More FastPass+ Testing Coming This Month

[GoHerbie]

If speculation can take up 14 pages, I can't wait to see how big the discussion about actual facts will be!

 

[wdw71]

I'm not sure that "most" visitors own smart phones, though. Out of my group of five adults staying at BLT next spring, including four engineers/scientists, NONE of us have true smart phones. We all have access to computers for the majority of the day, so we can't justify the extra monthly expense. It may be several more years before everyone has them.

Another rumor I heard a while ago (maybe Jim Hill) was the possibility of getting FPs through your resort TV. So if your party is staying onsite and has the rumored RFID bracelet as your ticket media this would be a way around the smart phone issue. Maybe they would have locations to scan your bracelet to check your FP return time if you forget it. I just think all of this is sooo exciting.

 

[wdw71]

If speculation can take up 14 pages, I can't wait to see how big the discussion about actual facts will be!

But seriously these boards are sometimes read by inside "Disney people". So not only is this very fun for geeking out on Disney technology in the end someone may post an idea that actually benefits all of us.

 

[Claire-Bear]

If this Smartphone FP goes ahead, it seems as though the foreign travellers could be adversely affected. It is infrequent that people have quadband phones that can work in the US, and even those that do if it the app uses the internet (which it would likely) I'd hate to think about the foreign charges for using it.

If we stayed at a resort and the TV aspect went ahead, yes we could book some FPs through that, but it means on the day once we start using the FPs, we are then unable to get more FPs without running around, whilst those US customers with smartphone can get them standing still, making it less likely for foreign travellers to obtain more FPs.

Just a thought

 

[Danauk]

If this Smartphone FP goes ahead, it seems as though the foreign travellers could be adversely affected. It is infrequent that people have quadband phones that can work in the US, and even those that do if it the app uses the internet (which it would likely) I'd hate to think about the foreign charges for using it.

But Disney has installed WIFI in the MK (and I guess it will go into all the parks) so we would not have to any foreign charges to use it. It would be interesting to see how many UK and US visitors have smart phones. All of my friends and family here in the UK that travel abroad all have tri or quad band phones that would work in the USA and world wide as most phones are tri band as the manufacturers make global model.

 

[Waddler]

But seriously these boards are sometimes read by inside "Disney people". So not only is this very fun for geeking out on Disney technology in the end someone may post an idea that actually benefits all of us.

Exactly! If I were an Imagineer working on this project, I'd be curious to see what people are saying.

 

[Nancyg56]

I have been thinking about how I would handle this if I was in charge. No really, an enhanced FP system, how to capitalize on a system already in place? I would use it the way the DDP was used a few years ago. DDP was a very real bargain 5 years ago, you needed to be onsite to get it, it was affordable and there was no differences in the pan that were dependent upon which level of resort you booked. The DDP was the DDP was the DDP. All you needed to do was stay onsite. Disney filled up those resorts and their restaurants got filled up as well. Lots of captive Dollars going into Disney coffers.

Then it was offered for free during the slow hurricane season. Then the price went up, the "free" DDP was offered during more timeframes. After a while the "free" plan you got was determined by the level of resort you stayed in. No more regular DDP if you were in a Value.

This would be a nice little incentive to stay onsite. And no pesky free DDP to worry about. I think this new enhanced FP could replace that. If Disney offered this special FP to folks who book onsite and used it to replace all that free dining they now give away Who knows? I think that Disney got between a rock and a hard place with the DDP, folks do not want to pay for it yet they need an incentive for people who have always gone during Free Dining. An enhanced FP that allowed resort guest to schedule a few of their favorite attractions might take the place of free dining for some folks.

 

[Royal Consort]

If this Smartphone FP goes ahead, it seems as though the foreign travellers could be adversely affected. It is infrequent that people have quadband phones that can work in the US, and even those that do if it the app uses the internet (which it would likely) I'd hate to think about the foreign charges for using it.

Absolutely Clair-Bear! When we travel we also often leave our smart phones at home and take one cheap one simply for emergency phone calls.

But Disney has installed WIFI in the MK (and I guess it will go into all the parks) so we would not have to any foreign charges to use it. It would be interesting to see how many UK and US visitors have smart phones. All of my friends and family here in the UK that travel abroad all have tri or quad band phones that would work in the USA and world wide as most phones are tri band as the manufacturers make global model.

Our Australian phones don't work in the US with US SIMs. I understand Disneyland is more the Australian destination than Disney World but having said that, it seems annoying. If I wanted to use my Aussie smart phone in the states I have to go through a long, drawn out procedure of unlocking my phone with my provider, syncing it all to iTunes to save my settings and contacts, then returning it to factory settings, and then syncing it to get the data back. Or I could just have international roam on and it cost a fortune. We currently don't have access to the app from the Australian iTunes store with an Aussie account so we'd have to get it somehow in the US. Not sure how that works.

And to be honest, part of the reason I want to get away is to be WITHOUT that damn phone in the first place!!! I am on holiday and DON'T want to be contacted.

I could take my iPhone if I desperately needed to I suppose and use the WIFI in the park if I'm able to download the app from there. It just seems a hassle if this is the way.


I'm sure Disney realize that their resort is an international attraction and won't disadvantage those who either don't own a smart phone, or come internationally and face too many complexities sorting it all out. After all, this is meant to be a break right?

