FP + What we know and what we want to know

[dadddio]

The problem seems to be that we have been being force-fed by some of the great humanitarians on these threads that "X" was the "problem" that Disney was trying to fix.

Obviously, "X" could have been fixed... at any time over the past decade... much more simply and with so much less disruption and what's been announced with FP+ (etc.) so far.

I'm thinking (as I always have) that "X" may likely be NOT really the problem,
but that it has only been someone's (or more) axe to grind.

There doesn't have to be just one reason.

 

[katdralion]

Regardless of the changes, you will be able to ride more rides with shorter lines than Mr Sleepyhead because the parks are less busy in the morning. Beyond that, this change is merely going to disassociate getting to RD with obtaining FPs.

Incidently, this is the part where they tie guest satisfaction to increased profits, in my opinion. Otherwise, they would be doing everything in their power to force these people out of their beds and into the parks so they could get on with the spending of the day.

We like to take it easy in the mornings and never do RD but with FP+ we will be forced to get to the parks early in order to experience the same no of headliners as we are used to. Guess what that does to my guest satisfaction levels?

 

[HelenParr]

I doubt that Disney concluded that FP was not working as envisioned and FP+ is the new way to make it better. What we hear from Disney in the releases and articles that they give (this is not hard core reporting or inside intel it's Disney speaking) is: we heard from guests that they like to plan. This new technology will let them plan pre-trip, and integrate eveything and they will be able to use it seamlessly and with a one touch button (wristband)!!

They think making the most people happy is highly correlated to the ability to pre-schedule. The current FP does not allow pre-schedule, so it must change.

You are giving them way too much credit. No way they concluded the aggragete good of the guests would be to reallocate FP "wealth."

Disney execs have never waited in line, or used FP. They have no idea what it's actually like. They asked testers "did you like the extra free FPs you could schedule and go to the fornt of the line? Answer: Yes. Good enough for them because it fits their paradigm shift of pre-scheduling being most important.

 

[dadddio]

I thought RFID determines FP+ or not. RFID will be offered on all ticket media and on optional wristbands. Did I misunderstand something?

I think that you have it right. I think that the difference is that if you have a wristband than you can get the extras like the personalized character interactions, et al.

 

[Superspectral]

Now that is a new line of questioning! I had looked into Luna park and great wolf lodge but never went any further. Thanks for the lead.

Yeah, kind of interesting that the comparisons have been to Luna and Great Wolf Lodge. Several waterparks apparently use the Lo-Q Q-Band (a water proof band similar to the MagicBand - but with a display). It is almost like the Disney astroturfers didn't want people to compare them to Lo-Q.

 

[cmwade77]

I know basic (3) FP+ will be available to all guests with a ticket, I was talking specifically about DVC not being included in any xtra FP+ offered as an incentive to guest at a deluxe resort.

Of course they will, because DVC members are their bread and butter when the economy tanks and it will be slowing down again at some point, it always goes in cycles. DVC members have already paid for their vacations, so all they have to worry about is food, admission (which Disney has made cheap at times) and transportation to and from Disney World.

If they were to alianate DVC members, it would be very short sighted on thier part. Yes, they would make some money while the economy is up, but it could drive DVC members to RCI exchanges or other places when the economy slows down in the future.

 

[js]

This is the e-mail I sent to Disney regarding my group:


Dear Guest Communications Department:

Good afternoon.

My name is xxx. As a DVC Owner, I've been following closely the roll-out of the new Disney Experience (web/app) and the perspective Disney's FP+ System.

Although I'll be on-site in August using my points, I will be traveling with a group of almost 20 the middle of March, staying at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort.

The group are high school boys playing baseball at Disney for Spring Training at Wide World of Sports. We booked as a group and therefore the group will be getting 3-day park tickets.

The Disney Experience site asks that I please "register" the tickets and there is speculation that perhaps those tickets that are registered will be "entitled", upon the roll out of FP+, to choose certain attractions/venues where the FP+ can be used. If this is correct, may I please ask how our group will be able to participate in this since, as you are aware, we do not receive our park tickets until we arrive on the first day of check in.

May I please ask what practices will be in place for having groups register their tickets on/before the 60 day mark of their trip (which I am
at today) prior to their arrival?

It would be wonderful for me, as the group leader, to take advantage of the FP+ system, if it rolls out before the middle of March (or for anyone after that time) to be able to pre-register our group for FP+. Giving my group a set amount of FPs before we enter a park during a very busy time frame would work wonderfully for us but, if I'm correct, we would need to register our tickets, which Disney will not give to me until check in day.

I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for taking the time to assist in my planning.

Best Regards,
XXXX
Phone Number:

 

[clareita]

That [more poeple making it to RD] is going to happen when the only FP time they can get for their favorite headlines is 9:45 to 10:45 in the morning.

Human nature being what it is, I doubt many more people will make it to RD even if it they have FPs for 9:45-10:45. People will be tired from being in the parks late and just plain unwilling to get up early on vacation, even when it means missing their FP time.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

It is almost like the Disney astroturfers didn't want people to compare them to Lo-Q.

Huh?

 

[Robo]

There doesn't have to be just one reason.

In that statement, we have some common ground.

 

[JaimeA]

I just read this in the T&C for My Magic

•Magic Your Way ticket holders may make FastPass+ selections beginning 60 days prior to day of use. The selection window may vary for other admission tickets or passholders.

Hmmm.... So if you buy a MYW package you get the 60 days but not sure about the rest of us.

