FP+ Details Are Out!

[doconeill]

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

Where did you get that from?

 

[doconeill]

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?

As it stands right now, no, it does not appear that you will be able to book FP+.

 

[mom2rtk]

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

It's not a 10 day head start, unless you're booking for later in your trip. But yes, I too am shocked that's not getting more attention. I thought that was sort of headline-worthy. Heck, if it's like BOG or Ohana, that alone could result in TSMM being in sort supply by day 179 or so.

Maybe everyone else just assumed that would be the case?

 

[DaisyDew]

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

It isn't a 10 day head start for resort guests. It means, starting on day 60, they can reserve up to 10 days of fastpasses, just like the ADR system is currently.

I am very glad we won't have to deal with FP+ on our last trip to Disney. It sure will be bittersweet, though, knowing it is the last time we'll visit. On to bigger and better places for us now that the children are older.

 

[doconeill]

OK, I see where this +10 is coming from. The WDWMAGIC article...I didn't notice it before.

I'm not sure where they got that from. First I've heard of it. But it is the exact same thing that they do for ADRs. And I'm not sure that, at least more recently, caused any sort of major problems. Plus, I know in at least a couple cases, they held tables for the 180 mark regardless - so, if you were a resort guest, and were trying to book something 185 days out, and were shut out...you might find you could get one at the exact 180 mark.

But until Disney specifies this is actually true, AND it proves to be an issue, I'm not going to go nuts over it.

 

[Angie789]

Where is the information about a 10 day advance FP+ booking window for onsite people coming from? Is it actually from Disney or just an assumption? I've tried to stay on top of FP+ news, but I missed this.

 

[rastuso]

Where did you get that from?

Resort guests can book their entire stay when their first day begins, up to 10 days out. So the typical week long stay, beginning Friday night, that guest can reserve all the weeks worth of FP+, 61, 62, 63, 64... days in advance.

So the question "will Disney monetize FP+?" has been answered with a resounding YES!

Jason

 

[Planogirl]

I am strongly opposed (not that that matters) to offsite people being shut out of the most popular rides and it's not only because we often stay offsite. Onsite people already get a lot of extras including that "magic" that so many people go on about. Offsite visitors spend a lot on passes and the idea of them not being allowed equal access to the big rides is just a bit too much IMO.

I agree that Disney has likely done their research and would be satisfied if this approach led to more onsite visitors. (Do they need more?) I just picture people who can't afford onsite or have larger families or locals or whoever standing in two hour lines just for the privilege of riding TSM or Soarin'.

 

[cmwade77]

I find it interesting to see all of the people who say that they will end up going to Disney less because of this, when we don't really know how all of this will work or what impact it will really have on crowds and lines. We might find that FPs are less necessary in the end, because the new system runs things more efficiently or we might find that they will offer day of FPs with similar rules to now, just with the added advanced FP+.

I am not saying there isn't cause for concern. I mean yhere was a point wher APs were going to be limited to 20 FP+ a quarter, which it looks like they got rid of that limit. So, I think we at be worrying about something that we don't need to, but only time will tell.

 

[mom2aandj]

OK, I see where this +10 is coming from. The WDWMAGIC article...I didn't notice it before.

I'm not sure where they got that from. First I've heard of it. But it is the exact same thing that they do for ADRs. And I'm not sure that, at least more recently, caused any sort of major problems.

I think it has been a problem recently with ADRs to get some if you were not a resort guest with access to the +10. Specifically, I've read about BOG and Ohanas not being available even at 180 days out. And if the +10 is true for FP reservations, I'm sure that will be the case for the most popular rides too.

 

[doconeill]

Resort guests can book their entire stay when their first day begins, up to 10 days out. So the typical week long stay, beginning Friday night, that guest can reserve all the weeks worth of FP+, 61, 62, 63, 64... days in advance.

So the question "will Disney monetize FP+?" has been answered with a resounding YES!

Jason

I was asking for the source, not the explanation, but I found it, thanks.

