FP+ Details Are Out!

[larryz]

To quote one of Disney's newest characters, "I've got a bad feeling about this."

 

[Shaden]

To quote one of Disney's newest characters, "I've got a bad feeling about this."

OH wow ... I am using this, PURE awesome

I think the caption should be .... " Its a TRAP ! "

 

[serene56]

I was told yesterday by a CM (on chat) that you will chose either key (FP) or bracelet (FP+) so I'm unclear if FP is going away...

i can only imagine how many regulsr fp will be left wuth peoplemgettingnthose at 60 days out.

 

[heyitsmejosh]

the 60 days out is a killer for us locals.. i never plan trips that far out and now we gotta deal with the same nonsense we do with resturants, and im not planning a trip just based on what ride i want to ride.

 

[2009CAN]

Okay, I've read a lot of the posts and skipped some, so forgive me if I'm asking an already asked question.
1. When is this rolling out? We're going in Sept. and I really don't want to use this.
2. For all the "go with the flow" advice for parents of small kids, this stinks. If I get there and realize the kids to much better w/a mid day break, you're kind of SOL. Or if you think you're 10 year old will be okay w/riding RNR but turns out they're freaked out by it, you've just wasted a FP
3. What if the weather sucks during your FP time or the ride breaks down. Then what?

4. I'd REALLY, REALLY love to know if Disney excs read these boards and take concerns into account?

 

[Shaden]

Okay, I've read a lot of the posts and skipped some, so forgive me if I'm asking an already asked question.
1. When is this rolling out? We're going in Sept. and I really don't want to use this.
2. For all the "go with the flow" advice for parents of small kids, this stinks. If I get there and realize the kids to much better w/a mid day break, you're kind of SOL. Or if you think you're 10 year old will be okay w/riding RNR but turns out they're freaked out by it, you've just wasted a FP
3. What if the weather sucks during your FP time or the ride breaks down. Then what?

4. I'd REALLY, REALLY love to know if Disney excs read these boards and take concerns into account?

ALLLLLLLLL this, exactly, and so many more other issues.

Well said Can

 

[DVCBELLE]

The biggest complaint I hear from casual Disney goers is that it is very complicated to plan. How many of us have heard a friend who had a miserable time and you listen to them and realize they had a miserable time because they didn't research.

I think the FP+ is just going to make it that much worse. The casual Disney vacationer is not going to know they need to book 60 days out - or even what they would want to book.

I think Disney's biggest mistake in all of this is not putting a clear concise plan out there and going with it. They should have given all the details and then rolled it out. But now, people are running rampant with speculation and really wondering how on earth this system could possibly work.

 

[letsgoreds]

I have been excited about the possibility of FP+ for our Dec trip (and still mostly are)...like the idea of opening at one park, resting at the resort in the PM, and then back to the other park (with FP scheduled) in the evening.

Then...I was thinking about what happens when people get their FP reservations mixed up. This will occur on an individual level (vs. group dining reservations). Since there isn't a physical piece of paper proving their FP reservation time...only the wristband...how much fun will that be when FP reservations don't show up/match up with what the planner remembers/booked? I see cranky guests at FP entrances of rides trying to convince CM that it is their time to go.

Only time will tell!! Love the Death Star reference...very cute!

 

[jdcthree]

This whole fp+ thing stresses me out. I don't want to think about it anymore. I just want it to go away. Can someone with some authority make that happen?

 

[*tinker*bell*]

This whole fp+ thing stresses me out. I don't want to think about it anymore. I just want it to go away. Can someone with some authority make that happen?

 

[Disney_Princess83]

As AP holders, one thing that will effect us is having to purchase our AP's early. We always buy then on our arrival night at DTD. However if we have to make ride reservations months beforehand, we will need to order them online.

 

[aubriee]

Ouch AP holders better hold onto thier bands, $50 after the first one to replace.

I can't even hold onto a pair of sunglasses for a week. I went through three pairs when we were there last month. No way am I going to be able to keep up with a band for 12 months.

ok, I just really haven't tried to learn about this because I'm in denial that it's ever going to happen...plus I just plain don't like it.

Me either! I've been a like an ostrich with it's head stuck in the sand, determined to ignore it. As an AP holder, who goes several times a year, I don't like it, don't want to deal with it, and don't even wanna think about it!

Even with magicbands or RFID cards, there will still be guests who have no clue what or how to use FP+ and think it is a VIP perk that cost money. There will still be those who learn how to maximize the system and those who don't even know it exists. It's called human nature.

There is no way I would do it, but my first thought was that as an AP holder I go to WDW 4-6 times a year. Because my family is not as big a WDW fan as I am, some of those trips are solo. My last trip and my next three trips are all at Bonnet Creek, so won't be in the WDW system. Both my mom and my husband have APs also. What's to keep me from registering them on the WDW site with their own email and a different address, then me using their APs to book me extra fast passes for my solo trips? That would give me nine fast passes a day, instead of three. As I said I wouldn't do it, but it did cross my mind that I could. Of course I would have to take their bands with me and keep up with what times were reserved on each band, but hey, I could book three FP+ for TSM around the same time and ride it three times in less than the hour using my band, plus their two bands.

