BIG change to FP+ today

[Sheilby]

I wonder if the Swan/dolphin ability to access FP+ is suggesting that offsite guests may only have same day access to FP+ ?

I think so, and I also think it is directly linked to the new (old) tiers for FPs.

 

[Mad Hattered]

How bad are the stand by lines in mid may? Does anyone know ? Do we really need a FP Or FP+? And how far in advance can you get these ?

The crowd levels are anywhere from 3 - 6 (traditionally). You are looking at wait times (normally) around 30-45 minutes for the headliners. Who knows what will happen when this new system is in place, though.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

I am taking screen shots of my FP+ reservations for my trip in 20 days. Should my FP+ disappear, I hope they will somehow help us! I cannot imagine after all this having no FP+!

 

[clsteve]

Unless you have specific facts suggesting that development of the MDE systems is done in India you shouldn't suggest this is the case. If you do have specific facts, please share them.

As somebody who has multiple Disney companies as clients, I can assure you that the scope and size of what everybody casually refers to as "Disney IT" is far greater than you think. While I respect your husband's credentials and opinions, they are just that ... opinions.

To support OP, Disney IT, just as any other Fortune 500 IT, is completely separate from Software R&D. 2 completely different beasts, on 2 completely different P&L structures. They are apples vs. oranges.

Disney IT is feeling even more pain as they are the ones who have to implement/support what has been, or is being developed- hence their pain, their confusion when we call with issues, and general lack of timeline knowledge.

 

[suzanna1066@comcast.]

DH is a software engineer with just over 20 years in the field and a master's degree in the same. He has also said there is no way Disney is doing this in house - he says India - and that that is a major part of the problem. If you are not experienced in what you are coding for, you are going to have problems getting it right. In order to create banking systems, he had to become a teller; in order to set up a distribution app, he had to go on deliveries, etc. He had to learn what the actual users needed and did in their day-to-day.

We don't mind testing new software or new hardware because you can erase/reset the software and many times return the hardware - you cannot redo a very expensive vacation.

If the developers are writing bad code it doesn't mean they aren't in house. I have worked with many developers who could give a big fat crap about business functions and needs. I have worked with far fewer who are actually willing to go talk to the clients. They think a business analyst can do all that for them.

I personally require developers on my projects to attend design/requirements sessions. I'm the exception.

That said, I have used this new system and it worked very well overall. Issues are expected in a test phase. If you don't want to be part of the test, opt out. That simple.

 

[clsteve]

But they DID limit the scope of testing to fewer people. The limited test you speak of has already occurred over the last several months.

And, it was too limited, hence our problems with throughput (and that's what we're talking about, here) now that all Resorts are on line.

It's the age-old issue all implementations go through- how much time/effort (which means money) do you put into maintaining the old system (FP legacy) while you implement the new.

We've seen the manipulation of FP Legacy availability the past several weeks on the headliners at Epcot and DHS while the Parks were at a 4 to 5 level, which makes perfect sense-they know exactly how many FP+ advance reservations they are getting for the holidays and HAVE to test what their options are for Park Level 8-10 days with FP Legacy.

Not great for those affected, and incredibly painful for the poor, grunt implementors, QA folks, plus 1st and 2nd level support (the people all of us are calling with issues who have no ability to fix).

 

[ArwenMarie]

Just out of curiosity, when you have visited Epcot in the past, how many times do you ride Soarin and Test Track each day?

Put another way, how would you fill in these blanks:

I will not enjoy visiting Epcot unless I can ride Soarin at least __ times and Test Track at least __ times.

Easy!

I will not enjoy visiting Epcot unless I can ride Soarin at least __ times and Test Track at least __ times.

Soarin 1x
TT 1x

If I have to get to rope drop to ride the other one without a long wait, then that defeats the whole point of FP+ to me. I hate RD, and the best feature of FP+ was not having to do that anymore.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Nope. Common sense.. FP+ and FP- use the same pool.. less chances to reserve FP+ on one headliner means more chances using FP-.

You honestly believe they are trying to free up FP+ so they can add to FP- (the system they are getting rid of)?

I think BayouMickey is right. Parks will be at capacity over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The percentage of offsite guests will far outweigh the percentage of on site guests. Since off siters are not yet able to access FP+, maybe Disney is making more FP- available to accommodate them.

 

[ckelly14]

Does anyone have any idea what percentage of guests are offsite vs onsite?

 

[ArwenMarie]

Does anyone have any idea what percentage of guests are offsite vs onsite?

I saw a rough calculation that it's about 50/50 based on attendance numbers.

 

[curemyreed]

Does anyone have any idea what percentage of guests are offsite vs onsite?

