More updated Fastpass+ information

[Brian Noble]

Some people still won't for sure. Some people will, though. It doesn't have to be everyone, it just has to be more than use FP today.

Here's another interesting question: what fraction of WDW guests use a travel agent? If that is non-trivial (and it might be---Disney is one of the last few companies that pay reasonable commissions) then some of the "low-info" guests don't have to make FP+ reservations at all. Their TAs will instead, just as TAs now book ADRs for their clients.

 

[disneygal55]

All I can say is that I am hoping that the rollout of FP+ is after our April trip. My husband was less than thrilled when I told him about the new FP enforcement policy. If I told him we were limited to to 3 FP per day (assuming this is correct) I would have a rebellion on my hands.

I can honestly say that if the more pessimistic views of the FP+ turn out to be true (3 FP per day, limits on FP for big rides) it will reduce the chances of a return visit for us. I freely admit that we aren't Disney diehards - we go every 3 years or so, not every year or multiple times a year like some other Disboarders, but we still love it. However, the cost of a WDW vacation for 5 flying from Mass is high. The airfare alone for my family this trip is over $3000. I'm not going to pay these kinds of prices to spend a lot of time in lines. I can get my Disney fix with a day trip to DL when I visit my sister who lives 15 minutes from DL.

Wow Clareita! I can't believe that your airfare was that expensive! Where are you flying out of? We fly out of Bradley Airport in Connecticut and usually fly Southwest. Our flights have usually run about $200 per person roundtrip although I did notice that the fare is up to about $300 for this fall.

 

[mummabear]

I feel like the phrase "You snooze, you lose" is a true statement. I really don't feel bad for people who want to take it easy an show up at the parks at lunch time. There really should be a benefit for people who show up to a park when it opens. I guess that benefit will still exist to some degree but it just won't be as much.

Probably.

Like I said before, I'll wait until the full details are in the wild before making final judgment.

I don't think it's Disney's problem to fix but not everyone has equal oppurtunity to rope drop in my opinion, for someone on the east coast you may not be sleeping in to make it to RD but for someone from the west coast they are having to get up 3 hours early to get there at the same time as you and for someone like me on an 8 hour difference it's just not going to happen and it has nothing to do with being lazy.

I like that FP+ will give me a chance at getting a FP for TSMM.

 

[clareita]

Wow Clareita! I can't believe that your airfare was that expensive! Where are you flying out of? We fly out of Bradley Airport in Connecticut and usually fly Southwest. Our flights have usually run about $200 per person roundtrip although I did notice that the fare is up to about $300 for this fall.

We are going for school vacation week flying out of Boston, and the airlines jack up the fares to Orlando for this week by almost 100%. The tickets are more expensive (about $100 per ticket) because we have direct non-stop flights to Orlando, but I've learned the hard way that connecting flights are not your friend.

 

[hollygolitely93]

I see it the same way. It is geared toward low information riders.

Not sure Disney is going to ignore loyal customers. All CRM (customer management data) shows repeat visitors typically spend 2-3 times amount per visit than one time wonders...this is in general...I can think of any business strategy that ignores loyalty...I don't dispute this is geared towards making the clueless guest experience better...but not sure that is definetly at the expense of seasoned guests...we need to find out if the FPs will exist beyond the 3 scheduled in advance

 

[Robo]

1. I wonder if a piece of this is encouraging folks to buy their tickets directly through Disney. I know that if people buy tickets from an outside source can exchange them for the magic band, but how do they make reservations in advance?

Disney doesn't care from where you buy your legitimate stand-alone tickets.

ALL tickets (Undercover Tourist, etc.) are actually real Disney tickets, sold by Disney directly to the authorized ticket re-sellers.

The re-sellers offer a service and manpower that Disney does not have to provide themselves in the additional marketing of tickets at venues and sites away from Disney's own.

Re-sellers also sell to a market-share of guests who may only decide to buy "extra days" if they perceive that they are
getting a "discount deal."

 

[disneygal55]

We are going for school vacation week flying out of Boston, and the airlines jack up the fares to Orlando for this week by almost 100%. The tickets are more expensive (about $100 per ticket) because we have direct non-stop flights to Orlando, but I've learned the hard way that connecting flights are not your friend.

That's horrible! We're pretty lucky because we live about 20 minutes from Bradley and Southwest has been offering a couple of direct flights a day. I'm with you about taking direct flights only!

 

[DisneyaHolic23]

Disney doesn't care from where you buy your legitimate stand-alone tickets.

ALL tickets (Undercover Tourist, etc.) are actually real Disney tickets, sold by Disney directly to the re-sellers.

The re-sellers offer a service and manpower that Disney does not have to provide themselves in the additional marketing of tickets at venues and sites away from Disney's own.

They also sell to a market-share of guests who may only decide to buy "extra days" if they perceive that they are
getting a "discount deal."

I know that is true, as we use Undercover Tourist when we don't have an annual pass, but my question was about reservations. If you don't have a park ticket, will you be allowed to make ride reservations in advance?

 

[DougEMG]

Here's another interesting question: what fraction of WDW guests use a travel agent? If that is non-trivial (and it might be---Disney is one of the last few companies that pay reasonable commissions) then some of the "low-info" guests don't have to make FP+ reservations at all. Their TAs will instead, just as TAs now book ADRs for their clients.

Definitely see this happening. Will be like an all inclusive with dining and entertainment all booked for you before you arrive.

Just like some of the touring planning sites have set plans for different demographics, Disney could do the same thing.

 

[Robo]

I know that is true, as we use Undercover Tourist when we don't have an annual pass, but my question was about reservations. If you don't have a park ticket, will you be allowed to make ride reservations in advance?

