FP+ Details Are Out!

[rastuso]

Well, THAT might be addressed if a tour group was all registered as "one large group" with MDE.

Of course, doing that can generate it's own set of different FP+ problems for others in the same park on the same day.

Who would want a large group? Anything more than 4 would likely GREATLY reduce you chances of grabbing all those TSMM FP+s for night rides that everyone thinks are going to pop up all day.

Jason

 

[mom2rtk]

The biggest problem i see in trying to figure out hte intricacies of the FP+ system is we don't have the hard number data on guests levels, FP's, crowd trends...Disney does. the FP system and the FP+ system are nothing more than mathematics. If Einstein was able to come up with the theory of relativity and man has been on the moon, then i think it's safe to say there are people outside of the DIS, who work at Disney who are smart enough to utilize the data that exists and calculate what is feasible.

I'd really like to believe all that. But then I'm pretty sure Disney is aware of all the IT problems their customers have encountered and continue to encounter. Yet, apparently awareness of that problem has not resulted in Disney finding a way to cure that problem.

That one piece of it keeps me from even picking up the glass of Kool-Aid, let alone taking my first sip.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

The biggest problem i see in trying to figure out hte intricacies of the FP+ system is we don't have the hard number data on guests levels, FP's, crowd trends...Disney does. the FP system and the FP+ system are nothing more than mathematics. If Einstein was able to come up with the theory of relativity and man has been on the moon, then i think it's safe to say there are people outside of the DIS, who work at Disney who are smart enough to utilize the data that exists and calculate what is feasible.

ETA: but I agree that it's baffling that Disney still seems to take quite a long time to get the IT piece 100% right - though I think they've gotten better the last couple of years.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[ExBellhop]

But, what we have seen has led us to doubt Disney's ANTICIPATION of PROBLEMS. The problems that we here have been seeing on the horizon (based on how guests use current protocols) and have been discussing for months.

The "unwarranted panic" attributed by some posters to questions of "what-if's" on these threads is annoying.

The thing that bothers me most about the "panic'ers" is that no one seems to be giving Disney the benefit of the doubt. No one is willing to believe that there's more going on than what you can see.

You say you're basing it on what you can see. That's fine. But then people go a step further and say, "I'm not going to Disney for the next X years because it's going to be a major disaster" and that just seems overdramatic to me.

You truly believe that this company, that has existed for 40+ years in this industry, is going to do this thing *so wrong* as to alienate/eliminate a substantial chunk of their paying customers?

I was lucky enough to be on the opening crew for FastPass at Tower, and it was tough, frustrating, and confusing. Policies were tweaked every day. But it got ironed out. It works. Guests can make it work, very much to their advantage (as this board proves time and again). That's the track record that I'm holding Disney to. It is based on tested fact.

I think Disney has earned that amount of respect.

 

[mom2rtk]

ETA: but I agree that it's baffling that Disney still seems to take quite a long time to get the IT piece 100% right - though I think they've gotten better the last couple of years.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

How have they gotten better? The BOG fiasco was just last August (although that was equal parts planning failure and IT failure) and the MDE app was introduced earlier this year. Does anyone consider that to be evidence of an improvement?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

The thing that bothers me most about the "panic'ers" is that no one seems to be giving Disney the benefit of the doubt. No one is willing to believe that there's more going on than what you can see.

You say you're basing it on what you can see. That's fine. But then people go a step further and say, "I'm not going to Disney for the next X years because it's going to be a major disaster" and that just seems overdramatic to me.

You truly believe that this company, that has existed for 40+ years in this industry, is going to do this thing *so wrong* as to alienate/eliminate a substantial chunk of their paying customers?

I was lucky enough to be on the opening crew for FastPass at Tower, and it was tough, frustrating, and confusing. Policies were tweaked every day. But it got ironed out. It works. Guests can make it work, very much to their advantage (as this board proves time and again). That's the track record that I'm holding Disney to. It is based on tested fact.

I think Disney has earned that amount of respect.

I agree. And FWIW, I've had people PM me here and there who agree but won't dare post because of the reaction "dissenters" to the popular wisdom get. Not from everyone all the time, obviously, but it's tough to swim against the tide on DIS!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

How have they gotten better? The BOG fiasco was just last August (although that was equal parts planning failure and IT failure) and the MDE app was introduced earlier this year. Does anyone consider that to be evidence of an improvement?