Intrigued by your question, I asked myself how I would come up with this number. I decided I would have to add up the maximum number of occupants of each Disney resort & villa room. That would give me the maximum, but not average, number of guests staying on-site. Then I would need to know the attendance numbers of all four parks. But then I realized plenty of on-site guests wouldn't be going to a park, but DTD, swimming at the resort, etc. At that point my brain fried out. I am just getting too old, darn it. In my younger years I would have been able to wrap my mind around this better.

Do you think this is information Disney makes public? Can't see why they wouldn't...but, again, old-timer's brain, not so spry.

 

[livingthedream]

I think BayouMickey is right. Parks will be at capacity over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The percentage of offsite guests will far outweigh the percentage of on site guests. Since off siters are not yet able to access FP+, maybe Disney is making more FP- available to accommodate them.

This is what I meant in an earlier post when I was talking about Disney re-balancing the availability of legacy fastpass and FastPass+. I think they are just making this change to accommodate the large holiday crowds. It does not necessarily reflect a permanent state.

 

[justakrazymom]

OK, I just went in to MDE to check if Illuminations got loaded for November since Wishes and MSEP finally became available last night.

I stated to go through the process of selecting all new attractions at Epcot and MDE said I could pick 1 choice from a group of attractions and 2 choices from another group. In other words, either Soarin or Test track, but NOT both.

Thats how it was when we tested it back in Sept 2012...

 

[diskev]

This is what I meant in an earlier post when I was talking about Disney re-balancing the availability of legacy fastpass and FastPass+. I think they are just making this change to accommodate the large holiday crowds. It does not necessarily reflect a permanent state.

Are we really making assumptions about expected capacity based on a change to a system that's currently in a test phase?

 

[amg35]

This is weird, to make you choose between two of the biggest headliners...

For us, it still won't really matter. We're staying at Beach Club, so we can just pop on over, reserve one for one day, one for the other. And we are staying long enough (big trip) to go to all the parks at least twice. And will have hoppers.

I see where it can be bothersome for people who are only staying a short amount of time and only plan one day per park.

Or maybe this is Disney's way of making everyone buy Park Hoppers! Forcing you to have to park hop over a second day to EPCOT to ride Soarin'!

Or making people stay longer so they can visit the park twice...

 

[g-dad66]

I switched up my EPCOT FP+ the other day (prior to all this, thank goodness) and I found that on "My Itinerary" it shows all the old and new FP+ times. However, if I go into the "Change my FP+", it lists out the correct times (and only those times). You don't have to actually change them, however! Just look on that page and see what comes up.

Maggie

I have exactly this same experience (when I changed FP+ times a couple of weeks ago), but with a Magic Kingdom day, rather than an Epcot day. (So I don't think this is a function of the "tiered" testing.)

I am assuming the new times are the ones that will be honored, but I've printed out the hokey "My Itinerary" list to take along with me, just in case...

 

[ckelly14]

Intrigued by your question, I asked myself how I would come up with this number. I decided I would have to add up the maximum number of occupants of each Disney resort & villa room. That would give me the maximum, but not average, number of guests staying on-site. Then I would need to know the attendance numbers of all four parks. But then I realized plenty of on-site guests wouldn't be going to a park, but DTD, swimming at the resort, etc. At that point my brain fried out. I am just getting too old, darn it. In my younger years I would have been able to wrap my mind around this better. Do you think this is information Disney makes public? Can't see why they wouldn't...but, again, old-timer's brain, not so spry.

With about 130,000 guests in the parks per day on average, and 25,000 hotel rooms with about 80% occupancy, I think 50/50 is a pretty darn good guess on onsite vs offsite visitors...

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

What a bunch of complainers, whiners, and negative Nancy's here! FP+ is going to be fabulous and pink, with unicorns and rainbows. I know this for a fact, and everyone who disagrees doesn't know what they're talking about and is just speculating!

You need to be quoting someone else, but changing their font to a retina burning fluorescent color other than your signature pink.



Bayou, you must be following along on a device that doesn't show the poster's font formatting or you would know that wasn't for you.

You guys are being just a little bad...I love it!

 

[magicbob]

How is it for free for military? We are going in June and I don't see that deal any where. Thanks.

Go to wavesofhonor.com (formerly "Here's to the Heroes" program). You can register for free one-day admission to Sea World or Busch Gardens (you can also choose one of their other parks).

 

[magicbob]

I can't believe how many people are shocked by this development. Tiered selections and rationing have been telegraphed from the very beginning. Many of us have been shouting this from the rooftops for over a year, but are just dismissed as being "too negative."

Mark my words... the next big change in FP+ testing will be the elimination of FP- availability.