As I said, they are "real Disney tickets" printed and sold by Disney to the re-sellers.

I know that, right now, there are dozens of DISers who have in their possession
UT tickets purchased months to years ago.
Plus, those who could choose to buy discounted tickets X months prior to their arrival.

Likewise, many hundreds of guests still have new, never-used WDW Resort key-card tickets purchased as part of "packages" but not used due to having AP's (etc.) at the time of the previous trip(s.)

All tickets have the numerical code on them, and guests planning an upcoming trip with those tickets (speculation, here) could "register" with those ticket numbers X months prior to arrival.

 

[Planogirl]

I know that is true, as we use Undercover Tourist when we don't have an annual pass, but my question was about reservations. If you don't have a park ticket, will you be allowed to make ride reservations in advance?

That is a good question. I'm a big fan of Undercover Tourist with the idea of staying as far away from the Disney website as possible. I just wonder what if anything someone with tickets from a reseller can do ahead of time.

 

[mom2rtk]

I know that is true, as we use Undercover Tourist when we don't have an annual pass, but my question was about reservations. If you don't have a park ticket, will you be allowed to make ride reservations in advance?

The supposition is that you would be able to enter the bar code number from your tickets and be granted access to the reservation system.

 

[Robo]

That is a good question. I'm a big fan of Undercover Tourist with the idea of staying as far away from the Disney website as possible. I just wonder what if anything someone with tickets from a reseller can do ahead of time.

Post #350 above.

 

[DougEMG]

How do you measure entertainment? Rides ridden, or fun with your family?

If the former, then I see your point. But, I bet it is the latter---and this change may impact that less than you suspect. As I wrote above, I expected FP enforcement to materially reduce my enjoyment in the parks, but surprisingly it didn't.

Definitely fun with the family. Not everything we do is rides. In MK while waiting for FP times to come up we play the Sorcerer's card game, in Epcot we'll go shopping and listen to bands and in DHS we'll go see a show.

The big thing I don't want to do is wait in a line for 20 minutes for a 2 minute ride. As long as the parks have something to keep me occupied for enough time in a day then I'm good.

But I do miss not getting FP in the morning and using them later that night

 

[johde]

For those who believe this new system will ultimately benefit "low info" users, I have a question.

Those same people can't be bothered to learn about the FP system as is, what makes you think they'll be willing to put the time in to go online 180 days before their vacation and pick rides?

I think it's 60 days but that's besides the point. For the "low info" onsite individual it could be very easy. You set up a one stop vacation plan option. You send out an email 70 days or so before arrival "you're vacation is getting close let us make your stay even easier".

Ask the family a few question about their family i.e. Do they like thrill rides or not? Do they arrive early in the day, like to sleep in, or are you an afternoon break person? Are there any "must do" attractions? etc. It searches through the available FP+ and schedules your "Must do" on a day that's still available if possible. It would also try to factor in any ADR you have planned. Then Disney's computers magically plan their entire trip or them (customizable of course).

Monday we recommend you go to the MK we've already setup FP+'s for you to meet the Pricesses at 2:00, ride Big Thunder Mountain 5:00, and ride Space Mountain at 9:00. BTW, Liberty Tree Tavern has an open reservation at 6:00 would you like me to reserve that table for you? If you'd like to make any changes to this plan please click here. Your entire vacation planned at the end of 1 short survey,

 

[DougEMG]

For those who believe this new system will ultimately benefit "low info" users, I have a question.

Those same people can't be bothered to learn about the FP system as is, what makes you think they'll be willing to put the time in to go online 180 days before their vacation and pick rides?

Travel agents booking all inclusive packages.

 

[Planogirl]

Post #350 above.

Thanks.

Of course that is speculation but likely. However, if it involves the Disney website...

 

[Robo]

The time is now 4:06PM EDT.

Thank you.

 

[glamdring269]

I don't think it's Disney's problem to fix but not everyone has equal oppurtunity to rope drop in my opinion, for someone on the east coast you may not be sleeping in to make it to RD but for someone from the west coast they are having to get up 3 hours early to get there at the same time as you and for someone like me on an 8 hour difference it's just not going to happen and it has nothing to do with being lazy.

I like that FP+ will give me a chance at getting a FP for TSMM.

I understand where you're coming from on this, although when I'm in a place where the time is vastly different from what I'm accustomed to I do react differently (can't sleep so might as well be out and about). With that said I doubt they're doing this due to time zone variance though I understand how it could be a perk for you.

 

[Colleen27]

I maintain my position that the end result will be a system that still has same-day availability. I know right now the terms and conditions state we have to choose either the FP+ or the standard FP, but I believe that to be a function of the technology change-over and that eventually those 3 pre-reserved FPs will be complemented by (probably less extensive) same-day options accessible via kiosk or smartphone rather than by hiking over to a physical distribution point located at the attraction. I don't think it will be an integration with the current system - I think the current system will be entirely phased out to be replaced by a "cloud" system that requires less front-line staff and less physical maintenance - but I do think same-day access to FP will resume when the migration to the new system is complete. I think the mutually exclusive nature of the systems during the overlap has to do with the expected roll-out of the Magic Bands in lieu of KTTW cards and the fact that the existing FP machines do not and will not ever have RFID readers.

Of course, that might be my natural optimism and technophilia shining through and the entire thing still depends on an IT department with a rather dubious track record, but on its face it doesn't make sense to limit guests to 3 FPs per day. It runs contrary to the goal of the system - to get guests out of lines and into money-making establishments - and it makes the massive expansion of the system unnecessary at all but the most highly attended times of year. At 3 per guest, there's no need to add FP to Haunted Mansion and Small World, but if same-day FPs will be available the tiered system and expansion of the number of FP attractions makes far more sense.