FP+ Details Are Out!

[Cafeen]

This was the key piece of info I was missing, since the last time I was there (2009 or 2010), the media wasn't RFID in any way.

I see you are in Mobile, AL. As a side note, I'm a native Alabamian, and my girlfriend and I are getting married in Orange Beach on 9/21 before heading down to WDW on 9/25.

They started adding the RFID to keys last year. I know halfway through my trip, the RFID reader on my resort door was added. The key itself already had the "chip" so it just worked.

Congrats on the upcoming wedding! I'm not a native down here . I've only been in the south for about 4 years, previously from New Hampshire. It's a bit of a change.

while i agree, i also disagree based on the following.

1) Disney can control how much prebooking is available just like they do for ADR's and resort reservations. It is standard practice to not let it all out at once but to space things out. I highly doubt they will all prebookings to be a high percentage of the total available FP+. I would think that the ability to be spontaneous with doing same day FP+ and changing them throughout the day is the real goal, not the prebooking.

2) the biggest difference i see between FP+ and current FP is that FP+ will provide realtime changes. the current FP is based on fixed amount of passes alloted, used or not. the only way to make adjustments throughout the day with current FP are manual by means of monitoring wait times. FP+ will provide constant, instant data and the system can make adjustments continuously. think of the 'jobs board' in the Bee Movie.

1) They do release all ADRs ahead of time though. While they're not all scooped up 180 days in advance, the super popular will be booked and there's only a slight chance of getting a walk-in. So, it's not really that far off to think that the entire inventory of FP+s could be released for prebooking at 60days in advance, and that headliners could very well have their entire FP+ allotment accounted for ahead of time. Which direction they go, remains to be seen, of course, but it's not out of the question to release them all.

2) This could theoretically be in place now. The return times are computer controlled, just with no tracking of actual returns, it would be hard to judge changing scenarios. Not sure how S/B wait times would be tracked any differently via FP+? Unless you mean the FP return time could be updated dynamically or on the fly? Or even, decreasing availability based on longer than predicted S/B lines? That third one, assuming there is still availability, is something I could foresee (though, FP+ isn't truly needed for this, nor is tracking FP returns even).

From my reading, this article does not mention non-resort guests who are not annual passholders. We purchase our park tickets through Disney using our Disney Visa. Would we be able to make FP+ reservations sixty days out?

The assumption is, as it stands now:
1) On-site ticket holders may book at 60 days before date of check-in and may book up to 10 days worth of FPRs (FastPass Reservations... it's the new acronym that I'm making up!)
2) Off-site ticket holders may book at 60 days before date of visit.
3) AP Holders staying off site... is up in the air. Either they'll follow the On-site, or the off-site above.

I still don't see the point of the change. Disney wants to make money and make people eager to return. I can't see this making people enjoy their visits more. I think the ADR system works for Disney because making it difficult to get something makes people want it more -- they feel happy to have snagged the coveted reservation, regardless the cost -- and it gets people to commit early to sit down dining when they might make a different choice at the park. But how do they benefit from letting people book fastpasses early?

There's a difference too between ADRs and attractions. Not everyone is going to want to dine at a certain restaurant on their trip, and there are over 100 different restaurants to choose from. Further, not everyone will even dine at a TS that accepts ADRs either. Lastly, of the subgroup that does dine at TS, most only dine at 1 or 2 per day.

For attractions though, the vast majority will want to do each one at least once during their stay. Added to that, a large number desiring to hit up several attractions multiple times during the stay. And a subset of them wanting to hit up the headliners multiple times during a single day. All this changes the demand for FPRs to where you're picking and choosing within the course of a day, rather than simply attempting to fill a 1-2 ADR per day schedule. (And this isn't taking into account the tier or limited attraction count (e.g. "Can only get a FP for each attraction once per day") that is possible.)

I should really try and get some work done, rather than writing these books....

 

[Quincy Simone]

See, this still doesn't quite clear it all up for me:



From reading the above, it seems that it's talking about modifying FP+ reservations at one park. It says nothing about using regular FP at a different park. *sigh* Trying to understand this new system is making me feel stupid.

The regular FPs will be completely replaced by FastPass+, so there will not be any other FPs besides the three allocated to you by the new system. HTH.

 

[Quincy Simone]

From my reading, this article does not mention non-resort guests who are not annual passholders. We purchase our park tickets through Disney using our Disney Visa. Would we be able to make FP+ reservations sixty days out?

