Here now, and here is the problem

[Colleen27]

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

I assumed that - most businesses that offer wi-fi do the same, even your local McDs. The public network isn't the same network employees access. However, the challenges are largely the same for the public and private networks at Disney. Both are attempting to cover a massive area and provide service to an extremely large number of devices simultaneously. It would be easier to make my whole town a wi-fi hotspot than to do what they're attempting with MyMagic+, and for that reason alone I really expected to see wired connections for the fixed-location infrastructure like FP+ readers in order to provide more straightforward, more dependable service to those points that don't need the flexibility of wireless access.

 

[morethananyonex]

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.

I completely agree.

My biggest complaint about FP+ is having to decide 60 days before we're even in Florida which park we're going to be in and what (and when) we want to ride. If we can reserve those, but change them day of if we feel like hanging out by the pool, going to a different park, riding a different ride then this system will be pretty good. Still not better than FP- with the tiering, ride limit, and lack of park hopping but definitely manageable.

 

[Shaden]

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.

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.

Simply put, you wont be able to switch, not to anything you care about or would need to book an FP for.

I haven't read ANYTHING about there being reserved same day / switching FP+s for this purpose, and I have read EVERYTHING I can get my hands on. People have run the numbers on this, what the capacity of each ride is, how many FPs could be issued, how many people in the parks, even with 1 upper tier and 2 lower tier ... the numbers simply don't work out, even if they had 100% capacity dedicated to FP+. The Headliner rides could/would be booked all day. Once 100% of people are on FP+, unless crowds are extremely low, in which case you prob don't need the FP anyway, you aren't going to be switching your FP+ mid day for another attraction that you actually want/need FP for.

 

[mesaboy2]

Simply put, you wont be able to switch, not to anything you care about or would need to book an FP for.

I haven't read ANYTHING about there being reserved same day / switching FP+s for this purpose, and I have read EVERYTHING I can get my hands on. People have run the numbers on this, what the capacity of each ride is, how many FPs could be issued, how many people in the parks, even with 1 upper tier and 2 lower tier ... the numbers simply don't work out, even if they had 100% capacity dedicated to FP+. The Headliner rides could/would be booked all day. Once 100% of people are on FP+, unless crowds are extremely low, in which case you prob don't need the FP anyway, you aren't going to be switching your FP+ mid day for another attraction that you actually want/need FP for.

I am skeptical to be sure, but I just don't think you can put much stock in all the math since so much of it is based on assumptions. There's also the wildcard of human behavior, which is difficult to predict on any scale. The math is interesting, but reminds me of errant polls just before an election.

 

[bcrook]

Simply put, you wont be able to switch, not to anything you care about or would need to book an FP for.

I haven't read ANYTHING about there being reserved same day / switching FP+s for this purpose, and I have read EVERYTHING I can get my hands on. People have run the numbers on this, what the capacity of each ride is, how many FPs could be issued, how many people in the parks, even with 1 upper tier and 2 lower tier ... the numbers simply don't work out, even if they had 100% capacity dedicated to FP+. The Headliner rides could/would be booked all day. Once 100% of people are on FP+, unless crowds are extremely low, in which case you prob don't need the FP anyway, you aren't going to be switching your FP+ mid day for another attraction that you actually want/need FP for.

These responses from a d23 pavillion are spot on. First come first serve system with no intentions of holding back FP+.

Disneys CFO says this "So if we can get people to plan their vacation before they leave home, we know that we get more time with them. We get a bigger share of their wallet. " I am not thinking he means some customers, I think he means as many in advance as the system will hold.

Disney hopes there won't be any available day of (Other than the rides that shouldn't need them).

 

[ArwenMarie]

Simply put, you wont be able to switch, not to anything you care about or would need to book an FP for.

I haven't read ANYTHING about there being reserved same day / switching FP+s for this purpose, and I have read EVERYTHING I can get my hands on. People have run the numbers on this, what the capacity of each ride is, how many FPs could be issued, how many people in the parks, even with 1 upper tier and 2 lower tier ... the numbers simply don't work out, even if they had 100% capacity dedicated to FP+. The Headliner rides could/would be booked all day. Once 100% of people are on FP+, unless crowds are extremely low, in which case you prob don't need the FP anyway, you aren't going to be switching your FP+ mid day for another attraction that you actually want/need FP for.

I already wrote this either on here or another thread....Anyway..Even the week before Thanksgiving, there was very little flexibility to move things around. I'm not saying there was none. Sure, maybe you could move the Peter Pan FP to 8 pm, that kind of thing. But not very much.

