I am beginning to lose hope...

[buzzrelly]

We went last June and used FP+ for the first time. We definitely didn't love it and really missed the old FP, but I reassured myself that our (mine, and everyone else who has expressed their dissatisfaction) voices will be heard by the powers that be at Disney and that they would improve on FP+ by the time we went on our next trip. Specifically, I honestly believed that they would have fixed the problem with park-hopping, as well as added the feature to the app so you could reserve more times from your iPhone after using the first 3. And I absolutely thought the tiering system would be so unpopular that it would be done away with.

And now, here I am with my FP+ reservation date only a week away and nothing has changed or been improved upon since our last trip. This is very discouraging. I'm not saying that we are going to have an awful trip…I am actually really excited about it. But I really dislike all these constraints and restrictions. I wish FP+ was revised to allow more flexibility.

Does anyone think there's ever going to be more changes made to FP+, or you think we are stuck with it this way forever? Sigh

 

[Missyrose]

We went last June and used FP+ for the first time. We definitely didn't love it and really missed the old FP, but I reassured myself that our (mine, and everyone else who has expressed their dissatisfaction) voices will be heard by the powers that be at Disney and that they would improve on FP+ by the time we went on our next trip. Specifically, I honestly believed that they would have fixed the problem with park-hopping, as well as added the feature to the app so you could reserve more times from your iPhone after using the first 3. And I absolutely thought the tiering system would be so unpopular that it would be done away with.

And now, here I am with my FP+ reservation date only a week away and nothing has changed or been improved upon since our last trip. This is very discouraging. I'm not saying that we are going to have an awful trip…I am actually really excited about it. But I really dislike all these constraints and restrictions. I wish FP+ was revised to allow more flexibility.

Does anyone think there's ever going to be more changes made to FP+, or you think we are stuck with it this way forever? Sigh

I think there have been more problems than Disney could have ever imagined, so it doesn't shock me that things aren't moving as quickly as one would have hoped.

And the tiers aren't going away, there aren't enough Tier 1 FP+ reservations to go around.

 

[JimmyV]

This is an interesting point. The Dis Board poll from 2 weeks ago revealed that 39 percent of responders believe that FP+ currently is not good but could be good if changes are made. I would guess that many of the changes that people would like to see are the changes that you have discussed here. But there really is no indication that any of these changes are on the horizon. It will be interesting to see how all of this onfolds.

 

[BradChristian]

Magic Kingdom is the only park with enough headline rides to where they don't need tiers.

EPCOT has two headliners right now and I doubt Frozen will take it over the top.

MGM has 3 headliners right now... so we will see if star ward changes that.

I do think there is hope for additional in park FP+ being added from the phone. Technology is slowly catching up to being able to have thousands and thousands online at the same time wirelessly. I've seen a change at events that run around 14k people - cell service at that has improved and can actually functional partially. However - Disney is a whole additional level of logistics.

The kiosk are all connected to internal (possibly wired on everything but cast member mobile tablets) connections and can be online easier than thousands of totally wireless consumer devices hitting park wifi and LTE.

 

[HopperFan]

I don't think you'll see tiers disappear until there is substantially more at the two parks. We know EPCOT is getting Frozen Ride, Frozen Meet & Greet and an extra Soarin' screen, will that be enough? Studios should be getting more than enough to eliminate the tier ........... but it will take many years to build.

Changes on the app, am sure it will come but I don't want them making any more changes to the software until it is running with no issues especially running faster and not freezing up plus amped up WiFi. Honestly going to a kiosk to pick up a FP+ for anywhere in the park is much easier than having to go all the way to a ride to get the FP, although more kiosks would be nice. Doing on phone would be great and am sure it's a goal, but that is a software change I can wait for when all else is worked through. Not sure what you mean by Park Hopping - do you mean the 3 FP+ can be mixed among parks? I don't see that happening. Just a gut logistics feeling.

Actually the newer version of the MDE that has downloaded since you last went does work much better with better movement between options. But it sounds like your three big complaints would still be issues and two may not be considered for years.

 

[Laketravis]

Pssssst..... wanna save some money?

 

[perditax]

We went last June and used FP+ for the first time. We definitely didn't love it and really missed the old FP, but I reassured myself that our (mine, and everyone else who has expressed their dissatisfaction) voices will be heard by the powers that be at Disney and that they would improve on FP+ by the time we went on our next trip. Specifically, I honestly believed that they would have fixed the problem with park-hopping, as well as added the feature to the app so you could reserve more times from your iPhone after using the first 3. And I absolutely thought the tiering system would be so unpopular that it would be done away with.

And now, here I am with my FP+ reservation date only a week away and nothing has changed or been improved upon since our last trip. This is very discouraging. I'm not saying that we are going to have an awful trip…I am actually really excited about it. But I really dislike all these constraints and restrictions. I wish FP+ was revised to allow more flexibility.

Does anyone think there's ever going to be more changes made to FP+, or you think we are stuck with it this way forever? Sigh

Hmm, it sounds like I might have assumed some things that aren't true, and I'm sorry if I'm about to ask dumb questions, but I'm only about two weeks into 'studying' Disney for the first time in years and years.

I have one day hoppers coming up. I have my first three initial FP+. I assumed once they were used I would be able to use MY PHONE/the app (because this seems like a no-brainer) to either check for more FP+ in the first park, or line up new FP+ for another park to hop to. It sounds like am wrong on both counts?

 

[Laketravis]

Hmm, it sounds like I might have assumed some things that aren't true, and I'm sorry if I'm about to ask dumb questions, but I'm only about two weeks into 'studying' Disney for the first time in years and years.

