FP + What we know and what we want to know

[bcrook]

Just saw this article and thought it adds more thoughts to this thread - I think the question of how the FP+ will affect the GAC users has come up before - this is a DISunplugged article: http://www.disunplugged.com/2013/01/16/guest-assistance-cards-vs-fastpass-let-the-battle-begin/

I will put that on the first page. There has been questions about GAC. That article makes sense and changes will most likely follow there too.

 

[doconeill]

Just saw this article and thought it adds more thoughts to this thread - I think the question of how the FP+ will affect the GAC users has come up before - this is a DISunplugged article: http://www.disunplugged.com/2013/01/16/guest-assistance-cards-vs-fastpass-let-the-battle-begin/

Hmm...I don't know. Fastpass was already based on statistics. I'm not sure why FP+ is changing that so much that it makes a difference.

Proper solution is to mainstream all the attraction queues, which solves most of the problems.

However, there is a very simple technological solution, similar to what they did at RSR, most of which will already be implemented.

Give the person a "GAC MagicBand". They can scan that MagicBand at whatever replaces the FP kiosks. When that MagicBand is used, it tells them when to return, based on the current wait time. Then they have a very small window in which to return. Essentially giving them a virtual place in line.

The catch? They CANNOT also use it at another attraction, either to enter a FP+ line or get another "virtual placeholder". It locks them out until they "redeem" it at the FP+ line at the first attraction, or miss their window.

 

[DVC4US]

I agree about that faster than we expected part. Let us know how the 120 guest management works. I am not comfortable with my 7 accounts. But maybe you will find it to be easier than expected. You will have plenty of practice. Good Luck!

Thanks! It will be interesting to see if they let me add that many people to my account. I didn't want to add that many to my account but I'm afraid this is going to roll out before June and I just want to make sure we can all get a FP+ if it does. I'll let ya know how it goes.

 

[mbrittb00]

I'm trying to get all though these threads to learn as much as I can since I am going with a group of about 20 in March and then leaving my family at home end of August and just going with my mother but I have a question for what you posted, since I think you are talking about what I thought I "should" do for my August trip (since March is with a bunch of HS baseball boys who will not make RD).

I am a RD person and my family does RD so we can max out our rides in the morning and get everything done we want to do. I use to be a FP hoarder so would ride the attractions in the morning, keep our FPs and return at night to use them or after lunch/dinner. Now, if I can go online and choose when I want my 3 FP+, I can choose them for later in the day for the headliners and ride them twice. Is this what you are referring to since this is what I think I plan on doing in the future.

Also, it could help me too since my kids are now older teens (15 & 19) who sometimes don't even go any longer or if they do, they don't want to do RD for their full vacation. If this is the case, I can also just get FP+ for later in the day for the E ticket rides and just go with the flow and use my app to see what doesn't have a long line while in the park. We own DVC and an Orlando T/S so we never feel the need to do everything on one trip.

Would this FP+ benefit me the way I am describing?

Also, what is nextgen or something like that I read a few times? Is this something else I need to know?

Hope the roll out starts sooner rather than later so we can start seeing some reports come back here.

Except that you will only be able to get 1 FP for the E ticket rides. The rest will have to be C D or parades, etc.

 

[jade1]

As intriguing as the ideal location for parades and fireworks sound, I can't imagine using one at MK or Hollywood Studios. Maybe at Epcot for Illuminations. But there is no reason to burn one at Animal Kingdom for the Parade.

I can see Fantasmic-as that actually closes to capacity and is an hour wait to get in.

Illuminations I can't see using it for that. Its pretty much the same from anywhere around the lake. Plus we always wait to make sure the wind is at our back so the smoke doesn't ruin the view. If you burn a pass and find the wind in your face, would likely move anyway.

 

[bcrook]

I can see Fantasmic-as that actually closes to capacity and is an hour wait to get in.

Illuminations I can't see using it for that. Its pretty much the same from anywhere around the lake. Plus we always wait to make sure the wind is at our back so the smoke doesn't ruin the view. If you burn a pass and find the wind in your face, would likely move anyway.

