FastPass+ Changes Coming!

[SuperRob]

Looks like Disney heard the feedback. They're adding the ability to make park hopping selections, as well as booking additional FastPass+ selections after you've used your three in that park.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...walt-disney-world-resort-hotel-and-day-guests

 

[thepops]

Looks like a good solution. Use your 3 and then get more. It will allow those that have to get them "day of" to not get blocked out of everything. The park hopping addition is a good also.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Well good. I loved being able to book Toy Story Mania for us and the kids, so we didn't have to get to the park exactly at opening time and then running to the machine for a FP ticket before they were all gone. I wasn't a fan of the no park hopping. We typically only stay in HS for half a day, so it would have been nice to save the FP for the other parks later in the day

 

[turkey1031]

If they are able to make either of these changes ot would be great. Now I kinda regret booking my trip right in the middle of testing time. I know with my luck I'll book all of my fastpasses and then they'll go and change the rules on me or open up fastpass for the mine train. At least it does sound like they are moving in a positive direction and are considering what thier customers are saying

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

I wonder when this change might be rolled out? We're going in May and would love to be able to take advantage of this!

 

[wdrl]

Looks like a good solution. Use your 3 and then get more. It will allow those that have to get them "day of" to not get blocked out of everything. The park hopping addition is a good also.

Actually, due to the Rule of Unintended Consequences, this change might make it a little harder for guests who get FastPass+ on the day they arrive at the Park.

Let's say you fly into Orlando and don't get to the Park until 2:00 PM. Presently, everyone visiting the Park is limited to three FP+ selections. Some guests who arrived at the Park when it opened might have already used up their allotment of FP+ by the time you arrive at 2:00 PM. Those guests can't compete with you for FP+ for the rest of the day. However, with this pending change, those guests who arrived before you can get more FP+, meaning there is more competition for the remaining FP+.

Our next trip to WDW is in mid-May and we've made a few FP+ selections. For the most part, our strategy is to select FP+ times starting around noon or later, thinking that between Park opening and noon we'll ride standby (when crowds are usually not that bad). Now, I'm wondering if we should book FP+ times for as early in the day as possible and then try to snag our 4th and subsequent FP+ starting around noon or later.

 

[hakepb]

Actually, due to the Rule of Unintended Consequences, this change might make it a little harder for guests who get FastPass+ on the day they arrive at the Park.

Let's say you fly into Orlando and don't get to the Park until 2:00 PM. Presently, everyone visiting the Park is limited to three FP+ selections. Some guests who arrived at the Park when it opened might have already used up their allotment of FP+ by the time you arrive at 2:00 PM. Those guests can't compete with you for FP+ for the rest of the day. However, with this pending change, those guests who arrived before you can get more FP+, meaning there is more competition for the remaining FP+.

Our next trip to WDW is in mid-May and we've made a few FP+ selections. For the most part, our strategy is to select FP+ times starting around noon or later, thinking that between Park opening and noon we'll ride standby (when crowds are usually not that bad). Now, I'm wondering if we should book FP+ times for as early in the day as possible and then try to snag our 4th and subsequent FP+ starting around noon or later.

Good point about unintended consequences.

I also thought Josh (easywdw) made interesting points:
@easywdw: when people say "we need more fp+" they arent talking about you. theyre talking about themselves. and actually they dont want u to have more

@easywdw: even higher distribution numbers for fp+, particularly at mk, is only going to push up waits at secondary attractions further into the night

 

[jstarcze]

Actually, due to the Rule of Unintended Consequences, this change might make it a little harder for guests who get FastPass+ on the day they arrive at the Park.

Let's say you fly into Orlando and don't get to the Park until 2:00 PM. Presently, everyone visiting the Park is limited to three FP+ selections. Some guests who arrived at the Park when it opened might have already used up their allotment of FP+ by the time you arrive at 2:00 PM. Those guests can't compete with you for FP+ for the rest of the day. However, with this pending change, those guests who arrived before you can get more FP+, meaning there is more competition for the remaining FP+.

