More FastPass+ Testing Coming This Month

[mesaboy2]

Buried in the article reporting free WiFi at MK is this nugget regarding FastPass+/xPass/NextGen:

Directly related to the addition of Wi-Fi in the park, testing on the NextGen Fastpass system will soon be resuming at the Magic Kingdom, scheduled for August 14-20, just a couple weeks from now. Familiar RFID-equipped posts have once again begun showing up outside various attractions around the park....

http://www.**************.net/2012/...rk-enabling-further-nextgen-fastpass-testing/

 

[neffernie]

Directly related to the addition of Wi-Fi in the park, testing on the NextGen Fastpass system will soon be resuming at the Magic Kingdom, scheduled for August 14-20, just a couple weeks from now.

Noooooooooo! I'll be home by then. Why couldn't they start it a week earlier! I wanna test.

 

[juliebug1997]

The picture where the posts are covered looks like it's right outside the Haunted Mansion. Is HM going to get an FP now?

When we were there 6/28, the lines for HM and POTC were 40+minutes. Never saw either one that long!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Noooooooooo! I'll be home by then. Why couldn't they start it a week earlier! I wanna test.

That was my thought too!! We leave on the 15th.

 

[ghtx]

Hopefully they'll be doing another test (or have it completely rolled out!) when we're there in October!

 

[disprincessatheart]

The picture where the posts are covered looks like it's right outside the Haunted Mansion. Is HM going to get an FP now?

When we were there 6/28, the lines for HM and POTC were 40+minutes. Never saw either one that long!

There is a rumor that potc, hm, small world are all getting fp

 

[havoc315]

According to Jim Hill, and based on the prior FP+ test, practically EVERY attraction will include FP.
Apparently, it almost marks the return of the E-ticket --- You'll be able to book a couple headlining attractions per day, and book a couple of secondary attractions.
So you can walk into the park with 4 scheduled fastpasses... but 2 of them would be for rides like Haunted Mansion and It's a Small World.

 

[juliebug1997]

There is a rumor that potc, hm, small world are all getting fp

According to Jim Hill, and based on the prior FP+ test, practically EVERY attraction will include FP.
Apparently, it almost marks the return of the E-ticket --- You'll be able to book a couple headlining attractions per day, and book a couple of secondary attractions.
So you can walk into the park with 4 scheduled fastpasses... but 2 of them would be for rides like Haunted Mansion and It's a Small World.

I'm not sure that I like this at all.

 

[Robo]

I'm not sure that I like this at all.

There have been a lot of us saying that since they first announced this
"enhancement."

Complexity: squared.

 

[juliebug1997]

There have been a lot of us saying that since they first announced this
"enhancement."

Complexity: squared.

I totally agree. With this system, does this mean that I will only get to ride two first level rides all day and then only two second level rides? If that's the case, why would anyone come? It also means that people will only be coming into the park for a few hours at a time. I mean, you're already considered lucky if you get two TSMM FPs in one day or three PPs. It also means that your stand by line times are going to go through the roof because you are forcing everyone into them.

 

[havoc315]

There is always such apprehension about change.
While I suspect the system may have pros and cons, and likely bugs to work out at first,
I also suspect that people will ultimately favor the new system.
Not having to run to collect fastpasses. Not having to worry about TSM FPs "selling out" by 11 am.
So being able to walk into Magic Kingdom, without running for Rope drop... and knowing you have a secured FPs for Big Thunder Mountain at 10:00 a.m., Haunted Mansion at 11:00 a.m., Dumbo at 12:00, and Space Mountain at 1:00 p.m., and the freedom to fill in the rest of the day with standby or traditional FPs.
Walking in to DHS, with TSM already secured for 1:00 p.m., Tower of Terror at 2:00 p.m., and additional passes for Backlot Tour and Great Movie ride.

I'm sure most people won't miss having to constantly run around and back track for FPs, for checking the clock to see when they can collect another FP, etc.

When FP was introduced, there were people who moaned that it would ruin the experience. But we didn't have such active internet message boards to amplify these concerns.

 

[Robo]

Not having to run to collect fastpasses. Not having to worry about TSM FPs "selling out" by 11 am.