In answer to non-resort guests:

9. Will MyMagic+ be available to non-Walt Disney World Resort guests?

Yes. Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels, and Annual Passholders will receive a MagicBand, as well as those guests who purchase a photography package. Guests who stay at non-Disney hotels will receive an RFID enabled ticket with features of touch to enter the park, touch to redeem FastPass+ and touch to pay. These guests can participate in My Disney Experience and purchase a MagicBand if they wish.

 

[ghtx]

The regular FPs will be completely replaced by FastPass+, so there will not be any other FPs besides the three allocated to you by the new system. HTH.

We don't know that yet. I suspect that's not true.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

The regular FPs will be completely replaced by FastPass+, so there will not be any other FPs besides the three allocated to you by the new system. HTH.

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Hm. They want you to buy the park hopper option, but with this new system they'll be penalizing you for doing so? Not good business savvy.

 

[DaisyDew]

Exactly -

Logic tells me get the FP for later in the day - still make rope drop and take advantage of the low crowds and be able to ride later in the day with FP as crowds grow!

Everyone will be trying to get FP+ slots for later in the day. Problem is, there are a limited amount. So lots of people are going to be unhappy.

 

[Quincy Simone]

We don't know that yet. I suspect that's not true.

Right, I was just stating what I had read on the wdwmagic.com article.

FASTPASS+ will replace FASTPASS. Paper based FASTPASS will no longer be available once FASTPASS+ is fully rolled out.

 

[ghtx]

The regular FPs will be completely replaced by FastPass+, so there will not be any other FPs besides the three allocated to you by the new system. HTH.

We don't know that yet. I suspect that's not true.

Right, I was just stating what I had read on the wdwmagic.com article.

That article never says (nor has anything official ever said, AFAIK) that you are unable to get more FPs in addition to the 3 per day that you can pre-book.

 

[Quincy Simone]

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Hm. They want you to buy the park hopper option, but with this new system they'll be penalizing you for doing so? Not good business savvy.

It does seem that way. But, if only one park can be FPed, then the park hoppers go to other parks, creating longer standby lines--more 'roamers' who frequent gift shops, restaurants, etc.

 

[BuzzBelleMom]

I should really try and get some work done, rather than writing these books....

But without these books (which I really appreciate!), I would have to do housework.

 

[Quincy Simone]

That article never says (nor has anything official ever said, AFAIK) that you are unable to get more FPs in addition to the 3 per day that you can pre-book.

That was from a full MyMagic+ 'details' article. I understand that some of it is still speculation.

 

[ExBellhop]

I keep running this weird math over in my head. So, now I'm going to share it, and everyone will be able to see why I went into video production (no math) as opposed to engineering (mucho math).

All of my thoughts are based on a daily attendance of 10,000. Obviously, it may be larger, but 10K is a nice round number with which to do math. Fact.

So, with the current system, I can pull about 6 FPs on a given 12 hour day. Now, let's say every single person at the park (10K) pulls 6 FPs. That is 60,000 FPs floating around daily, though it may vary depending on participation.

Now, with FP+, if we're looking at 3 FPs per day MAX, then the theoretical number of FPs will never EVER exceed 30,000. Obviously, in this example, that is half as many, meaning less people coming through Fast Pass lines throughout the day.

From another angle, currently (again, given 10K attendance) in a 12 hour day, you'll see 500 FPs being used per hour, spread across all attractions. With the FP+, that number drops to 250 FPs hourly. On an attraction that pulls 750-1000 ppl/hr, that seems like it will make an impact.

Therefore, I hypothesize that we may see wait times on the standby side that are more reminiscent of a world before Fast Pass (you know, the 80's. your hair was awesome then. so were your neon leggings. *gggrrroowwwl*).

Anyway, I think this theory has merit. But it's OK to go back to hating the unknown, too

ExBellhop

 

[Shaden]

That was from a full MyMagic+ 'details' article. I understand that some of it is still speculation.

Indeed I would think thqt once FP+ is rolled out, paper fp will be gone. I know the article says so, even if its "speculation" ... it does seem to be basedon a source.


This system is going to be terrible, for every advantage it gives a few people I think for the vast majority this will not work well.

 

[Shaden]

great merrit, but what we really need are actual park attendence numvers and ride capacity numbers.

How many people at MK per day, how many people on Space Mountain per minute/hour. The we could guess how packed or not, the majors will be.

