Non-resort guests can not reserve FP+ early

[My3Princez]

Does anyone in your group have a smart device? That could alleviate standing in line. Even if you don't have a smartphone, then an iPad touch or kindle can still be connected to wifi and used to book virtually. Skipping the line?

Only for on-site guests. Offsite guests can't book or modify fp+ ressies, only view them.

 

[WillAustin]

For our style of touring, it's ride rationing.

Remember, it's more fair.

I guess excluding offsite guests from advance booking would fall under that umbrella too.

 

[KaLyn]

I believe I read that off-site guests have to use the in park kiosks, cannot do it online at present. At least that's how it's projected to be when it starts next week.

This is how I understood it to be too. Since they are offsite they don't have an MDE account with linked reservation to book the FP+ on a smart device.

Sent from my iPad using the DISBoards app.

 

[patty57]

I have to think the Swan/Dolphin can't be happy about this.

 

[kidd_freeper]

I know if I was in charge I'd make as many perks as possible for onsite guests only (or at least better for onsite guests) and would further incentivise them based on length of stay instead of just being on-site. It seems like the smart business decision.

It is NOT a very smart business decision. The choice ISN'T stay onsite vs. stay offsite. The choice is go to WDW or go somewhere else.

The decision to go to WDW is hard. While the level of entertainment is exceptional, the cost to go to WDW is huge. At present, the decision to go to WDW is only marginally better than going somewhere cheaper. The decision is only palatable because of the quality and low-cost of offsite lodging.

I can rent an entire new 3000 sq ft offsite house, with a private pool, for less than a 260 sq ft cinderblock special at All-Star Music.

If I am forced to pay a ton of extra money to stay in those tiny little rooms that WDW offers just so I can avoid more lines, then I simply will not go to WDW any more.

 

[Bullseye]

It is NOT a very smart business decision. The choice ISN'T stay onsite vs. stay offsite. The choice is go to WDW or go somewhere else.

The decision to go to WDW is hard. While the level of entertainment is exceptional, the cost to go to WDW is huge. At present, the decision to go to WDW is only marginally better than going somewhere cheaper. The decision is only palatable because of the quality and low-cost of offsite lodging.

I can rent an entire new 3000 sq ft offsite house, with a private pool, for less than a 260 sq ft cinderblock special at All-Star Music.

If I am forced to pay a ton of extra money to stay in those tiny little rooms that WDW offers just so I can avoid more lines, then I simply will not go to WDW any more.

It's a resort...not just theme parks. They have thousands of rooms to rent on a daily basis. If they offered no incentives to onsite guests (Buses, EMH, FP+ priority, etc), then everyone would stay in a house or condo for less money.

 

[kmc]

It's a resort...not just theme parks. They have thousands of rooms to rent on a daily basis. If they offered no incentives to onsite guests (Buses, EMH, FP+ priority, etc), then everyone would stay in a house or condo for less money.

I agree, and I think it should be an added perk for the $$$ people pay to stay on site. Off site guests still have access to fast pass+, they just don't have advance access. For all the people complaining that if they have to wait until they get to the park to get fast pass they will go elsewhere...please by all means, the parks are crowded enough. I just hope you realize that before MDE you couldn't get fast pass until you where in the park anyway, and you would have to run around from one end to the other to get them. At least now you can get them all booked at one time in one place.

 

[AmyB2006]

I have read that from others as well. I tried of course to go beyond the 7 days and it says FP limit reached.

If you're staying on site longer than 7 days, supposedly you can call and have that fixed. It's a glitch. It should allow you more if staying on property.

 

[Bete]

I had a strong feeling that this would come to pass.

We returned from an offsite resort stay between 12-3 to 12-10 to Disney World. We have been to Disney World over 40 times and we are Midwesterners. I consider myself a savvy Disney traveller. Anyway, this last trip was the worse. We still were able to acquire a few legacy fastpasses during our time there, but it was significantly reduced from our last 10 trips there. We averaged 6 to 8 legacy fastpasses per day as offsite guests on trips over the last 5 years; we were there at rope drop and used legacy fastpass very well. This last trip was very frustrating for us. We did not go on very many rides. I was grateful we did MVMCP. We did the most rides with the party.

I can't stand the idea of only same day fastpass plus for offsite guests when onsite guests will have quite an advantage with 60 days out to get their fastpass plus. I feel like a second class citizen, now. You will never get a good time for fastpass plus by doing it on the same day at the parks for the tier one attractions. This last trip proved this was not going to happen.

