not a fan of fast pass plus

[Angel Ariel]

As a practical matter, how would you make the jump from paper FP only for all guests to FP+ only for all guests without going through small interim steps like they have been doing?

If you think these small steps have been a mess, it would really be fun doing it all at one time.

I think it's entirely practical for Disney to announce/put in print for the public that prebooking will be available to all guests once the roll out is complete.

I think that alone would calm a lot of people's worries, and is entirely within the realm of possible.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Reports on this board are that there are still a lot of on-site Guests having problems linking their passes in the app. Don't you think it's prudent to get those problems smoothed out before throwing in another scenario and, perhaps, tripling or more the number of app users trying to link passes?

As an offsite guest, I can already "link" passes to our MDE account. We did this with out MNSSHP tickets. I'm positive I could have done it with our regular tickets too, but I had done MNSSHP first and then read about the problems with having 2 sets of active tickets linked, so I didn't.

I could not make FP+ reservations, but the system had no issues letting me link tickets to my MDE account.

 

[ArwenMarie]

BTW, here is a link to the page that informs passholders that MBs and FP+ will be coming some time in 2014.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/plan/my-disney-experience/passholder/

Even that doesn't say anything about prebooking at 60 days though.

 

[glamdring269]

As a practical matter, how would you make the jump from paper FP only for all guests to FP+ only for all guests without going through small interim steps like they have been doing?

If you think these small steps have been a mess, it would really be fun doing it all at one time.

I agree with you as long as they weren't just doing a stress test without making other improvements. Example, if the app is still just as counter intuitive, sluggish, non-responsive, etc. as it was when we were on a limited test basis in October then I'd say they failed at least in that regard. They should have been stress testing and making system enhancements in unison.

 

[Laketravis]

Reports on this board are that there are still a lot of on-site Guests having problems linking their passes in the app. Don't you think it's prudent to get those problems smoothed out before throwing in another scenario and, perhaps, tripling or more the number of app users trying to link passes?

There have been a few reports of that. But those issues are most likely minuscule compared to current issues.

Do you think it's more prudent to install kiosks that can only be used by offsite guests, cause more delays for more guests, throw 100 CM's with iPads into the parks and now even the parking lots to assist, simply to measure or smooth out what exactly?

If we apply the logic that some element of off-site guests needs to first be tested before letting them pre-book, how can the fact be explained that AP holders can continue to pre-book future offsite visits after a single night stay?

If you are speculating that the pre-booking system might buckle under additional load, doesn't that mean it's more likely to buckle when all of those people are in the park on the same day trying to make reservations in the span of a few hours?

From an operational perspective, all indications are that Disney is preparing for and expects huge numbers of guests to only make their FP selections on the day of. And if that is because they anticipate many guests will need to because they simply forget or weren't aware they could pre-book, that could require an ongoing level of such resources. But again, there is no compelling reason to exclude such a large number of users from the ability to pre-book if your intention is to allow them to do so anyway.

 

[MelissathePooh]

I just went into MDE and picked one of my AK FP+ for March. I could very easily change either the time or the experience on just one of them, so not sure why you were having such a hard time I am also an AP holder with it linked to the band so I don't think that's problem.

I don't know either but we never were able to get it to work. My issue is if the app is this glitched now for so many - not all, but many - it is useless to us. That makes flexibility, or lack of, a big issue. Several guests we talked to said they couldn't even get the app to load Sunday. Not sure if demand causes problems, but Disney has never been known for great IT - what used to be a company light years ahead is now pitifully behind.

 

[wisblue]

Even that doesn't say anything about prebooking at 60 days though.

No, it doesn't, and I won't be surprised if onsite guests can book further in advance than offsite guests.

 

[wisblue]

I agree with you as long as they weren't just doing a stress test without making other improvements. Example, if the app is still just as counter intuitive, sluggish, non-responsive, etc. as it was when we were on a limited test basis in October then I'd say they failed at least in that regard. They should have been stress testing and making system enhancements in unison.

I agree about that. But, I think a gradual stress test is essential regardless.

 

[wisblue]

Have they actually installed separate machines for offsite guests to use to make FP+ reservations or do they just have locations that are staffed by CMs with iPads, possibly near the machines that onsite guests use to make selections or changes with their MBs?

It's hard for me to tell from the pictures in Josh's report on easywdw.

We've been throwing the word "kiosk" around here because that's the term Disney is using. But, is that word used to describe the machine or device that you use to make or change reservations, or just the structure that houses the devices?

 

[Itinkso]

Have they actually installed separate machines for offsite guests to use to make FP+ reservations or do they just have locations that are staffed by CMs with iPads, possibly near the machines that onsite guests use to make selections or changes with their MBs? It's hard for me to tell from the pictures in Josh's report on easywdw. We've been throwing the word "kiosk" around here because that's the term Disney is using. But, is that word used to describe the machine or device that you use to make or change reservations, or just the structure that houses the devices?

