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

[mvk]

Josh over at easywdw.com actually GASP!!! tried the system out!!! I know, I know, it's not quite the same as looking at stuff on the internet and posting an article about it like Frommer's, but maybe it is useful.

http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorized/magic-kingdom-cheat-sheet-day-1and-fastpass-kiosks-part-1/

http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorized/magic-kingdom-cheat-sheet-day-1-with-fastpass/

Part 1 takes you through how to book FP+ as an AP. He then deletes those so that he can try it out in the park, on an extemely busy day (Saturday Jan 18th). He had no problems booking them in the first place, nor did he have any problems booking FP+ in the park that day, in the middle of the morning.

Part 2 is the actual day through the park. Seems to go quite well, even with how busy the place was.

Some of his conclusions...

Big Thunder Mountain was completely out of FP+ reservations through 3:45pm when we checked at 1:45pm, meaning the maximum number of FP+ for each previous time slot had been distributed. Yet the posted wait was 40 minutes. That’s 40 to 60 minutes shorter than it would have been under similar conditions with legacy FASTPASS. Considering how many people were in the Park, there’s really no explaining the short Tinker Bell wait. I would expect a 60-minute posted wait and an entire queue full of people. On the flip side, the wait for Ariel was 75 minutes.

FastPass+ does not affect our morning touring strategy much at all. I flew through attractions as fast as I would have had legacy FASTPASS still been in operation. FP+ eliminates the need to visit Tomorrowland early to collect legacy FASTPASSes. It eliminates a lot of the required backtracking to collect pieces of paper. If you’re staying on-site or use a MagicBand, it’s nice being able to schedule FastPass+ times when they won’t conflict with dining reservations. It brings clarity to the return time. We no longer have to be concerned with the Peter Pan’s Flight FASTPASS return time at 2:30pm or what time we have to pull Space Mountain FASTPASSes to get a return time of 4:45pm. We can simply schedule it for 4:45pm. With the current limit of three FP+ over the course of the day, it does limit our ability to re-ride some attractions. Ordinarily, we would probably use legacy FASTPASS at Peter Pan’s Flight for a second ride later in the day. Perhaps at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh as well. With the number of same-day FP+ experiences available, on-site guests should be able to schedule whatever rides they want upon arriving.

Touring with FP+ is different. But different isn’t always worse. The three FP+ cap at Magic Kingdom is limiting. There is no getting around that, but there are positive takeaways too. It was really nice being able to walk into Enchanted Tales in the afternoon with a FP+ reservation made earlier that day – something that wasn’t possible before. I accomplished everything I wanted to that morning with virtually no waits, even with people being able to schedule FP+ first thing in the morning. The only thing I wasn’t able to do was run around Magic Kingdom collecting paper FASTPASSes to re-ride a couple attractions later in the afternoon. Is one less re-ride going to keep you away from Walt Disney World? Is it worth stressing over? Is the world ending because you find yourself on a relaxing Liberty Square Riverboat ride instead of huffing and puffing back to Big Thunder Mountain to ride for the third time that day? This is your own business. But I can assure you that it’s going to be all right.

 

[rteetz]

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?

no the rumor is they will put villas at WL or in FW. I will say tho that AOA has an amazingly themed pool with underwater speakers. AOA is probably the best value only problem is it's going for a moderate rate. When you stay at a value you know what your getting into and I've stayed at most of the values and moderates but never at a deluxe so.

 

[RedsDrew]

I just put this on another post about park hopping and fast pass, but I don't want anyone to find out about FP+ the way I did in regards to multiple parks with Park Hopper in one day... Basically, I had booked a stay for June a couple weeks ago. I hadn't yet started reading up on the new FP+ at all. Well today I had a rude awakening when I started reading comments on Disney's Facebook page. Long story, short - I became really upset and called Disney and cancelled. Not because of the FP+ policy but because I was angry that I was "up-sold" to a park hopper on my call 2 weeks ago and NOT told that I wouldn't be able to use FP+ fast passes at 2 different parks on the same day. While I'm not upset that policy has changed, I'm upset that the agents are still "up-selling" park hopper and not telling people that they won't be able to transfer fast passes between parks. If someone uses a fast pass in one park and then leaves that park, they must return to the park to use fast passes.

