FP+ Details Are Out!

[WillAustin]

I do not believe people will choose fireworks and parade viewing when it costs them an opportunity to ride a headliner. Of course it's hard to say for sure because they have not yet tested it that way. But CM reports from this last test indicate they were disappointed in the amount of these options chosen.

That's interesting. I remember after the first tests they said they were surprised how many people were picking parades and fireworks.

But those were the tests with the tiers...

 

[mesaboy2]

That's interesting. I remember after the first tests they said they were surprised how many people were picking parades and fireworks.

But those were the tests with the tiers...

I hear that fireworks and parade selections during the recent test evolution was downright paltry, and those that actually showed up to claim them were paltrier still.

 

[xipetotec]

So even though I get my butt out of bed and get to the parks, I still wouldn't have access to the better FP times on the decent attractions? I would STILL have to check my smart phone all day waiting for things to start showing up?

That is a game I guarantee you with 100% certainty I would not be playing. Because I would not be at Disney.

Maybe next Black Friday I could talk Best Buy into holding one of those $200 huge flat screen TVs for when I show up later after sleeping in. I'm sure the people who camped out all night wouldn't notice or mind.

If I could "upvotE" this like on reddit, I would!! this has always been my argument, even back when there was talk about making fastpass a "resort guest only" or "pay" experience like it is at other theme parks/resorts.

Fastpass was great because for those people who are die-hard enough to be at the parks, go to the attractions first thing, get those fastpasses, they "deserve" the ride-on. I guess arguments will now come that the "die hards" can still show up first thing and get there before anyone else. But it's not *just* about being there first thing in the morning. it's about the effort to get those fastpasses.

Okay, so what's wrong with making fastpasses easier to get? Well nothing REALLY obviously. Except that with this system, I can get a bunch of fastpasses ( 3 per day PER PERSON... ) and *maybe* I'll go. *maybe* I'll even show up in the parks. If I choose not to, fastpasses no one else can use.

So okay, that can happen even with people in-park. You got a fastpass, decided against it and you don't take it. The odds are much lower though that fastpasses will get "wasted" if you at least have to BE in the park to get it.

This also takes away a little bit of a "magic maker" for us. We travel in a large group. and it's happened many times that someone in our group has backed out of an attraction we had fastpasses for. If you can imagine the look on a father/son mother/daughter or even a whole family waiting in a really long line when we hand them our "extra" fastpasses and tell them to just go on and ride.... it IS magic.

 

[momof2n2]

So even though I get my butt out of bed and get to the parks, I still wouldn't have access to the better FP times on the decent attractions? I would STILL have to check my smart phone all day waiting for things to start showing up?

That is a game I guarantee you with 100% certainty I would not be playing. Because I would not be at Disney.

Yup.
Not. Gonna. Happen. Here. Either.

(She said as she picked up her vacation dollars and went_________.)

 

[d1gitman]

But, that would mean that 100% of all guests who wanted to pre-book FP+ would only be able to try for the very limited spots available for parades, fireworks, character m&g or other special events.

yes, but what % of guests in teh park are seeing these events (probably a high %) and special viewing areas can be taped or roped off sections, not necesarily a structure. so i think they could have a good amount of area available for prebooked viewing.

 

[Planogirl]

What would be the advantage of signing up for the fireworks in MK? We never had trouble seeing Wishes from many areas in the park and often just stop for a few minutes to watch.

As for the parades, does anyone know where these special areas are?

 

[ArwenMarie]

Hmm, I think people will use FP+ for viewing fireworks once it gets into full operational mode. People pay quite a sum of money for the Wishes dessert party, for Illuminations cruises, for whatever that Fantasmic dinner package is, premiums on theme-park-view hotel rooms, etc.

I could see a family using at least a few of their FPs for a week's vacation on fireworks viewing locations at the different parks.

 

[d1gitman]

So even though I get my butt out of bed and get to the parks, I still wouldn't have access to the better FP times on the decent attractions? who says it that to some extent it isn't that way now with current FP. i'm not saying all FP+'s distributed in the AM would be for what many of us consider to be non-desirable return times, but i could see them working at filling up the voids. I would STILL have to check my smart phone all day waiting for things to start showing up? with the ability to change FP+'s, that will pretty much put us all in motion to monitoring FP+ change options. If we choose a 2:00 space mountain and as we are working our way thru MK and do something spontaneous that might change our desire for a 2:00 return time for SM, we would likely check to see if there was a different opening available.
That is a game I guarantee you with 100% certainty I would not be playing. Because I would not be at Disney. do you check your smartphone now for wait times and return times to strategize? the abillity to change attractions & times wiht FP+ is just a more flexible option. OR you can just live with your first choice just as we live with whatever the current FP system is spitting out to us with no ability to make changes.
Maybe next Black Friday I could talk Best Buy into holding one of those $200 huge flat screen TVs for when I show up later after sleeping in. I'm sure the people who camped out all night wouldn't notice or mind.

ahh, but even best buy has a rewards program that grants special access to "black friday" for members and yes, there is a rewards level based on how much you have spent.....

