FP+ Details Are Out!

[whatsarahsaid]

We were actually told we could use the KTTW card for the traditional FP system in addition to our FP+. We also mentioned being able to use traditional FP with our KTTW card during our survey and how it didn't really give us a true representation of how a new FP+ system would work assuming traditional FP was eliminated.

 

[Marie17]

My husband and I were MagicBand testers last week and I CAN confirm we were able to use the FP+ associated with our MagicBands and ALSO the traditional FP system using the KTTW card we were issued in conjunction with our bands. I won't lie...it was a pretty awesome perk. Not sure it gave us a true representation of what a new FP+ system would be though. We made sure to communicate in our survey that only having 3 FP+ and completely doing away with traditional FP was NOT a good idea.

Thank you for being a tester! You seem to give Disney some great feedback on the test.

I agree with your last sentence.

I don't understand how it will all work out in the end but I just so want to be at ease with the new system.

 

[Redcon1]

The thing is that we, the "Disney elite", are not a substantial chunk of their paying customers. This new system could very well stink for those in the know, but work just dandy for average-joe tourist.

People are worried about how this new system is going to personally effect their vacations, and that is completely understandable. I don't care about average-joe's vacation, I care about MY vacation. It is very possible that this new system could drastically negatively impact my vacationing style, reduce the satisfaction I get during my vacation, and reduce the perceived value I get from my vacation BUT still be considered a success by both the Disney corporation and and "average-joe".

I have no doubt that this new system will work better for average-joe, who rolls up to the MK gates at 11 am from his off site hotel for his very first and one day only visit, with no prior knowledge or know-how, but I'm doubting it will work better for me.

The thing is that Disney doesn't care about me and my 12 fastpass-a-day habit. They care about the median tourist, they care about "average-joe". It completely makes sense, they are a large corporation, they have to cater to the middle, they have to shoot to improve the park experience for those with the medium level of knowledge and park usage.

I trust Disney to do the best for those median tourists, but I don't trust them to do the best for me, the Disney-elite, the superuser, the AP holder, etc, because that is not the way that their business model works.

The sad truth is what is best for the median tourist is not always the best for me and my vacation, and that is what I am worried about.

I agree in principle with what you said although I don't believe this will work dandy for "Joe Tourist". Joe Tourist has had what, 15 years or so to learn about regular FP and many still don't know about it, much less how to maximize usage of the system. I don't see FP+ being any easier to use for them. Instead, I think not only will this not be much of a benefit for those non-DISers, but as what we know now, seems to be a negative adjustment to make for those of us who are knowledgable FP users.

My main question is: What was so wrong with original FP that someone(s) felt like it needed to be "upgraded"?

 

[Angel Ariel]

You are so right about perspective. 9 FP's a day? Really? I can understand why Disney wants to change the system!

What's wrong with 9 FPs/day? People are using the system as it is..everyone has equal access to FPs. If the park is open from 8am to midnight, getting a FP every two hours would be 8 FPs...and in the morning, most FP return times are sooner than the 2 hr mark, so it's easier to get them in a shorter time. So I can easily see someone being able to get that many FPs in a day. This response seems to indicate that there's something wrong with people using the system as it is. If Disney wanted to limit the number of FPs a person could pull in a day, I'm pretty sure they could do that with the system they have now.

 

[Redcon1]

^

Totally Agree!

All these can be obtained by ANYONE!

 

[d1gitman]

New Coke has come up a few times but does not relate at all. the Coke analogy was only to show how one of the largest, most recognizeable brand names in the world had to do a complete 180....just noting it to show that while i am drinking the Disney Kool-Aid i do recognize that even the mightiest are capable of complete blunders on an epic scale...Disney sees increasing attendance and has one big question to answer: What is the maximum number of people we can serve and still give a "magical" experience riding the rides they want? This system will be adapted to allow the maximum number of happy customers, not the minimum number of really happy customers that some of us were under the current FP. More happy customers with less CM's is the goal. And this system will go along way to helping them make adjustments. i agree with this

.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

All these can be obtained by ANYONE!

Well... as long as so few people do this, of course...

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

My main question is: What was so wrong with original FP that someone(s) felt like it needed to be "upgraded"?

The expressed reason (on the earnings call I believe) is that they want to keep people in the parks longer to spend more money so if someone has reservations they will stay and spend.

I also think it was overused by the "insiders" and under utilized by the "average Joe"...which they can rectify with marketing to get the avg Joe's on board.

 

[ArwenMarie]

My main question is: What was so wrong with original FP that someone(s) felt like it needed to be "upgraded"?

Because it was free with park admission.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I also think it was overused by the "insiders" and under utilized by the "average Joe"...which they can rectify with marketing to get the avg Joe's on board.