Anyway, I never made it this far in my planning and came across these issues in negative feedback on their website. I hadn't intended to cancel but the supervisor I spoke to was so nonchalant about that. I even called 3 separate times to verify with 3 different agents that while some of them do mention it when up-selling the hopper, it is not actually required of them in their talk-off. This explains why my booking agent on my original phone call never told me.

I told the supervisor I spoke to that while I understand policy change the fact remains I wouldn't be upset if the policy was outlined clearly and explained adequately. I also said that they should have a moral responsibility to tell people who are agreeing to an up-sale the negative repercussions of such a sale. The lady just kept saying I understand. I told her if she understands then she should be more like Jiminy Cricket and let her conscience be her guide. I told her they should have a moral responsibility to tell people. She admitted people generally only park hop for two reasons: 1) restaurants and 2) attractions. I said it's common sense if people are doing number 2 (no pun intended) that at least they could give a disclaimer about fast pass at that time. I got no where reasoning with this lady who actually ended up being curt so I unexpectedly cancelled my trip in anger!

Anyway, sorry for the long rant (and this probably is my longest post ever...). Rarely do I get mad about Disney, and I wouldn't be mad about basic policy - it is what it is, is my favorite saying. But in this instance I should not have had to find out about that policy change after paying a premium for a feature that is now prohibitive under that new policy. Especially when they proactively up-sold the feature to me... Shady. VERY SHADY! (even if it's not intentional it sure could be perceived that way - as another way to keep revenue flowing in during the transition period)

 

[rteetz]

I just put this on another post about park hopping and fast pass, but I don't want anyone to find out about FP+ the way I did in regards to multiple parks with Park Hopper in one day... Basically, I had booked a stay for June a couple weeks ago. I hadn't yet started reading up on the new FP+ at all. Well today I had a rude awakening when I started reading comments on Disney's Facebook page. Long story, short - I became really upset and called Disney and cancelled. Not because of the FP+ policy but because I was angry that I was "up-sold" to a park hopper on my call 2 weeks ago and NOT told that I wouldn't be able to use FP+ fast passes at 2 different parks on the same day. While I'm not upset that policy has changed, I'm upset that the agents are still "up-selling" park hopper and not telling people that they won't be able to transfer fast passes between parks. If someone uses a fast pass in one park and then leaves that park, they must return to the park to use fast passes. Anyway, I never made it this far in my planning and came across these issues in negative feedback on their website. I hadn't intended to cancel but the supervisor I spoke to was so nonchalant about that. I even called 3 separate times to verify with 3 different agents that while some of them do mention it when up-selling the hopper, it is not actually required of them in their talk-off. This explains why my booking agent on my original phone call never told me. I told the supervisor I spoke to that while I understand policy change the fact remains I wouldn't be upset if the policy was outlined clearly and explained adequately. I also said that they should have a moral responsibility to tell people who are agreeing to an up-sale the negative repercussions of such a sale. The lady just kept saying I understand. I told her if she understands then she should be more like Jiminy Cricket and let her conscience be her guide. I told her they should have a moral responsibility to tell people. She admitted people generally only park hop for two reasons: 1) restaurants and 2) attractions. I said it's common sense if people are doing number 2 (no pun intended) that at least they could give a disclaimer about fast pass at that time. I got no where reasoning with this lady who actually ended up being curt so I unexpectedly cancelled my trip in anger! Anyway, sorry for the long rant (and this probably is my longest post ever...). Rarely do I get mad about Disney, and I wouldn't be mad about basic policy - it is what it is, is my favorite saying. But in this instance I should not have had to find out about that policy change after paying a premium for a feature that is now prohibitive under that new policy. Especially when they proactively up-sold the feature to me... Shady. VERY SHADY! (even if it's not intentional it sure could be perceived that way - as another way to keep revenue flowing in during the transition period)

I understand where your coming from and a lot of people are upset about the park hopping thing. But with that I don't think Disney is telling this to everyone because one a lot of them are still uninformed about FP+. Two the CMs job is to upsell them. Anger part of this is because the system isn't finished yet it's still being tested as of this week they just went paperless no more legacy FP whatsoever forever. There have been rumors about Disney changing this and maybe by July it would have been changed I don't know for sure but I think this is the first big step in the roll out for Disney. If you watch or listen to the disunplugged podcast which includes the owners of these very boards we write on and they also own a travel agency. In a meeting with Disney, Disney stated that FP+ would be able to do park hopping. They didn't say when or how or give any details but they said it would come. That was also a year ago so maybe things have changed.

