FP + What we know and what we want to know

[mom2rtk]

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.

Well, that's a lot to take in. Here's the deal. Nobody here KNOWS what the best way to tour will be once this rolls out. I think we all have some ideas, and they may or may not work out. I'm hoping my ideas work out, so I can keep going to Disney and be happy about the value I get for what I spend. If not, as I have said, I won't go any more. But not before giving it a try.

What I'm planning to do is schedule my FP+ slots for later in the day, then be there a rope drop as always and try to hit up as many attractions standby as possible. As mousemerf pointed out, this might not turn out as I hope, as FP+ slots will already be taken. I too have a suspicion tht many of those rope drop FP+ers will choose to sleep in. It is their vacation after all.

Let's face it. The savvy park goers will be online early to get the afternoon slots. It's probably the first time park goers who will end up with those early AM spots. And they are unlikely to truly understand the ramifications of missing one or two of their 3 FP+ slots. Of course, with this new system, maybe Disney will know how many times we have been to Disney before and offer experienced park goers only the morning slots, saving the afternoon ones for the poor newbs who just don't know any better.

Another alternative might be to do the exact opposite. Plan your FP+ slots for the afternoon, then plan on sleeping in and stay late to do standby when the crowds thin out. This plan just won't work for me, as I have an internal clock that just won't let me sleep late. I wake up with or without an alarm by 6. So late nights won't work.

As for what you should do in March...... who the heck knows! My hunch is that they will be rolling out some of the Disney resorts in that time, and that your FP will be unchanged at that time. But that could be entirely wrong. Just a guess.

All you can do is what all of us are doing. Stay tuned right here. I don't have a trip planned right now, but will probably head to DL late in the year. So this is all a spectator sport for me. But I still want to know how it shakes out.

And NextGen was the name of this project before it became Fastpass+.

I'll just give that post a :-/ and note people have questioned why Disney would change the rules..

Seriously? If Disney has an issue with people riding the same ride over and over again, they need to stop selling all-inclusive tickets. Drop all this fastpass crap, and just program the system to only allow one ride per attraction per ticket.

This is like selling me an all you can eat buffet, then complaining when I go back for seconds.

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.

I have an idea. Why not develop a system where people get a little slip of paper with the return time actually printed on it.

Oh..... wait........

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

Now now. Come on. I'm sure this would never happen. Disney a huge successful corporation. Of course they'll have reliable IT systems.

 

[finedice]

I also wonder whether limitations for FP+ will be translated to the older FP system at the same time. For instance, if NOT opting in, will there still be a limit of three FP per day in only one park per day?

If THAT is the case, then there is really no reason to stay with the older system (well, excepting the "Big Brother" aspects of MDe). Gees, have you all read the privacy policy concerning the wristbands?!?!

 

[boBQuincy]

Yes, but they're not going to just stop riding when their fastpasses are over. They are going to clog up the standby lines. And if that's too frustrating, I will just be done. I'm sure Disney won't care. But I'll be done. So I guess THEN the standby lines can thin out.

If you stop going to WDW then the quality of Disney's princess dresses will fall, not having your higher standards to give them something to strive for! Cinderella may as well go back to wearing her rags and we on Disboards will all know who is to blame!

We have a trip in May and no idea how FP+ will work by then, I am hopeful that the same # of people in the park = the same (or less) time spent in lines. Not being one to sit on a curb for hours waiting for a parade I am interested in the idea of FP+ for parade viewing or even fireworks viewing.

 

[mom2rtk]

If you stop going to WDW then the quality of Disney's princess dresses will fall, not having your higher standards to give them something to strive for! Cinderella may as well go back to wearing her rags and we on Disboards will all know who is to blame!

We have a trip in May and no idea how FP+ will work by then, I am hopeful that the same # of people in the park = the same (or less) time spent in lines. Not being one to sit on a curb for hours waiting for a parade I am interested in the idea of FP+ for parade viewing or even fireworks viewing.

LOL, thanks for making my morning Bob! OK, so maybe it even made my week.

It sort of makes my head hurt to think about all the possible ins and outs of this. I see your point about same number of people equaling same wait in line. But then I start to think about how fastpass was more of a virtual queue, so I was in line, but I wasn't. So with less fastpass, I'll actually have to be present in line. So who the heck knows. Still, it's interesting to contemplate from afar, knowing I don't have an impending trip riding on how it turns out.

Hopefully your May trip is still far enough out that they'll have some answers for you before you go.

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

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?