 

[js]

I just read this in the T&C for My Magic

•Magic Your Way ticket holders may make FastPass+ selections beginning 60 days prior to day of use. The selection window may vary for other admission tickets or passholders.

Hmmm.... So if you buy a MYW package you get the 60 days but not sure about the rest of us.

VERY interesting. It will be interesting to see what their response will be for groups.

Thank you.

 

[Angel Ariel]

1. I think it is wrong to pull FPs for the expressed purpose of spreading some "pixie dust" to others. Disney doesnt need a secondary distribution system of FPs and it stops certain people from pulling an FP on their own.

How does it prevent others from pulling a FP on their own? If anything, I've had some people thank us for giving them FPs because they didn't know about the FP system before we gave them to them and explained it. So in actuality we helped people pull FPs in the future who might not otherwise have done so because they didn't understand the system.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I just read this in the T&C for My Magic

•Magic Your Way ticket holders may make FastPass+ selections beginning 60 days prior to day of use. The selection window may vary for other admission tickets or passholders.

Hmmm.... So if you buy a MYW package you get the 60 days but not sure about the rest of us.

I read that as legalese for: we're not 100% sure how we're going to work this out for every possible permutation of Disney guest profile at this early stage in this initiative's rollout. This leaves the door open for them to "finalize" details.

 

[JaimeA]

As you can tell, my family are RDers and I would pick my FP times for late afternoon when the park is full. And since I am in the "know" and will pick my FP time as soon as I can, I will have first pick. Those that aren't will get the leftovers times.

Now you are gaming the new system!!!

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

This is the e-mail I sent to Disney regarding my group:

Dear Guest Communications Department:

Good afternoon.

My name is xxx. As a DVC Owner, I've been following closely the roll-out of the new Disney Experience (web/app) and the perspective Disney's FP+ System.

Although I'll be on-site in August using my points, I will be traveling with a group of almost 20 the middle of March, staying at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort.

The group are high school boys playing baseball at Disney for Spring Training at Wide World of Sports. We booked as a group and therefore the group will be getting 3-day park tickets.

The Disney Experience site asks that I please "register" the tickets and there is speculation that perhaps those tickets that are registered will be "entitled", upon the roll out of FP+, to choose certain attractions/venues where the FP+ can be used. If this is correct, may I please ask how our group will be able to participate in this since, as you are aware, we do not receive our park tickets until we arrive on the first day of check in.

May I please ask what practices will be in place for having groups register their tickets on/before the 60 day mark of their trip (which I am
at today) prior to their arrival?

It would be wonderful for me, as the group leader, to take advantage of the FP+ system, if it rolls out before the middle of March (or for anyone after that time) to be able to pre-register our group for FP+. Giving my group a set amount of FPs before we enter a park during a very busy time frame would work wonderfully for us but, if I'm correct, we would need to register our tickets, which Disney will not give to me until check in day.

I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for taking the time to assist in my planning.

Best Regards,
XXXX
Phone Number:

I would definitely like to know the answer to this one since we usually participate in the YES program.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[clareita]

Does anyone have any advice for how I should be planning my family's April trip? The whole non-specific "spring" rollout of FP+is beyond frustrating for me. I have this nightmare scenario (although I freely admit this a first world problem of the highest order) that I'm in the last stages of packing the day before we leave and the Disney bigwigs announce that FP+ is going live the day I arrive. Any thoughts on how much lead time they will give us? I'm open to pure speculation.

I am honestly thinking about changing our trip to DL. I haven't paid in full for anything, and I am willing to swallow the change fee on our airplane tickets. My sister lives in Orange County, and she tells me that DCA is amazing now that it's renovations are complete.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Of course they will, because DVC members are their bread and butter when the economy tanks and it will be slowing down again at some point, it always goes in cycles. DVC members have already paid for their vacations, so all they have to worry about is food, admission (which Disney has made cheap at times) and transportation to and from Disney World.

If they were to alianate DVC members, it would be very short sighted on thier part. Yes, they would make some money while the economy is up, but it could drive DVC members to RCI exchanges or other places when the economy slows down in the future.

The flip side to that is that when the economy is down, DVC members (which I am not one) will not be willing to put even more money in RCI fees into their vacation after all they have already put in. What they may do is still go to Disney and just not go to the parks if they are limited in some way with the FPs compared to other resort guest. We are time share owners and I find now that they have our money that don't have to cater to us anymore. So if it becomes a drag on their FPs system, I could see that DVC could be some of the first that get hurt. They've already got ya. You've got to pay the fees weather you come to Disney or not. They don't have to woo you in. I have to see that if I see that Disney does this to their DVC members it will throw a bad light on the company in my eyes.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I have this nightmare scenario (although I freely admit this a first world problem of the highest order) that I'm in the last stages of packing the day before we leave and the Disney bigwigs announce that FP+ is going live the day I arrive.

Am I wrong in thinking that you could just opt out and use the existing FP system?

Even if they are going to do away with it eventually (no one here knows for sure), seems doubtful that this could be the case in April.

 

[dadddio]

How does it prevent others from pulling a FP on their own? If anything, I've had some people thank us for giving them FPs because they didn't know about the FP system before we gave them to them and explained it. So in actuality we helped people pull FPs in the future who might not otherwise have done so because they didn't understand the system.

Imagine that you and I are in line to get FPs. I go first and pull a FP that I don't intend to use but will instead gift to some unknown person. You then step up to find that there are no FPs left. I have prevented you from getting a FP.