FP+ is Live! Magic Bands in the park!

[maiapapaya]

Would this really speed things up much? Maybe saves 5 -10 minutes of line to order at most CS places, with maybe 10 minutes of waiting for food max cut out.

Getting a guaranteed table is the key thing people would want I reckon, but apparently that's not really a huge problem if they have CM's directing people... maybe they might cut those CM's out with a system of fastpassing tables? I don't like the segregation of counter service places. They are the last refuge for the impulse eater these days in busy months.

10-20 minutes saved... not that good a deal. Might only be for BOG, like you say that is the busiest standby line. Would seem a little pointless to design a menu-ordering system and integrate it into MyMagic software just for that though... any other places that might need fastpassing introduced?

Oh, I agree (just suggesting how this might work, since that doesn't seem clear at this point) With the exception of BOG, I don't really see the benefit. The benefit of going with CS has usually been the ability make eating decisions on the fly. If we want pre-arranged eating we'll make ADR's.

I can't really think of other CS spots besides BOG where there are huge lines. Could there be some benefit during peak times when there's lots of crowds in the parks? Or would it just complicate things?

 

[Squidgyness]

I can't really think of other CS spots besides BOG where there are huge lines. Could there be some benefit during peak times when there's lots of crowds in the parks? Or would it just complicate things?

Hmm... all I know is that when we went in 09, admittedly a while ago, around july 4th (not that day itself) we went to DHS and Backlot express counter service had a line of maybe 5-10 people at each CM station. Plenty of tables free.

And this wasn't late evening or early morning, either, I think it was around 1.30ish.

Not much point of getting a fastpass that day.

It's just going to end up like prebooking rides. Those who know which CS places actually need fastpasses used on them will prebook them before anyone else, and those who don't know (like newbies) will either pick what disney gives them for CS fastpass suggestions, or guess based on their limited knowledge. They could end up being valuable or necessary like for BOG, or not so wise choices.

Not only would rides become complicated, but the only simple system of food left standing (CS) would become complicated too.

So much for making a vacation simpler.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Yep, you are probably right.

Just wish they wouldn't go with the military operation approach to releasing information.

Surely even if they can't get it to work properly, they at least know what the system will be when it is working. Couldn't they tell us that?

As people have said, it's more and more clear that Disney still doesn't really know what they want from this, or what the final rules and limits will be. And that indicates a lot more testing ahead. I wouldn't expect any significant rollout till at least mid summer at the earliest, most likely late summer.

Not encouraging hopes of a reliable system any time soon really, and certainly not the best time to be debuting a new system, if there is such a thing.

Good news for people with trips booked in the next couple of months though.

That's what is so strange about it. It seems as though the "idea" was released well before all the details were thoroughly thought through which is ridiculous for such a major corporation! I can't imagine that if they had really thought through all the details there'd be this much of a delay. I'm a teacher, and this reminds me of school boards who make decisions for schools they've never stepped foot in. It seems as though some big cheese people are saying, hey, this looks good on paper, let's announce that we're doing it, but once they actually tested it there was a complete mess to clean up.

 

[marinejjh]

Does anyone know when they will start the FP+, we are going to WDW June 17-22, will it be live by then?

 

[mesaboy2]

Does anyone know when they will start the FP+, we are going to WDW June 17-22, will it be live by then?

No, and almost certainly no.

 

[mom2rtk]

That's what is so strange about it. It seems as though the "idea" was released well before all the details were thoroughly thought through which is ridiculous for such a major corporation! I can't imagine that if they had really thought through all the details there'd be this much of a delay. I'm a teacher, and this reminds me of school boards who make decisions for schools they've never stepped foot in. It seems as though some big cheese people are saying, hey, this looks good on paper, let's announce that we're doing it, but once they actually tested it there was a complete mess to clean up.

Maybe they (wrongly) thought that if they released just enough vague information, people would get excited and work up a lot of positive support for the program.

 

[Squidgyness]

That's what is so strange about it. It seems as though the "idea" was released well before all the details were thoroughly thought through which is ridiculous for such a major corporation! I can't imagine that if they had really thought through all the details there'd be this much of a delay. I'm a teacher, and this reminds me of school boards who make decisions for schools they've never stepped foot in. It seems as though some big cheese people are saying, hey, this looks good on paper, let's announce that we're doing it, but once they actually tested it there was a complete mess to clean up.

Exactly.

It's certainly not up to the standards Disney normally hit I think. Though, perhaps that's a case of universal getting better than they were, now Disney can't let off the gas pedal or they'll start losing their lead.

Maybe this is just a case of them aiming for the moon, running out of fuel halfway and parachuting back to earth with a bump. They can't be right 100% of the time I guess, I just hope they show humbleness (is that a word?) and either back down or modify it.

