FP + What we know and what we want to know

[Hunclemarco]

If all of this opens up by April...i'll definately keep track and post the what's, how's, the upside and downside's experienced here.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I'm wondering, other than the email that's linked in the first post, has anyone tried to contact Disney with your concerns? I wrote them an email today to express my concerns based on what we know so far. Who knows whether they'll actually do anything with it, but in my mind, this testing period is like a public comments period, and they're not going to be able to change things they don't know about, assuming, of course, they don't read this site. And even if they do read this site, let's face it...there are 1000s of posts here a day. Some are better written and more concise than others, but it's really hard to find them, IMO. So, instead of putting my thoughts here, I drafted a letter to Disney and put my thoughts there, where they stand a better chance of actually being read by someone at Disney.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

Under the "Regular" "Unfair" "Tired" "Old Fashioned" FP system, a "director" of a tour group could take all of the passes of guests that WANTED to ride X attraction and get FP's.
OR- the guests who did want to ride X attraction could line up with the others in the group and get a FP.

AND- that whole group COULD ride "within a given period of time" so that the group could stay "together" at that attraction at (about) the same time.

This new system, with some MAYBE having their own "electronic connection" to the FP+ system on that day they are in the park (or at some earlier date,) may or may not (I'm thinking NOT) be able to get a FP for X attraction at (about) the same time.

It's another complex situation that was not very complicated before.

I would put losing the ability for tour groups or parties of 50 riding an attraction at the same time in the "good change" side of my FP+ ledger.

 

[freediverdude]

I was just reading over on "one of the other websites" that someone on there was part of a trial today, where they got a fastpass for Be Our Guest for lunch, and was able to use a website to preorder food and make reservations for counter service locations in advance. Is nothing going to be spur of the moment? lol

 

[Robo]

I would put losing the ability for tour groups or parties of 50 riding an attraction at the same time in the "good change" side of my FP+ ledger.

Akin to being happy that the blade of your guillotine had been sharpened just before the day of your execution.

I'd prefer "good news" of a different kind.

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

Akin to being happy that the blade of your guillotine had been sharpened just before the day of your execution.

I'd prefer "good news" of a different kind.

Agreed!

 

[Q-man]

Again, this whole system gives RD no value at all. The old system worked fine, Disney is just catering to the lazy people who don't get up in time for RD and complain that there are no TSM FPs available.

Or it may make RD even more valuable because it will be the only way to beat the lines now. It is possible that people who already have their assigned times and no chanced of picking up FPs see no need to get there early for FPing as much as possible and maybe more rides will be short waits for longer early in the day.

But I can see the end goal of FP+ being to evenly distribute the crowd though the 4 parks such that daily crowd calenders have little value.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

RD = Rope Drop (or park opening)

Thank you!

 

[dadddio]

I would put losing the ability for tour groups or parties of 50 riding an attraction at the same time in the "good change" side of my FP+ ledger.

Let's not forget that the profiles can be linked so the leader should be able to simply go ahead and request those fastpasses just like he would have previously done at the ride's FP machine.

 

[js]

I have downloaded the app but can't get far enough to link a ressie since it asks for confirmation number and then the phone number.
Then it tells me the reservation falied to link since the phone number doesn't match confirmation number but I called WDW to confirm and it does.
The app wants me to put in ( ) and - between numbers but it won't let me see a button for ( and -
GGGRRR
Has this happened to anyone else?

 

[js]

Let's not forget that the profiles can be linked so the leader should be able to simply go ahead and request those fastpasses just like he would have previously done at the ride's FP machine.

I have a party of 20. I am the leader and the group leader.
I will be getting the confirmaiton number for each room with the people inside the room when I pay final payment this/next month. I want to control what FPs+ we all get. How would I do this? Just stay the leader and not request anyone to my group? It's a baseball team so I want to make sure the kids are together for at least a few attractions.
Thanks.

 

[krb2g]

Okay, I've finally read through this whole thread--great first post summing everything up!

I found the T&C posted on the MyDisneyExperience website/app very enlightening (relative to the prior vague statements made by Disney). Here's the info I'd still like to have:

*Can you upgrade a virtual ticket? If so, what happens to your existing FP+ reservations? (We are planning to go in late Dec/early Jan [I know...] as a party of 10 for 7 days at Disney [and 2 at Universal...shhh....]. We want to buy 7 day hopper tickets via UT, and then have the member of our party who's going to be paying for all the meals to upgrade his ticket to an AP and buy a TiW card. But if it messes up his FP+ reservations, that will obviously be a problem).

