FastPass Plus Version 2.0 (you can get more than 3-- STARTS APRIL 28!)

[BuckeyeBama]

Dd people who report getting 6 or so fp in the old system avoid SB lines altogether or did they wait in some of those too? I feel like some people equate 3 fp with 3 rides total, but you can still always wait in line.

I did both - gathered FP- (as many as I could when in MK) - and rode SB (short lines where possible). But I only travel in slow seasons.

 

[cigar95]

I know of several people in the parks who tried this past weekend and it was not working yet!

 

[SuperRob]

Yep - for my trip in Sept I think that this rule change could once again allow me to use many more FP than 3. Depends - do they stop us at 4, or let us keep going so long as all are used.

After you USE your fourth, you can go back for another. Rinse and repeat. Basically, after your third pre-booked FP+ is used, you can then book one at a time for the rest of the day.

Also, TouringPlans has supposedly heard that you will be able to book from the app, not just the kiosks, but that's not confirmed yet.

My plan will be to schedule my FP+ selections for the busiest part of each day, and when we check for more, see if the evening shows are available. If it seems like those aren't all booked yet, we'll get another ride FP or two, then get one for a show while we eat dinner or something.

But hey, if that doesn't work out, no big deal. It'll be September and not super busy, so I'm sure it'll be fine.

 

[msdroz]

ugh I'm so annoyed that they make these big announcements and we just wait... and wait... and wait.....

I know it's a marketing ploy but why not just announce it when it's functional!

 

[SuperRob]

ugh I'm so annoyed that they make these big announcements and we just wait... and wait... and wait.....

I know it's a marketing ploy but why not just announce it when it's functional!

Because they're trying to kill the negative attention NOW.

 

[msdroz]

Because they're trying to kill the negative attention NOW.

lol Great Point!!

 

[brenda1966]

I think the FP+ lines are already affecting Rope Drop, at least at Epcot last week. We were in line for Soarin at 9:15 am and the standby was posted as 90 minutes. Thankfully it did not take that long, but it did take a solid 45 to get through the line and when we asked "is it really going to be 90" the CM said "it depends on how my FP we have coming in and if they wait until closer to the end of the hour". All the FP+ coming through really slowed down the standby line that first hour.

 

[myadventurebook]

I don't think those people ever used the standby line, it was Fastpass or nothing based on what many have shared.

I think so much has become confused in the arguing about how many fp's people used to use. Honestly, I think it all depended on party size, ages of those in the party, experience with WDW vacations and, obviously, the park. I really only think it matters for MK.

For example, when I was a kid and travelled with my family of five, we barely got anything done and used maybe 2-3 fp's at most. It was my parents, myself and my younger sisters.

We ranged in age from 4-12 during those years. We were way more interested in characters, table meals and browsing souvenir shops than riding as many rides as possible. We also moved slowly because of my younger sisters. We were new to Disney and not seasoned as far as maximizing our time. I think this entire scenario can be said for many visitors as first timers and families are the majority of WDW vacationers.

On the other hand, I started visiting with my BF in 2012. We had both been to WDW several times and knew how to navigate the parks. I did a lot of research to brush up on my knowledge and had a very set schedule so we could maximize our time. We also are mostly at CS because we were on a budget.

We move quick when we visit, and we ride many, many rides at MK. Here is what I can recall us doing from our most recent trip because I can remember basically what we were able to accomplish ride-wise:

MK FPs: BTMRR (2), Pooh (1 Bf/2 me), Peter Pan, Buzz (2), Splash/Space (only for bf-2), Barnstormer (1 bf/ 2 me), Mermaid

MK SB: BTMRR (2), IASW, Phillharmagic, various character meets, HM, POTC, Aladdin, Tea Cups, MI laugh floor, Carousel, COP, TTA

Yes, we rode Thunder 4x! We rode 3x on other trips, so that's not a stretch. Anyway, that just goes to show that two able-bodied 20 something's can get 12 FPs and ride almost 25 rides in one day. However, when I was younger we would barely do a tenth of that. It really depends on the party size, age and how much experience you have at WDW.

Also, I think this only matters for MK as I said. For the others I don't see why anyone would need more than three (or two really).

That was way longer than I intended it to be. Whoopsies......

 

[Angel Ariel]

Dd people who report getting 6 or so fp in the old system avoid SB lines altogether or did they wait in some of those too? I feel like some people equate 3 fp with 3 rides total, but you can still always wait in line.

I can't speak for others, but when we would get 5-7 fps in MK, we would also ride standby at various times throughout the day.

 

[limitdis]

Hopefully they will have the 4th rotating fastpass work this way:

use the 4th rotating fastpass ANYTIME...as long as it is within an hour or so from the other 3 advance scheduled fastpasses.


Instead of this:
using the 4th rotating fastpass ONLY AFTER all 3 advance fastpasses have been used. (this way doesn't make alot of sense)....and it punishes those who schedule later fastpasses...which sort of defeats the whole purpose of scheduling fastpasses in advance.

 

[khertz]

I guess I'm tempering my excitement until we start to get first-hand reports of what FP+ reservations are available for the additional slots. To put it bluntly, I'm not changing my afternoon and evening FP+ reservations for May until I know if it's worth burning them earlier in the day.