On the other hand if they see it failing and they decide to press on ahead regardless, not changing it enough or halting it completely while they have a rethink... it really could have the potential to be a trainwreck.

I'm not one to believe in conspiracy theories, but that staff change might just have jarred things a little bit... though obviously we aren't privy to the inside workings of Disney's higher echelon staff. It's just a wild guess... I guess

 

[magicbob]

Is it possible that for the CS the idea would be with the FP you pre-order your meal, then when you arrive at the restaurant you tap your band on a reader and it sends your order (which is already in the system) to the kitchen, then you would enter a separate "fast lane" for pick-up (not sure if anyone else has already suggested this) This could be expedited further by either requiring CC info tied in or DP for payment.

I still don't see the appeal of pre-ordering a CS meal, potentially a couple of months in advance, with the exception maybe of BOG.

I could be wrong, but I thought I read somewhere that you would pre-order your meal. As you said, you would then just scan your magic band and the order would be prepared. You would bypass the line of customers waiting to order. Some here have quoted 5-10 minutes, but I have seen much longer lines at CS places during busy times of the year (of course, I've only been IN those lines on a few occasions because we normally plan our lunch before or after the big rush).

I think this goes back to the marketing... convincing the first timer that they can pre-order their meal so they won't even have to wait in line for their lunch. At certain times of year and certain hours of the day, this could mean you don't have to wait as long. However, keep in mind that this target "80%er" may have to wait behind 10-20 (or maybe even 40) of his peers who also FP+'d their lunch at Cosmic Rays for high noon! To borrow from Robo, this is just one more way that this system will likely under-deliver what it has over-promised.

 

[BuzzBelleMom]

I have been following this thread since the beginning and a niggling question needs to come out:

How would FP+ affect those rather large groups of teenage tourists from other countries whose TG's run off to get them FP's?

I mean, theoretically Magic Bands will make an appearance and....

Okay, I think my brain is exploding

 

[maiapapaya]

...
I think this goes back to the marketing... convincing the first timer that they can pre-order their meal so they won't even have to wait in line for their lunch. At certain times of year and certain hours of the day, this could mean you don't have to wait as long. However, keep in mind that this target "80%er" may have to wait behind 10-20 (or maybe even 40) of his peers who also FP+'d their lunch at Cosmic Rays for high noon! To borrow from Robo, this is just one more way that this system will likely under-deliver what it has over-promised.

Just another way they've made this overly complicated it seems. I think Squidgy (I think that who said it) was right that they still could have done all this RDIF bit, and had the magic bands for tickets, room entry, FP kiosks, etc but left the FP+ part out (ie. pre-booking, including CS restaurants). People would have still thought it was "neat." I think they just got carried away with the concept.

Hopefully the "new management" is rethinking things and considering other areas where money might better be spent.

 

[magicbob]

I have been following this thread since the beginning and a niggling question needs to come out:

How would FP+ affect those rather large groups of teenage tourists from other countries whose TG's run off to get them FP's?

I mean, theoretically Magic Bands will make an appearance and....

Okay, I think my brain is exploding

Since the tour guides are pretty savvy when it comes to using the current FP system, I'm sure they would have read up on FP+ and pre-booked rides for their group. That said, if FP+ is "rationed" as we fear, those groups will be clogging up the standby lines more than they do now.

With a pre-booked FP+ for the group, there would be no need to go to a kiosk. Each member of the group would just use their individual magic band for entry into the FP+ line for that ride. If "day of" FP+ is offered, the tour guide would probably still be able to book for their entire group using a portable device. I'm sure they would figure out a method so that 100+ members of the group did not have to individually touch their magic band to a kiosk and reserve a time. Disney might even provide the tour guide with a "SUPER Magic Band" that reserves the FP+ for the entire group in one fell swoop.

 

[Rileygirl]

deleted

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

It's puzzled me from the get-go why Disney added wide-open internet WiFi in the parks.
What advantage has that to Disney?

Advertising... Facebook, Twitter, etc provide free advertising. WDW guest posts picture on Facebook of her little princess at BBB and her friends all want to take their DD's to WDW.

Not to argue semantics, but I think it is 100% certain that FP will go away once FP+ is fully implemented. The big question on everyone's mind is whether there will be "day of" FP+s available. This would be pretty much synonymous to current FP, with the exception that it may still be more challenging to get as many due to a majority of the inventory being pre-booked (think walk-up vs. ADR at TS restaurants).

The sad thing is that they could still use the RFID magic band to do all of the great things mentioned (room key, ticket media, charge card, adding personalization to attractions, etc.) AND it could simply replace the ticket media as the object swiped to receive a FP. The wrench in the works is the pre-booking aspect. If they tossed this idea and just left FP alone (except that you touch your magic band to the kiosk to get one), this could be a big success.

