Got PAP with DVC offer, now with FP+ maybe regretting

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

FP+ may lead to selling of points.

I don't plan my Disney trips months in advance.

What's next "Welcome to WDW, since you failed to book your rides and meals 180 days in advance you are welcome to visit our gift shops and our counter service restaurants"

I am watching, but this change may be the "straw that breaks the camel's back"

The offsite has me concerned too. I didn't buy an AP just to be told "you can't do anything because you aren't overpaying for our hotel rooms" (If you want me to stay onsite Disney start providing better value. Charging $400 a night for 3 star hotel that's not as nice as my local Marriott is not "value" LOL!)

 

[emilymad]

Very interesting thread...

We are big PH's but under this new system I see that ending if you are limited to FP+ in only one park. More important to us is the only one FP+ per attraction. Sometimes we go to HS just to ride TSM several times. Under this new system there wouldn't be a point for us to even go to HS.

I do see the positives of FP+ and being able to reserve things in advance but there is a lot to be worked out. There are huge differences in how this could work depending on the park. In the MK there are so many rides to FP how is 3 going to be enough? In AK I could see us just using FP+ for the safari and then it would be great since you wouldn't have to get there for RD.

I love the idea of the wristbands. At my workplace we use RFID in our security badges to enter the building, pay for lunch and starbucks, etc. It is very nice to not have to carry around extra things.

We are going in October so it is going to be interesting to see what is rolled out by then.

 

[Shellandscott]

This is an article found on WDWmagic ( my comments are in blue)

A huge area of discussion on the WDWMAGIC forums has centered on how many FASTPASS+ experiences and attractions can be made. According to Cast Members who have been briefed on the system earlier this week, on launch of FASTPASS+, a guest will be able to choose up to a maximum of 3 FASTPASS+ experiences at one park per day. The number of attractions offering FASTPASS+ has been greatly expanded over the current FASTPASS system, with over 60 rides, shows, parades, and meet and greets now being included in FASTPASS+.

Guests will be able to select FASTPASS+ experiences before arrival, or on the day of. Changes can be made at anytime to an unredeemed FASTPASS+, even once the FASTPASS+ arrival window begins. This is where I am thinking once you get your 3 you are done for the day. Yes you can get one at the park the day of but you will need to cancel one you currently have reserved.

A great feature of FASTPASS+ is the ability for the My Disney Experience smartphone app to notify FASTPASS+ holders in the event of an attraction being temporarily unavailable. This gives advance notice to the guest, and prevents them arriving at the attraction only to find it is closed. In this event, the system can suggest an alternative. The guest also has the option to opt out of notifications. This makes me think that if your ride goes down during your FP+ time window and the rest of the day is booked you will loose out on that ride. No come back later when it is open. :-(

Just do not see how this is an improvement over the current system.

 

[lilpooh108]

I don't have a link handy but it's been reported pretty far and wide that the paper ticket machines will be discontinued when FP+ is fully rolled-out. They aren't spending all of this money on the RFID-enabled system, only to continue running two nearly identical systems in tandem for years to come.

What they COULD do is allow people to make the three advance reservations and still get more electronic FPs after entering the park. However, the FP+ advance reservations will be available to all Passholders and guests staying in nearly 30,000 Disney-owned hotel rooms and villas. Making some assumptions about average occupancy, you're probably looking at 75,000+ hotel guests alone who will be eligible to claim 3 FPs each before the gates even open.

I have my doubts as to whether Disney would allow people to claim the 3 FPs in advance--over 200,000 FPs across the four parks--and then start collecting even more at 9:01am. But admittedly it could go either way.

Disney has had opportunity to clarify their plans but they haven't commented either way. The Parks Blog announcement touts the ability to keep families together in the parks (no more running from machine-to-machine collecting tickets) by reserving in advance, but at no time does it state that you'll be able to secure additional ride times once inside the park.

Hmmm. Ok.

But even if the paper FPs go away, if you're still allowed to get electronic FPs after park entry at the terminals or on your phone app, then there's no effective difference, other than the fact that FPs have been previously allotted to WDW onsite guests right? In other words, the paper FP machines are being retired, but in-park FPs are being replaced w/electronic FPs assigned to your RFID band. (I'm guessing, here.)

It seems that I'm in the minority of people who wouldn't mind having FPs scheduled in advance. Crossing the park is exhausting to us. We usually do EMH until 2am and get in all of our rides w/o FPs. We use the day time hours to do shows, dining and *gasp* stand by lines.

