Magic Bands info for the new test dates in August

[TIME4DIZ]

What do you mean by this? I was able to trade the POTC Bonus FP for DD and MIL to ride PP at the same time as DS and I ride HM (1-2p). I just assumed we would go our separate directions at that time.

I was responding to a question about whether a group needs to have all the attractions booked and specifically the impact on non-riders. In effect, the fp+ is linked to a band not a person. So a family of four could book 12 different (4 on each band) attractions and 1 person in that family could go on 12 rides while others just watched. The catch is the rider needs to be wearing the band associated with the fp+ reservation.

 

[delmar411]

Thanks for taking the time to post about your experience. Bummer they messed up your itinerary. Could you elaborate on the "assignment" to have them make a change? We got the email inviting us to be testers in August, but I didn't see anything in particular they wanted us to do.

We were doing CM testing, we weren't regular guests.

 

[TxTiggergal]

We were doing CM testing, we weren't regular guests.

Gotcha! So hopefully us regular guests won't have an assignment! Thanks!

 

[misstdiana]

I'm curious what you have sent thousands of dollars for that disney has failed to deliver?

Haha yeah exactly because if I don't get the magic bands I will still get to go to Disney World and not lose that. So I doubt magic bands are worth $$$thousands of dollars.

 

[GillianP1301]

I'm so confused by all of this! I've been reading through the threads and trying to see if I can figure out my situation, but still confused. Hoping one of you who seem to know a lot more about this than I do can help.

I have a split stay Aug 17 - 31. I'm offsite 17 - 25 and at POP (RO reservation) from 26 - 31. I have bought 7 day tickets from UT to be used throughout the 2 weeks.

Do I need to be worrying about this test at all? Will I even be eligible? And if I am, how will that work in my scenario?

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Yes in your case you would. What we mean by switching bands is that. I get a fp+ using my band for ride A at say 9 and a separate fp+ for ride B also at 9 using my kid's band because my kid won't ride either ride. Then I use my band to ride A and hers to ride B back to back in the same time frame. In this case, I will need to physically switch bands.

I just wasn't sure if you could select 3 different rides for each member of our group or if it was 3 total for the whole group, meaning I could no longer pull off the above scenario.

Ah, I see. Based on my experience splitting my bonus FP, it seems that every person in your party with a MB would get to pick their own FP.

 

[spartankid34]

Current testers have a card as well. The bands do not work with existing FP kiosks.

So "double dipping" will not be an option when this is fully implemented! You get your FPs+ options, and that's it....

 

[WillAustin]

I don't think that "double-dippers" (if it is still possible) will really have that much effect. At best, the test is giving them three extra Fastpasses, potentially at headliners, in addition to what they might have ordinarily gotten. But how many of the testers are actually going to get duplicate FP/FP+? And how many of those would have done it anyways with just FP? Sure, a power user will be able to take advantage of it, although as it stands, without jumping through a lot of hoops, they can only do it once per attraction.

I have a feeling the number of guests doing this is probably small.

I agree, during the testing it will have little effect on the regular FP and standby lines. It's still a very small percentage of guests, even if everyone was doing it.

 

[photo_chick]

We are a family of 4 and my DS doesn't like to ride some of the rides that the rest of us do. Our usual plan is to get all 4 FP's then DH will take DD on the ride, then I will take DD on the ride. DD gets to ride twice, DS has an adult with him the whole time and everyone is happy.

So, the commonly accepted solution at this point in time is to switch bands? How does that work when the bands say they are non-transferrable? What information do the CM's see when you use your band? Can they tell gender? Because I can totally see doing this and my 13 year old girl being called Stephen.

I'm guessing band switching will become hotly debated in the future on this board.

 

[rt2dz]

I'm guessing band switching will become hotly debated in the future on this board.

Well, refillable mug debates are being retired...

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[TIME4DIZ]

We are a family of 4 and my DS doesn't like to ride some of the rides that the rest of us do. Our usual plan is to get all 4 FP's then DH will take DD on the ride, then I will take DD on the ride. DD gets to ride twice, DS has an adult with him the whole time and everyone is happy.

