Here now, and here is the problem

[Shaden]

I buy it for the commentary, whether I agree or not with every part.

I can read glossy, sugary descriptions for free on the WDW official site, which has its place too.

Are we talking about the unofficial guide from Touring Plan ??? If so, I might buy it, this commentary sounds interesting.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

I keep hearing that FP return lines are much longer than people are used to, I just don't understand HOW !?!?! This is one of the things that I would figure this system would be advantageous for. Instead of someone having to actually read your return time, just swipe and walk in ? Should be faster right ? Therefore should speed up the process ??? Or have they increased the number of FP riders on rides ???

I think some of the trouble is with paper FPs, CMs would be able to take your whole party's ticket at one time. With the bands every person has to scan. I could see how this my back up the line a bit on a busy day.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Are we talking about the unofficial guide from Touring Plan ??? If so, I might buy it, this commentary sounds interesting.

Yep. The section isn't that long, so I'm not sure you want to buy it just for that, but it is interesting.

 

[clsteve]

I think some of the trouble is with paper FPs, CMs would be able to take your whole party's ticket at one time. With the bands every person has to scan. I could see how this my back up the line a bit on a busy day.

Absolutely- Plus , they now have to resolve the dreaded "Blue Mickey"...

 

[PrincessV]

Funny - I just read this after writing a rambling blog post about my experience at Mk yesterday! Feel free to click on through, but I surmised the same thing: the entire park dynamic is changing.

To be fair, I didn't see or experience long FP return waits; that seemed to be working well. But the standby waits on slow-loading rides were crazy for what should have been a medium-slow day! As as semi-local, I'd hoped FP+ might enable us to arrive later and still get to the attractions we want to experience... but I think the RD approach still beats that for shorter wait times.

What I couldn't figure at all was how WDW thinks all of this waiting around in long standby lines will make them more money... but I'm coming around to a thought - what if the bottom line increase isn't about making more, but about saving money? FP+ restricted to 3 or 4 attractions decreases guest expectations, so WDW can put fewer CMs on the clock, not spend money updating older rides, cut back on upkeep? I saw all of that yesterday - inadequate staffing, rides in need of maintenance (I'm talking to you, non-operating conveyor belt at the People Mover) and resorts looking more worn than ever (hello dust and cobwebs all over the WL).

 

[ArwenMarie]

I keep hearing that FP return lines are much longer than people are used to, I just don't understand HOW !?!?! This is one of the things that I would figure this system would be advantageous for. Instead of someone having to actually read your return time, just swipe and walk in ? Should be faster right ? Therefore should speed up the process ??? Or have they increased the number of FP riders on rides ???

I think it might be because sometimes they weren't really reading them that carefully. I know someone who did a lot of FP cheating by changing them up at the second checkpoint or even putting old ones underneath one good one, that kind of thing.

 

[Colleen27]

I keep hearing that FP return lines are much longer than people are used to, I just don't understand HOW !?!?! This is one of the things that I would figure this system would be advantageous for. Instead of someone having to actually read your return time, just swipe and walk in ? Should be faster right ? Therefore should speed up the process ??? Or have they increased the number of FP riders on rides ???

There's a number of factors there. First, there is anecdotal evidence that they've been playing with the FP/standby balance for a while in anticipation of this roll out, so there might in fact be more FP riders than in the past. This, to me, seems increasingly likely as Disney barrels along towards full implementation simply because more and more FP capacity will be needed to accommodate increasing numbers of guests booking in advance.

Second, paper tickets were seldom really checked - the CM glanced at the top ticket and collected the stack for whole parties at a time. The new system forces each individual to be checked, which has its pros and cons. It should (if the system works, without so many blue-Mickeys that people who may or may not actually have FP+ reservations get waved through) cut down on cheating - I've heard from more than one source the "tip" to put a valid FP atop a stack of expired or pointless FP slips to get past the check. But checking every individual will certainly be slower than checking one slip for a party of 4-5.

