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

[bjakmom]

Drat!! Well, I guess we will also be 'unintended' testers of the new FP+ in August - but we HAVEN'T been chosen to receive MBs.

I was wishing and praying that the new system would not be in effect for our August trip, what I hadn't considered is that approx 8,000 on site rooms of guests (so perhaps an average of 16,000 - 24,000 guests (?) if you figure 2 - 3 guests per room) WOULD be given the FP+ system during our stay. So now I just hope that the resorts are no where near capacity and that at least 1/2 of those offered to test will choose not to do it. I am wondering what the impact will be on our visit.

But I just have to say it is making me feel very 'un-magical' about this special birthday trip when I'm reading about people already pre-booking FP+ spots on our days. It's giving me a headache and I am now looking at my schedule again and rearranging so that we're doing rope drop every day we're going into a park. (Thankfully no teens going on this trip!)

Friends and family who have visited this month are saying that the crowds are down this year - hoping the same holds true for August now- though I am not feeling terribly reassured as I have checked every day for months now to change the very late ADR for BOG I got at 180+10 (earliest available even then) - and not once has ANY alternate time come up for dinner the last week in Aug.

I think I am going to need more 'frustrated' smilies in the next few months!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Drat!! Well, I guess we will also be 'unintended' testers of the new FP+ in August - but we HAVEN'T been chosen to receive MBs.

I was wishing and praying that the new system would not be in effect for our August trip, what I hadn't considered is that approx 8,000 on site rooms of guests (so perhaps an average of 16,000 - 24,000 guests (?) if you figure 2 - 3 guests per room) WOULD be given the FP+ system during our stay. So now I just hope that the resorts are no where near capacity and that at least 1/2 of those offered to test will choose not to do it. I am wondering what the impact will be on our visit.

But I just have to say it is making me feel very 'un-magical' about this special birthday trip when I'm reading about people already pre-booking FP+ spots on our days. It's giving me a headache and I am now looking at my schedule again and rearranging so that we're doing rope drop every day we're going into a park. (Thankfully no teens going on this trip!)

Really good point. We are going in August too, but haven't been chosen either. I wonder if they will dial back the number of regular FPs to accomodate all these testers.

 

[ArwenMarie]

PS is it really 8000 rooms testing assuming full capacity?

 

[doconeill]

Really good point. We are going in August too, but haven't been chosen either. I wonder if they will dial back the number of regular FPs to accomodate all these testers.

I will also be among the "have-nots". Staying at two different places, neither of which seem to qualify me.

So I'll be reporting from the "impact on existing lines" side...

 

[ArwenMarie]

I will also be among the "have-nots". Staying at two different places, neither of which seem to qualify me.

So I'll be reporting from the "impact on existing lines" side...

And what time regular FPs run out...

 

[bcrook]

I will also be among the "have-nots". Staying at two different places, neither of which seem to qualify me.

So I'll be reporting from the "impact on existing lines" side...

And...I can't wait to read your reports from the "inside".

 

[bjakmom]

PS is it really 8000 rooms testing assuming full capacity?

Here's what came up for me when I googled it:
Pop Century - 5,760 guest rooms
Animal Kingdom Lodge - 1,307
Yacht Club - 630
Contemporary Resort - 500
Total 8,197 - does anyone have a more accurate read?

I will also be among the "have-nots". Staying at two different places, neither of which seem to qualify me.

So I'll be reporting from the "impact on existing lines" side...

Love the phrasing!!! I'll be reporting too - and my DSis & DBinL will be overlapping my trip with their grands - 2 younger ones 5 & 8 so I'll be interested in her experience too.

 

[seelyt2]

I have a stupid question because I didn't read all 48 pages of this thread, but I'm thankful it's there.

So if you're not part of the test (I'm a have-not in this case/OKW 8/18-23), I take it that we will rely totally on the KTTW card and won't be getting wrist bands for anything, like entering the park or charging to the room? Those aspects will still rely on the KTTW card? I know we'll do FP the same as before.

Sorry for my ignorance.

Thanks.

 

[mesaboy2]

I have a stupid question because I didn't read all 48 pages of this thread, but I'm thankful it's there.

So if you're not part of the test (I'm a have-not in this case/OKW 8/18-23), I take it that we will rely totally on the KTTW card and won't be getting wrist bands for anything, like entering the park or charging to the room? Those aspects will still rely on the KTTW card? I know we'll do FP the same as before.

Sorry for my ignorance.

Thanks.

You got it.

 

[seelyt2]

Thanks for the quick response, MesaBoy2!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Here's what came up for me when I googled it:
Pop Century - 5,760 guest rooms
Animal Kingdom Lodge - 1,307
Yacht Club - 630
Contemporary Resort - 500
Total 8,197 - does anyone have a more accurate read?

