came to Disney exactly every other summer, if not more frequently. This had to do with my father's job and having more time during non-election summers to take longer vacations elsewhere. Anyhow, we stayed at Polynesian every time and here is what I remember from age 2-14:
1. Playing on the beach at Poly
2. Being in the old volcano pool and going down the slide.
3. Waiting in the lobby while my mom checked into the resort - the smell, the plants, the waterfall.
5. Main Street Electrical Parade and my mom saving a spot on the sidewalk while she read a book.
6. The People mover and riding race cars with my dad and listening to him taunt me on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.
7. The monorail!!
8. Riding Pirates and Jungle Cruise and being able to remember that smell for the rest of my life.
(Quick side note: took a cruise that went in the Southern Caribbean. Around midnight, I was walking on the deck looking out at the coast of Venezuela and thought, "What is that smell?? I recognize that smell!" It was the exact smell from Pirates.)


Disney has never been, nor will it ever be just about the rides for me. Do I love the rides? Of course! But there's the resorts and the theming that are just as important, the great restaurants, the sights and sounds, the entertainment. These are mostly the things I remember being there as a kid. Did I go on Thunder Mountain? Sure, and I'm sure I loved it. But its not what I remember most 25 years later.

Its not all about the rides, folks...

 

[jewjubean]

You all are arguing about a program that is in a TEST phase. Every time they test this they change something about it. Why start to stress over this until they announce the procedures and policy's for the new program?

Everyone seems to forget this company is a BUSINESS. They have to make changes to meet demand and to make it easier for guests!

I participated in the program this last time and it was fantastic. We picked our times and we went. Took 5 minutes away from my day the week before and had a great time enjoying the attractions.

I used to be an obsessive planner.. Then I realized I was missing the small stuff, the looks on my family and friends faces when they see certain stuff, realizing the cinnamon buns at gastons are actually as awesome as the bakery's, seeing the dapper Dans salute a soldier during a show. Wake up and see the big picture folks... We arnt changing what policies they make. They put countless hours and money into making these programs. This is coming from someone who sees the information and works with it during testing.

 

[jade1]

Just as an FYI, for those of you who have APs, there's every indication that if you're staying at a Disney resort, you'd get the same allotment per day as any other guest at that resort. The rumors have pointed to the 20 per quarter allotment applying to non-resort guests.

That would make more sense. AP staying a week at Grand Floridain but sorry you only get 4 days of FP? Seems like it was meant for AP holder that wants to swing by locally on occasion-but not every dang day grab a TSM pass etc.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I'll give you that Peter Pan is just as appealing to some as Space Mountain is to others. But what about those who like both? As well as Winnie the Pooh, BTMRR, Dumbo, Jungle Cruise, etc. I would prefer to be able to get a FP for all of them, rather than having to pick 1 or 2.

I truly hope that the grouping is for testing purposes only. It would be VERY tough for us to pick which headliners to FP and which to standby, especially at MK, seeing as how I am able to FP any combination I choose right now.

 

[mbrittb00]

But that's just it. Why is it that when a family comes to Disney once every two years, they only care about whether they could ride ToT 5 times or not?

Maybe I am the oddball here, but my experiences at Disney are different. As a kid, I came to Disney exactly every other summer, if not more frequently. This had to do with my father's job and having more time during non-election summers to take longer vacations elsewhere. Anyhow, we stayed at Polynesian every time and here is what I remember from age 2-14:
1. Playing on the beach at Poly
2. Being in the old volcano pool and going down the slide.
3. Waiting in the lobby while my mom checked into the resort - the smell, the plants, the waterfall.
5. Main Street Electrical Parade and my mom saving a spot on the sidewalk while she read a book.
6. The People mover and riding race cars with my dad and listening to him taunt me on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.
7. The monorail!!
8. Riding Pirates and Jungle Cruise and being able to remember that smell for the rest of my life.
(Quick side note: took a cruise that went in the Southern Caribbean. Around midnight, I was walking on the deck looking out at the coast of Venezuela and thought, "What is that smell?? I recognize that smell!" It was the exact smell from Pirates.)


Disney has never been, nor will it ever be just about the rides for me. Do I love the rides? Of course! But there's the resorts and the theming that are just as important, the great restaurants, the sights and sounds, the entertainment. These are mostly the things I remember being there as a kid. Did I go on Thunder Mountain? Sure, and I'm sure I loved it. But its not what I remember most 25 years later.

Its not all about the rides, folks...

You mis-understand me, we don't ride the same thing 5 times. We MAY ride our favorites 2 or 3 times, but we do pretty much every attraction including several of the parades and other shows. The point is I want to be able to use FPs (how ever many of them I get) for the attractions I want / need them at, not be pidgeon holed into using a FP on an attraction that historically doesn't need it, while at the same time staning in a long line for an attraction that I could (and in the past have) used a FP for.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

But that's just it. Why is it that when a family comes to Disney once every two years, they only care about whether they could ride ToT 5 times or not?

Maybe I am the oddball here, but my experiences at Disney are different. As a kid, I came to Disney exactly every other summer, if not more frequently. This had to do with my father's job and having more time during non-election summers to take longer vacations elsewhere. Anyhow, we stayed at Polynesian every time and here is what I remember from age 2-14:
1. Playing on the beach at Poly
2. Being in the old volcano pool and going down the slide.
3. Waiting in the lobby while my mom checked into the resort - the smell, the plants, the waterfall.
5. Main Street Electrical Parade and my mom saving a spot on the sidewalk while she read a book.
6. The People mover and riding race cars with my dad and listening to him taunt me on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.
7. The monorail!!
8. Riding Pirates and Jungle Cruise and being able to remember that smell for the rest of my life.
(Quick side note: took a cruise that went in the Southern Caribbean. Around midnight, I was walking on the deck looking out at the coast of Venezuela and thought, "What is that smell?? I recognize that smell!" It was the exact smell from Pirates.)


