Our 4th FP+ of the day...

[2Tiggies]

Does anyone know if Disney did any research/surveys to find out if people would actually prefer to use their smartphones so much while touring? I've seen a few oats now where people would like to be "disconnected" from technology at the parks but FP+ makes that nearly impossible.

I vaguely recall various surveys in around 2011 where there were questions that touched on this. While I do not recall the specific questions, I do remember that within less than a year after that, the first announcement about NextGen plans hit the internet, taking my mind back to the surveys. What I have discovered with Disney surveys is that often the questions you answer suddenly make more sense [in terms of relevance] at a later stage. I am left with a very clear impression that this concept was put forward and given the green light (or at least an amber one) before they had gathered a response from guests. If you look at past surveys it seems that Disney had already decided to move forward with this and questions come across as misleading when looking back because it's almost as if you are coached when presented with a question. I can't tell you how many times I have been going through a survey and a question pops up where I think "What the heck ....?) and casually put an answer in because I can't figure out in what context it is intended. I am putting my neck out here, but it's going to take some doing to persuade me that our answers lead to the outcomes we eventually see. They decide what they want to do and find a way to pose the questions so that they get the answers they want. You can read into that as you wish. My firm view is that they will interpret what you say to fit the decision that has already been made before you even hit that submit button.

Example: In the initial stages of the MDE rollout, with all it's problems, frustration and outcries, we get a statement implying that everyone loves it and that it's a success .... blah blah blah.

I also remember being asked in a survey if I would like to be able to plan more of my trip online. At the time, Disney's website was pretty basic with far better and more up to date planning tools available on other websites. So of course I would have said yes! Did they ever suggest that FP would be tiered? Limited to 3 (anyone who has visited this year until this week, has been subjected to the limit so the fact that it is no longer relevant does not apply to those trips taken in the first quarter of this year)? Do you believe that the majority of us would have answered the same way if they posed the question a little more transparently?

Sure, they use the surveys. But the questions are misleading and you don't know it until you see an announcement for a cutback, change, limitation or restriction. And they they respond with "We asked our guests and 98% of them said YES PLEASE ...... " Oh I believe you. Thousands wouldn't .....

 

[Andyman33]

i tried reading much of the thread and even searched -- but no clear answer yet. park hopping and 4th and beyond attraction fp -- do I have to physically be in that park? If I book 4th in MK, can I switch it on my iphone to an epcot option? if both of those are a no, do ALL people have to be in the park or just one to book for a group? my plan is to use 3 fp in MK before 1 -- then head back to resort for naps and then back out in the evening to epcot and thinking that if I could book a fastpass for soarin or other tier 1 option (i'd have a much better chance at 12:30 than at 4:30) before going back to the hotel. If I have to physically be there, hoping that I could do it myself for everyone while they head back to the room and i meet them after....possible?

 

[2Tiggies]

Disney claimed early on that their research told them people wanted to interact more with their mobile devices in the parks.

Of course we did. We wanted the option of wifi access. So that we could send messages to our family who couldn't be with us or access an app .... Only 2 years ago I was paying around $10 per night if I needed internet access in my resort room from my laptop. Many of us wanted the option to interact on our mobile devices. We did not expect it to be mandatory if we wanted to ride an attraction that we had become used to being able to ride if we got our butts out of bed early enough .....

They were giving paper FPs today with all the glitches, which really screwed up some of the FP lines since the paper FPs were good for any ride.

So everyone rode standby. There were just two lines and some guests had a piece of paper in hand

I just wanted to say thank you so much for all your information and for answering our questions during your vacation this week. You've given us a lot to think about and shed some light on plenty

 

[mom2rtk]

Of course we did. We wanted the option of wifi access. So that we could send messages to our family who couldn't be with us or access an app .... Only 2 years ago I was paying around $10 per night if I needed internet access in my resort room from my laptop. Many of us wanted the option to interact on our mobile devices. We did not expect it to be mandatory if we wanted to ride an attraction that we had become used to being able to ride if we got our butts out of bed early enough .....

You evidently were not specific enough in your answer. I blame you.

 

[2Tiggies]

You evidently were not specific enough in your answer. I blame you.

No need to make me feel worse. I'm paying for it now!

