Fastpass+ effect on resales?

[anna08]

After reading this thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3224162
I am wondering if we are going to see the volume of resales going up as folks are frustrated with their park experiences.

Someone posted a picture of BTMRR's FP+ line from this week and it's pretty disheartening. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3224162&page=2

I am a WDW consumer that does not like to have to schedule many things in advance and to think I would have to wait in a line like that with a fast pass makes me not want to go at all.

To think I've been annoyed at having a room key card not work and having had to walk back to the front desk! One person posted having to use hours to get Guest Services to make their bands work at the parks.

I do have to say that I have always been a promoter of Disney and DVC for families who say "my kids are still too little to get anything out of it," but there is no way in my good conscience I can recommend WDW as a vacation to those families I meet anymore with reading these experiences. The last thing you want to do with small children is wait in long lines.

We're headed there in March. Was thinking about adding on for the past six months, but now we're talking the exact opposite. Trips to Universal, exploring the rest of the United States and whether we should sell some of our points. I am really hoping to be pleasantly surprised. It's Spring Break time, so I'm not too optimistic, especially if they are having lots of trouble in January.

Anyone else worried the Disney experience that made us buy into DVC is not to be had anymore?

 

[DebbieB]

After reading this thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3224162
I am wondering if we are going to see the volume of resales going up as folks are frustrated with their park experiences.

Someone posted a picture of BTMRR's FP+ line from this week and it's pretty disheartening. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3224162&page=2

I am a WDW consumer that does not like to have to schedule many things in advance and to think I would have to wait in a line like that with a fast pass makes me not want to go at all.

To think I've been annoyed at having a room key card not work and having had to walk back to the front desk! One person posted having to use hours to get Guest Services to make their bands work at the parks.

I do have to say that I have always been a promoter of Disney and DVC for families who say "my kids are still too little to get anything out of it," but there is no way in my good conscience I can recommend WDW as a vacation to those families I meet anymore with reading these experiences. The last thing you want to do with small children is wait in long lines.

We're headed there in March. Was thinking about adding on for the past six months, but now we're talking the exact opposite. Trips to Universal, exploring the rest of the United States and whether we should sell some of our points. I am really hoping to be pleasantly surprised. It's Spring Break time, so I'm not too optimistic, especially if they are having lots of trouble in January.

Anyone else worried the Disney experience that made us buy into DVC is not to be had anymore?

I wouldn't make any decisions now. I think the FP+ will continue to evolve, I don't think this is the final product. It is still officially in "testing". Hopefully the technical issues will clear up.

At least give it a chance. I used it in November and loved it, no technical issues with the band. Some of the frequent complainers on the theme parks board haven't even used it in person.

 

[wdrl]

When we were at WDW in November, we noticed a few times when FastPass Return lines were unusually long. But almost always the bottleneck dissipated quickly and then began to flow quickly through the check point.

I think part of the problem with return line bottlenecks is because there is a learning curve with the new system. A couple times I saw guests with legacy FastPasses who thought they still had to use their MagicBands to turn the sensor green. Since they didn't have FastPass+, the sensor never turned green. One time, a parent was insisting they had a FastPass and he held up the line while he and his family kept trying to get the sensor to turn green. Finally, one of the kids reminded Dad that they had paper FastPasses, not FastPass+.

I agree with DebbieB: I think the new system will evolve and get better over time. We used it in November and it worked fine. In fact, I wish MagicBands and FastPass+ had been available when we visited Disneyland Resort this past October.

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

I don't think it will, only b/c DVCers are use to planning in advance..



We have used FP+ three times now..

1st of all it has been different each time. Different rules, different choices.. Disney seems to be messing with as they go. To find the best fit.
But the big thing i noticed, Is that once people got rules down and how to scan it in.. Lines picked up..

I think the reason we see A LOT of bottleneck at BTM/splash is because of time reinforcement
At most rides they will let you in at 10min before your time, at BTM and Splash I believe there is no early entry.. At least there wasn't in DEC.

so now you have all these people trying to scan bands
for the 1st ride of day, not understanding how to use them
people getting turned away b/c they have 3-4 min left,
and children who's never seem to scan right.

Most children and some adults don't seem to be understanding its not a "tap and hold " like at the front of the parks.
It's a rolling motion over the scanner, once my DH and I had that down.. It was easy, I just ended up putting DD band on my arm and would scan them both at the same time. This way we could keep moving instead of being stopped at every scan place.

Ps. Also take a pic of any changes you make to FP+ while in the park. Screen shot or with camera, sometimes the system doesn't make the change in time for your FP Ressie.. And this way you can show the CM that you made the change, and they normally let you through.

 

[anna08]

Great tip about the photo of FP changes - that's easy to do with the iPhone.

There are several posts from folks who are there right now that are not favorable. I'm not really even including the offsite FP experience when I make my comments. Those folks have to wait in line to then wait in line!

