Our 4th FP+ of the day...

[humpback]

Thanks for the report.

Any other reports from the other parks? HS was the "most recommended" park today (level 3 I believe)- curious to see how it went elsewhere.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I would love to know if you can book FP for a different park. Example, you are in epcot and just finished soarin. Still have two valid FPs. Can you go to kiosk in epcot and book FP for ride in MK for later evening?

Somewhere in one of these FP+ threads there is a screenshot showing FP+s in two different parks. But from the way I read that post, the person had to book the 4th FP+ with the kiosk for an attraction in the park that they were in currently in, but then could change it with the app to an attraction in another park. So it looks like park hopping can be had right now, albeit in a roundabout manner.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Ahhh, young padawan wants to know if the rules of engagement are the same as was for FP-.

Years after FP- was in place I still overheard conversations from families saying they had not and would not pay for that 'front of the line' service and still had people asking me about the 'ticket' I was getting out of the machine. So, I don't believe any amount of education could fully 'educate' the masses, it just seems like everyone is clamoring to be in the know when you visit places like disboards.

If you take a look at the comments on the Disney Parks Facebook page, you'll see that plenty of people are still complaining about having to pay for FP+. I never thought FP was a particularly hard concept to grasp either.

 

[lugnut33]

I am not convinced yet that they are holding back and releasing THROUGH the day, but I will do my best to try and figure out if they are

I thought the same but, according to TheHub (supposedly a CM) up to 40% of all FP are held for day of.

 

[lugnut33]

i'm very glad to see Disney implementing this new policy. Good on them.

 

[travelinggnomes]

We were at Epcot today and at noon, we had every ride available to us for our 4th FP. Also, not sure if it was mentioned or not, but we actually didn't use all of our first 3 FP's. After riding Mission Space, I informed DH that he would throw up if he rode it...so he bailed. As long as the time has passed...you can get your 4th. Even if you didn't use it.

 

[Maddies Mama]

Thanks for the report.

Any other reports from the other parks? HS was the "most recommended" park today (level 3 I believe)- curious to see how it went elsewhere.

5:10pm in Epcot, CM was telling guests walking up to the kiosk near the Innoventions buildings that TT & Soarin were all out for the day. Everyone was turning away, I guess that's probably what everyone wanted, including us - we were just there to grab a bite to eat before heading to MK for the night. Most everything we went on there was walk-on or a short wait so we didn't bother trying to get a 4th there.

 

[SplashMo]

We were at Epcot today and at noon, we had every ride available to us for our 4th FP. Also, not sure if it was mentioned or not, but we actually didn't use all of our first 3 FP's. After riding Mission Space, I informed DH that he would throw up if he rode it...so he bailed. As long as the time has passed...you can get your 4th. Even if you didn't use it.

Good to know this worked. You do need to use one FP+ (Apparently)

 

[Mad Hattered]

5:10pm in Epcot, CM was telling guests walking up to the kiosk near the Innoventions buildings that TT & Soarin were all out for the day. Everyone was turning away, I guess that's probably what everyone wanted, including us - we were just there to grab a bite to eat before heading to MK for the night. Most everything we went on there was walk-on or a short wait so we didn't bother trying to get a 4th there.

Thanks for another perspective, MM. It basically ends up the same way as the original FP (even on a low crowd day). I'm pretty sure that boils down to EPCOT not having enough rides to disperse the crowds.

 

[Shaden]

I thought the same but, according to TheHub (supposedly a CM) up to 40% of all FP are held for day of.

No no, I am sure TheHub is correct and they are holding for day of ... the proposition made was that they were releasing them throughout the day, not just at park opening.

 

[magicbob]

That's great news! Have fun!

I'm pretty sure now that they are holding back FP's to release during the course of the day now. They must be. To be able to book TSM at 4 pm for a return time 3 hours later? I don't think we were able to get one after lunch time in early September...

No no, I am sure TheHub is correct and they are holding for day of ... the proposition made was that they were releasing them throughout the day, not just at park opening.

So, I guess this means WDW is the new Vegas? FP+ roulette! If you try to get your 4th FP+ at 3:55 pm you can get Muppets, but at 3:57pm you can get TSMM. You never know when more "choice" FPs will be dumped into the available pool. This new interactive guessing game is fun for the whole family!

 

[2Tiggies]

So, I guess this means WDW is the new Vegas? FP+ roulette! If you try to get your 4th FP+ at 3:55 pm you can get Muppets, but at 3:57pm you can get TSMM. You never know when more "choice" FPs will be dumped into the available pool. This new interactive guessing game is fun for the whole family!

It's looking that way! I wonder if more players = more bets which = more odds of a win ..... So if I line up to check and have DD line up two places behind me to check, all I have to do is yell "Score!" if we get something good and she knows to leave the line and come join me as we head out to ride TT for the third time that day. OR, if they offer me Turtle Talk or Captain EO, I can make a face at her while she tries to beat my lottery outcome.