Thanks! Wow, Pop is huge, I knew it was big, but I didn't know it had that many rooms.

So 8,000 (times two-four people a room, times 3 FPs a day). Even if it's not at full occupancy, should be interesting to be there as a have-not.

 

[doconeill]

Here's what came up for me when I googled it:
Pop Century - 5,760 guest rooms
Animal Kingdom Lodge - 1,307
Yacht Club - 630
Contemporary Resort - 500
Total 8,197 - does anyone have a more accurate read?

I've heard conflicting things...it is CR, BLT, or both?

We also don't know if EVERYONE is eligible, but so far it seems so.

And we don't know how many will opt-in.

This seems less of a test though, and more of a "we're rolling it out..."

 

[doconeill]

And what time regular FPs run out...

Well, that will be known do anyone using the DMX app ... if it works...

 

[racinjunkie]

So 8,000 (times two-four people a room, times 3 FPs a day). Even if it's not at full occupancy, should be interesting to be there as a have-not.

Yep, that's what I've been thinking (we're in the "have-not" category)...

 

[bcrook]

I read somewhere that a CM said they were hoping to get this fully rolled out in time for food and wine. If everybody has a band that could lead to more kiosk sales.

Also, in the past few months it has become abundantly clear that people want the bands. And Disney wants everyone to have a band for data collection, targeted advertising, and ease of payment leading to increased spending. But why connect it to FP+, everyone will accept them for their admission ticket.

But, offsite guests have to pay for their bands. That seems strange. Why not give them to everyone? If offsite have to pay they would skip the convenience. Then Disney would miss the data. I wonder if somebody came up with the bright idea, we can tie the bands to FP.

And here we are!

I still think nearly everyone would take one just for cool interactive queues.

 

[doconeill]

I read somewhere that a CM said they were hoping to get this fully rolled out in time for food and wine. If everybody has a band that could lead to more kiosk sales.

I don't know if I was the one who said it, but when this latest round of "eligible" people came out, that's the first thing that came to mind...if part of the revenue boost is making it convenient and "fun" to buy stuff, they want this when it can make the most of it...and that's F&W. An item here, an item there, swipe and done...suddenly you've spent $500 on appetizers...

 

[ArwenMarie]

This seems less of a test though, and more of a "we're rolling it out..."

Yep, this seems like a roll-out to me. Not a test.

 

[mom2rtk]

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

I don't know. You could absolutely be right. But I keep hearing about how Disney wants to increase park spending. And in the end, heading back to the resort to swim just doesn't generate more $$$ for Disney. And when the offsite folks head out of the park, the spending potential is likely gone entirely for the rest of the day. I just don't know if Disney is going to be happy with the per guest $$$ average if this happens.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Well, that will be known do anyone using the DMX app ... if it works...

Good point! Does anyone know the exact dates of this testing? I would like to keep an eye on the FPs and when they run out.

 

[mom2rtk]

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.

Hmmmm...... so you were "surprised" when you were offered the 4th fastpass.......... and then "delighted" when you found out you could swap it for something else?????

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

Yes, I'm sure many will be thrilled beyond belief to get that 4th fastpass as a "bonus". But it's going to take YEARS for me to forget that most trips before I pull 6 or more in a day.

Drat!! Well, I guess we will also be 'unintended' testers of the new FP+ in August - but we HAVEN'T been chosen to receive MBs.

I was wishing and praying that the new system would not be in effect for our August trip, what I hadn't considered is that approx 8,000 on site rooms of guests (so perhaps an average of 16,000 - 24,000 guests (?) if you figure 2 - 3 guests per room) WOULD be given the FP+ system during our stay. So now I just hope that the resorts are no where near capacity and that at least 1/2 of those offered to test will choose not to do it. I am wondering what the impact will be on our visit.

But I just have to say it is making me feel very 'un-magical' about this special birthday trip when I'm reading about people already pre-booking FP+ spots on our days. It's giving me a headache and I am now looking at my schedule again and rearranging so that we're doing rope drop every day we're going into a park. (Thankfully no teens going on this trip!)

Friends and family who have visited this month are saying that the crowds are down this year - hoping the same holds true for August now- though I am not feeling terribly reassured as I have checked every day for months now to change the very late ADR for BOG I got at 180+10 (earliest available even then) - and not once has ANY alternate time come up for dinner the last week in Aug.

I think I am going to need more 'frustrated' smilies in the next few months!

That's an interesting question. You will likely notice no difference at all at the attractions where FP exists and you can pull your own FP. Where you might see a difference is on those attractions where no FP exists now, leaving you in a slower moving line because FP+ people have priority and you have no means of using that same privilege there.