FP+ Details Are Out!

[kristie64063]

Will the regular Fast Pass system still be in place, even when they roll out this new FastPass+?

Thanks ...

 

[Cafeen]

I have a dumb question. I used to keep up with everything WDW here on the boards, but have not been to WDW in about 4 years, so I haven't been keeping up. Are FP+ and Magic Bands exclusive of one another? Meaning, could the FP+ system be in place before Magic Bands roll out? If so, how would that work? KTTW cards with RFID chips? Or will FP+ only come into use when everyone gets a Magic Band for their trip?

Yes and no. The FP+ system, the MM+ system, and the Magic Bands all rely on the underlying RFID network. All 3 pieces we know about (FP+, Magic Bands, and MM+ (MyMagic+)) are subsets of this overarching RFID network, each with their own different purpose and solution.

FP+ is slated to handle the Fastpass portion of the RFID network. Allowing the stuff we see in this list (I won't go back over them all for brevity's sake )

MM+ is slated to handle the personalized experience portion of the RFID network. This is what's rumored to allow for personal interaction on attractions and parades and the like. There has been less information regarding this than there has been for FP+, but most see it as a net positive.

There is also a subset of MM+ that doesn't really have a name, but it has to do with the passive side of the RFID tech. Things like "Tap to Pay", "keyless" room entry, and the turnstile-less turnstiles at park entry fall into this. These will also likely function without the Magic Bands, and some (most?) are in use today using the RFID KTTW/Ticket media

Magic Bands are a portion of the overall RFID network, and are likely required for MM+ (the active RFID nature of the bands is what's required for that, rather than the passive nature of KTTW/Ticket media), but not for FP+. They're slated as the central access point to access both FP+ and MM+ and to optionally replace standard ticket media. For now (and I hope forever) they are completely optional though and the only downside to not getting them may be the enhanced MM+ stuff that requires active RFID.

Of course, this is just me gathering bits and pieces of rumored, supposed, and leaked info from these types of threads over the past few months, along with some of the early release information that's since been included, and then adding my own logical twist on it.

So, to recap and add a TL;DR to this...
Magic Bands are slated to be an access point for FP+ and MM+, though only required for MM+ (for now). FP+ should remain accessible via the passive RFID enabled ticket media (which is already existing and in use). MM+ is likely going to require the active RFID tech in the Magic Bands, but information on MM+ is far less known than FP+ (which isn't very well known either.)

Will the regular Fast Pass system still be in place, even when they roll out this new FastPass+?

Thanks ...

It is unknown. Current wording suggests that it will be one or the other and hints from earlier commentary suggest that FP+ will eventually replace today's FP. Beyond that though, there isn't much known about the rolling out of FP+ or the changeover between today's FP and FP+.

 

[mom2rtk]

Will the regular Fast Pass system still be in place, even when they roll out this new FastPass+?

Thanks ...

The old system will go away once the new system is up and running for everyone. However, it is very likely that you will be able to add same day FPs once you are in the park.

What makes it different is that 1) they will be electronically added to your band and here's the big one 2) a huge piece of a given ride's capacity will likely be gone before you ever step foot in the park. That means they will advance times much faster and run out much faster. It won't be the free and easy access we are all used to now.

One thing remains constant in all of this. They can dress it up and stuff it full of RFID chips and call it something new...... but ride capacity is ride capacity. They have not increased that number. And if you allow folks to prebook a big piece of that, it has to come from somewhere.

I'm seriously tired of all the speculation. I say let's just get the show on the road.

 

[thunderbug548]

This is all sooo confusing to me! We are a Passholder family of 5- local (Tampa)- so we do day trips only. We look at the crowd calendar for the weekend and pick a park based on no-EMH and what we want to do. I don't want to book a day trip 60days out! I also don't want to wait in an hour line (and we never do on purpose) bc we know how to utilize FP. What does this mean for us? I love WDW but I would be less apt to renew passes if I knew we would be spending most of the day waiting in 60min lines or we couldn't get FP to the specific rides we want to do.

 

[CWdreamer]

the more i read comments on this and think about it, i just don't see it being all that complicated based on assuming that FP+ will not be limited to only 3 FP+ per day pre-booked or same day FP+...

