FP + What we know and what we want to know

[UNCFanatik]

That is correct.

What seems to be missing here is that WE MAKE OUR OWN CHOICES. Your choice is not my choice. It's the beauty of the economy.

I fully agree. My point exactly. We all make choices but what is being presented in this thread is an either/or proposition which is not true. It is a false paradigm in regards to using FPs

My choice is that I don't like the POTENTIAL restrictions Disney MAY impose and based on the limited information I choose not to purchase an AP so that my family could stay together and use FastPass+. Your choice may be to wait in the standby line, and that's fine because in this country we are still allowed to make those types of choices.

Bravo! God Bless the USA. Again, demonstrating the choices that we all make. AND by rolling out the FP+ program in whatever final form it may be, does not stop anyone from getting in an SB line to experiencing the attraction.

It is impossible for anyone to fully manage the economy -- either the government or in this case Disney. The choice of the consumer can be anticipated, but not guaranteed. I think that as Disney tries to greater manage the economy within their theme parks, they will find what the Soviet Union discovered, it really isn't possible to anticipate every possible choice.

Soviet Union analogy....really?. Awfully close to a Godwin's Law usage there.

Disney will eventually reveal the full rules and I will finalize my decisions. Some options may benefits Disney and some may be a loss for Disney, but I have the CHOICE as a consumer to make those decisions.

One of the frustrations of a forum such as this is that people criticize people's consumer choice without considering that we will each make choices that appear to us to be the best for our situation. My choice to not buy an AP as a buffer against the possibility of Disney dividing my family up on FastPass and Standby is my choice to make.

Yup, again it is a choice each person will have to make.

I am not criticizing you for that choice but merely commenting on an assertion that presents the FP+ solution in the terms of a false paradigm.

 

[UNCFanatik]

But wasn't that the intent of FP's to begin with? To minimize waiting in line? So I don't think it is an entitlement, it worked the way Disney advertised it.

Yes and no. FP usage evolved into a manner that Disney did not widely advertise as it went beyond the original intent of FP usage

 

[mom2rtk]

Sometimes (for whatever reason) the wait time may be short. Sometimes we just hit it right. I would really hate to find out I used one of my coveted FB+ tickets and show up and find out the wait time was under 20 minutes.

This is one of the greatest limitations of FP+. You won't know the conditions on the ground when you make your choices. We go in December. It was over 80 most of the days we were there this year. But if a cold front came through and the high was 40, I would be very disappointed to have chosen Splash Mountain. If it was raining but the ride still running during my BTMRR time, once again, I'd be very disappointed. Because the choices are apparently going to be very limited, so losing even one headliner would be a big loss. And while I can make changes on my phone, I honestly don't expect headliner slots to be available, just second tier stuff.

So will the SB line have those FP+ times already figured into their wait time at RD? And wouldn't that make SB lines longer before we even have a chance to get to the ride?

And will Disney have those FP+ in a big block or would there be 20 that have 9:15 - 10:15 and 20 that have 9:20 - 10:20? But I would think that anyone with an early morning FP would be using it more at the end of their time to try and take advantage of what little benefit is left by being there at RD.

I would say that even starting FPs at 9:45 will more than likely prevent us normal RDers from getting as much done. And it is more than likely to have guest that are normally there so early into the parks during those morning hours. I say again that not everyone can have late afternoon or evening FP+s for when the park is super busy. There will come a point when all that will be left is early morning spots.

What I wonder is if those will be taken by those that would be there early anyway or those that don't like to be there early but didn't have a choice. And how happy will they be when they had to take a 10:00 FP when they didn't like to be there so early anyway. The one that complains about not being able to get a FP unless they are there at RD may find they have to be there almost just as early because the only time to ride Space Mountain without a huge wait is at 10 a.m.

But I still hold out hope it isn't going to be as bad as I imagine and I will find myself pleasantly surprised during my trip. Better that than to think everything will be just fine and leave my vacation very disappointed after spending so much on it.

Nobody knows the answer to any of this. But I do think it's safe to assume that the advantage we used to get with rope drop will be shortened up with FP+.

It will definitely be interesting to watch all of this unfold. From afar. If I had a trip around the corner, I'd probably choose a different word than "interesting".

 

[jade1]

I would really hate to find out I used one of my coveted FB+ tickets and show up and find out the wait time was under 20 minutes.

1) I would hope for this every time.

2) This is why RD folks will jump on the ride first in the first hour IMO.

 

[UNCFanatik]

I don't think she projected it on anyone. She specifically said it was in reference to her own POV.

Unless I'm missing something.

you must have missed this where she projects this on others...and later adds DVC users as well

Ok, so far Disney has potentially alienated AP holders, locals, tweens/teens and foreign visitors (that come for weeks at a time) with these potential changes.