Our next trip to WDW is in mid-May and we've made a few FP+ selections. For the most part, our strategy is to select FP+ times starting around noon or later, thinking that between Park opening and noon we'll ride standby (when crowds are usually not that bad). Now, I'm wondering if we should book FP+ times for as early in the day as possible and then try to snag our 4th and subsequent FP+ starting around noon or later.

True, but this is way the system worked before FP+ was started. The earlier one arrived at the parks the more FPs one could get at the expense of those who arrived later. At least now, those arriving later can schedule FPs before they arrive so that they are not totally shut out as was the case for attractions like TOY Story Mania. It really discriminates against those who do not stay on Disney property and so do not have FP+ available before they arrive.

 

[zavandor]

I don't like they allow to book an additional FP+ after you'll finish those booked in advance. I would rather say: book 3 in advance, one on the day after park opening, one after 1pm.

 

[drusba]

I have seen the kiosks in action. This is not an improvement. The lines at the kiosks are often longer than the stand-by lines at the rides.It is a forever process beacuase each person going to the kiosk has to set up the fastpass similar to doing it on-line on your computer, which nearly takes forever even when you are doing it at home. If they are going to allow you to get additional fastpass only after using the first three, they should at least have it set up so you can do it on your iPhone at MDE..

 

[DebbieB]

Looks like Disney heard the feedback. They're adding the ability to make park hopping selections, as well as booking additional FastPass+ selections after you've used your three in that park.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...walt-disney-world-resort-hotel-and-day-guests

I think this was in the plans all along. It comes out right after they start selling magic bands to offsite and they can book in advance.

I have seen the kiosks in action. This is not an improvement. The lines at the kiosks are often longer than the stand-by lines at the rides.It is a forever process beacuase each person going to the kiosk has to set up the fastpass similar to doing it on-line on your computer, which nearly takes forever even when you are doing it at home. If they are going to allow you to get additional fastpass only after using the first three, they should at least have it set up so you can do it on your iPhone at MDE..

Offsite can now book in advance so it should cut down the kiosk lines. I can't believe they are not going to allow you to use your phone.

 

[SuperRob]

Actually, due to the Rule of Unintended Consequences, this change might make it a little harder for guests who get FastPass+ on the day they arrive at the Park.

Let's say you fly into Orlando and don't get to the Park until 2:00 PM. Presently, everyone visiting the Park is limited to three FP+ selections. Some guests who arrived at the Park when it opened might have already used up their allotment of FP+ by the time you arrive at 2:00 PM. Those guests can't compete with you for FP+ for the rest of the day. However, with this pending change, those guests who arrived before you can get more FP+, meaning there is more competition for the remaining FP+.

Our next trip to WDW is in mid-May and we've made a few FP+ selections. For the most part, our strategy is to select FP+ times starting around noon or later, thinking that between Park opening and noon we'll ride standby (when crowds are usually not that bad). Now, I'm wondering if we should book FP+ times for as early in the day as possible and then try to snag our 4th and subsequent FP+ starting around noon or later.

Why can't the person arriving late get FastPasses at the 30-day mark, which also started today?

 

[wdrl]

Why can't the person arriving late get FastPasses at the 30-day mark, which also started today?

The rules about FP+ selections always seem to be changing so I don't know if I'm aware of the latest rules. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't guests need ticket media attached to their MDE in order to select FP+ even at the 30 day mark? If that is the case, then a guest who waits until their arrival date to buy tickets would not be able to select FP+ until the last moment.

 

[nolanboys]

We just got back from our trip so here is my take.

Great to get more than 3, but being able to book them after you use 3 makes one the benefits of FP+ not as beneficial. The day we went to HS was after a late night at MK with EMH. It was nice to be able to sleep in, go to the pool and not have to arrive at HS until 4:00 to start using our FP+. Having to use the 3 up first will make people go for earlier times, which will only make standby times even longer. We also noticed that RP was not as beneficial. We got to EP and booked it to TT. We rode it and were done by 9:17. Thought we would jump on again and the wait was already 45 minutes. The standby waits at MK during am EMH also quickly jumped. We normally could do 4 rides during the first hour to 90 minutes. This time we only did 2 because standby lines wait times jumped up so quickly.

