FP+ Details Are Out!

[Shaden]

Sounds like a lot of people are wanting those evening fast passes.

At California Adventure, it takes about one and half to two hours before all the fast passes are given out for an entire day for Radiator Springs Racers.

I wonder how long it will take for the online evening fastpasses to be gone for popular rides at WDW once the system is implemented.

Yea this is one of the things I wonder, I can totally get how this will work for people, who want to do RD and then get evening FPs, although, they will still have to know which parks they are going to do 60 days out ...

BUT, How fast will those FPs be gone ? I really do wonder, I have no data to consider for this, but I think those are going to be the most popular, that or Midday/early afternoon. Which do you think ?

I am relatively certain the early morning will be the least least LEAST popular ...

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Even if it does goes semi-live by August I would imagine there will be a period of overlap with the paper FP machines still in use (where you could opt out). The time when paper FPs disappear completely-well that's the D day in my mind. Which I would imagine is coming in the next year, maybe even as soon as January. I am assuming my trip in August is probably my last trip with paper FPs using the current system. I am not a fan of the new system. I think it will turn many off as others have mentioned--but we will just have to wait and see.

 

[g-dad66]

also, we may be better off doing FP regular if it is still around - is that the general consensus?

I doubt that there is any consensus here.

But for our November trip, I'm GUESSING that we will have a choice between (a) traditional paper FP, or (b) MyMagic+ bands including FP+. And if the 3 FP+ limit per day holds, I'm pretty sure we will select option (a).

However, I plan to keep tabs on developments during the next 4 months, and if FP+ rolls out and appears to have a severe negative impact on the availability of paper FPs, I may opt for option (b) instead. (Or, of course, I may not even have any choice in the matter, although I doubt that paper FP will be eliminated completely by November.)

Everything is pretty much up in the air right now. My advice is to stay tuned in.

Check the main page of this forum, as any new significant development is likely to generate one or more new heavily-read threads.

 

[Violet Parr]

If anyone answers that, they are making it up.

Good to know!

VP

 

[Planogirl]

Maybe an hour?

That long?

Yea this is one of the things I wonder, I can totally get how this will work for people, who want to do RD and then get evening FPs, although, they will still have to know which parks they are going to do 60 days out ...

BUT, How fast will those FPs be gone ? I really do wonder, I have no data to consider for this, but I think those are going to be the most popular, that or Midday/early afternoon. Which do you think ?

I am relatively certain the early morning will be the least least LEAST popular ...

Of course we could visit WDW in the morning then and save the evenings for parades and fireworks and unpopular rides. Stitch anyone?

 

[bjakmom]

I think it is silly to automatically assume that you won't be able to get a fastpass for TSM any day you want, especially at 60 days out..this is not based on any facts...it is just to scare people.

The assumption that you WILL be able to get a FP+ for TSMM any day you want is confusing to me
Under the current FP system my experience has been that ALL FPs for TSMM are more often than not totally gone for the entire day by early afternoon - many times by noon. In order to do that every person had to get up, get dressed, feed their family breakfast, get into HS and stand in the (dreaded) FP line for TSMM within the first 3 hours of the day.
I can't help but wonder how quickly will those FP+ be gone for the entire day when all anyone has to do (probably prompted by Disney for those with on-site stays or packages) 60 days in advance is go on line and book it??
No dressing, no schlepping to the park, no FP line - just log in and hit the button - who the heck WON"T do it???
Add the +10 option and I can't believe that wont seriously reduce what's available at the 60 day point (it has certainly affected ADRs and DVC bookings since they've put it in effect there).

And while I'm wondering, does anyone else dislike the possibility that they may withhold FP+ for same day, thus limiting the 60 day offerings even further? I am feeling pretty disenchanted at the thought of adapting to the new system by planning my park days and ride times (which I really, really, really do NOT want to do) and then not be able to get my preferred FP+s when I go on-line because they are holding some aside for people who don't go on-line and plan at 60 days?
I know I would not be happy to find out that I could not get a coveted ADR on-line no matter how many times I tried when planning my vaca only to find out that they withheld some of those ADRs to offer to people same day (this is total conjecture/example, not fact) - well it is a fact that I went on-line at o-darkhundred at 180+10 days for my BOG ADR for DGrDs B'day dinner and was not able to get the times I wanted - and daily checking has still not turned one up- and we're talking the last week of Aug - hardly a super busy time.