 

[mom2rtk]

No need to make me feel worse. I'm paying for it now!

Cheer up. We can take turns riding on the ECV with our camera gear. I don't *think* we'll need a FP for that.

 

[2Tiggies]

Cheer up. We can take turns riding on the ECV with our camera gear. I don't *think* we'll need a FP for that.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

They were giving paper FPs today with all the glitches, which really screwed up some of the FP lines since the paper FPs were good for any ride.

We also tested the MB FP in a new way for us. Splash was down during our time and we were able to use the MB at the FP line hours later without issue. We then went to Peter Pan to use the paper FP we had gotten, my daughter instinctively held her band to the Mickey and it turned green. We never held a FP for PP for today, so not sure what was going on there. I had her do it at the second checkpoint just to see what happened, it turned green again. We turned in our paper FP and were on our way, but I was curious if the system was just greenlighting everyone because of all the issues today.

When I was there in Dec, BTMRR went down.when I had a FP+ ressie. Since it was down, I was able to use it in any ride at any time. So assuming that's why your daughter's worked. However, it sounds like you were able to use the splash one later too? Did your daughter? So really she got one more FP+? Sorry it's been such a glitchtastic day. =(

 

[PAGAS]

i tried reading much of the thread and even searched -- but no clear answer yet. park hopping and 4th and beyond attraction fp -- do I have to physically be in that park? If I book 4th in MK, can I switch it on my iphone to an epcot option? if both of those are a no, do ALL people have to be in the park or just one to book for a group? my plan is to use 3 fp in MK before 1 -- then head back to resort for naps and then back out in the evening to epcot and thinking that if I could book a fastpass for soarin or other tier 1 option (i'd have a much better chance at 12:30 than at 4:30) before going back to the hotel. If I have to physically be there, hoping that I could do it myself for everyone while they head back to the room and i meet them after....possible?

Just one has to be in the park to book as long as it is working properly. About 75% of the time my band would only pull up me, even though my husband and daughter were linked. DH's band worked 90% of the time to pull up myself and our daughter. Per the CMs, this was very common.

I never found a way to book a 4th FP or more for a park unless I was physically in that park at the kiosk. I tried on the app and from my laptop to change existing FPs to a new park FP, but it would only give me the same park options. That could change, but for now it wasn't possible.

 

[mom2rtk]

Just one has to be in the park to book as long as it is working properly. About 75% of the time my band would only pull up me, even though my husband and daughter were linked. DH's band worked 90% of the time to pull up myself and our daughter. Per the CMs, this was very common.

I never found a way to book a 4th FP or more for a park unless I was physically in that park at the kiosk. I tried on the app and from my laptop to change existing FPs to a new park FP, but it would only give me the same park options. That could change, but for now it wasn't possible.

If I wasn't so sure they'll exclude the 7DMT from the "any ride FP" they give you when yours goes down, I'd suggest scheduling for BTMRR every day in hopes it goes down and would open up a chance to ride the 7DMT.

 

[jimmysmom74]

Just one has to be in the park to book as long as it is working properly. About 75% of the time my band would only pull up me, even though my husband and daughter were linked. DH's band worked 90% of the time to pull up myself and our daughter. Per the CMs, this was very common.

I never found a way to book a 4th FP or more for a park unless I was physically in that park at the kiosk. I tried on the app and from my laptop to change existing FPs to a new park FP, but it would only give me the same park options. That could change, but for now it wasn't possible.

Thanks for taking all the time to update us on the boards! Your reports have been very helpful. We are there for 4 days in June and hoping the app will do the work of the kiosks. Our March trip with the 3 and done FP+ system was less than magical. Your reports, even though it is a slower time, give me hope for a better trip this time around!

 

[Andyman33]

are there options to "Copy" the 4th and beyond to others?

 

[Andyman33]

and yes, thank you for all the help

 

[PAGAS]

are there options to "Copy" the 4th and beyond to others?

I don't know. I just booked all three of ours at once each time we booked the 4th and beyond.

