Maybe offsite guests will be able to book through the website

[Planogirl]

I don't doubt that it will still be day-of but life will be a lot easier for offsite visitors if they can book through other means than the kiosks.

From wdwmagic:

Full MyMagic+ testing for offsite guests to take place during January

Jan 10, 2014 | 5:20pm EST


Disney will soon begin testing the full range of MyMagic+ components for offsite resort guests.
During January 2014, selected offsite guests will be testing most of the MyMagic+ elements, including My Disney Experience, FastPass+ at all four parks and the use of MagicBands. Disney has previously said that MagicBands will be available to offsite guests for a fee in place of using the card based ticket media.

This test is significant, because it will represent the first time that offsite guests can use the full range of MyMagic+ services. The current tests of FastPass+ at Disney's Animal Kingdom and the upcoming Magic Kingdom test are restricted to just the FastPass+ component.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

I don't doubt that it will still be day-of but life will be a lot easier for offsite visitors if they can book through other means than the kiosks.

From wdwmagic:

Hmmm - I can only hope! I can't imagine waiting in a kiosk line. Wonder if they would allow offsite to reserve in advance if they purchased MBs. If not, they can just use the cards right - those are "free"?

 

[Planogirl]

Hmmm - I can only hope! I can't imagine waiting in a kiosk line. Wonder if they would allow offsite to reserve in advance if they purchased MBs. If not, they can just use the cards right - those are "free"?

They are free, at least right now.

 

[Planogirl]

Bumping since this could be significant for offsite visitors...

 

[Bete]

I have to say the day of for fastpass plus for offsite guests at the parks is not thrilling me. Unless, Disney opens up more fastpasses for just offsite guests all you will get are the undesirable times. Yes, it's better than nothing, but not by much.

After our December trip this year and we stayed offsite because we travel with our dog and don't want to kennel her we have decided this is not for us. They still had legacy fastpass, but getting one was very tough for the tier one rides. You waited in long lines for legacy fastpass, you had to be there at rope drop to have any chance of getting one, and you got a late afternoon return time at best and most were for the evening for return time.

Also, it seemed as if the fastpass line was more crowded with the new fastpass plus system which means longer waits even if you are in a fastpass line. I feel this might be due to the fact that you can only get three fastpass plus passes if staying onsite and you won't miss using them; so, it's more crowded.

We have taken over 40 trips through the years and ever since fastpass was around we averaged at least 5 fastpasses per day and sometimes even 8 fastpasses. Three doesn't seem to be enough.

I hope the final product is better than what we are experiencing right now for offsite and onsite guests. These Disney trips have been more expensive for us than other trips and I am not feeling good about our value now as offsite guests. I'm not even sure it's good enough for onsite guests.

 

[conniehar90]

Hmmm - wonder how I could be part of the test?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Interesting, as this MM+ project moves along.

Thanks for the heads up, Linda.

 

[kidd_freeper]

Put it this way...

If Disney DOESN'T allow offsite guests to make advance FP+ reservations, this will be the first time that Disney technology was used to purposely make the experience of a guest LESS enjoyable.

 

[catra121]

I would disagree with this...that "If Disney DOESN'T allow offsite guests to make advance FP+ reservations, this will be the first time that Disney technology was used to purposely make the experience of a guest LESS enjoyable."

I honestly believe that NOT allowing offsite guests to pre-book is very important for the experience of MOST guests. The reason being...if offsite guests can pre-book FP+ then it will mean NO day of availability.

As long as there IS day of availability I think the system will work better for everyone. Here are the reasons why I think this:

1. Day of availability means people can still move around their FP+ times...a useless feature if they are all booked up already.

2. Many onsite guests don't WANT to plan that far ahead...and if there are day of FP+ reservations available...then they don't need to...which opens up even MORE day of FP+ slots.

3. It still allows for people to make last minute plans/trips to Disney and know that THEY will not get a sub par experience just because they only decided to go a week ago. They, after all, are paying the same price as everyone else for their tickets.