And finally, the entire MM+ system is wireless so the communication process between the reader and the authentication system is subject to bottlenecks and interruptions. We all know Disney's track record on IT infrastructure, and I'm sure most of us have experience with what passes for wi-fi service in the parks and resorts - sometimes it works fine, and other times it moves at a snail's pace or won't let you connect at all. Is it really a surprise that their internal wireless network would be equally problematic?

 

[kmarie99]

Funny - I just read this after writing a rambling blog post about my experience at Mk yesterday! Feel free to click on through, but I surmised the same thing: the entire park dynamic is changing.

To be fair, I didn't see or experience long FP return waits; that seemed to be working well. But the standby waits on slow-loading rides were crazy for what should have been a medium-slow day! As as semi-local, I'd hoped FP+ might enable us to arrive later and still get to the attractions we want to experience... but I think the RD approach still beats that for shorter wait times.

What I couldn't figure at all was how WDW thinks all of this waiting around in long standby lines will make them more money... but I'm coming around to a thought - what if the bottom line increase isn't about making more, but about saving money? FP+ restricted to 3 or 4 attractions decreases guest expectations, so WDW can put fewer CMs on the clock, not spend money updating older rides, cut back on upkeep? I saw all of that yesterday - inadequate staffing, rides in need of maintenance (I'm talking to you, non-operating conveyor belt at the People Mover) and resorts looking more worn than ever (hello dust and cobwebs all over the WL).

This ride is closed for referb in Feb, probably to fix things like this.

 

[Mkrop]

DH just got off the phone with his boss, he went over Thanksgiving, stayed offsite, had never heard of magic bands. This is his 3rd time going, he knows the parks. He has a 3 and 5 year old. I dont know what day they went, but they arrived at AK at opening, stopped and took picture in front of tree, and then headed over to KS, all the FPs were gone for the day, and the wait said over an hour already, and it went up to 2 hours and stayed there for the rest of the day. They never got to ride it.

 

[Sunday at 7]

I can't help but wonder what will happen when all on site resorts are on line and the tour groups start booking their fast passes in advance. That will be pretty sizable blocks of time. On the other hand, it will force them to plan ahead or be left with whatever is available.

 

[Don Disney]

I'm seriously debating cancelling our trip....too much uncertainty...FP + this,Magic Band that,stand-by line this,FP - that...I am getting a bit frustrated....don't know if I want to drop serious bucks for the great"unknown".

 

[Missyrose]

There's a number of factors there. First, there is anecdotal evidence that they've been playing with the FP/standby balance for a while in anticipation of this roll out, so there might in fact be more FP riders than in the past. This, to me, seems increasingly likely as Disney barrels along towards full implementation simply because more and more FP capacity will be needed to accommodate increasing numbers of guests booking in advance.

Second, paper tickets were seldom really checked - the CM glanced at the top ticket and collected the stack for whole parties at a time. The new system forces each individual to be checked, which has its pros and cons. It should (if the system works, without so many blue-Mickeys that people who may or may not actually have FP+ reservations get waved through) cut down on cheating - I've heard from more than one source the "tip" to put a valid FP atop a stack of expired or pointless FP slips to get past the check. But checking every individual will certainly be slower than checking one slip for a party of 4-5.

And finally, the entire MM+ system is wireless so the communication process between the reader and the authentication system is subject to bottlenecks and interruptions. We all know Disney's track record on IT infrastructure, and I'm sure most of us have experience with what passes for wi-fi service in the parks and resorts - sometimes it works fine, and other times it moves at a snail's pace or won't let you connect at all. Is it really a surprise that their internal wireless network would be equally problematic?

Just an FYI, the wireless network they are using for the CMs' iPads is a different network that the public uses.

 

[BenbowInn]

I haven't had too much discussion on the fastpass + thing, but we are in the parks this week (first off site visit...will never stay on site again by the way!!!). Here are some random
Thoughts, FWIW. One thing I noticed yesterday at Splash Mountain was people returning with their fastpass+ times around noon and the ride was a walk on at that point. I would be very upset if I schedule a ride 60 days in advance only to get there and have no need for the fastpass to begin with. Meanwhile Big Thunder was around a 30-40 min wait at that time, so we rode Splash 4 times in a row as a walk on and then Big Thunder with a fastpass we pulled.