I'm totally willing to pay a surcharge to get a better deal on fastpass plus and still stay offsite. I understand the business side to all of this.

When I returned from our December trip I was totally disillusioned with Disney World. It wasn't productive for us and it costs way too much to wait in long stand by ride lines all the time and I don't find it fun to just walk around in the parks. I can walk around anywhere and not pay for the privilege. I'm business minded, too and this is not value to us, anymore. One ride had a two-hour stand by wait time. For that same ride it never took us more than an hour. I just won't do it and we passed on my favorite ride.

I've enjoyed our years at Disney World, but if this doesn't change for the better for offsite guests I'm pretty much done with Disney World. I will admit I may take a few trips and stay onsite at Disney World, but it won't be annually anymore. I will do this by going with a friend or relative. I'll give it a try that way. My hubby will stay home with the dog while I get my Disney fix with someone else. We travel with our dog basically everywhere and the dog stays with us, not in a kennel. I predict I may come once every five years to stay onsite at Disney to get the fastpass plus perks with a friend. I will always treasure my memories of our past trips to Disney World. Now, I'm just sad about it all.

We have been venturing out doing other vacations and believe me there are wonderful destinations to visit besides Disney World.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Do u think they could at least have kiosks outside the gates, so while we wait we can get fp+ instead up waisting valuable park time getting them if we r staying off site?

 

[kidd_freeper]

It's a resort...not just theme parks. They have thousands of rooms to rent on a daily basis. If they offered no incentives to onsite guests (Buses, EMH, FP+ priority, etc), then everyone would stay in a house or condo for less money.

Again, another person who assumes that the choice is "stay onsite" vs. "stay offsite".

Offsite guests don't care about busses. They don't see the people taking advantage of EMH. But they WILL see elitism in select people getting on rides when they cannot.

Sorry, when offsite guests find out they have to wait in line, to avoid waiting in line, then there will be a lot less guests. Without the attendance, you can expect a fast decline in quality.

The decision is to "go to WDW" or "go elsewhere" NOT "stay onsite" vs. "stay offsite".

 

[ArwenMarie]

I had a strong feeling that this would come to pass.

We returned from an offsite resort stay between 12-3 to 12-10 to Disney World. We have been to Disney World over 40 times and we are Midwesterners. I consider myself a savvy Disney traveller. Anyway, this last trip was the worse. We still were able to acquire a few legacy fastpasses during our time there, but it was significantly reduced from our last 10 trips there. We averaged 6 to 8 legacy fastpasses per day as offsite guests on trips over the last 5 years; we were there at rope drop and used legacy fastpass very well. This last trip was very frustrating for us. We did not go on very many rides. I was grateful we did MVMCP. We did the most rides with the party.

I can't stand the idea of only same day fastpass plus for offsite guests when onsite guests will have quite an advantage with 60 days out to get their fastpass plus. I feel like a second class citizen, now. You will never get a good time for fastpass plus by doing it on the same day at the parks for the tier one attractions. This last trip proved this was not going to happen.

I'm totally willing to pay a surcharge to get a better deal on fastpass plus and still stay offsite. I understand the business side to all of this.

When I returned from our December trip I was totally disillusioned with Disney World. It wasn't productive for us and it costs way too much to wait in long stand by ride lines all the time and I don't find it fun to just walk around in the parks. I can walk around anywhere and not pay for the privilege. I'm business minded, too and this is not value to us, anymore. One ride had a two-hour stand by wait time. For that same ride it never took us more than an hour. I just won't do it and we passed on my favorite ride.

I've enjoyed our years at Disney World, but if this doesn't change for the better for offsite guests I'm pretty much done with Disney World. I will admit I may take a few trips and stay onsite at Disney World, but it won't be annually anymore. I will do this by going with a friend or relative. I'll give it a try that way. My hubby will stay home with the dog while I get my Disney fix with someone else. We travel with our dog basically everywhere and the dog stays with us, not in a kennel. I predict I may come once every five years to stay onsite at Disney to get the fastpass plus perks with a friend. I will always treasure my memories of our past trips to Disney World. Now, I'm just sad about it all.

We have been venturing out doing other vacations and believe me there are wonderful destinations to visit besides Disney World.

There is a surcharge available...book a value room. I'm not trying to sound like a smart aleck, nor do I personally like this idea, but I think that is where Disney is going with this.

 

[patty57]

Again, another person who assumes that the choice is "stay onsite" vs. "stay offsite".

