FP+ testing starts in Disneyland around August 2015

[mom2rtk]

Just a clarification--you don't HAVE to have a smartphone for FP+. You CAN check your fast pass times that way and try to change your times if you want to but to get the 4th, 5th, etc... FP at WDW you have to go to a kiosk anyway.
Kari

That's correct. You don't need a cell phone. But it is very helpful.

You are free to wait in line at a kiosk if you need to check or change times. I prefer to do it from my phone while waiting in line somewhere.

That said, if they add wifi to the parks, you can bring an ipod with the app installed and accomplish the same thing.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

Have to say that I'm another person that is skeptical about this. Having gone on three trips to WDW since the introduction of Magic Bands/FP+, I'm one of those people who actually loves the flexibility of powering thru at rope drop until 11, heading back to the hotel to spend the afternoon at the pool, and then heading back to the park in the evening, knowing that I have 3 FP+'s locked down. When the parks are swamped, it's a lifesaver.

That being said, I can't wrap my head around how DL would be able - from an infrastructure perspective - add FP lines to those rides that don't already have them. Also, given how DL is much more a 'locals' park than is WDW, where (at least my perception is that) a large percentage of park visitors are last minute/spur of the moment type people, not sure that conceptually, FP+ would work. Also consider the large number of DL visitors who are AP holders, and that AP's at WDW used to/may still have a cap on the number of FP+'s they can book each quarter, this would also be a huge issue.

Lastly, you also need to consider that one of the WDW selling points for FP+ is that those who stay at one of the nine gazillion WDW hotels, get a booking advantage over those who stay offsite, which presumably helps drive business to those properties - as opposed to DL, where there are only the three hotels, who seem to be doing just fine as it is.

I can absolutely see DL introducing Magic Bands at some point, which allows them to track movement in the parks and (theoretically) direct additional cast members to where they are needed. And the cynic in me also realizes that when you train people to tap a band to pay for food or purchases, as opposed to having to pull out your wallet and pay with cash or a credit card, it feels much less like they are having to pay for their purchases with real money and serves to encourage spending.

Anyway, those are my two cents (which is really about all my thoughts are worth).

 

[T0rrent]

First, I think more than a handful of people would become disenchanted with the WDW version of FP+ at DL. Maybe I won't stop going, but I wouldn't be inclined to go as much as I do now.

Second, no more paper tickets, but now you have to look down at your smart phone all day, opening the phone, opening the app, seeing when your FP is and when you can get another one. It's the one thing I despise about the system. I hate talking to people when all they do is look down at their phone. Now WDW is full of those people because of FP+.

Third, DL can't get their ticket system and hotel key card system to match up right now in 2015! I can't see how they can make Magic Band work without an overhaul of a system they've refused to improve for the last 20 years.

Actually, as someone who just came back from WDW, this is not true at all. At least for us in the morning, we verified what our 3 fast passes were. You can't add additional fast passes through the app, you have to go to a FP+ Kiosk once you used your last fast pass. The only thing we did with the app was seeing oh, this ride's standby is only 5 minutes, let's see what else is available instead and swap the FP to something else.

Also to your previous comment, at WDW anyone could get a magic band. You just got them for free and had the advantage of planning ADR's and Fast Passes 180+ days out. We booked less than 60 days out, at a Moderate hotel that I think ran us 175-200 a night, and still got reservations/fast passes for everything we wanted.

Chicken Little, the sky is not falling.

 

[jina]

I'm not going to worry about all this yet. All they said is that they are testing it. I was part of the test for the magic bands & FP+ in Nov 2013 at WDW. I did not know for certain I would even be part of the test until about a month prior. In the first few months of testing there were very few people doing the testing - I think it was employees/friendlys first, then they would do some guests form an on site hotel, then all the guests from that hotel, then more hotels, then all hotels, then opened it up to off site folks via the kiosks. I think it will be a long journey before this really impacts the masses. When I was there they still had paper fast passes too and they did not kill the paper fast passes until very late into the testing phase. Having done DL a bunch since that 2013 trip I would think this may be an eventual scenario:

1. magic bands not required (you can access your fast passes by swiping your ticket/annual pass) - so probably no more paper tickets - I hope they can reuse the plastic ones!
2. fast pass+ available at kiosks or via the DL app once you get through the turnstile - 3 per guest once they go through the park gates. AP holders would likely always use the app
3. *maybe* onsite guests could get FP+ prior if their disneyland accounts are connected to their hotel reservation (this is how I was able to use it during the FP+ test phase)- but I would think probably not
4. once you use your 3 FP's for the day you can add one at a time.

It would really not change the overall process too much compared to what folks do already yet it would allow us to not do the park crossing we often do to grab paper fast passes. (yes it's not identical to what we do today but my point is it does not require you to pre-plan every minute of your trip like folks can do at WDW).

The main goal of FP+ based on my experience during the test was to keep us out of lines and instead buying stuff at stores an restaurants. The net for us is we got to go on the rides we really wanted to go on early in the day and then could do a few in the afternoons via FP+ while doing more shopping, eating, and enjoying the non-line attractions and shows.

I look forward to seeing how they end up doing this.

 

[GatorChris]

Actually, as someone who just came back from WDW, this is not true at all.
Chicken Little, the sky is not falling.

So....how did you like waiting 45 minutes for Pirates - when it used to be a virtual walk-on before FP+? And don't say that's not the case. I'm a WDW vet myself and round their boards regularly. We're all very aware of what's happened over in FL. Lines that used to be easy and manageable are now a big fat pain. WDW can keep that. Let DL keep it's laid back style of vacationing. Do you know how foreign it sounds to say "let's schedule a ride"?

