FP+ is Live! Magic Bands in the park!

[doconeill]

Then you heard him say it was new information, that it was a source he trusted and, very emphatically I might add, that you could not get FP's at a second park .

I didn't notice him say it was new, although he might have...it was all the same original information, though. 3 FP+ booked in advance for one park.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

But, Disney is subject to real-world physical limitations.
Some of those include:
Ride capacity per hour
Hours of operation per day
Popularity of attraction
Need to allow space for "standby guests" to load as well as FP
Frequency and propensity for breakdowns

Many of us here know quite a bit about those things and how Disney has
handled them with the regular FP system
(and how things have changed since they have 'adjusted" the regular
FP system pending the arrival of FP+.)

We know that the "best of intentions" can fall short as "new ideas" come to fruition.

The "new" JCP (J C Penny) was an outstanding flop, despite the best of intentions (and millions upon millions in cash-outlay.)
And, just this last month Penny's corporate had to issue a nationwide mea culpa
and attempt to "put things back" the way their customers wanted them.

Kodak is riding in the last roundup.
Hallmark Cards, once a corporate mainstay, is foundering.
Radio Shack may not make 2015 (or 14.)
Circuit City? Toast.
Big corporations can perpetrate some bad (very bad) decisions.
And, it is the PUBLIC who pronounces their verdict.

We, here on the DIS, are a big part of Disney Parks' "public."

Many of us are rooting for Disney, as we are major fans.

But, we are also major CRITICS when we see something that
appears to be headed down the wrong path.

Warning lights are going off.
Is someone at corporate paying attention?

I hope so..... I really do.

 

[doconeill]

P.S....I still think it is a possibility that same-day FP+ won't happen. What's funny is we've had "insiders" insist it both ways.

I'm probably about 50-50 right now. IF you get them same day, I'm about 95% certain you can only get one per attraction for that day.

As someone in the live chat asked approximately how many FPs you can get in a single day now, which is completely based on how long the park is open, how busy it is, etc. I threw out about 7-8 on a typical busy 12 hour day. So limiting it to 3 is a little less than half. It may be their intention to stop the power users and get more FP+ into the hands of the other guests, as was stated by a former poster.

 

[jimim]

Have you tried to use the new Disney website and/or My Disney Experience app lately?...

I got nothing done at work today cause I was hell bent on trying to get ADR invites off to friends. 5 hrs later and no success and no work done.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

THIS! Some people don't pay attention now, with everyone starting down at their phones it will be a mess! Gridlock, people bumping into you, not paying attention to their kids or where other people are... I am picturing this in my head and it is NOT pretty! I love that Disney WORLD is just that - it's own little world and I never even thought about having my phone with me in years past... I like being in the world and kind of forgetting the outside! I think this really could put a damper on the magic.

Absolutely.

 

[Sammie]

Well the nay-sayers can say they are going down the wrong path and others can say that instead of remaining stagnant like those companies not thriving, Disney is moving ahead with new advancements.

In my opinion the current system was broke anyway and yes possibly some of that Disney has to take blame for. I see this as an improvement for more people instead of those that knew how to make the whole program work for them. Not blaming anyone that did it, just that the average guest was out of that loop.

What many on forums have to remember, Disney does not have to make me, or anyone else in this discussion happy. They don't even need us to keep coming back. All they need is enough others to come back and enjoy the experience to be successful.

I personally am looking forward to the program, let the fun begin.

 

[doggydoc]

Well the nay-sayers can say they are going down the wrong path and others can say that instead of remaining stagnant like those companies not thriving, Disney is moving ahead with new advancements.

In my opinion the current system was broke anyway and yes possibly some of that Disney has to take blame for. I see this as an improvement for more people instead of those that knew how to make the whole program work for them. Not blaming anyone that did it, just that the average guest was out of that loop.

What many on forums have to remember, Disney does not have to make me, or anyone else in this discussion happy. They don't even need us to keep coming back. All they need is enough others to come back and enjoy the experience to be successful.

I personally am looking forward to the program, let the fun begin.

If "the average guest" was "out of the loop" on regular FP how in the world is FP+ going to be easier for them?

 

[mesaboy2]

If "the average guest" was "out of the loop" on regular FP how in the world is FP+ going to be easier for them?

A most excellent question--one that I have seen no answer for.

 

[Angel Ariel]

If "the average guest" was "out of the loop" on regular FP how in the world is FP+ going to be easier for them?

This is my main question. If people don't care to learn about FP now, which is a spontaneous/day of decision - what makes Disney think those same people will take the time to learn about FP+ to pre-book?

 

[doconeill]

This is my main question. If people don't care to learn about FP now, which is a spontaneous/day of decision - what makes Disney think those same people will take the time to learn about FP+ to pre-book?

Marketing.

Resort guests, at least, will be inundated with it. Online checkin? "Hey, did you know you can also now pre-book a Fastpass+ for your favorite rides?"

Even though pretty much anyone will be able to do it, I think 90% of the utilizers will be resort guests. Then it can give them some teeth if they pull it back and make it a resort guest feature only.

 

[DisneyDoc5]

If "the average guest" was "out of the loop" on regular FP how in the world is FP+ going to be easier for them?

Fabulous insight! Wonder if the Disney wizards have asked themselves this 1 billion dollar question!?!

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Well the nay-sayers can say they are going down the wrong path and others can say that instead of remaining stagnant like those companies not thriving, Disney is moving ahead with new advancements.

In my opinion the current system was broke anyway and yes possibly some of that Disney has to take blame for. I see this as an improvement for more people instead of those that knew how to make the whole program work for them. Not blaming anyone that did it, just that the average guest was out of that loop.

What many on forums have to remember, Disney does not have to make me, or anyone else in this discussion happy. They don't even need us to keep coming back. All they need is enough others to come back and enjoy the experience to be successful.

