FP + What we know and what we want to know

[Cinderumbrella]

In one of his numerous posts yesterday, mousermerf mentioned that this will be ready to roll as early as Jan 21. He never elaborated why that day or what the significance was for it.

The RFID turnstyles at MK will be ready?

Android will FINALLY get an update to the app so they can see all the things that iOS can? (Because its pretty useless right now)

And I agree that the idea that we will get a full 60 days notice before implementation is highly unlikely. Its not like anyone ahead of you got a jump start.

As for the latest rumor about your 3 per day being limited to only 2 headliners... The hits just keep on coming....

Lastly, I find it amusing that we are such a small minority that Disney doesn't care about our opinion, or how it will affect us, but yet we are a big enough group that our FP practices managed to mess up the whole system for everyone (which "forced" this change).

 

[mom2rtk]

Yeah, that won't happen. If we're paying the exorbitant prices Disney charges, that means equal access to *all* the rides.

If not, our money will go elsewhere.

But if they can just get more people to PAY for the E-ticket rides...... and not actually RIDE the E-ticket rides.........they can sell more tickets to people WANTING to ride E-ticket rides......... without BUILDING more E-ticket rides!

They can call this whatever they want. They can wrap it up in a nice little pickage and sprinkle it with pixiedust. But that's essentially what this is.

 

[WillAustin]

And I agree that the idea that we will get a full 60 days notice before implementation is highly unlikely. Its not like anyone ahead of you got a jump start.

I think it's likely the transition period as they phase out regular FP would quickly follow the the phasing in of the advance reservations, but not immediately. If they aren't giving out any "regular" in-park FPs, they'd have to have a decent number of people built up with advance FP+ reservations to shut off the old system.

At least I'd hope they'd do it logically that way.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I think it's likely the transition period as they phase out regular FP would quickly follow the the phasing in of the advance reservations, but not immediately. If they aren't giving out any "regular" in-park FPs, they'd have to have a decent number of people built up with advance FP+ reservations to shut off the old system.

At least I'd hope they'd do it logically that way.

Absolutely nothing about this so far has been logical, so why start now?

 

[mom2rtk]

Absolutely nothing about this so far has been logical, so why start now?

 

[meowmarie]

Yeah, that won't happen. If we're paying the exorbitant prices Disney charges, that means equal access to *all* the rides.

If not, our money will go elsewhere.

That's the only thing that will make them change the system. 1000's of complaints won't help if they see even the smallest increase in their bottom line.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Absolutely nothing about this so far has been logical, so why start now?

 

[bigAWL]

I agree with this, and here's an interesting blog post at wdwinfo today, which suggests that Disney IS LISTENING to us super-guests...
http://www.disunplugged.com/2013/01/17/times-are-achanging-is-disney-listening/

I'm not sure if the author's assertion that Disney is responding to social sites such as the DIS is defended well in the article. Particularly when it comes to the reason for a FP+ system.

Fast Passes & Long Wait Times

Ask anyone who visits a theme park what their least favorite part is and she’ll tell you it’s waiting on line. Disney responded to this complaint with the implementation of the FastPass system back in 1999. Since then, lines have grown and the organization of how Fast Passes are distributed and used has become troublesome. More complaints have been had and discussed by many park goers.

Last week, we learned of the new FastPass+ system which will revolutionize guests’ experiences. The kicker? You will now have the option of reserving times to ride specific attractions and completely customizing much of your vacation before even setting foot in a Disney theme park. Talk about addressing guest needs.

I thought most people on the DIS were pretty happy with the way the FP system worked up until they started enforcing return windows. Was there some sort of outcry before that which escaped me?

It seems most of the changes the author attributes to feedback on sites like the DIS could just as easily (or even more easily) be explained by comment cards left in resort rooms by first- or second-time visitors.

For example... "We had to wait 2 hours in line for Toy Story! There were these other people walking right past us. By the time someone told us it was this FastPass thing, all of them were gone. You should tell guests about FastPass and let them sign up for it when they book their vacation."

 

[Planogirl]

Sounds like you'd have to get up early to do that.

We do get up early to beat the crowds. I know that I said that I would love to sleep in but why not sleep in some days and make rope drop on others? We could get the rides done, maybe have an early lunch and take off for other places which we like to do anyway. This is appealing more and more....