So who's left?

 

[UNCFanatik]

As an uberuser that uses many FP per day to ride my favorite rides multiple times in one day, the terms and conditions around the current FP+ implementation will reduce my ability to do that. I don't actually need to wait and try out the system to be able to see that. Hence I can confidentility say that I don't like the new FP+ system since it doesn't work for me.

Do you have any insight into the final rollout of the FP+ system that you would like to add?

Do you think that Disney could possibly tweak the system as they roll it out?

Could they back off at all what was previously announced?

Could what we know now change at all?

I would think it be more prudent to wait before exuding such confidence

 

[UNCFanatik]

To add on to this... Let's say MK Park opens at 9AM and they indeed do have preregistered 9AM - 10AM fastpass windows for SM. If I happen to be the holder of said FP, I am WAY more likely to use the fastpass between 9:45AM or later even to 10AM then I am from 9AM to 9:30AM.

SO even if they do have preregistered Fastpass times at Rope Drop, assuming the return window is still an hour, most of those will be used in the very back half of that window.

Thus Rope Drop which use to give an hour or two (depending on day, season, etc...) of smaller S.B. lines will be mostly the same but instead for 45mins.

Additionally, there will be people who use to not be in the park in the first hour post R.D. that will be. However, you can also assume there will be a lot more who use to be at R.D. to Collect Fastpasses that will no longer be.

I do not see how you can make that assumption and project what you would do onto others.

I would use the FP+ right away at a headliner to avoid the SB line that builds at RD and then I would hit some other less popular attractions.

I think it all depends on the park on whether as many people will still be there at RD. i could see less people at HS and Epcot because of this but not at the other parks.

 

[HelenParr]

You know how folks say you never use algebra, philosophy or statistics in day to day life outside of work -- so untrue. Used all of them this week on DIS!!

In that spirit...I don't think false paradigm properly describes a calculated guess based on a contingent proposition of a shifting paradigm...for me, it is "IF I have to wait in line for 90 minutes, THEN I will be less happy than I am now when I do not wait in line for 90 minutes, and potentially I will be not just less happy but fully unhappy."

I have experienced the lack of choice necessitating the 90 minute wait in the pre-FP days. I enjoy FP the way it is.

Not embracing the coming change does not evince a false paradigm. Might be pedantic and witless because I need to change or get left behind, but hardly based on fundamentally flawed fact set.

 

[mousermerf]

No evidence. There is an apparent assumption that FP windows may be offered at park open, rather than the current 40-45 minutes after.

Not true - lots of evidence, like how during testing the FP+ windows began at park opening.

 

[UNCFanatik]

You know how folks say you never use algebra, philosophy or statistics in day to day life outside of work -- so untrue. Used all of them this week on DIS!!

In that spirit...I don't think false paradigm properly describes a calculated guess based on a contingent proposition of a shifting paradigm...for me, it is "IF I have to wait in line for 90 minutes, THEN I will be less happy than I am now when I do not wait in line for 90 minutes, and potentially I will be not just less happy but fully unhappy."

I have experienced the lack of choice necessitating the 90 minute wait in the pre-FP days. I enjoy FP the way it is.

Not embracing the coming change does not evince a false paradigm. Might be pedantic and witless because I need to change or get left behind, but hardly based on fundamentally flawed fact set.

The false paradigm is this "If one cant use an FP then one will not be able to experience an attraction"

Not true.

 

[g-dad66]

Man, step away from the computer for a day, and one gets way behind on reading this thread....

Doesn't look like we have had any first-hand report yet from someoe selected to opt in to FP+ today, have we?

I presume any such report would be front-page (i.e. first-post) news for this thread?

 

[mousermerf]

I know it's asking a lot for people to see past the end of their own nose but...

If Toy Story Mania and Soarin are limited to 1 FP+ per person per day and they still sell out, that means that NEW GUESTS other than those with past experience with the old FP will (and heck, even some who knew the system but didn't get there early enough) will now ride those attractions. More people will ride them than had ridden them previously.

How is that not a net positive?

Yes, you may not ride it 2-3 times, but more people will ride that attraction in a regular operational day. How is that not good?

 

[mousermerf]

Man, step away from the computer for a day, and one gets way behind on reading this thread....

Doesn't look like we have had any first-hand report yet from someoe selected to opt in to FP+ today, have we?

I presume any such report would be front-page (i.e. first-post) news for this thread?

No opting-in until the resorts actually get their bands No idea when that'll happen.

 

[g-dad66]

No opting-in until the resorts actually get their bands No idea when that'll happen.

Ah, OK, thanks for the info.

 

[lugnut33]

I know it's asking a lot for people to see past the end of their own nose but...