So, the commonly accepted solution at this point in time is to switch bands? How does that work when the bands say they are non-transferrable? What information do the CM's see when you use your band? Can they tell gender? Because I can totally see doing this and my 13 year old girl being called Stephen.

I'm guessing band switching will become hotly debated in the future on this board.

Funny how there is no outrage about a family pulling 4 FP- when only 3 people want to ride but you can find dozens of posts from people stressed out about FP- being depleted by FP+ users. Typical reaction to change

 

[photo_chick]

Funny how there is no outrage about a family pulling 4 FP- when only 3 people want to ride but you can find dozens of posts from people stressed out about FP- being depleted by FP+ users. Typical reaction to change

Change? I'm a Republican and we don't like that word. LOL

Personally I love the idea of the FP+ and reserving ride times. We only use maybe 3 or 4 FP's in a day anyway. Knowing that those won't conflict with out ADR's will be good. We'll just also be making use of the rider swap option now. I am interested to see how Disney deals with the band swapping though because you know it's going to be a big issue. Like pool hopping and resort mugs big.

Now if only they'd put JTA signups online. Heck, I'd pay to have my son's slot reserved there to avoid that mad dash.

 

[bcrook]

Funny how there is no outrage about a family pulling 4 FP- when only 3 people want to ride but you can find dozens of posts from people stressed out about FP- being depleted by FP+ users. Typical reaction to change

Doesn't seem the same. People who do not have access to FP+ will be affected in negative ways. The worst will be rides that FP+ is available, but not regular. Enchanted Tales with Belle, pirates, haunted Mansion, etc. people who can only ride standby will have to watch person after person stream in front of them.

And if the FP+ people walk in MK with four scheduled passes (and with this huge test in August, it could be over 30,000 FP at magic kingdom alone) and then those same people can grab four more. It could cause a negative experience for families who have been looking forward to this vacation for over a year. There is nothing they can do about it but "take it".

I think it is quite unfair for those guests who booked vacations not knowing any if this would take place.

Have a little compassion. It's not change, but equity that is the problem.

8000 rooms - 24000 people. - 96,000 fastpasses a day booked before anybody walks in the Parks. It could be a game changer. It is definitely a handicap.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

8000 rooms - 24000 people. - 96,000 fastpasses a day booked before anybody walks in the Parks. It could be a game changer. It is definitely a handicap.

Thank you!!!! This is basically what I've been trying to say and it's not coming across correctly. I really, really feel like my family is going to be at a huge disadvantage since we can't use FP+.

I'm trying to remain patient until the actual visitor test starts in August. There seem to be conflicting reports about being able to double dip. I know they can right now, but my understanding is this is a very small scale CM test.

 

[TIME4DIZ]

Doesn't seem the same. People who do not have access to FP+ will be affected in negative ways. The worst will be rides that FP+ is available, but not regular. Enchanted Tales with Belle, pirates, haunted Mansion, etc. people who can only ride standby will have to watch person after person stream in front of them.

And if the FP+ people walk in MK with four scheduled passes (and with this huge test in August, it could be over 30,000 FP at magic kingdom alone) and then those same people can grab four more. It could cause a negative experience for families who have been looking forward to this vacation for over a year. There is nothing they can do about it but "take it".

I think it is quite unfair for those guests who booked vacations not knowing any if this would take place.

Have a little compassion. It's not change, but equity that is the problem.

8000 rooms - 24000 people. - 96,000 fastpasses a day booked before anybody walks in the Parks. It could be a game changer. It is definitely a handicap.

I don't think it's a lack of compassion, rather a sense of reality. You can't believe that every potential tester will accept the invite or even be aware they are potential testers. Assuming the 24000 number is correct, You can't believe that every one of those resort guests will choose 4 FP+ at MK on the same day. Presenting such a case is irresponsible and simply building on unfounded fear. My compassion extends to those who read your numbers and begin to worry about their trip. I feel sorry that they may believe your fuzzy math.