 

[mrsmorrow]

OP, I thank you so much! This is a pretty long thread and most long threads I sort of "skip around" and read bits and pieces but I am following every single post of this one. I think it's really generous of you to offer your experiences and check in regularly, so very helpful to many of us!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

i tried reading much of the thread and even searched -- but no clear answer yet. park hopping and 4th and beyond attraction fp -- do I have to physically be in that park? If I book 4th in MK, can I switch it on my iphone to an epcot option? if both of those are a no, do ALL people have to be in the park or just one to book for a group? my plan is to use 3 fp in MK before 1 -- then head back to resort for naps and then back out in the evening to epcot and thinking that if I could book a fastpass for soarin or other tier 1 option (i'd have a much better chance at 12:30 than at 4:30) before going back to the hotel. If I have to physically be there, hoping that I could do it myself for everyone while they head back to the room and i meet them after....possible?

The CM who called me in response to an email stated for sure that you had to be physically in the 2nd park to book there after your 3rd is used. She didn't say anything about everyone in your party being there with you in order to reserve for them.

 

[JimmyV]

No, it didn't, at least not in the last few years. You could get a new FP at the EARLIER of (1) two hours after you pulled a FP, or (2) the return time of the FP.

While that is true, after 11:00 or so, if you were getting a FP for a headliner, your return time was more than 2 hours out so the 2 hour time limit was the one that would be invoked.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

Just one has to be in the park to book as long as it is working properly. About 75% of the time my band would only pull up me, even though my husband and daughter were linked. DH's band worked 90% of the time to pull up myself and our daughter. Per the CMs, this was very common.

I never found a way to book a 4th FP or more for a park unless I was physically in that park at the kiosk. I tried on the app and from my laptop to change existing FPs to a new park FP, but it would only give me the same park options. That could change, but for now it wasn't possible.

Isn't it true that you must use the kiosks for all subsequent FP's after the initial 3, or is this not official?

 

[jrjankowski8]

I keep seeing people post "once the general public gets wind of the 4th FP..."

I think this is a non-issue.

Think of it this way, RD was no secret with FP- and has been going on for a while. Same will be true with FP+.

The people who didn't want to get up early to do RD before even though it gave you a huge advantage, still won't do it nor will they book early FP+.

Even given the chance to book a 9:15FP+ for their favorite attraction and then burn through 3 to get a 4th, 5th, etc... they won't. That's not how most people tour. They get there when they get there.

These are the same people that still won't book FP+ in advance even though they have the option and they are the same people that will take their 3 FP+ and use it when it's given and that's it.

Nothing is going to change. People will still take advantage of FP+ and RD just like they did with FP-.

That's why I'm doing RD or early morning and then keeping my FP+ for the crowded afternoon, regardless of the extra FP+ I could get. So if it's 9pm and I use my 3rd, if I can get a 4th...great. If not, oh well. Same thing happens with FP-.

 

[johde]

That really depends.

Even if I am able to push the limits of the new system to squeeze a little more out of it, I will still dislike that I am required to commit to my primary FP selections 2 months out, and that I don't have the flexibility to just change parks on a whim on a given day. I also dislike the idea that to maximize FP, I will need to be glued to the smart phone I would rather just put in my backpack and forget about for the day.

Plus, it's really going to take time to see if the availability of a 4th (plus subsequent FPs) is going to make one bit of difference in overcoming the tiers at DHS and Epcot during all but the slowest weeks.

The thing is right now, with a very few obvious exceptions like E&A at least right now, most indications are that you can change parks on a whim in the morning and get most of the FP's. Looking right now, at 10:45, TSMM, RnR, ToT, Soarin', EE were all available to book for FP+ for at least the 1 person I'm looking for if I was going to the parks today. TT was currently showing not available so I'm wondering if it's down for weather or some other reason. I didn't check the MK so I'm now sure how availability is there.

Second, to maximize FP+'s you don't need to be glued to your Smart phones you can use the Kiosks to make additional FP+ reservations just like under FP- you went to FP machine except under FP+ you can see all available FP's for all attractions at all locations instead of going to Space Mountain only to find out it's now out of FP's and if you had gone the other direction you could have gotten a FP for BTMRR.

If the 4th FP doesn't help with Tiering at DHS and EPCOT it's not a problem with FP+. It's that FP+ is allowing more people to get 1 FP for those rides where previously they didn't get any.