D-Day for MK, FP+ only

[g-dad66]

Anything specific I can answer, feel free to ask.

Are you gonna hop to AK later today?

(Just kidding.)

And thanks much for the first-hand report! Very interesting, but sorry it was so frustrating for your group.

 

[mom2rtk]

Just home from MK today.

Background info - I belong to a group of local AP holders & castmembers who visit a park every Tuesday. None of us have booked phantom stays so no one has a MB. Some in the group knew about FP+ testing and some didn't. Our group varies from 8 to 25 people depending on the park and the weather. Today 18 of us were at MK.

As a group FP+ was an epic FAIL!. We arrived at 10:00. Those who came through the TTC entrance were given a paper slip saying FP+ was in testing and listing 4 locations to go for FP+. (Tomorrowland @ Stitch, Fantasyland @ Circus Pete's, Frontierland near Sleepy Hollow, and the walkway between Frontierland and Adventureland.

Crowds are almost nonexistent today so no FP of any sort was really necessary but we wanted to test the system. We headed off to the Stitch kiosks. LOTS of CM's holding signs and directing folks. We specifically stopped and asked about large groups and the best way to proceed. We were told by three different CM's, three different procedures.

We entered the queue for FP+ and only had a few minutes wait then our trouble started. We could not get any FP+ selections because the machines kept crashing and we had to keep reentering the same people over and over. One poor CM was trying to make it work. There were upper level folks all milling around, seeing and hearing our frustration but no one stepped in to help. We tried for 40 minutes Finally the girl said she couldn't help us and we should either get each individual their own FP+ and take a chance on times matching up or just ride standby.

We were completely frustrated and disgusted at this point. For us in the end it was not a vacation ruining experience because we are there all the time, but I can imagine a large family group going away totally unhappy.

Around noon a few of us tried the system as individuals. The CM's at Frontierland seemed much more knowledgeable. They suggested that if you are in a group to limit the group to 6 or less and take your chances matching up with the others in your bigger group. We were able to make FP+ ressies with decent return times. However, because we have AP's that aren't synched up with MDE we couldn't see them or manipulate them on our smartphones.

We stopped at Guest Relations on the way out to report our experience and were received a little coldly. "Well, it is the first day and we have a lot of bugs to work out" "It will work better when you have MB's"

BTW, wi-fi was sporadic. Sometimes I could connect and others not.

Anything specific I can answer, feel free to ask.

For a company that used to actively promote "Grand Gatherings" it seems Disney really does not have a handle on this large group thing. And isn't it almost time for the BTG's to show up? Should be interesting.

I'm sorry your experience was a bust, but am happy you are able to get back routinely. I really do feel for the occasional or "once in a lifetime" visitor getting caught up in this phase.

Thanks for the report from the field.

 

[KodakFigment]

So, it appears CMs are able to access "day of" Fp+ and are no longer blocked from the Fp+ system? Just asking because I will be there next month and will use a Guest Pass for entrance.

Well if what we were told today is true, then yes. However, we were not successful in getting FP+ for our group. The few of us who tried it individually were AP holders, not CM's. No bands for either though.

 

[Itinkso]

So, it appears CMs are able to access "day of" Fp+ and are no longer blocked from the Fp+ system? Just asking because I will be there next month and will use a Guest Pass for entrance. Well if what we were told today is true, then yes. However, we were not successful in getting FP+ for our group. The few of us who tried it individually were AP holders, not CM's. No bands for either though.

Thanks, KodakFigment. We will be at AoA so we will have bands, but, probably will have to try for day of Fp+ and hopefully, it will work!

 

[KodakFigment]

For a company that used to actively promote "Grand Gatherings" it seems Disney really does not have a handle on this large group thing. And isn't it almost time for the BTG's to show up? Should be interesting.


Exactly. That is really the reason we stopped at Guest Services, we wanted someone other than the front line CM's to know that the large group linking was a problem. Ideally when all is said and done we hope to be able to link our group together on MDE and have one person each week make the FP+ ride selections and roll them out to the rest of us. Given the way things are going this could be a long way in the future

And yes, the BTG's are here in full force! Somehow they don't bother me as much in January and they do in the summer. Probably because the parks are emptier and it 's not hotter than HECK!

And AK is next week... we have regular rotation

 

[momof2n2]

Just home from MK today.

