Frommer's Comes Out as Not in Favor of Paperless Fastpass

[rteetz]

Disney will tweak FastPass+ for years. It will be an long-term process, based on guest feedback and data collected from actual FastPass+ usage, with major tuning the first year and ongoing fine-tuning after that. Disney will add and delete FastPass+ attractions, shows, and experiences. Disney will tune how much capacity is made available in advance for FastPass+, how much capacity is is held for same-day, and how much standby capacity remains. Disney will do this tuning on an attraction-by-attraction basis, taking attendance levels into account. Disney will try to provide advantages to some categories of guests in such a way that other guests don't feel they're relegated to second-class status. The perception of FastPass+ by various categories of WDW guests will depend on how well Disney this. The article at the Frommer's website won't make a bit of real difference. What we discuss on this forum won't make a bit of real difference. Disney fan blog posts won't make a bit of real difference. But if off-site guests come home from their vacations and tell their friends and co-workers how the new FastPass+ system is unfair, made them feel unwanted, and shut them out from popular attractions, it will hurt Disney park attendance for years to come. I'm not saying this will happen. It all depends on how well Disney provides a positive PastPass+ experience to on-site AND off-site guests.

yes but they are not going to make major changes anymore. They will always be adding and subtracting attractions that's a given. I still don't think we will see large changes in attendance tho.

 

[rteetz]

I understand what you are saying, but my friend booked this trip last year, and has been hoping all year that things will equal out. Disney knows whether or not off site guests will have day of only or full 60 days in advance access. The fact that they have danced around that issue for the past 12 months is really frustrating. I do think if Disney came out and said that off-site guests will only have kiosk access on the day of arrival and that is the plan. A lot of off site guests would reconsider their trips. This is exactly why Disney is not doing that. There is always hope that things will change. And it still may. I can't believe that off site guests will be left out. It seems like a better deal for Disney to get their off site guests to lock up park days in advance with their FP+. It seems to me that FP+ was created FOR the off site guests. Get them to buy their tickets in advance, plan their days, and lock them in. Disney already knows the on-site guests are there, now they could start counting up all the off site guests. The way this has unfolded is interesting. I can't even see this helping fill rooms for onsite guests. The off seasons are the times that Disney needs to fill, and at those times - FP+ aren't even necessary. During Peak season's when FP"+" are necessary - the occupancy rate is already high without discounts. None of makes sense to me.

if off site guests get this access I don't see it happening until summer time or later. The only thing Disney has said for sure about off site guests is magic bands will be for sale for off site guests. AP holders still haven't gotten magic bands or access to advanced reservations as well. I saw this week also that AP holder may end up in the same boat as off site guests.

 

[muse7mom]

if off site guests get this access I don't see it happening until summer time or later. The only thing Disney has said for sure about off site guests is magic bands will be for sale for off site guests. AP holders still haven't gotten magic bands or access to advanced reservations as well. I saw this week also that AP holder may end up in the same boat as off site guests.

We just renewed our AP yesterday and were told that we will have magic bands. We haven't made any trip reservations yet for 2014 but were just there in November 2013 and used FastPass+ and My Disney Experience with great success.
Just my two cents.

 

[ThurlFan]

I'm just curious how the whole off-site thing will work with advance booking for FP+.

I can't imagine that any sane person expects the booking site to be open to the general public. Think how many FP+ could be reserved and not used by people who are considering a WDW visit but don't actually show up.

So, perhaps you require someone to have a valid ticket to make FP+ ressies. That means you have to buy your tickets 60 days in advance - not a huge deal. But unless something's changed, a purchased ticket is not a guarantee of when you will actually show up. Will park tickets now be valid only on certain dates, and those dates need to be declared at time of purchase? Or if not at time of purchase, declared when you make FP+ ressies?

And for AP holders, can you book for every day of the year even if you don't plan to be there?

It just seems like they're adding layers and layers of hassle for pass holders, off-site visitors and local day guests.

I think the magic bands were a cool idea for park entrance, room key, and room charges. But we had all those perks last year with the chipped KTTW cards. So where's the big improvement to guest experience? Nice that I can FP TSMM without having to hit rope drop at DHS, but on MK days we will end up with about half as many FP as before. That's less value for me and my family. Without even getting into the creepy tracking of your movements.

Sorry, I guess I digressed a bit there at the end. So by what method do folks think day guests should get access to pre-book FP+? I am genuinely curious as to how this will work.

And for the record, we (annual visitors for the past 10+ years) have suspended trip planning for WDW until this all gets sorted out in the months ahead. Not in protest, but due to confusion as to how it will all work.

 

[Rickrollercoaster]

Honestly, not a big fan of the paperless fast passes either. I loved keeping any extra fast passes I didn't use as a souvenir any how.

 

[bcrook]

I'm just curious how the whole off-site thing will work with advance booking for FP+.