 

[MYD714]

The worst will be rides that FP+ is available, but not regular. Enchanted Tales with Belle, pirates, haunted Mansion, etc. people who can only ride standby will have to watch person after person stream in front of them.

This is what I worry about. POTC and HM are my go-to rides because there's never too long of a wait. I worry what the lines will be like for them now.

 

[TIME4DIZ]

Thank you!!!! This is basically what I've been trying to say and it's not coming across correctly. I really, really feel like my family is going to be at a huge disadvantage since we can't use FP+.

I'm trying to remain patient until the actual visitor test starts in August. There seem to be conflicting reports about being able to double dip. I know they can right now, but my understanding is this is a very small scale CM test.

I would bet you won't even notice the difference. Especially when your family is enjoying multiple FP- on the same ride and deciding at the park which attraction is worth a FP based on wait time.

 

[bcrook]

I don't think it's a lack of compassion, rather a sense of reality. You can't believe that every potential tester will accept the invite or even be aware they are potential testers. Assuming the 24000 number is correct, You can't believe that every one of those resort guests will choose 4 FP+ at MK on the same day. Presenting such a case is irresponsible and simply building on unfounded fear. My compassion extends to those who read your numbers and begin to worry about their trip. I feel sorry that they may believe your fuzzy math.

I didn't say all at MK. The magic kingdom draws about 40% of the population a day. So adjust for MK. I did that in a previous post.

I think you may be underestimating the size and impact of this test.

 

[TIME4DIZ]

I didn't say all at MK. The magic kingdom draws about 40% of the population a day. So adjust for MK. I did that in a previous post.

I think you may be underestimating the size and impact of this test.

Perhaps, just as you may be overestimating. Did you also adjust for resort guests that don't make FP+ selections, how about those that don't go to a park on a given day, how about those guests that don't even go on rides at the park. Those that go to MK and ride standby (not all use FP- today). When/if you make all the necessary adjustments it's not as scary.

 

[Simba77]

Perhaps, just as you may be overestimating. Did you also adjust for resort guests that don't make FP+ selections, how about those that don't go to a park on a given day, how about those guests that don't even go on rides at the park. Those that go to MK and ride standby (not all use FP- today). When/if you make all the necessary adjustments it's not as scary.

I agree with all this.

Let me preface what follows by saying that this is ALL speculation on my part. It's just based on my observations of guest patterns, conversations I've had, etc.

Disney already knows some of the math on one key factor: Not everyone who books a FP+ will use it. This is one of those statistical situations where over time, Disney will be able to nail that % down quite accurately. So it might be that only 30%-40% of booked FP+ will actually be used as scheduled. People sometimes miss their times, change their park and decide not to re-book new FP+ because they don't need/want to.

Disney knows this ahead of time. They know they can overbook FP+ for certain attractions, knowing that you will NEVER have 100% of booked FP+ being redeemed as scheduled.

And heck, I see tons of people who STILL don't use FP. What makes you think those people will suddenly "pick up" on FP+? To this day, I get people asking me what FP is and how much it costs, despite the information being readily available. If these people don't use and don't understand FP, why would they suddenly jump all over FP+?

I think many posters here are grossly overestimating how many people will actually book 3 FP+ experiences every single day of their trip. Grossly overestimating.

FP+ is going to be something that only the hardcore park goers (the people who post on forums such as this) use to its fullest extent. Believe it or not, the majority of WDW guests are not hardcore like us, do not post on message boards, and they experience the parks a lot more casually. These people might book some FP+ here and there, use the app to do so, etc. But only a minority of WDW guests are going to book the "big e-tickets" for every day of their stay weeks in advance. A lot of folks just get to the parks early, hit the e-tickets (without a FP or FP+), then do "everything else" - and in the non-peak season, you can easily take down all 4 parks without ever using a single FP.

So you might only have 25% of guests booking FP+ in advance, and of that 25%, it might be as low as 50% of that who actually show up for their scheduled FP+.

Just my 1.5 cents