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

[bcrook]

not sure i follow you 100% on this post but here is my position.

i would love more attractions, more gates. when they do that, who knows.

i am all on board with FP+ because while it may have a bumpy roll out (FP had reports of bumpy roll outs yet many are trying to cling to it till the bitter end) i believe ultimately it will work. will we be able to cram in as many FP+'s as we did FP, probably never. will it ruin the ability to do as many attractions per day as pre FP or current FP? i doubt it. parks are a fixed capacity, attractions are a fixed capacity. just like with FP, it will all come down to how one learns to utilize all the resources at their disposal. i envision our future trips when FP+ is implemented to be a combination of FP+ prebook, FP+day of changes, watching wait times on an app, good old spontaneous stand by and any other potential tricks Disney has up their sleeve.

There is still something about this that you are missing. Disneys stated goal is too move people from the popular attractions into places that are under utilized. Get more out of their existing (less popular) infrastructure without having to spend a lot of money on expensive rides. This is why they are investing so much money in downtown Disney, and lots of restaurants.

So if Disney is successful, less people will ride ToT and splash, and more people will be meeting princesses, watching off kilter, and eating in those enormous dining rooms at Be Our Guest. People will get the same number of attractions, it just won't necessarily be what they want.

 

[Sue M]

Nobody knows.

We also do not know if what it appears like you "have been able to order"
will, in fact, be available for your trip this time.

Maybe yes, maybe no. I wouldn't put much stock in what the app has or has not allowed you to "do"
at this point.

Thank. I know I can get the Magic Band because they are running the testing at YC during our stay.
It's been a fustrating experience. I have been unable to make FP pics on the WDW web site using MDE on my iPad. Cause I'm in Canada I can only get the new web site on my iPad. Computer still brings up old web site.
But I have been able to make my FP selections using the APP up to 8/22.

It seems right now you must have valid tickets to do FP selections, rather then based on your length of stay bleck.

I think I'll make a phone call and see what they say. You'd think they would have the capability to program in another AP but as you say, who knows!!

If I can book FPs for rest of my trip, I'll renew early, if not, may as well wait till I get there.

 

[mom2rtk]

This also has me thinking about another group, the locals...FP+ could cater very nicely to locals with AP's. i know that DLCA was a ton of fun as a local when we lived in SoCal. I know if i lived near WDW with an AP, I would definitely become a hit & run guest. what could be better than to head to the park for just a few hours and do my favorite attractions and then head back home...week after week after week....

I actually think this is another area where Disney might not have fully anticipated what the consequences will be. I can't even IMAGNE what DLR will be like if AP holders have complete unrestricted access to FP+.

 

[doggydoc]

yes, which also means if they just hit & run on their 3 or 4 FP+'s

The FP+ FAQ has been updated and now says "up to 3". So 4 is right out and we may not even always get 3.

 

[ready4mouse]

The FP+ FAQ has been updated and now says "up to 3". So 4 is right out and we may not even always get 3.

Today, I have been getting bonus FP's for the Magic Kingdom, bringing me up to 4 total....

 

[doconeill]

Today, I have been getting bonus FP's for the Magic Kingdom, bringing me up to 4 total....

Can you explain how you are getting the "bonus"? And is it restricted to certain attractions?

 

[delmar411]

yes, which also means if they just hit & run on their 3 or 4 FP+'s and then are out of the attraction circulation (who knows, they may shop & eat) it also takes them out of the group that does stand by - either by watching wait times on apps or just getting in a line. either way, it is reducing the overall crowd level for the day with regards to attractions.

This also has me thinking about another group, the locals...FP+ could cater very nicely to locals with AP's. i know that DLCA was a ton of fun as a local when we lived in SoCal. I know if i lived near WDW with an AP, I would definitely become a hit & run guest. what could be better than to head to the park for just a few hours and do my favorite attractions and then head back home...week after week after week....

This is all depending on how they treat APs. And what they are obligated to do for AP holders based off the legalese in the fine print of the ticket agreement.

 

[WisconsinDad]

I've never received an e-mail inviting me to participate in MyMagic+ but when I logged on to MDE yesterday, it prompted me to customize our Magic Bands and select my FP+ options.

Is this typical? I went ahead and made the customizations and selected some FP+ attractions but after reading through this thread I'm not sure I should have. My biggest concern is how much flexibility there will be to change FP+ selections while I am there. Also, if I determine that I don't like FP+, can I request a normal KTTW card and go back to FP?

 

[ArwenMarie]

There is still something about this that you are missing. Disneys stated goal is too move people from the popular attractions into places that are under utilized. Get more out of their existing (less popular) infrastructure without having to spend a lot of money on expensive rides. This is why they are investing so much money in downtown Disney, and lots of restaurants.

So if Disney is successful, less people will ride ToT and splash, and more people will be meeting princesses, watching off kilter, and eating in those enormous dining rooms at Be Our Guest. People will get the same number of attractions, it just won't necessarily be what they want.

I totally agree with this. I would also add that they want people to spend more time at their resort pools, playing golf, watersports, doing the activities at their resorts, etc.

From Disney's perspective, they already provide enough to do. It's just that people keep going back to those darn rides!

 

[rastuso]

This is the part I don't think Disney counted on. FP+ really has the potential to allow people to just show up for some well-timed attractions and............ leave. Many of them will then go offsite.

I think it also allows for someone to stay onsite at US, do those parks in the AM with express pass, then head over to Disney for some of those coveted evening FP+ return times at Disney.