An AK kiosk:

 

[DisMN]

Reports on this board are that there are still a lot of on-site Guests having problems linking their passes in the app. Don't you think it's prudent to get those problems smoothed out before throwing in another scenario and, perhaps, tripling or more the number of app users trying to link passes?

Live report here. Day two. Three hours with concierge service with TWO cast members working on my account.
Still. Not. Fixed. Two days no fastpasses and I depend on those suckers.

What the hell is Disney doing?
Stopped in a park kiosk to check and yup just plain locked out.
I THINK this is happening to many people who started their accounts with the same login ID as they use on other Disney owned sites. At least the CM that tried to help me seemed to feel was happening.

Kinda not fun being their test subject.

 

[magicbob]

I think it's entirely practical for Disney to announce/put in print for the public that prebooking will be available to all guests once the roll out is complete.

I think that alone would calm a lot of people's worries, and is entirely within the realm of possible.

Unless it's their plan NOT to allow pre-booking for offsite EVER?

 

[Disneylover99]

Live report here. Day two. Three hours with concierge service with TWO cast members working on my account.
Still. Not. Fixed. Two days no fastpasses and I depend on those suckers.

What the hell is Disney doing?
Stopped in a park kiosk to check and yup just plain locked out.
I THINK this is happening to many people who started their accounts with the same login ID as they use on other Disney owned sites. At least the CM that tried to help me seemed to feel was happening.

Kinda not fun being their test subject.

Terrible.

 

[mom2rtk]

Live report here. Day two. Three hours with concierge service with TWO cast members working on my account.
Still. Not. Fixed. Two days no fastpasses and I depend on those suckers.

What the hell is Disney doing?
Stopped in a park kiosk to check and yup just plain locked out.
I THINK this is happening to many people who started their accounts with the same login ID as they use on other Disney owned sites. At least the CM that tried to help me seemed to feel was happening.

Kinda not fun being their test subject.

I'm so sorry.

I hope you take the time when you get home to write Disney about your issues on this trip.

 

[wisblue]

An AK kiosk:

Is this what onsite guests use to make changes, what offsite guests use to make reservations, or both? From the screen it looks like it could be used to make new selections.

I saw these kiosks on my last two trips, and used them to make changes. Because I was onsite, I never tried to make reservations at DAK, the only park that didn't have paper FP at that time.

It also seems from the reports on the boards and in Josh's summary that there are some locations that only onsite guests can use because of the nature of the devices there.

My question is whether offsite guests can make reservations at the kiosks, or if they can only make them through a CM with an iPad.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Live report here. Day two. Three hours with concierge service with TWO cast members working on my account.
Still. Not. Fixed. Two days no fastpasses and I depend on those suckers.

What the hell is Disney doing?
Stopped in a park kiosk to check and yup just plain locked out.
I THINK this is happening to many people who started their accounts with the same login ID as they use on other Disney owned sites. At least the CM that tried to help me seemed to feel was happening.

Kinda not fun being their test subject.

Wow. I would not have put up with even an hour of that. I would have raised hell until they fixed it.

 

[jimandami]

Is this what onsite guests use to make changes, what offsite guests use to make reservations, or both? I saw these kiosks on my last two trips, and used them to make changes. Because I was onsite, I never tried to make reservations at DAK, the only park that didn't have paper FP at that time. It also seems from the reports on the boards and in Josh's summary that there are some locations that only onsite guests can use because of the nature of the devices there. My question is whether offsite guests can make reservations at the kiosks, or if they can only make them through a CM with an iPad.

Yes, off-site guests can use the kiosks for reservations.

 

[Itinkso]

Offsite guests are using the kiosks... there have been some YouTube videos posted.

Josh may be referring to specific kiosk locations that allow access to the complete MDE site.

 

[damo]

Live report here. Day two. Three hours with concierge service with TWO cast members working on my account.
Still. Not. Fixed. Two days no fastpasses and I depend on those suckers.

What the hell is Disney doing?
Stopped in a park kiosk to check and yup just plain locked out.
I THINK this is happening to many people who started their accounts with the same login ID as they use on other Disney owned sites. At least the CM that tried to help me seemed to feel was happening.

Kinda not fun being their test subject.

In my eyes, one report like yours cancels out 10 good reports.

Even though my vacation isn't until September, I must admit that I am watching every report very carefully and these bad ones make me feel very uneasy.

 

[ilovemk76]

Live report here. Day two. Three hours with concierge service with TWO cast members working on my account.
Still. Not. Fixed. Two days no fastpasses and I depend on those suckers.

What the hell is Disney doing?
Stopped in a park kiosk to check and yup just plain locked out.
I THINK this is happening to many people who started their accounts with the same login ID as they use on other Disney owned sites. At least the CM that tried to help me seemed to feel was happening.

Kinda not fun being their test subject.

I used the same login and have not had any problems.

My friend accidentally link two tickets to her name. It took us two visits to get t fixed. They gave us a paper of the same times for the one with the problem and park entrance for the day. The next day it was fixed and the entire party got a fourth FP.