FP + What we know and what we want to know

[bigAWL]

In the beginning as people first adjust to the system, probably enough. But as more and more people use it (and/or learn how to use it) I am sure the leftovers will be few and far between (especially for headliners).

I am sure there will still be a ton of off-site folks who don't use it, simply because they don't go to the wdw.com site . Plus the grandparents of the world who still call over the phone to make all their reservations (resort, dining and otherwise) simply because the don't have a computer or don't understand (or don't want to understand). Plus the casual day visitor who also might not know about it otherwise.

Over time, I expect more and more people will use it (especially if Disney markets the heck out of it outside of just wdw.com, which I suspect they will). But I am still not convinced that this will be an immediate, drastic change. (Or at least I am not convinced right now since I have had a week or so to think about it and let all the info soak in)

Again, JMO, YMMV

I agree with every word. For those visiting this spring or summer or even the fall, the question will be how quickly Disney will make it available to a significat number of guests, and then how quickly the "masses" start utilizing FP+ to it's fullest.

 

[WishnDisney]

The EVP of NextGen himself said three selections for all guests.

I missed this. Sigh! And the thought of the FPs being gone because everyone has reserved FP+ means that the "opting out thinking" to get more FPs would actually be shooting myself in the foot.

I'm seriously questioning my Magic Experience! Like I said,this is our first trip as a family and we probably won't be coming again, at least not for a long time. So, we want to try to do as much as we can (without spending more time in lines than on the actual "experiences"). It figures I would finally get a vacation booked (booked it last November), and then get hit with this mass of unknown chaos.

Hopefully, if we get to RD, we'll still be able to hit all of the high spots before the lines get too long. I'm not a morning person, but if it means I have to put out more effort to experience the things we want to, I'm willing to do it.

Lynne

 

[Robo]

we want to try to do as much as we can (without spending more time in lines than on the actual "experiences").

I don't think that is ever possible, in general, if you want to experience most of the major attractions.

Except for a very few, most rides are quite short compared to the time it takes to enter the queue, stand in (whatever) line, wait to board, and actually be boarded.

You're right about arriving early. That's just about the best time, regardless.

 

[zeferjen]

I there a way to add your tickets now to the My Disney Experience website? I have an annual pass and an upcoming DVC visit in March. How do I tell if the system knows that I am an AP holder?

 

[WishnDisney]

I don't think that is ever possible, in general, if you want to experience most of the major attractions.

Except for a very few, most rides are quite short compared to the time it takes to enter the queue, stand in (whatever) line, wait to board, and actually be boarded.

You're right about arriving early. That's just about the best time, regardless.

Yup, I think I said that wrong.

I guess I was just hoping to have more options for FP to try to mitigate long standby lines on the major attractions. And if the rumors are true that they are going to tier the FP+, then that means several of the rides that would have been eligible for FP, would mean standby with the new FP+, since I would probably only be able to pick 1 of the major attractions for FP+ that day. Wow...who would have thought a trip to WDW could become so complicated!

Lynne

Thanks!

Lynne

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I missed this. Sigh! And the thought of the FPs being gone because everyone has reserved FP+ means that the "opting out thinking" to get more FPs would actually be shooting myself in the foot.

I'm seriously questioning my Magic Experience! Like I said,this is our first trip as a family and we probably won't be coming again, at least not for a long time. So, we want to try to do as much as we can (without spending more time in lines than on the actual "experiences"). It figures I would finally get a vacation booked (booked it last November), and then get hit with this mass of unknown chaos.

Hopefully, if we get to RD, we'll still be able to hit all of the high spots before the lines get too long. I'm not a morning person, but if it means I have to put out more effort to experience the things we want to, I'm willing to do it.

Lynne

Believe me, i get the fear of the unknown (and we are WDW veterans).

My hope is that rope drop/park opening will ultimately result in shorter standby lines for more than the first 60 minutes. Here's why:

A certain % of folks currently go to the park at rope drop simply to get those coveted FP's for Soain and TSMM (and help me fill in the blank for any other ride that tends to currently see FPs disappear in the first few hours after opening). If these same folks have pre-arranged to ride those rides through FP+ at say noon or 2 o'clock, will they still come at rope drop?

Then there are the folks who don't necessarily understand the ebb flow of a Disney Park in the AM. Some of them will reserve a FP+ for the rides first thing, rather than making them for later in the day and using standby in the AM.

Lastly, there are the folks who wouldn't get up for rope drop no matter what incentive you give them or what they "miss" out on. It's their vacation too so if sleeping in a priority (or a necessity or an accidental occurance) then that's even less people in the park at 9am.


In reality, will this be the end result?? Who knows. But I am trying VERY hard to be optimistic about potential side effects of the new system since, clearly, it is coming, no matter how much we speculate/complain/panic about it.

