FP+ Details Are Out!

[Shaden]

hopefully the key to your scenario is that they will allow same day FP+ in addition to the initial 3 prebooked FP+'s. otherwise, yes, those who do marathon days will be shorthanded and be stuck with standby lines. of course, maybe stand by lines will actually improve...everything is yet to be seen.

i could see where maybe the whole 3 FP+ prebook thing is being interpreted as going to be 3 FP+ only when maybe it will be a max of 3 FP+ prebooked but then allowedo add FP+ as a FP+ is used up, just not allowed to exceed more than 3 FP+ bookings at a time. if that is the case, it could be great, cause as it is now, we are only allowd 1 FP at a time and no stacking of FP's for late returns. it alsow would make it so that if you plan to be in the park all day, it's best to get your FP+'s for earlier slots so that you can keep adding more as the day goes on. in this scenario, i would think going RD and doing stand by would be optimal wiht using the 3 FP+'s up during late morning mid day so that more can be added in afternoon/evening slots. again, that is IF they allow more FP+'s to be had.

I agree that this is a KEY piece of information, but we really don't have any reason to think that they will continue to allow for more then 3 FPs per day. While we do have reason to think that they will not. We have heard from several people that part of the reasoning behind FP+ is to limit the number of FPs being used in order to shorten stand-by lines. While we have had many people say you will be able to pre-book 3FPs for your favourite attractions, and alter them as you need, but I don't think we have seen anyone add in that you will be able to pull additional FPs through the day... which, you would think that they would have ...

 

[jade1]

I stood in line to get my DS a Nook at midnight at Wal-Mart this past Black Friday. Along with many other people. They didn't keep half of their special stock, turn away those at the end of the line and start selling the rest of the stock of Nooks again at 8:00 a.m. for that special pricing.

[/U]

So you got it at midnight? Or at 8AM?

 

[wookiebeck]

{edit}

But since Disney won't spend money on new rides, they must enforce FP+ to limit everyone's rides. They can't limit your park time, without creating a huge revolt, but they CAN enforce limits on your fun, under the guise of "awesome new technology".

That is what they are doing. The parades/fireworks/B ticket FP+s are all just a red herring to make you feel like things are the same.

Nice post! +1

Marketing people are doing the same thing at the supermarket; less food (for same or more $$), new package, advertising how 'improved' it is.

Keep those stockholders happy at all costs!

 

[doconeill]

I agree that this is a KEY piece of information, but we really don't have any reason to think that they will continue to allow for more then 3 FPs per day. While we do have reason to think that they will not. We have heard from several people that part of the reasoning behind FP+ is to limit the number of FPs being used in order to shorten stand-by lines. While we have had many people say you will be able to pre-book 3FPs for your favourite attractions, and alter them as you need, but I don't think we have seen anyone add in that you will be able to pull additional FPs through the day... which, you would think that they would have ...

The only thing running in that favor is the fact that all testing has allowed the use of regular FP in addition to FP+...but we also know they want to get rid of "traditional FP", and it is unclear if there will be any sort of spiritual replacement (insert Haunted Mansion organ music if you choose)...

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

But Disney looks at it this way: the folks spending 6 hours paid the same as your family spending more than double that time. Your family is the problem with them running out of ride slots on all their rides. Nevermind that Splash Mountain was the last major ride at the MK.

It's clear Disney wants to push everyone into the "go to the park, return to the resort for a swim and nap, hit dinner somewhere, and return to a park for a couple hours at night" group. I don't pay nearly $100 a day to spend hours traveling around, and taking naps, or swim in a pool I can swim in on a day I don't pay for park entry.

But since Disney won't spend money on new rides, they must enforce FP+ to limit everyone's rides. They can't limit your park time, without creating a huge revolt, but they CAN enforce limits on your fun, under the guise of "awesome new technology".

That is what they are doing. The parades/fireworks/B ticket FP+s are all just a red herring to make you feel like things are the same.

Jason

But we are off-site guest and once we leave there is a VERY good chance that Disney will not be getting anymore of our money for that day. I thought the goal was to keep us in the parks to spend more money.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

So you got it at midnight? Or at 8AM?

I got it at mid-night. There were none at 8:00 a.m. They sold them all to those that got to the store and stood in line before midnight.

 

[Robo]

I got it at mid-night. There were none at 8:00 a.m. They sold them all to those that got to the store and stood in line before midnight.

"First come-first served."

What a concept!

 

[Buckeye218]

Imagine the conversation we'd be having instead, if they had announced a new E ticket in every park, and they were also switching to the existing RFID technology places like Great Wolf Lodge have been using for almost a decade.

From a park patron perspective, I would love this, but with Disney's park attendance booming even during an economic downturn, what would be their financial incentive to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to create new E-ticket rides in every park? How would you convince the board that this is necessary or advisable and would provide an acceptable return on investment?

From a cold-blooded, dollars and cents standpoint, I don't think the corporate executives much care if Disney fanactics like Fastpass+ or not; that's for the marketing department to handle. I think they only care that it will become a major new revenue stream.

