Guest Test of Magic Bands (Official Notice)

[doconeill]

This remains to be seen, but there is no math that would convince me they won't be at least as long. Attractions that I expect to be most affected include mid-tiers such as Pirates, Mansion, and Small World to name a few. I must say I am surprised by your answer.

I did forget to add, "One possibility..." - I meant to say it, just forgot.

Yes, the two that immediately stood out for me were Pirates and Mansion as likely second-tier selections. Neither has lines like they used to on a regular basis...maybe they mean "compared to the 90s."

I bet they won't often be on the suggested list though...

The standby lines may go faster, but there will be a lot more people in them...

Yes, but I still think the total wait time will be shorter as I do not believe there will be a linear increase. I did an analysis (the one where I broke guests down into groups like "duplicates", "one-and-dones", etc. - if you haven't seen it I can repost it.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

The newly released FAQ on the Disney Website always say..."Up To 4". The Terms and Conditions say that FP+ will be available based on time of year, day of week, experience, prior demand etc.

SEE!!!!

They are going to be flexible. Their testing has already shown they can do 4 instead of 3, and the "up to 4" is your choice. 4 Will be the minimum ahead of time. But then they are going to be FLEXIBLE based on

TIME OF YEAR
DAY OF WEEK
EXPERIENCE
PRIOR DEMAND
ETC.

And will probably allow an unknown amount above 4. They are straigt out telling us they plan to be flexible and adjust the system based on what we do. The FP world is not ending after all.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/fast-pass-plus/fast-pass-plus-impact-on-lines/ says:

Q. Will FastPass+ service make the attraction standby lines longer?

A. We do not anticipate that the attraction standby queues will be any longer than they were before FastPass+ service.

I'm sorry Disney, but that's just an outright lie. You can let extra people in, prioritising them in the front of the existing line, without making the existing line go more slowly. Anyone with slightest grasp of crowd handling would know this, and it would dismay me even more if I thought that Disney had so little understanding of their own crowd dynamics.

I don't mind them bending the truth a little to suit their need to make the system more appealing, but when they start telling full-blown lies it annoys me.

Andre

I coud not disagree more! Their research and testing must suggest this. Might they be wrong? Of course. I don't think so. They have access to all kinds of information we do not. To say the are lying and that it is an "outright," "fullblown" lie, is a bit much.

Many more rides will have FP and there are people who love some of those rides. I think, and I bet their research suggests, that people will want to use FP's for parades and fireworks, AND character greets especially!

Some people get lots of FP's now and many people use the FP system now but only get a few. I think more people will use FPs for more things, the lines will not be any longer than they are now with the current FP system.

And remember how the information they collect will allow them to recover more unused FP's and adjust the system on the fly. Disney will adjust the number of FP's according to many variable to ensure they give out plenty, but don't cause the lines to get worse. Flexibility again.

Will the power user 10+ FPs in a day possibly get less? Yes. Thus is life. Adjust your planning and work out new approaches.

I'm hopeful that those of us who go at the lightest crowd times will get lots of FP's.

 

[vinotinto]

Note that "up to four" means they could just offer two most of the time.

I know I am preaching to the choir, but I just can't imagine doing WDW with only 2 or 3 FP per day, especially if you cannot double-up on headliners. We are RD people. We get up early, send DH (Marathon runner) as FP runner and use 5-6 FPs per day. At DHS, we would use 4-6 headliner FPs, including 2 TSMM.

The idea of standby, even if it's a little faster than standby now, is just unappealing. Maybe those that grew up with family vacations doing standby lines will remember nostalgically and will enjoy Disney even with lines. However, I discovered Disney as an adult and I have no nostalgia associate with lines.

 

[mom2rtk]

I actually do think it's possible the standby lines won't be any longer. I think it's entirely possible people will just do their FP+ rides and leave the park. Remember, in the midst of all this they are pretty much limiting FP access for headliners to one per band.

The real question is whether people will be happy with this limitation positioned as an enhancement.

 

[mom2rtk]

Maybe those that grew up with family vacations doing standby lines will remember nostalgically and will enjoy Disney even with lines.

I grew up in a home with no air conditioning. Yet oddly enough I have absolutely no nostalgia for hanging out anywhere without it these days.

I will have the same issue as you with the FP limitations. I just don't know what that means for our future with Disney. I won't go somewhere I don't feel I'm getting a good value. I'm sure I will still enjoy shorter days in the parks with fewer trips through our favorite attractions. But I will be looking at it in terms of what we paid to be there. And if I don't feel I got value, I will not feel good about it.

