Guest Test of Magic Bands (Official Notice)

[ghtx]

I think that there would HAVE TO be a way for AP voucher holders to make their selections with the 60-day window. Otherwise, they would be shut out completely until they get to WDW and exchange their vouchers for tickets. Makes no sense.

Agreed.

 

[DVCBELLE]

I have searched and can't find the dates or resorts for August. But it seems like a pretty widespread test and not being a part of it could really affect our wait times and then not being a part of it is really annoying.

I am at BWV in DVC and know I am not testing but I have to admit - a widespread test is very irritating to me...What is this going to do to the standby lines when other people have access to FP+ and we do not...

if they can only get 3 FP+ and we can use the regular system...it might be ok b/c it will be spread out across all the rides and probably not affect regular FP rides...it will be the non FP rides that might be upsetting. What will really stink is if they get FP+ AND regular FP....

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Saw a picture on line today they have started construction on a bunch and they are now blocked off..

They were blocked off last week.

 

[squirrel4569]

I have searched and can't find the dates or resorts for August. But it seems like a pretty widespread test and not being a part of it could really affect our wait times and then not being a part of it is really annoying.

I am at BWV in DVC and know I am not testing but I have to admit - a widespread test is very irritating to me...What is this going to do to the standby lines when other people have access to FP+ and we do not...

if they can only get 3 FP+ and we can use the regular system...it might be ok b/c it will be spread out across all the rides and probably not affect regular FP rides...it will be the non FP rides that might be upsetting. What will really stink is if they get FP+ AND regular FP....

August 2nd to August 27th for guests staying at YC, CR, AKL and Pop. No word yet if they will have access to both systems.

 

[MYD714]

August 2nd to August 27th for guests staying at YC, CR, AKL and Pop. No word yet if they will have access to both systems.

If I was told correctly, the IT person told me that I would be able to access the old fast pass if once I used all my FP+ for the day or if I choose to cancel my FP+ for the day.

Again, that's if I was told correctly. I'm hoping it's accurate because it was partly what got me to do the testing.

 

[mom2rtk]

I have searched and can't find the dates or resorts for August. But it seems like a pretty widespread test and not being a part of it could really affect our wait times and then not being a part of it is really annoying.

I am at BWV in DVC and know I am not testing but I have to admit - a widespread test is very irritating to me...What is this going to do to the standby lines when other people have access to FP+ and we do not...

if they can only get 3 FP+ and we can use the regular system...it might be ok b/c it will be spread out across all the rides and probably not affect regular FP rides...it will be the non FP rides that might be upsetting. What will really stink is if they get FP+ AND regular FP....

If what others have been told is correct, testers will be able to use FP- once they have used their FP+ for the day. That sort of makes me wonder if that's how it will be when it finally rolls out for everyone. Of course, when it's just a test, there will be far more FPs left than there would be once FP+ is rolled out for everyone. If that's how it will work, it makes time slots early in the day far more appealing. But who wants to take a 9 AM FP without knowing if there will be anything decent left to get after you redeem it? It's sort of like playing FP roulette.

 

[d1gitman]

If what others have been told is correct, testers will be able to use FP- once they have used their FP+ for the day. That sort of makes me wonder if that's how it will be when it finally rolls out for everyone. Of course, when it's just a test, there will be far more FPs left than there would be once FP+ is rolled out for everyone. If that's how it will work, it makes time slots early in the day far more appealing. But who wants to take a 9 AM FP without knowing if there will be anything decent left to get after you redeem it? It's sort of like playing FP roulette.

This would be an interesting twist if they tried that on the full roll out...on one hand it gives people the regular FP ability upon usage of the FP+. on the other hand, it may cause more to use their FP+ early (when it would likely be less needed to use in the first place) in order to get to the coveted "freedom" of FP-.

 

[ghtx]

This would be an interesting twist if they tried that on the full roll out...on one hand it gives people the regular FP ability upon usage of the FP+. on the other hand, it may cause more to use their FP+ early (when it would likely be less needed to use in the first place) in order to get to the coveted "freedom" of FP-.

But most likely on the full rollout, FP- will be completely gone. Maybe what will happen is after you use your 3 pre-booked FP+s, then you will be able to book more same-day FP+s with your smartphone. Still, that would give an advantage to those choosing early FP+s (although they are disadvantaged by pre-booking FP+s during their least-valuable time).

 

[mom2rtk]

This would be an interesting twist if they tried that on the full roll out...on one hand it gives people the regular FP ability upon usage of the FP+. on the other hand, it may cause more to use their FP+ early (when it would likely be less needed to use in the first place) in order to get to the coveted "freedom" of FP-.

Yep. I think WillAustin said he was weighing the option of a 9 AM FP+ slot so he could get another one sooner. I'm still wondering if they will let everyone have just 3 SLOTS at once. So maybe as you use one you could pick up another. Which explains why they added the 4th one to the MK as a "bonus" fastpass. You still couldn't be carrying more than 3 at once, but were able to get a 4th as a true "bonus".