I won't call it fear of the unknown for myself...I know with the help here optimizing whatever they decide to throw at us is probable.

However, I'm still fed up. If it weren't that we have promised our granddaughter this trip, I would take what I have on my Disney Gift Cards, load up on next year's Christmas and birthday gifts, and go somewhere closer to home.

For those who say, "Cool, shorter lines for me!" I say: You're welcome. I realize that this is my choice where to spend my money...blah. blah. blah. I realize Disney won't care. I used to work at Target and when a guest wouldn't get their way I frequently heard, "I'm never shopping here again. Walmart treats me better." Target wasn't going to hurt because they went to Walmart and I fully realize my NOT going will not make a dent in Disney's bottom line.

I guess what bugs me about this whole FP+ thing is that it will have an appearance of helping the guest have a better experience. But for those of us who know how it used to work, we realize Disney is trying to bamboozle a whole bunch of people. One FP per day in one park for an E-ticket attraction? Are you kidding me?

I also realize that this "project" will be tinkered with. And tinkered with some more. I'm just not in the mood to spend my vacation dollars to be a guinea pig.

 

[mom2rtk]

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?

That stinks. That isn't supposed to be the response you get this early in the planning process. This is supposed to be the time where everyone is all excited wih the endless possibilities their trip will offer.

Disney needs to get some more details out pretty soon. People need answers as they are deciding how to spend their hard earned vacation dollars.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

These changes are not based on customer service and making the experience better. It is based on a wide range of accounting moves.

First, how do you know? Second, can't it be both?

Disney has a pretty good track record when it comes to creating and enhancing a great experience for guests. I guess I don't get where all this negativity comes from. I'm left wondering: why do these people still LIKE Disney and WDW?? With all these nefarious motives an horrible management, why keep coming back for more??

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Seriously? If Disney has an issue with people riding the same ride over and over again, they need to stop selling all-inclusive tickets. Drop all this fastpass crap, and just program the system to only allow one ride per attraction per ticket.

This is like selling me an all you can eat buffet, then complaining when I go back for seconds.

Read mousermerf's later post about this. He wasn't commenting on riding the headliners more than once. The OP edited the post afterwards to remove the part about using other family member's park tickets when they weren't there (and simply asking for the finger scanner to be re-set). That is what he was commenting on. I saw the original post as well but since no one quoted it before editing, its what we see now...



As a "super-user" I still think the rumored system stinks. But I am trying not to worry about it today until it rolls out. If there is one thing I DO know, its that the DIS, easywdw, touring plans etc WILL figure out a way for us to "super-use" the new system. (I just hope its in time for my trip )

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I called Disney a few days ago to make ressys for our June trip. I tried to get more info about FP+ from the CM, but she didn't know anything new (even though she asked her supervisor). However, I thought it interesting that she expresses misgivings about FP+! She was worried about how it would affect off-site and local guests. I thought that was great for her to worry about guests not staying in a Disney hotel....

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Also: Disney does more market research than almost any other corporation out there. Do naysayers here really posit that they know better than Disney what guests (on average) want to see in the parks? From the outside, one might perceive this as hubris... ...

Say "I don't want this!!!!" - sure. Say "guests weren't demanding/wanting this" -- lacks any evidence, at best.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I called Disney a few days ago to make ressys for our June trip. I tried to get more info about FP+ from the CM, but she didn't know anything new (even though she asked her supervisor). However, I thought it interesting that she expresses misgivings about FP+! She was worried about how it would affect off-site and local guests. I thought that was great for her to worry about guests not staying in a Disney hotel....

Sounds like someone needs retraining!! Entirely inappropriate.

 

[WillAustin]

If there is one thing I DO know, its that the DIS, easywdw, touring plans etc WILL figure out a way for us to "super-use" the new system. (I just hope its in time for my trip )

It will certainly get figured out, at least to a point where us "maximizers" will still maximize the opportunities available. We are a rope drop family anyway, and we usually do more than one day in each park, so we'll still get the multiple rides on headliners without a 60 minute line, it just might take a little more planning and effort.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

It will certainly get figured out, at least to a point where us "maximizers" will still maximize the opportunities available. We are a rope drop family anyway, so we'll still get the multiple rides on headliners without a 60 minute line, it just might take a little more planning and effort.

I don't know about the rope drop thing....

Currently, you can ride quite a bit at rope drop because the FP lines don't start taking people until about 9:40am.

If FP+ reservations starts taking people at park opening, the stand by line is going to have to slow down to accomodate those people.