 

[bigAWL]

I there a way to add your tickets now to the My Disney Experience website? I have an annual pass and an upcoming DVC visit in March. How do I tell if the system knows that I am an AP holder?

On the website, it looks like you can go into your profile and edit it to add "affliations" including an AP. I don't know if that is the same as adding/linking/virtualizing your tickets for the purposes of using FP+ or any other MyMagic+ feature. But I don't see this as an option of the rest of my family for whom I've created profiles but not actual accounts.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I thought I saw Boardwalk as the rumored first resort. Can anyone say where this information is coming from?

I saw a blog that said the Boardwalk also, in February, but I don't remember where the link was.

 

[doconeill]

I saw a blog that said the Boardwalk also, in February, but I don't remember where the link was.

I have also heard Boardwalk, but don't remember the sources. The only place I've heard Beach Club is this thread, and only in the last 24 hours.

 

[BeccaG]

My interpratation of the five ticket rule was that you could link up to five tickets for each member of your group. ...

I read it as five total so I hope you are correct! I wonder if that is "forever" or just at once?

My guess is that each person must have a ticket linked to their profile in order to reserve FP+ experiences for them.

I assumed that part, I was more asking if I could only reserve fastpasses for the people whose tickets I entered, or was it just the people whom I manually entered their tickets myself?

I've seen in my main profile that I could add an "affiliation" to my account. ...

I'm a DVC member too, gonna go check that now...but earlier this week, I saw a place to enter any ticket code...but I don't remember where on the website that was.....

Wait, I found it...there is an area under each person's profile associated with your's there is a section on the bottom that summarizes the # of reservations they have and it lists fastpasses, virtual tickets etc

 

[doconeill]

Wait, I found it...there is an area under each person's profile associated with your's there is a section on the bottom that summarizes the # of reservations they have and it lists fastpasses, virtual tickets etc

It shows the number of virtual tickets for that person...but no apparent way to enter them.

 

[bigAWL]

I read it as five total so I hope you are correct! I wonder if that is "forever" or just at once?

I'm hoping five is the max at any one time on each account, and you can remove tickets as they are used. Or they are removed automatically.

I assumed that part, I was more asking if I could only reserve fastpasses for the people whose tickets I entered, or was it just the people whom I manually entered their tickets myself

I guess I'm still missing your question, then?

"people whose tickets I entered"
vs.
"people whom I manually entered their tickets"

I'm a DVC member too, gonna go check that now...but earlier this week, I saw a place to enter any ticket code...but I don't remember where on the website that was.....

Wait, I found it...there is an area under each person's profile associated with your's there is a section on the bottom that summarizes the # of reservations they have and it lists fastpasses, virtual tickets etc

I see that part too, but only for my family members... not for me. I've seen that for a couple days, as well, but never found any indication as to how one would actually enter a code. This just seems to show the status. Back to the first question... I think this also would indicate that you can at least have more than one ticket linked to a guest. Here it will show you how many.

 

[BeccaG]

I guess I'm still missing your question, then?

"people whose tickets I entered"
vs.
"people whom I manually entered their tickets"

Yeah, I made that kinda confusing it was a further clarification not a vs.

This is what I am asking: If Joe has his own account he manages and adds his virtual ticket or has an AP, will I be able to get a reservation for FP+ for Joe, or will he have to since he has his own account?

 

[houseful of boys]

Yeah, I made that kinda confusing it was a further clarification not a vs.

This is what I am asking: If Joe has his own account he manages and adds his virtual ticket or has an AP, will I be able to get a reservation for FP+ for Joe, or will he have to since he has his own account?

You will be able to make fp+ reservations for anyone who has their own account and has accepted your invitation and is your "friend." You can also make fp+ reservations for those friends that do not have their own acounts and that you manage completely.

 

[dadddio]

Right, but they still need someone to get the band, link it to the MDE account and then mail it. That costs $$ in hourly wages too. No reason it can't be done at check in by the CM who is already serving the guest.

I agree. Check in is the obvious time to give out these. Mailing them doesn't really make sense, to me. This s especially true if the standard bands come in different colors. Also, since the bands are keyed to individual members of a party, it would be a pain to identify which person has been preassigned which band.

Again, I could be WAY off of this, but I still think custom bands will come early and the "included" bands will be issued at check in.

I think that the standard bands will be given at check in and the upgrade ones will be available at pretty much every gift shop on property.

I missed this. Sigh! And the thought of the FPs being gone because everyone has reserved FP+ means that the "opting out thinking" to get more FPs would actually be shooting myself in the foot.

Don't get too stressed yet. They stated that each guest can schedule three FP+s in advance. They also stated that a person could choose three quick picks (my term, not theirs) to get them started. They have not specifically stated whether same-day FP+s will be available, or not.