I keep running this weird math over in my head. So, now I'm going to share it, and everyone will be able to see why I went into video production (no math) as opposed to engineering (mucho math).

All of my thoughts are based on a daily attendance of 10,000. Obviously, it may be larger, but 10K is a nice round number with which to do math. Fact.

So, with the current system, I can pull about 6 FPs on a given 12 hour day. Now, let's say every single person at the park (10K) pulls 6 FPs. That is 60,000 FPs floating around daily, though it may vary depending on participation.

Now, with FP+, if we're looking at 3 FPs per day MAX, then the theoretical number of FPs will never EVER exceed 30,000. Obviously, in this example, that is half as many, meaning less people coming through Fast Pass lines throughout the day.

From another angle, currently (again, given 10K attendance) in a 12 hour day, you'll see 500 FPs being used per hour, spread across all attractions. With the FP+, that number drops to 250 FPs hourly. On an attraction that pulls 750-1000 ppl/hr, that seems like it will make an impact.

Therefore, I hypothesize that we may see wait times on the standby side that are more reminiscent of a world before Fast Pass (you know, the 80's. your hair was awesome then. so were your neon leggings. *gggrrroowwwl*).

Anyway, I think this theory has merit. But it's OK to go back to hating the unknown, too

ExBellhop

 

[WillAustin]

I would think that the ability to be spontaneous with doing same day FP+ and changing them throughout the day is the real goal, not the prebooking.

Based on some of the public statements made by management, it seems the real goal is to lock people in with pre-planning so they stay in a Disney park instead of deciding to go somewhere else spontaneously.

 

[mummabear]

If you need to have a Disney experience account to do FP+, wouldn't it make sense to have the dining reservations tied to the same account? I wouldn't put it past Disney to miss that but maybe it will see that you have a reservation at 4:30 and give you times that are earlier than that for your FPs.

Yes and no not and adr but MDE doesnt hold bookings for BBB or PL

 

[Shaden]

That article never says (nor has anything official ever said, AFAIK) that you are unable to get more FPs in addition to the 3 per day that you can pre-book.

True ... wonder how this will pan out, I'd wager if I had to only the 3 per day, but would be neat to see more

 

[WishingMom]

Fabulous. Can't wait to hear when Canadians will get the luxury of being able to access the MDE site.

I've downloaded the app from the App Store, seems to work for me, unless I'm missing something. It does show my reservation, etc, etc, etc!

 

[Dacky619]

Yes and no not and adr but MDE doesnt hold bookings for BBB or PL

Is it that difficult to remember what days you have special events booked? I wouldn't book morning FPs at Epcot if I had a KTTK tour at MK. People manage to book ADRs and BBB/PL without having them on the same account.

 

[wookiebeck]

I keep running this weird math over in my head. So, now I'm going to share it, and everyone will be able to see why I went into video production (no math) as opposed to engineering (mucho math).

All of my thoughts are based on a daily attendance of 10,000. Obviously, it may be larger, but 10K is a nice round number with which to do math. Fact.

So, with the current system, I can pull about 6 FPs on a given 12 hour day. Now, let's say every single person at the park (10K) pulls 6 FPs. That is 60,000 FPs floating around daily, though it may vary depending on participation.

Now, with FP+, if we're looking at 3 FPs per day MAX, then the theoretical number of FPs will never EVER exceed 30,000. Obviously, in this example, that is half as many, meaning less people coming through Fast Pass lines throughout the day.

From another angle, currently (again, given 10K attendance) in a 12 hour day, you'll see 500 FPs being used per hour, spread across all attractions. With the FP+, that number drops to 250 FPs hourly. On an attraction that pulls 750-1000 ppl/hr, that seems like it will make an impact.

Therefore, I hypothesize that we may see wait times on the standby side that are more reminiscent of a world before Fast Pass (you know, the 80's. your hair was awesome then. so were your neon leggings. *gggrrroowwwl*).

Anyway, I think this theory has merit. But it's OK to go back to hating the unknown, too

ExBellhop

A nice start. And as an engineer, I see the equation with ALOT more variables. Not everyone pulls 6 like most of us on the DIS know how to do. We even know which ones to pull and what order. Attendance appears to keep going up up up. No way the 80's will be back.

So what if in your example the average is really only 2 per person. You use 6 fp's and Joe-first-time-foreign-visitor-with-10-family-members-thinks-fp-costs-money pulls none. The allocation of 3 per person may increase the total number of FP's (boy, I hope not).