More updated Fastpass+ information

[FortForever]

Has the second-hand pixie dust left the room yet? I don't want to risk breathing any.

I think I'll be needing all the second hand pixie dust I can get to relax about FP+.

Looking forward to the bracelet, but wish FP was not a part of it. Hoping this all turns out better than it sounds.

It just seems so much has been invested in this new system that there will be no going back even if people hate it.

Ugh! Where's my Ambien...

Sent from my SCH-S950C using DISBoards

 

[jadebaby0714]

I like the idea of being able to pick 3 fastpasses per day. I travel with a small child and have monor walking issues and can NEVER get to cerain attractions for fastpasses on time.This will be good for people with certain physical issues or traveling alone with small children.

 

[DougEMG]

I'm at WDW right now and the last few days when we've made rope drop or close to it, we've managed to do about 8-10 rides and be out of the park by noonish. For example today at DHS we did R&RC twice, TSM twice, Star Tours twice, Indianna Jones, Little Mermaid, Pirates walk through, then had lunch and were walking out the park by noon. The other day at MK we did BTM twice, space Mountain x3, Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Buzz x2 had lunch and then left shortly after noon. At no time did we enter a standby line that had more than a 10-15 minute wait and we were constantly using FP and getting the next one as soon as we could. We had excellent mornings and thought we got a lot done without ever having to wait in a long line.

Now if the new FP+ let's me do that and then book more FP for in the evening then great, but if I can't get at least 8-10 rides of my choice and not stand in line for more than 15 max at a time, I'm not going to be happy. If I decide the value that Disney provides is no longer there, than I'm more than happy to go to Universal and use their Express Pass.

Of course none of this matters in the least if the IT department can't get their act together and get this working. From what I've seen, Disney must have the worst IT department of any major corporation.

 

[3happydancers]

People without smartphones can use the in-park kiosks or Internet-enabled devices like iPod touches.

People may not have smartphones or iPod's (I know we don't-not in our daily budget) or may not want to experience their vacation with a device in hand for hours at a time. And spending time rushing to a kiosk to wait on ANOTHER line does not excite my family one bit. Personally, I feel this to be a punishment for those who cannot afford fancy devices, but pay the same price for onsite lodging and tickets. Just my own feelings on the Fastpass+ (though we are trying to keep an open mind). Ultimately, time will tell. We'll give it a go. If we don't like it, then we simply move on. Disney will never be short visitors so our decision will not impact the World one bit. We'll just do what is best for us.

 

[Sammie]

People may not have smartphones or iPod's (I know we don't-not in our daily budget) or may not want to experience their vacation with a device in hand for hours at a time. And spending time rushing to a kiosk to wait on ANOTHER line does not excite my family one bit. Personally, I feel this to be a punishment for those who cannot afford fancy devices, but pay the same price for onsite lodging and tickets. Just my own feelings on the Fastpass+ (though we are trying to keep an open mind). Ultimately, time will tell. We'll give it a go. If we don't like it, then we simply move on. Disney will never be short visitors so our decision will not impact the World one bit. We'll just do what is best for us.

Very intelligent comment. I think what many have to realize is that, Disney does not have to please everyone, and they don't have to please any one specific person, they just have to please enough people to be profitable.

Many veteran goers might not like the changes but I am sure there will be enough that do like it, to make it successful and that is all that matters.

 

[bauer1168]

That would be handled exactly the same as a ride going down. You would get a FP back in your bank to either use for a different attraction (or a different time at the same attraction).

Yup, I agree you would be able to replace it with a different attraction, I can't imagine one not bring able to.
The point I was making, which I didn't elaborate on ( I should proof read more) was that for parades it would be only that one show, so some guests would feel annoyed, Disney can't control the weather so it's out of their hands. Some guests may feel they've wasted a FP+ slot.
The rides/attractions will be there all day but the parade is only once or twice per day.

 

[mummabear]

I think this is all about money and EVERYONE knows it. Disney can say anything they want about enhancing the customer's experience, but its all about the money.

Of course it's about money but that doesnt mean its not about customer service. First of all Disney can save a bucket load of money by having staff, food prep, transport, ride capacity decisions being based on the data they are going to be able to get from these bands. They are going to get alot of really helpful info about how people are moving aroud the entire resort, how long they are waiting for things and where they are going when they are not riding.

They are also going to make money from people upgrading the bands.

The decsions they make to move people around the park, add a charcter to distract people in a busy area, add ride capacity to a long line are all in my benefit.

Disney will do what it always has done, give me an excellent time so I am happy, and happy people spend money

 

[2Tiggies]

Different strokes. You'd never wait an hour in a SB line, but don't mind waiting an hour for a parade. Others might choose to wait in a long SB line, but FP the parade.

I don't generally join a standby line of more than 20 minutes (posted wait time) but I will also sit for an hour or more for a parade or fireworks because I feel this time can be used. We use it as our rest time and I plan it so that we go and get our meal in the form of a CS meal and use that time eating while we wait. We would have had to eat anyway so a good half hour would have been spent sitting in a CS restaurant, whereas now I have incorporated that time into the wait time, which in my view, makes it deductible from the total wait.

