***MyMagic+ & FastPass+ Official Information & FAQ Thread***

[Doug7856]

This is why the collection of links to all the information is important. Anybody has the opportunity to read the material.

And there is a difference between known information and hope. The biggest sticking point so far is whether or not someone can book three FP+ in advance and then access the regular in the park.

All official language suggests no. It says it clearly in the terms and conditions.
The question has been asked on all forums - it is the biggest question. But Disney is choosing to not respond any differently than the stated terms. They must know, this will be a problem. If the intent was to use both, Disney would have said this and allayed fears. But, right now we have terms and conditions and it says no. Nick Franklin, danced around the topic in his interview. He was very careful about this subject.

Most people are hoping that they have access to both, and are adamant that ths is Disney's intent. But this is clearly speculation, because nothing supports that (except CM stories).

I would encourage people to read the updated terms and conditions. They are clearly stating how the entire program works. They are logical and well defined.

But to be fair, there isn't a specific number listed in the terms for FP+, it says it can vary day to day, season to season, park to park, and even maybe based on your ticket type. But nick Franklin, v.p. in charge of program did specifically say three per person.

But it does clearly say one park per day and you have to choose either the new system or old not both.

Thank you bcrook for your well thought out post. I also appreciate the blog with dated entries of what we know about FastPass+. Having a systematic, factual list is great.

 

[figment5]

I have been reading everything I can on FP+ and what disappoints me is the thought of having to plan that far out what I want to do. I know some things have said changes can be made but it just seems too close to the 180 ADR's. I dislike having to decide that far out when and where I am going to eat to even have a chance to get into certain places. Heck, I didn't even plan my trip to Disney 180 days out.

I am sure this will appeal to those who love to plan things out like that and that is wonderful but I just feel those of us who like to fly by the seat of our pants are getting more and more left out at Disney.

I do hope they keep the regular fastpass system and it doesn't take away from the available fastpasses there. We shall see.

 

[Missyrose]

I have been reading everything I can on FP+ and what disappoints me is the thought of having to plan that far out what I want to do. I know some things have said changes can be made but it just seems too close to the 180 ADR's. I dislike having to decide that far out when and where I am going to eat to even have a chance to get into certain places. Heck, I didn't even plan my trip to Disney 180 days out.

I am sure this will appeal to those who love to plan things out like that and that is wonderful but I just feel those of us who like to fly by the seat of our pants are getting more and more left out at Disney.

I do hope they keep the regular fastpass system and it doesn't take away from the available fastpasses there. We shall see.

Just to be clear, the "regular FP system" will have to go away because once they start using the MagicBands, there won't be a magnetic stripe for the legacy FP machines to read. What remains vastly unclear is whether there will be a same-day component to FP+ that resembles the current FP system.

 

[dadddio]

The biggest sticking point so far is whether or not someone can book three FP+ in advance and then access the regular in the park.

All official language suggests no. It says it clearly in the terms and conditions.

This statement made me pause and retread the T&C. I could find no verbiage that suggested that same-day additional FPs would not be available. What verbiage are you basing this statement on?

The question has been asked on all forums - it is the biggest question. But Disney is choosing to not respond any differently than the stated terms. They must know, this will be a problem. If the intent was to use both, Disney would have said this and allayed fears. But, right now we have terms and conditions and it says no. Nick Franklin, danced around the topic in his interview. He was very careful about this subject.

I wouldn't call that an interview. The entire clip was less than two minutes long. The bit with Franklin was less than half of that and was chopped up to the point where you can't be sure what the actual question was that he was responding to or even if there were questions and he was just giving a quick spiel. In my opinion, almost nothing can be taken away from it.

Most people are hoping that they have access to both, and are adamant that ths is Disney's intent. But this is clearly speculation, because nothing supports that (except CM stories).

It is speculation, but a few things point to it.

First, the T&C suggest that you can. It states that your initial FP selections will be 'an experience set'. It further explains that you and your connected friends may make FP selections that will count toward the total number of FPs that you can hold. This certainly suggests that the initial three (or whatever) isn't the total number of FPs that can be had.

Second, every test of FP+ had preselected FPs and the ability to get more on-the-fly. While these on-the-fly FPs were from the old machines, there is no reason to believe that they won't be able to be obtained virtually through MM+. Doom-and-bloomers like to forecast information based on how the tests ran. I befuddles me that they always ignore this bit.

But it does clearly say one park per day and you have to choose either the new system or old not both.

Agreed. It also is clear that you can only have one FP per ride per day.

