FP + What we know and what we want to know

[bcrook]

There is a story in the Orlando Sentinel about the new Disney World Chief. I posted it on the rumor board, but it might be a nice time to visit it here. He seems like a nice man. He started out clearing tables in a WDW resort restaurant, and now..."Look Ma, Top of the World". He does sound like he respects the job and our connections to WDW.

Here is a quote from the article: "He takes over at an important time for Disney World, where attendance has been soft in recent quarters...And Disney is about to make perhaps its boldest bet in Orlando since opening its fourth theme park: a $1 billion vacation-planning initiative dubbed "MyMagic+," which aims to outfit visitors with wireless wristbands that Disney hopes will drive bigger spending and more frequent visits."

 

[doggydoc]

Also that would cause a lot of people to get to the park for rope drop and schedule their extra fastpasses. I don't see it.

It wouldn't be any different than what they have now, just without the work and paper ticket except that Disney would have COMPLETE control over return times, duration until next FP available and any other relevant factor.

 

[bcrook]

It wouldn't be any different than what they have now, just without the work and paper ticket except that Disney would have COMPLETE control over return times, duration until next FP available and any other relevant factor.

Yes, I agree. Don't you think this is exactly what Disney is trying to "fix"?

 

[katdralion]

I said I prefer to book in advance than be there at opening. Since we were not there at opening, passes were gone. We were there in Feb, March, May, June, July, August, October and early Dec. You were lucky to get passes then, we have not been that lucky.

Sorry, I didn't mean to question you, it's just we"ve never found it necessary to get to the parks early to use FP. Maybe you're right and we've just been lucky!

 

[Angel Ariel]

According to Lou Mongelo...regular fastpass is going nowhere.

Just for now (as a tiered roll-out of the FP+ system), or forever?

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

Well that is an intriguing button. Has it always been locked like that? I thought I had been in there before "looking around". They will know what park we are in and then unlock that button. Maybe that is where the "surprise and delight" comes from?

I am thinking if there was same day passes available there would be rules in the terms and conditions. I am not holding out for customer control of that option - especially while the paper fastpass would be in place. Can you imagine people not on FP+ running all over the park trying to collect FP while the FP+ people sit down in the shade on a bench and gather whatever they want?

Also that would cause a lot of people to get to the park for rope drop and schedule their extra fastpasses. I don't see it.

Yup, has always been locked.
I thought someone who lived locally could check to see if it works, where they are..
Or if you really have to be in a park?
Or maybe jut a resort?

Can you add " whats the here and now button do" to the front page?
Maybe someone can answer it in the next few days..

 

[gwmort]

Also that would cause a lot of people to get to the park for rope drop and schedule their extra fastpasses. I don't see it.

Isn't that what the doom and gloomers want? (more fast passes as a reward for getting to RD)

 

[Missyrose]

Well that is an intriguing button. Has it always been locked like that? I thought I had been in there before "looking around". They will know what park we are in and then unlock that button. Maybe that is where the "surprise and delight" comes from?

I am thinking if there was same day passes available there would be rules in the terms and conditions. I am not holding out for customer control of that option - especially while the paper fastpass would be in place. Can you imagine people not on FP+ running all over the park trying to collect FP while the FP+ people sit down in the shade on a bench and gather whatever they want?

Also that would cause a lot of people to get to the park for rope drop and schedule their extra fastpasses. I don't see it.

When they first rolled out their new app (the on that replaced mobile magic) last year, you had to have your GPS on for it to recognize that you were in the park. That REALLY sucked the life out of my battery. I really wish they found find another way to unlock the in-park features, but it seems like that part has carried over into the MDE app.

 

[bcrook]

Yup, has always been locked.
I thought someone who lived locally could check to see if it works, where they are..
Or if you really have to be in a park?
Or maybe jut a resort?

Can you add " whats the here and now button do" to the front page?
Maybe someone can answer it in the next few days..

I would be happy to do that. It really could be a key to the FP+ on site options. I wonder if BigAWL's app thread has any info on that?

 

[Angel Ariel]

When they first rolled out their new app (the on that replaced mobile magic) last year, you had to have your GPS on for it to recognize that you were in the park. That REALLY sucked the life out of my battery. I really wish they found find another way to unlock the in-park features, but it seems like that part has carried over into the MDE app.

Perhaps now that they have in park wifi, maybe they can make an option for the app to recognize you're in the park if you're on their wifi?

 

[Rosanne]

There is a story in the Orlando Sentinel about the new Disney World Chief. I posted it on the rumor board, but it might be a nice time to visit it here. He seems like a nice man. He started out clearing tables in a WDW resort restaurant, and now..."Look Ma, Top of the World". He does sound like he respects the job and our connections to WDW.

