FP + What we know and what we want to know

[bcrook]

Don't get mad cause I haven't read the whole thread. But my question is how do y'all think the Fastpass+ will work with the whole or part of the group getting FP? Do you think I will be able to get FP+ for all the group or will each person have to get their own. Also I saw speculation there may be surprise FP given, would all four in my party get one or just me saying for our group? Just wondering what everyone is thinking.

Based on what the app looks like now. You will be able to schedule FP+ for however you like for your whole group. BUT, there are some tricky parts to this. People in your group can choose to be completely controlled by you, or they can have their own account and be linked to you. IF they are linked, and you grab a FP+ for them, they have to go their app and click accept, or something like that.

As for the Bonus FP, we don't know, but I would imagine it would work the same way. Linked groups would most likely get the same "offer".

 

[mousermerf]

Everything Disney has done in the past has been proximity-based when it comes to redistribution of crowds. Pal Mickey had a rarely used function to accept a "pulse" informational notice that notified guests of a pre-determined event.. parade, meet/greet, etc.. So Disney turned on the broadcasters at the right time and those guests with Pal Mickey knew something was happening nearby.

Similarly, anytime a "Surprise" FP has been given out, it's because you're at a nearby attraction getting FP.

So FP+ holder scheduled to ride Space Mountain between 1 and 3pm might get a notice to use their "Surprise FP+" for Carousel of Progress between 1-2 or 2-3pm. Similarly, they have mentioned those proximity sensors being in the parks..

Wander past the M:S and be offered a FP+ for right then and there.

The travel party should get all of the same offer.

 

[luvmyguyz]

Does anyone make impomptu visits to any themepark? I can't see that as being wise and I'm not even a planner.

Yes - passholders and locals, especially. My family has season passes to Six Flags, and there are plenty of times where we've woken up one Sunday, looked outside to see beautiful weather, and said "hey, who wants to go to Six Flags today?" I am a crazy planner when we go to WDW, but not for a theme park that's 50 miles from my house.

I would imagine it would be the same for people living near WDW.

 

[bcrook]

Reserving rides months in in advance for a particular day seems kinda insane to me. I love planning but, c'mon. Thats pretty intense. We have reservations for the end of April for our kids first WDW trip. Since we live on the west coast they've been to DLR but not WDW. I trying to keep an open mind, and see what happens, but my DH and I are considering canceling the April trip and heading to DLR this summer instead, before they have a chance to change over to FP+ there as well (if the rumor is true that it will come there eventually also) Maybe it won't be bad, hopefully they'll roll out some more info soon. Maybe the regular FP will stay pretty much the same, and it will be just a cool bonus for those who like to uber plan.

Honestly, I can't imagine a scenario where this will be much of a factor in the off times. End of April has to be a lower time period. You should be able to enjoy yourself with limited planning and maybe if it is up and running you can log in a week before and see what your options are. The APP gets me very excited. Every time I open it up, and I want to book a select spot for a parade and Illuminations.

If you have kids who enjoy the thrill rides and the e-ticket rides - and you are going during peak time - I honestly can't see how this will be a good experience. This will be a huge downgrade for the active thrill seeking groups. They are being directed to Universal and the Transformer ride.

 

[seashoreCM]

Reserving rides months in in advance for a particular day seems kinda insane to me. .

This is what will keep same day fastpasses available for you and others.

 

[luvmyguyz]

Imagine that I've bought a Dole Whip on my last two visits. The system now shows my family working toward an extremely crowded Frontierland. It sends me a text that mentions that the line is short at Dole Whip. That delays me by twenty minutes by which time the crowd has been lessened.

Here's another: It's lunchtime. The nearest CS restaurant is slammed but one a bit out of our way is less busy. A text notifies me of the less busy one. I'm better served as a guest and I have more time in my life not standing in a line so I can spend money somewhere else.

I know a lot of people have issues with Disney monitoring our spending patterns and knowing where we are at any given moment while on property, but honestly, this sounds really cool to me. Like having a personal assistant.

 

[bcrook]

This is what will keep same day fastpasses available for you and others.

If you get there early and will settle on Little Mermaid for 8:00 pm or PoC. There will be LOTS of same day FP. Tens of Thousands. But not likely the Mountains or PP.

 

[bcrook]

I know a lot of people have issues with Disney monitoring our spending patterns and knowing where we are at any given moment while on property, but honestly, this sounds really cool to me. Like having a personal assistant.

If you can get Siri on your phone to talk directly with the My Disney Experience computer - you could seamlessly move through the park.

This could make Touringplans and other things like that obsolete.

 

[interstate70s]

Honestly, I can't imagine a scenario where this will be much of a factor in the off times. End of April has to be a lower time period. You should be able to enjoy yourself with limited planning and maybe if it is up and running you can log in a week before and see what your options are. The APP gets me very excited. Every time I open it up, and I want to book a select spot for a parade and Illuminations.

