Guest Test of Magic Bands (Official Notice)

[mom2rtk]

In some ways, this could make the situation worse.

First, it reduces the pool that can be pre-booked. Which makes the "booked clean at 60 days" scenario even more likely, for the pre-bookers. Staggering will just turn it in to a guessing game as to what day you can get them.

Second, it reduces the pool that is available day of (compared to today), which makes the rope drop dash even more important for those that didn't/couldn't pre-book, and does nothing to improve their experience. Although it does at least give them a "sporting" chance...

I agree. And I believe this balance is the riskiest part of the endeavor.

I'm going to be really hacked off if I get shut out of the prebooked FPs, then spend the next 60 days wondering if I MIGHT get one when I get to the parks, then find them gone really fast same day because there were fewer of them. Under the old system, there was potential for disappointment same day, but you knew if you got there at rope drop you were in good shape. With the new system, there is potential for drawn out frustration and more than one potential disappointment along the way.

I also think people will be surprised to find out what that smaller pool of same day FPs does to their return times. We have actually been somewhat spoiled for the past 15 months with Disney supposedly loading more capacity into the system. That made the return times closer to the time issued. Once they remove the prebooking capacity, I would expect times to move later into the day much faster than we have seen of late.

 

[superdisneydork]

I guess my biggest concern though is what could happen with your suggested fixes. I think the worst thing would be for me to go online 30 days in advance to book some rides and all the allotted headliners are book and then I have to log in each day when they release new ones to fight for them. I definitely won't play that game.

I would argue that having a chance at getting one without being right at the gate committing to rides on the 60 day mark is worth the hassle, relatively speaking, unless you can guarantee reasonable 'day of' chances.

No matter how this shakes down, there will be plenty of fastpasses for most rides. The popular rides are going to be a challenge to get with any system.

At least with the current system, my fate isn't sealed 2 months out, I can show up the day of and get a fastpass for most anything if I am there early enough. I don't need to know any earlier than that day what I want to ride or which park I want to be in, it's much more flexible for the 'same' risk/benefit I think.

As others have said the days of getting multiple fastpasses in the same day for the same ride is probably long gone. I think that is a given.

I'm alright with this personally, but I can see how it would bother others.

Just to summarize, in case I've misrepresented myself, I don't object to the prebooking concept, though I think 60 days is still a bit too far out for that. I simply think it is imperative that day of fastpasses be available in some format, even if it means canceling prebooked FPs and selecting new ones because of the current circumstances.

Matt

 

[doconeill]

Don't forget...we have yet to see (and likely won't see until this is 100% rolled out and old FP is gone) whether pre-booked FP+ will ever "run out". We don't know what the percentage of "60-day pre-book" guests will be compared to the whole.

Disney is advertising some level of flexibility in the system. But if I get to the park, and decide my 7pm TSM FP+ isn't good for me anymore, and it is 100% booked, what chance is there I can change it?

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't object to the prebooking concept, though I think 60 days is still a bit too far out for that.

My only concern is that making it closer to the travel date will only make it into even more of a feeding frenzy. I know everyone loves to dog on 180 day ADRs. But I experienced 90 day ADRS in 2009 and couldn't WAIT to get back to 180 days. At least that way if something was really important to you (dining in the Castle, Ohana, now BOG) you have a pretty good shot of getting what you want. At 90 days it was a real crap shoot.

It's easy to sit and think about this new system in a vacuum, under the assumption that there will be enough TSMM fastpass for everyone to get one in the afternoon or early evening. But if it's anything like 90 day ADRs, I want no part of it. Let me plan further in advance and have a better shot at what's important to me.

 

[ghtx]

I assume people who stay at a WDW property but buy tix thru UT, SoG, MWR etc wont be able to use the bands or the FP+?

As PPs have said, this is almost definitely not true.

In fact, I just noticed yesterday that with the latest update to the MDE iPad app, you have the option of scanning your tickets' bar codes and linking them to your MDE account, which presumably would allow you to link those tickets to FP+ when it's operational.

I haven't tried scanning my tickets yet since I'm out of town, but I'm eager to see how/if it works.

 

[doconeill]

My only concern is that making it closer to the travel date will only make it into even more of a feeding frenzy. I know everyone loves to dog on 180 day ADRs. But I experienced 90 day ADRS in 2009 and couldn't WAIT to get back to 180 days. At least that way if something was really important to you (dining in the Castle, Ohana, now BOG) you have a pretty good shot of getting what you want. At 90 days it was a real crap shoot.

