FP + What we know and what we want to know

[ThornXBL]

This might be possible.

Imagine that you are staying on-site, but not buying tickets through Disney. You have paper tickets from UT, AAA, your non-expiring ticket stash, wherever. You'll be issued a magic band when you check in at your resort, but don't link your paper tickets to your online profile. Those paper tickets would still work in the old-school FP machines and you would receive other band-related MyMagic+ services.

This is what I plan to try in September, if it's still possible.

 

[Boski]

Because that is not how things work. They dont need to release every little detail when making an announcement of this nature. The announcement gives a 10,000 ft overview of the program. Many of the details are probably still be sorted out and data from the testing is being analyzed

If they are reading all this on the Dis, I bet they are getting a good chuckle about some of the more paranoid ramblings and uninformed conjecture that is going on. I understand the nature of this board is for discussion about these matters, but some of it is down right just bashing this because people dont like change even before everything is finalized, they will tell you how it will fail.

I will just laugh after this gets rolled out and 95% of these predictions from the Disney "experts" on here fail to come to fruition.

I agree that they are probably working out the details on this new system but I seriously hope they aren't chuckling so much reading these comments as maybe saying wow we may have F'd up. By being vague they can make tweaks and pass them along as "oh thats what we always planned" but unless you are on the inside we've got no idea what was originally planned vs. what they roll out. For them its a good move to release this big breaking news but leaving a lot of details out to see peoples reactions and what seems to be well liked and what isn't. That way they don't pull a Netflix and roll out this new system without any input from the end users and then have to do a complete 180.

 

[oswald12]

Forgive me if it's been mentioned, but is there an anticipated list of all attractions that will be eligible for FP+? I can assume those that are already eligible for regular FP, but what about additional rides/show ie Lion King or any other shows?

 

[UNCFanatik]

I agree that they are probably working out the details on this new system but I seriously hope they aren't chuckling so much reading these comments as maybe saying wow we may have F'd up. By being vague they can make tweaks and pass them along as "oh thats what we always planned" but unless you are on the inside we've got no idea what was originally planned vs. what they roll out. For them its a good move to release this big breaking news but leaving a lot of details out to see peoples reactions and what seems to be well liked and what isn't. That way they don't pull a Netflix and roll out this new system without any input from the end users and then have to do a complete 180.

Yes, I agree. It is wise to see what their customer base is saying about any proposed changes. And there have been some VERY valid concerns and points brought up here about the limited information that has been released so far about the FP+ program. But also, there have been some unfounded paranoid ramblings from people that just dont like change. Those are the comments I would think the Disney Execs would get a good laugh out of.

Bottom line, with any change of this magnitude, they can never make everyone happy. Some concerns will be heard and addresses and others will not be feasible.

I am just looking forward to the day I can compare these predictions to what actually happens.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Always glad to help.

I've always been excellent at tests. And I'm a tester of limits. So if there are ways to win and advantages I will poke around till I find them. And I have no guilt as anyone could do it if they are brave enough to poke around. I am indeed one of the people who have alarms go off in museums because I lean too close to paintings. I don't TOUCH them as that would be against the rules. I just get super close. And I check door knobs too to see if they are locked. But that was Walt, right? “When you're curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.” I guarantee you he tested door knobs when he walked past in public buildings.

But I also know when I'm found out and I raise my hand when the alarms go off. Curiosity does, indeed, kill cats. That's why God gave them 9 lives. So down the rabbit's hole for me!

This is great! I think I'm going to have to try to follow your travails as you explore this new system! When is your next WDW trip?!?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

And people who don't carry a phone in the park (yeah, I hear there are some who roll that way) well they'll get nothing at all.

It's all about choices...

I don't think having a dynamic system is a fix, I think it's the point. I think the Dis is so caught up in FP that we're not thinking about the larger system.

Because that is not how things work. They dont need to release every little detail when making an announcement of this nature. The announcement gives a 10,000 ft overview of the program. Many of the details are probably still be sorted out and data from the testing is being analyzed

If they are reading all this on the Dis, I bet they are getting a good chuckle about some of the more paranoid ramblings and uninformed conjecture that is going on. I understand the nature of this board is for discussion about these matters, but some of it is down right just bashing this because people dont like change even before everything is finalized, they will tell you how it will fail.

I will just laugh after this gets rolled out and 95% of these predictions from the Disney "experts" on here fail to come to fruition.

