FP + What we know and what we want to know

[bcrook]

Hmmm, now I am starting to wonder if Disney isn't in cahoots with the smart phone folks. LOL I know this is making me think I need a smart phone. Am I the only one?

You are not the only one...I will have something new by June, I am sure. Maybe I can use my DVC card to get a discount on my data plan. Bundle my Disney experience.

Ugh! I just wrote a whole long response and it didn't post! Boo!... Anyhow, I'm certainly not saying the current system is/was unfair, but for those who are unable to get there at rope drop there is not the same opportunity. Disney execs probably would love early and late arrivals to spend more time out of line in stores and in food places so the new system may provide that. In fact, I'm guessing most experts who ride 5 or more E tickets a day with 7 or more fast passes spend less than the average guest so getting average/new guest out of line is important for the bottom line.

Of course, all this is conjecture but I like understanding the why of things as the big picture helps me figure out how to use it. I'm even more excited to see this role out and hear reports of those who are getting their fee wet!

I am with you there. Plus I bring friends and family with and they count on me to understand how things work. With all the money we spend, I like to be able to provide cool experiences. My teen son keeps telling me Disney is smart, this whole system is going to give the newbies a fighting chance to enjoy the parks without spending a million hours on the disboards. He says I dislike it because I have lost my competitive advantage!

I have decided to make my June trip adults only!!! Let's see how he likes that!

 

[mummabear]

3. If during testing, most folks selected parades and character interactions, is the only reason we are assuming this will not continue is if FP- is going away?
QUOTE]

If I was using it during testing where I also had the use of standard fastpass I would have been picking them all too because it was the best of both worlds once I have just the 3 FP+ reservations thenits a different story, for me with 2 young kids we would still book some of the shows/parades/meet and greets with rides but without them it would be all rides

 

[Missyrose]

I may have to our my flame suit on for this one but.....
1. As a west coaster with young kids and nieces in tow I'm not opposed to pre booking fast passes_if_ I can select my window/reservation time.

I can see how that would be appealing, though how big are those windows you're hoping to score. If you want a TSM FP+ at 3 p.m. and you log in only to find your options are A) 9 a.m. (long before your West coast family was hoping to be awake). or B) 6 p.m. (right smack dab in the middle of your Sci-Fi ADR), which selection would you choose? And would you be happy with the Muppets FP+ they offer you as an alternative?

2. While the system may mean commando style touring by expert fast passers get less fast passes, this seems to equalize the playing field a bit.

The field was equalized in the current system. Everyone in the park had the same access to FPs. The issue people seem to confuse with inequality is that the current system requires people to put in effort (i.e. get to the park early enough) to get the FPs they desire.

3. If during testing, most folks selected parades and character interactions, is the only reason we are assuming this will not continue is if FP- is going away?

If people in testing chose FP+ reservations for attractions that already have regular FP, then they had no real idea what they were doing. Of course those people would pick FP+ reservations for parade and fireworks viewing because they could still use regular FP to get FPs for Space Mountain and Peter Pan.

So yes, the concern is once regular FP goes away, the competition for headliner FP+s will transfer from RD to 60-days out (theoretically), just like the 180-day ADR window.

4. Why are we assuming this will increase wait time overall? Is there an assumption that the total number of fast passes will go up? Or there will be more people in the park? If Disney is going to use this to move folks around won't waits go down, if it's done correctly?

FWIW, I understand why some folks are concerned this might make vacations feel over planned, but as a non commando planner I usually have an idea of 3 rides or things i want to do in a given day so I'm hoping this doesn't feel much different.

The concerning aspect of this new system is how it will affect standby wait times at attractions that don't currently have FP. Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean load pretty smoothly and the lines tend to move fairly quickly, even on busy days. But add a new line of FP+ people, that flow of guests can quickly get gummed up and create longer waits than people are used to.

 

[jade1]

We're just going to have to agree to disagree about the word "unable".

I kinda agree with you both, but I do realize an 8AM rope drop is 5AM to west coasters like BeccaG. So they need to be up at 3:30AM to get to the bus stop at 4AM to safely get to rope drop at 5AM.

With that in mind-ask her if shed rather reserve TSM ahead of time...say 1PM or ant "afternoon time" (10AM to her), pretty sure its yes.

 

[mom2rtk]

I have decided to make my June trip adults only!!! Let's see how he likes that!

Now, THAT is what I call unfair!

BTW.... where are you at in MO?

 

[bcrook]

If the old system was unfair to those who couldn't get up for rope drop, how does the new system improve it? Now it will require them to get up at some unknown-as-yet time to get online and try and book their FP+s, which if they follow the ADR lead will be even earlier than rope drop - and to add to it, require that they have a computer with an internet connection or a smartphone...

I still don't buy the argument that most people didn't know how to use FP, but that is just a wild guess. With this system people will be coached through the FP system and even if they end up with FP for PotC, jungle cruise, and haunted mansion during the middle of the day, it is still a huge time saver! That jungle cruise line can be long. They will be able to get those three with the highly touted "fast pick" system. Once they get their fast picks, and check their phones or accounts - they will figure things out quickly.

Then throw in seagulls calling by them name, bonus FP, and a more interactive experience at laugh floor, people will be over joyed. And we will all have so much free time by only being able to ride Splash once, we will be able to spend more money (15-20%) in stores and at Starbucks! [If they brought butter beer over the IoA, I would wear out my bracelet!].

 

[mummabear]

We're just going to have to agree to disagree about the word "unable".

I am going to have to agree that some people are unable: I have 2 kids DD1 and DD3 we live in NZ which has an 6-8 hour time difference from Orlando depending on daylight savings. When we arrive at 2am to the resort after travelling a full 24 hours there is no way we would make rope drop frankly lunch is up in the air. Even after the recover from the travelling they will still wake up very late

 

[mom2rtk]

I kinda agree with you both, but I do realize an 8AM rope drop is 5AM to west coasters like BeccaG. So they need to be up at 3:30AM to get to the bus stop at 4AM to safely get to rope drop at 5AM.

