Possible good news for offsiters and FP+

[doconeill]

I honestly don't understand the controversy with booking a throw away room. It's not like you are getting the room for free. There was a thread on here within the last week and the poster decided to book 2 rooms at Ft Wilderness so they could get bands. They are going to use the rooms too b/c they thought it would be fun. Why is the is wrong?

I thought we were past the controversy at this point.

To me it's an offshoot of the old "book a campground to get EMH" argument, which often got very heated. The argument was, if you book a room, then someone else can't who _would_ use the room. It doesn't take away from Disney per se, but it takes away from another potential guest.

However, if the resort is not 100% booked, there really is no harm being done. It can actually be beneficial for Disney - less cleaning needed to be done, less resources used - but it can also throw off Disney knowing how much staff is needed based on expected occupancy if done to a large degree.

Disney could save lots of money by creating a "ghost" resort. Allow guests to pay for a room that doesn't exist, and let them get their magicbands. And then they don't need to increase staff.

And who's to say that isn't something like they plan for non-resort guests as it is? It's long been rumored that non-resort guests will be able to get bands, but have to pay for them...and if guests are willing to pay $80+ to do it, I think Disney is seeing a good price point...

Anyways, it seems like we're getting towards the endgame of the rollout anyways, so the "need" to do this is probably short-lived.

 

[ckelly14]

Hi! I get the exact same popup. My trip begins on april 27 . I have an adr for each day of my 10 day trip and am staying offsite. It still does not allow me to make fp+ selections. I pray it opens up by the 1st of April So that I can choose in advance. On the other hand there is always the controversial "Throw Away Room"

There is a poster on the Swan and Dolphin thread that was "selected" by e-mail to pre-book FP+ for her trip in April because "she took the time to pre-book her dining". She has a Swan reservation, MYW ticket linked, only 2 ADR's booked, no AP or prior stay, and she was able to select FP+ for all 7 days of her reservation.

Not sure if this is a S&D thing or if this is a prelude to offsite reservations.

She does not have a MB.

Here's the quote:

I think I have news for FP+ for those planning to stay soon. I have reservations at the Swan March 6-13. I linked my tickets on MDE. I make dining reservations at Crystal Palace for March 7 and Be our guest on March 12. Well I just got an email from Disney that says

"Since you took the time to plan a dining experience at a Walt Disney World Theme Park in advance, we’d like to invite you to test Disney FastPass+ service so you can reserve access to select Theme Park experiences in advance as well! You can do this by helping us test our Disney FastPass+ service* while you’re here!

With Disney FastPass+ service you can lock-in some of your must do fun before you arrive. That means you can enjoy less time waiting in line and more time having fun. Best yet – it’s included with Theme Park admission."

Then it has instructions for how to link your tickets and your dining reservation. The confirmation number included in the email was for the BOG reservation.

It goes on to say if I link everything by March 6 they will send me an email regarding the FP+ by March 7. I don't know yet if the FP+ selections will be for during our trip yet or not. The BOG reservation is the last night of our trip. Just a heads up that it sounds like things are rolling out. The testing must start some time after the Crystal Palace reservation since I didn't get an email about that one.

 

[doconeill]

There is a poster on the Swan and Dolphin thread that was "selected" by e-mail to pre-book FP+ for her trip in April because "she took the time to pre-book her dining". She has a Swan reservation, MYW ticket linked, only 2 ADR's booked, no AP or prior stay, and she was able to select FP+ for all 7 days of her reservation.

Not sure if this is a S&D thing or if this is a prelude to offsite reservations.

She does not have a MB.

Here's the quote:

S/D guests were the first to test "same day" offsite access. Stands to reason they are the first to test the next step.

From the quoted email, I'm actually betting it had nothing to do with the Swan reservation, however. It doesn't seem to mention anything about staying at S/D. The dates are all well within 60 days (they start this week!), and the S/D reservations system is independent of Disney so Disney generally doesn't have insight into those reservations to know.

I have a feeling this is the first sign of off-site advanced guest access...

 

[patty57]

Disney could save lots of money by creating a "ghost" resort. Allow guests to pay for a room that doesn't exist, and let them get their magicbands. And then they don't need to increase staff.