Background info - I belong to a group of local AP holders & castmembers who visit a park every Tuesday. None of us have booked phantom stays so no one has a MB. Some in the group knew about FP+ testing and some didn't. Our group varies from 8 to 25 people depending on the park and the weather. Today 18 of us were at MK.

As a group FP+ was an epic FAIL!. We arrived at 10:00. Those who came through the TTC entrance were given a paper slip saying FP+ was in testing and listing 4 locations to go for FP+. (Tomorrowland @ Stitch, Fantasyland @ Circus Pete's, Frontierland near Sleepy Hollow, and the walkway between Frontierland and Adventureland.

Crowds are almost nonexistent today so no FP of any sort was really necessary but we wanted to test the system. We headed off to the Stitch kiosks. LOTS of CM's holding signs and directing folks. We specifically stopped and asked about large groups and the best way to proceed. We were told by three different CM's, three different procedures.

We entered the queue for FP+ and only had a few minutes wait then our trouble started. We could not get any FP+ selections because the machines kept crashing and we had to keep reentering the same people over and over. One poor CM was trying to make it work. There were upper level folks all milling around, seeing and hearing our frustration but no one stepped in to help. We tried for 40 minutes Finally the girl said she couldn't help us and we should either get each individual their own FP+ and take a chance on times matching up or just ride standby.

We were completely frustrated and disgusted at this point. For us in the end it was not a vacation ruining experience because we are there all the time, but I can imagine a large family group going away totally unhappy.

Around noon a few of us tried the system as individuals. The CM's at Frontierland seemed much more knowledgeable. They suggested that if you are in a group to limit the group to 6 or less and take your chances matching up with the others in your bigger group. We were able to make FP+ ressies with decent return times. However, because we have AP's that aren't synched up with MDE we couldn't see them or manipulate them on our smartphones.

We stopped at Guest Relations on the way out to report our experience and were received a little coldly. "Well, it is the first day and we have a lot of bugs to work out" "It will work better when you have MB's"

BTW, wi-fi was sporadic. Sometimes I could connect and others not.

Anything specific I can answer, feel free to ask.

Thanks for the report.
Glad crowds are so low for all involved.

 

[SunshineDaydreamnVA]

Does anyone have updated info on whether or not off-siters can park hop and use FP+ in more than one park per day?

 

[xie]

Just home from MK today.

Background info - I belong to a group of local AP holders & castmembers who visit a park every Tuesday. None of us have booked phantom stays so no one has a MB. Some in the group knew about FP+ testing and some didn't. Our group varies from 8 to 25 people depending on the park and the weather. Today 18 of us were at MK.

As a group FP+ was an epic FAIL!. We arrived at 10:00. Those who came through the TTC entrance were given a paper slip saying FP+ was in testing and listing 4 locations to go for FP+. (Tomorrowland @ Stitch, Fantasyland @ Circus Pete's, Frontierland near Sleepy Hollow, and the walkway between Frontierland and Adventureland.

Crowds are almost nonexistent today so no FP of any sort was really necessary but we wanted to test the system. We headed off to the Stitch kiosks. LOTS of CM's holding signs and directing folks. We specifically stopped and asked about large groups and the best way to proceed. We were told by three different CM's, three different procedures.

We entered the queue for FP+ and only had a few minutes wait then our trouble started. We could not get any FP+ selections because the machines kept crashing and we had to keep reentering the same people over and over. One poor CM was trying to make it work. There were upper level folks all milling around, seeing and hearing our frustration but no one stepped in to help. We tried for 40 minutes Finally the girl said she couldn't help us and we should either get each individual their own FP+ and take a chance on times matching up or just ride standby.

We were completely frustrated and disgusted at this point. For us in the end it was not a vacation ruining experience because we are there all the time, but I can imagine a large family group going away totally unhappy.

Around noon a few of us tried the system as individuals. The CM's at Frontierland seemed much more knowledgeable. They suggested that if you are in a group to limit the group to 6 or less and take your chances matching up with the others in your bigger group. We were able to make FP+ ressies with decent return times. However, because we have AP's that aren't synched up with MDE we couldn't see them or manipulate them on our smartphones.

We stopped at Guest Relations on the way out to report our experience and were received a little coldly. "Well, it is the first day and we have a lot of bugs to work out" "It will work better when you have MB's"

BTW, wi-fi was sporadic. Sometimes I could connect and others not.