 

[Shaden]

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 there two bands.

.

I think this is another interesting point .... Considering that it was recently revealed that some of the very upscale visitors to WDW are "renting" people with disabilities, or scooters themselves, just to be able to bypass the lines at the costs of hundreds of dollars, I would not put it past people to buy extra APs either.

 

[DisneyFanSince71]

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.

I agree with you that the system was GREAT for me. But I do understand that it didn't work for everybody. A family that can't make RD gets severely hampered as by the time they get to the park the FP times are way out until the middle of the day. Yet they pay the same price.

IMHO, Disney's enforcing the expiration date of FP is the first step in a multi step process. The second step is to allow customers to get good FP tickets with FP+ without having to actually go to the machines at the ride site. I believe that Disney will allow people to choose one FP system or the other for at least a couple of years. The advantages for Disney is that then when people come to the park later in the day, they will be assured of getting to ride on some popular rides.

Next step will be for Disney to limit FP tickets that can be pulled by person by day. Disney might even adjust the limit based upon the times of the year.

Who wins/loses.

Winners - Those who can't make it to RD will be able to get FP+ tickets

Losers - The RDers. Already there is less incentive for them to pull FP tickets because the have expiration dates. They will be further disadvantaged when Disney puts a hard limit that can be pulled.

What Disney gets - It will free up more tickets for the best rides at the end of the day for conventions that end at 4pm.

Overall impact to DISers - Not a whole lot. There will be less incentive to make RD as you will be able to order your FP+ tickets online. That would make the RD marginally less crowded and more time for customers to enjoy it. They just won't be pulling FP tickets all day long to just use them at the end of the day. Capacity is not changing, demand might slightly increase with more coming in at the end of the day. And some FP tickets get allocated from the RDers to people who arrive late.

 

[rastuso]

I agree with you that the system was GREAT for me. But I do understand that it didn't work for everybody. A family that can't make RD gets severely hampered as by the time they get to the park the FP times are way out until the middle of the day. Yet they pay the same price.

IMHO, Disney's enforcing the expiration date of FP is the first step in a multi step process. The second step is to allow customers to get good FP tickets with FP+ without having to actually go to the machines at the ride site. I believe that Disney will allow people to choose one FP system or the other for at least a couple of years. The advantages for Disney is that then when people come to the park later in the day, they will be assured of getting to ride on some popular rides.

Next step will be for Disney to limit FP tickets that can be pulled by person by day. Disney might even adjust the limit based upon the times of the year.

Who wins/loses.

Winners - Those who can't make it to RD will be able to get FP+ tickets

Losers - The RDers. Already there is less incentive for them to pull FP tickets because the have expiration dates. They will be further disadvantaged when Disney puts a hard limit that can be pulled.

What Disney gets - It will free up more tickets for the best rides at the end of the day for conventions that end at 4pm.

Overall impact to DISers - Not a whole lot.

Really? I think a lot of DISers would take your Losers as being a big deal. I know I do. Add in the huge disadvantage of not being a resort guest, and I see my WDW days dropping off big time.

At least at Universal, where the resort rooms are a better value anyway, you don't get 3 FOTLs, you get X FOTLs, where X equals whatever you want it to be. And X can equal Y from US + Z from IOA for any given day.

Jason

 

[mom2rtk]

I think this is another interesting point .... Considering that it was recently revealed that some of the very upscale visitors to WDW are "renting" people with disabilities, or scooters themselves, just to be able to bypass the lines at the costs of hundreds of dollars, I would not put it past people to buy extra APs either.

Doesn't the AP have to be used at the gate for FP to work? While one could reserve more FP+ spots ahead of time, I'm thinking the ticket (band) would have to be used at the gate for it to activate the FP+ slot in the parks.

 

[Shaden]

Doesn't the AP have to be used at the gate for FP to work? While one could reserve more FP+ spots ahead of time, I'm thinking the ticket (band) would have to be used at the gate for it to activate the FP+ slot in the parks.

