More FastPass+ Testing Coming This Month

[Senator Tressel]

PP who said that most people didn't get four FPs in a day,
Do you mean for one ride or all day? Because DH and I routinely get four+ FPs in one day in MK or DHS. As soon as we can get a new one, we do.

You're not most people. Statistically, there aren't enough fastpasses for everyone who enters the park to get four per day, so "most people" can't possibly get that many.

 

[Rip]

OK, fine. That HUGE portion is perfectly free to not use FP+ (or FP for that matter, or do any planning whatsoever). What is the complaint?

Um, yeah, I'm sure this is exactly why they're doing it. My guess is that you aren't in any sort of marketing position, because if the people developing this had that kind of attitude, I doubt they'd be employed by WDW for long.

I could actually spell out the complaint but you're not interested, you're just being sarcastic.

 

[Rip]

I'm not sure it is that cut and dried. They put a lot of development into the free system too, and I don't think "no one has an issue" with it - it is confusing and frustrating to first-timers, requires a lot of extra criss-crossing of the parks, and discourages park-hopping because of the need to be in the park in the AM to get a FP that potentially has a PM return time. And an expansion of the system comes with its own benefits for Disney, in more consistent, predictable guest traffic patterns and in further freeing of guests to shop/snack/indulge in extras rather than wait in lines.

I'm sure Disney is also aware that one of the few areas where guests speak more highly of Universal than of Disney is on FOTL vs FP, and while they can't mimic that system exactly because of the differences in scale they do likely see the benefit in improving their offering.

If there were no existing system, I would agree. However, it's not at all likely that this new system will improve efficiency over what they have to the point of paying for itself.

And if you think first timers have issues with the current system, I can't imagine how they are going to react to having to decide what time they want to ride Space Mountain 180 days from today!

 

[ghtx]

I could actually spell out the complaint but you're not interested, you're just being sarcastic.

I'm trying my best

Seriously, I didn't mean to be rude, but I wanted to point out the fact that if you don't want to use FP+, then no one is forcing you. I think that the worries that FP+ is going to wreak havoc on those who choose not to use it are baseless.

 

[tfc3rid]

It was so much easier and less stressful going to WDW before FP even came into being... A Standby line always moved no matter how long the wait was... Ahhh, the good old days!

 

[Robo]

It was so much easier and less stressful going to WDW before FP even came into being... A Standby line always moved no matter how long the wait was... Ahhh, the good old days!

Disneyland memories:

Three-hour lines for Splash Mountain.

Four-hour waits for Indiana Jones: Temple of the Forbidden Eye.

 

[MurphyJoe]

You're not most people. Statistically, there aren't enough fastpasses for everyone who enters the park to get four per day, so "most people" can't possibly get that many.

Somebody calculated out previously (on this board) that with typical Disney resort occupancy levels, with all current FP attractions running at maximum capacity, and what is believed to be Disney's formula to determine how many FPs to distribute each hour; there are not enough FPs across all four parks to give Disney resort guests 4 FP per day.

This is the reason why it is believed that Disney is increasing the number of FP attractions before the FP+ system goes live, why FP+ will probably be limited to guests staying at a WDW Resort hotel only, and why the traditional FP program will probably be going away. There simply isn't enough FPs available for the system to work like it is currently being predicted to work if FP+ is available to everybody.

 

[tfc3rid]

Disneyland memories:

Three-hour lines for Splash Mountain.

Four-hour waits for Indiana Jones: Temple of the Forbidden Eye.

Ahhh but now you have AP blackouts and a Second Gate!

The maximum wait for Space Mountain at WDW I ever waited on was 60 minutes pre-FP in mid Summer on crowded evenings... Line moved... Always...

That said, I do hope that X-Pass will work for whatever reason it is being implemented and expanded...

 

[Zurginator]

Another issue is what if it is raining and you decide not to go to the park that day. But you have already received (free or purchased) your FP+ for the rides in that park? Is it given to you for specific days, or good for one use only during the duration of your stay?

 

[Robo]

Another issue is what if it is raining and you decide not to go to the park that day. But you have already received (free or purchased) your FP+ for the rides in that park?



Is it given to you for specific days, or good for one use only during the duration of your stay?

The "reserved FP's" could only work on the specific days (and times) for which they were issued.

Otherwise (using your example,) what if 11,000 guests skipped MK on
May 3 due to rain, then showed up at MK over the course of May 4, 5, or 6th with their FP's ready to ride?

 

[Cyrano]

Folks this thread was started regarding testing of the nexgen system.
Any discussion on the current and past FP system will be deleted or send this thread to the dead zone.
You have been warned

 

[tony609]

I didn't read the entire BUT have read several others on this board...