I can't imagine that any sane person expects the booking site to be open to the general public. Think how many FP+ could be reserved and not used by people who are considering a WDW visit but don't actually show up.

So, perhaps you require someone to have a valid ticket to make FP+ ressies. That means you have to buy your tickets 60 days in advance - not a huge deal. But unless something's changed, a purchased ticket is not a guarantee of when you will actually show up. Will park tickets now be valid only on certain dates, and those dates need to be declared at time of purchase? Or if not at time of purchase, declared when you make FP+ ressies?

And for AP holders, can you book for every day of the year even if you don't plan to be there?

It just seems like they're adding layers and layers of hassle for pass holders, off-site visitors and local day guests.

I think the magic bands were a cool idea for park entrance, room key, and room charges. But we had all those perks last year with the chipped KTTW cards. So where's the big improvement to guest experience? Nice that I can FP TSMM without having to hit rope drop at DHS, but on MK days we will end up with about half as many FP as before. That's less value for me and my family. Without even getting into the creepy tracking of your movements.

Sorry, I guess I digressed a bit there at the end. So by what method do folks think day guests should get access to pre-book FP+? I am genuinely curious as to how this will work.

And for the record, we (annual visitors for the past 10+ years) have suspended trip planning for WDW until this all gets sorted out in the months ahead. Not in protest, but due to confusion as to how it will all work.

There have been hints that people will buy tickets for specific time periods and those tickets would only be good for that time.

Go online, pick your days, pay variable pricing, choose your FP+ selections. Locked in! No way to back out.

 

[crazy4wdw]

There have been hints that people will buy tickets for specific time periods and those tickets would only be good for that time.

Go online, pick your days, pay variable pricing, choose your FP+ selections. Locked in! No way to back out.

There have been rumors that Disney has been looking at variable pricing of theme parks tickets as a way to increase revenue. Tickets would cost more over holidays and specific weekends, just like you pay more for rooms and some buffet meals during holidays. This would be a way to implement variable pricing.

 

[ThurlFan]

There have been hints that people will buy tickets for specific time periods and those tickets would only be good for that time.

Go online, pick your days, pay variable pricing, choose your FP+ selections. Locked in! No way to back out.

That's what I was thinking. It dovetails nicely with Disney's objective of capacity planning/cost cutting.

 

[bcrook]

There have been rumors that Disney has been looking at variable pricing of theme parks tickets as a way to increase revenue. Tickets would cost more over holidays and specific weekends, just like you pay more for rooms and some buffet meals during holidays. This would be a way to implement variable pricing.

That's what I was thinking. It dovetails nicely with Disney's objective of capacity planning/cost cutting.

It's probably on the way. It is the missing piece that makes all fit together.

 

[rteetz]

We just renewed our AP yesterday and were told that we will have magic bands. We haven't made any trip reservations yet for 2014 but were just there in November 2013 and used FastPass+ and My Disney Experience with great success. Just my two cents.

I know AP holders have been told they are getting them but from what I've heard they may or may not get advanced FP+ reservations and getting your magic bands may be delayed a little bit yet. I saw this from some people on twitter just some rumors nothing confirmed.

 

[beer dave]

I wonder if they know how bad the lines were yesterday, I bet they will be confirming the new system is bad all the way around if MK continues to see the chaos that had been reported. Has anyone posted how it is today?

I was at MK sunday and monday-- no chaos to report. fairly crowded on sunday (I was there 10 to about 3) I saw the long FP line phenomenon (btmrr)-- It was long until the first touch point, but moved quickly. Problem was people not knowing how to use touch point. Once through, we walked right to the merge point as usual. Took maybe 10 minutes from line up to on ride. Monday became crowded in the afternoon, and we were there about the same times.(10 to 3) Got FPP for talking mickey both mornings-- he was awesome.

Had no issues at all with the band. Worked all the time.

Sunday night we switched parks for monday-- made all our selections for MK with out any problems. Got anything we wanted.

Excellent trip.

 

[beer dave]

I'm just curious how the whole off-site thing will work with advance booking for FP+.


And for AP holders, can you book for every day of the year even if you don't plan to be there?

for the record, we (annual visitors for the past 10+ years) have suspended trip planning for WDW until this all gets sorted out in the months ahead. Not in protest, but due to confusion as to how it will all work.

I am an AP holder, and after a stay, you can reserve 3 fpp for up to 7 days. When you use one, you can reserve another. (within 60 days) I have heard some people say 14-- ? not me.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

I was at MK sunday and monday-- no chaos to report. fairly crowded on sunday (I was there 10 to about 3) I saw the long FP line phenomenon (btmrr)-- It was long until the first touch point, but moved quickly. Problem was people not knowing how to use touch point. Once through, we walked right to the merge point as usual. Took maybe 10 minutes from line up to on ride. Monday became crowded in the afternoon, and we were there about the same times.(10 to 3) Got FPP for talking mickey both mornings-- he was awesome.

Had no issues at all with the band. Worked all the time.