And likely for many, not being able to get a TSM FP -at all-
if they are not quick enough on the draw to reserve one
on the day(s) they are visiting DHS -something they must know well in advance-
and/or are not staying at the right "level" of resort.

Complexity: squared.



.

 

[donaldlovesdaisy]

There is always such apprehension about change.
While I suspect the system may have pros and cons, and likely bugs to work out at first,
I also suspect that people will ultimately favor the new system.
Not having to run to collect fastpasses. Not having to worry about TSM FPs "selling out" by 11 am.
So being able to walk into Magic Kingdom, without running for Rope drop... and knowing you have a secured FPs for Big Thunder Mountain at 10:00 a.m., Haunted Mansion at 11:00 a.m., Dumbo at 12:00, and Space Mountain at 1:00 p.m., and the freedom to fill in the rest of the day with standby or traditional FPs.
Walking in to DHS, with TSM already secured for 1:00 p.m., Tower of Terror at 2:00 p.m., and additional passes for Backlot Tour and Great Movie ride.I'm sure most people won't miss having to constantly run around and back track for FPs, for checking the clock to see when they can collect another FP, etc.

When FP was introduced, there were people who moaned that it would ruin the experience. But we didn't have such active internet message boards to amplify these concerns.

ITA --- I am hoping that this is how it is going to work!!!

 

[ghtx]

Complexity: squared.

Flexibility: cubed.

 

[gwmort]

I totally agree. With this system, does this mean that I will only get to ride two first level rides all day and then only two second level rides? If that's the case, why would anyone come? It also means that people will only be coming into the park for a few hours at a time. I mean, you're already considered lucky if you get two TSMM FPs in one day or three PPs. It also means that your stand by line times are going to go through the roof because you are forcing everyone into them.

I really don't think so. I believe they will still have the conventional fastpasses for use by the locals and people staying off property.

Most people didn't get 4 fast passes in a single day anyway. This sounds like a great way to make the whole touring experience more relaxed for their resort guests. I like it.

I don't believe there will be any impact on the total number of fast pass users in a day and there will be no impact on standby line times.

 

[Robo]

I really don't think so. I believe they will still have the conventional fastpasses for use by the locals and people staying off property.

Most people didn't get 4 fast passes in a single day anyway. This sounds like a great way to make the whole touring experience more relaxed for their resort guests. I like it.

I don't believe there will be any impact on the total number of fast pass users in a day and there will be no impact on standby line times.

Where will the "extra number of rides per hour" come from?

An attraction can only handle X number of riders per hour, and Y number per day.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

There is always such apprehension about change.
While I suspect the system may have pros and cons, and likely bugs to work out at first,
I also suspect that people will ultimately favor the new system.
Not having to run to collect fastpasses. Not having to worry about TSM FPs "selling out" by 11 am.
So being able to walk into Magic Kingdom, without running for Rope drop... and knowing you have a secured FPs for Big Thunder Mountain at 10:00 a.m., Haunted Mansion at 11:00 a.m., Dumbo at 12:00, and Space Mountain at 1:00 p.m., and the freedom to fill in the rest of the day with standby or traditional FPs.
Walking in to DHS, with TSM already secured for 1:00 p.m., Tower of Terror at 2:00 p.m., and additional passes for Backlot Tour and Great Movie ride.

I'm sure most people won't miss having to constantly run around and back track for FPs, for checking the clock to see when they can collect another FP, etc.

When FP was introduced, there were people who moaned that it would ruin the experience. But we didn't have such active internet message boards to amplify these concerns.

Hopefully true.

I mean, I doubt WDW is actively trying to make our experiences worse.

Though they could make a mistake. Sort of like New Coke.

 

[gwmort]

Where will the "extra number of rides per hour" come from?

They will reduce the number of conventional fastpasses available in the park by the number of fastpasses already reserved in the new system. The same number of total fastpasses. I suspect they will limit the reservations to reserve a certain minimum pool to still be available in the parks.

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

This shall be interesting...Can't wait to see all the threads on Aug. 14th.

 

[Praying Colonel]

There have been a lot of us saying that since they first announced this
"enhancement."

Complexity: squared.

It's not a glitch--it's a feature!