FP+ is Live! Magic Bands in the park!

[maiapapaya]

It wasn't exactly a utopian scenario. It was more an attempt to visualize how the new system would look to people who don't spend hours a day on the DISBoards. It's easy for us to worry about the new system being less-than and wonder what the heck Disney is thinking. And, actually, Disney is thinking mainly about the family in Rileygirl's story.

I just want to clarify wasn't being snarky when I used the words "Utopian scenario". Utopian means aiming for a state of perfection or idealistic. It was my understanding that Rileygirl intentionally used hyperbole to illustrate her point (hence my use of the term). I was just saying in my pp that it was unlikely that scenario could happen (so I think it's a mistake if that's really what Disney is getting at). IMO, if Disney is mainly thinking about the family in Rileygirl's story it's probably a big miscalculation on their part (and as I also said in my pp, I'm looking beyond the perspective of DISers).

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

You have to see what a "Fastpass" for a Counter Service is first. It isn't likely to be like a "get up to the register faster" thing. It's a pre-ordering thing, at least as far as testing was concerned.

I agree, I'd like to see what this looks like, but at first glance it appears that unless you plan ahead and book that FP, just spontaneously grabbing a burger when the kids decide they need a break and are hungry could become a hassle. There must be some sort of benefit to those who book the FP other than the pre-order, otherwise who would bother doing it? Who would want to order their meal two months out? (if it didn't get you to the front of the line or offer some other benefit)

 

[DougEMG]

What I can see happening (and it's been mentioned by others) is that the in-park "Guest WiFi" would be inhibited from connecting with the internet, at large.

Done this way to only allow guests to connect with one or more of the Disney in-park Apps.

By cutting off the video streaming and the myriad other internet bandwidth hogs guests might use, the actual in-park related apps would run much faster.
(And, overall, guests would have far less reason to constantly have their attention diverted to their mobile devices.)
That, alone, could make positive difference in the FP+ info stream.

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

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.

 

[WillAustin]

The people that take 5 minutes to decide once they're at the decision point are the last people I would think likely to make a decision even earlier.

I was expecting there might be a separate line for the FP+ "pre-orderers". Maybe a FP+ pre-order would guarantee a CS table? That would make some waves.

 

[Planogirl]

I think that this would bog down the CS places unless they expand quite a bit. It has become almost routine to wait a while after ordering at places like Pecos Bill's. If you essentially throw someone who simply wants a burger and doesn't want to or can't preorder into a standby line then who do you really help? The person who preorders and probably still has to wait or those who don't preorder and might have to wait even longer than before?

 

[mesaboy2]

1. I was expecting there might be a separate line for the FP+ "pre-orderers".

2. Maybe a FP+ pre-order would guarantee a CS table? That would make some waves.

1. Maybe--that would help a little.

2. Are CS tables that hard to get? Not in my experience.

 

[Planogirl]

1. Maybe--that would help a little.

2. Are CS tables that hard to get? Not in my experience.

They can be at a few popular places during the lunch rush. Been there and don't like to even think about it.

 

[Squidgyness]

I was expecting there might be a separate line for the FP+ "pre-orderers". Maybe a FP+ pre-order would guarantee a CS table? That would make some waves.

To be honest, we just wouldn't eat in the parks if they did this. No skin off my nose, I might just grab a cheap (for disney) snack and then eat at my lovely cheap restaraunt later.

I am still mystified at why they are doing it though... like mesaboy said, will the advantage of pre ordering be that great? How? If it is, the effect on other diners might be considerable.

PR dangers ahoy! People are far more vocal when they don't get what they want than when they do in my experience. And word of mouth can be lethal in workplaces etc.

"We waited ages for a table and couldn't get one. We were so hungry! We hadn't booked in advance and they said we'd have to wait half an hour. In a place set up like a mcdonalds!" If it happens now often enough, fastpasses during rush hours for food would make it a lot more common.

 

[mesaboy2]

They can be at a few popular places during the lunch rush. Been there and don't like to even think about it.

I've never had a problem since they organized the process with CMs leading you to a table. And this is generally the exception and not the norm most times of year and most times of day.

 

[Planogirl]

I've never had a problem since they organized the process with CMs leading you to a table. And this is generally the exception and not the norm most times of year and most times of day.

Are they doing that regularly now? We haven't been since last August and didn't run into that once while we were there.

 

[mesaboy2]

Are they doing that regularly now? We haven't been since last August and didn't run into that once while we were there.

Only during peak times in my experience. But those are the only times where tables are scarce.

