FP+ Details Are Out!

[MickeyMinnieMom]

So can you imagine the decision making process when you don't get what you want at 60 days, then have to decide if you need to change your trip dates to assure that you can really do the attractions you want?

I suppose I have a hard time picturing very many people exhibiting this behavior. I could be wrong, but my feeling here is that if riding particular attractions is so critical that you might change trip dates if you don't get an advanced FP+ reservation, perhaps worth an early rope drop morning to make sure you ride them?

 

[mom2rtk]

I suppose I have a hard time picture very many people exhibiting this behavior. I could be wrong, but my feeling here is that if riding particular attractions is so critical that you might change trip dates if you don't get an advanced FP+ reservation, perhaps worth an early rope drop morning to make sure you ride them?

And I had a hard time believing people actually made ADRs in every park for every day of their trip. But they did.

I know I wouldn't enjoy the stress of it all. If my trip was about seeing New Fantasyland, I wouldn't like knowing so much of the Mine Train FP total was gone before I even got there. Remember, it's not like the same day fastpass situation is going to be like it is now. Same day will just be a small subset of the total FPs once this rolls out. I see the Mine Train in particular being TSMM on steroids. CRT breakfast will be an even hotter ticket because it will put people closer to the FP machines at rope drop.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Probably. But I wouldn't enjoy the stress of it all. If my trip was about seeing New Fantasyland, I wouldn't like knowing so much of the Mine Train FP total was gone before I even got there. Remember, it's not like the same day fastpass situation is going to be like it is now. Same day will just be a small subset of the total FPs once this rolls out. I see the Mine Train in particular being TSMM on steroids. CRT breakfast will be an even hotter ticket because it will put people closer to the FP machines at rope drop.

I see all these points. The only thing I would say is that we don't know about this piece in BOLD -- they can set any ratio they want, for any ride, for any day, and change it whenever they'd like. This is a place where I would personally expect some... missteps as they experiment, but I'd expect they'd adjust well over time.

PS Is there a "fingers crossed" smilie?? If not, DISboard: we need one... if ONLY for this FP+ discussion!!

 

[mom2rtk]

I see all these points. The only thing I would say is that we don't know about this piece in BOLD -- they can set any ratio they want, for any ride, for any day, and change it whenever they'd like. This is a place where I would personally expect some... missteps as they experiment, but I'd expect they'd adjust well over time.

PS Is there a "fingers crossed" smilie?? If not, DISboard: we need one... if ONLY for this FP+ discussion!!

Hey, if someone found a smilie of someone beating a dead horse, I bet you could find one of a smilie crossing his fingers.

And yes, I know the ratio is highly likely to change. A lot. Just like I'm pretty sure the total numbers they ran through the system jumped all over the place over the course of the past year. What I'm saying is that for a ride that popular, I'm not convinced there's a level at which it balances. Too few for prebooking and people have 60 days to fret and complain. Too few for same day and people get frustrated a second time.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Hey, if someone found a smilie of someone beating a dead horse, I bet you could find one of a smilie crossing his fingers.

And yes, I know the ratio is highly likely to change. A lot. Just like I'm pretty sure the total numbers they ran through the system jumped all over the place over the course of the past year. What I'm saying is that for a ride that popular, I'm not convinced there's a level at which it balances. Too few for prebooking and people have 60 days to fret and complain. Too few for same day and people get frustrated a second time.

I agree that it will be a tricky balance... and there's no way to make everyone happy. I'm sure there's a lovely model, like "maximization of guest satisfaction on ride X" filled with complex algorithms for each ride that they plug numbers into looking for the magical balance on any given crowd level. Or so I hope.

And regardless, I suspect it takes a while to reach the best balance over time.

I still like the potential of this thing... IF THERE IS SOME INCARNATION OF SAME DAY FP+!!!

 

[Angel Ariel]

And also I don't think joe tourist is going to want to/know how to select the park they'll be in 60 days out. This fp+ seems like it will diminish everyone's experience to me.

I agree with this. We traveled with my family this past March, and they didn't even want to do anything with planning ADRs. If I'd told them we needed to do ride reservations before even getting there, they would have been completely overwhelmed.

 

[agavegirl1]

And to think this system is intended to reduce anxiety by assuring guests they will be able to experience their favorite attractions before they leave on vacation (or something to that effect) according to Tom Staggs in his recent interview at the "All Things Digital" Conference.

 

[Mad Hattered]

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

SO....what would happen someone that stays off-site reserved a room only and linked their ticket they already had, pre-booked their FP+s at 60 +10 days and then cancelled their room only reservation at say 50 days out. Would Disney cancel those FP+s?? And since I have no idea if you would get a full refund, I have no idea if anyone would think of doing this. Seems like a lot of work but....

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

AWESOME!! He's my FP+ mascot!!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

THANKS!!

I know some may find or or more appropriate, though...

 

[mom2rtk]

And Mad Hattered comes through!

SO....what would happen someone that stays off-site reserved a room only and linked their ticket they already had, pre-booked their FP+s at 60 +10 days and then cancelled their room only reservation at say 50 days out. Would Disney cancel those FP+s?? And since I have no idea if you would get a full refund, I have no idea if anyone would think of doing this. Seems like a lot of work but....