 

[The Grays]

Well to throw my 2 cents in. We were at WDW over New Year's. We own a time share with Sheraton, so we were off site. This is the second year in a row we went this time of year. So we can compare paper fast pass to the new magic bands.

I think in the 5 days we were there we got 2 fast passes we could use. Most of the rides my DD13 wanted to get on when we got to the park had long lines (which we had last year to some degree) And most of the fast passes were for near the time the park closed if any at all.

We got to experience at AK the kiosk. The lines for it were long. Felt like we were waiting for a ride. I know this was a new thing for them, but not a good experience for us.

This left us with not a good feeling about this system and our experience. We have been to WDW for maybe 18 time, Disneyland maybe 8 times and Euro Disney once.

We were talking the other night about our trip next year to maybe reverse our trip and do 4 to 5 days at Universal and 1 to 2 days at WDW. We have time and we are going to sit back and see what Disney is going to do.

 

[rteetz]

Well to throw my 2 cents in. We were at WDW over New Year's. We own a time share with Sheraton, so we were off site. This is the second year in a row we went this time of year. So we can compare paper fast pass to the new magic bands. I think in the 5 days we were there we got 2 fast passes we could use. Most of the rides my DD13 wanted to get on when we got to the park had long lines (which we had last year to some degree) And most of the fast passes were for near the time the park closed if any at all. We got to experience at AK the kiosk. The lines for it were long. Felt like we were waiting for a ride. I know this was a new thing for them, but not a good experience for us. This left us with not a good feeling about this system and our experience. We have been to WDW for maybe 18 time, Disneyland maybe 8 times and Euro Disney once. We were talking the other night about our trip next year to maybe reverse our trip and do 4 to 5 days at Universal and 1 to 2 days at WDW. We have time and we are going to sit back and see what Disney is going to do.

well the AK test was very new for most people so i understand the lines. Now that all four parks are on FP+ and paper FP is gone this should help with confusion of using both. I think we will also see how well this works over spring break peak times that should be a good judge as to how well this will work. I would almost guarantee the system will still change throughout this year.

 

[The Grays]

I am sure it will change, and most likely a few times to iron out the bugs. So that is why we are sitting back now and looking at what they are doing.

The kiosk problem we found was the location. There just was not a lot of room where they had it set up. We were prepared for it thanks to the DIS.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Walt Disney World is not doing a good job providing information about FastPass+ to guests planning trips to Walt Disney World.

Imagine you're a "normal" guest planning to visit (not an obsessed Disney fan who reads Disney fan blogs and forums). You're not staying at a Disney Resort, so Disney is not going to send email to you ahead of time.

You go to the official Walt Disney World website at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com

It there's anything there about FastPass+ for day guests, it's certainly not obvious. (I challenge anyone reading this thread to find FastPass+ information for day guests at the official site, at least as of today, Friday, Jan. 24, 2014.)

Now, imagine you heard about FastPass+ somewhere, so you type "FastPass+" in the official site's search function. The top hit describes the old FASTPASS process: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/fast-pass/ while the many hits below it are for park attractions.

The FASTPASS link tells you all about how to collect FASSPASS tickets at attraction-specific FASTPASS machines near attractions throughout the parks. There's only one problem. When you pay your money for admission and go into the parks, you learn that the FASTPASS system that you thought you would be able to use no longer exists.

Perhaps you can get something at a FastPass+ kiosk, but only if you figure out what you're supposed to do in time, and only if on-site guests and early arriving guests have not already grabbed the desirable attractions and times.

Disney really needs to do a better job with its website.

