Could FP+ Ruin my experience?

[ArwenMarie]

Thanks for replying. Exactly last moment vacations using an AP forget it. I wonder what Floridian residents will get? The mind boggles. I can see people going in booking dummy slots just in case! I think 60 days is too much myself. They should just make it a week before for everyone.

I totally see your point for a local visitor.

As someone who has to plan a trip to WDW months ahead, I'm glad it is 60 days out. If I don't like my ride selection, I still have time to cancel my package without penalty.

 

[Nixie]

I hate to sound like a doom and gloomer, but that is how I am feeling about this whole thing. It isn't that I don't think FP+ could ever work... I am sure at some point in the future everyone will be used to it. People will have figured out how to work the system and I will look it up on their website to educate myself The problem is that right now it is a mess. Right now the test really isn't even a test. We have no idea how it will really work "IRL" and because of that there will definitely be some impact on our vacations.

I am sorry, but I have spent too much hard earned money on this vacation to be Disney's guinea pig. This is exactly why I begged my hubby to go on a trip this year before this is fully implemented. I wanna get one more trip in where I know how to make Disney work for our family before Disney screws that up. Then, I can sit back and watch everything fall into place from afar.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

AP holders will react by doing what they can. They will start booking ride slots "in case" they want to go. Even if that means booking them for every single weekend and canceling at the last minute.

On the up side, if a bunch of AP holders start doing that, maybe their last minute cancellations will provide a steady stream of same day openings on headline rides.

That is a good point re AP holders! A silver lining I like your thinking! maybe I will do that as an AP holder myself and just cancel them to give day trippers a treat! We live in UK and only come across once or twice a year a bit of pixie dust lol...

 

[JanaDee]

I'm pretty sure that the long-term plan is that FP+ will eventually replace FP, whether they're saying it or not.

I don't think that has ever been in doubt for most people.

 

[Missyrose]

I'm pretty sure that the long-term plan is that FP+ will eventually replace FP, whether they're saying it or not.

The current FP system (in which you put your ticket or KTTW card into a machine and it spits out a paper FP) is most definitely going away. That is something Disney has said all along. They will not be retrofitting the current FP machines with RFID readers, so once MagicBands go live, there won't be a magnetic stripe for those machines to read.

What is unknown is the future plans for a same-day component (a la original FP) for the new FP+ system. The current test allows for use of both systems. So we may not know for some time how same-day FP+s will work.

 

[PaulaVonSchweetz]

I know this is a very long shot here, but lets just throw it out there -

the story about no same day FP being available puts anyone whom - does not use any sort of technology at a severe disadvantage. While I know its a stretch, there are still plenty of people who do not use fancy smart phones or tablets to manage every second of their life.

What about them? They get no fast passes at all???

I cant imagine that group of people possibly having as joyous an experience as the people who are seasoned and very regular travelers to Disney........


I feel like the whole concept is kind of flawed.

 

[UNCFanatik]

I know this is a very long shot here, but lets just throw it out there -

the story about no same day FP being available puts anyone whom - does not use any sort of technology at a severe disadvantage. While I know its a stretch, there are still plenty of people who do not use fancy smart phones or tablets to manage every second of their life.

What about them? They get no fast passes at all???

I cant imagine that group of people possibly having as joyous an experience as the people who are seasoned and very regular travelers to Disney........


I feel like the whole concept is kind of flawed.

There will be same day FP+s available but of course the question will be for what rides and if the headliners are all pre-booked ahead of time.

One does not need any devices in the park and can use Kiosks upon arrival to check out FP+ availability and reserve FP+s. Again, I acknowledge that there is a possibility depending on several factors whether or not one would be able to reserve same day FP+s for headline attractions.

 

[kay1864]

What is unknown is the future plans for a same-day component (a la original FP) for the new FP+ system.

It's not "unknown". Anyone with a ticket/band will be able to use the FP+ kiosks for same-day. There may not be a kiosk at each attraction, but the same-day option is built into the system.

the story about no same day FP being available puts anyone whom - does not use any sort of technology at a severe disadvantage. While I know its a stretch, there are still plenty of people who do not use fancy smart phones or tablets to manage every second of their life.

What about them? They get no fast passes at all???

Smartphones are not required to use the FP+ kiosks--only an RFID ticket or band.

 

[Luvchefmic]

For anyone who has questions about the availability of same day fastpasses during busier times, read this article.

http://www.wdwthemeparks.com/news/2013/08/10/d23-expo-august-9-2013-my-magic-and-fastpass

There will be no fastpasses held back for same day availability.

This is not a website run by Disney though the official website from Disney is
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/ where Tom Skaggs announced this " new experience"

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I totally see your point for a local visitor.

As someone who has to plan a trip to WDW months ahead, I'm glad it is 60 days out. If I don't like my ride selection, I still have time to cancel my package without penalty.