I think Disney DEFINITELY thought of that. They would be MORE than happy if you pay full admission price, use your 3 FPs, and maybe a short AM standby or two, and leave the park for good. They've tried (and succeeded to a large degree) to convince folks to pay exorbitant onsite resort costs, and then spend hours in the middle of the day to go back to the resort to relax, sleep, or swim in the pool, even if that pool is about the same as your standard neighborhood, only with lots more people in it. And you should think that's a great value.

In fact, I would assume they are counting on driving people to that behavior. That is easily the biggest win for Disney, get people to pay for 14 hours, yet only use the infrastructure for 5 hours.

If that is what I have to do, then I will not go, because one ride on those four rides is not worth $95 a person. Even Disney knows that, because 4<<9. But if they can force you into it, and you convince yourself that 4 is still a good value, that's a BIG win for Disney.

But really, will you continue to go if Disney becomes something you pay full price for, only to then look at it as something you get over with quickly in the morning, and then leave?

Jason

 

[d1gitman]

There is still something about this that you are missing. I disagree with this statement. I understand they are trying to squeeze more water of a rock. Disneys stated goal is too move people from the popular attractions into places that are under utilized. Get more out of their existing (less popular) infrastructure without having to spend a lot of money on expensive rides. This is why they are investing so much money in downtown Disney, and lots of restaurants.

So if Disney is successful, less people will ride ToT and splash, and more people will be meeting princesses, watching off kilter, and eating in those enormous dining rooms at Be Our Guest. People will get the same number of attractions, it just won't necessarily be what they want. It's still a fixed system. Park Capacity and Attraction Capacity...Disney won't change human nature...several on this board have already firmly stated they won't be shopping more or spending more on restaurants because of FP+ or MyMagic+ and i believe them. But what it can do is capture the crowd that would spend more or do more things beyond headliners if it were made 'easier' and didn't cut into their headliner time. Those that want to do non rides will do non rides, those that want to do headliners over and over will do them. We fall into the group that would like to shop more, do more TS but don't because it currently is at the expense of our headliner time & energy. not having to trek the park repeatedly for FP's will free up time & energy to explore other things.

people said DDP ruined the restuarants
people said Free DDP ruined the DDP
people said FP was too much work
people said non enforcement of FP was ruining it for no FPr's
people said enforcement of FP would ruin their plans and the sky would fall
people are saying FP+ will not work and ruin their trips, yadda, yadda, yadda.


see any pattern here?

 

[ghtx]

In fact, I would assume they are counting on driving people to that behavior. That is easily the biggest win for Disney, get people to pay for 14 hours, yet only use the infrastructure for 5 hours.

Oops, I think you're forgetting about the fact that people spend lots of money on food and souvenirs while they are in the parks (or the resorts). Disney definitely does not want people headed to US for half the day every day.

 

[mickeyplanner]

Just found this thread since I am starting to plan for our January 2014 trip. We are DVC members and have our room booked. We plan to buy APs this trip. Does that mean we will have 2 Magic+ Bands...one for our room and one for our APs? I hope our kids are OK with wearing the bands.

I can't wait to seee how this all works out before our trip.

 

[agavegirl1]

The FP+ FAQ has been updated and now says "up to 3". So 4 is right out and we may not even always get 3.

That changes things a bit for me. I have been creating a tentative plan based on FP+ and ADRs in advance and over 9 days, had planned mostly 3-4. Guess I need to keep reading and reading and watching and waiting....

 

[WillAustin]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet, but I was offered a bonus FP+ slot for POTC when setting up FP+ reservations, so technically I have 4 FP+ reservations in one day.

 

[rastuso]

people said DDP ruined the restuarants
people said Free DDP ruined the DDP
people said FP was too much work
people said non enforcement of FP was ruining it for no FPr's
people said enforcement of FP would ruin their plans and the sky would fall
people are saying FP+ will not work and ruin their trips, yadda, yadda, yadda.


see any pattern here?

In all of your examples, those things did fundamentally change, for the worse, in pretty much every case. The VALUE was lowered for all of them. FPs aren't as valuable if they are only good for 1 hour as opposed to 10. The DDP has gotten much worse. We went the second year of free DDP, when tip was included, you got an app and dessert, and it was AWESOME! Now, it's not even something I look into, because it's hugely overpriced, and not worth it for "free", if I have to pay rack rate.

It's safe to assume, by Disney's own words, that FP+ is meant to even out the playing field, which means the turbo users (DISers) will be getting less value, perhaps MUCH less value, out of their visit to WDW.

Jason

 

[rastuso]

Oops, I think you're forgetting about the fact that people spend lots of money on food and souvenirs while they are in the parks (or the resorts). Disney definitely does not want people headed to US for half the day every day.

Depends. Most turbo visitors are going to spend the same, regardless, on food and souvenirs.

The average newbie visitor, in a park devoid of turbo users, now gets more E tickets, and lower crowds, and could vastly change his spending habits, based on this new paradigm. I guarantee you that was on a PowerPoint slide at some time.

Jason

 

[rastuso]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet, but I was offered a bonus FP+ slot for POTC when setting up FP+ reservations, so technically I have 4 FP+ reservations in one day.

COOL! Now you can breeze by that notoriously long POTC standby line.

FP+ rocks!

Jason

 

[WillAustin]

COOL! Now you can breeze by that notoriously long POTC standby line.

FP+ rocks!

Jason

I am also currently able to go in and change it to a different attraction.

 

[rastuso]

I am also currently able to go in and change it to a different attraction.

They changed the number from 4 to 3, then offered a bonus. A MUCH more powerful 4, psychologically. But 5 is still right out.

Of course, your experience in the test is meaningless for the full scale rollout.

Interesting to learn their tactics, though.

Jason