Fastpass+ Rumors?

[KatieCharlotte]

I'm very skeptical of this and if you can find the article I would appreciate it. The reason there is the 3 FP+ restriction at WDW is because so many of their parks are devoid of popular attractions.

I'm not a FP+ fan, but after the initial testing phase (which my family unfortunately had to experience), it is now possible to add more FP onto your magic band after using the first three, based on availability. A prebook limit is clearly necessary to spread out the fastpasses among all guests. While it's true that DL and DCA have more headliners per park than WDW, which spreads them out over four parks, any prebooking system would likely still have the same type of limit. It's even more critical at DL/DCA if Disney wants some fastpasses available for the higher percentage of guests who just don't plan ahead.

Hopefully, however, DL/DCA will not have prebooking at all. The only way this might happen is if Disney is committed to increasing the number of non-local guests at DL/DCA and decreasing the number of locals who likely don't spend as much. Maybe they think they can accomplish that with Star Wars and Marvel attractions. But so far I haven't been able to find any articles indicating that prebook FP+ is coming to Disneyland.

 

[mjallemand]

I wasn't crazy about having to plan out attractions six months ahead of time, at WDW, but the NFC usage was always nice. So somewhere in between would be best, IMO.

 

[Albort]

I wasn't crazy about having to plan out attractions six months ahead of time, at WDW, but the NFC usage was always nice. So somewhere in between would be best, IMO.

Disneyland i think is testing NFC. When it will be available is a different story though.

 

[nlm74]

Here's where I read you could possibly book in advance IF you were staying in a Disney Resort.
http://www.slashfilm.com/disneyland-rumors-fastpass/

Many additional Disneyland rides will have Fastpass added to them this spring, and while paper Fastpasses will remain at all attractions, people inside the parks will be able to use the new Disneyland App to reserve paperless Fastpass reservations downloaded onto their smartphone for any ride that has them available. There will be no plastic wristbands and no 90 day reservation windows for the Anaheim system – the existing legacy Fastpass operation will be expanded to additional rides and then overlayed with the App based system as an option. … The ability to reserve Fastpasses in advance of your visit won’t be available to day guests or Annual Passholders, although it’s planned to be an option for people staying at the Disneyland Resort hotels at first, and perhaps later for Good Neighbor hotels. The App will also require you to allow location tracking on your phone, as the App-based Fastpasses will only be available to users who are physically inside one of the two parks when they attempt to make a Fastpass reservation on the App.

Again, could just be rumors......all of this could!

 

[Frozen2014]

nlm74, thanks for the link. From what I hear, rides like Peter Pan sure could use a FastPass. Fingers crossed they add it in before next summer (lol..when we are coming).

Sounds like a good compromise. And although we won't be staying at a Disneyland resort, that is a smart money making move on Disney's part as it's an incentive for people to stay onsite.

 

[agamble]

nlm74, thanks for the link. From what I hear, rides like Peter Pan sure could use a FastPass. Fingers crossed they add it in before next summer (lol..when we are coming).

There really isn't room for Peter Pan and the other main Fantasyland rides to have FP. The queue areas are just too small and the area can get congested quickly. Plus, Peter Pan already has a steady 40+ minute wait during the day. If they added FP to it the wait would likely increase significantly. I really hope FP doesn't come to the Fantasyland rides. I think it would be a nightmare. It sounds like they'll be adding FP to Pirates again and Matterhorn finally though based on observations people have made at the parks. They could do FP at It's a Small World, not that it really needs it, but there is room there with two entrances. The subs would be another good one they have room to add FP too, but again it may increase the standby too much.

 

[ClaraOswald]

nlm74, thanks for the link. From what I hear, rides like Peter Pan sure could use a FastPass. Fingers crossed they add it in before next summer (lol..when we are coming).

Sounds like a good compromise. And although we won't be staying at a Disneyland resort, that is a smart money making move on Disney's part as it's an incentive for people to stay onsite.