I don't even think you can compare it to what was happening last week - now that there are no more paper FP the entire system is different today. I would not call it "testing" anymore at this point as the only other option is to not go or wait in traditional standby lines.

I'd wouldn't mind the restriction of 3 passes/one park/day if I thought the FP line wasn't going to be a wait too. It's just knocked out the spontaneity of our trips. Add to that the restaurant credit card charge and I don't know if this will be our must do vacation every year.

Am trying to plan trip with family in May and am stressed about them buying tickets ahead so we can get them on MDE so we can book FP together. It's requiring a lot of time on my part already and then I looked at the perks for 2014 and they are fewer than last year so I am having major negative feelings for WDW which I've never had before.

Ultimately it will probably change the way we vacation, and it won't be favorable to Disney's pocketbook.

 

[Sammie]

I am sorry but the majority on this forum that don't like it and will admit it, were those that have been called, for lack of a better term, super users of Fastpass.

They got to the parks at rope drop, they dashed from attraction to attraction gathering Fastpasses.

Those guests, yes are unhappy with the changes.

However they represent a very, very small percentage of the total number of guests that visit the parks. They just happen to be very vocal on here.

We have not had the issues others have reported. We have not had any issues with DME, or the bands or Fastpass+. We enjoyed using it, on our last trip and look forward to using them again this year.

I am excited about the changes.

I went into the Fastpass+ booking system during the week of Christmas and I could book headliner attractions every day at every park even though all the resorts were packed.

I expect to see the ability to book Fastpass+ at more than one park in the future, as DebbieB said, it's still in a test mode.

 

[jade1]

It's just knocked out the spontaneity of our trips.

Complete opposite for us.

We now have every morning wide open to do whatever we want, knowing we have 3FP+'s for later and a night show.

Could be open AK (or any park we feel like) and knock all that out, fish, golf, brunch, sleep in-all things that were detrimental to obtaining any FP- in the past, we travel peak weeks though.

Then again, with DVC for 15 years-we are well past the need to commando anything.

We will for sure cab over for the new HP at US one morning-but for sure be back for 3 FP+ and Fantasmic that night. Which we would have done anyway-but now have a great scheduled evening to come back to.

Oh and arrival day now will be sensational.

 

[HannaBelle]

I am sorry but the majority on this forum that don't like it and will admit it, were those that have been called, for lack of a better term, super users of Fastpass.

They got to the parks at rope drop, they dashed from attraction to attraction gathering Fastpasses.

Those guests, yes are unhappy with the changes.

However they represent a very, very small percentage of the total number of guests that visit the parks. They just happen to be very vocal on here.

We have not had the issues others have reported. We have not had any issues with DME, or the bands or Fastpass+. We enjoyed using it, on our last trip and look forward to using them again this year.

I am excited about the changes.

I went into the Fastpass+ booking system during the week of Christmas and I could book headliner attractions every day at every park even though all the resorts were packed.

I expect to see the ability to book Fastpass+ at more than one park in the future, as DebbieB said, it's still in a test mode.

Hi everyone, I am HannaBelle and I am Fastpass Super User. I used to arrive at rope drop and horde fastpasses as fast as possible.

Sammie is spot on. I am not excited about the changes and while it won't make me want to sell my DVC, it does make me less sad to not being going to WDW in the next couple of years. We have rented our points and are using the cash towards a Disney cruise in June 2015 and are planning a trip to Aulani in June 2017. It will be several years before we are back at WDW so I am hoping they have a new plan in place by then!

 

[mrsgoose8]

Yep and as a non super user I'm liking the changes! Can't please everyone :/

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

I was a super FP user. I also was a commando style person..

My DH had gotten use to it. However on our nov trip last year, loved the fact that we could sleep in, didn't feel pressed about seeing everything (we knew we were coming back in Dec)
It was so nice just to relax.. I guess it's a trade off

 

[jco_direwolf]

I have to agree this is just like the threads that happen in oct, with Disney raising ticket prices will the parks fail? No it only stops 1-2 people who are quickly replaced.

Rising ticket prices have stopped me from gojng to hard ticket MK parties. They just aren't worth $70 pp sorry.

But if you really are a fastpass expert you know what you'll maximize the system still.

FP+ is not fixed in stone. Its a dynamic system that they can modify by changing s/w. They will continue to expand it and change it.

 

[Sammie]

Hi everyone, I am HannaBelle and I am Fastpass Super User. I used to arrive at rope drop and horde fastpasses as fast as possible.

Sammie is spot on. I am not excited about the changes and while it won't make me want to sell my DVC, it does make me less sad to not being going to WDW in the next couple of years. We have rented our points and are using the cash towards a Disney cruise in June 2015 and are planning a trip to Aulani in June 2017. It will be several years before we are back at WDW so I am hoping they have a new plan in place by then!

