FP+ Details Are Out!

[ArwenMarie]

It could also be more along the lines of "The system itself lets you have 4, but availability may be limited to fewer" (which, is essentially the same thing )

They can either throw all the FPs into one bucket, and then let natural availability play out. Or make official tiers. It seems like they are going with the first option, which makes sense. It's not their fault two of your FPs are for two low-demand rides, the others just ran out.

But yeah, same difference.

 

[g-dad66]

Usage of "up to" can be something of a weasel phrase. It doesn't guarantee anything. It's like saying, "up to 50% off everything", but you'll find most things are nowhere near 50% off, or "up to 3 days" on your smartphone battery, but only if you never actually use it for anything for three days....

Yes, it gives WDW the flexibility which I'm sure they want (since even they probably don't know exactly how this is going to work out).

As precedent, I note:
For years, evening extra magic hours were listed as "up to 3 hours" -- which seemed strange since they were always 3 hours, UNTIL....

they are now 2 hours (for which "up to 3 hours" was not a misnomer).

 

[magicbob]

My only point that if you make a statement like that there must be a condition under which it is true

Not necessarily. If you interpret the phrase literally, maybe, but we are speaking lawyerese here. I stand by my assertion that this phrase only guarantees no one can ever reserve MORE than 4, but does not guarantee that anyone WILL be able to reserve 4.

As precedent, I note:
For years, evening extra magic hours were listed as "up to 3 hours" -- which seemed strange since they were always 3 hours, UNTIL....

they are now 2 hours (for which "up to 3 hours" was not a misnomer).

Exactly, they don't have to offer three hours. If they offer two hours, it is still "up to three hours."

 

[reelmom]

I booked a long weekend trip in October. My tickets are showing up under MDE. Does this mean I will automatically be using FP+ when it goes live or do I have an option to choose which way if both are still running? Then again, I am scared not to go ahead and book FP+ when it becomes available because there is no guarantee the regular FP won't be pulled before my trip. Then there may not be as many FP+ options as we would like because we are so close to the trip. I highly doubt regular FP will be gone by October but something to think about.

 

[doconeill]

I booked a long weekend trip in October. My tickets are showing up under MDE. Does this mean I will automatically be using FP+ when it goes live or do I have an option to choose which way if both are still running? Then again, I am scared not to go ahead and book FP+ when it becomes available because there is no guarantee the regular FP won't be pulled before my trip. Then there may not be as many FP+ options as we would like because we are so close to the trip. I highly doubt regular FP will be gone by October but something to think about.

It doesn't automatically mean anything.

More than likely if you try, you'll find that it won't let you book FP+, because 1) You aren't within 60 days, and 2) No one can except people in the test groups.

Now, when you are actually "eligible" for FP+, which you will likely be told through some means that you are, it is uncertain if you will be able to choose or not. Originally, it was believe that at least while the old system still exists, you'd be able to choose, but the recent FAQ seems to indicate that once you are eligible, it's FP+ or nothing.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

This thread is focused on the Fastpass+ part of it but when you mention it not being designed as a great innovative experience I have to disagree. There is one thing that has always annoyed me about vacations. When I want to go swimming or to a water park, I have to take my room key and money with and store them in either a locker (anywhere from .50 to $16.00 -- (Six Flags water park)) or leave them in my pants on a beach chair. With Magic band I no longer have to worry about this at all. If that was the only new feature I would be extremely happy.

I generally agree with your post, but I take slight issue with this part.

Granted in my all my many trips to WDW, we've never gone to a water park.

For years though, we've taken only our room key to the pool, and charge food/drinks/purchases made in the resort to our room account. Granted, you have to find a place to stow the room key. That's why DH's bathing suits all have pockets.

For me, it's not so much something I hate about vacations...it's something I hate about women's bathing suits! I have a bigger problem at my local pool...car keys!

I am also keeping an open mind about the new additions. I think it's going to change our strategy a bit, but I'd like to give WDW the benefit of the doubt. I slightly miss the very old style paper ride tickets, but I can see where general admission has it's plusses. General admission saved us from having to keep track of all those booklets. Then came fastpasses. While fastpasses are an improvement when it comes to time management- all those paper slips are a hassle to manage. Similar to your point- we often go to WDW with extended family. Fastpasses/tickets times 12 people- gets to be a real hassle! Often enough, the combined stack was almost an inch thick!

For quite some time, I've felt paper fastpasses were outrageously outdated. I've long thought, why can't we just store the info digitally on our tickets or cellphones?

 

[bcrook]

This thread is focused on the Fastpass+ part of it but when you mention it not being designed as a great innovative experience I have to disagree. There is one thing that has always annoyed me about vacations. When I want to go swimming or to a water park, I have to take my room key and money with and store them in either a locker (anywhere from .50 to $16.00 -- (Six Flags water park)) or leave them in my pants on a beach chair. With Magic band I no longer have to worry about this at all. If that was the only new feature I would be extremely happy.

Those bands are going to be popular.

 

[doconeill]

I generally agree with your post, but I take slight issue with this part.

Granted in my all my many trips to WDW, we've never gone to a water park.

For years though, we've taken only our room key to the pool, and charge food/drinks/purchases made in the resort to our room account. Granted, you have to find a place to stow the room key. That's why DH's bathing suits all have pockets.

For me, it's not so much something I hate about vacations...it's something I hate about women's bathing suits! I have a bigger problem at my local pool...car keys!