Gotcha. I guess what I mean is that the IT offerings themselves no longer appear to be years behind (as I think they were for a time), and my personal sense is that the problems seem to get addressed more quickly.

Am I thrilled with Disney IT? Not yet!! I'm the paper copy person, remember? I just feel that there has been some improvement. Would love to see it get better faster, though.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[larryz]

I agree. And FWIW, I've had people PM me here and there who agree but won't dare post because of the reaction "dissenters" to the popular wisdom get. Not from everyone all the time, obviously, but it's tough to swim against the tide on DIS!

I firmly believe WDW will eventually iron out the kinks. And I'm not afraid to say so.

That said, I will not subject myself to being an in-park beta tester when I've got thousands of dollars riding on the matter.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I firmly believe WDW will eventually iron out the kinks. And I'm not afraid to say so.

That said, I will not subject myself to being an in-park beta tester when I've got thousands of dollars riding on the matter.

Posted from my Asus CM6730-08 using Windows 8

LOL! I hear ya'!!

Btw: I need to get around to turning that auto "sent from..." message, don't I?? LOL!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

LOL! I hear ya'!!

Btw: I need to get around to turning that auto "sent from..." message, don't I?? LOL!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I think I did it... Testing... 1, 2, 3...

 

[d1gitman]

I firmly believe WDW will eventually iron out the kinks. And I'm not afraid to say so.

That said, I will not subject myself to being an in-park beta tester when I've got thousands of dollars riding on the matter.

actually, I have emailed the CM who handled a complaint of ours from last year, to let him know we would be glad to be a beta tester on our upcoming trip, if possible.

we had RFID issues with our KTTW in March and it actually worked to our benefit with regards to FP'ing

 

[larryz]

actually, I have emailed the CM who handled a complaint of ours from last year, to let him know we would be glad to be a beta tester on our upcoming trip, if possible.

we had RFID issues with our KTTW in March and it actually worked to our benefit with regards to FP'ing

Maybe if it were just me going, I'd be less skeptical. I'm normally an early adopter when I see a benefit to new technology.

But when I'm bringing the family along, I want a reasonable expectation that it's going to work as designed, especially considering the $$$ we spend to get and stay there.

I haven't seen that yet with FP+/MagicBands.

<---------- That's why I'm...

 

[ExBellhop]

<---------- That's why I'm...

Just FYI, this arrow doesn't work as well when viewed on the app. It's actually pointing to my wife.

 

[agavegirl1]

From the Disney Park Blog 1/7/2013 by Tom Staggs:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...13_NGE_MDX_DOM_Exact|G|4131321.NG.AM.01.01U4S

Video of Tom Staggs interview at D11 conference 5/29/2013:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/mymag...s-joins-d11-conference-to-talk-magicbands.htm

From this interview in case you don’t want to watch it:

The magic band substitutes for all entitlements of your ticket.

Magic bands are free.

Allowing you to pre-arrange your attractions instead of using a “FP runner” decreases guest anxiety.

Bands are non-transferrable and person specific.

Purchases over $50 require a PIN

Kids can be set up for charging privileges up to your pre-set amount.

You can elect to add a public name to the band for use by characters and interactive elements of attractions.

Mickey will be able to speak and use a released name.

Magic Bands due not have GPS, but readers in the park will track when a particular band passes it in the park. You will not be “tracked per se”.

Testing has shown one of the most commonly requested things to reserve are parade and fireworks viewing areas. MME and Magic Bands can help crowd control.

Special Character M&Gs could be set up in the parks to alleviate crowding and messages or tweets could go out to guests to notify them.
Personalization (bling) will be available for purchase.

Pre-order for BOG CS can be done from home (no mention of other CS restaurants). Guests can walk through the Mickey Reader, sit down and your food will be delivered.

And a direct Quote from Tom Staggs:
“People want to make interaction with their smart phones part of how they get into the moment with us and facilitate their vacation so we’re adapting this mobile first philosophy”



Terms and Conditions from official Walt Disney World website:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/media/park-experience-terms-and-conditions.html

 

[rastuso]

The thing that bothers me most about the "panic'ers" is that no one seems to be giving Disney the benefit of the doubt. No one is willing to believe that there's more going on than what you can see.