 

[ArwenMarie]

There is nothing better about this FP+ system versus the current FP. Will it be better in some ways for some folks on some things? Sure, maybe. But overall, nope.

Disney built FP+ so they can monetize something that was previously free with park admission.

JMHO of course

 

[jade1]

yes, but what % of guests in teh park are seeing these events (probably a high %) and special viewing areas can be taped or roped off sections, not necesarily a structure. so i think they could have a good amount of area available for prebooked viewing.

IMO only Fantasmic would be worth a FP+.

Wishes only if they rope of the entire front of the castle out to the sidewalks, put down chairs and serve comp drinks.

Illuminations only if the rope off an area with the wind behind them that night, put in chairs and serve drinks.

 

[d1gitman]

I believe it was that great statesman, Colonel Harlan Sanders,
who once stepped up to the microphone, cleared his throat and said....


"Leave the FP system, the heck, ALONE!"

but then he went on to sell his FP system and it was rebranded FP+

 

[jade1]

ahh, but even best buy has a rewards program that grants special "black friday" events and access to the store for members and yes, there is a rewards level based on how much you have spent.....

Not only that-BB, Target and Walmart this year rolled out the same "door buster" deals at different intervals, mid AM and noon being one.

Now they have CYBERMONDAY, hmm the same thing only at your finger tips-what a concept.

 

[Robo]

As for the parades, does anyone know where these special areas are?

They tested the MK parade viewing in the center section of Town Square, around the flagpole.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Fastpass was great because for those people who are die-hard enough to be at the parks, go to the attractions first thing, get those fastpasses, they "deserve" the ride-on. I guess arguments will now come that the "die hards" can still show up first thing and get there before anyone else. But it's not *just* about being there first thing in the morning. it's about the effort to get those fastpasses.

On that note, how about our family that will spend 14 to 16 hours in MK in one day. We don't like the fact that a family that will only spend 6 hours in the park will get the same amount of FP+s as our family. This is what will probably happen in our family when all of this goes through. We will be at RD and ride all we can in the morning with the hopefully shorter lines which remains to be seen. We will hopefully have our 3 FP+s set for late afternoon/early evening (along with everyone else!) and then head out of the park for a late dinner somewhere off property. I see FP+s actually decreasing the time we will spend in the parks. We will not be using the extra time to shop! We were there the second full week of June and was able to pull FPs until well into the evening. This MAY not be the case with FP+. I said may!!!

 

[rastuso]

Who in their right mind would use one of only 3 FP+s that they were going to get one day on fireworks or Fantasmic 60 days out, not having any idea if it would be raining? Oh that's right, it never rains in the evening in Florida, or in the afternoon during parade time.

But I'm sure, if you watch the weather, you can then switch that FP+ for a late afternoon TSMM a few days out, like everyone is planning. I'm sure those will still be available. If not, you can always FP+ the Great Movie Ride!

Imagine the conversation we'd be having instead, if they had announced a new E ticket in every park, and they were also switching to the existing RFID technology places like Great Wolf Lodge have been using for almost a decade.

Jason

 

[xipetotec]

On that note, how about our family that will spend 14 to 16 hours in MK in one day. We don't like the fact that a family that will only spend 6 hours in the park will get the same amount of FP+s as our family. This is what will probably happen in our family when all of this goes through. We will be at RD and ride all we can in the morning with the hopefully shorter lines which remains to be seen. We will hopefully have our 3 FP+s set for late afternoon/early evening (along with everyone else!) and then head out of the park for a late dinner somewhere off property. I see FP+s actually decreasing the time we will spend in the parks. We will not be using the extra time to shop! We were there the second full week of June and was able to pull FPs until well into the evening. This MAY not be the case with FP+. I said may!!!

you know, you raise a good point from a marketing/money standpoint!!!!!

*for us*, we would get a fastpass, maybe ride another ride in the mean time, eat lunch, shop. So now if this is supposed to help us plan our day better and guarantee that special time on a ride. I guess we'll be able to plan our movements throughout the park and not spend so much time in gift shops and eating.