Good point, guess that might prevent you from using someone else's FPs ... but I suppose you could still buy more then one ticket for yourself ? Although this would effect very few people even if it were possible.

 

[Shaden]

I agree with you that the system was GREAT for me. But I do understand that it didn't work for everybody. A family that can't make RD gets severely hampered as by the time they get to the park the FP times are way out until the middle of the day. Yet they pay the same price.

IMHO, Disney's enforcing the expiration date of FP is the first step in a multi step process. The second step is to allow customers to get good FP tickets with FP+ without having to actually go to the machines at the ride site. I believe that Disney will allow people to choose one FP system or the other for at least a couple of years. The advantages for Disney is that then when people come to the park later in the day, they will be assured of getting to ride on some popular rides.

Next step will be for Disney to limit FP tickets that can be pulled by person by day. Disney might even adjust the limit based upon the times of the year.

Who wins/loses.

Winners - Those who can't make it to RD will be able to get FP+ tickets

Losers - The RDers. Already there is less incentive for them to pull FP tickets because the have expiration dates. They will be further disadvantaged when Disney puts a hard limit that can be pulled.

What Disney gets - It will free up more tickets for the best rides at the end of the day for conventions that end at 4pm.

Overall impact to DISers - Not a whole lot. There will be less incentive to make RD as you will be able to order your FP+ tickets online. That would make the RD marginally less crowded and more time for customers to enjoy it. They just won't be pulling FP tickets all day long to just use them at the end of the day. Capacity is not changing, demand might slightly increase with more coming in at the end of the day. And some FP tickets get allocated from the RDers to people who arrive late.

I think this greatly understates the downsides of FP+ and who loses.

Who really loses:
Anyone who books a trip within 60 days
Anyone who was planning on buying tickets within 60 days of their trip, which can really help spread the cost of the trip
Anyone who isn't staying on resort (if the +10 rule pans out)
Anyone whose plans change while they are on vacation
Anyone who has children who can't be "scheduled" 60 days out
Anyone who prefers any measure of flexibility in their trips, what parks to do which days
Anyone who doesn't already know which rides they NEED FPs for, the non-Disney pros.
Anyone who buys/own park hoppers or APs - will no longer be able to use FP in more then one park/day.

I think I could go on ....

 

[mom2rtk]

Good point, guess that might prevent you from using someone else's FPs ... but I suppose you could still buy more then one ticket for yourself ? Although this would effect very few people even if it were possible.

Of course, you'd have to exit then enter again. but I don't know if the system sees that you left and deactivates the first one. I'm thinking not, but who knows. It still just seems too expensive to ever be a big enough problem to matter.

 

[rastuso]

Of course, you'd have to exit then enter again. but I don't know if the system sees that you left and deactivates the first one. I'm thinking not, but who knows. It still just seems too expensive to ever be a big enough problem to matter.

But to someone who lives in Orlando, it could very well be a decent option. Carry two APs, one to your home, and one to a PO Box or friends address. Yes, you'll have to leave and re-enter, but that doesn't trigger anything bad... YET.

Disney wouldn't want this to happen. Although now that I think about it, rich people can easily buy multiple tickets for FPx2 or 3. Again, what are E-ticket FPs worth? if you can get 5 for $100 now, that's a pretty simple decision for many well to do visitors. We paid about $2 for them in the 70s, and we weren't well off. With 3 FP+, daily tickets would cost about $30 an E-ticket, but an extra AP if you visit every week would make a whole lotta sense. wonder if Disney would close that loophole, or just let it be. They could eventually catch you, if they checked the logs close enough.

I've heard of folks getting Universal rooms purely for FOTL access, and would assume it's done A LOT for large families. One night gives you two days of FOTL for your family, and can easily be less than buying the in park Express tickets, and those are one per ride, not one per whenever you want.

Jason

 

[dyna]

Myself I do not like the new FP idea at all. I live local an have AP I can not imagine planning ahead even a week what day an what time I'd want to ride anything at Disney.