Our FP+ testing experience 7/19

[Simba77]

Oh, and I could see some "double dipping" (people obtaining FP+ for Splash Mountain and then also using their cards to get regular FP), but to be honest, at a capacity of over 1,500 an hour, I think the impact of double dippers will be minimal, even on Splash.

Don't forget that a lot of people who are part of the FP+ test might assume that they can't even get regular FP and won't bother with it.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

With your phone in airplane mode, turn on the Wifi, which is free inside all parks and Disney resorts. Voila!

We don't have smart phones but tried using wifi with our tablet and the wifi service was really bad in some spots and very slow in most spots. Heck we couldn't even send and/or receive texts on our phone while in line for Splash Mountain. This is about 5 weeks ago.

 

[Simba77]

We don't have smart phones but tried using wifi with our tablet and the wifi service was really bad in some spots and very slow in most spots. Heck we couldn't even send and/or receive texts on our phone while in line for Splash Mountain. This is about 5 weeks ago.

Sending/receiving texts on your phone should theoretically need the cellular network, not wifi. At least that's how my phone works. I can send e-mail over wifi, but regular texts must be sent via the cell network.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Sending/receiving texts on your phone should theoretically need the cellular network, not wifi. At least that's how my phone works. I can send e-mail over wifi, but regular texts must be sent via the cell network.

Agreed but the wifi wouldn't work either. There were more places than there should be where this was the case in the Disney parks and they are rolling out a system that is going to be relying on wifi big time!

 

[Rosanne]

As someone going in August, but not to one of the selected resorts, I'm still really worried about the double dipping thing!

It just seems that no matter how you do the numbers, the FPs for major attractions are going to be harder to come by. Some of them already run out mid-day and I'm thinking now it may be even earlier than that.

Here's the only options I can see. Please let me know if you think it could be another way....and give me some hope!

1. People book FP+ for (an example) TSM. That many FPs are now taken out of the old-fashioned system, so starting the day we already have "X" fewer FPs available as walk-ups. So instead of running out by 12:00, are they going to run out by 10:00?

2. Again, people book FP+ for TSM. This doesn't affect the number of FPs available at the walk-up machines at all---they're not linked and Disney leaves the same number available. But now we have the usual walk-up number PLUS the FP+ booked in advance. That will make the FP lines even longer and, by default, the stand by line as well.

In either option, all those people who booked FP+ are also able to go up and pull regular FPs. It's not like there's fewer of us eligible for the walk-up FPs. We're still "competing" against the same number for those hard-to-get FPs. At least if people couldn't double dip, there would be, theoretically, fewer people trying to get the FPs at the machines.

Am I missing something here? Or is my family going to be disappointed at the longer lines and/or not being able to get FPs for certain rides?

My group is in pretty much an identical situation to yours. If it were a small test of one resort I wouldn't think much of it. But, August is already so busy (esp. early August), not to mention hot. If the MB testers get to have the same FP- access that we do plus the pre-scheduled FP+ selections that is bound to have some negative impact on us.

We're going with my sister who lives 1200 miles away from us and hasn't been for years.

I wouldn't begrudge testers being able to switch to FP- if they didn't feel FP+ was working for them and it wouldn't bother me if it was a small testing group. It just concerns me that it is a large testing group that could double dip.

 

[coluk003]

Wow you know what Disney should do since your all so against this. Go the way of other parks. Rip the FP system out and charge you 100 bucks a day. There problem solved

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Wow you know what Disney should do since your all so against this. Go the way of other parks. Rip the FP system out and charge you 100 bucks a day. There problem solved

That adds so much to the discussion. Thanks!

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

The test in December was pretty big too I think. And I honestly didn't notice any difference on the headliners. Only on the attractions that didn't have FP to begin with, so there were FP people taking priority over the standby line without us having an option to join the FP line.

Does anyone know how many testers/day there were for the Dec test? I think it's been figured they'd be around 20k for the Aug test.

 

[dvdcrow]

Only people that are testing now are CMs and she said that she had a scenario to ask concierge to change her FP schedule. Once again something that is not being done with Guest.

I have been asked to test. We are arriving August 2nd, and I am not a CM, and neither is anyone traveling with me. My understanding is that guests staying at certain resorts are being asked to test this new system during the month of August. I also spoke to a sales manager (who had to talk me into doing this), and he said that he had tried the system, and had been assigned the task of requesting changes to test the system. Apparently, guests and employees are testing or have been testers in previous months. He also mentioned that we will be one of approximately 1,100 guests who are testers during the time we're there. That's a very small amount of people, in the context of Disney World guests, so it really shouldn't cause problems for anyone else.

 

[bluejasmine]

I this part of the report is kind of unfair because what the OP failed to say was that they or a friend are CMs and they got FREE tickets and a FREE resort stay and the purpose of having a scenario is because this is the first time many CMs are getting to use the systems out of training so the company is asking the CMs to go have them do stuff so they can have practice before actual Guest start asking them. Because if they do mess up, they are messing up in CMs that don't have the RIGHT to get mad because this a privilege that you volunteered for knowing you are doing this to help further train other CMs.

Not entirely true.. I personally know two families who were selected staying at AKL a few weeks ago who don't know ANYONE at WDW that were asked to do the same thing..

ASMU/POR Dec 16-22, 2012 & CR Sept 8-15, 2013

 

[Martini35]

We are testing the bands in Aug as we are staying at CR. I was told to make my selections quick as some attractions had limited number. But was than told later in the conversation that I could change my selections if we change our plans once we are there (ie change what day we do what park). I guess they meant I could make changes but may not find a good selection??