I remember being impressed at the time during a very busy Presidents Day weekend visit (this year) at Pecos Bills. Line to get inside stretched well outside the door, but CMs were directing everyone at critical points along the way--go to this cashier and order, go to this CM who will seat you. It moved very efficiently.

 

[doggydoc]

Query. It has been stated over and over that the limitation of FP's is to benefit those that are new to Disney and don't understand the current system and that Disney doesn't care enough about return guests to worry about ticking them off. But then why do they want to improve the experience for first timers, isn't it to make them return guests? But they don't care about the return guests they are trying to improve the experience for first-timers, so they will be return guests. But they don't care about return guests........

The term paradox comes to mind.

 

[Robo]

Query. It has been stated over and over that the limitation of FP's is to benefit those that are new to Disney and don't understand the current system and that Disney doesn't care enough about return guests to worry about ticking them off. But then why do they want to improve the experience for first timers, isn't it to make them return guests? But they don't care about the return guests they are trying to improve the experience for first-timers, so they will be return guests. But they don't care about return guests........

The term paradox comes to mind.

Yes. That's been one of my points since the early posts that really started the pot-stirring here regarding the "insider info" that Disney's desire was to intentionally (and specifically) limit the level of FP access to AP holders.

Suddenly we were to believe that Disney doesn't want repeat guests to have a good time, and by extension,
that Disney "doesn't LIKE returning guests."

Silly on its face.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Because Squidgy paid for, and booked his 5 day ticket media 90 days in advance, he was able to score and extra 2 preplanned fast passes for each park day, a tier 1 and a tier 2, this promotion was only available to off site guests.

Well that would be a sure fire way to tick off the onsite guests. LOL

 

[maiapapaya]

Query. It has been stated over and over that the limitation of FP's is to benefit those that are new to Disney and don't understand the current system and that Disney doesn't care enough about return guests to worry about ticking them off. But then why do they want to improve the experience for first timers, isn't it to make them return guests? But they don't care about the return guests they are trying to improve the experience for first-timers, so they will be return guests. But they don't care about return guests........

The term paradox comes to mind.

yup. I can't imagine the ratio of first timers is nearly enough for execs to not care about return guests (incl. AP's, DVC ...). Which is why many of us keep hoping there has to be more to it and we keep looking for more info and trying to figure it all out. I guess there is always the super cynical POV which would be by the time they tick you off they've already had you through the gate for at least two vacations (and they can move on to the next newbie's cash) ... although that wouldn't really be a very effective strategy for all the DVC being built or their AP revenues ...

 

[disneyfantotheend]

The advantage and appeal of "preordering" at what is essentially a fast-food joint completely escapes me. If I'm saving more than a couple of minutes doing this, then that CS location isn't doing its job well in the first place.

The counter service FP is what baffled me the most when I heard about it. I have never waited very long to order at a CS place and I have never not had a table when I got my food. So if I preorder my food and it has a one hour window, (maybe that one won't have that?), does my burger get cooked for the beginning of the window and they pop it in the microwave when I get there? LOL

 

[Robo]

So if I preorder my food and it has a one hour window, (maybe that one won't have that?), does my burger get cooked for the beginning of the window and they pop it in the microwave when I get there? LOL

They don't use a microwave, but "pre-cooking" dozens of burgers, dogs, chicken fillets, etc. before a pending meal "prime-time," and then dropping them (a few at a time) back on the grill for a quick warm-up as they are ordered is a time-honored fast food cooking technique.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

They don't use a microwave, but "pre-cooking" dozens of burgers, dogs, chicken fillets, etc. before a pending meal "prime-time," and then dropping them (a few at a time) back on the grill for a quick warm-up as they are ordered is a time-honored fast food cooking technique.

Exactly, one more reason not to need a FP for CS restaurants.

 

[Doug7856]

The counter service FP is what baffled me the most when I heard about it. I have never waited very long to order at a CS place and I have never not had a table when I got my food. So if I preorder my food and it has a one hour window, (maybe that one won't have that?), does my burger get cooked for the beginning of the window and they pop it in the microwave when I get there? LOL

The primary benefit, from my perspective, for a counter service FP would be lunch at Be Our Guest. People wait 90+ minutes in the high noon sun for a seat during lunch to avoid the inflated dinner costs at the restaurant but still enjoy the dining location. Here is a link describing the current ongoing BoG tests of FP: http://fiddledeeme.com/2013/05/be-our-guest-restaurant-counter-service-fastpass-test-experience/

I can't imagine high demand for other counter service locations.

 

[maiapapaya]

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.

 

[Squidgyness]

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.

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?