FP + What we know and what we want to know

[reelmom]

That is a very good price.

Another good thing about the changes coming from wdw... I have cut the cord. I know people are going to laugh at me, but I didn't know sea world and Busch gardens were connected. The 14 day prices for those parks are a fraction of Disney! I am excited about US now. I am a much more informed person because of all this. It is very liberating. I guess I can thank the mymagic+ for that.

My food and wine trip will be great no matter what happens because of the people I will be with.

I agree. We had already decided to do a Universal/SeaWorld trip before FP+. I am glad we are taking a year off from Disney. We will be back when the kinks get worked out. But even then, maybe a shorter trip. The kids are getting older and love what Universal has to offer.

 

[dadddio]

How does Infinity change anything? Other than the game pieces being RFID, I'm not seeing the connection

 

[doggydoc]

And if you have an AP, you can get a hotel room onsite with unlimited express pass for most rides for almost the same price as a Disney value room. The cost of my room at Universal is $164.00 a night. Not too bad.

That is a very good price.

Too good. Reelmom either has some sort of special rate available or is confused. Only the 3 "on-site" hotels, the Portofino, Hard Rock and Royal Pacific, get the unlimited express pass. Even with the extended stay 30% discount and low season rates those hotels start at well over $200 a night. They have less expensive "Universal Partner Hotels" that are close by but these do not get unlimited express.

 

[ryalluvdiz]

Too good. Reelmom either has some sort of special rate available or is confused. Only the 3 "on-site" hotels, the Portofino, Hard Rock and Royal Pacific, get the unlimited express pass. Even with the extended stay 30% discount and low season rates those hotels start at well over $200 a night. They have less expensive "Universal Partner Hotels" that are close by but these do not get unlimited express.

Maybe because she is getting an AP rate? Im paying about 300 including taxes with no discount because we are only staying one night.

 

[bcrook]

This talk of other theme parks seems off topic, but at the heart of this discussion is value of the new FP+. For a lot of us we don't feel that we are getting enough e ticket rides for our money. I guess Disney has reached that price point for me. I am willing to reconsider if this plays out better than the terms and condition outline. In October I will be able to see if interactive queues at jungle cruise and other rides will make up for the loss.

My biggest problem is I have three vacation clubs and staying on site at universal is a bad option for me. When I went to IoA on Memorial Day, the crowds were moderate and very manageable. But I don't know anything about any of these other parks. I need to go and explore the other "boards".

 

[bcrook]

How does Infinity change anything? Other than the game pieces being RFID, I'm not seeing the connection

This hint from John Pleasants indicates this could be interwoven into park experience.
"We’ve got a trick up our sleeve with regards to the parks, but I’m not allowed to talk about that just yet…"

 

[doconeill]

That is a problem for us - we are buying military tickets at SOG when we get there, which is how the military tickets work. I don't know if we will be able to do the FP+ at all, which could be a good thing, but not if there are no more FP to be had. Someone said DVC reservations would have access, but will they let you book FP+ without an actual ticket number?

DVC members need tickets to get into the parks just like anyone else. Right now, it seems like there is NOTHING keying FP+ to resort reservations - except resort guests might have first crack at the system before it is available to everyone. Everything points to needing tickets. But exactly how they will handle it at this point is unknown. It is possible that if you have a valid reservation - DVC, room only, whatever - it might not require you to register a ticket to set your FP+ selections. In other cases, it might require the ticket.

This to me is still one of the biggest open questions.

 

[doggydoc]

But I don't know anything about any of these other parks. I need to go and explore the other "boards".

That's why I think this is either a supremely short sighted system or it isn't going to be as restrictive as asserted here. Sure first-time guests may be a large percentage of Disney patrons and making them happy would help bottom line, but you have to get them IN THE PARK. The 3 FP+ limit, especially with 1 e-ticket looks pathetic when compare to the Universal Studios Express options especially the on-site unlimited. People supporting the change state that the idea of having a FP+ in advance will be an attractant, I disagree. Preplanning a vacation, even as simple as just researching the parks and looking for tips appeals to those of us on boards like this, if it didn't we wouldn't be here. Have any of you shared your planning with others that would be "average" visitors? I have, they look at me like I have 3 heads! Your average person thinks any level of preplanning beyond choosing dates and destination is odd. That is why cruises and inclusive resort vactions are so popular. Sure the testers loved it, they had already chosen Disney and then were handed this extra perk. The real test is going to be whether they will choose such an alien and cumbersome system when Universal offers such a superior and simple alternative.

Having said that I do notice that there is a Disney commercial on every five minutes lately. Maybe they are ready to give up on the diehards, and figure they can make it up with increased advertising. This I think would be short-sighted as well. For this system to work you want to attract internet savvy clientele and when they go to research vacation options there is going to barrage of links coming up on google with complaints about the new system. I will certainly be one voice.