I have a waterproof box on a lanyard that holds a number of cards, tickets, etc. that I keep all those on me at all times. Not a problem. Didn't need a magicband to do that.

And a MagicBand isn't going to stop you from having bringing cash, if that's what PP wants to pay with.

 

[reelmom]

It doesn't automatically mean anything.

More than likely if you try, you'll find that it won't let you book FP+, because 1) You aren't within 60 days, and 2) No one can except people in the test groups.

Now, when you are actually "eligible" for FP+, which you will likely be told through some means that you are, it is uncertain if you will be able to choose or not. Originally, it was believe that at least while the old system still exists, you'd be able to choose, but the recent FAQ seems to indicate that once you are eligible, it's FP+ or nothing.

Thanks. I guess I need to prepare myself and family that we will probably be using FP+. I saw the FP+ option on MDE but it doesn't do anything. I will keep checking. I have 27 days until the 60 day online checkin. I will post back on that day what happens.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Has anyone dared to think about FP+ in the context of cast member guest admissions?

I'm guessing CM guests will be the last tickets changed over to the new system.

 

[Goofy127]

I had been following this post from the beginning but have lost track since I was away for over a week...I am a little confused and trying to go back and read everything but....

Are the magic bands ready?

Is the fastpass now available to get thru your iphone AP before you can get into the parks?

To be honest, this whole thing is confusing and so many people have different comments about how it is happening, when its happening, etc.

 

[delmar411]

Has anyone dared to think about FP+ in the context of cast member guest admissions?

I'm guessing CM guests will be the last tickets changed over to the new system.

My DH has already been told to pick up his new card so CMs will be forced into the system right away it seems.

The kids and I have APs and we won't convert into the new system until we are forced to. That just might make for some odd days out with DH in the parks,

 

[wdwlver]

I'm here now and so happy to be using old fastpass system. Used 5 today in MK and that was with rd.

 

[mesaboy2]

I had been following this post from the beginning but have lost track since I was away for over a week...I am a little confused and trying to go back and read everything but....

1. Are the magic bands ready?

2. Is the fastpass now available to get thru your iphone AP before you can get into the parks?

To be honest, this whole thing is confusing and so many people have different comments about how it is happening, when its happening, etc.

1. No.*

2. No.*

* Unless you are contacted by WDW to be a test subject.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

One thing to consider would be availability at different times of the year. That "up to" maximum does not have to be true for all seasons.

During super slow seasons, pulling 4 headliners may be the norm. During mid-July or Christmas, pulling more then 2-3 FPs may be luck (even with the b-c level attractions thrown into the mix).

And during the slow season is when you would actually need LESS FPs. Most of the ones that post that they use only 2 or 3 a day in MK have been the ones that travel during the slow seasons. It is during peak seasons that 4 or more are wanted to cut down on your wait times.

 

[mom2rtk]

And during the slow season is when you would actually need LESS FPs. Most of the ones that post that they use only 2 or 3 a day in MK have been the ones that travel during the slow seasons. It is during peak seasons that 4 or more are wanted to cut down on your wait times.

Yep. That. The only time you are likely to be offered 4 is when you least need them.

 

[Porsche44]

You know something that so many people are overlooking when they say they are going to be okay with this new fastpass system is how it is going to affect the other rides that never used to need fastpasses. I can see the possibility that because people can't get FP's for the rides they want (which will happen for the more popular rides) they will opt for them for other rides, which will make the FP line at say for example Pirates much longer than it has ever been. This will then result in the standby line taking forever as they let FP holders through at a greater rate.

I am also really concerned how they keep saying that guests can get a set of FP's and there is the possibility that you won't be able to make your 3 or 4 choices from say the headliners pool instead you might only be able to choose 1 biggie like Big Thunder and then 3 others for lesser rides. I would want 4 FP's for whatever I want, Big Thunder, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain & Buzz not one for Big Thunder, then one for Its A Small World, Liberty Belle & Teacups. Gee I wish they had of left things the way they were.

 

[labattblue]

My 2 cents...The thread title should be changed or the thread closed since the details are NOT out.

 

[SoonerSean]

I'm definitely not a fan of losing the current FP system... but I think what troubles me the most is the limit to one park.

If we went to AK it would be to ride Everest and then bolt. So FP+does no good there. If we go to EPCOT we would only ride Soarin' and Test Track. So we can't use the other two FP+ options at say MK that morning or evening. If we go to DHS we'd want to use FP+ for Toy Story and maybe Rockin' Rollercoaster or TT - but still probably not four rides since you can't use them for multiple turns on the main attractions.

To me they should give you 4-5 per day at any park and on any ride. If everyone wants to use them on TSM - so be it. They find out there's not enough availability and go and ride something else. If everyone wants to use them on Peter Pan - so be it.

We mix up parks during the day... hit MK for breakfast and few rides, then head over to EPCOT for dinner and a ride or two. The old FP system supported this kind of movement. And it's a bit worse since it's only 4 per day so you can't say "I'm going to be at DSH for RD to ride some stuff and then I'll use those 4 FP+ options the next day somewhere else, i.e. use 8 that next day.

In the end... we'll figure it out, but I fear that it's going to greatly change the way we experience Disney. I just can't imagine sitting down 60-days out and booking rides every day and then trying to make sure we keep to those times once we hit the parks.

 

[buckeev]

My 2 cents...The thread title should be changed or the thread closed since the details are NOT out.

Details actually are out..at least some anyways.....they are available in the My Disney Experience section on Disney's Official site.

Still tons of questions, for sure.