 

[d1gitman]

On that note, how about our family that will spend 14 to 16 hours in MK in one day. We don't like the fact that a family that will only spend 6 hours in the park will get the same amount of FP+s as our family. This is what will probably happen in our family when all of this goes through. We will be at RD and ride all we can in the morning with the hopefully shorter lines which remains to be seen. We will hopefully have our 3 FP+s set for late afternoon/early evening (along with everyone else!) and then head out of the park for a late dinner somewhere off property. I see FP+s actually decreasing the time we will spend in the parks. We will not be using the extra time to shop! We were there the second full week of June and was able to pull FPs until well into the evening. This MAY not be the case with FP+. I said may!!!

hopefully the key to your scenario is that they will allow same day FP+ in addition to the initial 3 prebooked FP+'s. otherwise, yes, those who do marathon days will be shorthanded and be stuck with standby lines. of course, maybe stand by lines will actually improve...everything is yet to be seen.

i could see where maybe the whole 3 FP+ prebook thing is being interpreted as going to be 3 FP+ only when maybe it will be a max of 3 FP+ prebooked but then allowedo add FP+ as a FP+ is used up, just not allowed to exceed more than 3 FP+ bookings at a time. if that is the case, it could be great, cause as it is now, we are only allowd 1 FP at a time and no stacking of FP's for late returns. it alsow would make it so that if you plan to be in the park all day, it's best to get your FP+'s for earlier slots so that you can keep adding more as the day goes on. in this scenario, i would think going RD and doing stand by would be optimal wiht using the 3 FP+'s up during late morning mid day so that more can be added in afternoon/evening slots. again, that is IF they allow more FP+'s to be had.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Not only that-BB, Target and Walmart this year rolled out the same "door buster" deals at different intervals, mid AM and noon being one.

I stood in line to get my DS a Nook at midnight at Wal-Mart this past Black Friday. Along with many other people. They didn't keep half of their special stock, turn away those at the end of the line and start selling the rest of the stock of Nooks again at 8:00 a.m. for that special pricing.

I don't think anyone here would be happy if they couldn't find a FP+ for their favorite ride at a time that works best for them to only see the time you wanted open up to someone that just walked into the park in the late afternoon after you have used up your FP+s. This is assuming we are only allowed 3 FP+s.

 

[rastuso]

On that note, how about our family that will spend 14 to 16 hours in MK in one day. We don't like the fact that a family that will only spend 6 hours in the park will get the same amount of FP+s as our family. This is what will probably happen in our family when all of this goes through. We will be at RD and ride all we can in the morning with the hopefully shorter lines which remains to be seen. We will hopefully have our 3 FP+s set for late afternoon/early evening (along with everyone else!) and then head out of the park for a late dinner somewhere off property. I see FP+s actually decreasing the time we will spend in the parks. We will not be using the extra time to shop! We were there the second full week of June and was able to pull FPs until well into the evening. This MAY not be the case with FP+. I said may!!!

But Disney looks at it this way: the folks spending 6 hours paid the same as your family spending more than double that time. Your family is the problem with them running out of ride slots on all their rides. Nevermind that Splash Mountain was the last major ride at the MK.

It's clear Disney wants to push everyone into the "go to the park, return to the resort for a swim and nap, hit dinner somewhere, and return to a park for a couple hours at night" group. I don't pay nearly $100 a day to spend hours traveling around, and taking naps, or swim in a pool I can swim in on a day I don't pay for park entry.

But since Disney won't spend money on new rides, they must enforce FP+ to limit everyone's rides. They can't limit your park time, without creating a huge revolt, but they CAN enforce limits on your fun, under the guise of "awesome new technology".

That is what they are doing. The parades/fireworks/B ticket FP+s are all just a red herring to make you feel like things are the same.

Jason

 

[jade1]

Who in their right mind would use one of only 3 FP+s that they were going to get one day on fireworks or Fantasmic 60 days out, not having any idea if it would be raining?

Jason

We would never FP+ any night shows except Fantasmic-and even then we will wait and see how Fantasmic shakes out from feedback on the DIS (if it is really sold out, or even needed). But lets assume it sells out, and leaves the stand by at over an hour and it always gets cut off as well.

Then we would schedule Fantasmic (OK maybe we are not in our right mind).

We have never been rained out of Fantasmic and have seen it at least 50 times. But we also do not care as much about other attractions, so its worth the risk to us-and as you say, we can monitor changes if we want.

Our family rates Fantasmic far higher than TSM, and the highlight of DHS.