I totally agree! DH was all ready to change our FP's to the morning before we leave for our break on our May trip until I reminded him that they haven't even said when this will go into effect. I don't want to change the reservations we have now, which will be the most beneficial for us under the system as it is now, until we know when this FP+ change is going to go into effect. But we are going to have our backup plan figured out and ready to go if they do change the system before our trip.

 

[clsteve]

Hopefully they will have the 4th rotating fastpass work this way:

use the 4th rotating fastpass ANYTIME...as long as it is within an hour or so from the other 3 advance scheduled fastpasses.


Instead of this:
using the 4th rotating fastpass ONLY AFTER all 3 advance fastpasses have been used. (this way doesn't make alot of sense)....and it punishes those who schedule later fastpasses...which sort of defeats the whole purpose of scheduling fastpasses in advance.

The main thing the 4th does is accomplish 2 big Disney goals: a big Marketing win, since "Only Three!!" is now out of the discussion, and those morning slots will now be filled.

What's actually available for the 4th once they get this rolling, is the $64,000.00 question- especially since everyone can pre-book now.....

 

[Kate and Family]

Do we even know that the 4th FP will be for rides. Maybe it will be for parades (day and night), characters. wishes viewing, BOG lunch etc.

 

[KimK2006]

They announced the "changes" that might be coming right as it was time to book for our June trip. I stressed because it would completely change my strategy if you could book 4th after you used your 3rd. Since no dates were actually given, I went ahead with my original plan to book late morning and early afternoon.

 

[limitdis]

The main thing the 4th does is accomplish 2 big Disney goals: a big Marketing win, since "Only Three!!" is now out of the discussion, and those morning slots will now be filled.

What's actually available for the 4th once they get this rolling, is the $64,000.00 question- especially since everyone can pre-book now.....

the morning slots would be filled regardless. That's the beauty of the new system. If all evening fastpasses are filled...then people will start having to sign up for morning passes.

The only thing, "AFTER ALL 3 ARE USED" does is punish those people who schedule fastpasses in the evening, for rides, shows, whatever.

there is a better way that doesn't punish anybody.

 

[FlipHipster]

The main thing the 4th does is accomplish 2 big Disney goals: a big Marketing win, since "Only Three!!" is now out of the discussion, and those morning slots will now be filled.

What's actually available for the 4th once they get this rolling, is the $64,000.00 question- especially since everyone can pre-book now.....

Exactly this, agree 100%. They are giving us more without actually giving you more and placing extra demand on the system. In addition they have acknowledged that some rides FP capacity will be sold out in advance. I think the always hold 3 FP option would have been difficult for them to implement especially if they remove tiers and allow park hopping for the extra FP's.

As far as SB strategy, seems like the only really good one at this point is to try and time your SB rides for the least popular FP return times. Unfortunately, not sure if we know those yet. You can guess, RD, parade times, right before closing etc. Ultimately if we had an app that would let you know how many FP slots are still available for a given ride at a given time, you would pick the time slot with the most FP still available to ride SB. Not sure Disney has any desire to offer that type of service but it would be nice for timing SB rides.

The big unknown in all of this is guest behavior. Don't think anybody even Disney is fully aware of how guests will use the new system yet and how they will prioritize FP times but they have a better picture than any of us I am sure. I expect one day when its all working and tuned, we will see much more consistent wait times across the board.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

The big unknown in all of this is guest behavior. Don't think anybody even Disney is fully aware of how guests will use the new system yet and how they will prioritize FP times but they have a better picture than any of us I am sure. I expect one day when its all working and tuned, we will see much more consistent wait times across the board.

 

[clsteve]

the morning slots would be filled regardless. That's the beauty of the new system. If all evening fastpasses are filled...then people will start having to sign up for morning passes.

The only thing, "AFTER ALL 3 ARE USED" does is punish those people who schedule fastpasses in the evening, for rides, shows, whatever.

there is a better way that doesn't punish anybody.

Filled previously by the "had to take it" because the more desirable slots were filled. The "had to's" will now compete or be pushed out by the "want to's" - those who want earlier slots so they can get their 4th early enough when there might be decent availability for something worthwhile. That's a big, dynamic change from where it was before.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Filled previously by the "had to take it" because the more desirable slots were filled. The "had to's" will now compete or be pushed out by the "want to's" - those who want earlier slots so they can get their 4th early enough when there might be decent availability for something worthwhile. That's a big, dynamic change from where it was before.

I agree, but it will be the same people who would already have been in the park riding SB. Not many folks who would not have gotten up early before for FP- are going to get up earlier for FP+.

We have to wait and see, but I doubt that the parks will be any more "full" at 10 am than they were before, and folks will still be in line for the same rides. Loading capacity will not change. So it is just a question of which line they will be in - SB or FP. If more are in FP, fewer will be in SB.

 

[clsteve]

I agree, but it will be the same people who would already have been in the park riding SB. Not many folks who would not have gotten up early before for FP- are going to get up earlier for FP+.

We have to wait and see, but I doubt that the parks will be any more "full" at 10 am than they were before, and folks will still be in line for the same rides. Loading capacity will not change. So it is just a question of which line they will be in - SB or FP. If more are in FP, fewer will be in SB.

The big difference will be to early SB if the FP's weren't getting completely reserved that early. Now, the full complement of FP riders will be going through. You're right, well have to wait and see what this does to SB early in the day.