Nobody can answer that. Right now if you book a room and make a bunch of ADRs all I can say is that they most likely won't cancel your ADRs when you cancel the room. Most say they don't but when I called and changed our dates I found out later our ADRs had been cancelled at the same time. Which was fine, but it made me wonder how it would go for someone who was just cancelling a room because they found a better deal at an offsite hotel.

I know another time I made some ADRs then called to shorten our stay, and none of the ADRs I had made got cancelled.

AWESOME!! He's my FP+ mascot!!

LOL! Perfect!

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think it will stay free. It's kinda like Southwest Airlines not charging for luggage when the other airlines are. They've rolled it into the price but the perception from the public is more positive than with the other airlines. With Disney's overall focus on customer service I think they want to keep that perception. A trip to Disney is expensive enough as it is and the last thing they want to have is yet another charge the public can complain about.

Touring strategies will change and I'm pretty sure the power users will find new ways of maximizing the system. I also think it will be a bit more fluid than most do. Time will tell though.

I totally agree, I think a base number of FPs will remain free (probably 3).

But I think eventually there will be ways to buy more FPs outright, or Disney will use extra FPs as a way to get people to stay onsite, upgrade resorts, come during slow times, etc.

 

[WillAustin]

But I think eventually there will be ways to buy more FPs outright, or Disney will use extra FPs as a way to get people to stay onsite, upgrade resorts, come during slow times, etc.

I'd cross my fingers for that.

 

[WillAustin]

Most say they don't but when I called and changed our dates I found out later our ADRs had been cancelled at the same time. Which was fine, but it made me wonder how it would go for someone who was just cancelling a room because they found a better deal at an offsite hotel.

Were your ADRs tied to a reservation with the dining plan? That's the only way I'd think they'd be cancelled.

I guess with the MDX app and the way everything will be tied together, it might be more likely.

 

[mom2rtk]

Were your ADRs tied to a reservation with the dining plan? That's the only way I'd think they'd be cancelled.

I guess with the MDX app and the way everything will be tied together, it might be more likely.

Yes they were. I had linked them to get the +10 access. But on another trip I lopped off some dates and shortened up the trip and they didn't cancel any of them. I just think it's something some operators do and others don't. I know, shocking, huh?

I really do hope they cancel FP slots if someone cancels an onsite reservation. But that's a tough call when it's past 60 days. Who's to say they wouldn't have gotten those slots without the onsite +10 anyway?

 

[SRUAlmn]

I agree. Not sure about optimal ratio of reserved:same-day, but a "proper balance" of these -- infinitely adjustable given how it sounds the system works.

ITA. This is what I'd guess as well, given what's floating around so far. But again, that is for the more savvy user... not sure what % WE (yes, I'm including all of us here!) make up of a typical day in the parks...

You can get a small indication if you visit any of the monthly threads. For example, we were just there in June and there was a whole thread for those going in June. People's dates were scattered (not all Sat-Sat,) but there were only about 20-30 people who were there during the same week as us. Granted, not everyone necessarily joins those threads, but it gives you an idea of the hardcore DISers that are posting and researching and not just 'browsing.'

 

[d1gitman]

Yes...being able to buy (or include extra with resort stays) is an option they may explore down the road, but I don't think it is coming in the short term. They need to get this out there and judge the impact first.

I hope they do offer something like this down the road. I like that UIOA offers a pass at either a cost or as a perk to onsite guests.

It would be nice to have the option to spend my hard earned money while staying at a Disney motel or Disney resort on features that matter most to me. When we are on vacation we like to cut the purse strings loose and not be cheap, so for our family, paying for perks would be fantastic.

As far as them just getting it out there, I think a better rollout would have been to have phase one as replacing FP tickets with Magicband/RFID cards but still have the same FP rules...get the masses used to the technology first and give yourself time to tweak the hardware and software before rolling out radical changes to the functionality of the system with things like prebooking, etc.

 

[doconeill]

I hope they do offer something like this down the road. I like that UIOA offers a pass at either a cost or as a perk to onsite guests.

They offer an unlimited-use FOTL pass for guests of their current resorts (limited only by a couple attractions not supporting a FOTL access, like Forbidden Journey).

Non resort guests can purchase that pass, or a cheaper (price varies with season), single-use-per-attraction pass. However, I believe they only sell a limited number per day as well.

Guests at the new "value" resort being built will not get the Express Pass.

 

[d1gitman]

They offer an unlimited-use FOTL pass for guests of their current resorts (limited only by a couple attractions not supporting a FOTL access, like Forbidden Journey).

Non resort guests can purchase that pass, or a cheaper (price varies with season), single-use-per-attraction pass. However, I believe they only sell a limited number per day as well.

Guests at the new "value" resort being built will not get the Express Pass.

Yes, have used it on a few occasions in the past year while doing split trips to UIOA and WDW. For our liking, it would be nice if WDW adopted a system of paying for added FP+'s. I would have paid a nice premium for the dream passes that were handed out on occasion during YOMD.