This always happens. The most recent (that I can remember) was how enforcing the FP return time was going to spell the end of magical Disney vacations. Somehow, we still enjoyed our last trip. Rose above it, I guess...

 

[Superspectral]

It's all about choices...






This always happens. The most recent (that I can remember) was how enforcing the FP return time was going to spell the end of magical Disney vacations. Somehow, we still enjoyed our last trip. Rose above it, I guess...

I think people are trying to picture just exactly how taking a trip to WDW with FP+ and MagicBands is going to work for them. You can make a pretty informed guess of what changes when they enforce FP return times. But there just aren't enough details to figure out FP+ and MagicBands from afar. Disney has released a lot of aspirational and vague information; along with some details - and if you try to figure it out, you run into a "yeah but what then?" question pretty quick. Not the least of which is that the concept may work out all well in good when a few thousand testers try pieces of it. But when 50,000 are all using it simultaneously?

FP did alter the strategy to experience the parks with the least hassle. There are tradeoffs. If you are knowledgable about the system IMHO in general the perception is that a few reduced waits in popular FP attractions are worth the extra standby waiting if you want to do that attraction twice. The worst tradeoff with FP is that for the super popular attractions you have to arrive when the park opens to get your FP walk in the rope drop herd. So OK there is now FP+. At first glance, yay! no more rope drop herd for certain FP. But if the tradeoff is you have to commit to being in DHS 60 days early to get a Midway Mania FP? Well that may be a little steep.

Disney is rolling out a lot of this all at once IMHO. Many elements of the FP+ system (like reserving FP 60 days ahead) could have been implemented resort wide using the old KTTW system in baby steps. There is a lot of risk.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I think people are trying to picture just exactly how taking a trip to WDW with FP+ and MagicBands is going to work for them. You can make a pretty informed guess of what changes when they enforce FP return times. But there just aren't enough details to figure out FP+ and MagicBands from afar. Disney has released a lot of aspirational and vague information; along with some details - and if you try to figure it out, you run into a "yeah but what then?" question pretty quick. Not the least of which is that the concept may work out all well in good when a few thousand testers try pieces of it. But when 50,000 are all using it simultaneously?

FP did alter the strategy to experience the parks with the least hassle. There are tradeoffs. If you are knowledgable about the system IMHO in general the perception is that a few reduced waits in popular FP attractions are worth the extra standby waiting if you want to do that attraction twice. The worst tradeoff with FP is that for the super popular attractions you have to arrive when the park opens to get your FP walk in the rope drop herd. So OK there is now FP+. At first glance, yay! no more rope drop herd for certain FP. But if the tradeoff is you have to commit to being in DHS 60 days early to get a Midway Mania FP? Well that may be a little steep.

Disney is rolling out a lot of this all at once IMHO. Many elements of the FP+ system (like reserving FP 60 days ahead) could have been implemented resort wide using the old KTTW system in baby steps. There is a lot of risk.

Agreed -- I'm trying to figure it out, too. I'm just not taking the doomsday approach popularized on the DIS!

It is a lot to be rolling out. But consider that they've been testing for quite some time. They make vague, aspirational statements -- yes -- this is just the "wide announcement" -- they want to gain excitement in the general public about it -- it's just marketing. People here are bound to lose it -- at least initially -- no matter what the change -- I'd suspect they know that. They plan to roll out through Spring, and I'd suspect many of the fun little MagicBand extras that they've conceived of won't roll out right away.

I guess that while they hit bumps in the road (uh, MDE website rollout, anyone?!?), Disney generally rights their ships relatively effectively. For me, Disney has earned the confidence I have in it as a company. So I take the "jury's still out" approach, rather than "they're killing my WDW vacation!!!" approach.

 

[estherhead]

This is great! I think I'm going to have to try to follow your travails as you explore this new system! When is your next WDW trip?!?

August! And I will be TR'ing, of course. I figure I'll wait till May of this year and start my pre-trippie. Hopefully by then the March and April tourists will have taken a few bullets for the rest of us and we can start making real plans.
But I will be sharing all of our tips that we come up with with the new plan. My sister, Suzy, and I can pretty much make anything work for us. We refuse to be foiled by any nefarious plans.

Suzy: Uh-oh.
Perla: Don't tell me. We're about to only get 3 FP+ per day.
Suzy: Yep.
Perla: And all at one park, only 2 headliners?
Suzy: Most likely.
Perla: Bring it on.