We were told we can only use the regular FP system once all our 3 FP are done. So technically we should not be able to hold a FP + on one ride and run over and get a regular FP for another. I know the OP was able to do it, but just want to point out they are telling testers we can't, so some probably won't try.

We are giving it a whirl as with all the discussion, we think it might work for the teenagers who are not as interested in rope drop anymore!

 

[MYD714]

We were told we can only use the regular FP system once all our 3 FP are done. So technically we should not be able to hold a FP + on one ride and run over and get a regular FP for another. I know the OP was able to do it, but just want to point out they are telling testers we can't, so some probably won't try.

This is exactly what I was told.

Some days I made FP+ for early in the day so that I can utilize regular FP later, and I plan on utilizing rope drop on the days I made late evening FP+. However, I am hoping that I will be able to utilize regular FP at any time because it would be nice to have access to FP during the day if my FP+ aren't until after dinner and vice versa.

 

[Lindy Loo]

Slowly wishing I had not choosen to spend all our holiday money to go to disney next month. :-( from the uk... its not a cheap option
18 months planning and saving hard and now more and more concerned about getting on major rides. seems odds are stacked against off site guests. .. plus the heat .. .. hoping its still as magical. .... but not so sure? ??????

 

[delmar411]

Slowly wishing I had not choosen to spend all our holiday money to go to disney next month. :-( from the uk... its not a cheap option
18 months planning and saving hard and now more and more concerned about getting on major rides. seems odds are stacked against off site guests. .. plus the heat .. .. hoping its still as magical. .... but not so sure? ??????

You will be just fine. As much as people are freaking out over the testing, it is actually just a group of around 1,000 people and considering there more than 100,000 people that attend the 4 major parks on a daily basis, you will be lucky to even see someone who has the bands, let alone feel impacted by them.

You will still easily be able to get on the major rides using standard FP. I really would not even waste a moment worrying about this at all.

 

[delmar411]

Keep in mind that you don't technically have to wear the band at all times. You could put it in your pocket or a bag or belt pack, then remove it when needed.

Just based on how they look, I'd say they're about like a watch with a resin/rubber strap in terms of "feel."

It's like the crocs material as best I can describe it. But the top quarter of it is hard formed, so to make the hard part not dig in I wore mine with that portion turned to the side. For kids you can peel off the top layer (the light gray portion) and make the entire band smaller. This would help with overlap problems but it cannot be reversed. Once it is done, that's how the band has to stay.

Also the check in desk manager said each person can have up to 8 bands associated with them.

 

[larryz]

... you will be lucky to even see someone who has the bands, let alone feel impacted by them.

Reminds me of my experiences during the "Year(s) of a Million Dreams" promotion...

 

[MermaidMommy]

1000 testers seems like a low estimate to me. This is the biggest test yet, with AK, CR, YC, and POP all participating, and it's lasting for most of the month of August. Since, from reports here in the DIS, it looks like everyone at those resorts during testing times is able to participate, I think the number will be much higher.

 

[Rosanne]

1000 testers seems like a low estimate to me. This is the biggest test yet, with AK, CR, YC, and POP all participating, and it's lasting for most of the month of August. Since, from reports here in the DIS, it looks like everyone at those resorts during testing times is able to participate, I think the number will be much higher.

Yes, this. If there were only 1000 testers I wouldn't give it a thought.

If reports from some posters that they have been told that they can double dip but not within the same window as the FP+ or not until after the FP+ have been used up end up being accurate then this would not be as disconcerting.

I wouldn't want the testers to be at a disadvantage from FP- but wouldn't appreciate such a large number of people having full use of FP- and being able to overlap with FP+.

Being able to use both without overlapping would not so much affect the overall number of FP being drawn from the system but would give the testers the advantages of scheduling some FP without running around. That seems like a good deal for them that would not much impact the rest of us.

 

[dvdcrow]

Yes, this. If there were only 1000 testers I wouldn't give it a thought.

If reports from some posters that they have been told that they can double dip but not within the same window as the FP+ or not until after the FP+ have been used up end up being accurate then this would not be as disconcerting.

I wouldn't want the testers to be at a disadvantage from FP- but wouldn't appreciate such a large number of people having full use of FP- and being able to overlap with FP+.

Being able to use both without overlapping would not so much affect the overall number of FP being drawn from the system but would give the testers the advantages of scheduling some FP without running around. That seems like a good deal for them that would not much impact the rest of us.

My family and I are testers for the first week in August, and we were told that you CAN double dip (FP+ and regular FP), but you must not double dip in the same park for which you have FP+ reservations. Also, we were told, by the Disney Sales Rep that talked me into testing the My Magic+ Package (Magic bands, FP+, etc), that there are only 1,100 people testing when we're in Disney. So, either Disney is giving out false info, or the number you've heard is correct.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

My family and I are testers for the first week in August, and we were told that you CAN double dip (FP+ and regular FP), but you must not double dip in the same park for which you have FP+ reservations. Also, we were told, by the Disney Sales Rep that talked me into testing the My Magic+ Package (Magic bands, FP+, etc), that there are only 1,100 people testing when we're in Disney. So, either Disney is giving out false info, or the number you've heard is correct.

It's not that Disney is giving out false info intentionally, but no one seems to know what the real story is on ANY of this. Just look back at the posts and all the conflicting data you see. CM told me ABC, but another CM told her XYZ, and yet another CM said it was actually QRS. I would not rely on ANYTHING that ANY CM says at this point--not that they're being dishonest, but the don't have a clue!