Rides like TSMM were completely booked the night before, nothing to even change one to. I even noticed that a week or so before, my park days were basically locked in. While when I first booked them, I had space to move them around a bit.

Anyway, long story short, from my experience anyway, people who can prebook should get their schedules in order before they leave home and don't count on much space to move things around.

 

[OurDogCisco]

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

yes, but who wants to eat up the cell battery to do that. I did that over Thanksgiving and it ate 8 percent of my battery. I found it annoying.

 

[StuckInKS]

During our time there (October 27-30).. we NEVER ever waited in a line. Never!
Standby lines were nearly non existent. Maybe 15 minutes tops. Anywhere.

I can guarantee you things were VERY different Nov 1-11 and 16-24. I have a photo that shows a 70 minute standby for LM and I remember passing up small world, winnie the pooh and peter pan because they were all 40 minutes or more. CoP had a freaking 20 minute wait at one point on one of our days!! I don't know if it was accurate, but the times app had a wait time of 144 minutes for ToT on one of our HS days and of course TSM and ST were as crazy as usual. ONE time during the Nov 16-24 part of our stay, we had nonexistant lines everywhere and it was in Epcot during a storm. For the most part if things had short lines it was either 1) down 2) in the process of being taken offline 3) raining or 4) EMH.

And I could forget about same-day changes to my FP+ selections (I tried many times since I kept missing them due to having to stand at the CS desk multiple times to get MB issues worked out)

On another note, I have never encountered so many rides being down as I did this trip. Many, many times we went to ride something only to have CMs tell us that it was down and they didn't know when or if it would be back up that day and part of my family had to be walked off one ride.

 

[lugnut33]

There is NO way you will be able to change your fast passes the day of for the major attractions. Eventually you will be lucky to be able to change them a week out.

Btw, I left many more FP + unused than I did paper ones (used every one of them). The magic bands themselves are fine, except for fast pass.

Also I'm now a firm believer in my dislike of the FP+ system.

The other glaring thing I learned is how weak Epcot has become and FP+ proves it? At 7 pm at night the only attractions in future operating were TT, MS, and Soarin. So from 7 until close the only thing people will want to book are those rides.

I did take a 3 minute video of the line at Space Mt so you can see how much slower the Magic Bands are than paper. I timed a family of 5 using magic bands at 10 seconds. Saw another group of five with paper and it was a second. You also won't believe the size of the FP line waiting to get in.

 

[wn01aa]

There is NO way you will be able to change your fast passes the day of for the major attractions. Eventually you will be lucky to be able to change them a week out.

Btw, I left many more FP + unused than I did paper ones (used every one of them). The magic bands themselves are fine, except for fast pass.

Also I'm now a firm believer in my dislike of the FP+ system.

The other glaring thing I learned is how weak Epcot has become and FP+ proves it? At 7 pm at night the only attractions in future operating were TT, MS, and Soarin. So from 7 until close the only thing people will want to book are those rides.

I did take a 3 minute video of the line at Space Mt so you can see how much slower the Magic Bands are than paper. I timed a family of 5 using magic bands at 10 seconds. Saw another group of five with paper and it was a second. You also won't believe the size of the FP line waiting to get in.

I saw that on touring plans wait times a few days ago with Epcot and was puzzled. If the park is open, then I think all of the rides should be open. Living with the Land, Journey, Nemo, Universe of Energy were all closed. I would feel ripped off and it was only 7pm when I checked.

 

[lugnut33]

My recommendations for a great Disney World trip once FP- is gone:

Vacation at a slow time of year like September and first part of November

Stay for 7 days minimum.

Don't worry about park hopping unless you're interested in seeing the lesser known attractions.

Do not change your schedule the day of unless you don't care about losing your FP to the headliners.

At non busy times you will want to be at the parks at least a half hour before opening..at bust times get there an hour or two ahead. This way you can see the most attractions in a day.

It's still ok to leave for an afternoon break, just make sure you get back in time for your FP+ appointments.

Be prepared for huge lines to get into FP lines. That means bring ponchos.

Work with your kids on proper magic band placement so the line keeps moving.

If you get to the parks in the afternoon, do your FP+ rides and then see a show or leave because you will encounter huge lines for all attractions! unless it's dead in the parks.

Once it's offered go ahead and purchase the unlimited FP no matter how much it costs.

 

[Shaden]

My recommendations for a great Disney World trip once FP- is gone:

Vacation at a slow time of year like September and first part of November

Stay for 7 days minimum.

Don't worry about park hopping unless you're interested in seeing the lesser known attractions.

Do not change your schedule the day of unless you don't care about losing your FP to the headliners.