All I can say is that I STILL hate the whole concept of FP+. For those of us who don't even make ADRs because we don't like to have to plan our days based on where and when we're eating, the idea of planning IN ADVANCE what time we want to ride in a particular park just horrifies me. It may mean less Disney trips for us.

Same here! we'd already decided that when FP+ goes live, we probably do more Universal/Sea World trips anyway. We have APs for Universal too, so switching our trips over to Universal wouldn't be a big thing. We prefer their front of the line pass system for onsite guests anyway. Since we have a rental car, we seldom eat on Disney property anymore, so no longer make ADRs. For our May trip we had one ADR at BoG. For my upcoming Sept and Dec trips we don't have any ADRs booked, nor do we intend to do. We love the freedom of not having to plan our days out.

I think this whole Fastpass+ thing is the stupidist idea Disney has ever come up with. I also think they may loose people over systems like this. Just my opinion. If it were not for my absolute love of Disney, I might consider not going agan, but that will never happen. I will continue to visit and just learn to deal with another major change.

I agree! We had no problem with the old system. I never spend more than a few hours at DS. I usually ride TSM, Star Tours, and if the timing is right might see Little Mermaid, then I'm out of there and on to another park. However, the way the system is now, I can grab a FP for TSM, ride it twice using the stand by line, then use my FP, so get three rides on it. With the new system, that wouldn't be possible (not if I want to use a FP at another park anyway). As I just posted, I think they're probably going to lose our family over this new system. There is to many things to do in Orlando, beside WDW. We love Disney, but can't stand the idea of having to plan every minute of our trips. We usually just go to the parks in the mornings anyway, nap or swim in the afternoon, then go offsite at night. If all the am FP+ slots are gone, then we would not even be able to use fastpass that day. .

 

[aubriee]

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!

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.

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.

and then you have people like me that make every rope drop, grabbing the earliest fast passes I can, because I like to leave the parks by lunch time, when the crowds start arriving. If I get stuck with a late fast pass, I won't be able to use it. I'm afraid that when FP+ rolls out that everyone will want a morning fast pass and they will all be gone. Since we won't usually be in the parks in the afternoons or evenings, a later fast pass won't be any good for us. Right now I have airfare and a Bonnet Creek condo both paid for, for both my upcoming Sept and Dec trips. I'm sure hoping FP+ will not be rolled out until after both trips. I then usually go back the first or second week of May. If FP+ is rolled out by then, that trip will become a Universal/Sea World trip only.

 

[aubriee]

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.

If I remember some of the statements correctly, we will now be able to use some of our FP+ allotment to get fastpasses for special seating at parades, counter service restaurants, and rides like Counry Bear Jamboree and Carousel of Progress. So it sounds like to me WDW is trying to make us go on some of the more unpopular rides and such that alot of people just normally skip. As I said in a previous post, I am not fond of DS. I never spend more than a couple hours there. I want to ride TSM a few times and then Star Tours, then I'll probably be on my way to another park. I don't usually stay for parades and alot of the rides that they are saying will now have FP+ are rides that never needed fastpass before.

There are not three rides I want to ride in DS, but with the new system, I would have no choice but to find something else to use my third FP+ on and they have already said there would be no repeating of rides. In my case that third FP+ would just go to waste that day.

 

[Patience]

I really, really, really, really, really do NOT want FP plus to be up and running during our September trip. I HATE (do you hear me, Disney?) the idea of being tied to my smart phone in the parks. I'm tied to it everyday at work and really prefer not to be glued to the thing on vacation. I hate the idea of having to try to book rides so far in advance while traveling with a young child. How can I guess how she's going to be doing/feeling on a hot afternoon or a late evening two months from now?. I dread the idea of trying to explain all of this to our non-tech savvy parents who do not even own smart phones if we ever wanted to take a big family trip. And I really hate the idea of having reservations for BBB or Pirates League, reservations for dinner and reservations for rides and attractions to keep track of and figure out the logistics of every. single. day. Ugh, ugh, ugh. I just don't want to deal with all of it. Honestly, we were thinking of going back to WDW after this trip when our DD who is now 6 will be 9 but I am really thinking that Disney just won't be offering us the kind of vacation we want to have. I work in the rat race with every hour of my day scheduled every single day. I want a vacation that is fun, flexible and relaxing, not one where we have to plan every day out months in advance and be tied to our smart phones. I'll say it again. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

 

[aubriee]

I think that it could be a good thing once all of the kinks gets ironed out but right now I am seeing good and bad if they go with it according to plan.
Pros:
* Knowing before your trip that you will be able to ride certain attractions
* No more mad dashes to get FPs
* The ability to adjust FP to work better for you after you "reserve it"
Cons:
* FP+ is only available for one park per day
* More to plan

Now I like all pros that I listed but have major problems with the cons. One park per day is not very accomodating to people who park hop. I know some people like to plan every detail of their trip but I feel it adds a lot of stress that I do not want with my vacation. We do 10 day trips, park hop constantly and only do about 3 ADRs because we like a laid back, go with the flow trip. We pay extra to park hop to give us that flexability. The cons I listed directly interfere with the way we tour the parks.