I am still hopeful that there will be a general decrease in the number of people coming at rope drop, simply because they have reserved FP+ for the afternoon and decide to sleep in instead.

(Or, for us, AM EMH might become a lot more attractive since that would give us and extra hour to "super-use" the system. )

 

[WillAustin]

I am still hopeful that there will be a general decrease in the number of people coming at rope drop, simply because they have reserved FP+ for the afternoon and decide to sleep in instead.

(Or, for us, AM EMH might become a lot more attractive since that would give us and extra hour to "super-use" the system. )

I'm hopeful for both of those as well. And if not, and it becomes significantly harder for us to get multiple rides on favorites, I'll make sure Disney knows why our money will go elsewhere.

 

[mom2rtk]

Read mousermerf's later post about this. He wasn't commenting on riding the headliners more than once. The OP edited the post afterwards to remove the part about using other family member's park tickets when they weren't there (and simply asking for the finger scanner to be re-set). That is what he was commenting on. I saw the original post as well but since no one quoted it before editing, its what we see now...



As a "super-user" I still think the rumored system stinks. But I am trying not to worry about it today until it rolls out. If there is one thing I DO know, its that the DIS, easywdw, touring plans etc WILL figure out a way for us to "super-use" the new system. (I just hope its in time for my trip )

Thanks for explaining. I went back to look at other posts after he posted that and didn't see what he was talking about. That at least gives me hope that I'm not losing it.

So how bad is it that I have to be happy not to have an upcoming trip planned????

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Re 'super-user' if you have paid your ticket and you go to the effort of booking a FP+ and getting to the park for rope drop well good for you! I have noticed though not sure if its my imagination the rides are faster later in the day do they warm up or do I slow down?

I wonder if anyone will ever buy two tickets. On top of an AP for example that has been linked to FP+ they buy a paper ticket. FP plus FP+ lol.

 

[WillAustin]

So how bad is it that I have to be happy not to have an upcoming trip planned????

I'm happy about our trip in 2 weeks because I am pretty sure we'll still be using regular FPs.

I am a bit concerned about the unknowns for a planned return this summer.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I'm hopeful for both of those as well. And if not, and it becomes significantly harder for us to get multiple rides on favorites, I'll make sure Disney knows why our money will go elsewhere.

And perhaps this is why the 3 FP+ per day, with no duplicate rides, could be happening. For all we know they get bombarded with emails of dissatisfied first time visitors about how they were never able to ride Soarin', TSMM, Peter Pan etc without waiting in a 2 hour line since FPs were always gone by the time they arrived.

I know I have never emailed WDW to tell them how great it was that we were able to ride Space Mountain 4 times in one AM by using FP and stand by...

Everyone knows what they say about the squeaky wheel...

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

And perhaps this is why the 3 FP+ per day, with no duplicate rides, could be happening. For all we know they get bombarded with emails of dissatisfied first time visitors about how they were never able to ride Soarin', TSMM, Peter Pan etc without waiting in a 2 hour line since FPs were always gone by the time they arrived.

I know I have never emailed WDW to tell them how great it was that we were able to ride Space Mountain 4 times in one AM by using FP and stand by...

Everyone knows what they say about the squeaky wheel...

Actually, every company understands that people are far more likely to write in with negative rather than positive feedback. They take that into account, as well they should.

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't know about the rope drop thing....

Currently, you can ride quite a bit at rope drop because the FP lines don't start taking people until about 9:40am.
If FP+ reservations starts taking people at park opening, the stand by line is going to have to slow down to accomodate those people.

I am still hopeful that there will be a general decrease in the number of people coming at rope drop, simply because they have reserved FP+ for the afternoon and decide to sleep in instead.

(Or, for us, AM EMH might become a lot more attractive since that would give us and extra hour to "super-use" the system. )

That is the part that concerns me as well. My fingers are still crossed that the desire for extra sleep will get the better of most.

However, I do expect all of those early morning FP+ slots to be taken. So in theory, that FP+ line will be fully booked. Most will take a bad time over no time at all. So the only given in all of this will be that early morning the less popular attractions could have lesser FP lines, so will still have great access. But that's not what I fight the rope drop crowds to do. So I'm back to just HOPING that people taking those early morning healine FP+ slots just don't show up.

It could turn out that late at night is the only decent time left to ride headliners over and over. And if that's the case, I'm done. I just can't do that. I'll be up at 6 whether I've had a full night of sleep or not. And I just don't function well like that.