I agree with your logic. BUT, I want to use a FP+ at TSMM, RnRC, and ToT (and actually Star Tours but there won't be enough). I am not sure I will give up my ToT for Fantasmic! although you are right it is a tougher ticket.

At Epcot, I would FP+ Soarin and Test Track, but that is about it, so I might as well use it for Illuminations (unless I just can't resist the FP+ QS option for Fish and Chips???)

 

[bcrook]

Except that you will only be able to get 1 FP for the E ticket rides. The rest will have to be C D or parades, etc.

That is based on the test trials, that hasn't been announced yet. IF it does and this ends up being 3 advanced FP+, Only 1 for E-ticket, and no additional FP+ available in the park the day of... the frustration levels will rise considerably among the informed.

 

[jade1]

I agree with your logic. BUT, I want to use a FP+ at TSMM, RnRC, and ToT (and actually Star Tours but there won't be enough). I am not sure I will give up my ToT for Fantasmic! although you are right it is a tougher ticket.

At Epcot, I would FP+ Soarin and Test Track, but that is about it, so I might as well use it for Illuminations (unless I just can't resist the FP+ QS option for Fish and Chips???)

That makes sense-I was thinking you just couldn't see any reason for someone to use it for Fantasmic at DHS-But yea if you can select RNR, TSM and TOT I would agree (maybe you can't though), then again I may still do Fant over TOT and just wait TOT. I'm sure there are others that have no interest in thrill rides at all that would use Fantasmic.

As for EPCOT-I guess if you have the 2 big dogs, what else is there? I do know I won't watch Illuminations if the wind is blowing the smoke towards me-its a game time decision for us.

 

[bcrook]

That makes sense-I was thinking you just couldn't see any reason for someone to use it for Fantasmic at DHS-But yea if you can select RNR, TSM and TOT I would agree (maybe you can't though), then again I may still do Fant over TOT and just wait TOT. I'm sure there are others that have no interest in thrill rides at all that would use Fantasmic.

As for EPCOT-I guess if you have the 2 big dogs, what else is there? I do know I won't watch Illuminations if the wind is blowing the smoke towards me-its a game time decision for us.

Well...If we are limited to 1 e-ticket ride at DHS, then I would think that every seat at Fantasmic! would be booked with FP+, and it would end up being like getting and ADR at Chef Mickeys or Le Cellier when it was 1 TS. It would be a log in early, and all the snoozers are losers.

Another crazy possibility. The best time to wait in line for Tower of Terror is during Fanstasmic!, but if you picked a FP+ for F! then you would miss the great chance for ToT. Wow, I could end up with the Star Tours pass.

And you are right, for all the non-thrill ride people, parades and fireworks will be the only way to go at DHS and Epcot. At Animal Kingdom Nemo, Safari and Festival of the Lion King should be very popular with the non-thrill ride people (I would NEVER sit in preferred seating at Lion King, it would increase the chances of being pulled up to lead a section! I don't any part of that!!!)

 

[bcrook]

I do think it is interesting that the Disneyparks blog has had no official response since January 7. I wonder where Mr. Staggs and Mr. Smith have disappeared to?

 

[tj4disney]

Redistribution of wealth really.

I think once this all plays out you'll see that surprisingly few people held an overwhelming majority of the FPs for their benefit while the majority of park guests stood in longer lines. With the system it'll be more evenly distributed.

Redisribution of wealth is exactly how I've thought of this, and is the reason my family is choosing a destination other than Disney this year. Will see how it plays out, but at the moment it's so distasteful that I'm not sure when we'll be back. As mom2rtk stated, guess there will be a little extra room in the parks.

The thing that cracks me up about the concept that "suprisingly few people held an overwhelming majority of FPs" is that everybody had the same opportunity. So in my opinion, everybody got the vacation they wanted. If people valued sleeping in more, then so be it. If people wanted to ride the big rides multiple times, it could be done with some hustle and planning. Now Disney is trying to tell people what they want to do, but disguise it as "surprise and delights". Oh brother.

As bcrook said, was there an overwhelming outcry from the median customer? Were they not turning into repeat customers, or were they going back home and giving Disney bad word of mouth? I guess if that was the case, this "redistribution" might make some sense. Just feels to me like a pretty big gamble to honk off even a small portion of your base, but I guess it just comes down to a numbers game.