We're doing DLR this year so no WDW on the horizon for us until maybe December 2014. All I can do is watch and wait. And see how this pans out before we decide how this pans our for our future with Disney.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

I also think that there may be several reasons why FP+ prior planning does not allow multiple parks. Disney is going to encourage many people to use FP. Planning for multiple FP in multiple parks is ver problematic with transportation and timing issues that many would not understand. Many people would improperly time their FP's.

It is much simplier, to allow FP's in one park so people won't be mad they cannot get to the ride they reserved.

This still allows a good experience at a minimum of 2 parks with rope drop rides ALWAYS available. Even three parks with just before closing rides generally available. And then, based on the "on the fly" adjustments, there could be FP's available at any park unless capacity is particularly high. It is only fair to allow people planning on being in a park to have availability of FP before commando hoppers.

 

[doggydoc]

The newly released FAQ on the Disney Website always say..."Up To 4". The Terms and Conditions say that FP+ will be available based on time of year, day of week, experience, prior demand etc.

SEE!!!!

They are going to be flexible. Their testing has already shown they can do 4 instead of 3, and the "up to 4" is your choice. 4 Will be the minimum ahead of time.

How do you possibly get 4 asa minimum when it clearly states "up to 4"?

4 is obviously the MAXIMUM.

 

[bjakmom]

I raised my grown kids going to Disney and I have NO nostalgia for the standby lines! I only go as frequently as I do now because of the FP system and how well it works for us to still have an enjoyable vacation at a very crowded destination. I have never had a trip where one or more of the kids or grands had a ride they fell in love with or could just do for the first time and wanted to do multiple times. DGrD9 and I have done Star Tours countless times in our last trips - alternating between FP and SB - mostly FP. DGrD2 last trip wanted Small World ad nauseum LOL.
I will be sad to loose that option. We'll see...
Fortunately our Nov trip includes only 1 possibly 2 park days.

 

[tony609]

I grew up in a home with no air conditioning. Yet oddly enough I have absolutely no nostalgia for hanging out anywhere without it these days.

BEST LAUGH EVER!!!! I can relate so true so true........Such a good note to go to work on. THANKS!!!

 

[buzzrelly]

It is only fair to allow people planning on being in a park to have availability of FP before commando hoppers.

How is this the "only fair" thing to do? We pay a lot of money for the option to hop from park to park.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

How do you possibly get 4 asa minimum when it clearly states "up to 4"?

4 is obviously the MAXIMUM.

You can reserve up to 4. You don't have to reserve 4. That is the upper limit. They can add more based on the other variables, either to reserve but probably same-day. They would not say 4 and then not give it to you. 4 is far less than some people get now. They are not going to limit people to 2. I suppose if things got bad they could go back to 3, but I don't think that is what they mean, either. Also, this is talking about reserving ahead of time. We don't know what they might do same-day. The old system will go away, but the ability to give out FP+'s same day remains a possibility.

 

[pilferk]

I also think that there may be several reasons why FP+ prior planning does not allow multiple parks. Disney is going to encourage many people to use FP. Planning for multiple FP in multiple parks is ver problematic with transportation and timing issues that many would not understand. Many people would improperly time their FP's.

It is much simplier, to allow FP's in one park so people won't be mad they cannot get to the ride they reserved.

This still allows a good experience at a minimum of 2 parks with rope drop rides ALWAYS available. Even three parks with just before closing rides generally available. And then, based on the "on the fly" adjustments, there could be FP's available at any park unless capacity is particularly high. It is only fair to allow people planning on being in a park to have availability of FP before commando hoppers.

This isn't about guest ability to plan. Or, really, even "enhancing"guest experience..though they will try to sell that to the guests.

It's about efficiency planning FOR DISNEY...staffing, ordering, etc and realizing the monetary savings from them.

This limits park hopping, and gives Disney an easy way to predict crowds, down to a very reliable number, in a particular park on a particular day, pretty far in advance.

That's why they are rolling out the system. Anything else you hear is pr speak and lip service.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

OK, reading it again, I could be wroooo. I could be wrooo. I might not be right. It could be read both ways. I still don't think they would limit it to 2, but possibly if everyone uses it on July 4th they may limit to the original 3 in advance.

 

[mom2rtk]

This isn't about guest ability to plan. Or, really, even "enhancing"guest experience..though they will try to sell that to the guests.

It's about efficiency planning FOR DISNEY...staffing, ordering, etc and realizing the monetary savings from them.

This limits park hopping, and gives Disney an easy way to predict crowds, down to a very reliable number, in a particular park on a particular day, pretty far in advance.

That's why they are rolling out the system. Anything else you hear is pr speak and lip service.