I read an Al Lutz article about how FP+ would negatively affect AP holders at DLR (this includes us), since most locals/AP holders don't schedule anything in advance. We're 20 minutes from DLR and go at least weekly. I never get FPs anyway, but it would be interesting to see what rides I'm effective "barred" from at DLR once this is implemented. I'm guessing: RSR, Indy & Space.

So with that perspective in mind, I can see how a WDW AP holder (or a local) might be at a disadvantage at WDW. We're from CA, so we plan our WDW months in advance.

 

[jade1]

At this point being a DVC member for almost 10 years and using the fastpass system with great efficiency, I am bothered by what I have read in some other places. I have heard rumors that are bothering me.
At current let use this as an example, if DH & I show up at Magic Kingdom at 9am for opening we get on the train and ride to Fronterland get off and get a BTMR FP for 10:20am-11:20am, we walk around maybe ride Haunted Mansion and small world making our way over to Space Mountain at 10:30am, we can now get a FP for that ride to come back at noon. We hightail it back to thunder mountain in our timefame. Now we head over to pirates and do some rides over there. Head over to Splash at 12:05pm and get a FP there for 4:00pm. Head back to Space Mtn in our hour. It is now 12:45pm and we go to lunch and then some more rides or since we have time to burn we head to Epcot by double monorail because we can get another FP at 2:05 or 3:05 depending on the time on the ticket. We go to Land and get a Soarin' FP for 8:30pm, ride Nemo or Figment and head back over to MK for our 4-5 FP for Splash. It is a lot of walking but we hit a lot of major rides and it is only 5pm and still have Soarin' left to ride before the end of the night.

From what I can tell FP+ will enable us to make FP plans ahead of time for only 1 of the mountains and is only good at one park per day. But can I still use my AP like people staying off property as I did in my example?

If the rumor of not being able to still use the fast pass system is true. FP+ sucks. Just looking for some input from what all of you have heard.

The boards will be priceless as this rolls out. Really lucky to have it.

Couple thoughts for you since nothing is for sure yet.

You may find you can "reserve" EPCOT for the afternoon (or eve)-and still open MK and get most of your list done, then hop to EPCOT. It's unsure how the lines will be with AM FP+ holders actually arriving or not. Also many folks holding later day FP+ may not show at all until later since there is no hurry. Where with the old FP they had to hurry or miss out. It's also not for sure that even if you reserve the 3 FP+ at EPCOT-that arriving at MK may allow you to reserve FP+ at MK on the fly. I suppose it depends on availability-but the system could handle the transactions. Heck they may allow you to "exchange" your 3 choices for 3 Space Mt passes (or TSM) if avail and you want that.

Furthermore-it does say a max of 3 and that you can make changes to those 3-but it really doesn't say at any time they "could" allow more on any given day if the system shows availability.

Hopping could end up being very important (and if they want to sell that upcharge they should make it attractive) with some feeling "limited" at a park with 3 FP+.

Of course my response is on the positive IMO-but who really knows.

 

[tjkraz]

But even if the paper FPs go away, if you're still allowed to get electronic FPs after park entry at the terminals or on your phone app, then there's no effective difference...

That's the big "if" though. Disney has had numerous opportunities to tout the system as advance FP reservations PLUS others obtained on the fly, and they have not done so.

I'm not going to go through the terms and conditions point by point, but it does contain passages which suggest this will all be capped at the 3 passes per day. Comments posted on-line from Cast Members and others support that, too.

Strictly my opinion but I think the best we can hope for is that Disney will offer additional FPs to its resort guests. If FP+ advance reservations are open to everyone as discussed a few posts ago, it would shock me if they didn't find some way to spin it in the favor of their resort guests...including DVC owners.

 

[jade1]

That's the big "if" though. Disney has had numerous opportunities to tout the system as advance FP reservations PLUS others obtained on the fly, and they have not done so.

I'm not going to go through the terms and conditions point by point, but it does contain passages which suggest this will all be capped at the 3 passes per day. Comments posted on-line from Cast Members and others support that, too.

Strictly my opinion but I think the best we can hope for is that Disney will offer additional FPs to its resort guests. If FP+ advance reservations are open to everyone as discussed a few posts ago, it would shock me if they didn't find some way to spin it in the favor of their resort guests...including DVC owners.

Good points-I was just thinking they could maybe charge quite a bit extra to add "hopping" if it meant you could reserve FP+ at the other parks on the fly.

And agree, buying DVC, staying Deluxe etc could end up with more.

