Fast Plus is a success imho

[Disney On The Bayou]

Staying at OKW this trip and using Fast pass +. IMHO I think this is a real win for everyone, especially Disney. By scheduling our events in the evening it allows us time to golf, fish, horse back ride and anything else we feel like doing. We are really enjoying things even with a heavy Thanksgiving crowd. In the past you absolutely had to be at the parks before noon because the E-Ticket fast passes would be gone by mid-morning. Then usually it was for an afternoon time and you were kind of stuck looking for things to do. Since I'm an early riser our strategy was rope drop and then full throttle before the big crowds would arrive. With fast pass + we can plan on doing more things and having a much more relaxing vacation without the mad dashes from one side the park to another in the quest to beat out everyone for fast passes. The only drawback I see other than a few implementation problems is that it's not "park warrior" friendly.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I am glad you enjoy using the system.

I really like the idea of not having to be there at park opening to get a FP. Earlier this month we knew we wanted to see the Osborne lights, and since TSMM is our favorite ride, the week before our trip, I was able to get a FP for it for 6:45-7:45. It was great, get to DHS after dinner at Cape May Cafe, ride TSMM, then see the lights. It was the perfect way to end our weekend vacation. DS did the 1/2 marathon, we were there to cheer him on!

 

[butsy113]

So glad it's working well! We try it in January, but I already know we will love it We like to sleep in and get to the parks just after lunch. Most trips we don't even get to ride TSMM and Soarin because the FP were gone or times were so late they conflicted with the night shows we wanted to see. It will be nice to be able to ride what we want. I can see where it will decrease the amount of criss crossing the parks which will be nice. No more running from Frontierland to Tomorrowland to grab FP for Space then back to Liberty Square. Plus you don't have to worry about what time the FP would be for. It never fails, I run to get FPs, the time is right in the middle of an ADR so I can't get them. Definitely looking forward to a more relaxing trip.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

couldn't have said it better! We had a few snafu's but we really enjoyed the FP+ system.

 

[DougEMG]

It's not a win for Disney yet. Mice age has an article about how the program is way over budget, way behind schedule and that Iger has cancelled or placed on hold all other projects. I wonder if we are going to see some heads roll over this.

Just a thread here on it as we'll http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3203472

 

[Disney On The Bayou]

It's a massive undertaking and a huge risk for Disney, but I think it will be beneficial in the end. On this trip like so many others, I have met three families that are not resort guess using the pools, laundry and Community Hall at OKW. (Yes laundry! staying offsite this mother did laundry while her kids swam in the pool) The numbers are probably in the thousands per week for guess using the transportation system and other amenities that either Disney directly or we DVC owners pay for. I think once they get the Magic Band fully implemented it will make it more difficult.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I am glad you enjoy using the system.

I really like the idea of not having to be there at park opening to get a FP.

That's so true! Last month, I arrived at DHS in the afternoon, yet I still got to ride TSMM in the middle of the afternoon, because I had FP+. The whole thing felt so strange! I mean, I got to ride TSMM even though I hadn't shown up at rope drop?!

 

[nkosiek]

It's a massive undertaking and a huge risk for Disney, but I think it will be beneficial in the end. On this trip like so many others, I have met three families that are not resort guess using the pools, laundry and Community Hall at OKW. (Yes laundry! staying offsite this mother did laundry while her kids swam in the pool) The numbers are probably in the thousands per week for guess using the transportation system and other amenities that either Disney directly or we DVC owners pay for. I think once they get the Magic Band fully implemented it will make it more difficult.

According to this logic, whittling those people out should make our dues and other costs go down. Do you really think that will happen?

