FP+ is Live! Magic Bands in the park!

[Missyrose]

Naturally. I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. We're doing 1 night at AoA and 5 at OKW and I sure hope that doesn't exclude us from these.

There has been no indication in Disney's public comments or the Terms and Conditions that having a split stay would exclude you from the new system. You're a resort guest. Even if you're staying at two resorts during your stay.

 

[Doug7856]

Anyone know how the bands are going to work for people staying at multiple resorts in one trip?

I don't know; however, there is every indication that repeat use is a part of the bands. I suspect the ticket associated with the band is the important aspect. For example this fall we are staying one night at a value resort on a package with 10 day park hoppers and then transferring to two other DVC resorts. When I look online I see one plan with a day by day list that encompasses all three check ins and check outs in one consecutive 12 day stay.

On the iPhone version of the app I see each 10 day ticked for each person (I don't see the tickets online or on the iPad version of the app). Oddly I see each ticket twice per person -- one each name is all caps and one each name is caps and lower case. My expectation (probably a very big assumption) is that I could use one band for all three stays -- if the FP+ is actually up and running when we go.

Time will tell. It is fun speculating though!

 

[Squidgyness]

Given that EVERYONE is included in this including eventually offsite guests and AP holders, I definitely think the ticket not the resort is the key info on the band, it would make sense to do it this way.

By the way, any info on where these kiosks for booking fp+ in the parks are located? Is it centrally or spread out? Anyone seen how many?

 

[Robo]

By the way, any info on where these kiosks for booking fp+ in the parks are located? Is it centrally or spread out? Anyone seen how many?

Nobody knows.

 

[Squidgyness]

Nobody knows.

Oh well. Plenty of time till we go to find out. So many questions... Patience is definitely a virtue I don't have in too much quantity!

 

[Planogirl]

Oh well. Plenty of time till we go to find out. So many questions... Patience is definitely a virtue I don't have in too much quantity!

Someone commented that you might be able to book fastpasses for the kiosks which I thought was funny. I can see lines and lots of confusion at least at the beginning though.

 

[mom2rtk]

Someone commented that you might be able to book fastpasses for the kiosks which I thought was funny. I can see lines and lots of confusion at least at the beginning though.

I know that's a joke. But seriously. Can you imagine being behind a few groups all trying to agree on what to do when?

 

[Squidgyness]

That thought did cross my mind, they'll need lots of kiosks to cope, I hope they don't plan on everyone having charged cell phones with Internet on them, lots of international or offsite visitors may not know about the wifi (spotty as it is) and roaming charges are horrific, not to mention clueless day trippers and other people turning up who didn't know they needed a phone, or the problems of the app etc. Also, I bet disney will then make sure they flog it to these unknowing check ins and ticket purchasers. Could lead to some... Disappointed and confused people if they can't get at the machines!

Ideally, I'd like a number of them at the entrance (attracting the majority of people'probably), some in the middle of each park somewhere and little clumps of them in central locations of individual areas like near star tours or tot etc. hopefully they will come close to the number of old card fp machines as they are now. I'm hopeful they will.

I wonder if they'll have any at the resorts to help spread the load? Else the staff there might get more questions than they bargained for. "When is my fastpass?" "Can I change it?" And so on.

 

[mom2rtk]

That thought did cross my mind, they'll need lots of kiosks to cope, I hope they don't plan on everyone having charged cell phones with Internet on them, lots of international or offsite visitors may not know about the wifi (spotty as it is) and roaming charges are horrific, not to mention clueless day trippers and other people turning up who didn't know they needed a phone, or the problems of the app etc. Also, I bet disney will then make sure they flog it to these unknowing check ins and ticket purchasers. Could lead to some... Disappointed and confused people if they can't get at the machines!

Ideally, I'd like a number of them at the entrance (attracting the majority of people'probably), some in the middle of each park somewhere and little clumps of them in central locations of individual areas like near star tours or tot etc. hopefully they will come close to the number of old card fp machines as they are now. I'm hopeful they will.

I wonder if they'll have any at the resorts to help spread the load? Else the staff there might get more questions than they bargained for. "When is my fastpass?" "Can I change it?" And so on.

The old fastpass machines are pretty efficient. But all you can decide is whether to take the time being offered or not. I can't even imagine what it will be like when you add a decision making element.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I know that's a joke. But seriously. Can you imagine being behind a few groups all trying to agree on what to do when?

I'm hoping for FP's for the restrooms and for Main St Bakery once it reopens and serves Starbucks coffee.

 

[j2thomason]

I wonder if they will put the kiosks where the old Fast Pass machines are currently. They would definitely need a lot of them scattered around the park in different areas. It would make sense to utilize that space with the new kiosk machines.