I have one day hoppers coming up. I have my first three initial FP+. I assumed once they were used I would be able to use MY PHONE/the app (because this seems like a no-brainer) to either check for more FP+ in the first park, or line up new FP+ for another park to hop to. It sounds like am wrong on both counts?

Unfortunately, wrong on both counts.



.

 

[perditax]

Thanks. Okay, I am becoming less neutral.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Hmm, it sounds like I might have assumed some things that aren't true, and I'm sorry if I'm about to ask dumb questions, but I'm only about two weeks into 'studying' Disney for the first time in years and years.

I have one day hoppers coming up. I have my first three initial FP+. I assumed once they were used I would be able to use MY PHONE/the app (because this seems like a no-brainer) to either check for more FP+ in the first park, or line up new FP+ for another park to hop to. It sounds like am wrong on both counts?

Unfortunately, wrong on both counts.



.

Apparently there is an issue with the app and more then 3 FP+ which they have been working on since they started allowing it. I red somewhere that in testing it just caused it to crash so its' not live to guest yet until they can fix it.

 

[perditax]

I really hate to drop the "I work in IT" card but ... Yeah, that doesn't sound like a difficult problem to solve; it sounds like they don't want to allocate anyone more than three FP per day online, no matter what, and that the kiosk system is completely separate from the app system.

(And again I apologize to regulars if I am re-treading well trodden ground. I learn quick but I'm still a noob.)

 

[Shaden]

I really hate to drop the "I work in IT" card but ... Yeah, that doesn't sound like a difficult problem to solve; it sounds like they don't want to allocate anyone more than three FP per day online, no matter what, and that the kiosk system is completely separate from the app system.

(And again I apologize to regulars if I am re-treading well trodden ground. I learn quick but I'm still a noob.)

No no, you are right. I have a VERY basic coding background ... this is not even the slightest bit difficult.

As many of us have posited, this is an issue of capacity. Making people go to the kiosk is a time sink, it ultimately reduces demand on rides, and spreads the capacity further. This is the entire point of FP+. There is no reason to get rid of the kiosk only element of the 4th FP and beyond. I imagine this could be done with a very simple change in the coding. It's probably already in the architecture, set as a 1 or 0 .... either you can or can't access more once your 3 are done via the app... it might be as simple as a single digit change. The system can detect whether you are on a kiosk or the app, and the permission is whether you can search and select a 4th or beyond ... it really might be that simple. Even if its not... I can see the few lines of code necessary to allow it. Even a simple "If then" statement would work assuming the system isn't already set up as such. I would say 5 - 10 mins of coding, 30 mins max.

 

[mom2rtk]

This is an interesting point. The Dis Board poll from 2 weeks ago revealed that 39 percent of responders believe that FP+ currently is not good but could be good if changes are made. I would guess that many of the changes that people would like to see are the changes that you have discussed here. But there really is no indication that any of these changes are on the horizon. It will be interesting to see how all of this onfolds.

If those 39% believed FP+ would be better only if tiers were removed and/or more selections were given up front...... then we are a very long way from moving the needle for that group.

 

[hoosll]

Since Disney has just released 500 programmers it seems Disney is not going to make any upgrades to the system on its own. The article seemed to believe that Disney may outsource some future programming but generally I think Disney is happy with FP+. I do think it is interesting that they are now tracking magic bands on bus trips, perhaps they have realized that the longer we are riding the buses the less money we are spending... I wish they would track how long you stand at the bus stop (not spending money), maybe they could institute an Uber-style pick up service.

 

[buzzrelly]

What do they think would happen if they allowed you to pick up that 4th FP while you hop, and allowed you to do it from your iPhone? and I am not being sarcastic, I really want to know why that wouldn't be a feasible option, especially if it increased guest satisfaction?

And for the record, I have no issue with the Magic Bands, in fact, I kind of like them. I find them to be much more convenient than the KTTW cards we used to have to carry.

 

[perditax]

Tossing out a theory: they want to make sure there are kiosk-based FP+ available for people who are clueless about the online system. The only way they can do that is restrict those who of us who are technically clued from grabbing lots of successive passes online.

 

[buzzrelly]

Tossing out a theory: they want to make sure there are kiosk-based FP+ available for people who are clueless about the online system. The only way they can do that is restrict those who of us who are technically clued from grabbing lots of successive passes online.

I guess that would be okay, but have you ever seen the lines for the kiosks??!! They are alway crazy long. Seems like such a waste of time to me. And it still doesn't explain why they won't allow you to park-hop and get a 4th FP.

 

[flicx]

Op it appears the only fix Disney is looking to implement in the near future is the price of park tickets ie (increase).

 

[mom2rtk]

What do they think would happen if they allowed you to pick up that 4th FP while you hop, and allowed you to do it from your iPhone? and I am not being sarcastic, I really want to know why that wouldn't be a feasible option, especially if it increased guest satisfaction?

And for the record, I have no issue with the Magic Bands, in fact, I kind of like them. I find them to be much more convenient than the KTTW cards we used to have to carry.

I think the thought is that the little bit that is left for same day fastpasses (which is all people walking up to the ticket window to buy admission that day) will disappear even faster. The easier you make it to access FPs, the faster they go. With every barrier they remove, they lose more of what was left in that pool. Pretty soon they won't even have second tier FPs left when people walk in the parks.

 

[GillianP1301]

My opinion on this is that the FP+ system will always be changing/improving, Disney isn't going to just sit idle especially since they're leading the way with this technology in the first place. Will it happen as quickly as we want? Likely not. I am also waiting on the ability to add additional FP on my phone, to me that would make a good system great. And as a previous posted said, if that change is still long term, then more kiosks would be really nice.