You are going on a cruise and Aulani, well we won't be feeling sorry for you,

 

[DebbieB]

I like being able to pick any time of the day. Like on my arrival day in November, I landed around noon. I was able to get fastpasses at Epcot for late afternoon/evening. I hated the old way after they took away the return anytime later unwritten rule. So you had to figure out when to pull the fastpass to fit in your schedule. Like one time we wanted to get Soarin for after lunch but when we went to the machines, the return was 12:00 to 1:00, wouldn't work with our lunch in France at 12:00.

With FP+, you can pick your time of the day and don't have to go to the ride entrance to get it. The 5 days I was there in November, I only pulled one FP- after my 3 FP+ were gone. That was for Little Mermaid, the line was 45 min. To be honest, it would not have been a big deal if I missed it.

 

[Sammie]

I like being able to pick any time of the day. Like on my arrival day in November, I landed around noon. I was able to get fastpasses at Epcot for late afternoon/evening. I hated the old way after they took away the return anytime later unwritten rule. So you had to figure out when to pull the fastpass to fit in your schedule. Like one time we wanted to get Soarin for after lunch but when we went to the machines, the return was 12:00 to 1:00, wouldn't work with our lunch in France at 12:00.

With FP+, you can pick your time of the day and don't have to go to the ride entrance to get it. The 5 days I was there in November, I only pulled one FP- after my 3 FP+ were gone. That was for Little Mermaid, the line was 45 min. To be honest, it would not have been a big deal if I missed it.

Totally agree Debbie, we love the convenience of knowing we can go to MK early, ride lots of things, go to our DVC resort for lunch and a rest or pool time.

Head over to Epcot and ride our booked Fastpass+ for headliners between 4pm and 6pm and then be able to make it easily to dinner.

With the old system no way we would have been able to do this.

 

[anna08]

I so am hoping that our experience mimics the relaxing ones! I can imagine walking around with a bunch of offsite angry customers is not going to make for a good mood in the parks. I really feel for the poor CMs who are left dealing with the frustrations of a system that seems to have many kinks yet.

I'm eager to hear how it works on busier days. Unfortunately we're tied to the school calendar and can't really do off peak trips.

It's making the VIP service look even better now! And I'll take cruising anyway over the parks. Guess Disney gets to keep some of my money...

 

[jillgunter]

We went in October and used FP+, loved it. No problems.

We just bought DVC resale and closed end of Dec. Really bought it in late Oct, but they wanted to close in Dec. So from our stand point, no it did not hurt it. We wanted to buy because we love Disney. FP+ will get better for those that have had problems.

 

[jade1]

Totally agree Debbie, we love the convenience of knowing we can go to MK early, ride lots of things, go to our DVC resort for lunch and a rest or pool time.

Head over to Epcot and ride our booked Fastpass+ for headliners between 4pm and 6pm and then be able to make it easily to dinner.

With the old system no way we would have been able to do this.

Yep, we will not open a lot of park mornings-but we might AK and maybe one day at MK. Then our evenings will also be easily planned and much improved.

This is the spontaneity we will enjoy for our mornings.

 

[anna08]

We went in October and used FP+, loved it. No problems.

We just bought DVC resale and closed end of Dec. Really bought it in late Oct, but they wanted to close in Dec. So from our stand point, no it did not hurt it. We wanted to buy because we love Disney. FP+ will get better for those that have had problems.

But I think the system has just changed significantly now that everyone will be using FP+ (whether from home or in the park). I honestly think back in the fall I would never had figured out MDE or FP+ scheduling if it weren't for the Disboards. I picture Splash Mountain getting to be like a ressie at Be Our Guest in the future once everyone's on board. No?

 

[DisneyDiana]

After reading all the negativity on the boards, I thought I would hate FP+s but I loved it. We used to rush to get to the parks early to run to the FP machines after RD but with FP+ we didn't have to. I don't understand all the uproar about having to book FP+s 60 days in advance. We moved ours around at our convenience the day of. I liked being able to move my times around from my room. It was awesome actually. For the first time in 10 years of trips we had a sleep in day. I get up super early every day for work. Sleeping in on vacation was wonderful!

 

[dbs1228]

Even though we have fast pass plus can we use the paper FP? We are a group of 10 - some arriving and leaving at different times some do not have passes yet (we go in 2 1/2 weeks) and I just find this frustrating to have to decide our FP selection now. I have no clue what parks we will go to - we usually decide the night before. DH and I have AP voucher, 1- dd has 2 separate tickets that were non expire (she will only be there 2 park days) 2 - dd we think will get a AP which we have not ordered yet waiting to see if we get ressie for NYE and 3rd -DD will be getting AP again only if we get our NYE ressie, my niece has a will call for her AP. My aunt and uncle just ordered their passes last week from UCT so no numbers there, my brother FL resident has no idea what kind of pass he is getting since he is only going for 2 days ugh - my parents are the only ones with a physical 6 day park hopper. This will be a hoot entering every ones crap once we get down to Disney (it will be me doing it which is another thing to worry about doing!) Oh well we will see how it goes.

Any suggestions???? Will there be any FP+ a day or 2 prior if we plan our week the night we get there?