I've had the same experience. If you think statistically, you've got some percentage who will book at the earliest possible time, some who will do so "around then" (perhaps they counted wrong, or just aren't in as much of a hurry), then a smaller amount spread out, then probably a rise at the end ("OMG, we haven't made any ADR's yet and we leave tomorrow!").

When it was at 90 days, it is more compressed, probably with a higher percentage at the 90 day mark, because also everyone reported ("You HAVE to do it at 90 days!").

When it switched back to 180 days, it spread things out a bit more. And it no longer became necessary to do it right at 180 days, except for a couple cases.

Spreading it also made it easier on the call center.

In the case of FP+, it probably doesn't need to be that spread out (assuming Disney IT can keep up with demand better than the call center - jury is still out - way out - on that one ), but as people get a better idea of what park-what day, they'll book them.

 

[superdisneydork]

Don't forget...we have yet to see (and likely won't see until this is 100% rolled out and old FP is gone) whether pre-booked FP+ will ever "run out". We don't know what the percentage of "60-day pre-book" guests will be compared to the whole.

Disney is advertising some level of flexibility in the system. But if I get to the park, and decide my 7pm TSM FP+ isn't good for me anymore, and it is 100% booked, what chance is there I can change it?

There must be some limit, there is a limited capacity per day for a given ride, at some point, no more people can ride in a day. SUbtract out standby capacity and (hopefully) day of reservations, there must be a limit.

My only concern is that making it closer to the travel date will only make it into even more of a feeding frenzy. I know everyone loves to dog on 180 day ADRs. But I experienced 90 day ADRS in 2009 and couldn't WAIT to get back to 180 days. At least that way if something was really important to you (dining in the Castle, Ohana, now BOG) you have a pretty good shot of getting what you want. At 90 days it was a real crap shoot.

It's easy to sit and think about this new system in a vacuum, under the assumption that there will be enough TSMM fastpass for everyone to get one in the afternoon or early evening. But if it's anything like 90 day ADRs, I want no part of it. Let me plan further in advance and have a better shot at what's important to me.

I am not sure we will agree on this point, but I concede to not having experience with the 90 day ADR system, so I'll take your word on it regarding the feeding frenzy. Regardless of when pre-books start, I am still adamant that they need a block of reserved day of reservation spots, otherwise I am quite confident the big headliners will never have FP available less than a month out, let alone day of!

Matt

 

[Happy Duck]

I'm going to throw this out there because it "might" be a plausible solution. Totally on my own observations, not connected to any real info of any kind.

What if a certain number of FP for each ride were released ahead for pre-booking but a certain number were allotted for each day via the new FP kiosks that have shown up. Those allotments would function similar to the regular FP process, and you could go around and "pull" FP with your magic band throughout the day. So you could pre-book space, splash, and ETWB, and then "pull" FP for other things throughout the day. "Pulling" a FP via the kiosk would update your info in the app.

Just an idea. Is there any chance of this happening? I feel like this could be the best of both worlds. You could pre-book the headliners, and then might even be able to get more FP rides on them via the kiosks.

 

[doconeill]

There must be some limit, there is a limited capacity per day for a given ride, at some point, no more people can ride in a day. SUbtract out standby capacity and (hopefully) day of reservations, there must be a limit.

Of course there is a limit.

What I am saying is we don't know whether a critical mass of WDW guests will warm up and adopt the system such that all available FP+ will in fact be booked before the day of. And if Disney is implying some flexibility (and it isn't, "Can't make your Space Mountain time? Here is a Tiki Room slot..."), they must have some idea what the usage rate will be...

EVERYTHING here is based on assumptions right now. We can debate it round and round...but it isn't going to change until we get some REAL data, and we are a ways off from getting that.

 

[drujaz]

I don't think that can be true. Most DVCers that I know that don't have an AP get their tickets from UT. They can't exclude DVC (at least I hope they don't).

I'm a DVCer and bought my tix through Tickets At Work through my company. I had added them to the MDE site and the three RFID tix were, according to the Mobile App, associated to a Magic Band ID.

I believe it doesn't matter where you buy the tix as long as they are valid. Only time will tell though. I've still got a few months before my trip. Got the tix early to avoid the price hike...

 

[doconeill]

I'm going to throw this out there because it "might" be a plausible solution. Totally on my own observations, not connected to any real info of any kind.

What if a certain number of FP for each ride were released ahead for pre-booking but a certain number were allotted for each day via the new FP kiosks that have shown up. Those allotments would function similar to the regular FP process, and you could go around and "pull" FP with your magic band throughout the day. So you could pre-book space, splash, and ETWB, and then "pull" FP for other things throughout the day. "Pulling" a FP via the kiosk would update your info in the app.