I personally like the way fast passes worked up until a little over a year ago. As someone who is an early riser and makes every rope drop anyway, I loved being able to grab fastpasses all day long, while riding stand by in the mornings when the lines were short and not having to worry about being in that part of the park when the fast pass time came up. By the time I was ready to leave the park, I always had at least 2-5 fastpasses for different rides (and alot of times the same ride). Then on my way out of the park, I'd quickly ride what rides I wanted to again and/or give the fast passes away to someone entering the parks as pixie dust. I know some calledthose of us who did that uber users, but to me it was just smart. We could do stand by when the lines were short and save the fastpasses for when we really needed them. I wish WDW had left the system alone. I've been several times since they started enforcing the fast pass times and have adjusted, but find I don't use near as many fast passes as I did, because I don't want to have to be in a certain area of the park at a certain time. With the old system, everyone had the same chances to get fastpasses. All they had to do was get out of bed and show up for rope drop like the rest of us do.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think Disney's biggest mistake in all of this is not putting a clear concise plan out there and going with it. They should have given all the details and then rolled it out. But now, people are running rampant with speculation and really wondering how on earth this system could possibly work.

I don't think Disney KNOWS the details yet. They are developing it as they go, based on how their testing goes. I don't think they are talking about how many same day fastpasses we might get because they don't KNOW. They have to wait and see how the rollout goes and how many people participate. Even once the system gets up and going, it will likely vary by time of year.

and then you have people like me that make every rope drop, grabbing the earliest fast passes I can, because I like to leave the parks by lunch time, when the crowds start arriving. If I get stuck with a late fast pass, I won't be able to use it. I'm afraid that when FP+ rolls out that everyone will want a morning fast pass and they will all be gone. Since we won't usually be in the parks in the afternoons or evenings, a later fast pass won't be any good for us. Right now I have airfare and a Bonnet Creek condo both paid for, for both my upcoming Sept and Dec trips. I'm sure hoping FP+ will not be rolled out until after both trips. I then usually go back the first or second week of May. If FP+ is rolled out by then, that trip will become a Universal/Sea World trip only.

I can see that for you later day fastpasses won't be much benefit. You will probably have a much easier time finding slots, as I fully expect early in the day fastpass slots to be the last ones left available. Late sleepers of course will want later day ones. But rope droppers who plan to stay the later into the day anyway will also want later ones. Crossing the park to use an early FP return time when you're in another area and could just ride things standby with little or no wait could just cost extra time, making those the least desirable to many.

Then...I was thinking about what happens when people get their FP reservations mixed up. This will occur on an individual level (vs. group dining reservations). Since there isn't a physical piece of paper proving their FP reservation time...only the wristband...how much fun will that be when FP reservations don't show up/match up with what the planner remembers/booked? I see cranky guests at FP entrances of rides trying to convince CM that it is their time to go.

They are expecting you to track them on your smart phone. You know, provided that you can get on it. My own experience with it was very spotty on our recent trip. I tried to check fp availability and sometimes I could, sometimes I couldn't. Once this goes live and even more people are using the Wi-Fi, I could see this getting even harder. I will likely back that up with old fashioned paper and pencil. After all, it's only 3. How hard could it be?

If you don't have a smart phone or care to wait in the line for a kiosk while groups of people tie up the kiosk trying to agree which ride to do next. And now for the first time, the folks in those lines will also be trying to agree on what time to do whichever ride they agree on.

 

[Jennasis]

I don't think Disney has any confidence in their fancy new system either. The rollout keeps getting pushed back (remember when they were supposed to start testing the bands and FP+ back at the end of February?). They won't just come right out and answer the pressing questions people have...because they don't know the answer. CONFIDENCE! I hope they're as terrified of the roll out as we are

 

[babydovesx2]

Sorry if this question has already been asked. I started reading all of the posts and realized I did not have time to read them all so I figured I would just ask my question.

We book room only plus dining plan with the military discount, then purchase our park tickets at Shades of Green. Will we be able to make FastPass reservations even though we won't have our park tickets yet?

 

[rastuso]

I'm shocked that the "Resort guests can reserve 10 days before everyone else" isn't getting more discussion.

THAT'S HUGE!!!!!!!!!

So, FP+ is absolutely being monetized. IT is essentially making Everest and Toy Story "Resort Only" rides. There are 25000 resort rooms, holding about 75,000 guests, holding 225,000 FP+s. Everyone else better be enjoying Country Bears and Hall of Presidents.

Is this truly from Disney? This makes FP+ nothing but a money grab.

Also, I have still yet to see anything from Disney saying current ticket holders, or non-resort guests will be able to use the new system for FP+ in advance. They absolutely say you can use the app, but anyone can do that. Everything Disney says is read by a hundred lawyers. There is a reason this hasn't been explicitly said.

But the 10 day thing...WOW! Good thing Universal is building a new E-Ticket damn near every year!

Jason