 

[dadddio]

I have been reading everything I can on FP+ and what disappoints me is the thought of having to plan that far out what I want to do. I know some things have said changes can be made but it just seems too close to the 180 ADR's. I dislike having to decide that far out when and where I am going to eat to even have a chance to get into certain places. Heck, I didn't even plan my trip to Disney 180 days out.

The saving grace for me is that once I plan my ADRs, I know what parks I will be in on what days. That makes it pretty easy to select FPs 60 days out.

 

[bcrook]

I have been reading everything I can on FP+ and what disappoints me is the thought of having to plan that far out what I want to do. I know some things have said changes can be made but it just seems too close to the 180 ADR's. I dislike having to decide that far out when and where I am going to eat to even have a chance to get into certain places. Heck, I didn't even plan my trip to Disney 180 days out.

I am sure this will appeal to those who love to plan things out like that and that is wonderful but I just feel those of us who like to fly by the seat of our pants are getting more and more left out at Disney.

I do hope they keep the regular fastpass system and it doesn't take away from the available fastpasses there. We shall see.

If you read the article quoting the CFO, He explains that having people plan further out helps lock them into staying at Disney and not be distracted by the other new attractions like Antarctica at SeaWorld.

I guess it really depends on what you want to fly by the seat of your pants to do. If you want to have drinks at la Cava or eat at yak n yeti, you won't be affected. You can still easily watch all the shows, catch off kilter, enjoy shopping, fireworks, illuminations, and parades without much change. Many of the rides will still be easily accessed.

I would say fly by the seat of your pants type visitors would have considerable trouble with the e-ticket attractions and things like enchanted tales with belle or Jedi academy. And even most of those attractions should have FP+ available the day of. The times might not be ideal.

The thing about limiting everyone to three FP+ selections means there will always be selections for lots of things available for walk ups the day of. Of course, all bets off for toy story midway mania.

 

[dadddio]

The thing about limiting everyone to three FP+ selections means there will always be selections for lots of things available for walk ups the day of. Of course, all bets off for toy story midway mania.

Thats where the one FP per ride per day rule becomes important.

 

[figment5]

Just to be clear, the "regular FP system" will have to go away because once they start using the MagicBands, there won't be a magnetic stripe for the legacy FP machines to read. What remains vastly unclear is whether there will be a same-day component to FP+ that resembles the current FP system.

Thank you, I didn't really think about that.

 

[figment5]

The saving grace for me is that once I plan my ADRs, I know what parks I will be in on what days. That makes it pretty easy to select FPs 60 days out.

That is true, and we have had to adjust to planning which park we will be in so that we can make our ADR's.

 

[bcrook]

This statement made me pause and retread the T&C. I could find no verbiage that suggested that same-day additional FPs would not be available. What verbiage are you basing his statement on?
I wouldn't call that an interview. The entire clip was less than two minutes long. The bit with Franklin was less than half of that and was chopped up to the point where you can't be sure what the actual question was that he was responding to or even if there were questions and he was just giving a quick spiel. In my opinion, almost nothing can be taken away from it.
It is speculation, but a few things point to it.

First, the T&C suggest that yu can. It states that your initial FP selections will be 'an experience set'. It further explains that you and your connected friends may make FP selections that will count toward the total number of FPs that you can hold. This certainly suggests that the initial three (or whatever) isn't the total number of FPs that can be had.

Second, every test of FP+ had preselected FPs and the ability to get more on-the-fly. While these on-the-fly FPs were from the old machines, there is no reason to believe that they won't be able to be obtained virtually through MM+. Doom-and-bloomers like to forecast information based on how the tests ran. I befuddles me that they always ignore this bit.
Agreed. It also is clear that you can only have one FP per ride per day.

It is simple, if Disney intended for people to race to park and log In to their phones and snatch up more FPs on top of their prebooked three, it would be stated in the terms and trumpeted all over. That would be amazing. There would be very little to talk about. Everyone would agree this could be cool. I posted from the parks last year in June how excited I was about being able to use my iPad to book FP from my room or my wife's phone in the park for times I wanted and without running all over the park. That would be a huge public relations score.

But the devil is in the details. This is about turning FP into a marketing, management, and data tool. For that to work all the FP have to be collected and doled out equitably to the 125,000 plus people a day. That doesn't lend itself to easy and free access by patrons. The FP are now valuable chips to be earned.

It is ok. The rules have changed. Some will benefit others won't. But understanding that changes may not be good for all and then articulating how those changes will be negative for some is not doom and gloom. It is smart business practice.

Disney is a business and they are regularly lauded for finding new ways to make more money.