Hopefully they will be able to tweak the system to make it more efficient. I don't have the answers, but would like to see 5 FP+ options a day with PH allowed. This may be unreasonable, but after this trip, we realized that the PH option that we have always purchased, seemed like a waste. Morning stand by lines were longer for even less popular attractions if we had FP+ for the evening and the opposite was true if we reversed it and had early FP+ and tried to ride less popular attractions in the evening. Unless the issues are fixed, we will stick to only one park a day and be grateful that we are not park commando anymore.

 

[disneygal55]

So does this mean that after you use the three FP+ (parks with Tiers--DHS/EP in particular) you can then schedule more Tier 1 rides. For example pick Soarin (and two less popular rides) and after they are done, you can book Test Track? Or after using the three at Epcot you can then go to DHS and book TSM (ha ha I know there won't be any left) or RNRC? Or go to MK and do Space Mt? Just curious about the Tier aspect.

 

[cbnsoul]

We would LOVE the ability to get 1 or 2 Extra FP at MK but even more so, the ability to park hop. We only go on 1-2 rides regularly at HS and AK so end up "wasting" FP on attractions we don't even ride. With PH, at least we could finally use those FP.

 

[Mousewerks]

I have seen the kiosks in action. This is not an improvement. The lines at the kiosks are often longer than the stand-by lines at the rides.It is a forever process beacuase each person going to the kiosk has to set up the fastpass similar to doing it on-line on your computer, which nearly takes forever even when you are doing it at home. If they are going to allow you to get additional fastpass only after using the first three, they should at least have it set up so you can do it on your iPhone at MDE..

I second this. While it seemed there were far more kiosks than I was led to believe from reading the DIS, they all had very long lines during the day. Obviously that would limit the number of extra fastpasses but I think it will just lead to more frustration.

 

[Mousewerks]

We just got back from our trip so here is my take.

Great to get more than 3, but being able to book them after you use 3 makes one the benefits of FP+ not as beneficial. The day we went to HS was after a late night at MK with EMH. It was nice to be able to sleep in, go to the pool and not have to arrive at HS until 4:00 to start using our FP+. Having to use the 3 up first will make people go for earlier times, which will only make standby times even longer. We also noticed that RP was not as beneficial. We got to EP and booked it to TT. We rode it and were done by 9:17. Thought we would jump on again and the wait was already 45 minutes. The standby waits at MK during am EMH also quickly jumped. We normally could do 4 rides during the first hour to 90 minutes. This time we only did 2 because standby lines wait times jumped up so quickly.

Hopefully they will be able to tweak the system to make it more efficient. I don't have the answers, but would like to see 5 FP+ options a day with PH allowed. This may be unreasonable, but after this trip, we realized that the PH option that we have always purchased, seemed like a waste. Morning stand by lines were longer for even less popular attractions if we had FP+ for the evening and the opposite was true if we reversed it and had early FP+ and tried to ride less popular attractions in the evening. Unless the issues are fixed, we will stick to only one park a day and be grateful that we are not park commando anymore.

I had been intending to write a post about this but haven't gotten around to it. Rope drop has fundamentally changed with FP+. Standby lines grow MUCH faster than before and even FP returns have lines. It is even more important to ride that first headliner in the morning, especially at the tiered parks. That said, a proper touring plan still works wonders for not standing in line.

 

[Worktoplay]

Some day I hope to like the fastpass+ system, but right now I do not. I am a planner and I book everything out in advance. In November I was traveling with other DVCer's who did nothing until they arrived and the one day they decided to do fastpasses, they could not get the times I had and I was unable to get their times. It was very disappointing.

I was also traveling with my adult son and his friends and it was such a pain when I wanted to do things they did not. It would let you make the change on the computer but not actually make the change. I spent way too much time having CM's try to fix things.

I also don't think anyone needs more than 3 fast passes. Seriously, half the fun of walking through the parks is scoring a short line for a great attraction

 

[Tigger1]

With the current FP +system I can see why the parks are busier in the morning. I think it will just get busier now. I would rather have a set amount of FP like 4 or 5 and also some to be for a different park. Disney makes more money from those hopper tickets it should be an advantage for them. As far as standing at a kiosk for my 4th pass, why wait in line so that i do not wait in line, makes no sense.