This is good to know. Our dates are the 21st-27th It's just hard to imagine only 3 FP in a day

If you have kids who enjoy the thrill rides and the e-ticket rides - and you are going during peak time - I honestly can't see how this will be a good experience. This will be a huge downgrade for the active thrill seeking groups. They are being directed to Universal and the Transformer ride.

This is what we were thinking, In our backup plan if we go to DLR in 2013, we are thinking of Universal Orlando in 2014 w/o going to Disney at all.

 

[doconeill]

I know a lot of people have issues with Disney monitoring our spending patterns and knowing where we are at any given moment while on property, but honestly, this sounds really cool to me. Like having a personal assistant.

As for monitoring spending patterns, anyone who has ever used a credit card pretty much gave up that bit of knowledge right then and there.

If you want to avoid having spending patterns tracked, use cash as always. Changing to MyMagic+/MagicBand really doesn't change anything with regards to privacy for spending.

 

[phineasfan100]

Another thing I am concerned about is with SD not being owned by Disney but still on property, will it be included in MyMagic+?

 

[bcrook]

Another thing I am concerned about is with SD not being owned by Disney but still on property, will it be included in MyMagic+?

Currently, off site and on site guests get the same benefits. You might have to buy your own bracelet? Disney does want EVERYONE on the bracelet.

 

[doconeill]

Another thing I am concerned about is with SD not being owned by Disney but still on property, will it be included in MyMagic+?

Yes. ALL guests will have access to MyMagic+, regardless of where they are staying.

S/D guests may not get MagicBands by default though. Remains to be seen.

 

[mousermerf]

It wouldn't surprise me to have the authorized ticket sellers at S/D and other "good neighbor" hotels selling the bands along with park tickets.

 

[bcrook]

Think about how many FP+ offers you get when Disney detects that you are pulling into the parking lot of Universal. As you are walking down the Port of Entry you get a text. Open table at Le Cellier for dinner tonight, click here to reserve your table and enjoy a free appetizer. Or BING, FP+ for TT available tonight at 8:00 and enjoy preferred seating at Illuminations.

OR how about this!!! People are suggesting some FP be held back for Day of. What if some are held for TSMM so that Disney can pepper all those guests heading over to SeaWorld with bonus FP+ for TSMM. That would seriously make them regret their choice for the day.

Everybody would have to remember to leave their tracking devices (bracelets) in their rooms.

 

[bcrook]

It wouldn't surprise me to have the authorized ticket sellers at S/D and other "good neighbor" hotels selling the bands along with park tickets.

I am sure, that is going to be a billion dollar business in itself.

 

[doconeill]

It wouldn't surprise me to have the authorized ticket sellers at S/D and other "good neighbor" hotels selling the bands along with park tickets.

I could see the "EMH" hotels - S/D, SoG and Hilton - possibly having the bands...they use KTTW cards now to show for EMH access, right? If so, that probably increases the likelyhood they'll use MagicBands.

 

[mousermerf]

Think about how many FP+ offers you get when Disney detects that you are pulling into the parking lot of Universal. As you are walking down the Port of Entry you get a text. Open table at Le Cellier for dinner tonight, click here to reserve your table and enjoy a free appetizer. Or BING, FP+ for TT available tonight at 8:00 and enjoy preferred seating at Illuminations.

OR how about this!!! People are suggesting some FP be held back for Day of. What if some are held for TSMM so that Disney can pepper all those guests heading over to SeaWorld with bonus FP+ for TSMM. That would seriously make them regret their choice for the day.

Everybody would have to remember to leave their tracking devices (bracelets) in their rooms.

It's not GPS. It's a signal your RFID band emits - it has two radios btw.. one for close range (transactions, room key) and one for long range (the one that would tell Disney where you are - roughly). It needs to "ping" a sensor. Disney's terms say they retain the right to put sensors anywhere they want and not have them be visible or tell you where they are. The terms explicitly state this.

So they'll have no idea who you are or what you're doing unless you're near a sensor. They obviously will only have sensors on their property.

 

[mousermerf]

I could see the "EMH" hotels - S/D, SoG and Hilton - possibly having the bands...they use KTTW cards now to show for EMH access, right? If so, that probably increases the likelyhood they'll use MagicBands.

I'm not sure of recently, but in the past S/D had their own room keys and they looked nothing like KTTW - same for Hilton on Hotel Plaza - but CMs know what they look like.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, if Disney is as good at sending personalized FP+ offers as they are at sending me PIN codes, then I'm not holding my breath. I am the self-appointed president of the "NO PIN" club. So I suppose I might have to branch out and take over the "NO Special FP+ Offers" club as well.

So here's my latest question. If Disney is shunning their loyal fan base in favor of first timers, can we expect fewer "special offers?"

And honestly, if the first timers spend more money, then what the heck is Disney doing sending them special offers? If you keep them too busy with rides, they won't have time for shopping any more. Maybe the only reason they spent more money in the first place is because they had so much time on their hands when they passed on waiting in all those long lines, but couldn't figure out how to get to the parks in time to get FPs?