 

[Q-man]

This being a perk of on-site hotels makes a lot of sense. Disney has put a lot of money into building hotels and refubing hotels and having a way to force people to stay on-site would help a lot. They have been saying for awhile that they want to stop the discounts, this could be there answer as to how they are going to do that and still fill their hotels.

I think they are going to have a hard time putting that back in the bottle. The main competition is cruise lines and Caribbean all inclusives. The meals are paid for upfront for both of those.

The better solution is to quit building more rooms.

 

[KellyNY]

I think they are going to have a hard time putting that back in the bottle. The main competition is cruise lines and Caribbean all inclusives. The meals are paid for upfront for both of those.

The better solution is to quit building more rooms.

And offsite hotels. Disney hotels are not better and more expensive, they need something big to keep us onsite.

 

[mjp12831]

The iphone 4s battery didn't last me 10 hours yesterday when I traveled to Boston and was using it. It may be a problem when using an app all day long in the parks.

 

[Robo]

The iphone 4s battery didn't last me 10 hours yesterday when I traveled to Boston and was using it. It may be a problem when using an app all day long in the parks.

There are dozens of external battery pack devices for iPhone.

Prices range from about $5.00 to about $65.00

Useful to own at any time.


Examples HERE.

 

[hildyp]

And so where would that put those of us who have actually BOUGHT into Disney with our DVC memberships?? Would that also be tiered by how many points we own or which resort we own at?? Certainly hope not based on those 2 points...but I DO hope they recognize those of us who are obviously serious Disney geeks who were nutso enough to shell out thousands & thousands of dollars for the guarantee of being future repeat guests. DVC members had better not be left out of any perks they may have in mind. Sorry if anybody else out there disagrees but we have made a hefty financial commitment to this mouse and should be recognized as having done so.

Disney - are you reading this?? I DO NOT want to have to schedule every minute of our days any more than what we already have to (ADR's). IF (big IF) I can reserve a time for Splash Mountain for an hour later while I'm in line using my "regular" FP at Space Mountain then cool beans. But I do NOT want a system that says if I want to ride Splash Mountain at 11:00 AM on Wed., 3/27/13 that I have to reserve it as early as 6 months before then they can keep their stooopid Next Gen FP+. Or if I have to pay a lot more than what we already have paid to be there in order to get it then they can keep it. We own DVC and we buy AP's - enough with the nickel & diming already. We have already paid our fair share to see the mouse.

While I'm not a DVC member, I am an AP holder that lives close to the parks and spends and incredible amount of $$ yearly at the parks. I would hate to not be able to get a FP to any rides because they are already "booked" by hotel guests.

 

[Q-man]

And offsite hotels. Disney hotels are not better and more expensive, they need something big to keep us onsite.

Agree. Disney has been averaging adding ~1K on property rooms a year for over a decade now. That is 365,000 room nights a year being added on property. ~13,750 rooms added since 1998. That is over 5 million room nights a year to fill. How long can they keep doing that and create a correlating demand for all that added inventory? Disney also needs more attractions to absorb the increase in attendance.

 

[MurphyJoe]

I think they are going to have a hard time putting that back in the bottle. The main competition is cruise lines and Caribbean all inclusives. The meals are paid for upfront for both of those.

Some time ago, I heard a rumor that Disney was seriously considering making WDW an all inclusive resort. While it can be, in a way, if you purchase the dinning plan Disney was going to do something to take it one step further. Haven't heard any more stirrings on this since then.

 

[meggiebeth]

I think it is a good idea in a way although if it is true it will only be available for deluxe resort guests that does seem a bit discriminatory.

People aren't going to get into debt staying at a deluxe resort just to get this perk. We are in the top 5% of earners in the UK and still could not afford to stay at deluxe level without a hefty discount.

I think the basic idea is good- with resort prices rising Disney needs to be able to justify it with better perks. I don't see the whole reserving times though, can't they just implement an express pass like universal have at the moment? Wouldnt that be better for the planners and the people who like being spontaneous alike?

I don't like the idea that it is only for deluxe resort guests, and that it will clearly influence people who don't have the perk. It would be better to just have either something like the express pass or include moderate resort guests as well.

I can deal with getting ADRs for restaurants 180 days in advance, but reserving ride times? Isn't that a bit drastic? I'd worry that it WOULD be first come first serve even just for deluxe resort guests and that some would have to settle for little or nothing .

 

[TLSnell1981]

If speculation can take up 14 pages, I can't wait to see how big the discussion about actual facts will be!

It will be gory.

 

[Q-man]

Some time ago, I heard a rumor that Disney was seriously considering making WDW an all inclusive resort. While it can be, in a way, if you purchase the dinning plan Disney was going to do something to take it one step further. Haven't heard any more stirrings on this since then.

Since free dining has been offered for all but peak weeks for 2-3 years now you could argue they already are for the most part.

Not to mention that "free" dining is a heck of tool to keep you on property when you'd have to buy your meals at any other area attractions you might take in while in Orlando.

 

[Reddy]

where did the idea that the fastpass + or Xpass will be deluxe only?? I keep reading that on here but no where else - is it just a rumor?? I think that would make too many people mad

 

[mom2rtk]

where did the idea that the fastpass + or Xpass will be deluxe only?? I keep reading that on here but no where else - is it just a rumor?? I think that would make too many people mad

I think it came mostly from people here who stay in deluxe resorts. From the same people who say you can't watch Wishes from the Poly beach unless you're staying there.