I think they will see how it goes for now first.

 

[Greysword]

That's the big "if" though. Disney has had numerous opportunities to tout the system as advance FP reservations PLUS others obtained on the fly, and they have not done so.

I'm not going to go through the terms and conditions point by point, but it does contain passages which suggest this will all be capped at the 3 passes per day. Comments posted on-line from Cast Members and others support that, too.

Strictly my opinion but I think the best we can hope for is that Disney will offer additional FPs to its resort guests. If FP+ advance reservations are open to everyone as discussed a few posts ago, it would shock me if they didn't find some way to spin it in the favor of their resort guests...including DVC owners.

I haven't gone through these yet, but the T&Cs will outweigh any reporting threads.

The Term & Conditions:

DISNEY FASTPASS+ Service

Once available, Disney FastPass+ service allows you to select an arrival window to experience certain park attractions, character meet and greets, and quick-service restaurants, and to arrange a viewing location for certain entertainment such as fireworks, parades and shows.

Availability of a FastPass+ experience, the number of experiences you may select and arrival windows are limited and vary based on factors such as the theme park you are visiting, the attraction or entertainment experience, the time of year and the day of the week, and prior demand. In addition, the number of days for which you can hold FastPass+ selections at any given time is limited.

Each confirmed FastPass+ attraction, entertainment or restaurant selection is valid for (1) guest admission to the entrance of the designated FastPass+ location on the date and during the arrival window confirmed by the Site/App.

The operating hours of all attractions, entertainment and restaurant locations are subject to closures and change without notice.

You may make FastPass+ selections for yourself, your Managed Friends, and your Connected Friends.

Your Connected Friends may also make FastPass+ selections for you or modify the selections you've made without notification to you. You can view the selections and modifications made by Connected Friends for you when you log in to your account and view your itinerary.

FastPass+ selections made for you by a Friend will count toward the number of FastPass+ selections you may make and hold.

A confirmed FastPass+ selection is not valid for admission to any theme or water park and valid park admission is required to make a selection and redeem a FastPass+ selection. To make a FastPass+ selection for you or your Friends, you must retrieve a Resort package reservation including valid park admission through your account or associate valid park admission to your account.

Each FastPass+ selection will designate an arrival window for an attraction, restaurant location or entertainment experience. The FastPass+ selection is not valid before or after the designated arrival window or at any other FastPass+ location.

You may make FastPass+ selections for one park per day. You may only select and redeem a FastPass+ selection for a particular attraction, entertainment or restaurant experience once per day.

When you initially make FastPass+ selections for a particular park, you will select a FastPass+ experience set and if your plans change, you may modify the entire FastPass+ experience set until the first FastPass+ experience is redeemed or the first unredeemed experience expires. You may modify an unredeemed individual FastPass+ experience any time prior to the end the day.

All FastPass+ selections, whether arranged by you or a Connected Friend, expire at the end of the day for which they were confirmed. Unused and expired selections count toward the FastPass+ experience limit for the day.

Magic Your Way ticket holders may make FastPass+ selections beginning 60 days prior to day of use. The selection window may vary for other admission tickets or passholders.

Ticket holders holding passes or tickets with block-out dates may not make FastPass+ selections for any block-out date without the purchase of separate valid park admission and assigning that admission entitlement to your account.

We reserve the right to re-assign or re-schedule a FastPass+ selection due to an unplanned attraction or entertainment down time or change in operating hours.

Other restrictions and rules may apply based on type of park admission. FastPass+ experiences are not transferable, have no cash value and may not be substituted.

Seems we'll need to get our tickets well in advance of arrival.

 

[lilpooh108]

Thanks Greysword.

I haven't been on the theme parks board lately. Interesting changes...but I'm optimistic that on-site guests will have additional perks.

 

[disneychic]

No one really knows how it's all going to work; I don't even think WDW does, honestly. I think someone had a Grand Idea and started implementing it without talking to people who could bring up the good questions, comments, and concerns, and now they're working it out..

EXACTLY! Well said!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[tjkraz]

I haven't gone through these yet, but the T&Cs will outweigh any reporting threads.

The terms and conditions provide some insight but they are a lot like the DVC POS. It's a broad framework which provides few details.

And the Terms and Conditions are subject to change at any time.

BTW, the Terms and Conditions does currently say "...the number of experiences you may select and arrival windows are limited..."

 

[Sammie]

Everything I have read and been told, does not exclude anyone that has a ticket.