You say you're basing it on what you can see. That's fine. But then people go a step further and say, "I'm not going to Disney for the next X years because it's going to be a major disaster" and that just seems overdramatic to me.

You truly believe that this company, that has existed for 40+ years in this industry, is going to do this thing *so wrong* as to alienate/eliminate a substantial chunk of their paying customers?

I was lucky enough to be on the opening crew for FastPass at Tower, and it was tough, frustrating, and confusing. Policies were tweaked every day. But it got ironed out. It works. Guests can make it work, very much to their advantage (as this board proves time and again). That's the track record that I'm holding Disney to. It is based on tested fact.

I think Disney has earned that amount of respect.

But FP+ is ToT FP rollout times a hundred. Yeah, in that case things were ironed out, but who in their right mind would spend thousands on a vacation to be at WDW while things are being "ironed out" on how you get FPs for every ride in the resort?

Would you really write of a vacation as "Well, I spent thousands to be a guinea pig for Disney's new billion dollar plan of making more money. I only got 4 big rides a day, but it was a great vacation, and I'm excited to know that due to my sacrifice, on my next trip everything will be even better, and I may get five rides."

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Another thing I thought about---

With the current system lets say we have 2 Adults and 2 Kids, I will get 4 Fp for RNRC and the 2 adults can ride 2x each, switching off to stay with the kids. With the new system this wouldn't be possible would it? Or would I just need to swap Magic bands with the kids for the adult to use the kids FP??? Surely I am not the only person who does this?

 

[rastuso]

actually, I have emailed the CM who handled a complaint of ours from last year, to let him know we would be glad to be a beta tester on our upcoming trip, if possible.

we had RFID issues with our KTTW in March and it actually worked to our benefit with regards to FP'ing

So you are saying problems are OK because in your one particular instance, it helped you?

And everyone on here would love to be a beta tester, if it was like the one that just happened.

Would you like to be a beta tester when it was a test where all resort guests went to FP+ only? When is your trip? Does FP even matter when you're going?

Jason

 

[rastuso]

Another thing I thought about---

With the current system lets say we have 2 Adults and 2 Kids, I will get 4 Fp for RNRC and the 2 adults can ride 2x each, switching off to stay with the kids. With the new system this wouldn't be possible would it? Or would I just need to swap Magic bands with the kids for the adult to use the kids FP??? Surely I am not the only person who does this?

You're absolutely not. I must assume Disney wont care who is using the band. If they do, that's a whole other level is suckiness for this.

Jason

 

[d1gitman]

So you are saying problems are OK because in your one particular instance, it helped you?
And everyone on here would love to be a beta tester, if it was like the one that just happened.

Would you like to be a beta tester when it was a test where all resort guests went to FP+ only? When is your trip? Does FP even matter when you're going?

Jason

no, i'm saying i'm not afraid of problems because they were rectified in past instances. no, i don't think i'm special, everyone else encountering the same problem we had were given the same resolution.

yes, i would like to be a beta tester...hence my contacting a CM in guest relations to let him know so, just in case that affords us the opportunity to become a beta tester in August.

FP always matters to us when we go. High or low crowds, we utilize them.

any other questions?

 

[rastuso]

From the Disney Park Blog 1/7/2013 by Tom Staggs:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...13_NGE_MDX_DOM_Exact|G|4131321.NG.AM.01.01U4S

Video of Tom Staggs interview at D11 conference 5/29/2013:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/mymag...s-joins-d11-conference-to-talk-magicbands.htm

From this interview in case you don’t want to watch it:

Testing has shown one of the most commonly requested things to reserve are parade and fireworks viewing areas. MME and Magic Bands can help crowd control.


Terms and Conditions from official Walt Disney World website:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/media/park-experience-terms-and-conditions.html

While this was true, since he was talking after only the tiered tests were done, where these were the obvious choices for the lower tier, these tests weren't even remotely close to the reality that will be FP+.

The propaganda for this is going to be scary

"We'll yes, Mr. Lateplanner, all the FPs are gone for all our big rides, after all, it is 10:30 am. However, this Magic Kiosk can get you a seat for this afternoon's "Fastpass+ is a Magical Wonderment" parade. Tests showed that this is one of the best uses for FP+. And if you do this now, I can also get you seats for the 9 pm Country Bear Jamboree show as a bonus! Just click here."

Jason