4. Not everyone has access to internet or has a smart phone...or wants to/knows how to use them. Should these guests not have a fair shot at FP+ like every other guest who can book day of FP+?

I think it will be a much better experience for EVERYONE is pre-booking is NOT allowed for offsite guests. I think of it this way...if you allow offsite guests to pre-book FP+ then there will be no day of availability. If you do not allow offsite guests to pre-book FP+ then there will be day of availability. Which one is worse?

I think the benefits of day of FP+ availability FAR outweigh the negative of some guests feeling shafted because they can't pre-book...they are not the majority and even those guests will still have the ability to book FP+ day of...as opposed to the reverse situation where IF there is no day of availability of FP+...those upset (and there will be far more of them) get nothing.

I'm not debating here about whether this is a better system than legacy FP...only that taking the system as it is now or will be in the future...the ONLY way I see it working is if there is day of availability of FP+...and the only way I see THAT working is if pre-booking is not allowed for FP+. FWIW...I also think this applies to the limit or only 3 FP+ and the tiering. I may not like it...but I do think it is a key component to making sure there IS day of availability of FP+.

On the other hand...I do think there is a possibility that once an offsite guest books FP+...they may be able to book for the remainder of their days (that the ticket is valid for) within the 14 days that the ticket needs to be used. The problem this has is that some tickets are non-expiring...no idea how that would be handled and it may be one reason why it will be limited to only day of. But...I guess we will find out...

 

[Planogirl]

Thanks Dan.

Catra, the problem is that many offsite visitors already believe that they will get a subpar trip because all of those onsite get first claim to FP+. I see endless comments that they will end up standing in line first thing in the morning to get whatever is left over.

And the possibility of lines at the kiosks is a big concern. Who wants to wait in a line behind people who don't have a clue (which will be all too common at least in the beginning)?

 

[mts315]

It would be a nightmare as there is no way to control whether or not the person actually showed up at the park. If you allow offsite booking then anyone could get a one day ticket and tie up FPs for a day and then not use them. The only way to allow early FP+ to offsite guests is to sell them a specific day ticket. So, if you want FP+ then you have to buy a ticket for lets say March 15th 2014 and then you can schedule FP+ for that day only. If you don't use the ticket March 15th, then too bad.

 

[catra121]

Thanks Dan.

Catra, the problem is that many offsite visitors already believe that they will get a subpar trip because all of those onsite get first claim to FP+. I see endless comments that they will end up standing in line first thing in the morning to get whatever is left over.

And the possibility of lines at the kiosks is a big concern. Who wants to wait in a line behind people who don't have a clue (which will be all too common at least in the beginning)?

While I see what you're saying...I also think it's not really what is going to happen. Until it rolls out...we don't know for sure. Their opinion is that there will be slim pickings left and that the lines will be long to get them...I don't think that's the case. I guess we will find out...but even if there are long lines I still think that's better than NO line because there is NO way to get a FP+ day of.

 

[Planogirl]

While I see what you're saying...I also think it's not really what is going to happen. Until it rolls out...we don't know for sure. Their opinion is that there will be slim pickings left and that the lines will be long to get them...I don't think that's the case. I guess we will find out...but even if there are long lines I still think that's better than NO line because there is NO way to get a FP+ day of.

I see both sides. Disney really needs to add more kiosks if that is the plan though. Maybe they could open up the app to those already in the park? That might at least cut down on some of the backup. Since Disney has stated that they want 90% of visitors using FP+ and people report that about half of those in attendance stay offsite, Disney will have to work out how to get a lot of people up to speed.

I'm reminded of the old kiosks where you used to make dining reservations. Those lines were never long but there wouldn't necessarily be as much demand. Or would there?

 

[wordwitt]

IMHO off-site guests will not get to book in advance. This will remain a perk of on-site stay. However, they will get to use MDE instead of a kiosk if they prefer, and there will be plenty of FP+ slots held over for day-of FP+ reservations.