Sunday night we switched parks for monday-- made all our selections for MK with out any problems. Got anything we wanted.

Excellent trip.

~OMG, I'm so glad you're back. Thanks so much for the review! You just have the Midas Touch! So do I.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

But that's really not any different than EMH now. Both guests are paying the same for a park ticket but the on-site guest gets more hours in the park.

Just a note: DTD Hilton guests also get extra magic hour privileges and do not have to stay "on-site".

 

[Auntrosie]

What use is a person's review of what he envisions an experience he hasn't had to be like? I understood Jason Cochran's article to convey that he hadn't even bought a ticket and gone to a Disney Park and attempted to schedule an attraction Fastpass at a kiosk.
Frommer's should not have allowed that article on it's site. It's not a response to a request for an opinion even at that the writer should have declined to offer an opinion. It's a review of something he hasn't had any experience with, good or bad. Useless.

 

[rteetz]

Just a note: DTD Hilton guests also get extra magic hour privileges and do not have to stay "on-site".

same with swan and dolphin they are not disney hotels but still get EMH.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

I was at MK sunday and monday-- no chaos to report. fairly crowded on sunday (I was there 10 to about 3) I saw the long FP line phenomenon (btmrr)-- It was long until the first touch point, but moved quickly. Problem was people not knowing how to use touch point. Once through, we walked right to the merge point as usual. Took maybe 10 minutes from line up to on ride. Monday became crowded in the afternoon, and we were there about the same times.(10 to 3) Got FPP for talking mickey both mornings-- he was awesome.

Had no issues at all with the band. Worked all the time.

Sunday night we switched parks for monday-- made all our selections for MK with out any problems. Got anything we wanted.

Excellent trip.

Awesome review! From what I have read, this is how it is supposed to work, and did work for you. Glad to hear it.

What use is a person's review of what he envisions an experience he hasn't had to be like? I understood Jason Cochran's article to convey that he hadn't even bought a ticket and gone to a Disney Park and attempted to schedule an attraction Fastpass at a kiosk.
Frommer's should not have allowed that article on it's site. It's not a response to a request for an opinion even at that the writer should have declined to offer an opinion. It's a review of something he hasn't had any experience with, good or bad. Useless.

 

[Networth]

Also, take note of the fact that WDW has been offering discounted rooms and/or free dining for a lot of the year over the last 3 years to keep their rooms full.

Disney has been offering room discounts for at least 20 years, during off-season etc. I don't think they plan to stop this, just use this in conjugation with FP+ to increase occupancy. Also occupancy is not much of an issue for them at their Value's, those hotels(to call them a resort is a joke) stay full because of the low price. Disney's goal is to get more guests in Moderate and especially Deluxe. Even with a "discount" Disney's resorts are extremely more expensive than any other hotel in Orlando besides the Ritz-Carlton and other 5 star hotels. Point being I don't think the discounts will be going anywhere soon Discount + FP+ = higher occupancy, or so Disney is thinking IMO.

 

[rteetz]

Disney has been offering room discounts for at least 20 years, during off-season etc. I don't think they plan to stop this, just use this in conjugation with FP+ to increase occupancy. Also occupancy is not much of an issue for them at their Value's, those hotels(to call them a resort is a joke) stay full because of the low price. Disney's goal is to get more guests in Moderate and especially Deluxe. Even with a "discount" Disney's resorts are extremely more expensive than any other hotel in Orlando besides the Ritz-Carlton and other 5 star hotels. Point being I don't think the discounts will be going anywhere soon Discount + FP+ = higher occupancy, or so Disney is thinking IMO.

disney would love to stop discounts because that would mean they are filling rooms but that's just not happening right now. I very much think the value hotels are resorts. They are in very large areas have multiple swimming pools, food courts, arcades, activities for kids, etc. disney is all focused on deluxe and DVC thats why they keep building onto these resorts. Gf just finished and now the Poly, wilderness lodge area is rumored to be next.

 

[Networth]

disney would love to stop discounts because that would mean they are filling rooms but that's just not happening right now. I very much think the value hotels are resorts. They are in very large areas have multiple swimming pools, food courts, arcades, activities for kids, etc. disney is all focused on deluxe and DVC thats why they keep building onto these resorts. Gf just finished and now the Poly, wilderness lodge area is rumored to be next.

Exactly the Value are large(noisy/spread out), have poorly themed pools with few activities/play areas(compared to Mod/Deluxe). Food courts instead of real restaurants. The rooms are small, basic amenities, and outdoor hallways. I just don't see that as a resort but that just my opinion I suppose.

As you mentioned Disney is pouring money into DVC at Deluxe resorts, they know once they have someone sign those 50 year contracts they are essentially locked in, yes they can resell but either way Disney is making money, big money.
I toured the VGF this December, not impressed. Would rather stay at the real thing. I wasn't aware they were doing anything with WL they already have DVC villas there?