That being said, we do know many things. We know (or believe) that many people won't have a clue about FP+ until they arrive. These people won't be scheduling advance FP+s.

They are expanding the number of rides/attractions that will be offering FP+. This means that families like mine are going to be using up our advance FP+s on character interactions, parades, fireworks, etc.

Since we can only advance schedule FP+s in one park per day and won't be able to get multiple advance FP+s for the same ride each day, more people will be able to schedule advance FP+s for their favorite ride.

(It's also believed by some that the new system is going to allow for an increase in the number of FPs available per attraction.)

Hopefully, if we get to RD, we'll still be able to hit all of the high spots before the lines get too long. I'm not a morning person, but if it means I have to put out more effort to experience the things we want to, I'm willing to do it.

Rope drop is always a good plan as those that can't/won't/don't get up early enough won't be in front of you in line.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Wait, I found it...there is an area under each person's profile associated with your's there is a section on the bottom that summarizes the # of reservations they have and it lists fastpasses, virtual tickets etc

Is this on the app or the website?

I don't see any place in my profile, or anywhere else for that matter, about virtual tickets or reservation summary. (I am looking at the web site since the Android app is still useless).

I can, however, see my room-only confirmation and all my dining ADRs in the "My Reservations" section.

 

[BeccaG]

Is this on the app or the website?

I don't see any place in my profile, or anywhere else for that matter, about virtual tickets or reservation summary. (I am looking at the web site since the Android app is still useless).

I can, however, see my room-only confirmation and all my dining ADRs in the "My Reservations" section.

So when you go to Friends and Family under your profile on the web page, click on edit for the person's account you manage, it pops up at the bottom there...It doesn't look like you can add anything there but it is listed there....

But I cant see this for the person who set up their own account (I had my husband set up his so I can guide the other through later) And from what I can tell, it looks like you might add the tickets and FP+ eventually under a reservation screen as the button next to it links to the reservation screen.

 

[Radiorox]

Wow... both excited and nervous about the whole FP+. I like the concept of reserving time for parades and meet and greats. Reservations for some rides is also a great idea but, I don't want FP- to go buh bye.

There are a couple of rides that we enjoy so much that we will hop off and grab another FP for use later in the day - TT, Soarin', BTMRR, SM. We don't wait in line if Standby is more than 20 minutes.... Sorry, did that when I was a kid and it's not necessary if you work Disney correctly.

I don't like that FP+ limits the amount of FPs you can get per ride per day. The only way I see around that is going to be an extra charge like Universal has for their "fastpass" system. I do think this is where the Mouse is going with this... You get your x amount of FP+ and pay to add more or ride the same attraction more than once.

Now, I do like that I don't HAVE TO get to rope drop to ride something. See... totally on the fence. As for the wristbands, I like it! But then, I am a wristband person... I usually have on one of the engraved leather ones you can find at the World. I really love the idea of customizing one.

But, I do think that they should find another means for people who are not in the habit of wearing them.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

So when you go to Friends and Family under your profile on the web page, click on edit for the person's account you manage, it pops up at the bottom there...It doesn't look like you can add anything there but it is listed there....

But I cant see this for the person who set up their own account (I had my husband set up his so I can guide the other through later) And from what I can tell, it looks like you might add the tickets and FP+ eventually under a reservation screen as the button next to it links to the reservation screen.

I see it now (for my family but not me). Thanks!

 

[js]

A few questions please:

I will be the leader for my group and I want to have full control of what FP+s are being "picked".

My dh and I are staying in one room, so he is showing on my ressie. Do I want to invite him to be with me (sorry, I'm not exactly sure of the wording) or just leave as is.

What about the people that I want to control that have another ressie number. Is there where the "link a reservation" comes in?
If this is the case, and I link another ressie to mine, is it correct that I am fully in charge of that ressie? If not, how can I be in charge of that ressie.
I want to be in charge of the FP+ and the dining ressies.

Also, I think Disney asking us to input our tickets will be very helpful to them. Just stating facts, not a debate, but I have used my dd's ticket in the past as well as my mother's while they weren't on a trip with me. When the thumb scanner doesn't work, the CM just resets a button. I was also told by a CM at BB that the scanner really doesn't mean anything but that was a long ago and far away thread. With all of us now inputting our ticket numbers under our account, there will be no transfer of tickets, right or wrong.

I REALLY wish I could stock up on some 10 day non expiring. That is what we always get and I think I only have a day or two left for 3 members in my family (I used my dd's up last August/Sept trip when she went back to college).

Can you all please let me know about the linking, inviting and anything else about being in control of another ressie and how to go about it.

Thanks so much!