Prebooking will merely be to establish your 'anchor' park for the day. if they do not allow prebooking for multiple parks in same day, it may be keep things in the system working smoother until such time they have enough live data to better understand how hopping affects pre-bookings.

I would expect that same day FP+ will be available to all which is nothing more than an electronic implimentation of how the current FP system works except now, FP+ is tied into a real time, live system. More than one occasion i've seen FP's closed and then reopened for attractions throughout the day. To me this is their "manual" way of dealing with crowd control for attractions. Being live with FP+ allows the computers to run the algorithms instantaneously to control crowds. i see this as a good thing. I think FP+ pre-booking is nothing more than booking ADR's but more complex due to volume of guests who do attractions compared to volume of guests who do in park ADR's.

maybe i'm overly optomistic but i now feel like this is gonna work and work well. sure their will be kinks to work out but i think we are overthinking it all and not giving credit to Disney on this. I don't see how they are looking to confuse the guests or create a complex system that takes a DISr to understand.

Great synopsis and I absolutely agree!

 

[BalooPA]

So, to recap and add a TL;DR to this...
Magic Bands are slated to be an access point for FP+ and MM+, though only required for MM+ (for now). FP+ should remain accessible via the passive RFID enabled ticket media (which is already existing and in use). MM+ is likely going to require the active RFID tech in the Magic Bands, but information on MM+ is far less known than FP+ (which isn't very well known either.)

Thanks for all of the info. So, if I'm understanding correctly, the current KTTW cards have passive RFID, and FP+ is just something else that could be added to that, even before Magic Bands are rolled out?

 

[dclndvc]

Very interesting read.

 

[Cafeen]

Thanks for all of the info. So, if I'm understanding correctly, the current KTTW cards have passive RFID, and FP+ is just something else that could be added to that, even before Magic Bands are rolled out?

That's my understanding of it. (I know that the current media is passive RFID at least, and since FP+ is a "tap to go" type of system, it suggests that it won't require active).

(Also note, my understanding of certain things is probably 90% made up in my head by making connections to things using the powers of logic, reasoning, and that kind of stuff. I could be very wrong and well off the mark, especially if my base understanding is incorrect, or Disney doesn't follow logic...which is too often a case..)

 

[d1gitman]

...and here's the big one 2) a huge piece of a given ride's capacity will likely be gone before you ever step foot in the park. That means they will advance times much faster and run out much faster. It won't be the free and easy access we are all used to now.

One thing remains constant in all of this. They can dress it up and stuff it full of RFID chips and call it something new...... but ride capacity is ride capacity. They have not increased that number. And if you allow folks to prebook a big piece of that, it has to come from somewhere.

I'm seriously tired of all the speculation. I say let's just get the show on the road.

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.

 

[CWdreamer]

Having teenagers doesn't magically make you unable to make rope drop.

If you want to sleep in on vacation that's one thing and its understandable. But rope drop is an option for you just like it is everyone else.

Understood, but I guess my point was, with FP+, it sounds like it gives people like us options to have good FP times later in the day when it works best for us.

 

[BalooPA]

I know that the current media is passive RFID at least

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.

 

[Disfanx4]

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

Will be interested to know this as well very frustrating right now not being able to access from Canada

 

[ScrampShopper]

Will tickets have to be linked before FP+'s can be scheduled for 60 + 10 days out. I have an AP, and DD has a 5 day ticket from UT that I will upgrade to 10 days after we get there and use it once. We are staying for 13 days onsite. Will I be limited to 5 days of FP+ scheduling for DD? What if I don't want to load the tix on the magic band, just keep them separate, especially since hubby has NE tix that he may not use on consecutive trips. This is going to be too much work, but I also do like the option of having reserved FP's for our evening park (we always do 2 to 3 parks a day). I will be ticked if they decide to roll this out just before my trip because gray magic bands will not be acceptable, especially since I booked the trip more than 2 months in advance and the lack of magic band choice will not be my fault. Disney better have their act together before this goes live or they will definitely hear about it from me, and I am generally a non-complainer, just let it go kind of a person.

I also don't think the testing of FP+ to date has been realistic at all. If we are going to be limited to 3 FP+ and no regular FP's, getting additional FP's using the KTTW cards should not be allowed during testing. Of course everyone doing the testing is gonna rave about how much they liked FP+ system. They get to have 3 reservations and then some.