 

[Reddog1134]

Walt Disney World is not doing a good job providing information about FastPass+ to guests planning trips to Walt Disney World.

I just checked. There is a lot of FP+ info there, but it's based on the testing phase. So it's basically (incorrectly) saying that day guests still have access to legacy FP.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I just checked. There is a lot of FP+ info there, but it's based on the testing phase. So it's basically (incorrectly) saying that day guests still have access to legacy FP.

There is "a lot of FP+ info there" at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ (even based just on the testing phase)? Really? For guests who are not staying at a WDW resort hotel?

Path and/or URL please.

 

[rteetz]

Walt Disney World is not doing a good job providing information about FastPass+ to guests planning trips to Walt Disney World. Imagine you're a "normal" guest planning to visit (not an obsessed Disney fan who reads Disney fan blogs and forums). You're not staying at a Disney Resort, so Disney is not going to send email to you ahead of time. You go to the official Walt Disney World website at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com It there's anything there about FastPass+ for day guests, it's certainly not obvious. (I challenge anyone reading this thread to find FastPass+ information for day guests at the official site, at least as of today, Friday, Jan. 24, 2014.) Now, imagine you heard about FastPass+ somewhere, so you type "FastPass+" in the official site's search function. The top hit describes the old FASTPASS process: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/fast-pass/ while the many hits below it are for park attractions. The FASTPASS link tells you all about how to collect FASSPASS tickets at attraction-specific FASTPASS machines near attractions throughout the parks. There's only one problem. When you pay your money for admission and go into the parks, you learn that the FASTPASS system that you thought you would be able to use no longer exists. Perhaps you can get something at a FastPass+ kiosk, but only if you figure out what you're supposed to do in time, and only if on-site guests and early arriving guests have not already grabbed the desirable attractions and times. Disney really needs to do a better job with its website.

I would think website and app updates are the two most problematic places for disney right now. Many people are having problems with both.

 

[mvk]

well the AK test was very new for most people so i understand the lines. Now that all four parks are on FP+ and paper FP is gone this should help with confusion of using both. I think we will also see how well this works over spring break peak times that should be a good judge as to how well this will work. I would almost guarantee the system will still change throughout this year.

The Saturday of MLK Day weekend is said to be one of the 25 busiest days of the year, and there didn't seem to be any issues with the system, according to one noted Disney blogger that I posted earlier. He used the in-park system that day. FP+ was available for any time he wanted to use them.

I'm guessing the biggest issue with the FP+ location at AK is that they didn't do a good job of communicating other locations with kiosks. They will continue to add kiosks around the parks if need be, I'm sure.

 

[Reddog1134]

There is "a lot of FP+ info there" at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ (even based just on the testing phase)? Really? For guests who are not staying at a WDW resort hotel?

Path and/or URL please.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/fast-pass-plus/

There is bunch of info there, but it's geared towards onsite guests. So, I was basically agreeing with you. Offsite guests can, of course, read it and get the jist of FP+.

 

[beer dave]

I just put this on another post about park hopping and fast pass, but I don't want anyone to find out about FP+ the way I did in regards to multiple parks with Park Hopper in one day... Basically, I had booked a stay for June a couple weeks ago. I hadn't yet started reading up on the new FP+ at all. Well today I had a rude awakening when I started reading comments on Disney's Facebook page. Long story, short - I became really upset and called Disney and cancelled. Not because of the FP+ policy but because I was angry that I was "up-sold" to a park hopper on my call 2 weeks ago and NOT told that I wouldn't be able to use FP+ fast passes at 2 different parks on the same day. While I'm not upset that policy has changed, I'm upset that the agents are still "up-selling" park hopper and not telling people that they won't be able to transfer fast passes between parks. If someone uses a fast pass in one park and then leaves that park, they must return to the park to use fast passes.

Anyway, I never made it this far in my planning and came across these issues in negative feedback on their website. I hadn't intended to cancel but the supervisor I spoke to was so nonchalant about that. I even called 3 separate times to verify with 3 different agents that while some of them do mention it when up-selling the hopper, it is not actually required of them in their talk-off. This explains why my booking agent on my original phone call never told me.