Here is a quote from the article: "He takes over at an important time for Disney World, where attendance has been soft in recent quarters...And Disney is about to make perhaps its boldest bet in Orlando since opening its fourth theme park: a $1 billion vacation-planning initiative dubbed "MyMagic+," which aims to outfit visitors with wireless wristbands that Disney hopes will drive bigger spending and more frequent visits."

Thank you very much for posting this link. I read the article. He seems to really care about the Disney brand. So, apparently he takes over February 1st. I'm guessing the FP+ idea was put into motion by someone else then? Anyway, he seems to be just what WDW needs. I imagine he would find a way to discuss ideas and goals in a "magical" way without disparaging comments about guests. That is encouraging.

 

[mikegood2]

This is the hope of many! Dreams can come true! Right now it doesn't look like that is the direction they are going. One big reason is that it would create the same type of "gridlock" they are trying to fix. But who knows.

Ya, I guess I remember reading those discussions earlier in the thread. I guess with all the back and forth bickering between people the last few days I forgot that .

I re-read what I wrote and realized I didn't get my point/question across well. I realize that those participating in FP+ can't participate in regular fast pass on there trip. For argument sake, let's say they break FP/FP+ 50/50, if all the FP+ don't all get claimed couldn't they become available for other FP+'ers? Or like others said, maybe they become the special perks that were discussed.

Also (I'm sure it has also been discussed and I known no one knows for sure), but are they adding more fastpasses each day with both systems in place, or are they splitting up the same between the two.

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

Perhaps now that they have in park wifi, maybe they can make an option for the app to recognize you're in the park if you're on their wifi?

Nm, it getting a little late for reading

 

[bcrook]

Ya, I guess I remember reading those discussions earlier in the thread. I guess with all the back and forth bickering between people the last few days I forgot that .

I thought the thread was going to be closed! And all that work on first page with it...

I re-read what I wrote and realized I didn't get my point/question across well. I realize that those participating in FP+ can't participate in regular fast pass on there trip. For argument sake, let's say they break FP/FP+ 50/50, if all the FP+ don't all get claimed couldn't they become available for other FP+'ers? Or like others said, maybe they become the special perks that were discussed.

Also (I'm sure it has also been discussed and I known no one knows for sure), but are they adding more fastpasses each day with both systems in place, or are they splitting up the same between the two.

I would say that there has been absolutely nothing released by Disney to answer either one of those questions. But LOTS of talk!

General consensus is that adding more FP to either system will make Standby Lines worse.

And we wait...

 

[bcrook]

Thank you very much for posting this link. I read the article. He seems to really care about the Disney brand. So, apparently he takes over February 1st. I'm guessing the FP+ idea was put into motion by someone else then? Anyway, he seems to be just what WDW needs. I imagine he would find a way to discuss ideas and goals in a "magical" way without disparaging comments about guests. That is encouraging.

I was thinking of you...your last post made me sad!

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

I would be happy to do that. It really could be a key to the FP+ on site options. I wonder if BigAWL's app thread has any info on that?

This is what I was thinking.. If you find anything let me know..

 

[mikegood2]

:I would say that there has been absolutely nothing released by Disney to answer either one of those questions. But LOTS of talk!

General consensus is that adding more FP to either system will make Standby Lines worse.

And we wait...

Thanks, that's what I figured! Also agree that adding additional FP's is not the answer.

But don't worry, I'm sure they will answer our questions any day now.

 

[bigAWL]

I would be happy to do that. It really could be a key to the FP+ on site options. I wonder if BigAWL's app thread has any info on that?

Nothing yet. I won't be able to personally check it out until march. Hopefully we'll get some reports before then.

 

[doggydoc]

Isn't that what the doom and gloomers want? (more fast passes as a reward for getting to RD)

I simply want the system to have the flexibility it has now. I rarely make it to rope drop so I have never hoarded FP's but since I go at slower times I don't have too. We FP's for the headliners and then ride SB on the less crowded rides in between FP return times. So the new system would completely disrupt our normal touring, even though I feel I use it as it was intended.

 

[dadddio]

Yes, there is.

Your extra 2 rides did not bolster you you spend more in the park.

However, not getting on the ride in a timely manner just made two people angry and caused them not to spend.

Also, every one of the super users who previously rode the ride three or four times are not going to. Sure, a few will wait in the standby line multiple times, but most of us are going to ride it once and move on. This is going to either leave open standby slots for people who would not have previously ridden the ride or speed up the standby line and leave some capacity unused.

Further, it is not necessary for all of the 'uninformed' people need not to get on board with FP+ for it to work. Fewer people using it will speed up the FP line and, therefore, the SB line and leave FPs available for same day selection.