Disney has never been, nor will it ever be just about the rides for me. Do I love the rides? Of course! But there's the resorts and the theming that are just as important, the great restaurants, the sights and sounds, the entertainment. These are mostly the things I remember being there as a kid. Did I go on Thunder Mountain? Sure, and I'm sure I loved it. But its not what I remember most 25 years later.

Its not all about the rides, folks...

For you, it may not be all about the rides. But for me, and my family, some of our best Disney moments are about the rides.

I didn't go as a child. So I am looking at through the eyes of my own child. What are some of our great moments?

The looks of pure joy the first time he rode a roller coaster (The Barnstormer). Then going across the park to ride BTMMR to see if we got the same response...

Standing in line for the first time together to ride Space Mountain, facing down nerves and then jumping up and down saying "Let's do that again!" as soon as we got off.

Riding RnRC for the first time, while one of us loved it and the other one couldn't get off fast enough and refused to ride it for 2 years afterwards (but boy, what a great experience we had on that next ride!!)

Sure, we also have some great moments that happen outside of the rides, but the rides are just as important to us.

My point is that while FP+ might work great for some, it just isn't going to work for others. I am of the camp that hopes that the 2 systems will operate in conjunction with each other. And if I can't have both simultaneously then I chose the current version. I don't want to be limited to only 4 per day and having to chose among the headliners (the way the current testing stands).

 

[MichiganDVC]

The point is I want to be able to use FPs (how ever many of them I get) for the attractions I want / need them at, not be pidgeon holed into using a FP on an attraction that historically doesn't need it...

Why would you have to use a FP for a ride that historically doesn't need it. Are you telling me that now, all of a sudden, Pirates will have a 120 minute wait and need a FP??

I understand wanting a FP for every ride of any significant wait that you want to go on. My overall point is, and it might be what Disney is trying to "force," is that there is more to do than go on the rides.
I think that if people used FP for a few scheduled rides each day, then spent the time around that watching the shows, dining, observing the nuances, exploring their resort (or other resorts), then it would spread out the crowds at each park, and might make stand-by at the E-Ticket rides shorter once people found other things to do all day than stand in line.
I have 2-3 must sees at each park for each trip. The rest of the time, I enjoy the resort, other resorts, dining, shows, people watching...

To be able to go on Winnie the Pooh, BTMRR, Dumbo, Jungle Cruise, Pan, Space Mountain all in one day shouldn't be a problem at all. Choose the couple that have the longest usual wait times and schedule your FPs for those. Then go on the others either first thing or late at night. I have found that, except for Pan, you can basically just walk on a lot of these rides during evening EMH...

Wouldn't getting fast passes for all of those require a lot of rope drop, sprinting across parks, etc??

 

[bcrook]

You all are arguing about a program that is in a TEST phase. Every time they test this they change something about it. Why start to stress over this until they announce the procedures and policy's for the new program?

Everyone seems to forget this company is a BUSINESS. They have to make changes to meet demand and to make it easier for guests!

I participated in the program this last time and it was fantastic. We picked our times and we went. Took 5 minutes away from my day the week before and had a great time enjoying the attractions.

I used to be an obsessive planner.. Then I realized I was missing the small stuff, the looks on my family and friends faces when they see certain stuff, realizing the cinnamon buns at gastons are actually as awesome as the bakery's, seeing the dapper Dans salute a soldier during a show. Wake up and see the big picture folks... We arnt changing what policies they make. They put countless hours and money into making these programs. This is coming from someone who sees the information and works with it during testing.

Discussing ...and it is fun! The terms and conditions describe a much different experience than the program you participated in. That's part of the discussion.

 

[mom2rtk]

Why would you have to use a FP for a ride that historically doesn't need it. Are you telling me that now, all of a sudden, Pirates will have a 120 minute wait and need a FP??

What else are you going to spend your FP+ slots on when the headliners are "sold out"?

I'm sure there will be a few first-timers who do this by accident. But mostly these sorts of FP+ slots will be taken by people who have no better option.

 

[bcrook]

Why would you have to use a FP for a ride that historically doesn't need it. Are you telling me that now, all of a sudden, Pirates will have a 120 minute wait and need a FP??

I understand wanting a FP for every ride of any significant wait that you want to go on. My overall point is, and it might be what Disney is trying to "force," is that there is more to do than go on the rides.
I think that if people used FP for a few scheduled rides each day, then spent the time around that watching the shows, dining, observing the nuances, exploring their resort (or other resorts), then it would spread out the crowds at each park, and might make stand-by at the E-Ticket rides shorter once people found other things to do all day than stand in line.
I have 2-3 must sees at each park for each trip. The rest of the time, I enjoy the resort, other resorts, dining, shows, people watching...

To be able to go on Winnie the Pooh, BTMRR, Dumbo, Jungle Cruise, Pan, Space Mountain all in one day shouldn't be a problem at all. Choose the couple that have the longest usual wait times and schedule your FPs for those. Then go on the others either first thing or late at night. I have found that, except for Pan, you can basically just walk on a lot of these rides during evening EMH...

Wouldn't getting fast passes for all of those require a lot of rope drop, sprinting across parks, etc??

I do believe you are the spokesman for the new My Disney Experience! I think you have captured the essence of the new FP+ program. Combine your philosophy and predicted advertisements highlighting the new highly personalized character meet sessions and you can see a new ad campaign forming. Throw in some slick new technology.

The new app supports this perfectly.

It's like Disney is using the latest technology to create a retro Disney. Interesting.