Extra Fastpasses: A Case Study

[OtherScott]

"Well, that's just swell for a party of 2...on a day when park attendance was minus 3...when stand-by times were probably non-existent...let's see how it works out for a party of 12 that wants to hop between all 4 parks to hit all of the headliners during the summer when crowd levels are 11!"

 

[OtherScott]

"Almost forgot - I could have done even more with FP-...without all the planning and smart-phoning."

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Wow! What a fantastic day. I was watching the wait times yesterday and they weren't too bad. This gives me hope for my Oct trip though. I'm thinking by then we'll be able to pick additional ones via the app instead of kiosk which will be even better. But I do have a party if 6 so might be a little more difficult. But man....what a great day for you!

 

[Robo]

Here's hoping that this kind of situation can become the norm.

I'd again like to thank so many who so often COMPLAINED about the woefully
inadequate and severely limited "all new" FP+ system as it was first introduced.

Without these complaints (here, on other boards, and directly to Disney) the folks at Disney
would not have known that their system was so disappointing
to those who had used the original in-park FP system so successfully in the past.

My hope is also that those who are finding the GLITCHES
in the "fabulous" new MyMagicPlus/DME systems so frustrating
will continue to let Disney know
that you are very disappointed with the product they have forced onto their
loyal paying customers.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

You can't add FastPasses by phone, so you had to walk back to the kiosks after each one, right?

 

[Grimlock34a]

You can't add FastPasses by phone, so you had to walk back to the kiosks after each one, right?

that is correct....for now.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

that is correct....for now.

Although there are like multiple locations per park, right? You'll have to memorize them all and know which is closest to your current location?

What a pain in the tuches.

 

[JimmyV]

Here's hoping that this kind of situation can become the norm.

I'd again like to thank so many who so often COMPLAINED about the woefully
inadequate and severely limited "all new" FP+ system as it was first introduced.

Without these complaints (here, on other boards, and directly to Disney) the folks at Disney
would not have known that their system was so disappointing
to those who had used the original in-park FP system so successfully in the past.

My hope is also that those who are finding the GLITCHES
in the "fabulous" new MyMagicPlus/DME systems so frustrating
will continue to let Disney know
that you are very disappointed with the product they have forced onto their
loyal paying customers.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

You're welcome!

This is going to put smiles on a lot of faces, and cause some angst for those who liked the fact that FP+ limitations acted as a "ride governor" and commando neutralizer.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Here's hoping that this kind of situation can become the norm.

I'd again like to thank so many who so often COMPLAINED about the woefully
inadequate and severely limited "all new" FP+ system as it was first introduced.

Without these complaints (here, on other boards, and directly to Disney) the folks at Disney
would not have known that their system was so disappointing
to those who had used the original in-park FP system so successfully in the past.

My hope is also that those who are finding the GLITCHES
in the "fabulous" new MyMagicPlus/DME systems so frustrating
will continue to let Disney know
that you are very disappointed with the product they have forced onto their
loyal paying customers.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

And thank you to the OP for answering so many questions

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

Here's hoping that this kind of situation can become the norm.

I'd again like to thank so many who so often COMPLAINED about the woefully
inadequate and severely limited "all new" FP+ system as it was first introduced.

Without these complaints (here, on other boards, and directly to Disney) the folks at Disney
would not have known that their system was so disappointing
to those who had used the original in-park FP system so successfully in the past.

My hope is also that those who are finding the GLITCHES
in the "fabulous" new MyMagicPlus/DME systems so frustrating
will continue to let Disney know
that you are very disappointed with the product they have forced onto their
loyal paying customers.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Man- here we go again with the "fabulous" stuff. I can't seem to open one thread without some fella referring to her indirectly. She don't even post on this board anymore but some of y'all can't take ya mind off of her. I just don't get it. Enough.... it is annoying and it is an insult to all of the other women who are present here vying for attention and looking forward to engaging in meaningful discussion. We don't need to be constantly reminded of her. You got one thing right though......this system is looking pretty darn fabulous----way better than the Legacy FP!!!! The pro FP+ folk have always said not to overreact because the system was being tested out by Disney. Disney said this too- and they said they will make adjustments based on user feedback. So- a huge thank you is in order only to all of the people who actually went to Disney and tested the system and took the time to complete the surveys provided and by offering both positive and negative feedback. I am so glad I did not listen to all of the negativity and doom and gloom predications and cancel my trip because I would have been feeling really bad. I'm very glad I listened to the pro FastPass+ people like wisblue, jade1, sammie, wdwfreak, davidnyc, brian noble, mickey minnie mom, kaybird and so many other people here who have been very helpful in keeping the calm. Disney is running just fine without Legacy FastPass!!!!! Better than fine----when the complainers said it was NOT impossible.....New Coke and all of that. Ha! FastPass+ is not going anywhere!