At non busy times you will want to be at the parks at least a half hour before opening..at bust times get there an hour or two ahead. This way you can see the most attractions in a day.

It's still ok to leave for an afternoon break, just make sure you get back in time for your FP+ appointments.

Be prepared for huge lines to get into FP lines. That means bring ponchos.

Work with your kids on proper magic band placement so the line keeps moving.

If you get to the parks in the afternoon, do your FP+ rides and then see a show or leave because you will encounter huge lines for all attractions! unless it's dead in the parks.

Once it's offered go ahead and purchase the unlimited FP no matter how much it costs.

Beautiful post, and while I read it with a touch of sarcasm, it all sounds about 100% true.

I am hoping early may is good enough for "low season" as well, we are there for the end of F&G and leave before the first star wars weekend.

I will be most interested to see just HOW fast those prized afternoon/evening FP+s are gone.

 

[LuvFFPlus]

Beautiful post, and while I read it with a touch of sarcasm, it all sounds about 100% true.

I am hoping early may is good enough for "low season" as well, we are there for the end of F&G and leave before the first star wars weekend.

I will be most interested to see just HOW fast those prized afternoon/evening FP+s are gone.

Or just purchase the unlimited FP package when it's offered.

 

[bcrook]

Or just purchase the unlimited FP package when it's offered.

There hasn't even been a whisper about this. This could be a possibility when the parks expand in about 5 years.

I would never buy a FP+ package. But I would be tempted to go to MDE and click a button for an immediate FP for a ride every once in awhile. I am not sure what my max price would be. $5.00?

 

[Jimbeaux28]

My recommendations for a great Disney World trip once FP- is gone: Vacation at a slow time of year like September and first part of November Stay for 7 days minimum. Don't worry about park hopping unless you're interested in seeing the lesser known attractions. Do not change your schedule the day of unless you don't care about losing your FP to the headliners. At non busy times you will want to be at the parks at least a half hour before opening..at bust times get there an hour or two ahead. This way you can see the most attractions in a day. It's still ok to leave for an afternoon break, just make sure you get back in time for your FP+ appointments. Be prepared for huge lines to get into FP lines. That means bring ponchos. Work with your kids on proper magic band placement so the line keeps moving. If you get to the parks in the afternoon, do your FP+ rides and then see a show or leave because you will encounter huge lines for all attractions! unless it's dead in the parks. Once it's offered go ahead and purchase the unlimited FP no matter how much it costs.

Nope. Before I have to do all that for a vacation, I will take my family and my money elsewhere.

 

[wisblue]

I saw that on touring plans wait times a few days ago with Epcot and was puzzled. If the park is open, then I think all of the rides should be open. Living with the Land, Journey, Nemo, Universe of Energy were all closed. I would feel ripped off and it was only 7pm when I checked.

It has been like that for years.

They used to say that Future World closed at 7 PM, but Soarin, Test Track, and Spaceship Earth would still be operating. It's no different at the other parks when certain attractions that don't draw big crowds are not always open as soon as the park opens or may close before the full park closure.

 

[LuvFFPlus]

There hasn't even been a whisper about this. This could be a possibility when the parks expand in about 5 years.

I would never buy a FP+ package. But I would be tempted to go to MDE and click a button for an immediate FP for a ride every once in awhile. I am not sure what my max price would be. $5.00?

No official words on this but with software, one can assume the ability to do so in the future is not hard.
They already demonstrated that the system can have tired or non-tired with a flip of a switch. Number of FP+ can be increased by a manager or CM. All of these functions can be simply an override to the basic offering.
Of course not everyone will opt to purchase but some might.

 

[morethananyonex]

Or just purchase the unlimited FP package when it's offered.

A solution to a problem FP+ creates is to purchase something that doesn't even exist, or is even rumoured to exist? Yeah, I wonder why so many people are "negative" about this.

There is no way there is enough capacity to offer an unlimited FP package on top of giving everyone (resort guests/AP holders/offsite guests) 3 FP+ a day. Something has got to give.

 

[LuvFFPlus]

I wonder how Universal handled the capacity issue with their unlimited package. There is a chance that Disney is looking to model something similar to that in the future.

 

[morethananyonex]

I wonder how Universal handled the capacity issue with their unlimited package. There is a chance that Disney is looking to model something similar to that in the future.

Disney has an existing capacity issue that FP+ has made very obvious. Did Universal have one before they implemented their express pass and FOTL for resort guests? I would guess Universal was trying to fill capacity, as if I'm not mistaken this stuff was up and running before HP was pulling tons of people over to Universal.

It's a totally different animal.