They can rectify the marketing for the original FP too...that's not the reason they're doing this. If it was, they would have been making more conscious efforts to get "average Joe" on board over the last 10+ years. The same people who don't know the FP exists, or who think FP costs money like Universal's express pass are going to be the same with FP+...either not knowing it exists, or thinking it will cost them extra.

 

[rastuso]

New Coke has come up a few times but does not relate at all. Coke really blew it on an entirely new product with not enough market testing and had to COMPLETELY backtrack and cancel the product. Also, selling a retail drink is quite a bit different than this sytem. The drink is one formula. This product is endlessly variable. The product itself is not what people are complaining about, only the perceived limits on its use.

Disney hasn't been perfect, but I don't know of an instance where they had to do a 180 and completely cancel a major project after rollout. Anyone?

You are so right about perspective. 9 FP's a day? Really? I can understand why Disney wants to change the system!

Disney sees increasing attendance and has one big question to answer: What is the maximum number of people we can serve and still give a "magical" experience riding the rides they want? This system will be adapted to allow the maximum number of happy customers, not the minimum number of really happy customers that some of us were under the current FP. More happy customers with less CM's is the goal. And this system will go along way to helping them make adjustments.

And instead of this crap, Universal is trying to make customers happy by announcing new E tickets at an amazing pace. While Magic Kingdom is still inviting you to ride their newest E ticket, Splash Mountain!

Jason

 

[doconeill]

Because it was free with park admission.

Which, as we've been told, it still is...

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

Which, as we've been told, it still is...

I'm actually hoping I will be able to buy more FPs to supplement my 3 freebies.

I'd MUCH prefer they change nothing (except to rollback the end time enforcement rule, lol), but if this is the way they are determined to go then I simply want more FPs.

 

[Redcon1]

Agree with Angel Ariel again!

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, what makes Disney think those who don't use FP now are automatically going to start pre-planning and take advantage of FP+. Past experience proves otherwise.

Also, the current FP system already allows for folks to not wait in attraction lines and instead utilize that time to shop and eat. I don't see how FP+ is going to allow for MORE time for spending money. I'm thinking this time will be reduced by spending more of it in standby lines. Plus, guests only have so much money to spend anyway!

 

[doconeill]

I'm actually hoping I will be able to buy more FPs to supplement my 3 freebies.

I'd MUCH prefer they change nothing (except to rollback the end time enforcement rule, lol), but if this is the way they are determined to go then I simply want more FPs.

Yes...being able to buy (or include extra with resort stays) is an option they may explore down the road, but I don't think it is coming in the short term. They need to get this out there and judge the impact first.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, what makes Disney think those who don't use FP now are automatically going to start pre-planning and take advantage of FP+. Past experience proves otherwise.

And if this ends up being the case, then no big change, right? Except electronic vs paper? So no big deal (once IT issues are ironed out, and assuming some FP+ same day avail )!

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

Agree with Angel Ariel again!

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, what makes Disney think those who don't use FP now are automatically going to start pre-planning and take advantage of FP+. Past experience proves otherwise.

Also, the current FP system already allows for folks to not wait in attraction lines and instead utilize that time to shop and eat. I don't see how FP+ is going to allow for MORE time for spending money. I'm thinking this time will be reduced by spending more of it in standby lines. Plus, guests only have so much money to spend anyway!

I think Disney is hoping to push Joe to book FP+s when he used to not do anything.

Then he'll be "trapped" in the park, spending $ when he might ordinarily leave if lines got too long (and him being unaware of regular FP).

This is what they said. Not me, them.

 

[rastuso]

Yes...being able to buy (or include extra with resort stays) is an option they may explore down the road, but I don't think it is coming in the short term. They need to get this out there and judge the impact first.

I'd much rather pay for a bunch of FPs one day, hop the World, and not have to pay triple for what a motel (yes, value and moderate are really Motels) is actually worth.

Jason

 

[Angel Ariel]

And if this ends up being the case, then no big change, right? Except electronic vs paper? So no big deal (once IT issues are ironed out, and assuming some FP+ same day avail )!

Except that Disney is now making this involve pre-planning, as opposed to same day, in park planning. We do not know that there will be a same day FP+ like there is current FP. I do not want to have to pre-plan every aspect of my vacation, down to which ride I want to ride and when. I go on vacation to get away from that kind of scheduling, not embrace it.

 

[Redcon1]

And if this ends up being the case, then no big change, right? Except electronic vs paper? So no big deal (once IT issues are ironed out, and assuming some FP+ same day avail )!

Then why even change it in the first place. I much rather have Disney spend the money on new E-ticket attractions instead of messing around with a working system.