Yep. I totally agree. Which is why I'd be shocked to see them cave on the park hopping part of this. They have made a decision that they can save more locking people into park choices 60 days out than they will lose in hopping fees.

So once this gets going, if you visit the less busy park for the day, will the lines now be longer because they reduced staff in anticipation of a slower day?

 

[Marie17]

The newly released FAQ on the Disney Website always say..."Up To 4". The Terms and Conditions say that FP+ will be available based on time of year, day of week, experience, prior demand etc.

SEE!!!!

They are going to be flexible. Their testing has already shown they can do 4 instead of 3, and the "up to 4" is your choice. 4 Will be the minimum ahead of time. But then they are going to be FLEXIBLE based on

TIME OF YEAR
DAY OF WEEK
EXPERIENCE
PRIOR DEMAND
ETC.

I'm hopeful that those of us who go at the lightest crowd times will get lots of FP's.

Since they put all those "extra" words into the definition I am starting to wonder if the "up to 4" is to make guests feel better about being hopeful that the rides will be available to FP+. You may just be able to book the "up to 4" when it is during the slowest times of the year and during the BUSIEST seasons who knows how many you can pre-books.

In no way shape or form do I see the "up to 4" as the minimum. It seems to be upper limit.

The "up to 4" seems like it could also be a veiled tiering system without actually promoting they are trying to give more perks to those that book deluxe resorts. Maybe if your WDW "experience" is booked at a value resort your FP+ booking availability is really "2" but if not enough "deluxe" resorts are booked at 47 days out they may give you some "Magic" and have 2 more FP+ spots become available so you feel like you are given a little bit more from Disney and not cancel your reservation at 45 days without penalty.

 

[pilferk]

Yep. I totally agree. Which is why I'd be shocked to see them cave on the park hopping part of this. They have made a decision that they can save more locking people into park choices 60 days out than they will lose in hopping fees.

So once this gets going, if you visit the less busy park for the day, will the lines now be longer because they reduced staff in anticipation of a slower day?

This is the way they have decided to manage the operations of the parks. It started with the advent if the ddp. And, from lokking at how that program has evolved, and other operational changes they have made subsequently, you can infer that that bent has worked quite well from a revenue enhancement model. This is the next logical step.

Even if it is less busy at a particular park...they will know generally HOW busy it will be, and staff accordingly. I don't think, once they hit their stride with this, you will see under staffing. But they will not see over staffing..because they won't guess wrong as often.

Keep in mind they will also be able to adjust capacity, in those rides that allow it, based on their information. That allows both a cost savings in terms of staffing, equipment use, etc...and an increased opportunity for maintenance, since the equipment not being used can be worked on.

There are literally hundreds of efficiencies you can see them realizing by doing this.

 

[mom2rtk]

This is the way they have decided to manage the operations of the parks. It started with the advent if the ddp. And, from lokking at how that program has evolved, and other operational changes they have made subsequently, you can infer that that bent has worked quite well from a revenue enhancement model. This is the next logical step.

Even if it is less busy at a particular park...they will know generally HOW busy it will be, and staff accordingly. I don't think, once they hit their stride with this, you will see under staffing. But they will not see over staffing..because they won't guess wrong as often.

Keep in mind they will also be able to adjust capacity, in those rides that allow it, based on their information. That allows both a cost savings in terms of staffing, equipment use, etc...and an increased opportunity for maintenance, since the equipment not being used can be worked on.

There are literally hundreds of efficiencies you can see them realizing by doing this.

..... all it takes is asking your guests to give up any semblance of spontaneity on their expensive vacations.

 

[Chubby]

Yep. I totally agree. Which is why I'd be shocked to see them cave on the park hopping part of this. They have made a decision that they can save more locking people into park choices 60 days out than they will lose in hopping fees.

So once this gets going, if you visit the less busy park for the day, will the lines now be longer because they reduced staff in anticipation of a slower day?

They won't lose out my my hopper fees.

Get to park at rope drop, have my FP+ at 2nd park I plan to hop to. Best of both worlds.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

They won't lose out my my hopper fees.

Get to park at rope drop, have my FP+ at 2nd park I plan to hop to. Best of both worlds.

On a day with EMH evening hours at MK:

Park 1: Rope drop Epcot and ride everything I want to ride, early lunch at a World Pavilion.
Park 2: All afternoon at DHS with 4 FP+'s to ride.
Park 3: MK for evening and ride what I want to ride for the last hour or two before closing.

 

[WillAustin]

Get to park at rope drop, have my FP+ at 2nd park I plan to hop to. Best of both worlds.

You, and everyone else. Later FP+ slots for headliners will be the difficult ones to get. I'd expect most of them to be booked at 60 days out once the system is in full swing.