 

[mom2rtk]

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) Yes they can. And I expect that they will indeed try to strike a balance. But too little for advance booking and it just ticks people off. And too little for same day access and you tick off those folks. It is quite possible that they will find a balance works. But it is also quite possible that no matter how hard they try, once they split it like that there just won't be enough to make everyone happy.

2) And yes, the real time changes will be an enhancement. But once again, that is all subject to availability. For me that is the one central issue that will make or break this entire thing. Will there be enough to go around. For prebooking......... for same day booking.......... and for real time changes.

 

[mom2rtk]

Understood, but I guess my point was, with FP+, it sounds like it gives people like us options to have good FP times later in the day when it works best for us.

You see a trend here? Everyone assumes they will get late day fastpass times for the headliners.

I really can't wait to see how that pans out.

 

[DVCBELLE]

You see a trend here? Everyone assumes they will get late day fastpass times for the headliners.

I really can't wait to see how that pans out.

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!

 

[revdon64]

Haven't read all of the replies but from my standpoint I am very glad that my next trip is planned for October 2013. Hoping that FP+ is not fully implemented when we go. We do RD & now how to utilize the current FP system. It is almost like WDW is rewarding the first time / once in a lifetime trip person. Those of us who enjoy going multiple times & know what FP is much less how to use it seem to be the losers on the new FP+. Well DH will be thrilled since he wants to travel to different places then WDW.

I think that's exactly the point. This seems to be a way to "level the playing field" between planners and non-planners. It's also good for marketing because if fewer first timers have a bad experience with line waits and such they're more likely to become regulars.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

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?

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?

I spend more time planning vacations than most people. I start planning earlier than most people. I always know which day/s are best for each park and have a rough schedule for the day based on shorter lines during the morning, getting fastpasses, etc. Most people I know plan their first trip to Disney by flipping through a guidebook and talking to friends a few weeks before they go. They don't even know what an ADR is or that fastpasses are free. How will they feel when they arrive at the park and hear that they should have gotten their fastpasses online two months ago? Or will they be informed when they book their vacation and then receive email reminders?

Even I don't want to plan my schedule in detail sixty days ahead, without knowing the weather and how we'll all feel. And I've come to learn that overplanning, to the point where I can say that "Tuesday at 3 p.m. we will be on Space Mountain," makes it less magical and fun.

 

[d1gitman]

1) Yes they can. And I expect that they will indeed try to strike a balance. But too little for advance booking and it just ticks people off. And too little for same day access and you tick off those folks. It is quite possible that they will find a balance works. But it is also quite possible that no matter how hard they try, once they split it like that there just won't be enough to make everyone happy.

2) And yes, the real time changes will be an enhancement. But once again, that is all subject to availability. For me that is the one central issue that will make or break this entire thing. Will there be enough to go around. For prebooking......... for same day booking.......... and for real time changes.

i think this is a fluid thing within a fixed system. as pointed out, there is only so much ride capacity. by that same token, there is only so much park capacity. if ALL guests prebooked and were allowed to prebook to 100% ride capacity, then in theory there is no need for same day FP+ or wait lines. ditto on the reverse. so in the end, there is a fixed capacity for attractions and fixed capacity for park admission. so mathematically, the worse case scenario is already known. prebookings are not only people who take up a portion of the ride capacity, but also people who take up a portion of the park capacity. this may also be a reason to limit prebookings to a single park per day.

I'm sure Disney has more pages of data than one cares to read regarding headliners, capacity, FP's, etc.... They probably have a good idea what percentage of FP+'s in total to alocate per attraction and of that allottment, what portion to allow for prebookings. the real difference is they will have real time data that allows them to adjust all day, every day.

I'm sure that just like with current FP system where every so often you get a bonus FP for some other attraction (usually not a headliner), they will be implementing similar strategy to move crowds around the park.

I'm sure they will deploy methods to also shift crowd for things like parade and other events. They already do, it's just more of a manual process. Now they will be able to more quickly and effectively.

 

[CerysG]

Well I'm thinking I won't have to worry about this for the end of August as I'm thinking they won't roll it out until the fall sometime. Expect they'll want it up and running for Dec. if all goes well. I'm just going to plan for regular fast passes and go with that. At this point the App/website doesn't work for Canadians so unless it starts working soon I can't see me using it when we are there.