As long as there is decent availability, at least similar to FP-, on the day-of, I don't see how this is all that different than FP-, which is a completely day-of system.

Now I can see people getting upset if there is limited day-of availability, but that hasn't seemed the case so far based on live reports. I have seen people having some trouble changing headliner FP+ times within an hour or two of their reservation, but others have said it's not a problem. And this is all with FP- still live. I am guessing that when FP- is removed, this will free up even more FP+ times. I wouldn't panic yet, Off-site Guest.

 

[kidd_freeper]

1. Day of availability means people can still move around their FP+ times...a useless feature if they are all booked up already.

Everyone assumes that since WDW has presently set the limit at 3 FP+ per day that it will always be 3 FP+ per day because that is all that can be accomodated.

But as almost everyone on this board points out, that isn't anywhere near close to the number of FP-s they used to get.

I believe that WDW set the number at 3 FP+ per day, with the intent of allowing offsite guests to have pre-booking rights AND allow in-park rescheduling. Of course the uber-popular rides will sell out early, just like they did with FP-.

It is entirely possible, that once WDW has worked out the bugs, that the number of FP+s could be increased to 4 per day.

 

[patty57]

Everyone assumes that since WDW has presently set the limit at 3 FP+ per day that it will always be 3 FP+ per day because that is all that can be accomodated.

But as almost everyone on this board points out, that isn't anywhere near close to the number of FP-s they used to get.

I believe that WDW set the number at 3 FP+ per day, with the intent of allowing offsite guests to have pre-booking rights AND allow in-park rescheduling. Of course the uber-popular rides will sell out early, just like they did with FP-.

It is entirely possible, that once WDW has worked out the bugs, that the number of FP+s could be increased to 4 per day.

This might be. The only other comment is about your first statement...I don't think everyone assumes anything. The comment I see most often is that no one knows how this will end up.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I can certainly see the need to add additional kiosks if that is going to be the only avenue for off-site folks. At the moment, many people do not even know about FP+ going in. As time goes on, more people will be aware and the backlog will be monumental.

 

[Angel Ariel]

IMHO off-site guests will not get to book in advance. This will remain a perk of on-site stay. However, they will get to use MDE instead of a kiosk if they prefer, and there will be plenty of FP+ slots held over for day-of FP+ reservations.

As long as there is decent availability, at least similar to FP-, on the day-of, I don't see how this is all that different than FP-, which is a completely day-of system.

Now I can see people getting upset if there is limited day-of availability, but that hasn't seemed the case so far based on live reports. I have seen people having some trouble changing headliner FP+ times within an hour or two of their reservation, but others have said it's not a problem. And this is all with FP- still live. I am guessing that when FP- is removed, this will free up even more FP+ times. I wouldn't panic yet, Off-site Guest.

I would amend this to say
As long as there is decent availability, at least similar to FP-, including for the headliners

There may be decent FP+ availability because Disney has added attractions to FP+ that never had FP-. The key is what will the headliner availability be on the day of for offsite guests if they have no prebooking access.

 

[joelkfla]

Disney has informed cm's that "In the future, after MyMagic+ is fully implemented, all Guests visiting the Walt Disney World Resort will have the opportunity to make FastPass+ selections in advance for each day of theme park admission that they have linked to their My Disney Experience accounts. "

They've also reiterated that there are no plans to charge for FP+.

 

[alhurricane]

Disney has informed cm's that "In the future, after MyMagic+ is fully implemented, all Guests visiting the Walt Disney World Resort will have the opportunity to make FastPass+ selections in advance for each day of theme park admission that they have linked to their My Disney Experience accounts. " They've also reiterated that there are no plans to charge for FP+.

That's good to know. The big question is when does full implementation happen? Planning a trip for late May and still debating on site vs offsite due to the FP+ uncertainty.