There really isn't room for Peter Pan and the other main Fantasyland rides to have FP. The queue areas are just too small and the area can get congested quickly. Plus, Peter Pan already has a steady 40+ minute wait during the day. If they added FP to it the wait would likely increase significantly. I really hope FP doesn't come to the Fantasyland rides. I think it would be a nightmare. It sounds like they'll be adding FP to Pirates again and Matterhorn finally though based on observations people have made at the parks. They could do FP at It's a Small World, not that it really needs it, but there is room there with two entrances. The subs would be another good one they have room to add FP too, but again it may increase the standby too much.

I agree. I don't see how they could add FP to all of the Fantasyland rides. I just don't think it would be physically possible to create a separate queue for FP. I think "nightmare" is the perfect word for that.

 

[mom2rtk]

There really isn't room for Peter Pan and the other main Fantasyland rides to have FP. The queue areas are just too small and the area can get congested quickly. Plus, Peter Pan already has a steady 40+ minute wait during the day. If they added FP to it the wait would likely increase significantly. I really hope FP doesn't come to the Fantasyland rides. I think it would be a nightmare. It sounds like they'll be adding FP to Pirates again and Matterhorn finally though based on observations people have made at the parks. They could do FP at It's a Small World, not that it really needs it, but there is room there with two entrances. The subs would be another good one they have room to add FP too, but again it may increase the standby too much.

Yes. All of that. Yes.

 

[BriannaRuth]

Matterhorn would be nice but personally I hope they don't add FP to Pirates. The wait usually isn't bad and adding FPs would mean there's one more FP you have to fit in, blocking two hours out for something that it could be better used for, like Space, Indy, or Star Tours. And it would add to the stand-by time on a ride that just doesn't get that long of a wait unless it's crazy busy.

 

[Frozen2014]

There really isn't room for Peter Pan and the other main Fantasyland rides to have FP. The queue areas are just too small and the area can get congested quickly. Plus, Peter Pan already has a steady 40+ minute wait during the day. If they added FP to it the wait would likely increase significantly. I really hope FP doesn't come to the Fantasyland rides. I think it would be a nightmare. It sounds like they'll be adding FP to Pirates again and Matterhorn finally though based on observations people have made at the parks. They could do FP at It's a Small World, not that it really needs it, but there is room there with two entrances. The subs would be another good one they have room to add FP too, but again it may increase the standby too much.

Thanks for the comments. Too bad that they don't have physical room for a FP for Peter Pan as from the sounds of it, that one could use it. (Now that I think of it, I do recall that being mentioned on another post too). Doesn't Its a Small World have short lines? At WDW, it was always one of the shortest waits.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks for the comments. Too bad that they don't have physical room for a FP for Peter Pan as from the sounds of it, that one could use it. (Now that I think of it, I do recall that being mentioned on another post too). Doesn't Its a Small World have short lines? At WDW, it was always one of the shortest waits.

I could actually see the value of adding FP to IASW during the holiday overlay. Those lines get pretty long sometimes.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Any news on Fastpass+ yet?

I saw this tweet earlier and found it....interesting....

https://twitter.com/DisneyDragon/status/810198212191473664

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

AFAIK, it's called "Digital Fastpass" and will be barcode based. Readers will scan barcodes printed on your physical ticket media or displayed on your smartphone screen via the Disneyland app. It will not be RFID based and Magic Bands will not be involved in any way. It will only allow same-day ride reservations. Others can chime in, though this has been covered in more recent threads to this one.

Above in this legacy thread, some suggest DLR going its own way in this regard is to avoid making it difficult for the locals who visit DLR--who make up the majority of visitiors--to get same-day Fastpasses. Disney is also on record wanting to avoid in Anaheim the high infrastructure costs necessitated by the RFID/Magic Band-based system in Orlando.

The other side of the coin, of course, is that long-distance visitors will not find the same level of benefit--or anything near it--in DLR's Digital Fastpass system as they already do in WDW's New Technology/RFID system. DLR's system is aimed aquarely at locals, and essentially sends the message to long-distance visitors that they don't matter.