I'll say it again because I believe in dreams and magic - I would love it if the FP+ system opened each day at some time before park opening and we could book all our FP+ for the day at that time - but talk about system crash!!

 

[g-dad66]

I am relatively certain the early morning will be the least least LEAST popular ...

I sure hope so.

One of the reasons that lines are so short during the first 45-60 minutes of the day is that there are no FP returners yet.

But what could be the effect if a bunch of FP+ reservations are made for the first hour of the day, and what if the FP to standby line ratio is something like 80/20%?????

 

[mom2rtk]

I think Neil Sedaka said it best: "Making (things) up is hard to do."

Hi - Just want to ask, the 60 days + 10, means if we go apr 26, we can book feb 26 (or whatever 60 days beforehand is), but the 10+ days, means once we book Apr 26, we can only book apr 27, 28, 29, 30, may1, 2, 3,4 and 5th?

also, we may be better off doing FP regular if it is still around - is that the general consensus? This is our first trip, and I like to plan, I'm using toutingplans.com, but wonder if we really will get in the rides predicted? And that is with FP regular, which looked good to me. Who really benefits fr FP+ n(or is it not that great a deal?)

That's correct. On Feb 26th (or whatever 60 actual calendar days is) you can then book for 4/27, 4/28, 4/29 etc, for up to 10 days worth of your vacation. If you are staying 14 days, you can book day 11 the following day (2/27), then day 12 the following day (2/28).

I don't know if you'll ever be in a position of choosing either FP+ or traditional FP. It's hard to say. If I had a choice it would come down to whether there were same day fastpasses available. Even in the absence of same day fastpasses, it would depend on the word on the street about how much inventory was being devoted to same day slots.

Regardless, I do imagine Disney will stack the deck in favor of FP+ in the early days in an attempt to get it off to positive fanfare. Sort of the way the frontloaded the payouts in the state lottery when it was introduced here years ago.

I am relatively certain the early morning will be the least least LEAST popular ...

Definitely. Because if you're there at rope drop, you might waste more time walking around the park to keep your appointments when you could just be sailing through standby. I really think those will be the last to go.

 

[mom2rtk]

I sure hope so.

One of the reasons that lines are so short during the first 45-60 minutes of the day is that there are no FP returners yet.

But what could be the effect if a bunch of FP+ reservations are made for the first hour of the day, and what if the FP to standby line ratio is something like 80/20%?????

That's one of the potential "unintended consequences" I'm most concerned about.

I'm guessing the savvy visitors will have the later day times. But the question remains for those who end up taking the early slots 1) Will they actually make it a priority to get to the park in time to use the slot and 2) Will they use it or see that standby is fast enough not to need to head across the park for their next ride when there are short lines on other attractions where they already are.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

Ok so long as you will admit that half your post was you making things up

At least you say people are welcome to do so

But, I will say this, you have a lot of faith in Disney, and if you follow their performance, and decision making, they really aren't interested in much more then milking you for as much money as possible while giving you just enough satisfaction for them to be able to keep getting that money from you.

Also, I can't believe you just said you are OK with doing less rides/attractions on the new system, while you will be paying more (prices went up again already) ...

I always speak 100% facts... on every 5th Tuesday of the month, that is. And remember; 78.3% of all statistics are made up on the spot. I know this for a fact.

Yes, it is all my opinion.

I do tend to be a Pollyanna, but so far I have given Disney a LOT of money and in return they have given me an awesome experience. Every. Single. Time. (Days here and there in 80 through 83, A few other days here and there, longer trips in late 80's, 90's and then our first onsite in 2000, and again in 2012. We are going again this September.)

When I say I don't mind a little less, I am only talking about FP. I think getting 5 or 6 and more a day was not what Disney intended and I was one of the many here that knew how to game the system. We would calculate, and run, and get the max out of it. But, many did not use it. I understand that Disney needs to help as many people as possible have a good experience and not just we "invested" planners. So I am OK if they give me less fast passes because I know I will get to ride what I want anyway by taking advantage of EMH and the first and last two hours in the parks. Looking at the big picture and long term, attendance will go up. I want those people to have a good experience. This will get them to spend money and return to spend more. This will ensure that the Disney I love not only survives, but can expand and improve. Therefore, being willing to get a little less FP is for my own good in the long run.

