FP+ and Magic Bands at DL in the Future

[alisigns]

Hello all! I'm a WDW vet, planning my first DL trip for March of 2016. I'm wondering if anyone knows of plans to bring the FP+ or Magic Bands to DL. I really like the legacy FP system, but having tickets, reservations, PhotoPass+, etc. on our Magic Bands was amazing!!! It was so much less to keep up with and let everyone be responsible for their own things. Love the Magic Bands!!!!

Anyway, if there is a plan to bring them to DL that would be great. If not, it's still awesome! Just wondering if there's any word out there. Thanks.

 

[offwithyourhead]

From what I've heard, they *just* started testing in August for FP+/bands at DL, so it'll be a while coming. I really don't expect them to implement it by your trip, especially with the 60th still going on.

I really like the idea of the magicbands because it seems like a great idea to be able to scan your wrist and have your ticket, discounts for AP holders, photopass, etc all right there. I also like the idea for fastpass instead of spitting out a paper ticket, but I don't know how I feel about fastpass+. A lot of people seem to think this won't work in DL like it does in WDW, and that it would make the experience significantly worse for people instead of better. Perhaps within their testing, they'll make some tweaks to that so it can work. From what I'm hearing, the 60-day advance booking of rides seems to be what a lot of people don't think will work at DL.

 

[mom2rtk]

From what I've heard, they *just* started testing in August for FP+/bands at DL, so it'll be a while coming. I really don't expect them to implement it by your trip, especially with the 60th still going on.

I really like the idea of the magicbands because it seems like a great idea to be able to scan your wrist and have your ticket, discounts for AP holders, photopass, etc all right there. I also like the idea for fastpass instead of spitting out a paper ticket, but I don't know how I feel about fastpass+. A lot of people seem to think this won't work in DL like it does in WDW, and that it would make the experience significantly worse for people instead of better. Perhaps within their testing, they'll make some tweaks to that so it can work. From what I'm hearing, the 60-day advance booking of rides seems to be what a lot of people don't think will work at DL.

You might want to double check your facts on that. Neither FP+ nor magic bands are currently being tested at DLR. In fact, Tom Staggs has flat out said that magic bands are not coming to DL. Whether other components of MM+ make it to DLR remains to be seen.

They would have a lot of infrastructure issues to overcome before they could test or implement anything there (no wi-fi, no space for FP return lines at many attractions).

 

[grnflash]

From what I've heard, they *just* started testing in August for FP+/bands at DL, so it'll be a while coming. I really don't expect them to implement it by your trip, especially with the 60th still going on.

I really like the idea of the magicbands because it seems like a great idea to be able to scan your wrist and have your ticket, discounts for AP holders, photopass, etc all right there. I also like the idea for fastpass instead of spitting out a paper ticket, but I don't know how I feel about fastpass+. A lot of people seem to think this won't work in DL like it does in WDW, and that it would make the experience significantly worse for people instead of better. Perhaps within their testing, they'll make some tweaks to that so it can work. From what I'm hearing, the 60-day advance booking of rides seems to be what a lot of people don't think will work at DL.

I also haven't heard boo about any component of MM/FP+ being tested at DLR. And it's not the 60 day booking that is the concern. With only 2500 hotel rooms at DLR, the impact on ride access would be fairly minimal. It's the 30 day booking for AP's that becomes problematic. Also since that's who makes up the majority of DL guests it is hard to see where the profit comes from MM+ there. Pretty sure March is safe. Star Wars land though we'll see. But that's a long way off. Fingers crossed.

 

[MillauFr]

How could the reconfigure the queues at many of the rides even if they wanted to? Many of the rides in Fantasyland have barely any room for the regular queue.

 

[Troopers]

Hello all! I'm a WDW vet, planning my first DL trip for March of 2016. I'm wondering if anyone knows of plans to bring the FP+ or Magic Bands to DL. I really like the legacy FP system, but having tickets, reservations, PhotoPass+, etc. on our Magic Bands was amazing!!! It was so much less to keep up with and let everyone be responsible for their own things. Love the Magic Bands!!!!

Anyway, if there is a plan to bring them to DL that would be great. If not, it's still awesome! Just wondering if there's any word out there. Thanks.

Gosh, I hope not. I'm really dislike MDE/FP+/MB at WDW. If they tweaked it, maybe.

 

[taniahappy]

No, nothing.

 

[figment_jii]

In the very early summer there were rumors saying that FP+ would be tested at DLR in August, but nothing came of those rumors. As others have said, at this point neither FP+ nor MagicBands have made it to DLR at this point. While it is possible that at some point in the future, some version of FP+ or MagicBands may make it to DLR, that does not seem like it's going to happen in the near future.

 

[wilkeliza]

I don't think it will be there by 2016 but I bet FP+ will be there at some point. Even if it isn't the same way as in WDW they could easily go paperless.

Disneyland really needs to revamp their entrances. It takes forever to get through them the first time you go on a multiday ticket. I don't get why they don't upgrade the turnstiles to be like WDW and bring in the RFID tickets. It would be an appreciated update by many.

 

[tlovesdis]

I loved the Magic Band in WDW and would love it for DL only for room entrance at the DLH's and to pay for stuff in the parks, but not for FP+. I don't think that would ever work for DL!!

 

[Troopers]

I loved the Magic Band in WDW and would love it for DL only for room entrance at the DLH's and to pay for stuff in the parks, but not for FP+. I don't think that would ever work for DL!!