On a side note, I've always wanted to go to Vegas and figured it won't happen until DD is much older. Perhaps my wish has come true. So I was wrong. There is an up side to FP+

 

[magicbob]

It's looking that way! I wonder if more players = more bets which = more odds of a win ..... So if I line up to check and have DD line up two places behind me to check, all I have to do is yell "Score!" if we get something good and she knows to leave the line and come join me as we head out to ride TT for the third time that day. OR, if they offer me Turtle Talk or Captain EO, I can make a face at her while she tries to beat my lottery outcome.

On a side note, I've always wanted to go to Vegas and figured it won't happen until DD is much older. Perhaps my wish has come true. So I was wrong. There is an up side to FP+

Or reserve Captain EO, but then stay glued to your smartphone trying to change it to something else if/when they dump more into the pool.

As long as the time has passed...you can get your 4th. Even if you didn't use it.

But what I think we are trying to clarify is whether the 3rd FP+ has to be "expired" (i.e., window has closed on it, even if you didn't use it) or if you can book the 4th FP+ as soon as the window for the 3rd OPENS. Under the former scenario, you would technically just be re-scheduling the 3rd expired FP+. Under the latter, you would still ride the 3rd ride sometime during your window, but would already have the 4th scheduled. From what I've read, you can book the 4th AFTER the 3rd has been used (or the window has passed*), not as soon as your window opens. But maybe someone on the ground can test this and report back?

* Although, again, if the window passed without using it, your 4th FP+ is really still your 3rd.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I thought the same but, according to TheHub (supposedly a CM) up to 40% of all FP are held for day of.

The Hub did say that was pre offsite and APs having prebooking access though. They didn't know what that number was now.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Neither of these really surprise me, too much, though they do help calm my worries.

This was our experience the last couple trips during 5 lvl crowds. Today is listed as a 4.

This was one of my biggest complaints to the people who were touting FP+ as so super awesome and how it allowed them to get FPs they would NEVER have gotten otherwise unless they went at RD, etc etc.

There are only about 36% of the year where crowds are "high" ... I am quite hopeful that in moderate and low crowds, the 4th FP will be fine. In previous years we have pulled FPs all morning through mid-day. Gone back to the resort then out to dinner, then back to a park and still been able to pull FPs for use within the hour.

My worry was that with more people using FP than before, that availability wouldn't be there ... it appears that, at least today, it is. Will be reporting quite a bit on my experience, very much hoping this ends up functioning a lot like Legacy FP.

We are going the same time frame next year! I will be very interested in how things go for you. I would love it if you would PM me when you start your report - or do you have a PTR now?

 

[MAGICFOR2]

This whole FP lottery conversation has me thinking about some strange form of Hunger Games- Disney is secretly watching at the Kiosks, then withholding or giving out FP+ at a whim, and laughing at the reactions of the guests

 

[2Tiggies]

The Hub did say that was pre offsite and APs having prebooking access though. They didn't know what that number was now.

Yes, they are definitely holding back for the day of and releasing them in a stream through the day, but 40% would seem a bit high with the offsite guests now having access to pre booking and as you suggest, that must surely have changed now. Interesting times.

I wonder what percentage of guests are using FP+ now. There will always be those who see no need to book FP's whether on the day or in advance. It's also going to be interesting to see what patterns emerge as a result of this, over time. For example, what will the uptake of the additional FP's turn out to be? It is probably fair to assume that only those who are informed are utilizing this advantage in these early stages. News will eventually spread and more people will become aware of their options.

I have days when I am really done with all this scheduling and replanning over and over and happy to just take each day as it comes; then I have other days where I feel quite stressed and panicky about the whole thing. I'm hoping my easy going approach will prevail when we finally get there.

 

[mom2rtk]

This whole FP lottery conversation has me thinking about some strange form of Hunger Games- Disney is secretly watching at the Kiosks, then withholding or giving out FP+ at a whim, and laughing at the reactions of the guests

And people complained when PUSH left. If you think about it, this really could fill that void.

I wonder how long before the add KIOSK to the entertainment calendar?

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Ahhh, young padawan wants to know if the rules of engagement are the same as was for FP-.



Years after FP- was in place I still overheard conversations from families saying they had not and would not pay for that 'front of the line' service and still had people asking me about the 'ticket' I was getting out of the machine. So, I don't believe any amount of education could fully 'educate' the masses, it just seems like everyone is clamoring to be in the know when you visit places like disboards.

There is a lot of truth to that. There will always be those who don't care to plan and don't pay attention to any details until they get there. However, I've never seen FP- advertised on TV DS's neighbor asked me to help plan her trip for next year - she stated, "We've never been, don't know anything, but we want the bracelet!" It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out. The availability of extra FP+ may be the re-capture of the unused FP that happened frequently under the old system. It seems like it will make the SB lines longer in that case.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

And people complained when PUSH left. If you think about it, this really could fill that void.

I wonder how long before the add KIOSK to the entertainment calendar?

The Kiosk would heckle people while they try to book!