If Toy Story Mania and Soarin are limited to 1 FP+ per person per day and they still sell out, that means that NEW GUESTS other than those with past experience with the old FP will (and heck, even some who knew the system but didn't get there early enough) will now ride those attractions. More people will ride them than had ridden them previously.

How is that not a net positive?

Yes, you may not ride it 2-3 times, but more people will ride that attraction in a regular operational day. How is that not good?

Disney does everything from a profit standpoint and what is best for their bottom line, why can't people on this forum view their trips to WDW the same way? What is a net positive for Disney may not be a net positive for some guests.

And you know this whole thing is about increasing park capacity while lowering costs.

 

[dmiller64152]

You have a different definition of "gracious" than I do.

Ok, so far Disney has potentially alienated AP holders, locals, tweens/teens and foreign visitors (that come for weeks at a time) with these potential changes.

So who's left?

My family is left and we're EXCITED to have FP+ for our first WDW trip in June! I'm in my 40s with bad knees, travelling with my son, 7, and my mother, 70. We all like to sleep in and have brunch and, even if we got to the parks at RD, none of us are in any condition to run to the FP kiosk. If FP+ is in place, we'll make use of this system to get the 3 (or 2 or 1) rides that are most important to us, spending a good part of our day shopping and eating instead of waiting in line, and the rest of the day on less popular attractions. It sounds DIVINE. (But not holding my breath that it will happen by June.)

 

[mom2rtk]

I know it's asking a lot for people to see past the end of their own nose but...

If Toy Story Mania and Soarin are limited to 1 FP+ per person per day and they still sell out, that means that NEW GUESTS other than those with past experience with the old FP will (and heck, even some who knew the system but didn't get there early enough) will now ride those attractions. More people will ride them than had ridden them previously.

How is that not a net positive?

Yes, you may not ride it 2-3 times, but more people will ride that attraction in a regular operational day. How is that not good?

If someone wants to get up at rope drop and get to a park to experience an attraction, or to experience it more than once, I'll be thrilled to bits for them.

If they want me to step aside and wait for them to get there....... sorry. I'm out.

Not once did I ever push anyone out of the way to get to an attraction to experience it once, twice or more.

 

[mousermerf]

If someone wants to get up at rope drop and get to a park to experience an attraction, or to experience it more than once, I'll be thrilled to bits for them.

If they want me to step aside and wait for them to get there....... sorry. I'm out.

Not once did I ever push anyone out of the way to get to an attraction to experience it once, twice or more.

But you did Blanche, ya did.

Not every guest knew the FP tricks and that you had to be there at rope drop. How is leveling the playing field so that no one NEEDS inside info to enjoy the attraction some great evil?

 

[bcrook]

Man, step away from the computer for a day, and one gets way behind on reading this thread....

Doesn't look like we have had any first-hand report yet from someoe selected to opt in to FP+ today, have we?

I presume any such report would be front-page (i.e. first-post) news for this thread?

IN BIG BOLD LETTERS!

I know it's asking a lot for people to see past the end of their own nose but...

If Toy Story Mania and Soarin are limited to 1 FP+ per person per day and they still sell out, that means that NEW GUESTS other than those with past experience with the old FP will (and heck, even some who knew the system but didn't get there early enough) will now ride those attractions. More people will ride them than had ridden them previously.

How is that not a net positive?

Yes, you may not ride it 2-3 times, but more people will ride that attraction in a regular operational day. How is that not good?

We got it. This will be great for Disney. I think everybody has moved on from that point. Most of us on here are still trying to figure out how it will affect our upcoming very expensive vacations. You have shared a lot. Thanks.

Cant wait for next update.

 

[bjakmom]

I started thinking about being ready to schedule FP+ for our next trip for SWW in May since it seems that FP+ will be in effect by then. I even went back to the park schedules for the shows and events over the last few years but the times have changed every year - and the schedule for those 3 days are not released until the first weekend (sometimes a week or two ahead if a DISer gets ahold of them and posts). So I really can't even begin to plan what time I will be able to schedule FP+ for the rides we usually like to do in between the SW special shows/ events. Wow it will really be a different experience for us if we have to go to a park on those very crowded days and no longer have FPs to use. Oh well, we'll see how it goes but I'm not feeling very excited about it now- feels like one more thing I have to plan/figure out and do.
And if the system is not attached to a resort reservation with dates, but to a ticket #, and if they allow FP+ to be booked for more than one day at a time, how will they keep people from 'walking' their FP+ days the way people now do with DVC reservations?
I think it's important that we be able to bat these concerns around amongst ourselves as disney does monitor social media to see what is being discussed and sometimes there are things they just don't think of - like putting the bathroom sinks and mirrors in the studio kitchens at BLT - they had to go back and renovate every one of those rooms when they realized someone hadn't quite thought that design through.