I think Disney is convinced that they can convince the masses that this "pre-book your rides" feature is going to keep them from having to stand in lines. The reality is that it will keep them out of a few lines, but they will quickly figure out that they will still have to stand in many more lines.

I just don't see any way possible that the proposed new system can do a better job of allowing people to stand in fewer lines for less time than the current FP system does. MAYBE if "day of" FP+ are also available, the difference won't be too significant. But if it turns out to be one decent FP+ and two worthless ones and you have to wait in standby for EVERY other attraction, that is a huge step in the wrong direction for ALL guests.

Under the current system, you have the ability to FP a lot more than that. Some have indicated that WDW is "fixing" the "inequity" of "planners" getting all the FPs and "non-planners" being stuck in standby. Assuming for the moment that this is even a factor (i.e., trying to ensure everyone has a positive experience), the problem with this FP redistribution scheme is that, to make it "fair" they are taking away many FP opportunities from the people who arrive early, keep track of their FP window, etc. and in order to spread them out to "everybody" they have to ration everybody to one decent FP. I'll resist the urge to draw any political analogies... suffice it to say that the result will be that some of us are much worse off and the "beneficiaries" get so little they are not truly any better off.

Without FP+ Magicbands make a lot more sense. Wave your band in front of a Fastpass machine and it prints out the Fastpass.

 

[Squidgyness]

Just another way they've made this overly complicated it seems. I think Squidgy (I think that who said it) was right that they still could have done all this RDIF bit, and had the magic bands for tickets, room entry, FP kiosks, etc but left the FP+ part out (ie. pre-booking, including CS restaurants). People would have still thought it was "neat." I think they just got carried away with the concept.

Hopefully the "new management" is rethinking things and considering other areas where money might better be spent.

Yup. I can't see why that wouldn't have been a perfectly fine option, its a lot less riskier than prebooking IMO.

Assuming this is wildly successful and huge numbers of people go nuts for this, booking fastpasses left right and centre, are they going to end up needing fastpass++ because everyone is using fastpass+ so the fastpass line is just as long as standby? I kid of course, but its a very possible problem.

The whole idea of fastpass as far as I see it was as a nice bonus, something that if you got one you could cut time off lines, but it wasn't really necessary and it didn't affect anyone else all that much tbh since the fastpass numbers were limited and people tended to congregate towards the headliners, leaving people to ride other rides if they couldn't get on.

Under the new system, fastpass won't be a treat anymore, it will be an integral part of the vacation package and something guests will start to expect and feel entitled too. Then it goes down for a while, or people come back the next year and their favourite rides have been fully prebooked, and they see an integral part of their experience on the last trip being denied them.

With the expansion of fastpass, there won't even be a ride to use as a backup if you don't have a pass for a while and the fastpass lines are busy. Almost all rides will be affected, especially on busy days.

Disney might be unleashing a beast they can't handle, and I think its one no one was asking for. I don't recall anyone asking for the ability to prebook rides etc. Now, granted, this might mean a gap in the market, but perhaps people just... Didn't want it. But if they introduce it, make it popular, and then they have to change, reduce or remove it, people will freak because disney has created the demand, essentially making people want an unreliable or unfeasible service.

They better get this right, they might only have one shot, changing it after it has been fully rolled out risks a firestorm of bad pr. (like the fastpass change threads that shall not be named from a few months ago)

---

Also Riley, don't forget that these other guests I believe constitute vital income in the out of season weeks, income disney cannot afford to see take a hit or fail to build on.

Even if the impact of fastpass+ in these off peak weeks is minimal, price rises or a new ticket structure if mymagic fails to extract the guests they want and the money they need could damage these guests if they don't do it right. They need to tread carefully in that regard.

 

[magicbob]

The other sorta valuable thing I think this system could do for parents with small children, is in the event the parents get lost. If the child could not articulate a last name or phone number, well then their magic band could help. A cm could scan their info, pull up a parental cell phone number, or perhaps ascertain where the last time the adult had used their magic band, and expedite a reunion between the families.

The other possibilities I was thinking, in particular to the parades, was the band could infact cause interactive elements with the daytime floats, and interactive elements on a larger scale perhaps, on the night time floats. Another idea was that some of those glow in the dark things that kids covet could interact in various ways with their magic band.

All great things that the magic band can still accomplish independent of FP+ implementation.

Without FP+ Magicbands make a lot more sense. Wave your band in front of a Fastpass machine and it prints out the Fastpass.

Agreed. IMO, this entire undertaking would be a lot more positive if they focused on all the other cool things the RFID magic band can accomplish and just left FP alone (except that the FP kiosk would be activated via RFID).

 

[Squidgyness]

Something else to consider, fp+ supposedly provides for a groups reservations to be linked under one ticket. Will there be a limit to the number of guests you can link onto one account for fp+?