 

[bumbershoot]

Except that you will only be able to get 1 FP for the E ticket rides. The rest will have to be C D or parades, etc.

Hey I have an idea, why don't they make pieces of paper that say E, C, D, etc, and let you get a certain amount of each (less of the E ticket of course).

Oh wait. Didn't they do that already and change it?

think once this all plays out you'll see that surprisingly few people held an overwhelming majority of the FPs for their benefit while the majority of park guests stood in longer lines.

I really disagree with that. I mean, the lines to get a FP were long. Can't do that with just a relative few people getting FPs over and over.

 

[mikegood2]

I've skimmed this entire thread, but haven't seen it brought up? What do you think will be the parks protocol, on those rare (hopefully) occasions when the system goes done. With the current FP system, you have a paper ticket to show a CM. If I've read it right for FP+, everything is tied into the RFID chip. Would it make sense to take a screenshot, or print out, you daily FP's form the app, so you could show it to a CM?

Sent from my iPad mini using DISBoards

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I've skimmed this entire thread, but haven't seen it brought up? What do you think will be the parks protocol, on those rare (hopefully) occasions when the system goes done. With the current FP system, you have a paper ticket to show a CM. If I've read it right for FP+, everything is tied into the RFID chip. Would it make sense to take a screenshot, or print out, you daily FP's form the app, so you could show it to a CM?

Sent from my iPad mini using DISBoards

This is an excellent point. Me and DW were wondering the same thing. It would be complete chaos. What if some silly person took in some device that disabled all the radio waves or just a technical fault. Omg if you saved all year for your family to ride space mountain at 10:00 and little Jimmy has his heart set on it imagine it. How could you prove you had a booking? A screen shot might not be a bad idea incase it is the website or back engine that goes down.

Omg would we have to go in line like old school! Lol.

 

[mousermerf]

The idea that someone could FP Splash Mountain twice in one day does not sound evil, abusive, sneaky, greedy, or immoral. That is one of the things we are losing.

Taking care of the median customer sounds great. But was the median customer demanding change? Was there an overwhelming outcry that people complained about the way things were? Was attendance at the parks decreasing? I don't think so.

These changes are not based on customer service and making the experience better. It is based on a wide range of accounting moves. We are seeing glimpses coming from all directions. One of those things is to create demand for FP+ so they can be used as incentives. This is why we will be limited to 3, and then they will dole out the rest as gifts (or as Nick Franklin says "surprise and delight")

You missed the edited out part of that post where the poster talks about routinely reusing nontransferable tickets for other people in order to pay less for admission and using those to get FP+ for themselves. Also intentionally using FP after their expiration window.

 

[bcrook]

I really disagree with that. I mean, the lines to get a FP were long. Can't do that with just a relative few people getting FPs over and over.

You are right, there are enough people who understand the system to rush to DHS everyday and wipe out all the FP for TSMM by 11:00. Same thing at Soarin in Epcot. That is a lot of savvy people. Think about how many people get FP for TSMM, soarin, the mountains and Peter Pan, and Everest in one morning. Then multiple that number times 365 days. That is very large number of people to tick off.

And all those people rushing back to Toy Story, grabbing a FP and ten heading to Rock n roller coaster is the problem!!! But it isn't a patron problem it's a marketing problem. Disney wants those people coming to the park and start shopping, getting a snack at Starring Rolls, going to the animation Academy. Etc. Based on current patterns people want the e-ticket rides, that behavior has to be changed.

 

[bcrook]

That makes sense-I was thinking you just couldn't see any reason for someone to use it for Fantasmic at DHS-But yea if you can select RNR, TSM and TOT I would agree (maybe you can't though), then again I may still do Fant over TOT and just wait TOT. I'm sure there are others that have no interest in thrill rides at all that would use Fantasmic.

As for EPCOT-I guess if you have the 2 big dogs, what else is there? I do know I won't watch Illuminations if the wind is blowing the smoke towards me-its a game time decision for us.