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

I will post a detailed description of my day later in the week, but for now I will say that I used 9 FastPasses today, and that I was able to get 3 new Fastpasses in a 40 minute window from 1:49-2:30 p.m., after I used up my first 3 FP+s.

1:49: FP for Barnstormer for 1:50-2:50. Immediately ride.

2:05: FP or Dumbo for 2:20-3:20. Ride at 2:15.

2:30: FP for Winnie the Pooh for 2:50-3:50.

I was skeptical of FP+ because I felt the old system gave me a competitive advantage. After today, I swear by the new system (at least in MK). Also, what the new system allows is the opportunity to stay in MK in the afternoon and be productive, which was almost impossible before.

It was actually TEN FPs:

Per-booked --

Space Mountain: 10:35-11:35
Peter Pan: 11:55-12:55
Anna and Elsa: 1:25-2:25

Extras:

1:49: FP for Barnstormer for 1:50-2:50. Immediately ride.

2:05: FP for Dumbo for 2:20-3:20. Ride at 2:15.

2:30: FP for Winnie the Pooh for 2:50-3:50. Ride at 3:00.

3:12: FP for Pirates of the Carribean for 3:20-4:20. Ride at 3:30.

3:50: FP for Jungle Cruise for 4:25-5:25. Ride at 4:40.

5:00: FP for Buzz Lightyear for 5:15-6:15. Ride at 5:10.

5:25: FP for Rapzunel and Cinderella for 9:20-10:20.

Kiosks lines were minimal except for the first extra FP at the kiosk near the castle, when the wait was probably 5-7 minutes. Character greeting FPs, except for Mickey, were gone at 1:45. Rapzunel, however, became available at 5:25, which is why I snapped it up, instead of continuing my Get-FP-Ride pattern.

Let me try to answer the questions:

(1) Didn't try to add additional FP via phone.

(2) Staying at All-Star Music so definitely not high-paying.

(3) You can use FPs beginning 5 minutes before the printed times.

(4) Didn't try to get FPs for the mountains because we rode BTMR twice, Space Mountain twice, and Splash Mountain once before 10:45 a.m.

(5) Standby times for rides I got FPs for: Barnstormer (35 min), Dumbo (1 hour), Pooh (45 minutes), Pirates of Carribean (35 minutes), Jungle Cruise (35 minutes), Buzz (30 minutes), and Rapzunel (45 minutes).

WOW! All of this is AMAZING!!! It blows everything out of the water!!! Thank you, sir!

 

[WillAustin]

So- a huge thank you is in order only to all of the people who actually went to Disney and tested the system and took the time to complete the surveys provided and by offering both positive and negative feedback.

You're welcome.

Sounds like the Superusers may be back in business. Can't wait to try this newest incarnation in June!

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

You're welcome.

Sounds like the Superusers may be back in business.

That's great!!!! And- there will be no guilt that comes with messing up the flow because you will be within your return time and you won't be so tired from running up and down either!!!

 

[wisblue]

"Almost forgot - I could have done even more with FP-...without all the planning and smart-phoning."

You also forgot that you would have gotten a wonderful paper ticket so you could remember your return time that was 15 minutes in the future.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

That's great!!!! And- there will be no guilt that comes with messing up the flow because you will be within your return time and you won't be so tired from running up and down either!!!

Just an FYI - there were superusers of FP- that weren't "tired from running up and down" - it was actually fun. =) And they have been enforcing return times since Mar 2012 I believe so not sure why you mentioned the word "guilty". I did try FP+ in Dec and had a lesser experience compared to FP- and I let Disney know in the survey. Reading the OP, I am cautiously optimistic regarding using it on my next trip this Oct.