If not, hello blocks of 100+ FP's vanishing in the blink of an eye as the heads of professional tour groups snatch them up. CS places would see a rush of fp+ meal orders to complete ASAP if entire groups went to one place...

If yes, what limit, and how would this affect tour groups... Imagine five seperate tour group leaders for fp. Who has whose fp linked etc... Would be a nightmare for them.

 

[bcrook]

Perhaps they are hoping that people will be doing live updates to their facebook page saying what a great time they are having at WDW.

That is exactly what they are hoping for at other parks --- Like Luna Park. Pictures taken directly in the park go directly to your facebook page to show the world you are having a great time.

But Disney hasn't even hinted at that - ALTHOUGH there is a huge connection to PhotoPass + and these MagicBands that haven't been explored much. This may actually be part of the plan.

 

[bcrook]

All great things that the magic band can still accomplish independent of FP+ implementation.



Agreed. IMO, this entire undertaking would be a lot more positive if they focused on all the other cool things the RFID magic band can accomplish and just left FP alone (except that the FP kiosk would be activated via RFID).

This is at the heart of the matter. Disney wants people to log in, purchase tickets 60 days in advance, choose a park, and commit to a certain length of stay.

Nobody would do that. So they need an incentive.

FP+ is it. This is all because of TSMM. Look at the craziness surrounding getting a FP+ there. Instead of seeing that amazing behavior and thinking - "We need to build another TSMM ride right next door to alleviate the madness and increase happiness", Disney saw a way of capitalizing on the consumer demand for those very valuable fastpasses.

Now Disney is going to try to make a lot more fastpasses valuable and then use that to get everyone to opt into their new ticketing, photo pass, and merchandising system.

If it works - and I imagine it will (people are still paying for the dining plan even after the food has been watered down, appetizers taken away, cost increased more than 50%, and tip was eliminated from the package) Disney will have a sweet, sweet system.

The talking goofy pictures in the hotel rooms, the delightful banter from the characters, the interactive queues are glitter.

But I agree! They could have still got everybody to use the magicband and mined the data by just having the interactive queues and experiences. So, the data is not the only reason for this...

 

[jade1]

The idea of needing a fastpass to get a hotdog at Casey's makes me sick to my stomach.

HaHa, yea that hot dog alone can do that.

I will say though-MK needs more dining of all kinds IMO. But we do travel busy weeks so may not be worth it. I actually like Casey's as well-but first week of March this year, the lines were out the door in the evening. Tried to get in anywhere, finally Columbia Harbour was not too bad.

As fo a FP for CS? Makes little sense to me as well (except BOG) but-if it's in a tier that is indeed just a throw away-I could see having an order in my back pocket (wrist band) if needed. I don't think you have to use it or prepay for it, so may as well have it if needed IMO.

For a fact-I would choose a CS order before the crummy area for a Wishes FP+. Unless they eventually rope off the Walt Circle, put in chairs and serve refreshments that is.

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

Since the tour guides are pretty savvy when it comes to using the current FP system, I'm sure they would have read up on FP+ and pre-booked rides for their group. That said, if FP+ is "rationed" as we fear, those groups will be clogging up the standby lines more than they do now.

With a pre-booked FP+ for the group, there would be no need to go to a kiosk. Each member of the group would just use their individual magic band for entry into the FP+ line for that ride. If "day of" FP+ is offered, the tour guide would probably still be able to book for their entire group using a portable device. I'm sure they would figure out a method so that 100+ members of the group did not have to individually touch their magic band to a kiosk and reserve a time. Disney might even provide the tour guide with a "SUPER Magic Band" that reserves the FP+ for the entire group in one fell swoop.

But if Disney limits the amount of Fastpass+ a single person can book, then more Fastpasses are available to individuals and smaller groups of say 4 people.

Take TSMM if a Tour Guide stands at a Fastpass machine collecting 100 Fastpasses, that will use up a lot of that rides Fastpasses for the day. Leaving someone who arrives at 12:00 noon without a Fastpass. Then they have to ride Standby.
But if the Tour Group can only prebook 20 Fastpass + for one day then 80 other people could potentially prebook a Fastpass for TSMM without arriving at Rope Drop.

I don't know how many complaints Disney receives about the groups. Or how motivated they would be to limit the availability of the Fastpass+

There are a lot of what if scenarios which seem to be drawbacks to prebooking Fastpass+ I am sure Disney has had many meetings about how to overcome the drawbacks. Several IT people have commented on the Fastpass+ threads that I have read who mentioned the technological limitations of the whole idea.

There seems to be too many issues that the whole system needs to overcome in order for it to be successful.

But didn't Walt Disney say, "It's kinda fun to do the impossible"