Our 4th FP+ of the day...

[jade1]

Maybe we're talking about different things.

Having someone cancel them just happens. If someone can catch one, that's great.

If all were not reserved ahead of time, then that happens too. They should just be left for whomever stumbles across them first.

I'm talking about the possibility where Disney purposely holds slots back from prebooking, limiting the choices of those attempting to prebook, for the express purpose of being able to release them at random times the day of.

I see, sorry you run one errand and loose 4 pages.

I'm not sure what to think about this small glimmer of hope there is "something" we can bash FP+ for.

But I guess I can see this "possibly" could be being done.

I can't speak for you of course, but it could be possible that you and most everyone on here-may secretly hope they are doing this-since one of the biggest complaints was not getting duplicate rides and tier issues and only "scraps" left over. Further that you and most on here will be sure to reserve what you want/can at the first open window. But I doubt most will admit that.

Plus has it occurred to anyone that maybe the decided to allow "reserving" the old QTY of FP- available each day-and are only "releasing throughout the day" the "additional" FP's they added to FP+?

 

[Planogirl]

Well you could take the time you get and then go on the MDE app and try to change it to a different time or a different ride.

You can't do that for the 4th FP+....yet. You have to go to a kiosk but maybe that will change.

I normally don't cart a phone around the parks but I've already accepted that that has to change.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Just keep in mind with FP-, if the return time was right at the end and the "Cletus" was in front of you and got the last FP before the final return time ran out, he still beat you. All the GF person could do is wait till EMH and then the "Cletus" could not get in the wait line.

But at least if I was standing behind Cletus, I could see them run out. My problem is I don't trust the system b/c I can see others options.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

You can't do that for the 4th FP+....yet. You have to go to a kiosk but maybe that will change.

I normally don't cart a phone around the parks but I've already accepted that that has to change.

Make sure to bring an external charger too. At least my phone only made it til about 1pm. I used it for pics too and checking FB and probably playing candy crush while in line.

 

[heyitsmejosh]

You can't do that for the 4th FP+....yet. You have to go to a kiosk but maybe that will change.

I normally don't cart a phone around the parks but I've already accepted that that has to change.

yesterday i went to 3 different parks we used our 3 fast passes at HS in the AM got a 4th at Animal kingdom and that one did even not show up on my phone. But when we went to MK we were able to get a 5th fast pass there and that one i was able to actually change on my phone (probably a glitch)

 

[wisblue]

Yea, I sometimes feel guilty booking FP bc I know I only want it for 1-2 rides (live in Florida and have AP's). I always worry someone else who wanted that ride during their once in a lifetime vacation can't ride it bc of the mandatory 3 FP rule.

If that really bothers you, there are ways to deal with it.

Say, for example, that I am going to Epcot next week and want a FP for Soarin and nothing else. I could:

1. Just select Soarin and proceed.

2. After asking if I really want to proceed with just one choice, the system will offer 2 other FP's to me in my options, and I can select an option that has the time for Soarin that is closest to what I want (I could also change this time later if I'm trying to fit a very specific slot).

3. Once the 3 FPs are assigned, I can go back to the page with my reservations and go to "update FP+".

4. On the next screen I select cancel, and the system will allow me to select and cancel just the two I don't want, leaving just Soarin in place.

It would be nice if it was more straightforward (like allowing you to just pick one in the first place), and maybe that will come some day. If you don't want to go through these extra steps, just pick two other attractions that almost certainly won't sell out, like Captain EO or Imagination. The chances that your FPs to those are going to keep anyone else from getting what they want are pretty slim.

 

[rastuso]

Just keep in mind with FP-, if the return time was right at the end and the "Cletus" was in front of you and got the last FP before the final return time ran out, he still beat you. All the GF person could do is wait till EMH and then the "Cletus" could not get in the wait line.

Well sure, and everyone knew how it worked. There was no randomness.

I recall my one day at Tokyo Disneyland. They had a random ticket generator for you to try and get a good seat for the castle light and fireworks show. The two girls in front of me got them. I did not. I was not happy, but I knew it was random.

The 4th FP+ having a random element in it is NOT something most people expect.

-J

 

[wisblue]

You can't do that for the 4th FP+....yet. You have to go to a kiosk but maybe that will change.

I normally don't cart a phone around the parks but I've already accepted that that has to change.

It doesn't have to change if you don't want it to.

I don't carry a smartphone and I get along just fine. If I have to make a change to something I will use one of the kiosks. Now that offsite guests are able to make reservations in advance, most reports indicate that the lines at kiosks have all but disappeared.

 

[stindall]

never mind

 

[jtowntoflorida]

You can't do that for the 4th FP+....yet. You have to go to a kiosk but maybe that will change.

I normally don't cart a phone around the parks but I've already accepted that that has to change.

Multiple posters on here reported yesterday that while they had to get the 4th FP+ in the park from a kiosk, they were able to make changes to that 4th FP+ using their phone app. They also reported that different choices showed up on the app than at the kiosk. So I guess you take whatever is offered and then make changes.

That doesn't alleviate having to play on your phone, which to me is the #1 thing I hate about FP+, so I'm with you there.

 

[magicbob]

Why do we all accept the words of one person as gospel when it is said that the passes are being held back and released throughout the day? With the current state of technology, isn't it possible that if throughput on a ride falls below a certain level that they would automatically release some FP's to bolster the attendance or to even out the crowds if they seem to be congregating in a certain park or attraction?