Scheduling FP+ months in advance seems like an even worse idea to me now, as there's no way to tell what the wait time is going to be at any given time.

Here's our ride list from Sunday December 1st (9am-6pm with a 1 hour and 45 min break for lunch, and another 30 min Starbucks break later on).

Splash Mountain-4 times
Peter Pan (fastpass)
Monsters Inc
Big Thunder (fastpass)
People mover
Buzz Lightyear (fastpass)
Tomorrowland Speedway
It's a small world
Tea cups
Ariel's grotto
Under the sea-2 times
Astro Orbitor
Philarmagic
Regal carousel
Pirates of the Caribbean-2 times
Railroad

I honestly wouldn't bother going if I couldn't get that many rides in. We didn't think we would like staying off site as much but we all agree we will never stay at a Disney Resort again. We are having an awesome time in a huge condo for less that $700 for 9 nights. No matter what Disney offers, they can't beat that (I type this as I soak in the jacuzzi tub after a long day of waking in the parks...that is more magical than anything Disney can offer

Oh yeah, getting into the parks takes us like 5 seconds total with our plastic tickets. Meanwhile the magic bands hold up the line. Like this morning we were first in one line at opening. We got right in and I glanced back and the people on both sides of us were still trying to get their magic bands to work. The same with fastpass return, CMs take all three of our paper fastpasses in a second while the people with magic bands takes 2-5 seconds each. Time saver?? Not really since this is the first time I've seen the fastpass line entrances backed up as much as 25-30 people deep because people are trying to line up the Mickey heads on their magic bands. I've seen multiple cast members look pretty annoyed trying to walk people through lining up the magic bands correctly. In fact, come to think of it, the CMs at the FP returns are not very friendly so far this trip, and I have never ran into anyone less than pleasant during previous trips. There definitely is some noticeable frustration there that I'm seeing in CMs.

Every FP return was backed up a bit so far this trip and we were trying to think and can't remember that ever happening before in any of our previous trips.

So that's my thoughts based on observations I've made these past few days. I for one am thankful we do not have magic bands this trip!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

IOne thing I noticed yesterday at Splash Mountain was people returning with their fastpass+ times around noon and the ride was a walk on at that point. I would be very upset if I schedule a ride 60 days in advance only to get there and have no need for the fastpass to begin with.

I'd be thrilled, and I'd change my FP+ reservation to something else.

 

[BenbowInn]

I'd be thrilled, and I'd change my FP+ reservation to something else.

Unless all the fast passes are taken already or only available during a time that would not work for you.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Unless all the fast passes are taken already or only available during a time that would not work for you.

Point taken, but there are SUPPOSED to be plenty of FP+ reservations around for last minute changes.

 

[mesaboy2]

Point taken, but there are SUPPOSED to be plenty of FP+ reservations around for last minute changes.

This is a crucial, if not THE crucial, element of FP+ that to me could mean the difference between whether this system can work at all or if it's a big steaming pile. And just for fun, it's really difficult to determine at the moment what the final answer will ultimately be.

 

[wn01aa]

This is a crucial, if not THE crucial, element of FP+ that to me could mean the difference between whether this system can work at all or if it's a big steaming pile. And just for fun, it's really difficult to determine at the moment what the final answer will ultimately be.

Totally Agree. The success of the system will be if you are actually able to make last minute changes (and not during slow times). If you walk to Splash with a FP+ but there is no wait and want to switch, a successful system will have availability that lets you switch. If not, it is a waste of a FP+ if there is no other times or rides and would show the system as not that flexible afterall.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Point taken, but there are SUPPOSED to be plenty of FP+ reservations around for last minute changes.

Really? Where did you read that? The FAQs are loaded with the words standby and "still available."

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Really? Where did you read that? The FAQs are loaded with the words standby and "still available."

Not sure where I read it, but it wouldn't make sense otherwise. There are plenty of locals who get up in the morning and decide to go to the parks. They should be entitled to FP+ too.