 

[hollygolitely93]

Of course it's about money but that doesnt mean its not about customer service. First of all Disney can save a bucket load of money by having staff, food prep, transport, ride capacity decisions being based on the data they are going to be able to get from these bands. They are going to get alot of really helpful info about how people are moving aroud the entire resort, how long they are waiting for things and where they are going when they are not riding.

They are also going to make money from people upgrading the bands.

The decsions they make to move people around the park, add a charcter to distract people in a busy area, add ride capacity to a long line are all in my benefit.

Disney will do what it always has done, give me an excellent time so I am happy, and happy people spend money

Agree...but think the big money to gain is in resort stays and that is why I am waiting to see what tiered system will result....will on-site users get extra FPs, get to book first so will get the coveted afternoon FPs...there has to be some compelling perk for resort guests in the works to off set EMH and free dining...just not sure what it will be....I am guessing it will be more FPs and earlier booking of them...but I'm not a marketer

 

[hollygolitely93]

From what I have heard from sources inside Disney, they do plan on only allowing 3 per day. I personally believe that Disney wants all of us to spend more time in lines. For those that are old enough to remember per fast pass days, it took more than a day to do MK and EPCOT. You had a lot at least 1.5 days for each. Since fast pass, it is much easier to get everything in a park done in a day. If folks are able to get Disney parks done quicker, that may leave them with free time to perhaps do Universal or Sea World.

To me, further evidence that Disney believes more people will be spending more time in line is all the money they are spending on interactive queues. They would not be doing that if the magical fast pass + was going to reduce wait times.

Not sure about this...I think both interactive queues and FP+ is designed to increase customer satisfaction...perceived wait times is a component of that...whether your total wait time is significantly reduced or redistributed amongst top and middle attractions...they win in satisfaction...which is a win in spending...plus...resort stay and combating US has to be factored in here somewhere...just not sure how......

 

[mom2rtk]

I think that may turn out to be misguided.

I mean...it's called Fast Pass PLUS, right? Like...you have FP already...and we want to give you MORE (fireworks, parades, scheduled times if you want 'em).

The DVC letter quoted a few posts back seems to say that.

No, you have to think like a corporate marketing department. Calling it Fastpass Plus does not necessarily mean you get more. It could just as easily mean they are up to something and want you to just THINK you are getting more.

i think that it gets even better.

Imagine that you used three of your old FPs for multiple trips on the same ride and that Nader the new system, you can only FP a ride once per day. This moves two people from the SB line to the FP line and doesn't replace those people in the SB line because you don't want to wait SB for a ride (twice) once you've already FPed it.

So I'm supposed to be happy that because I can no longer get more than one fastpass for Space Mountain, the line standby line will be shorter when I take my repeat trip?

Sorry, that's not working for me.

People may not have smartphones or iPod's (I know we don't-not in our daily budget) or may not want to experience their vacation with a device in hand for hours at a time. And spending time rushing to a kiosk to wait on ANOTHER line does not excite my family one bit. Personally, I feel this to be a punishment for those who cannot afford fancy devices, but pay the same price for onsite lodging and tickets. Just my own feelings on the Fastpass+ (though we are trying to keep an open mind). Ultimately, time will tell. We'll give it a go. If we don't like it, then we simply move on. Disney will never be short visitors so our decision will not impact the World one bit. We'll just do what is best for us.

This is actually one of the biggest pieces of why I am not in favor of this new system. I have a smart phone and bring it with me to Disney. Right now I keep it in my backpack and only bring it out when I have a need to use it. I don't like keeping it out because I had a phone fall out of my pocket once on a ride at Disneyland. Any time I don't have it stowed in my bag, I feel like I constantly have to be checking that it's still in my pocket. I have to be "aware" of it. I don't want to be "aware" of it. I keep shopping for shorts with deeper pockets but alas that is an impossible thing to find these days. I sew, so have actually considered remaking the pockets on my shorts to make them deeper. Instead, I just prefer to put it in my backpack and only take it out on odd occasions.

Under the "new Disney" it appears that to get the most out of the system, I'll need to have it out a lot more.

I guess I can only be happy that I have the sort of phone that allows me to swap out batteries when mine is low, and that I won't be sitting somewhere for an extended period of time waiting for it to recharge.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

No, you have to think like a corporate marketing department. Calling it Fastpass Plus does not necessarily mean you get more. It could just as easily mean they are up to something and want you to just THINK you are getting more.



So I'm supposed to be happy that because I can no longer get more than one fastpass for Space Mountain, the line standby line will be shorter when I take my repeat trip?

Sorry, that's not working for me.