 

[squirrel4569]

When you think about a trip over the course of a week, I wouldn't be surprised at all at some people using one of their slots for a parade or fireworks spot. We don't see the parades or fireworks each time we're in a park but do try to catch them at least once during the trip. Even still we're not incredibly upset if we miss one though.

Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Robo]

From a cold-blooded, dollars and cents standpoint, I don't think the corporate executives much care if Disney fanactics like Fastpass+ or not; that's for the marketing department to handle. I think they only care that it will become a major new revenue stream.

I can take aim directly at THAT one...

Why invest a BILLION new dollars... AT ALL...
if guest-counts are on-the-rise.

Just keep the money.

 

[lugnut33]

I can take aim directly at THAT one...

Why invest a BILLION new dollars... AT ALL...
if guest-counts are on-the-rise.

Just keep the money.

You are going to invest a billion dollars if you plan to make 2 billion off it.

ROI is probably better with this new FP+ than it would be building new attractions.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

"First come-first served."

What a concept!

That is just it. If it is going to be 60 days out, then let it be first come - first served at 60 days out. Not that I like that idea!!!! But for Disney to decide to keep FP+s for those that don't plan and limit my family just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. That is why I always felt the current FP system was so great. It was truly a first come - first served system.

The easiest way to "limit" all of us superusers is to get more people to use the current system. I've mentioned before, all Disney has to do is put big signs over all FP machines that say "FREE WITH ALL TICKETS!!!" Few people miss the word FREE.

 

[Buckeye218]

I can take aim directly at THAT one...

Why invest a BILLION new dollars... AT ALL...
if guest-counts are on-the-rise.

Just keep the money.

Just because park attendance numbers are on the rise doesn't mean they stop looking for ways to increase revenues and profits. They are apparently convinced that Fastpass+ as well as the information gleaned from the RFID tracking will be worth the investment. This certainly isn't an altruistic endeavor on Disney's part.

Is this what I would have done? Probably not. A better question might be is this what Walt would have done or wanted?

 

[Robo]

Just because park attendance numbers are on the rise doesn't mean they stop looking for ways to increase revenues and profits.

Then, build more E-ticket attractions.

(The cost of a new, from scratch attraction like that is right at $100 million.
One tenth the announced expenditure of FP+/MyMagic+.)

You were the one who suggested ride construction would be impracticable in your earlier post.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I can take aim directly at THAT one...

Why invest a BILLION new dollars... AT ALL...
if guest-counts are on-the-rise.

Just keep the money.

 

[doconeill]

You are going to invest a billion dollars if you plan to make 2 billion off it.

ROI is probably better with this new FP+ than it would be building new attractions.

Especially given the fact that this investment has the potential (old coach's saying..."Potential is something that you look back on and wish you actually had used...") to benefit EVERY park, at WDW, at DL, at DLP, TDL, etc...

Yes, I think we'd all like a couple new E-tickets at each park as well, but the cost of those would probably be in excess of the nextgen pricetag...

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

From a park patron perspective, I would love this, but with Disney's park attendance booming even during an economic downturn, what would be their financial incentive to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to create new E-ticket rides in every park? How would you convince the board that this is necessary or advisable and would provide an acceptable return on investment?

From a cold-blooded, dollars and cents standpoint, I don't think the corporate executives much care if Disney fanactics like Fastpass+ or not; that's for the marketing department to handle. I think they only care that it will become a major new revenue stream.

How about the double digit increase in attendance at Universal after the HP opening or the increase attendance from Carsland in Disneyland. Wouldn't that be ROI too?? New rides creates excitement and increases attendance. It has the added benefit of spreading out crowds too.

 

[xipetotec]

Just because park attendance numbers are on the rise doesn't mean they stop looking for ways to increase revenues and profits. They are apparently convinced that Fastpass+ as well as the information gleaned from the RFID tracking will be worth the investment. This certainly isn't an altruistic endeavor on Disney's part.

Is this what I would have done? Probably not. A better question might be is this what Walt would have done or wanted?

Well now Walt was always about Progress, new technologies, he might have actually gotten a kick out of the POTENTIAL here. Again, we have to see what the whole plan will look like once it rolls out.

Besides... Walt was moving away from the theme park game anyway.

 

[Buckeye218]

Then, build more E-ticket attractions.

(The cost of a new, from scratch attraction like that is right at $100 million.
One tenth the "announced" expenditure of FP+/MyMagic+.)

You were the one who suggested that would be impracticable in your earlier post.

How does the creation of new e-ticket attractions increase profits and revenues when the parks are setting attendance records now with the current attractions?

I think Disney's current primary focus is how to make more money off the people currently in the parks, not how to dramatically increase attendance levels.

 

[doconeill]

Then, build more E-ticket attractions.

(The cost of a new, from scratch attraction like that is right at $100 million.
One tenth the announced expenditure of FP+/MyMagic+.)

You were the one who suggested ride construction would be impracticable in your earlier post.

It is really $100m per E-ticket, including design, construction, etc.? I'd expect it to be much more than that...depending on how much they can just duplicate (I'd of course prefer all originals...)