 

[jade1]

Staying at OKW this trip and using Fast pass +. IMHO I think this is a real win for everyone, especially Disney. By scheduling our events in the evening it allows us time to golf, fish, horse back ride and anything else we feel like doing. We are really enjoying things even with a heavy Thanksgiving crowd. In the past you absolutely had to be at the parks before noon because the E-Ticket fast passes would be gone by mid-morning. Then usually it was for an afternoon time and you were kind of stuck looking for things to do. Since I'm an early riser our strategy was rope drop and then full throttle before the big crowds would arrive. With fast pass + we can plan on doing more things and having a much more relaxing vacation without the mad dashes from one side the park to another in the quest to beat out everyone for fast passes. The only drawback I see other than a few implementation problems is that it's not "park warrior" friendly.

My hero!!!

Arrival day will now be enhanced even further as well-same concept.

 

[MouseMomx2]

We love the FP+ system too!

As for the MiceAge article...I'm taking that with a grain of salt. I do believe the project is over budget, but I am going to take a wait and see approach to the rest of what was said. The whole article read, to me, as an opinion piece rather than a fact-based, unbiased article.

 

[aan1701]

You guys may like it but I did not at all. Two days into my 10 day trip I just felt that I needed to be at this park to go on a attraction. I cancelled all remaining Fastpass+ reservations. With ADR and now this I felt all spontaneity was gone from WDW trip and I did not like that one bit. That's just me though. I am happy people are liking it.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

 

[DebbieB]

It's a massive undertaking and a huge risk for Disney, but I think it will be beneficial in the end. On this trip like so many others, I have met three families that are not resort guess using the pools, laundry and Community Hall at OKW. (Yes laundry! staying offsite this mother did laundry while her kids swam in the pool) The numbers are probably in the thousands per week for guess using the transportation system and other amenities that either Disney directly or we DVC owners pay for. I think once they get the Magic Band fully implemented it will make it more difficult.

The transportation system is open to everyone, I don't think they are running extra busses. I don't think extra people in the pool or community hall increases dues. The laundry does, extra electricity and water. I agree that they should be stopped from using member facilities but I don't think it will make a dent in dues.

 

[rkold]

We enjoyed FP+ when we were there in October. It was our first time returning to Belle's Enchanted Tales since its soft opening October 2012, because in Dec and Jan it had 45+ minute lines. It was nice having FP+ for TSMM, but I appreciated it even more for character meet-n-greets which also have long lines and some of which didn't have FP before. I'm hoping when the Fairies move to Town Hall they get FP+/FP FP+ was also a boon for trying Be Our Guest for lunch.

OTOH, I can definitely see how the project must be over budget by now. It was in testing phase in Jan 2013 and was still being tested when we went back in Oct 2013. It was supposed to be rolled out and ready to use already. When something is in testing additional months, it's going to be over budget. I don't need a newsletter or blog to tell me that.

I was asked to complete a survey on FP+/MyMagic and I have to admit when I was testing, it did have issues. There was one day when neither I nor a CM could get the program to work for over an hour. I also don't like that you currently need to pick 3 attractions. For us, we don't need 3 attractions in AK and we actually don't need 3 attractions in Epcot either. (I tend to visit Epcot alone with DD, who is under 40 inches, so I'm not going on Soarin' or TT.) I'd love to be able to save those FP+ to get more for MK. My Magic+ also doesn't work on our older droid OS and doesn't work on any droid tablets. I know Disney is in bed with Apple, but if they're going to make an app that is necessary for the parks they really need to make it available across more platforms.

 

[drusba]

There in mid-Nov and view is this is still a work in progress for which a lot of progress still needs to be made. Our Magic Bands would not work initially and it took two hours just to get them to open our room. Then they could not get them to do charges to the room. Whenever we tried them, the computer kept rejecting the charge on the basis that we had already checked out. That issue was never resolved. The FP+ worked but it would be helpful if they made it so that any part of the band could be touched to the mouse face rather than making an exact match between the little Mickey on the band and the mouse face. Many had problems getting the match to occur and it often led to long lines at the fastpass entrances. Also, while we were there they announced the new changes -- at Epcot you cannot get FP+ for both Test Track and Soarin for the same day and at Studios you cannot get both Tower and RnR. That essentially will prevent many from doing both rides particularly, as some mentioned, if the plan is to do away with being able to get FPs at the park.