For some long-distance visitiors familiar with the WDW system, its deliberate absence in the Anaheim parks may enter into decisions about future visits. My partner and I decided not to renew our DLR APs and became WDW APs instead in part because of DLR's rejection of RFID technology and advance-planning tools. As it stands now with the difference in technology, advance-planning tools, and AP prices, for long-distance visitors visiting DLR is now both more expensive and less convenient than visiting WDW. Not so long ago, the opposite used to be true...

 

[ClaraOswald]

I looked back about 10 pages and couldn't find a recent thread on this. I always seem to have trouble with the search feature here so I just found this old post that I had started. Sorry if that wasn't the right things to do.

I am happy to hear it will likely be same-day only even though I am a long distance visitor. I hope we can book fastpasses once we enter the park without having to go to a FP kiosk and just get whatever time pops out, like how it is currently. Before I had a child, I didn't mind that sort of thing. But now with a toddler, it will be nice to pick what time we want to come back so we can avoid ending up with a FP we can't use.

Any ideas when this will go into effect? I hope soon so all the bugs can be worked out before our visit! Ha!

 

[mom2rtk]

AFAIK, it's called "Digital Fastpass" and will be barcode based. Readers will scan barcodes printed on your physical ticket media or displayed on your smartphone screen via the Disneyland app. It will not be RFID based and Magic Bands will not be involved in any way. It will only allow same-day ride reservations. Others can chime in, though this has been covered in more recent threads to this one.

Above in this legacy thread, some suggest DLR going its own way in this regard is to avoid making it difficult for the locals who visit DLR--who make up the majority of visitiors--to get same-day Fastpasses. Disney is also on record wanting to avoid in Anaheim the high infrastructure costs necessitated by the RFID/Magic Band-based system in Orlando.

The other side of the coin, of course, is that long-distance visitors will not find the same level of benefit--or anything near it--in DLR's Digital Fastpass system as they already do in WDW's New Technology/RFID system. DLR's system is aimed aquarely at locals, and essentially sends the message to long-distance visitors that they don't matter.

For some long-distance visitiors familiar with the WDW system, its deliberate absence in the Anaheim parks may enter into decisions about future visits. My partner and I decided not to renew our DLR APs and became WDW APs instead in part because of DLR's rejection of RFID technology and advance-planning tools. As it stands now with the difference in technology, advance-planning tools, and AP prices, for long-distance visitors visiting DLR is now both more expensive and less convenient than visiting WDW. Not so long ago, the opposite used to be true...

Not all long distance visitors think alike. We were WDW visitors for many years and only swapped away to DLR as our regular spot to escape the FP+ system. Some people actually like not having to schedule rides 2 months in advance. Some like it so much they will change destinations over it. It's very much a matter of personal preference. I know a fair number of other Disney regulars who swapped to DLR for that same reason.

So they might lose you if they don't add long term FP planning. But they will lose others if they do.

I really suspect that Disney's choice here has a lot more to do with the infrastructure changes required for a change to FP+ than it has to do with anything else.

 

[GatorChris]

I know a fair number of other Disney regulars who swapped to DLR for that same reason.

So they might lose you if they don't add long term FP planning. But they will lose others if they do.

Roll call: Gator Chris! That would be me you're talking about.

I still believe that WDW is a better vacation experience than DL. Yes, it costs more to get there, but I've always ponied up to go there....until FP+ arrived. Our last trip was 2012, right before FP+ ruined the magic. For me, Epcot is about the slow vibe. Getting in, taking your time, strolling, taking it easy. Now you have to plan 2 months out and worry about where you need to be at what time the second you walk in. I miss Epcot, but I don't miss what FP+ has made it.

It's so nice to go to DL, find out you have friends there that day, and not be locked into some awful FP plan that means you can't meet up. On our trip last month, we had plans on certain days to go to certain places. But we were able to just fly by the seat of our pants and go where our friends were. Nice! May FP+ never darken the doors of Disneyland.

Vote no for FP+ at DL.

 

[Winnowill]

Roll call: Gator Chris! That would be me you're talking about.