*Are ADRs going to count as FP+ experiences? In the dining section of the T&C it states: "A FastPass+ selection for dining at a FastPass+ designated table service or quick service location secures your arrival window and allows you to order your meal prior to your arrival window. Each guest who has ordered ahead must have a FastPass+ selection for the same arrival time and location confirmed by the site/app." Other sections of the T&C seem to indicate that FP+ is more for quick service options. [speculation] I don't mind if there is a FP+ option for ADRs (frankly, if we're going to be sitting down, we'd rather enjoy each other's company and linger a little rather than ordering before we got there!), but if each ADR has to take up a FP+ option, that would really cut down on our TS dining (we'd rather ride rides and eat QS). The paranoid part of me could see Disney using this as a way to drive people to the dining plan (ADRs take a FP+ reservation, but book a regular dining plan, and get 1 additional FP+ per day (for your ADR), and book a deluxe plan and get 3). [/speculation]

*I was troubled at first by the limit of three pre-reserved FP+s per day. Then I looked at our past two trips. The only days we used more than three FPs, the additional FPs (over 3) were surprise bonuses anyway (to L,M,A!, Mickey's Philharmagic, and ToT from someone leaving who couldn't use them). Now, those three have tended to be headliners (which may not be possible to do under the new system). And that doesn't account for any fireworks viewing spots we may want to reserve...

*I am going to continue to monitor the situation as it develops--since you can't make FP+ reservations more than 60 days in advance, we don't have to pull the trigger until 60 days before our trip.

*I will say, Universal has made the benefits of staying on-site so attractive, that we are strongly considering spending our first night there to use their Express Pass, rather than mixing our Universal days in among our Disney days. And my concern over FP+ changes makes me even more ready to do that.

 

[bigAWL]

I have downloaded the app but can't get far enough to link a ressie since it asks for confirmation number and then the phone number.
Then it tells me the reservation falied to link since the phone number doesn't match confirmation number but I called WDW to confirm and it does.
The app wants me to put in ( ) and - between numbers but it won't let me see a button for ( and -
GGGRRR
Has this happened to anyone else?

It appears that the app will so far only accept dining ADRs, but not resort reservations. You can enter link those to your account using the website, but they still don't display on the mobile app.

 

[DVC4US]

I would put losing the ability for tour groups or parties of 50 riding an attraction at the same time in the "good change" side of my FP+ ledger.

You might consider it a "good change" but I sure won't if it affects my June trip. I know the BTG's are a pain as I've been in the parks several times with them. But why should I and my family and friends be punished cause we have a big group there for a wedding(or family reunion) and we want to ride the same ride at the same time?

Let's not forget that the profiles can be linked so the leader should be able to simply go ahead and request those fastpasses just like he would have previously done at the ride's FP machine.

This is correct but it sure makes it a big PTA. It would be nice if Disney has a group specialists that could help with large groups like they do for dinning.

 

[gcoolie]

An update to the app just popped up. Review your resort reservations is on the update.

 

[Planogirl]

I did that for all the adults in my group. My teens I invited. They are much more tech savvy.



If you do the invites. I "think" every decision and "reservation" then needs to be confirmed by everyone with their own managed account. It would make it more challenging to change plans "on the fly". At least that is how it appears to me.

Everyone needs their own managed account? Even kids?

 

[Jennasis]

Still no ability to link reservations of the Android version of the app.

 

[doconeill]

Still no ability to link reservations of the Android version of the app.

Until they update the app, I don't expect the ability to exist...

 

[mesaboy2]

Until they update the app, I don't expect the ability to exist...

Probably coming very soon. As gcoolie noted above, the iOS platform-based app just updated today to v1.3. According to iTunes, what's new in this version is:

• View your upcoming resort reservations
• Updates to support new experiences coming soon to Walt Disney World
• Additional fixes and performance improvements

I'll be taking it for a test drive shortly.

 

[houseful of boys]

I can see my resort reservations and my friends list now on the updated iPhone app.