I forgot about Jedi Training Academy. Although I don't participate in that, it would be a hot ticket also, just as Belles Tales will be popular at MK. MK will be so hard to manage with limited FP.

 

[bcrook]

I've skimmed this entire thread, but haven't seen it brought up? What do you think will be the parks protocol, on those rare (hopefully) occasions when the system goes done. With the current FP system, you have a paper ticket to show a CM. If I've read it right for FP+, everything is tied into the RFID chip. Would it make sense to take a screenshot, or print out, you daily FP's form the app, so you could show it to a CM?

Sent from my iPad mini using DISBoards

 

[finedice]

Okay - So now that I am beginning to get a clear (at least rumored) vision of what to expect with FP+, I have a question which I am not sure can be answered with any certainty yet...

I just bought a package for a trip in late April. I have also logged into MDe. MDe shows my reservations. I would prefer (at least with the limited info I have at this point) NOT to use FP+, as we have hoppers (always do), and infrequently spend more than 4-5 hours in a single park on any given day.

I like the old system's limited flexibility. While it was not very frequent that we would use more than 3 FP in a day, it has surely happened. There were times when we started at HS in the AM, then returned to the resort for a swim, cleaned up, ate a nice sit-down TS meal, and then went out to MK for the night time parade, fireworks etc, and found there were still some FP available for Splash or BTMRR because crowds had thinned. Of course we took advantage in those cases.

Anyway, aside from my long winded story about how we choose to enjoy WDW, my question is this:

Technically, my tickets have not yet been issued, and FP+ is not technically in existence yet, but my resort ressies and ticket "reservation" are known by MDe. Am I automatically enrolled in FP+ IF it is rolled out prior to my trip (which seems likely)? Does anyone know if you have to have an issued ticket that is separately linked to the system?

Like some others, I am really unhappy with the assumed limitations on FP+ when it comes to hopping, as well as the three (possibly tiered) selections per day limit. I would like to take my chances with the old system initially. I can always opt in part way through my stay, even though there may not be any FP left for some attractions. The whole system seems like a nightmare to deal with, and will drastically affect our experience.

When I told my DW about what is known about the changes, she was very upset - to the point of asking me if we could cancel our reservations. Her reaction was VERY strong. Fear of the unknown - right?

 

[bcrook]

Okay - So now that I am beginning to get a clear (at least rumored) vision of what to expect with FP+, I have a question which I am not sure can be answered with any certainty yet...

I just bought a package for a trip in late April. I have also logged into MDe. MDe shows my reservations. I would prefer (at least with the limited info I have at this point) NOT to use FP+, as we have hoppers (always do), and infrequently spend more than 4-5 hours in a single park on any given day.

I like the old system's limited flexibility. While it was not very frequent that we would use more than 3 FP in a day, it has surely happened. There were times when we started at HS in the AM, then returned to the resort for a swim, cleaned up, ate a nice sit-down TS meal, and then went out to MK for the night time parade, fireworks etc, and found there were still some FP available for Splash or BTMRR because crowds had thinned. Of course we took advantage in those cases.

Anyway, aside from my long winded story about how we choose to enjoy WDW, my question is this:

Technically, my tickets have not yet been issued, and FP+ is not technically in existence yet, but my resort ressies and ticket "reservation" are known by MDe. Am I automatically enrolled in FP+ IF it is rolled out prior to my trip (which seems likely)? Does anyone know if you have to have an issued ticket that is separately linked to the system?

Like some others, I am really unhappy with the assumed limitations on FP+ when it comes to hopping, as well as the three (possibly tiered) selections per day limit. I would like to take my chances with the old system initially. I can always opt in part way through my stay, even though there may not be any FP left for some attractions. The whole system seems like a nightmare to deal with, and will drastically affect our experience.

When I told my DW about what is known about the changes, she was very upset - to the point of asking me if we could cancel our reservations. Her reaction was VERY strong. Fear of the unknown - right?

It sounds like you have a clear understanding of what we know right now. You would think April would still be in the time period where regular fastpass is useful. But, I have no idea about buying tickets from Disney. Will they give you a non-magic plus experience?

We will know more very soon.