Offsite guests don't care about busses. They don't see the people taking advantage of EMH. But they WILL see elitism in select people getting on rides when they cannot.

Sorry, when offsite guests find out they have to wait in line, to avoid waiting in line, then there will be a lot less guests. Without the attendance, you can expect a fast decline in quality.

The decision is to "go to WDW" or "go elsewhere" NOT "stay onsite" vs. "stay offsite".

Onsite vs. offsite isn't "the" choice, but it is a choice. If WDW needs to fill their resort rooms (which they do), then they must give onsite guests an advantage. Why else would anyone stay onsite? I'm not discounting your feelings about this...I get that it's upsetting. If you or others decide to "go elsewhere", better not go up the road to Universal because their onsite guests have an even bigger advantage.

 

[snorkelyn]

It's a resort...not just theme parks. They have thousands of rooms to rent on a daily basis. If they offered no incentives to onsite guests (Buses, EMH, FP+ priority, etc), then everyone would stay in a house or condo for less money.

^^THIS^^
The reason I am willing to pay a premium to stay AT a Disney Resort Hotel is for the perks. And I personally have to pay more than many other people since we are a family of 5, and we can't be accommodated at a value resort. Although I'm sure some will say their party can't be accommodated at a Disney resort at all, and they must stay offsite... I'm guessing that the vast majority of offsite guests stay offsite to save money.

I will be very disappointed if they SELL the ability to book FP+ plus to offsite guests. I agree with a previous poster who thinks a morning wait in a kiosk line is still better than no FP+, or running across the parks all day to acquire FP-

Disney will make more money (and have happier guests in a less crowded park) if they make their money filling up the rooms. So what if a few offsite guests don't go. They are replacing that revenue with higher occupancy rates.

 

[squirrel4569]

If they keep this after the "test" then it will likely lead to fewer discounts at the hotels as well, as this is another perk of staying onsite.

I mentioned it to my wife and she said "so we're staying onsite then." We had considered staying offsite for our next trip but probably will change that.

Curious how Swan/Dolphin and DVC will be affected...

 

[Ds4angels]

Does anyone know if the offsite guest will all have to stand in line to book FP+ or will you still be able to have a "runner" to make your whole party's FP+ holding the tickets?

 

[snorkelyn]

Do u think they could at least have kiosks outside the gates, so while we wait we can get fp+ instead up waisting valuable park time getting them if we r staying off site?

This is a good idea. That way you can take advantage of shorter lines at rope drop -vs- waiting in line.

 

[TLSnell1981]

There was no doubt in my mind, this was coming.

 

[Porsche44]

We travel from Australia and always stay onsite. For us this is not a decision about cost but a decision about being immersed in the magic. I don't want to drive a car when I am at WDW ( you guys drive on a different side of the road to us) so staying on site gives me the perk of using the buses. We are rope drop people and we enjoy riding the buses, for us, they add to the build up and anticipation of the day ahead in the parks. I love the atmosphere of the onsite hotels, the customer service, the attention to detail in the rooms and public areas and for us, because we spend part of our holiday at The Beach Club, the easy access to the parks. Now I know that we are very fortunate to be able to afford staying at BC but I also know that if I had to do WDW on a strict budget I would still much prefer to stay at a value resort than offsite so that I can get that extra dose of magic. I am currently planning a Jan/Feb 2015 trip and I think the new FP system will possibly work okay for us as we are rope drop people however I DO NOT LIKE the tiering system and truly hope they do away with this AND I DO NOT LIKE that you can't use FP for multiple rides on the same attraction. On the old system we would ride say Soarin once and then get 2 FP's for rides later in the day. I still have many decisions to make like whether or not I will get an AP and that will be dependant on what rules they introduce so at the moment I am in a holding phase until all of this is finally sorted out so I think my biggest complaint with the system is PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Disney stop mucking about and draw a line in the sand. Bring out some hard and fast rules QUICKLY so that those of us planning our next holidays can actually know what we are dealing with. There, that is my 2 cents worth and rant for the day.

 

[Brittmarie04]

I agree, and I think it should be an added perk for the $$$ people pay to stay on site. Off site guests still have access to fast pass+, they just don't have advance access. For all the people complaining that if they have to wait until they get to the park to get fast pass they will go elsewhere...please by all means, the parks are crowded enough. I just hope you realize that before MDE you couldn't get fast pass until you where in the park anyway, and you would have to run around from one end to the other to get them. At least now you can get them all booked at one time in one place.

Agree!!! This is pretty much what I was going to say