I told the supervisor I spoke to that while I understand policy change the fact remains I wouldn't be upset if the policy was outlined clearly and explained adequately. I also said that they should have a moral responsibility to tell people who are agreeing to an up-sale the negative repercussions of such a sale. The lady just kept saying I understand. I told her if she understands then she should be more like Jiminy Cricket and let her conscience be her guide. I told her they should have a moral responsibility to tell people. She admitted people generally only park hop for two reasons: 1) restaurants and 2) attractions. I said it's common sense if people are doing number 2 (no pun intended) that at least they could give a disclaimer about fast pass at that time. I got no where reasoning with this lady who actually ended up being curt so I unexpectedly cancelled my trip in anger!

Anyway, sorry for the long rant (and this probably is my longest post ever...). Rarely do I get mad about Disney, and I wouldn't be mad about basic policy - it is what it is, is my favorite saying. But in this instance I should not have had to find out about that policy change after paying a premium for a feature that is now prohibitive under that new policy. Especially when they proactively up-sold the feature to me... Shady. VERY SHADY! (even if it's not intentional it sure could be perceived that way - as another way to keep revenue flowing in during the transition period)

I understand the anger with the up sell-- but here's the thing you may be missing-- in July, if you park hop any time after noon, you probably won't be getting any fast passes either way. With the new system, yes you have to plan a hop, but you could go to one park for am and schedule your fp's for the park you are hopping to. In my book this is the better option.

Just last monday, while staying at BW, We walked through epcot in the morning (not even at rope drop) and rode stand by TT, got on the monorail at the front, went to mk, and had our 3 fpp for the day. And that was MLK weekend.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

I understand the anger with the up sell-- but here's the thing you may be missing-- in July, if you park hop any time after noon, you probably won't be getting any fast passes either way. With the new system, yes you have to plan a hop, but you could go to one park for am and schedule your fp's for the park you are hopping to. In my book this is the better option.

Just last monday, while staying at BW, We walked through epcot in the morning (not even at rope drop) and rode stand by TT, got on the monorail at the front, went to mk, and had our 3 fpp for the day. And that was MLK weekend.

FP+ actually can make it a better deal to park hop knowing you have those couple of special rides locked in that you could never get a FP for by the time you got to that second park.

 

[BeentoallDParks]

If you read the post at Frommer's, it's clear the author (Jason Cochran) is not reviewing the technology or how the system works. He's talking about how this new way of doing Fastpass will affect PLANNING a trip. So seems find to me that he didn't use the bands yet since he's not talking really about how it works inside the park but how it affects you before you get there.

 

[rteetz]

The Saturday of MLK Day weekend is said to be one of the 25 busiest days of the year, and there didn't seem to be any issues with the system, according to one noted Disney blogger that I posted earlier. He used the in-park system that day. FP+ was available for any time he wanted to use them. I'm guessing the biggest issue with the FP+ location at AK is that they didn't do a good job of communicating other locations with kiosks. They will continue to add kiosks around the parks if need be, I'm sure.

I know its very busy but it's only one weekend and not all four parks were on FP+ only yet. I think spring break when you have a very steady crowd flow for more than a week will show how well the system will work.

 

[mom2rtk]

FP+ actually can make it a better deal to park hop knowing you have those couple of special rides locked in that you could never get a FP for by the time you got to that second park.

We were in the MK for half of one day last June. We arrived at the park at 2:30. Off the top of my head I can think of 6 FPs we still pulled that day.

 

[beer dave]

We were in the MK for half of one day last June. We arrived at the park at 2:30. Off the top of my head I can think of 6 FPs we still pulled that day.

MK may be an exception due to all the attractions, but I bet you didn't get peter pan, splash, big thunder, or space... well, maybe-- with the old system they didn't have as many. Gee, were there more than 6 with FP- back in June? The four I listed, mermaid ride, jungle cruise, ... man you can really pound a park.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

FP+ actually can make it a better deal to park hop knowing you have those couple of special rides locked in that you could never get a FP for by the time you got to that second park.

~Thank you! We actually experienced more with FP+! Some people want more FP tickets to run around all day and collect. Some of us prefer to experience more attractions with less foot work!