Booking a room at the Haunted Mansion...I love it.

 

[kt_mom]

S/D guests were the first to test "same day" offsite access. Stands to reason they are the first to test the next step.

From the quoted email, I'm actually betting it had nothing to do with the Swan reservation, however. It doesn't seem to mention anything about staying at S/D. The dates are all well within 60 days (they start this week!), and the S/D reservations system is independent of Disney so Disney generally doesn't have insight into those reservations to know.

I have a feeling this is the first sign of off-site advanced guest access...

I had some dining reservations booked for next week for a spring break trip DD and I were going to take with my sister and niece. DSis was going to book the room but we decided not to go and she never did. I had forgotten to cancel the ADR's. I got an email yesterday from Disney Destinations saying I could link our tickets and reservations by 3/6 and be able to test fastpass+, and on 3/7 I would get a confirmation that I was part of the test.

 

[doconeill]

I had some dining reservations booked for next week for a spring break trip DD and I were going to take with my sister and niece. DSis was going to book the room but we decided not to go and she never did. I had forgotten to cancel the ADR's. I got an email yesterday from Disney Destinations saying I could link our tickets and reservations by 3/6 and be able to test fastpass+, and on 3/7 I would get a confirmation that I was part of the test.

Well, I think that settles it.

All who still think offsite guests aren't getting advanced access, raise your ears...

 

[ArwenMarie]

Awesome news!

 

[Vidia2]

Well, I think that settles it. All who still think offsite guests aren't getting advanced access, raise your ears...

It sounds like they are going to get a couple of weeks advanced access.

 

[doconeill]

It sounds like they are going to get a couple of weeks advanced access.

Too early to tell...they are currently inviting people within two weeks at this point - at least that we've heard of.

I'll still fall back to the T&C which says 60 days if you have a MYW ticket or AP until there is something that says otherwise

 

[ckelly14]

It sounds like they are going to get a couple of weeks advanced access.

For now. I assume that they will have 60 day advanced access when this is all said and done...

 

[fairygodmomma]

I hope so! This will be our very first trip to Disney and considering our famiy (grandma's going as well) It just was not in the budget to stay onsite. No matter how much we wanted to. I just want my kids to have fun! Which I know they will, even if all the rides they want to go on cannot be done.

 

[bdb23]

I hope so! This will be our very first trip to Disney and considering our famiy (grandma's going as well) It just was not in the budget to stay onsite. No matter how much we wanted to. I just want my kids to have fun! Which I know they will, even if all the rides they want to go on cannot be done.

Same boat here. First trip for everyone and going with my parents so couldn't swing on-site. I'm at 18 days on my countdown and wish something would give. 4 ADRs for the week and tickets are linked.

 

[michaelsr]

I thought the following article would be of interest to the thread:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/mymag...available-to-offsite-day-guests-next-week.htm

 

[2Tiggies]

From the article to which the link was posted, what is the next phase, if this is the first one?

This rollout to offsite guests largely completes the first phase of FastPass+ with most categories of guests now being able to make FastPass+ reservations in advance using 'My Disney Experience.'

 

[doconeill]

From the article to which the link was posted, what is the next phase, if this is the first one?

Fixing it?

 

[mom2rtk]

Fixing it?

We can only hope.

 

[michaelsr]

From the article to which the link was posted, what is the next phase, if this is the first one?

On another board they are hypothesizing that it will involve: (1) park-hopping for FP+; (2) changing or removing tiers for onsite guests; (3) etc.

 

[OtherScott]

From the article to which the link was posted, what is the next phase, if this is the first one?

Using "under-promise, over-deliver" as a guide, additional FPs will be introduced. Probably day-of, at first.

Disney has to analyze things like actual follow-thru rate and mechanical breakdowns over a period of time.

I'd guess by fall they'll know what is left in the bank on a given day.

 

[mom2rtk]

(2) changing or removing tiers for onsite guests;

That sounds more like wishful thinking from people who usually stay onsite.

If people couldn't understand "walk up and pull a ticket" they definitely won't get tiering for some but not others.

 

[mom2rtk]

Using "under-promise, over-deliver" as a guide,

I think that ship already sailed.