This is true exactly I did not think of this re 60 days out for you. Thanks for sharing your view

 

[PaulaVonSchweetz]

It's not "unknown". Anyone with a ticket/band will be able to use the FP+ kiosks for same-day. There may not be a kiosk at each attraction, but the same-day option is built into the system.


Smartphones are not required to use the FP+ kiosks--only an RFID ticket or band.

In order to take advantage of the 60 days prior??

 

[kay1864]

In order to take advantage of the 60 days prior??

You referred to smartphones, so I thought you meant updating/changing FP+ reservations while at the park.

To use the 60 day prior, you need some kind of Internet access--computer, smartphone, tablet, etc. People who use none of these are definitely at a disadvantage, and would be limited to same-day kiosks at the part.

 

[Missyrose]

It's not "unknown". Anyone with a ticket/band will be able to use the FP+ kiosks for same-day. There may not be a kiosk at each attraction, but the same-day option is built into the system.

Correct, that part is known. What isn't known is if there will be a same-day FP+ component beyond the three reservations you make in advance. Something that more resembles the current FP system.

 

[JanaDee]

This is not a website run by Disney though the official website from Disney is
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/ where Tom Skaggs announced this " new experience"

The "official" disney websites have a less than stellar track record when it comes to any type of info.

 

[Luvchefmic]

The "official" disney websites have a less than stellar track record when it comes to any type of info.

I don't agree but that's okay, I'm just saying any other website is pure speculation on the bloggers part

 

[Magalex]

You referred to smartphones, so I thought you meant updating/changing FP+ reservations while at the park.

To use the 60 day prior, you need some kind of Internet access--computer, smartphone, tablet, etc. People who use none of these are definitely at a disadvantage, and would be limited to same-day kiosks at the part.

Agree! I posted last week about taking a vacation with extended family who will not understand or will refuse to put so much thought into booking attractions at any so called theme park 60 days in advance or even a week in advance. I might have to make the decision to not even bring up the idea of fastpass+ on mobile or even the park's kiosks and just lead them into stand by. I just hope being known as the Disney expert in the family I receive a lot of

 

[kay1864]

Correct, that part is known. What isn't known is if there will be a same-day FP+ component beyond the three reservations you make in advance. Something that more resembles the current FP system.

I think the more likely scenario is that WDW projects X number of excess FPs for say, Buzz Lightyear, and offers them (via MDE) to guests who have already requested MK FPs (but not Buzz, obviously).

This could be same-day (after the guest passes through the MK turnstile), or even a day or two earlier (if the ticket has already been used in a park, indicating the guests are in fact in Orlando).

WDW's goal here is to balance out the crowds, and make the standby lines a bit shorter. Same goal as with current FP.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

All I know is to me it is quite funny how all the testers are reporting back how wonderful FP+ is. Are they truly using FP+ as it is going to be when it comes out to everyone? In other words, not using FP-, because if they are not in my opinion, their views are null and void. I think Disney is doing it this way, just so they can get the positive feedback they need to make the full rollout come quicker. I am not saying it will be awful, but I am definitely not thinking it will be so much better than the old FP system as many are speculating. The old system worked fine, IMO.

 

[kay1864]

Agree! I posted last week about taking a vacation with extended family who will not understand or will refuse to put so much thought into booking attractions at any so called theme park 60 days in advance or even a week in advance. I might have to make the decision to not even bring up the idea of fastpass+ on mobile or even the park's kiosks and just lead them into stand by. I just hope being known as the Disney expert in the family I receive a lot of

Agreed, that IS a tough choice.

If it were me, if they agree on which park/which day (or are willing to let you choose), I'd go ahead and request the headliners for everyone. They don't HAVE to use them, but better to have them just in case.

If you have their ticket #'s and names in MDE, that is.

 

[DisMom1981]

Hi all - While engaged in conversation with a friend last night, he made a point about FP+ that I hadn't thought of previously.....

He mentioned the fact that as is gains in popularity, and more and more people use it, the fast pass availability becomes less and less.
For example: If x amount of FP+ had been reserved, then it would be impossible to just walk in to the park and get a fast pass because they would all be gone for the day.

Is this possible? Is Disney limiting the number available for FP+ to allow visitors not using the system the same ability to acquire a fast pass during their stay?

While I am a regular Disney visitor, I kind of hate having to schedule my day so diligently, and thrive on the thrill of where we will head next, and how much we can squeeze into our day...... ie; "we got in 7 rides before 10am!'

Its possible that this question has already been answered in another thread, but there are just so many with tons of information. I figured a thread with one specific question would help me out.

Here now and it has been annoying to change times- the blocks I want to change to are not available. I'm sure the times are limited since it is a testing time but who knows what Disney will do. The bands are working on but between them, the apps, kiosks, CM knowledge- it's not going to be ready for rollout yet. I have friends staying at POR in Sept and it is a testing resort as they were prompted to customize bands for a test.

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