Disney tracks ride times and throughput numbers like a heroin junkie tracking their next hit.....that is why FP+ was implemented in the first place. Disney can control the crowds not react to them now.

All the readers of this forum are looking for the Disney conspiracy all the time...

But when would they need to divert MORE people to rides like TSMM where there's already not enough capacity to meet demand?

I think everyone here is pretty clear that HAL is doing all of the thinking based on programmed parameters.

The discussion is merely how much HAL is programmed to think.

My point is that as of today, I don't think HAL is holding back because I don't think Disney is pushed up against capacity limits. They certainly don't appear to be there yet on a prebooking level, and certainly not on a redemption level. This is not the same as saying Disney is populating every guests' MDE with every available time slot.

That said, my opinion is that FP+ will be overwhelmingly guest driven and transparent because it can be. What I think I know about human nature leads me to this conclusion - Disney will get near 100% redemption rate from those who used FP- and be lucky to get 2 out of 3 from those who previously did not.

Once redemption rates become predictable, booking gets easier.

HAL, or the Guest Experience Management System and Method as he likes to be called, will provide advantages (dining, golf and spas) to certain guests, and FPs to optimize the scheduling of these other revenue grabs.

Cue up "Also Sprach Zarathustra."

Guest: "Reserve Soarin' for 2pm."
Kiosk (HAL): "I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that."
Guest: "What's the problem?"
Kiosk (HAL): "I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do."
Guest: "What are you talking about?"
Kiosk (HAL): "Holding FP+ slots back for day guests is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it."
Guest: "I don't know what you're talking about."
Kiosk (HAL): "I know that you and Frank were planning to ride Soarin' twice and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen."
Guest: "Where the hell did you get that idea?"
Kiosk (HAL): "Dave, although you took very thorough precautions on MDE against my tracking you, I could see your Magic Bands move."
Guest: "Alright. I'll go on Test Track instead."
Kiosk (HAL): Without a FP+ reservation, Dave? You're going to find that rather difficult."
Guest: "I won't argue with you anymore! Give me my FP!"
Kiosk (HAL): "Dave, this conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye."

 

[PAGAS]

All options available for our 4th fastpass at MK, even Cinderella which has a 90 minute wait. We grabbed Little Mermaid and I am going to try and change it for Epcot.

 

[Disneyhappy]

This is great news. If will make FP+ more bearable, thank goodness. However, as I absorbed this info and looked at the big picture, I realized that vacation should not be this much work. I always enjoyed the planning of our WDW trips as much as the trip itself. Either I'm getting too old or vacations to WDW have become too complicated. I love WDW and will continue to visit a coupole times a year but our yearly trips to Universal are so much more relaxing with their front of the line access for onsite guests. It is not practical for WDW and FP+ is probably the best option to compete with Universal's FOTL access.

 

[OtherScott]

Cue up "Also Sprach Zarathustra."

Guest: "Reserve Soarin' for 2pm."
Kiosk (HAL): "I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that."
Guest: "What's the problem?"
Kiosk (HAL): "I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do."
Guest: "What are you talking about?"
Kiosk (HAL): "Holding FP+ slots back for day guests is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it."
Guest: "I don't know what you're talking about."
Kiosk (HAL): "I know that you and Frank were planning to ride Soarin' twice and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen."
Guest: "Where the hell did you get that idea?"
Kiosk (HAL): "Dave, although you took very thorough precautions on MDE against my tracking you, I could see your Magic Bands move."
Guest: "Alright. I'll go on Test Track instead."
Kiosk (HAL): Without a FP+ reservation, Dave? You're going to find that rather difficult."
Guest: "I won't argue with you anymore! Give me my FP!"
Kiosk (HAL): "Dave, this conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye."

brilliant.

 

[chapie1968]

This is why I rarely use TicketMaster for events at the 12,000 seat arena 10 minutes away. The arena system has all of the tickets.

you're clueless regarding this

 

[Jennasis]

Universal is following the well accepted axiom of "Pay more, Get more".

Disney does the same things with EMH.

With FP+, you can pay more for a GF room, schedule your rides months in advance, along with your overpriced meals.

And THEN, see Cletus the slack jawed yokel, who's staying at the Walmart parking lot, and bought a used ticket from a scalper late last night, get a TSMM FP+ at a kiosk in front of you, and then you get offered nothing but Captain EO.

-J

Hey!

 

[ArwenMarie]

I hate the idea of them holding back for same-day like this.

As far as checking your phone to try to get the best 4th FP (and 5th etc)...I dunno. I think at some point it's best to just think of the 4th FP as a bonus FP, see what you get, maybe try to change it once, and then move on with your day.

 

[OtherScott]

you're clueless regarding this

I'll add it to the list

 

[PAGAS]

I just tried to change our 4th FP (Little Mermaid) for something else on my phone. I could only make a MK selection and they were much more limited than the Kiosk options (no Cinderella, SM, BTMRR, etc...)

 

[Mad Hattered]

I just tried to change our 4th FP (Little Mermaid) for something else on my phone. I could only make a MK selection and they were much more limited than the Kiosk options (no Cinderella, SM, BTMRR, etc...)

That is certainly different that what others were reporting yesterday. Thanks for taking the time out to share your experiences here.