But, I am a consumer along with hundred of thousands of others on this board, and it is our job to carefully watch how products are changing and evaluate if the product is still worth the cost.

I appreciate all the insightful comments from all perspectives. I also appreciate your enthusiasm Dadddio. It does help provide hope. I want the FP+ to work as you dream. I just can't find any support of it.

 

[figment5]

If you read the article quoting the CFO, He explains that having people plan further out helps lock them into staying at Disney and not be distracted by the other new attractions like Antarctica at SeaWorld.

I guess it really depends on what you want to fly by the seat of your pants to do. If you want to have drinks at la Cava or eat at yak n yeti, you won't be affected. You can still easily watch all the shows, catch off kilter, enjoy shopping, fireworks, illuminations, and parades without much change. Many of the rides will still be easily accessed.

I would say fly by the seat of your pants type visitors would have considerable trouble with the e-ticket attractions and things like enchanted tales with belle or Jedi academy. And even most of those attractions should have FP+ available the day of. The times might not be ideal.

The thing about limiting everyone to three FP+ selections means there will always be selections for lots of things available for walk ups the day of. Of course, all bets off for toy story midway mania.

All excellent points. I see the problem with juggling ADR's and fastpass times, which we have done in the past, but I know that no matter what, we are at Disney and as long as we can eat some good food and hit some rides it should be fun.

I guess I am just more of a skeptic having worked for Disney for several years.

 

[dadddio]

It is simple, if Disney intended for people to race to park and log In to their phones and snatch up more FPs on top of their prebooked three, it would be stated in the terms and trumpeted all over. That would be amazing. There would be very little to talk about. Everyone would agree this could be cool. I posted from the parks last year in June how excited I was about being able to use my iPad to book FP from my room or my wife's phone in the park for times I wanted and without running all over the park. That would be a huge public relations score.

But the devil is in the details. This is about turning FP into a marketing, management, and data tool. For that to work all the FP have to be collected and doled out equitably to the 125,000 plus people a day. That doesn't lend itself to easy and free access by patrons. The FP are now valuable chips to be earned.

It is ok. The rules have changed. Some will benefit others won't. But understanding that changes may not be good for all and then articulating how those changes will be negative for some is not doom and gloom. It is smart business practice.

Disney is a business and they are regularly lauded for finding new ways to make more money.

But, I am a consumer along with hundred of thousands of others on this board, and it is our job to carefully watch how products are changing and evaluate if the product is still worth the cost.

I appreciate all the insightful comments from all perspectives. I also appreciate your enthusiasm Dadddio. It does help provide hope. I want the FP+ to work as you dream. I just can't find any support of it.

Wait a minute. You said that it was already spelled out in the T&C. I asked you to locate the verbiage because I didn't see that and I posted the bits of the T&C that seem to allow for additional same-day FPs. Now you come back with a bunch of speculation rather than the verbiage that you said was in the T&C?

 

[ftballfan7]

The saving grace for me is that once I plan my ADRs, I know what parks I will be in on what days. That makes it pretty easy to select FPs 60 days out.

The reason I stopped doing ADRs in general is because I hated being locked into a certain park at a certain time on a certain day. We still occasionally will book an advanced ADR because it has gotten to the point that you cant get certain restaurants without advenced reservations (we usually book no more than 1 per trip). My fear is that this is the road we are heading down with fastpasses. You either lock yourself in to a certain park, at a certain time, on a certain day or no fastpass for the most popular rides for you. Disney has spelled out this is there intention, they want to lock you into their parks and remove your flexibility to go elsewhere. Unfortunately, flexibility within Disney's properties appears to be the unintended collateral damage.

Our Disney vacations have evolved into a loose plan with alot of flexibility and changes on the fly. We are knowledgable enough about WDW in general to be comfortable with this style. There is almost universal agreement among those with a working knowledge that the loss of flexibiblity with dining has become a huge negative. I forsee a future where there will be similar agreement and universal lamenting about the loss of flexibility for attraction fastpasses.

Often heard quote: "Do you remember when you could call for a reservation at a nice TS restaurant and get in that day, instead of having to plan your itinerary months in advance in order to work around your ADRs? I miss those days."

Likely future quote: "Do you remember when you could decide the night before or morning of, to go to a park and you could still get a fastpass to ride a headline attraction? I miss those days."

 

[bcrook]

Wait a minute. You said that it was already spelled out in the T&C. I asked you to locate the verbiage because I didn't see that and I posted the bits of the T&C that seem to allow for additional same-day FPs. Now you come back with a bunch of speculation rather than the verbiage that you said was in the T&C?