I personally am looking forward to the program, let the fun begin.

If "the average guest" was "out of the loop" on regular FP how in the world is FP+ going to be easier for them?

A most excellent question.

Exactly...as I mentioned before that I talked with a mom that will be going to Disney for the 17th time and had not heard anything about FP+ or the new Disney app. She does everything by phone and doesn't do anything with Disney's website. So how will this be better for their family or my DB's family that I will no longer go to Disney with because they will NEVER make any plans in advance!! They will wait and buy their tickets when they get there, are staying off-site and will have NO idea what park they will be going to until they leave their room in the morning. I am willing to bet there are a many families just like them. Anytime I try to talk with someone getting ready to go to Disney about making plans I get looks like I am crazy. To the point I don't say anything unless they ask a question.

So I have asked many times and have never gotten an answer that really makes sense, how will Disney reach these people to set up their FP+s when they have been unable to reach many of them on how FP works as it is now?

So...who is the "average" guest you are talking about? It surely can't be the non-planners. Non-planners are non-planners by nature and nothing Disney does will change a great number of them. Non-planners will no more be in the loop with FP+ than they are with FP.

Edited to add: The family that will be heading to Disney for the 17th time always stay on-site and was still in the dark about the Disney app and anything about FP+.

 

[mesaboy2]

Marketing.

Resort guests, at least, will be inundated with it. Online checkin? "Hey, did you know you can also now pre-book a Fastpass+ for your favorite rides?"

Even though pretty much anyone will be able to do it, I think 90% of the utilizers will be resort guests. Then it can give them some teeth if they pull it back and make it a resort guest feature only.

Sorry, I don't think that'll be even close to enough. Stacy tries to sell FP about every 15 minutes on the first channel the room TV is tuned to when powered on. Every park map mentions how it works. Lots of clueless people besides.

 

[doconeill]

Sorry, I don't think that'll be even close to enough. Stacy tries to sell FP about every 15 minutes on the first channel the room TV is tuned to when powered on. Every park map mentions how it works. Lots of clueless people besides.

But none of those actually get you to the park and do it.

But a simply link from the online check-in page, and they enter a whole new world...pick your MagicBand colors, pick a park, pick a pre-selected FP+ set...done. And you didn't even have to stand up.

Will it work? I don't know. But I think they will probably have at least some more success over newbs with it.

 

[mesaboy2]

But none of those actually get you to the park and do it.

But a simply link from the online check-in page, and they enter a whole new world...pick your MagicBand colors, pick a park, pick a pre-selected FP+ set...done. And you didn't even have to stand up.

Will it work? I don't know. But I think they will probably have at least some more success over newbs with it.

That level of simplicity seems optimistic based on track record. And, how many people use online checkin anyway? And those that do, how many will be willing and prepared to pick their park days right then and there?

You're right though, who knows how well any of this will work. It will be an interesting evolution regardless.

 

[Robo]

It may be their intention to stop the power users and get more FP+ into the hands of the other guests, as was stated by a former poster.

I don't see that as the "intent" so much as it may actually be a "result."

"Result" of needing X number of FP+ positions ("Advance Attraction Reservations") to offer per day to so many guests.
That's borne out by the addition of so many MORE attractions that will offer
FP+("Advance Attraction Reservations,") many of which don't normally need
a FP of any kind. Plus, the inclusion of events into the FP+ system.
Parade FP+, Fireworks FP+, Fantasmic! FP+, all of which may offer various strata of "advantage" as guests
must still likely "show up early" in order to (hopefully) gain a better viewing position in the designated viewing area.

Back to my original point-
If "stopping power users" was the "intent," they could have limited the number of FP's per attraction and/or per person at any time within the last 12 years with just some new lines of computer code.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Marketing.

Resort guests, at least, will be inundated with it. Online checkin? "Hey, did you know you can also now pre-book a Fastpass+ for your favorite rides?"

Even though pretty much anyone will be able to do it, I think 90% of the utilizers will be resort guests. Then it can give them some teeth if they pull it back and make it a resort guest feature only.

IMO, it's fairly well marketed now and you still have people who think you have to pay for it. While I was planning this last trip for my family, my uncle was telling my dad how he and his wife didn't use FP because they didn't want to spend the money on it. I tried explaining that it was free and I was adamantly told I was wrong.

Marketing can't (and won't) fix everything.

 

[Angel Ariel]

But none of those actually get you to the park and do it.

But a simply link from the online check-in page, and they enter a whole new world...pick your MagicBand colors, pick a park, pick a pre-selected FP+ set...done. And you didn't even have to stand up.

Will it work? I don't know. But I think they will probably have at least some more success over newbs with it.

That's assuming people use online check in. We stay at SOG, so that's not an option for us - yet FP+ will be (if the terms and conditions remain accurate as they are now). There are many thousands of others (I'm sure) who stay offsite who will also have access to FP+, but not online check in.

 

[bcrook]

A little off topic, but I think there is a little connection. At least I am curious. How did so many people figure out be our guest books up 180 + 10 days in advance of trips? How did that information get out? Is it all disboard people?

I understand that table reservations for dinner are in the hundreds per night and FP+ for TSMM will be thousands, but somehow enough people know to totally book up the attractions. How does that happen if most people are not in the know?

 

[Squidgyness]

Also assuming people can figure out the IT aspects. Many people I know who are no luddites still have issues with aspects of IT. Who wants to be fighting an app on vacation anyway?

They are going to have to push this like there is no tomorrow. Even more so than fastpass is pushed now.

Also, all the articles I have read mention day of fastpasses. They wouldn't put kiosks in the park just for checking the times of your pre-booked passes. It just remains to be seen how many will be available on the day, if they hold some back.