Just an idea. Is there any chance of this happening? I feel like this could be the best of both worlds. You could pre-book the headliners, and then might even be able to get more FP rides on them via the kiosks.

That's essentially what superdisneydork was talking about.

But it seems unlikely at this point you will be able to get more than one per attraction in any given day.

 

[mom2rtk]

I am not sure we will agree on this point, but I concede to not having experience with the 90 day ADR system, so I'll take your word on it regarding the feeding frenzy. Regardless of when pre-books start, I am still adamant that they need a block of reserved day of reservation spots, otherwise I am quite confident the big headliners will never have FP available less than a month out, let alone day of!

Matt

Don't misunderstand..... I agree that there must be a block of same day slots. I just think that once they take out the prebooked block, it's going to be a lot less than any of us like. Well, maybe not for Captain EO, but you get my point. But once I miss out on prebooking TSMM, then my fight at the park to get there and get one before park closing just got harder. And yes, I am the sort to worry about that. I'm not advocating prebooking all the slots for any ride, but at least if I tried to book it and was unsuccessful, I'd know ahead of time and could swap my park days around to get one if it was important to me. But missing the prebooking, then worrying about whether I'll get one same day because the pool is now much smaller, is not my idea of fun vacation planning.

 

[superdisneydork]

Of course there is a limit.

What I am saying is we don't know whether a critical mass of WDW guests will warm up and adopt the system such that all available FP+ will in fact be booked before the day of.

My apologies, I misunderstood, and I see your point. I just think that the ADR frenzy provides a pretty compelling case for the critical mass scenario, especially since some rides (TSM, I'm looking at you) can run right out of fastpasses without missing a beat without prebooking already. I don't foresee that getting better.

Don't misunderstand..... I agree that there must be a block of same day slots. I just think that once they take out the prebooked block, it's going to be a lot less than any of us like. Well, maybe not for Captain EO, but you get my point. But once I miss out on prebooking TSMM, then my fight at the park to get there and get one before park closing just got harder. And yes, I am the sort to worry about that. I'm not advocating prebooking all the slots for any ride, but at least if I tried to book it and was unsuccessful, I'd know ahead of time and could swap my park days around to get one if it was important to me. But missing the prebooking, then worrying about whether I'll get one same day because the pool is now much smaller, is not my idea of fun vacation planning.

I think we're pretty much in total agreement there, I'm mostly afraid of this impacting travelers that don't/can't know their plans far ahead, since I fall in to that category and it seems to be the one situation nobody at Disney is willing to address even a little bit! Everything else we've gotten at least some information to play with, this is a total toss up. At least with the current system, you know what you're up against!

Matt

 

[WillAustin]

I think the worst thing would be for me to go online 30 days in advance to book some rides and all the allotted headliners are book and then I have to log in each day when they release new ones to fight for them. I definitely won't play that game.

I am pretty comfortable they won't stagger releasing available advance FP+ slots other than holding back some for same-day in-park. I'd say the safer assumption is they release all the pre-booking at 60 days or whatever number they decide. They don't stagger when ADRs become available and I wouldn't project anything different about FP+ other than there will be more available FP+ slots than ADRs.

I too wouldn't get involved in a daily fight for advance FP+ slots.

I think we're pretty much in total agreement there, I'm mostly afraid of this impacting travelers that don't/can't know their plans far ahead, since I fall in to that category and it seems to be the one situation nobody at Disney is willing to address even a little bit!

My worry is the way they address it will be to say that you still can book X number of FP+s available, but they might not be for the attractions you really wanted because you didn't do it at 60 days out.

 

[DisneyFanSince71]

Four reasons jump to mind.....

1. It will save them in costs.....but I can't figure out how?

2. It will allow them to handle premium customers...... but they could do the same thing with handing out 100 fast passes to a family if they are willing to fork over $1,000 per person per day.

3. Provide incentives for people to stay at Disney hotels, so they can preorder fast passes

4. A more equitable way of handling ride allocation then the "Wild, wild west" that they are doing it now. Patrons pay the same price shouldn't they be entitled to getting a few tickets for premium rides without putting up with RD?

Answers would be appreciated....

 

[mom2rtk]

4. A more equitable way of handling ride allocation then the "Wild, wild west" that they are doing it now. Patrons pay the same price shouldn't they be entitled to getting a few tickets for premium rides without putting up with RD?

First come, first served seems pretty equitable to me.

We just stopped at Disney for a day on our way back from the beach. I purposely planned to get there in the late afternoon to avoid the heat of the day. And yes, I missed some of the headliners. But I knew going into it that if I wanted fastpasses for all the headliners I needed to be there at rope drop. It was a choice I made. I don't begrudge the folks who were there before me. Next trip I'll go when I can handle the heat, I'll be there for rope drop, and I'll do all the headliners. Well..... unless they mess that plan up with FP+.