 

[WillAustin]

That's great!!!! And- there will be no guilt that comes with messing up the flow because you will be within your return time and you won't be so tired from running up and down either!!!

I don't understand what you are talking about.

 

[SuperRob]

Although there are like multiple locations per park, right? You'll have to memorize them all and know which is closest to your current location?

What a pain in the tuches.

As opposed to the older system, where you had to go to the actual attraction that you weren't about to ride next? Just head where you want to go, and stop at ANY kiosk along the way.

And if you're going to bring the Yiddish, it's "tuchas".

By the way, thanks Daddy Mack for posting your experience. I'm convinced that the "rolling fourth" FP+ will end up being a secret weapon for those "in the know." Just like the average guest wasn't really using FastPass at all previously, I suspect most of them won't know you can get a fourth pass (or more), leaving those open to the experts.

 

[JimmyV]

So- a huge thank you is in order only to all of the people who actually went to Disney and tested the system and took the time to complete the surveys provided and by offering both positive and negative feedback.

Again, you're welcome. I went. I tested. I wrote a lengthy email. I got a follow-up call. I had a lengthy phone conversation. As Robo points out, they really didn't have an appreciation for the fact that the law of averages didn't apply to FP-. They were stuck in their belief that the "average" guest used 2.something per day, so 3 seemed about right. The example I gave them on the phone was that this is like saying if I put my head in a hot oven and my foot in a bucket of ice, on average, I should feel comfortable. Three simply was not enough to make their core users happy and they vowed to see what they could do about changing it. For people who insist that the current version was on the radar all along, well, all I can say is that I didn't get that impression from speaking with them. Remember that they didn't offer up the user poll of future options until well after the roll-out of FP+. They easily could have test-marketed user preferences by asking people those same questions in November and December as FP+ was being tested. The current version of FP+ was a "change on the fly" and it sounds pretty good so far. My only ill-will right now is that I was used as a Guinea pig for a system that was failing from the outset and had to pay full price for a half-hearted experience. The people who are now using 10 FPs a day pay the same for their ticket as I did for mine, while I was stuck picking Figment for my third and last FP of the day. I'll get over it, but only because I know that I was able to make a difference in the overall outcome. one bad trip amoung 50 isn't a bad record.

 

[agavegirl1]

This is very encouraging OP. While those may not be FP+ choices I might have made, I'm sure I'll be able to continue pulling FP+ for attractions I would enjoy well into the afternoon. The continued tweaking by Disney has really addressed some of the early issues. I do feel bad for those "testers" who had such difficulty in the early phased rollout. I am hope the next iteration will be the ability to book the subsequent FP+ on the MDE App as well. Here's hoping for a pre-October implementation of that feature.

 

[mom2rtk]

Man- here we go again with the "fabulous" stuff. I can't seem to open one thread without some fella referring to her indirectly. She don't even post on this board anymore but some of y'all can't take ya mind off of her. I just don't get it. Enough.... it is annoying and it is an insult to all of the other women who are present here vying for attention and looking forward to engaging in meaningful discussion. We don't need to be constantly reminded of her. You got one thing right though......this system is looking pretty darn fabulous----way better than the Legacy FP!!!! The pro FP+ folk have always said not to overreact because the system was being tested out by Disney. Disney said this too- and they said they will make adjustments based on user feedback. So- a huge thank you is in order only to all of the people who actually went to Disney and tested the system and took the time to complete the surveys provided and by offering both positive and negative feedback. I am so glad I did not listen to all of the negativity and doom and gloom predications and cancel my trip because I would have been feeling really bad. I'm very glad I listened to the pro FastPass+ people like wisblue, jade1, sammie, wdwfreak, davidnyc, brian noble, mickey minnie mom, kaybird and so many other people here who have been very helpful in keeping the calm. Disney is running just fine without Legacy FastPass!!!!! Better than fine----when the complainers said it was NOT impossible.....New Coke and all of that. Ha! FastPass+ is not going anywhere!

Is "fabulous" a banned word here? I'm really confused.

And I'm a woman, and have absolutely no problem with people using the word "fabulous". I'm not insulted in the least.