And me. Now, we live in Phoenix, so DLR is ALWAYS going to be easier for us. But we did WDW in April, 2014, and I agonized about the planning for MONTHS, stalking Anna & Elsa (this when they had been at Epcot with five+ hour waits - I got one of the first FP+ for their MK move) and the Be Our Guest ADR, particularly. Then we did DLR in August, 2015, and I agonized about planning that one in the same way...and then realized once we were there that I really didn't need to do that and we got to do so much more because of regular old FP. So when we went this past June, I just made a few ADRs two weeks ahead of time, and that was it. I love DLR so much more. Now we're APs.

 

[hjgaus]

With all the talk of this system happening now or later at least we will be aware of it & not surprised by it! I still think they want it to start when Star Wars
Land is ready but perhaps keep on delaying due to $$$ as the whole NEW security systems just happened.
I can only say "whatever " and not freak out about it! Life goes on !!
Enjoying VGC & Disney this year !!

 

[crazycatlady]

We took our first trip to DL in November and LOVED being able to use paper FPs again! The freedom of being able to go with the flow instead of being pinned down to ADRs and ride reservations that were made months ago was so wonderful. It is a huge part of the reason that we are considering a return trip next summer.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Not all long distance visitors think alike. We were WDW visitors for many years and only swapped away to DLR as our regular spot to escape the FP+ system. Some people actually like not having to schedule rides 2 months in advance. Some like it so much they will change destinations over it. It's very much a matter of personal preference. I know a fair number of other Disney regulars who swapped to DLR for that same reason.

So they might lose you if they don't add long term FP planning. But they will lose others if they do.

I really suspect that Disney's choice here has a lot more to do with the infrastructure changes required for a change to FP+ than it has to do with anything else.

I don't know why this is such an enduring assumption. You don't have to schedule rides two months in advance any more than you have to schedule ADR's six months in advance. Just because some people desire to ride 7DMT or FEA, or snag breakfast at CRT or dinner at Le Cellier so badly that they live and die by the 60- and 180-day reminders on their phones doesn't mean that you have to do that for the great majority of rides and restaurants at WDW. We often shuffle our FP+ shortly before or during our trips, never schedule ADR's more than a couple months out (since we never schedule our WDW trips more than a couple of months out), and are not shy about changing ADRs on the fly either. It isn't as if you get to do everything you want to do everytime you visit DL, either. In fact, without FP+, there's a much better chance that you won't get to the things you want to do most if you don't play your day right at DL. So the lack of flexibility you think the advance planning tools make you give up--which as I've said for the most part really isn't the case--is pretty much equaled by the random nature of a day at DL.

I agree with you, TDA is moving in a different technological direction solely because of cost. I don't think Disney would lose any locals if they rolled out the exact same New Technology as currently at WDW. I think uber-fans who post online (like us!) grouse about it a lot more than rank-and-file Angelenos would care. In fact, I think DLR locals would take to Magic Bands, and MDE, and FP+, etc., just as well as Orlando locals did. There are so few long-distance visitors to DLR anyway that their FP+ reservations two months out or their dinner reservations six months out would have much less of an impact at DLR than they do at WDW. I can definitely see locals taking to Magic Bands as a style trend in the same way that WDW fans did, and I can just as easily see DLR locals loving being able to plan a visit a few weeks in advance. The people who drop in after work to watch Fantasmic or catch the fireworks aren't the majority of DLR visitiors (although I can easily see them having a Magic Band or two hanging out in the consoles of their car just in case--just like Orlando locals.) The families who come to spend a day to celebrate a birthday or other special occasion are the majority of visitiors, and those are trips that don't happen at the last minute. There's no reason at all why such visitiors would turn their noses up at advance FP and dining reservations.

I know well the hell of Disneyland when it's painfully crowded, and given the smaller dimensions of its pathways and enormous number of its nearby AP holders, that happens IMO more regularly than it happens at MK or the other WDW parks. Those are the moments, when Space Mountain has a 90-minute line and no more Fastpasses, and I can't conceive of physically making it across the park to Blue Bayou, that I would most want to drop into MDE and change my day around. I can easily do that at WDW, and that's the biggest reason we changed home resorts. That's the kind of real flexibility you give up by dismissing the New Tech tools out of hand.