MickeyMinnieMom: If the system is imperfect when you are there and it causes a substantial problem or loss, go to guest services and see what they can do about it. They hand out FP's now as a "sorry," I think they will do so while this has bugs until it is running smoothly.

 

[meaneyka]

Great synopsis and I absolutely agree!

A CM on chat told me only on site guests can get FP+

 

[Robo]

A CM on chat told me only on site guests can get FP+

That's not the case, based on everything that we DO know from Disney's limited info.

 

[DVCBELLE]

A CM on chat told me only on site guests can get FP+

And people are worried about "made up" info on this thread!?!?!

At least none of us are posing as CMs on the official WDW chat!

 

[999DoomBuggies]

Lets hope this new fast pass system never ever pans out. This is a terrible idea and I am very hard press to criticize anything disney does. These are the days I wish disney and universal could swap management. I want disney retain best status.

 

[Traveliz]

A CM on chat told me only on site guests can get FP+

I wonder if they meant that as of now only on site guests are (sometimes) testing FP+

Liz

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

MickeyMinnieMom: If the system is imperfect when you are there and it causes a substantial problem or loss, go to guest services and see what they can do about it. They hand out FP's now as a "sorry," I think they will do so while this has bugs until it is running smoothly.

I suspect you're right -- and we certainly will avail ourselves of "sorry" FP's if that happens. With Disney's IT track record, I would be surprised if this didn't happen to people early on.

All in all, I'm cautiously optimistic in the short term, and quite optimistic for the long term. My first WDW trip was in... 1994. Then we've been going 1-2 per year since 2005. I've been to DL dozens of times (though not in many years). We've ALWAYS had a blast - every time - no matter what. They've improved their offerings - in our view - over the years, and based on that track record I expect the same here... perhaps after a few implementation bumps and adjustments for guest feedback. But how else could they do it, right?

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[babydovesx2]

I wish they would forget about trying FP+ and do a modified version of what they experimented with a few years back at AK. They moved all the FP kiosk to the front of the park so there was no RD dash. I think guests would like it better if they could get 3 FPs for the day at a kiosk as they enter the park. The system could be programed so that each FP is 2 hours apart so that you won't have to worry about not making it to the next FP on time. As a perk for onsite guests have kiosks set up at the resorts for them to use prior to leaving for the park each day.

I am a micro manager. I plan most every detail about our trips out. I even make a list of things I need to do prior to leaving and schedule a day to do them on. But the one thing I don't plan is what times I will be at each ride throughout the parks. Trying to plan rides 60 days in advance is going to be difficult.

 

[mom2rtk]

I am a micro manager. I plan most every detail about our trips out. I even make a list of things I need to do prior to leaving and schedule a day to do them on. But the one thing I don't plan is what times I will be at each ride throughout the parks. Trying to plan rides 60 days in advance is going to be difficult.

On the up side, if they do limit everyone to just 3 Fps per day, at least it won't be THAT big of a job to do!

And people think I'm not optimistic enough about this new system.

 

[d1gitman]

...Trying to plan rides 60 days in advance is going to be difficult.

personally, i don't see where this will be a big an issue as thought to be. many of us are used to planning ADR's up to 180 days out...which requires determining which park you will be in on what day. It also means planning around parades, in park events and locations within the park that you anticipate being in if you don't want to trek across the park for an ADR. so if we want to prebook 3 attractions i just don't see how that is any more or less challenging than an ADR. wouldn't be too hard to correlate where in the park you would be for meals (TS or CS) and what prebooked FP+'s would be in those general locations.

 

[doggydoc]

I am a micro manager. I plan most every detail about our trips out. I even make a list of things I need to do prior to leaving and schedule a day to do them on. But the one thing I don't plan is what times I will be at each ride throughout the parks. Trying to plan rides 60 days in advance is going to be difficult.

Interesting as you would seem the exact person this system was intended to excite. If it is not for the uber planners then who is it for?