Anything specific I can answer, feel free to ask.

I reckon the giant tour groups won't be doing Fast Passes this summer...

 

[mom2rtk]

I reckon the giant tour groups won't be doing Fast Passes this summer...

That business is too important to Disney. I bet they find a way to make that work for them.

 

[KodakFigment]

I reckon the giant tour groups won't be doing Fast Passes this summer...

That's the best upside I've heard for FP+

 

[Itinkso]

"So, it appears CMs are able to access "day of" Fp+ and are no longer blocked from the Fp+ system? Just asking because I will be there next month and will use a Guest Pass for entrance."

Well if what we were told today is true, then yes. However, we were not successful in getting FP+ for our group. The few of us who tried it individually were AP holders, not CM's. No bands for either though.

An Update: A CM friend of my DD went to MK today. His first scheduled Fp+ for BTMRR did not work. He was given a Rider Swap ticket to be able to ride that one ride. Even though it appears to be processed for the Fp+, CM ticket media may still be blocked out. Perhaps that is what interfered with your large group attempting Fp+.

 

[hopemax]

I went today using a Maingate guest pass. My family member had a spouse card. It worked fine. We originally scheduled Peter Pan, Rapunzel and BTMRR. Then later changed BTMRR to Pooh. No problems at any if the touch points.

 

[Itinkso]

I went today using a Maingate guest pass. My family member had a spouse card. It worked fine. We originally scheduled Peter Pan, Rapunzel and BTMRR. Then later changed BTMRR to Pooh. No problems at any if the touch points.

Thanks! You're the first one to report that it works!!

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

I went today using a Maingate guest pass. My family member had a spouse card. It worked fine. We originally scheduled Peter Pan, Rapunzel and BTMRR. Then later changed BTMRR to Pooh. No problems at any if the touch points.

~Wow. Thanks for the update! I guess it wasn't D-Day after all, at least not from my perspective.

 

[patty57]

~Wow. Thanks for the update! I guess it wasn't D-Day after all, at least not from my perspective.

While the term D-Day has come to be associated with a specific battle during WWII, it actually refers to the day (date) when a military operation begins. Even though MK going to FP+ only isn't a military operation, it was the start date for it. That's all I meant by D-Day...the start date. I think you took it the wrong way.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

While the term D-Day has come to be associated with a specific battle during WWII, it actually refers to the day (date) when a military operation begins. Even though MK going to FP+ only isn't a military operation, it was the start date for it. That's all I meant by D-Day...the start date. I think you took it the wrong way.

~LOL. Thanks for the clarification, point well taken. I saw "D-Day" and immediately associated the term with doomsday or day of attack. I'm usually much more positive than that.

~I'm so pleased to see that everything went as planned at MK. I can't wait for "D-Day" at Epcot and DHS!!!

 

[dayvewc]

~LOL. Thanks for the clarification, point well taken. I saw "D-Day" and immediately associated the term with doomsday or day of attack. I'm usually much more positive than that.

~I'm so pleased to see that everything went as planned at MK. I can't wait for "D-Day" at Epcot and DHS!!!

That's me. I'll be off-site for spring break, and I really want this to be completed before then.

 

[ExBellhop]

So, it appears CMs are able to access "day of" Fp+ and are no longer blocked from the Fp+ system? Just asking because I will be there next month and will use a Guest Pass for entrance.

I didn't realize this was an issue. We went in to DAK with Guest Passes on 12/31 and were able to get same day FP+ then. We had a group of 8 - 4 APs, 3 Guest Passes, and my Mom's MainGate. We approached a CM with an iPad, told her we had a group of 8, and she recommended we use the kiosk as opposed to the iPad - she reported the iPad had a tendency to time out, requiring your selection process to be restarted.

 

[Itinkso]

I didn't realize this was an issue. We went in to DAK with Guest Passes on 12/31 and were able to get same day FP+ then. We had a group of 8 - 4 APs, 3 Guest Passes, and my Mom's MainGate. We approached a CM with an iPad, told her we had a group of 8, and she recommended we use the kiosk as opposed to the iPad - she reported the iPad had a tendency to time out, requiring your selection process to be restarted.

Before DAK went to Fp+ only, CMs and their guests who had MagicBands, even ones with comp tickets, were blocked out of Fp+. Next month, we'll have MagicBands and may still be blocked out of scheduling Fp+ before we arrive at the park.