Moroever, getting FP's at the park has been substantially impacted by FP+. During mid-Nov last year, one could still easily get FPs for Tower, Soarin, TT and RnR well into the late afternoon, and usually for a return time no more than an hour away. This year they were gone by 11, and this is not a huge crowd in the parks time of year. They also still have a problem determining how many FP+'s to allow for any particular time. On more than one occasion, we had fastpass lines that were ridiculously long. For example, when Toy Story had a 40 minute stand-by line it took us 30 minutes in the fastpass line, and we hit Soarin with close to an hour stand-by line and the fast pass line took almost 40 minutes. Finally, many had problems with the MBs. The guest services locations at the parks had huge lines all day, mostly occupied by those having problems with the MBs.

 

[BillyBuckner]

I've had too separate trips where it seems like the longest line I stood in was the Soarin FastPass line in the evening, the last couple hours before closing.

 

[beer dave]

According to this logic, whittling those people out should make our dues and other costs go down. Do you really think that will happen?

I don't think dues will go down, but I would hope to see fewer people at the resorts we pay for.

That said, I am really happy to find a thread that is not filled with negative rants about FPP. Thank you all. I guess the park commandos will have a hard time with the changes, but I am with all of you who are happy to not have to fight rope drop to get on TSM and others. It is also nice to arrive at 5 pm and have some FPP waiting for us at whichever park we have chosen to start with.

 

[delilah]

The transportation system is open to everyone, I don't think they are running extra busses. I don't think extra people in the pool or community hall increases dues. The laundry does, extra electricity and water. I agree that they should be stopped from using member facilities but I don't think it will make a dent in dues.

It might help with the laundry. This wasn't at OKW, but at AKL, I remember the washing machine in the common DVC laundry room was already broken within several months of DVC opening in that resort. Perhaps they will be able to program the bands so that only those staying in villas with be able to get into the laundry room; there is already one of the locks that requires a room key to enter. However, the last time I stayed in a 1 BR, which has the washer in the room, the hot and cold water was reversed. Had I needed to do more laundry that I didnt' want to rinse in hot water, I would have used the common laundry room. Connecting the water properly to appliance might also save Disney some money.

 

[Disney On The Bayou]

I don't think dues will go down, but I would hope to see fewer people at the resorts we pay for. That said, I am really happy to find a thread that is not filled with negative rants about FPP. Thank you all. I guess the park commandos will have a hard time with the changes, but I am with all of you who are happy to not have to fight rope drop to get on TSM and others. It is also nice to arrive at 5 pm and have some FPP waiting for us at whichever park we have chosen to start with.

I agree that maybe dues will not decrease, but it could certainly help keep increases to a minimum. Extra use whether it be transportation, resort amenities, recreation or others does have a cost to the system. I don't think anyone including Disney really knows the cost, but I can assure you there is cost. I witnessed some day guest who were local and visiting DTD. They happen to be cross the boat over to SSR and toured, no big deal, but as I was waiting with them to head back to DTD with them, they were taking the rocks by the dock and throwing them at a railing. They really had one pole really chipped up pretty good. Now that's not to say day guess do these things along, I'm sure we have plenty enough DVC members and WDW guest who abuse the property. However, it's just additional wear and tear no matter how you break it down. That's just my opinion...

 

[Hope&Larry]

My DH & I returned from the World a week ago. We tried the FastPass+ & enjoyed it. One night our plans changed, & I was able to get a time on TSMM the next morning with the FASTPASS+. I really enjoyed not having to rush to the park of choice & "run" to the machines for tickets. We go back in January & I'm using Plus again.

 

[jimmytammy]

Im glad to hear you had a good exp. with it. We arrived the day before OKW went live with it and was there for 2 weeks. Timing stinks, but going back to BLT in late Feb so looking forward to trying it out. Friends were there same time as us in Oct and were invited to try it out and liked it for the most part.