Some keep mentioning the possibility of surprise fastpass offers. I'm going to laugh if people start being offered fastpasses for Stitch.

 

[bigAWL]

I don't think you'll have any trouble at all doing this. In fact, I think the early time slots will be in the least demand.

We may have to see how this shakes out. I think many guests (maybe most?) won't be over-thinking their strategy as much as many super-user DISers will. I can imagine a lot of people looking at this and saying exactly what Planogirl said. Or something like this...

"Well, we know we're going to be at Magic Kingdom early in the morning, but we don't know when we'll want to leave. So let's schedule these FPs in the morning and go with the flow after that."

 

[vacationer1954]

We've been complaining for years that FPs have been running out too early in the day.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

We've been complaining for years that FPs have been running out too early in the day.

Then I hope you are ready to pre-book those same rides in advance because instead of running out early in the day, chances are they are going to run out 1-60 days in advance.

 

[bigAWL]

We've been complaining for years that FPs have been running out too early in the day.

I guess... but only for one or two rides, right? Maybe they heard this and thought it would be better if the FPs ran out 60 days earlier.

 

[mom2rtk]

We've been complaining for years that FPs have been running out too early in the day.

For which rides? We were at MK on a level 9 crowd day in December and got FPs for Space late in the afternoon.

 

[mousermerf]

Just a note.. it has been mentioned that 1/3 of the turnstiles are converted.. and that another 1/3 is closed.. and the theory is that 1/3 will remain for the old ticket types...

Umm, no.

Once the 2/3 are converted they'll close the last 1/3 for conversion soon thereafter and begin issuing RFID to all passes via RFID stickers. That'll be the way of doing things until all guests are converted to new passes with RFID or wristbands. They'll stop doing it right at the gate or bag check with handheld PCs once they feel the number of guests is low enough and begin directing those guests to ticket windows and guest services to be converted.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Just a note.. it has been mentioned that 1/3 of the turnstiles are converted.. and that another 1/3 is closed.. and the theory is that 1/3 will remain for the old ticket types...

Umm, no.

Once the 2/3 are converted they'll close the last 1/3 for conversion soon thereafter and begin issuing RFID to all passes via RFID stickers. That'll be the way of doing things until all guests are converted to new passes with RFID or wristbands. They'll stop doing it right at the gate or bag check with handheld PCs once they feel the number of guests is low enough and begin directing those guests to ticket windows and guest services to be converted.

Makes sense

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Then I hope you are ready to pre-book those same rides in advance because instead of running out early in the day, chances are they are going to run out 1-60 days in advance.

And how annoying that they run out 60 days in advance and then some of those don't even show up for their time. And what if you are a work when your 60 day window opens to pre-book the rides you want?? It seems like have the FPs open the day they are to be used is the best way to make it a level playing field for everyone. But I guess that isn't what they are trying to do.

 

[maggs1035]

sorry if this has been covered but the thread is so long. How do you know if you are eligible to try the FP+? How have people been notified? just want to be sure I'm not missing something.
Thanks in advance

I spoke to a cast member the other day and was told, "it will be offered to people with packages and ME" I told her my scenario (1 night AoA, with 5 day tickets, and ME) and she said if its rolled out by May that we would qualify for FP +, she also said that we can decide not to do it, and that after I check out my 5 day tickets would be placed on a magic band or RFID card?

Hope that helps!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

And how annoying that they run out 60 days in advance and then some of those don't even show up for their time. And what if you are a work when your 60 day window opens to pre-book the rides you want?? It seems like have the FPs open the day they are to be used is the best way to make it a level playing field for everyone. But I guess that isn't what they are trying to do.

Even with all my "gloom and doom" I really don't think anything is going to sell out in the 60th day (or whatever the first bookable day will be). But I do see TSMM and Soarin selling out in advance once everyone is on the system and knows how to use it. Just how far in advance will depend on time of year etc.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

And how annoying that they run out 60 days in advance and then some of those don't even show up for their time. .

This would be us! If we ended up prebooking our FP times, we would probably miss at least 50%-60% of them. It would be a shame if someone else couldn't use them.