It makes no difference where you stay, Disney, not Disney, at your own home, it is all linked to having advance tickets.

There is absolutely nothing to prevent someone with an AP or multi day tickets from using My Disney Experience.

Now everything is subject to change but that has been the story up to this point.

As to how they will prevent, as TJ said someone booking a Fastpass+ plus time and then not using it, I don't know. There has been nothing released about that at all. But then that could also be said of someone with an AP or staying at a Disney resort, those could just as easily book a time in advance and not use it.

I did ask if you want to wait and buy your tickets when you arrive, you will miss out on the 60 day advance booking.

Sadly one of Disney's major short comings when introducing new programs is being able to think like a guest who will manipulate anything to their own personal advantage. It happened with the dining plan and they had to come back and make adjustments.

 

[kenny]

Don't like a lot of what I read like only one park and nothing yet about making day of FP along with your 3 advanced.

Biggest issue as dvc member is the AP rule of 20 per quarter. So ap users that visit for longer than 6 days can not get 3 FP's per day. How is that fair? Should be 3 per day regardless of what ticket you have

 

[jade1]

Biggest issue as dvc member is the AP rule of 20 per quarter. So ap users that visit for longer than 6 days can not get 3 FP's per day. How is that fair? Should be 3 per day regardless of what ticket you have

I could be way off, but IMO that will mean if you don't have a room reserved.

Otherwise a local AP holder could reserve TSM (or whatever) every single day of the year, just "in case" I feel like going today.

But once they book a 7 day or more stay-then that would free up additional FP+ for that stay-again just IMO.

 

[bwang123]

Don't like a lot of what I read like only one park and nothing yet about making day of FP along with your 3 advanced.

Biggest issue as dvc member is the AP rule of 20 per quarter. So ap users that visit for longer than 6 days can not get 3 FP's per day. How is that fair? Should be 3 per day regardless of what ticket you have

there is no rule of 20 per quarter. that was a rumor on here with little substance.

 

[bumbershoot]

Don't like a lot of what I read like only one park and nothing yet about making day of FP along with your 3 advanced.

Biggest issue as dvc member is the AP rule of 20 per quarter. So ap users that visit for longer than 6 days can not get 3 FP's per day. How is that fair? Should be 3 per day regardless of what ticket you have

And now we're right back to the beginning. The people who know aren't going to talk about it. The people who are talking about it almost certainly don't KNOW. Or might think they know but don't really.

We KNOW nothing. We can guess at just about anything.

I'm really good at worrying about things that never come to pass (and some that do), but I'm reserving that "talent" for other things in my life, NOT about this whole FP+ thing, which was my advice to the OP. Why not wait until it's actually fully rolled out?

You know that "keep calm and carry on" phrase? Let's do that.

And yesterday I saw a shirt in black (vs the red that usually backs the above phrase) that said "NOW let's panic and freak out". Once they implement it, we can do that.

 

[Sammie]

And now we're right back to the beginning. The people who know aren't going to talk about it. The people who are talking about it almost certainly don't KNOW. Or might think they know but don't really.

We KNOW nothing. We can guess at just about anything.

I'm really good at worrying about things that never come to pass (and some that do), but I'm reserving that "talent" for other things in my life, NOT about this whole FP+ thing, which was my advice to the OP. Why not wait until it's actually fully rolled out?

You know that "keep calm and carry on" phrase? Let's do that.

And yesterday I saw a shirt in black (vs the red that usually backs the above phrase) that said "NOW let's panic and freak out". Once they implement it, we can do that.

Exactly, because even those that do know are making changes to what was known even by them.

 

[johde]

I agree that we need to wait for something more firm before we start panicking. All we have right now is snippets of information from various sources. I'm surprised that no one has mentioned that our very own Disney Files magazine it implies that there will be same day FP+ in addition to the ones you reserve in advance.

It mentions making reservation both in advance and on the go.

 

[Sammie]

I agree that we need to wait for something more firm before we start panicking. All we have right now is snippets of information from various sources. I'm surprised that no one has mentioned that our very own Disney Files magazine it implies that there will be same day FP+ in addition to the ones you reserve in advance.

It mentions making reservation both in advance and on the go.

We still don't have enough info to be sure how that will play out. It could be as a guest you can do both, or it could mean that if you don't book in advance you can book while in the park.

Not sure it definitely means you can do both.

 

[spiceycat]

Seems we'll need to get our tickets well in advance of arrival.

where did you find this - looked for hours and could not find it

so please say!!!