 

[bcrook]

DVC members need tickets to get into the parks just like anyone else. Right now, it seems like there is NOTHING keying FP+ to resort reservations - except resort guests might have first crack at the system before it is available to everyone. Everything points to needing tickets. But exactly how they will handle it at this point is unknown. It is possible that if you have a valid reservation - DVC, room only, whatever - it might not require you to register a ticket to set your FP+ selections. In other cases, it might require the ticket.

This to me is still one of the biggest open questions.

I added it to the first page.

 

[dadddio]

This hint from John Pleasants indicates this could be interwoven into park experience.
"We’ve got a trick up our sleeve with regards to the parks, but I’m not allowed to talk about that just yet…"

That doesn't seem very scary.

 

[mousermerf]

I am sure this is on a lot of other threads. But the new DVC web site looks like the My Disney Experience app and web page. It is much improved. It doesn't include any friends and family. And I can't get to the parks and entertainment section.

And when I click on purchase tickets, it only gives me the annual pass option. I would have thought it would be at least offering me a magic your way ticket for the length if my stay. I don't want an AP.

Disney wants you to have an AP so they're not re-issuing you a Magic Band every time you stay at the hotel, rather you have a "permanent" AP-style one.

 

[mousermerf]

DVC members need tickets to get into the parks just like anyone else. Right now, it seems like there is NOTHING keying FP+ to resort reservations - except resort guests might have first crack at the system before it is available to everyone. Everything points to needing tickets. But exactly how they will handle it at this point is unknown. It is possible that if you have a valid reservation - DVC, room only, whatever - it might not require you to register a ticket to set your FP+ selections. In other cases, it might require the ticket.

This to me is still one of the biggest open questions.

FP+ is tied to a specific ticket number/identifier. It wont let you book beyond what the ticket allows (imagine what the Epcot After 4pm AP's can book) and it wont let you reserve a time without a ticket or reservation for a ticket (resort guests.)

 

[mousermerf]

Also:

"FP+ is included with park admission." That's it, no perks for resort guests.

 

[bcrook]

That doesn't seem very scary.

Scary? I think it plays into the allure of the whole interactive experience. It is going to be an attractive hook and it might account for some of that Billion dollar expenditure. I posted it on the front page as an explanation for part of the missing link of how RFID is going to recoup a few billion dollars (I assume they didn't spend a billion plus dollars to break even).

Who said it was scary?

 

[dadddio]

That's why I think this is either a supremely short sighted system or it isn't going to be as restrictive as asserted here. Sure first-time guests may be a large percentage of Disney patrons and making them happy would help bottom line, but you have to get them IN THE PARK. The 3 FP+ limit, especially with 1 e-ticket looks pathetic when compare to the Universal Studios Express options especially the on-site unlimited.

The too things that are the biggest speculation in this thread are not living up to hype. Go figure

 

[bcrook]

Also:

"FP+ is included with park admission." That's it, no perks for resort guests.

Yes, we know! You have made that clear.

 

[bcrook]

The too things that are the biggest speculation in this thread are not living up to hype. Go figure

Actually those two items are most supported and valid. We have terms and conditions and V.P. affirming the first, and testing and mousermerf verified the second.

 

[mousermerf]

Also, britt's numbers are way off from how many people are actually at a park in a normal day. And major e-tickets see a fraction of the guest total at any park, they're not expected to see the bulk of park guests. Only rides like Spaceship Earth see even 70% of the park's total during an operational day.

A really good day for Spaceship Earth is 90%. It happens every so often.

Something down the line like Universe of Energy sees like 30% Many E's are in the 40's.

And average daily attendance for Epcot is around 27k. And FP does not distribute 80% of a ride's capacity.

 

[doconeill]

FP+ is tied to a specific ticket number/identifier. It wont let you book beyond what the ticket allows (imagine what the Epcot After 4pm AP's can book) and it wont let you reserve a time without a ticket or reservation for a ticket (resort guests.)

Also:

"FP+ is included with park admission." That's it, no perks for resort guests.

Well, obviously you could only use a FP+ if you were in the park...but could they allow making the reservations, so long as they have other verifiable info like a resort reservation?

Otherwise, this completely excludes every guest who gets their tickets at the park, some of which can only be obtained at the park. You've already said that no FP+s will be held for day-of use, so that implies that some classes of guests will still be shut out.

 

[mousermerf]

Well, obviously you could only use a FP+ if you were in the park...but could they allow making the reservations, so long as they have other verifiable info like a resort reservation?

Otherwise, this completely excludes every guest who gets their tickets at the park, some of which can only be obtained at the park. You've already said that no FP+s will be held for day-of use, so that implies that some classes of guests will still be shut out.

Disney wants to know that you're showing up.. in advance.