WDW preview center 1971, WDW 20 times, DL 3 times, Disney Cruise 1 time, DL Paris 1 time, Upcoming: MK, AK & DHS May 1-5, DL & DCA May 27-31, MK June 12

 

[AquaDame]

I really hope this change helps most people and doesn't hurt anyone... I admit I am one of the people worried about this taking some of the fun out of planning a last minute trip. Sure you had to worry about your resort being sold out, or the discounts being snatched up, or your reservation for dinner not being available but take away my ability to get a FP for a ride once I am at the park and already paid and you are really killing the mojo here. I hope it is just as easy to get them as it is now, but I am not sure how that could be since the # is limited and now many will be pre-booked.

On the other hand, if you plan a trip more than 180 days out, you are golden and that is what we typically do anyway. So I really hope it HELPS most people since I don't know which style is more popular!

 

[spidet1964]

I go labor day week, last time they didn't even have most fast pass machines operating because the crowds were nonexistent. Hopefully it will be the same this time.

 

[mom2rtk]

I go labor day week, last time they didn't even have most fast pass machines operating because the crowds were nonexistent. Hopefully it will be the same this time.

I'd be willing to bet that is the single slowest week of the entire year. If I could tolerate the heat I would totally be right there with you!

 

[CalvaryMike]

Nobody knows.

Perfectly said!

 

[jcammans]

Although my family and I will not be travelling back to WDW for quite some time, I have enjoyed reading all of the speculation here.

I personally hope that they do open up the FP+ to more than one park per day, otherwise that would put a damper Park Hopper passes. (For us, we like to RD at one park in the morning, go back and rest at the resort near lunch time, and then head out to a different park in the evening.) We will probably still purchase Park Hopper passes, but I would perhaps like to use FP+ in the morning and then at a different park in the evening. Time will tell...

 

[doconeill]

Although my family and I will not be travelling back to WDW for quite some time, I have enjoyed reading all of the speculation here.

I personally hope that they do open up the FP+ to more than one park per day, otherwise that would put a damper Park Hopper passes. (For us, we like to RD at one park in the morning, go back and rest at the resort near lunch time, and then head out to a different park in the evening.) We will probably still purchase Park Hopper passes, but I would perhaps like to use FP+ in the morning and then at a different park in the evening. Time will tell...

Right now the single park restriction is only mentioned in reference to booking them early. Depending how they handle things "same-day in-park", that restriction likely wouldn't apply.

If you are booking the FP+ in advance, the general advice would be to book the park you are going to later, and take advantage of the short lines and earlier return times (again, subject to how they handle them in the in the park) in the morning park.

 

[6packdoesdisney]

Sooooo glad we are going soon and this chaotic mess will not be live yet!
Not being a DisPRO, by any means, I see the potential for multiple problems, for some time!

What about those who stay offsite and/or book tickets thru someone like UT?
Is FP+ designed to further discourage this, by making the ride access system more difficult and/or confusing to use for these people, I guess yes!!

Yeah, I get that in the end, it is designed to get "consumers", um, I mean guests, to spend more money on shops, experiences and food/drink; of course!

Again, sooooo very glad not to have to deal with this until after this June trip!

 

[ICF]

Sooooo glad we are going soon and this chaotic mess will not be live yet!
Not being a DisPRO, by any means, I see the potential for multiple problems, for some time!

What about those who stay offsite and/or book tickets thru someone like UT?
Is FP+ designed to further discourage this, by making the ride access system more difficult and/or confusing to use for these people, I guess yes!!

Yeah, I get that in the end, it is designed to get "consumers", um, I mean guests, to spend more money on shops, experiences and food/drink; of course!

Again, sooooo very glad not to have to deal with this until after this June trip!

Right there with you....we leave in less than 2 weeks...got tix thru UT and are staying in an off-site townhouse.

Very happy that I dont have to worry about how people like us will be impacted by this. By the time we go again, they'll hopefully have this all rolled out and working great....but I dont want to be their test dummy.

 

[doconeill]

What about those who stay offsite and/or book tickets thru someone like UT?
Is FP+ designed to further discourage this, by making the ride access system more difficult and/or confusing to use for these people, I guess yes!!

Disney has specifically stated that it is based on your ticket, not where you stay, that gives you access.

The plan is that if you have you ticket in hand, you will be able to register the ticket ID with your profile, and be able to book advanced FP+. What limitations there will be beyond 60 days remains to be seen. This feature also isn't available yet and probably won't be for a while since they haven't really gotten any of it to work yet...

Those at a disadvantage will likely be those who wait to buy their tickets on site, or at least less than 60 days before their visit.