Correct me (please) if I am wrong BUT..isn't the new system also to include things like meet and greets and opther expirences???? Now I know they have the 2 at town square theatre now BUT what if the new Princess Fairytale Hall includes a FP+ (I'm sure it will), Mickey stays a FP, perhaps the old princess area in Town Square theatre becomes some sort of Meet and greet..and the new Pete's side show, i think it's suppose to be fab 5 characters dressed in circus garb (which I thought was changed) was a FP attraction as well. Perhaps these will be things you have to book and count as your FP's for the day as well. I know that currecntly the Mickey one isn't in the system correct? BUT I have heard the Princess is....

What others could they come with for Characters to take away from ride FP....or perhaps their will be different levels includeing these..E attratcions, secondary attractions, Character attractions..if you could do 2 for on each leverl that would be interesting. I just hope they wouldn't rope off certain areas for FP people for parades,fireworks and castle shows??? BUT they could.

You could realistically alsmost have your entire day planned before arrival..4 rides, 2 character meet and greets, an adr for dinner/lunch, a show time spot and a parade spot.

I doubt disney would go that far but.........

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

Folks this thread was started regarding testing of the nexgen system.
Any discussion on the current and past FP system will be deleted or send this thread to the dead zone.
You have been warned

I haven't followed the boards very closely lately -

are discussions of current and past FP systems not allowed anymore? Similar to discussions of tipping over on the dining boards?

 

[Colleen27]

A potential huge problem are "no shows"

People will book and not show up. Disney will try to compensate for this by allowing "overbooking", then on the days when you have fewer than normal "no shows" it will cause havoc.

I'm basing my thoughts on the ADR system which has this exact problem.

The reason Disney overbooks for dining is because an empty table is lost revenue and they've done away with any standby-equivalent (the old-fashioned podium-list for walk-ups). That issue doesn't readily translate to a ride booking system because there is no lost profit if a guest decides he's too busy drinking around the world to make it to Soarin' and because there will always be a supply of standby guests waiting to fill the no-show's spot.

 

[Robo]

You could realistically alsmost have your entire day planned before arrival..4 rides, 2 character meet and greets, an adr for dinner/lunch, a show time spot and a parade spot.

If that's all that's what could be considered an "entire day" at MK
(and, remember, the FP's may be for things like small world and teacups,)
I am not amused.

 

[Colleen27]

And if you think first timers have issues with the current system, I can't imagine how they are going to react to having to decide what time they want to ride Space Mountain 180 days from today!

I expect that this will be a much shorter notice window, and that Disney will put together a welcome packet/e-mail explaining it (just like how now, when you book a resort reservation, there is a note about about making dining reservations in your confirmation e-mail). I also think they'll promote it much more heavily than they did FP, at least while it is still shiny-new and forward-thinking.

My best guess based on already-established dates is that the ride reservation system will open up on the same timeframe as online check-in, to give enough advance notice for those who don't travel "connected" but not so much that you have a ton of reservation changes and cancellations between the booking date and the date of arrival.

 

[andyman8]

With so much news coming in about NextGen, I put it all into this one article. If you have any questions, comments, corrections, or information, please don't hesitate to post a comment in the comments section or on the DISboards.

http://www.disneyparksplanning.com/...6-disney-parks-to-launch-new-app-in-park-wifi

I am in the extreme minority here, but I'm actually excited for FP+ (or xPASS) and the rest of NextGen!

 

[Rip]

I'm trying my best

Seriously, I didn't mean to be rude, but I wanted to point out the fact that if you don't want to use FP+, then no one is forcing you. I think that the worries that FP+ is going to wreak havoc on those who choose not to use it are baseless.

Didn't think you were being rude. Just don't agree that this is going to cause less "problems".

 

[CalSea12]

I didn't read the entire BUT have read several others on this board...

Correct me (please) if I am wrong BUT..isn't the new system also to include things like meet and greets and opther expirences???? Now I know they have the 2 at town square theatre now BUT what if the new Princess Fairytale Hall includes a FP+ (I'm sure it will), Mickey stays a FP, perhaps the old princess area in Town Square theatre becomes some sort of Meet and greet..and the new Pete's side show, i think it's suppose to be fab 5 characters dressed in circus garb (which I thought was changed) was a FP attraction as well. Perhaps these will be things you have to book and count as your FP's for the day as well. I know that currecntly the Mickey one isn't in the system correct? BUT I have heard the Princess is....

What others could they come with for Characters to take away from ride FP....or perhaps their will be different levels includeing these..E attratcions, secondary attractions, Character attractions..if you could do 2 for on each leverl that would be interesting. I just hope they wouldn't rope off certain areas for FP people for parades,fireworks and castle shows??? BUT they could.

You could realistically alsmost have your entire day planned before arrival..4 rides, 2 character meet and greets, an adr for dinner/lunch, a show time spot and a parade spot.

I doubt disney would go that far but.........

I actually thought the FP+ was supposed to include everything you mentioned? The parades, shows, fireworks.....

Maybe I am wrong or maybe I was reading something else

 

[daisy8869]

We will be in the World August 12-17th...any chance we could be testers? Anyway to sign up? We are using ME but on the 12th...not the 14th...