My issues with the MB is that it's not entirely reliable. We visited WDW twice this year and had issues with the MB both trips (park entrance, getting into rooms, paying for stuff). Also, we ended carrying everything with us anyways (as if we didn't have MBs). We had to pay for stuff with cash several times because the cart systems was down, had to carry our AP/DVC cards for the discounts, and our AP as a backup.

 

[offwithyourhead]

You might want to double check your facts on that. Neither FP+ nor magic bands are currently being tested at DLR. In fact, Tom Staggs has flat out said that magic bands are not coming to DL. Whether other components of MM+ make it to DLR remains to be seen.

They would have a lot of infrastructure issues to overcome before they could test or implement anything there (no wi-fi, no space for FP return lines at many attractions).

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2015/05/break...stem-this-summer-hong-kong-launching-in-2016/

"The Disneyland Resort in California will be conducting their very first tests for FastPass+ in August 2015."

I've seen this kind of statement on a few sites, mentioning the summer testing. If they are testing, it's behind the scenes. I didn't mean to imply that they were being tested for the general public. I've read multiple statements from Tom that seem to waffle back and forth on to what extent, if any, they will implement these systems in. Things can change, the answer can be an absolute no at one point but become a possibility later on.

If they're testing at all, they're doing just that, testing. Testing to see if anything has the potential to work, and if so, what, or what needs to be changed in part or in whole. I really don't expect them to just transplant the system WDW has as a whole over to DL because it would never work. Testing doesn't mean it's being released any time soon. Disney tests and plans for years before they even announce anything to the public.

 

[agamble]

As mentioned they have said no Magic Bands. FP+ in some form could come to Disneyland Resort in the future, but don't expect it to be the same thing as WDW. Disneyland is such a different culture that the WDW way of doing things doesn't always work for Disneyland. I personally would like it if they would have some kind of better reservation (FP) system for shows. I know many people complain that they cannot choose the color or time of their WOC and Fantasmic FPs. I think that this could easily be introduced in the parks over time, and I hope it is.

 

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

So far, all the "rumors" of the FP+ coming to DL are false. I wouldn't count on it being around in 2016.

 

[mom2rtk]

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2015/05/break...stem-this-summer-hong-kong-launching-in-2016/

"The Disneyland Resort in California will be conducting their very first tests for FastPass+ in August 2015."

I've seen this kind of statement on a few sites, mentioning the summer testing. If they are testing, it's behind the scenes. I didn't mean to imply that they were being tested for the general public. I've read multiple statements from Tom that seem to waffle back and forth on to what extent, if any, they will implement these systems in. Things can change, the answer can be an absolute no at one point but become a possibility later on.

If they're testing at all, they're doing just that, testing. Testing to see if anything has the potential to work, and if so, what, or what needs to be changed in part or in whole. I really don't expect them to just transplant the system WDW has as a whole over to DL because it would never work. Testing doesn't mean it's being released any time soon. Disney tests and plans for years before they even announce anything to the public.

It's a blog. So far it has proven to be nothing more than a rumor.

 

[Tyggress]

FP+ would be terrible for DL...coming from a local AP holder.
As a local, I like to go to DL on a whim sometimes with very little, if any, planning (sometimes only a day or two)....would be pointless for me to go if I couldn't ride anything because I didn't plan for that trip 2 months prior and pick my FP's. Lame. The locals issue at DL compared to WDW is what would make the system not work.

Magic Bands could be cool, though.

 

[maltdizzy]

I can see them moving to an electronic system, but I'm not sure about the pre-booked FP's.

Like others here, when we lived in the L.A. area, we had AP's and would just get up Sunday morning and decide to go to DL that day. I would say as many as half of DL guests are local and don't go with more than a day or two notice.

People never realize that adding FP to a ride...any ride...whether paper or FP+ has only made standby lines significantly longer. With WDW's wide-spread expansion of FP, wait times have gone through the roof.

 

[Troopers]

I believe WDW has approx 30,000? onsite rooms, whereas DLR has about 2,300 onsite rooms. Onsite DLR guests consists of a much smaller % of the total guests compared to WDW. I think that's part of reason MB (in the WDW form) will not exists at DLR.

 

[tlovesdis]

My issues with the MB is that it's not entirely reliable. We visited WDW twice this year and had issues with the MB both trips (park entrance, getting into rooms, paying for stuff). Also, we ended carrying everything with us anyways (as if we didn't have MBs). We had to pay for stuff with cash several times because the cart systems was down, had to carry our AP/DVC cards for the discounts, and our AP as a backup.

That's a bummer! I never had trouble with mine and loved the convenience of it! i did carry some cash with me just in case

 

[StormyCA]

Rumor (unsubstantiated) has it that the launch of the Disney Mobile app is the first foray into testing for an MDE/FP+ at DLR. More in the line of data gathering/statistics on usage as that first step. DL is a looonngg way from being ready to actually test MBs or FP+. No park wifi, no Mickey head swipe-thingies, no kiosks for new FP+s.

I'm sure DL will have some form of FP+ at some point, but I think it'll be very different than FP+ at WDW. FP+ as it is at WDW just wouldn't work at DL. I think there will be electronic kiosks, but the system will be the same as it is now. If there are 'advance reservation' FPs, I think they'll be for onsite guests and possibly Deluxe level and above AP holders. Otherwise, there will never be any FPs available for the more popular rides for in park guests walking up to a kiosk.