We shall have a New Groove.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

August! And I will be TR'ing, of course. I figure I'll wait till May of this year and start my pre-trippie. Hopefully by then the March and April tourists will have taken a few bullets for the rest of us and we can start making real plans.
But I will be sharing all of our tips that we come up with with the new plan. My sister, Suzy, and I can pretty much make anything work for us. We refuse to be foiled by any nefarious plans.

Suzy: Uh-oh.
Perla: Don't tell me. We're about to only get 3 FP+ per day.
Suzy: Yep.
Perla: And all at one park, only 2 headliners?
Suzy: Most likely.
Perla: Bring it on.

We shall have a New Groove.

I LOVE your attitude!!!! Nothing will keep this Disney-tripper down!!!

OK... I'll keep an eye out for your posts... our next big family trip is in October.

DODGE THOSE BULLETS FOR US!!!

 

[estherhead]

This is great! I think I'm going to have to try to follow your travails as you explore this new system! When is your next WDW trip?!?

I LOVE your attitude!!!! Nothing will keep this Disney-tripper down!!!

OK... I'll keep an eye out for your posts... our next big family trip is in October.

DODGE THOSE BULLETS FOR US!!!

Will do.

I also added our August 2012 youtube video to my siggie. It's the closest I'm going to get to a TR for that trip. And even if I had the time, by the time I got it written the tips on how to deal with enforced FP return time will be irrelevant.

 

[kmarie99]

Because that is not how things work. They dont need to release every little detail when making an announcement of this nature. The announcement gives a 10,000 ft overview of the program. Many of the details are probably still be sorted out and data from the testing is being analyzed

If they are reading all this on the Dis, I bet they are getting a good chuckle about some of the more paranoid ramblings and uninformed conjecture that is going on. I understand the nature of this board is for discussion about these matters, but some of it is down right just bashing this because people dont like change even before everything is finalized, they will tell you how it will fail.

I will just laugh after this gets rolled out and 95% of these predictions from the Disney "experts" on here fail to come to fruition.

My thoughts exactly...

Oh, you should never, never doubt what nobody is sure about - Willy Wonka

 

[mummabear]

Forgive me if it's been mentioned, but is there an anticipated list of all attractions that will be eligible for FP+? I can assume those that are already eligible for regular FP, but what about additional rides/show ie Lion King or any other shows?

I saw something a few weeks ago before Disneys announcment it had 2 sections saying you could pick x from 1 list and x from the other but fir the life of me I can't find it again grr!

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

I agree that they are probably working out the details on this new system but I seriously hope they aren't chuckling so much reading these comments as maybe saying wow we may have F'd up. By being vague they can make tweaks and pass them along as "oh thats what we always planned" but unless you are on the inside we've got no idea what was originally planned vs. what they roll out. For them its a good move to release this big breaking news but leaving a lot of details out to see peoples reactions and what seems to be well liked and what isn't. That way they don't pull a Netflix and roll out this new system without any input from the end users and then have to do a complete 180.

We left Netflix and never went back over that too... Hope disney doesn't do that!

 

[estherhead]

I agree that they are probably working out the details on this new system but I seriously hope they aren't chuckling so much reading these comments as maybe saying wow we may have F'd up. By being vague they can make tweaks and pass them along as "oh thats what we always planned" but unless you are on the inside we've got no idea what was originally planned vs. what they roll out. For them its a good move to release this big breaking news but leaving a lot of details out to see peoples reactions and what seems to be well liked and what isn't. That way they don't pull a Netflix and roll out this new system without any input from the end users and then have to do a complete 180.

This confuses me. Netflix change raised prices 60% in one day. And said they knew some customers would be mad but they didn't care. They decided to do this 72 hours before they did it.

Disney isn't raising prices with this change. Plus, they've been testing it out in their actual parks since 2011. And lots of end users have had a chance to try it out and comment. And they are rolling it out slowly one step at a time. I really have no idea how long prior to that they started the idea. But it's been at least 2 years that they've been testing it in the real world, and listening to consumers.

Reed Hastings thought up his idea in the spring of 2011, didn't listen when his fellow executives said to wait, and didn't do any testing of any kind.
"I messed up. I owe everyone an explanation. In hindsight, I slid into arrogance based upon past success."
--Reed Hastings in a blog post to customers

Apples and Oranges.