The sky may not be falling, but my hammock is about to flip over.

 

[T0rrent]

So....how did you like waiting 45 minutes for Pirates - when it used to be a virtual walk-on before FP+? And don't say that's not the case. I'm a WDW vet myself and round their boards regularly. We're all very aware of what's happened over in FL. Lines that used to be easy and manageable are now a big fat pain. WDW can keep that. Let DL keep it's laid back style of vacationing. Do you know how foreign it sounds to say "let's schedule a ride"?

The sky may not be falling, but my hammock is about to flip over.

We rode it twice. First was walk on, second time was maybe 5 minutes. No fast pass on either. Was quite nice, though shorter than Disneylands far superior version.

 

[T0rrent]

In fact, the only two rides I noticed were longer were Winnie the Pooh & Peter Pan. Pooh I saw top off at 30 minutes, Pan, was an hour. Pooh is in a much more populated area than Disneylands which is an easy explanation for that one, and well Pan is a long line fast pass or not. And the last few time's i've been to Disneyland, I've seen Pirates hit 20-30 minutes in length. So yeah.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Also to your previous comment, at WDW anyone could get a magic band. You just got them for free and had the advantage of planning ADR's and Fast Passes 180+ days out.

Just to.clarify for those less familiar with WDW, onsite resort guests do get magicbands free, offsite guests have to buy them. Onsite guests can reserve ADRs at 180, and they can book for the following 10 days as well once that 180 day window opens. Offsite guests can book at 180 days (so if they have a 5 day trip, they would have to sign on 5 days in a row, at each day's 180 day mark, to book their ADRs).

onsite wdw guests can book fp+ at 60 days (this includes swan and dolphin). Offsite guests (including shades of green) can book at 30 days.

 

[T0rrent]

Thank you for clarifying that Angel. That is why I let my wife do all the planning lol

 

[wisblue]

So....how did you like waiting 45 minutes for Pirates - when it used to be a virtual walk-on before FP+? And don't say that's not the case. I'm a WDW vet myself and round their boards regularly. We're all very aware of what's happened over in FL. Lines that used to be easy and manageable are now a big fat pain. WDW can keep that. Let DL keep it's laid back style of vacationing. Do you know how foreign it sounds to say "let's schedule a ride"?

The sky may not be falling, but my hammock is about to flip over.

I will say that waiting 45 minutes for Pirates is not the case because, well, it's not always the case.

I will also say that Pirates was not always a virtual walk on before FP+ either.

As always, overall crowd size and time of day play a big part in the lines at all attractions, including Pirates.

There doesn't seem to be any question that standby lines at Pirates are somewhat longer on some days and at certain times of the day than they used to be. But, they have definitely not gone from virtual walk on all the time to 45 minutes or longer all the time.

As for how I liked waiting 45 minutes for Pirates, I wouldn't know. I have been on the ride at least a half a dozen times since FP+ and I have never waited more than 5-10 minutes for it, including on trips during Christmas and Easter.

As for FP+ at Disneyland, it might be a good idea to wait and see how they are planning to implement it before getting too excited or upset about it.

 

[mom2rtk]

For me the biggest issue is not a potential 5-15 minute increase in line waits. It's the fact that you are only guaranteed 3 selections, then after that you will likely not have access to headliners by FP any longer, so will be waiting through the standby line when before you could have pulled another fastpass. Move from FP to standby wait a few times and you're talking about a pretty substantial in your waiting time over the course of the day.

 

[Lucretia]

I think that blogger who posted this information should've verified before posting. If FP+ ever comes to DLR, they won't be adding it during the 60th anniversary celebration. The parks don't even have WiFi.

 

[Angel Ariel]

The lack of wifi infrastructure is part of why I'm very skeptical of this particular blog. They just kicked off the 60th...I wouldn't think that wifi would be a priority for them at the moment. I do think they will try to bring FP+ to DLR at some point, regardless of if they bring MBs - but I will be curious to see what the program looks like. I don't think it will look the same as it is at WDW because of the vast difference in the majority audience for DLR.

 

[VandVsmama]

The LA times article on the same subject is a much more reputable and reliable source. I think this blog article is bogus.

 

[larryz]

A very perplexing move since it wasn't that long ago Tom Staggs was quoted as saying it would not be coming to DLR.

Looks like it is indeed "too big to fail".

My guess is that crowds of disaffected WDW'ers are clogging up the attractions at DLR, so they're doing this to load-balance them back to Florida.

 

[larryz]

That's correct. You don't need a cell phone. But it is very helpful.

They might be considering a "phone only" MDE-posted FP+ system... why reinvent the technology (and add all those expensive Mickey heads) when just about everyone has a smart phone anyway.

Think electronic boarding passes...

 

[Raidermouse]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-...eyland-but-no-magic-bands-20150521-story.html

 

[cybele1]

They might be considering a "phone only" MDE-posted FP+ system... why reinvent the technology (and add all those expensive Mickey heads) when just about everyone has a smart phone anyway.

Think electronic boarding passes...

I might agree, except for the issue of keeping the phones charged throughout the day. These apps eat the power.

 

[T0rrent]

I might agree, except for the issue of keeping the phones charged throughout the day. These apps eat the power.

Portable chargers are cheap. I got a nice one for 25 bucks, can give both my wife's and my phone two full charges each.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

Am i the only one kinda excited about this? I would love just having a band instead of having my room card, and money on me, especially at the pools. As the designated fp runner for our family, it would be nice not to run myself ragged across the parks and exhausting myself. I would have to think that if it did come to DL that it would be a slightly different version than DW, in order to cater to the different clientele.