With that in mind-ask her if shed rather reserve TSM ahead of time...say 1PM or ant "afternoon time" (10AM to her), pretty sure its yes.

But then that makes evening EMH "unfair" to us early risers. They get twice as long to enjoy that perk as we get at AM EMH. Really, you could drive yourself nuts trying to make it all "fair".

And while I'd agree that the time change would be tough for a day or 2, after that they should adjust. Just like I adjust my body clock when I head west to DL.

 

[bcrook]

Now, THAT is what I call unfair!

BTW.... where are you at in MO?

I will take him in October if he becomes more supportive! . St.louis area.

 

[BeccaG]

If the old system was unfair to those who couldn't get up for rope drop, how does the new system improve it? Now it will require them to get up at some unknown-as-yet time to get online and try and book their FP+s, which if they follow the ADR lead will be even earlier than rope drop - and to add to it, require that they have a computer with an internet connection or a smartphone...

I actually said it wasn't unfair....in being "unequal" I'm trying to think from a Disney exec perspective... As an exec I want people to have equal experiences. I think Disney execs a
based on their studies & test runs think this will provide a more positive guest experience for more people.

EMH aren't "unfair" and I don't think anyone really said such. Plus Disney "equalizes" things by providing morning and evening EMH.

I hope the new system will still create memorable experiences for everyone here, as I think that's really the goal of family vacations!

 

[meowmarie]

A lot of the fear on here is based on thousands booking FP+ months early and eating up all FPs. Now think about what you see on every park visit. People clogging the sidewalks staring at maps, folks walking up to restaurants dumbfounded that they're full, and lines choked with guests that don't understand why we can just bypass the line and get right on. My guess is that 75% or more of guests will have no clue and will not be prebooking, no matter how hard Disney pushes this. So this will end up as another perk for the informed, you know, us.

This is what a lot of us thought about pre-booking dining ressies. Yet it amazes me how many people want to eat at the same place at the same time as me, because the ones I want sell out within seconds/minutes and I have to log in every day and hope something opens up. I hope that I now don't have to do this with dining AND rides but I'm not optimistic.

 

[bcrook]

I am going to have to agree that some people are unable: I have 2 kids DD1 and DD3 we live in NZ which has an 6-8 hour time difference from Orlando depending on daylight savings. When we arrive at 2am to the resort after travelling a full 24 hours there is no way we would make rope drop frankly lunch is up in the air. Even after the recover from the travelling they will still wake up very late

That would a challenge to tackle with young kids. When those kids are older, it will be much easier. I do see how scheduling some passes in advance would be extremely helpful for your situation. I hope you get to travel in the non peak times, that would help the most!

 

[mom2rtk]

I will take him in October if he becomes more supportive! . St.louis area.

Just curious. I'm in KC.

And I'm a supporter of tough love and all, but man..... that's just cruel!

 

[mom2rtk]

That would a challenge to tackle with young kids. When those kids are older, it will be much easier. I do see how scheduling some passes in advance would be extremely helpful for your situation. I hope you get to travel in the non peak times, that would help the most!

........ until they become teens. Then it gets exponentialy harder.

 

[bcrook]

This is what a lot of us thought about pre-booking dining ressies. Yet it amazes me how many people want to eat at the same place at the same time as me, because the ones I want sell out within seconds/minutes and I have to log in every day and hope something opens up. I hope that I now don't have to do this with dining AND rides but I'm not optimistic.

Based on how quickly the FPs go with people rushing to the parks, I would think they would go faster if you don't have to go to the park and walk to the kiosk, then get a random time. This will be easy to log in and start grabbing. Also, it seems pretty obvious we will get reminder updates.

If somebody is staying off site and purchase tickets at a place like UT or AAA there won't get the emails and reminders. Hmmmm.

 

[Kaylasmomma]

I dont know if anyone has already posted about this

but under the thread about disney website someone should me fired..

there is a screenshot from a user where they can SEE the fast pass option...
it hasnt let them ADD anything yet.. but its there

i dont have that on my screen anywhere either

 

[Robo]

If somebody is staying off site and purchase tickets at a place like UT or AAA there won't get the emails and reminders. Hmmmm.

We don't know this yet, either.

Authorized ticket re-sellers/discounters are not Disney's "competition."
Disney sells them discounted tickets in order for the resellers to market the tickets
to a certain additional segment of the market.

 

[jade1]

But then that makes evening EMH "unfair" to us early risers. They get twice as long to enjoy that perk as we get at AM EMH. Really, you could drive yourself nuts trying to make it all "fair".

That's true and a good point, but they have reduced the amount of nights with EMH eve and to 2 hrs. We can get way more done at rope drop.

 

[jade1]

But then that makes evening EMH "unfair" to us early risers. They get twice as long to enjoy that perk as we get at AM EMH. .

Actually it will shake out in the end-you will "reserve" what you cant stay awake for and clean up at rope drope. I (and BeccaG) will "reserve" what we miss at rope drop, and sorta clean up on the occasional EMH eve.

And most all-a lot less grabby folks trying to over due it on too little sleep.

PS-"unfair" and "fair" were your words-not mine.

 

[Missyrose]

I dont know if anyone has already posted about this

but under the thread about disney website someone should me fired..

there is a screenshot from a user where they can SEE the fast pass option...
it hasnt let them ADD anything yet.. but its there

i dont have that on my screen anywhere either

The iPad app has intermittently shown the FP+ button when you go to each attraction page. But if you click it, it will bring up a calendar and then error out.