We Disboarders crack me up. It's like the whole coffee thing. For years and years I've heard the whining about the nasty coffee at WDW. "Why????" people have complained, "Why must Disney have such horrific coffee when amazing coffee exists?" So Disney listened. They heard. They went out and got bids from all the good coffee places. The most famous coffee place in the world gave them a quote they could live with. And Starbucks signed on. And ever since there has been nothing but questions as to why Disney would be such idiots to change our precious Main St bakeries. "WHY???? do they never listen to us? We love our Main St. bakery."

Sorry, this won't be anything like Netflix. It won't ever cause Disney's stock to drop by 80%. It's only a big deal to very few people. It could, however, be like the time McDonald's tried to make us shake our salads. Remember that? They heard us whining that it's hard to eat a salad in the car. So they gave us salad shakers. Sounds like such a good idea. But it really wasn't. If FP+ isn't everything they think it'll be, they'll just use less of it. Or keep FP along side it. Or modify it. McDonald's does still have salads, after all.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

This confuses me. Netflix change raised prices 60% in one day. And said they knew some customers would be mad but they didn't care. They decided to do this 72 hours before they did it.

Disney isn't raising prices with this change. Plus, they've been testing it out in their actual parks since 2011. And lots of end users have had a chance to try it out and comment. And they are rolling it out slowly one step at a time. I really have no idea how long prior to that they started the idea. But it's been at least 2 years that they've been testing it in the real world, and listening to consumers.

Reed Hastings thought up his idea in the spring of 2011, didn't listen when his fellow executives said to wait, and didn't do any testing of any kind.
"I messed up. I owe everyone an explanation. In hindsight, I slid into arrogance based upon past success."
--Reed Hastings in a blog post to customers

Apples and Oranges.

We Disboarders crack me up. It's like the whole coffee thing. For years and years I've heard the whining about the nasty coffee at WDW. "Why????" people have complained, "Why must Disney have such horrific coffee when amazing coffee exists?" So Disney listened. They heard. They went out and got bids from all the good coffee places. The most famous coffee place in the world gave them a quote they could live with. And Starbucks signed on. And ever since there has been nothing but questions as to why Disney would be such idiots to change our precious Main St bakeries. "WHY???? do they never listen to us? We love our Main St. bakery."

Sorry, this won't be anything like Netflix. It won't ever cause Disney's stock to drop by 80%. It's only a big deal to very few people. It could, however, be like the time McDonald's tried to make us shake our salads. Remember that? They heard us whining that it's hard to eat a salad in the car. So they gave us salad shakers. Sounds like such a good idea. But it really wasn't. If FP+ isn't everything they think it'll be, they'll just use less of it. Or keep FP along side it. Or modify it. McDonald's does still have salads, after all.

And the coffee analogy is a terrific one.

 

[Boski]

This confuses me. Netflix change raised prices 60% in one day. And said they knew some customers would be mad but they didn't care. They decided to do this 72 hours before they did it.

Disney isn't raising prices with this change. Plus, they've been testing it out in their actual parks since 2011. And lots of end users have had a chance to try it out and comment. And they are rolling it out slowly one step at a time. I really have no idea how long prior to that they started the idea. But it's been at least 2 years that they've been testing it in the real world, and listening to consumers.

Reed Hastings thought up his idea in the spring of 2011, didn't listen when his fellow executives said to wait, and didn't do any testing of any kind.
"I messed up. I owe everyone an explanation. In hindsight, I slid into arrogance based upon past success."
--Reed Hastings in a blog post to customers

Apples and Oranges.

We Disboarders crack me up. It's like the whole coffee thing. For years and years I've heard the whining about the nasty coffee at WDW. "Why????" people have complained, "Why must Disney have such horrific coffee when amazing coffee exists?" So Disney listened. They heard. They went out and got bids from all the good coffee places. The most famous coffee place in the world gave them a quote they could live with. And Starbucks signed on. And ever since there has been nothing but questions as to why Disney would be such idiots to change our precious Main St bakeries. "WHY???? do they never listen to us? We love our Main St. bakery."

Sorry, this won't be anything like Netflix. It won't ever cause Disney's stock to drop by 80%. It's only a big deal to very few people. It could, however, be like the time McDonald's tried to make us shake our salads. Remember that? They heard us whining that it's hard to eat a salad in the car. So they gave us salad shakers. Sounds like such a good idea. But it really wasn't. If FP+ isn't everything they think it'll be, they'll just use less of it. Or keep FP along side it. Or modify it. McDonald's does still have salads, after all.