It sure would be an interesting wrinkle. All those folks who were going to hit rope drop then use FP+ at their second park might change their approach. Maybe schedule rope drop FPs then head for the second park to use FP-. That would be a great approach now for the test, but who knows if there would be enough inventory for that to be advisable once it rolls out for everyone.

 

[d1gitman]

...who knows if there would be enough inventory for that to be advisable once it rolls out for everyone.

one thing i think nobody knows (except Disney brass & IT - i hope) is whether or not the FP+ prebookings and FP- (or sameday FP+ when rolled out) will be from a single pool of availability or if prebookings will come from one pool and same days from another.

 

[mom2rtk]

one thing i think nobody knows (except Disney brass & IT - i hope) is whether or not the FP+ prebookings and FP- (or sameday FP+ when rolled out) will be from a single pool of availability or if prebookings will come from one pool and same days from another.

I agree we have no idea. But I still think it will all be one pool. Just too much room for anger when people try day after day for a pre-booking then find out others who didn't even try to pre-book are getting them in the park.

And the tone in the FAQ just makes me think so as well. It certainly was not specific about it, but that's just the way it read to me.

 

[ghtx]

I agree we have no idea. But I still think it will all be one pool. Just too much room for anger when people try day after day for a pre-booking then find out others who didn't even try to pre-book are getting them in the park.

I think so too. I think for headliners, that means there will be no same-day FP+s available. But you should still be able to get one for Carousel of Progress.

 

[WillAustin]

I agree we have no idea. But I still think it will all be one pool. Just too much room for anger when people try day after day for a pre-booking then find out others who didn't even try to pre-book are getting them in the park.

And the tone in the FAQ just makes me think so as well. It certainly was not specific about it, but that's just the way it read to me.

I'd expect one pool that they can dynamically allocate to either one.

 

[d1gitman]

I think so too. I think for headliners, that means there will be no same-day FP+s available. But you should still be able to get one for Carousel of Progress.

I'm hoping (big hope) that monitoring wait times on MDE/X will be the real bonus. I would hope that MDE/X would have the most up to date and accurate wait times and thus allowing the ability to maximize # of attractions more efficiently. I envision using Fast Pass+ as anchor points in our day and then hopping in to whatever shorter lines are open per MDE/X. To date we have found wait time apps to be unpredictable with regards to reliability.

 

[Robo]

I think so too. I think for headliners, that means there will be no same-day FP+s available.


But you should still be able to get one for Carousel of Progress.

AKA "Carousel of Last Resort"

 

[ghtx]

I'm hoping (big hope) that monitoring wait times on MDE/X will be the real bonus. I would hope that MDE/X would have the most up to date and accurate wait times and thus allowing the ability to maximize # of attractions more efficiently. I envision using Fast Pass+ as anchor points in our day and then hopping in to whatever shorter lines are open per MDE/X. To date we have found wait time apps to be unpredictable with regards to reliability.

FYI You can already monitor wait times on MDE, even without FP+.

You can also monitor wait times on touring plans's Lines app ($), which lists both the officially posted wait times and their estimates of wait times, which supposedly are better than the official ones.

 

[rastuso]

I want notified, I just kept looking, knowing from Dis that YC was in the testing group in August. But I don't have a package, I have Room Only res. so maybe that's why?



I am an AP holder. I know for sure the FP+ is tied to ticket because my AP expires mid way thru our trip, and we can't make any FP+ selections past our AP exp. I phoned, to ask if I renewed now ( instead of waiting till I got there) if I'd be able to continue with our selections, they said no. I'd have to wait till my renewed AP was activated.


I have an iPad and can get the new website on that with the MDE. Don't know why it only works with my iPad or iPhone. I also have the app. I made all my FP+ selections on the app.

This is very troubling. They still haven't been clear what tickets will be able to be registered in advance. I still get the feeling if you are offsite, and buying tickets when you get there, you are out of luck. But if you are onsite, and buying tickets when you get there, you get 60+10.

Gonna be interesting

 

[doconeill]

This is very troubling. They still haven't been clear what tickets will be able to be registered in advance. I still get the feeling if you are offsite, and buying tickets when you get there, you are out of luck. But if you are onsite, and buying tickets when you get there, you get 60+10.

Gonna be interesting

Was there confirmation from someone without any tickets linked but a reservation that they were able to make FP+ selections at all? I haven't seen that...but I saw where someone couldn't make selections until they linked their tickets (which they had).

And we still don't have anything to say there is a +10.

 

[d1gitman]

FYI You can already monitor wait times on MDE, even without FP+. Yes but our last trip in March, access to MDE was not working well in the parks at all...maybe they have improved that since then?

You can also monitor wait times on touring plans's Lines app ($), which lists both the officially posted wait times and their estimates of wait times, which supposedly are better than the official ones. I had 4 other 3rd party apps on my iPhone and found them to be unreliable for acurrate wait times

the thought is that when FP+ goes live, maybe the wait time part will become more accurate, maybe due to how the info is tracked? dunno, just hoping.

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

AKA "Carousel of Last Resort"

hee hee