This is actually one of the biggest pieces of why I am not in favor of this new system. I have a smart phone and bring it with me to Disney. Right now I keep it in my backpack and only bring it out when I have a need to use it. I don't like keeping it out because I had a phone fall out of my pocket once on a ride at Disneyland. Any time I don't have it stowed in my bag, I feel like I constantly have to be checking that it's still in my pocket. I have to be "aware" of it. I don't want to be "aware" of it. I keep shopping for shorts with deeper pockets but alas that is an impossible thing to find these days. I sew, so have actually considered remaking the pockets on my shorts to make them deeper. Instead, I just prefer to put it in my backpack and only take it out on odd occasions.

Under the "new Disney" it appears that to get the most out of the system, I'll need to have it out a lot more.

I guess I can only be happy that I have the sort of phone that allows me to swap out batteries when mine is low, and that I won't be sitting somewhere for an extended period of time waiting for it to recharge.

all of this assumes that regular FP features go away.

we simply don't know that.

If they don't, then none of this matters right?

It'll be business as usual with the added feature of being able to plan even more, if you want too.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

You see this frequently at the corporate level.

The "suits" ask the padawans to tell them about the cool new thing.

[snip]


Could be:

A. The intended "beneficiaries" try the real-deal rollout and are happy.
Goodness, light and joy prevail. Big bonuses. Promotions, padawans start wearing suits.

B. The intended "beneficiaries" try the real-deal rollout and are NOT happy.
Finger-pointing. Suits duck and throw pink slips. Padawans go to work for JCP advertising dept.

C. The tests are delayed and delayed and delayed.
Due to unforeseen circumstances...

The intended "beneficiaries" never get to try the real-deal...

and are happy.



-Burma Shave

But sometimes marvelous ideas are rolled out by America's greatest companies and are adopted by the savvy beneficiaries en masse, and then slowly absorbed by everyone else (Twitter, Google, iPhone, Instagram, Pheed, etc etc etc)

and yes, I am aware some will NOT see Twitter for example as a marvelous idea. I happen to be one of them (I hate it). But this is the World now (see what did there?).

honestly, the hand wringing around here about FP+ is truly amazing.

 

[Robo]

But sometimes marvelous ideas are rolled out by America's greatest companies and are adopted by the savvy beneficiaries en masse, and then slowly absorbed by everyone else (Twitter, Google, iPhone, Instagram, Pheed, etc etc etc)

Is that not a facet of my "outcome A?"

honestly, the hand wringing around here about FP+ is truly amazing.

If you think that this is only a concern "around here" then you don't read many other Disney websites.

The discussion here is quite tame and civil compared to the postings on some of the other sites.

 

[ManyMinnie]

This may already be posted in another thread, but I think it points out many of the concerns:

http://micechat.com/24073-disney-fastpass-plus/

I think the link is a well thought out, rational response, even though it is critical of Disney.

 

[mom2rtk]

all of this assumes that regular FP features go away.

we simply don't know that.

If they don't, then none of this matters right?

It'll be business as usual with the added feature of being able to plan even more, if you want too.

Sort of. But not really. Regular (non 180 day advance) dining reservations still exist. But the mere presence of the alternate plan (for scheduling so far in advance) changes that regular system for everyone else.

The ability of the masses to schedule fastpasses in advance will change it for everyone else, whether they choose to participate or not. I'm actually pretty confident I will still be able to walk into the park and get fastpasses. Probably on my smart phone. But I'm not convinced I'll be able to get them for Space Mountain, TSMM or Soarin. I'm not interested in a fastpass for Philharmagic. I wasn't interested when they spit them out as a "bonus" before, and I won't be interested when they offer them by text.

 

[doggydoc]

all of this assumes that regular FP features go away.

we simply don't know that.

If they don't, then none of this matters right?

It'll be business as usual with the added feature of being able to plan even more, if you want too.

No one has stated officially that regular FP is going away, however they have definitively stated in the original official announcement that you have to chose either regular FP OR FP+. That is a fact we know. If you chose the band you no longer have a KTTW card to use regular FP.

 

[doggydoc]

I think the link is a well thought out, rational response, even though it is critical of Disney.

I doubt you actually meant it that way but you just illustrated one of the barriers of having a logical discussion on this board. Many on here think that "well thought out, and rational" and "critical of Disney" are mutaully exclusive.

 

[ManyMinnie]

I doubt you actually meant it that way but you just illustrated one of the barriers of having a logical discussion on this board. Many on here think that "well thought out, and rational" and "critical of Disney" are mutaully exclusive.

That is not what I meant at all. As you may have noticed, I'm not a Disney apologist.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

Is that not a facet of my "outcome A?"



If you think that this is only a concern "around here" then you don't read many other Disney websites.

The discussion here is quite tame and civil compared to the postings on some of the other sites.

it is your outcome A, but based on the totality of your post that seemed like a throwaway option. But I hope it happens that way and I bet you do too!

"around here" wasn't meant to mean anything really. so if I offended anyone, my bad. I just figure I'm going to choose to remain open-minded with a positive bias. I'd rather be disappointed then, instead of negative now and pleasantly surprised then. I haven't seen other boards and based on how you say they are I'm not going to go find them!