I think you maybe taking the analogy to literal? I said Disney might be doing this so they don't pull a Netflix. Not "they are pulling a Netflix"

 

[estherhead]

I think you maybe taking the analogy to literal? I said Disney might be doing this so they don't pull a Netflix. Not "they are pulling a Netflix"

Yes you did. My mistake.

 

[Melodious]

This confuses me. Netflix change raised prices 60% in one day. And said they knew some customers would be mad but they didn't care. They decided to do this 72 hours before they did it.

Disney isn't raising prices with this change. Plus, they've been testing it out in their actual parks since 2011. And lots of end users have had a chance to try it out and comment. And they are rolling it out slowly one step at a time. I really have no idea how long prior to that they started the idea. But it's been at least 2 years that they've been testing it in the real world, and listening to consumers.

Reed Hastings thought up his idea in the spring of 2011, didn't listen when his fellow executives said to wait, and didn't do any testing of any kind.
"I messed up. I owe everyone an explanation. In hindsight, I slid into arrogance based upon past success."
--Reed Hastings in a blog post to customers

Apples and Oranges.

We Disboarders crack me up. It's like the whole coffee thing. For years and years I've heard the whining about the nasty coffee at WDW. "Why????" people have complained, "Why must Disney have such horrific coffee when amazing coffee exists?" So Disney listened. They heard. They went out and got bids from all the good coffee places. The most famous coffee place in the world gave them a quote they could live with. And Starbucks signed on. And ever since there has been nothing but questions as to why Disney would be such idiots to change our precious Main St bakeries. "WHY???? do they never listen to us? We love our Main St. bakery."

Sorry, this won't be anything like Netflix. It won't ever cause Disney's stock to drop by 80%. It's only a big deal to very few people. It could, however, be like the time McDonald's tried to make us shake our salads. Remember that? They heard us whining that it's hard to eat a salad in the car. So they gave us salad shakers. Sounds like such a good idea. But it really wasn't. If FP+ isn't everything they think it'll be, they'll just use less of it. Or keep FP along side it. Or modify it. McDonald's does still have salads, after all.

Still a great post

 

[Mkrop]

This confuses me. Netflix change raised prices 60% in one day. And said they knew some customers would be mad but they didn't care. They decided to do this 72 hours before they did it.

Disney isn't raising prices with this change. Plus, they've been testing it out in their actual parks since 2011. And lots of end users have had a chance to try it out and comment. And they are rolling it out slowly one step at a time. I really have no idea how long prior to that they started the idea. But it's been at least 2 years that they've been testing it in the real world, and listening to consumers.

Reed Hastings thought up his idea in the spring of 2011, didn't listen when his fellow executives said to wait, and didn't do any testing of any kind.
"I messed up. I owe everyone an explanation. In hindsight, I slid into arrogance based upon past success."
--Reed Hastings in a blog post to customers

Apples and Oranges.

We Disboarders crack me up. It's like the whole coffee thing. For years and years I've heard the whining about the nasty coffee at WDW. "Why????" people have complained, "Why must Disney have such horrific coffee when amazing coffee exists?" So Disney listened. They heard. They went out and got bids from all the good coffee places. The most famous coffee place in the world gave them a quote they could live with. And Starbucks signed on. And ever since there has been nothing but questions as to why Disney would be such idiots to change our precious Main St bakeries. "WHY???? do they never listen to us? We love our Main St. bakery."
Sorry, this won't be anything like Netflix. It won't ever cause Disney's stock to drop by 80%. It's only a big deal to very few people. It could, however, be like the time McDonald's tried to make us shake our salads. Remember that? They heard us whining that it's hard to eat a salad in the car. So they gave us salad shakers. Sounds like such a good idea. But it really wasn't. If FP+ isn't everything they think it'll be, they'll just use less of it. Or keep FP along side it. Or modify it. McDonald's does still have salads, after all.

See I dont drink coffee but I think Disney only half listened. Yes people want different coffee, they just wanted it to be put somewhere else, or not mess with the bakery, but serve the coffee. Have what we love about the old mixed with the new.

Kind of like FP+ for me at least, I want the be able to schedule some things ahead of time, but I still want to repull a FP for my favorite ride later too. Or the old way I could ride TSMM and RNR, will I be able to do that with the new way, if not than we are not going to be happy campers. So I wanted the FP+ but I wanted it to enhance what I liked about the old way, so far I am not sure that is happening, it feels like a complete change. But maybe I am wrong