Is there anyway to cut and paste from the Terms and Conditions, I can't figure it out. Typing it out again:

"Availability of a FastPass+ experience, the number of experiences you may select and arrival windows are limited and vary based on factors such as the theme park you are visiting, the attraction or entertainment experience, the time of year and the day of the week, and prior demand."

- Nick Franklin said that to start with everyone would get 3. That number 3 pops up a lot. It is most likely correct. It will obviously be less during the high peak days because there isn't enough capacity. It may be more in September to attract more guests (but in September do you need them?)

"You can modify FastPass+ selections yourself..."

-It doesn't mention add more on when you get there. Modify is key there.

"FastPass+ selections made for you by a Friend will count toward the limited number of FastPass+ selections you may make and hold".

-It does sound limited. Otherwise who cares about that statement.

"You are required to convert paper tickets and passes in order to make and use FastPass+ selections. Once you convert a ticket or pass you will no longer be able to participate in the standard FASTPASS service upon arrival at the parks."

- I know some people are arguing that this means we can still access the regular fastpasses through the phone or app. But the word limited up above and the phrase "no longer be able to participate" below seem very clear to me. I don't see any statement of any kind that says we will be able to grab more regular fastpasses beyond the limited number. There is nothing that suggests that.

There is also a lot of good speculation that there just aren't enough fastpasses available to save three for every patron at MK, allow for flexibility throughout the day, and give people access to grab as they please.

 

[dadddio]

Is there anyway to cut and paste from the Terms and Conditions, I can't figure it out. Typing it out again:

"Availability of a FastPass+ experience, the number of experiences you may select and arrival windows are limited and vary based on factors such as the theme park you are visiting, the attraction or entertainment experience, the time of year and the day of the week, and prior demand."

- Nick Franklin said that to start with everyone would get 3. That number 3 pops up a lot. It is most likely correct. It will obviously be less during the high peak days because there isn't enough capacity. It may be more in September to attract more guests (but in September do you need them?)

"You can modify FastPass+ selections yourself..."

-It doesn't mention add more on when you get there. Modify is key there.

"FastPass+ selections made for you by a Friend will count toward the limited number of FastPass+ selections you may make and hold".

-It does sound limited. Otherwise who cares about that statement.

"You are required to convert paper tickets and passes in order to make and use FastPass+ selections. Once you convert a ticket or pass you will no longer be able to participate in the standard FASTPASS service upon arrival at the parks."

- I know some people are arguing that this means we can still access the regular fastpasses through the phone or app. But the word limited up above and the phrase "no longer be able to participate" below seem very clear to me. I don't see any statement of any kind that says we will be able to grab more regular fastpasses beyond the limited number. There is nothing that suggests that.

There is also a lot of good speculation that there just aren't enough fastpasses available to save three for every patron at MK, allow for flexibility throughout the day, and give people access to grab as they please.

So basically, you are saying that it is not spelled out in the T&C as you suggested in your earlier post. Instead, you are extrapolating from what is stated in the T&C.

 

[Cyrano]

Enough with the T&C.

Discussion moving on

 

[figment5]

I am wondering how they will handle it if, for example, it is lightening and raining and they close big thunder during the hour you have it for or the ride breaks down during the hour or longer.

The reason I ask is last summer we went to ride big thunder one day with our FP and it was down at our return time of say 3-4, they said they would honor it later in the day, came back around 6 and it was still down. We told them we would be leaving the park soon could we use it the next day, a big "no", ok can we use it for another ride, "nope".

I hope they will allow for unforseen events like this by allowing the FP+ to be used elsewhere.

 

[andyman8]

I am wondering how they will handle it if, for example, it is lightening and raining and they close big thunder during the hour you have it for or the ride breaks down during the hour or longer.

I'm left to speculate that you would need to show up or do something on your phone (or at a kiosk) to reschedule to a time of your choice. They couldn't possibly just let people show up at a time of their choice, as there'd be no way to control the amount of folks getting in the FP+ line.

 

[dadddio]

I'm left to speculate that you would need to show up or do something on your phone (or at a kiosk) to reschedule to a time of your choice. They couldn't possibly just let people show up at a time of their choice, as there'd be no way to control the amount of folks getting in the FP+ line.

I agree. I think that you would need to reschedule the FP or trade it for a different attraction.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I'm left to speculate that you would need to show up or do something on your phone (or at a kiosk) to reschedule to a time of your choice. They couldn't possibly just let people show up at a time of their choice, as there'd be no way to control the amount of folks getting in the FP+ line.

But isn't that what they do now when a closure happens during your allotted time?