 

[doconeill]

Four reasons jump to mind.....

1. It will save them in costs.....but I can't figure out how?

2. It will allow them to handle premium customers...... but they could do the same thing with handing out 100 fast passes to a family if they are willing to fork over $1,000 per person per day.

3. Provide incentives for people to stay at Disney hotels, so they can preorder fast passes

4. A more equitable way of handling ride allocation then the "Wild, wild west" that they are doing it now. Patrons pay the same price shouldn't they be entitled to getting a few tickets for premium rides without putting up with RD?

Answers would be appreciated....

5) What Disney has already stated...increase spending by guests an average of 10-20%. How exactly is not entirely sure, except that they believe that guests who plan their day ahead of time will spend less time in the parks wondering what to do next, and might instead spend time shopping, eating, etc.

Of course, that's what they thought with the original Fastpass.

Making it easier for guests to spend money with less thinking (touch-to-pay available for everyone) I think is a big part of it.

 

[Robo]

Four reasons jump to mind.....

1. It will save them in costs.....but I can't figure out how?

2. It will allow them to handle premium customers...... but they could do the same thing with handing out 100 fast passes to a family if they are willing to fork over $1,000 per person per day.

3. Provide incentives for people to stay at Disney hotels, so they can preorder fast passes

4. A more equitable way of handling ride allocation then the "Wild, wild west" that they are doing it now. Patrons pay the same price shouldn't they be entitled to getting a few tickets for premium rides without putting up with RD?

Answers would be appreciated....

1- No savings involved. Quite the opposite.
(And, since so much has already been spent on this, its implementation (fair or foul) is inevitable.)

2- That's not once, not ever, been even whispered-at by Disney.

3- That's contrary to anything announced by Disney.
The FP+ system is not tied to resort stays (although "complimentary" MagicBands vs. purchased MagicBands may be an incentive.)

4- What could be more equitable than allowing all guests equal opportunity
access to available FP's?
Adding "prerequisites" (like needing to book ahead,
plan ahead, X ahead, use wifi devices, etc.) is less equitable than the current system, especially for first-time or less affluent guests.

The idea of handing guests FP's of attractions that don't need them has already been tried.
"Surprise FP's" have been distributed for less-in-demand rides/shows for years.
Rookies' eyes light up (until they realize upon reaching the ride, they've been manipulated) and
veterans scoff at the "bonus" tickets.

"Playing with" a very successful industry-leading FP plan can be very dangerous.
It's what so many of us are concerned about.

 

[DisneyFanSince71]

5) What Disney has already stated...increase spending by guests an average of 10-20%. How exactly is not entirely sure, except that they believe that guests who plan their day ahead of time will spend less time in the parks wondering what to do next, and might instead spend time shopping, eating, etc.

Of course, that's what they thought with the original Fastpass.

Making it easier for guests to spend money with less thinking (touch-to-pay available for everyone) I think is a big part of it.

When Disney came up with FP it was Brilliant; a classic win-win. For people who were at the parks, get them out of line so they can spend. But, if I can now "preorder" my fastpasses without ever being at the park, there is no reason to rush. If I have TSM at 11:40, ToT @ 2pm and RnRC @ 3:15. I might just mosey over to the park at 11am.

Now perhaps Disney wants to "pin" people down by giving them FP before and after lunch so they will have to eat there. But if that is the case, they better start building more restaurants (which they haven't).

 

[superdisneydork]

My worry is the way they address it will be to say that you still can book X number of FP+s available, but they might not be for the attractions you really wanted because you didn't do it at 60 days out.

Agreed, I am quite hesitant to book ADRs now, and I've resigned myself to not trying a lot/i] of places that look good because I just can't commit 180 days. I don't even know if/when I can swing a vacation at work with that kind of plan ahead time. Last year I managed to score several ADRs, but I was going in September, wasn't trying any place popular, and still had to settle for whatever I could get. I ended up rushing all over the place trying to make my schedule fit my ADRs and it was just frustrating. Now they want to do this to my ride experience in the name of improvement, and I'm not sold. I am hopeful that the rides having inherently higher per day capacities mean they won't be as bogged down as the restaurants and day of reservations are not unheard of.

I would be content, even tickled if I could wake up early on a morning I wanted DHS, whip out my phone and grab some TSM passes in my Darth Vader pajamas, and then get ready for my day, knowing that I don't have to bumrush the park to ride it. THAT would be a significant improvement.

Matt