Priority viewing for UK guests

[marypoppins81]

This benefit has gone away but it was there when I booked. Today I received vouchers through the mail allowing me into the rose garden at any point during my stay and the fp spot for illuminations. Anyone else got this?

Counting down to 14th May!

 

[scoobydooby]

This benefit has gone away but it was there when I booked. Today I received vouchers through the mail allowing me into the rose garden at any point during my stay and the fp spot for illuminations. Anyone else got this? Counting down to 14th May!

Hope I get this for our May trip but suspect I won't as I only booked in February!!!!

 

[OldSchoolReasons]

I have this too! Booked in July and was offered it with my ADRs in November - must have just snuck in. Apparently it's a UK exclusive perk too?

Were going 5th-19th May, so close now.

 

[marypoppins81]

All existing bookings were cancelled as it's no longer available since the area for wishes does not exist. I guess they had a rethink and decided to allow existing booking to enter the fp area. Without the voucher you don't get in so make sure you call to ask for yours if you don't get it.

 

[BigMommaMouse]

This benefit has gone away but it was there when I booked. Today I received vouchers through the mail allowing me into the rose garden at any point during my stay and the fp spot for illuminations. Anyone else got this?

Counting down to 14th May!

Did you pre book the spot? I ask because even through this had been offered for years, I have never been able to find how to use it. I called before and they said no spots where left. Another time they said I receive something at check in. Today is my 180 day did ADR's would love to get the fireworks too.

 

[tinkertaylor05]

This benefit has gone away but it was there when I booked. Today I received vouchers through the mail allowing me into the rose garden at any point during my stay and the fp spot for illuminations. Anyone else got this?

Counting down to 14th May!

Lucky! We go May 10th booked in November didn't get vouchers I have my res number and am going to see if they let us in if not we have pirate and pals booked one night to see wishes anyway.

 

[2Tiggies]

All existing bookings were cancelled as it's no longer available since the area for wishes does not exist. I guess they had a rethink and decided to allow existing booking to enter the fp area. Without the voucher you don't get in so make sure you call to ask for yours if you don't get it.

I was told differently when I called last weekend for something else and they said the spot may change but my booking remained. I guess I will have to phone back and check again closer to the time as we've worked our evenings around the preferred viewings. Did they say anything about Illuminations to you?

And do you still need to pre book this? It sounds like a one time access without a reservation into the FP+ area, or am I misunderstanding this?

Thanks for the heads up, by the way.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

I booked our holiday for August 2014 back in April 2013 and I have it on my booking receipt that I have viewing for Illuminations and Wishes, I've booked Wishes at 180 days but not bothering with Illuminations.

 

[marypoppins81]

The spot has definitely gone away with the areas being changed to accommodate fp+ and the hub refurb. This was confirmed by a friend who visited last month. I also received a note in with my holiday documents to say it had gone away and was no longer a benefit so I assumed we had to forfeit the bookings we had made. I was surprised to get the vouchers today. The spots are the same spots as fp+ now but they are only honouring existing bookings.

 

[marypoppins81]

I was told differently when I called last weekend for something else and they said the spot may change but my booking remained. I guess I will have to phone back and check again closer to the time as we've worked our evenings around the preferred viewings. Did they say anything about Illuminations to you? And do you still need to pre book this? It sounds like a one time access without a reservation into the FP+ area, or am I misunderstanding this? Thanks for the heads up, by the way.

That's right you get one time access at any point during your stay to the fp spots. It works out well as I was thinking of using a fp on one of our mk days.

 

[thestevied]

Used a fastpass for illuminations last year and it was the best experience of the holiday. Just mind blowing! To be that close was incredible.

 

[BudgieMama]

Interesting... I suspect many UK guests will have it on their invoice, but perhaps not know they need to reserve in advance, so that there are actually very few guests left with the privilege that Disney has to honour...

We booked ours a couple of months ago, after being told by more than one cast member that it wasn't possible and that FP+ had replaced it. I hope they will still honour some sort of booking... but I think it will be a while before we get any Mickey Mail to find out for ourselves.

 

[BigMommaMouse]

Interesting... I suspect many UK guests will have it on their invoice, but perhaps not know they need to reserve in advance, so that there are actually very few guests left with the privilege that Disney has to honour...

We booked ours a couple of months ago, after being told by more than one cast member that it wasn't possible and that FP+ had replaced it. I hope they will still honour some sort of booking... but I think it will be a while before we get any Mickey Mail to find out for ourselves.

When I called yesterday they told me it was not possible that FP replaced it, just like you said. We don't go until October and I will just book a FP for them when I get to the 60 days.

PS- it is on my invoice too, but in their t's and c's it says they can withdraw offers at anytime.

 

[tinkertaylor05]

We received our vouchers this morning

I'd booked preferred viewing back in November, we received the pack of other stuff a week ago that had a letter saying the viewing perk had been cancelled. Today the letter stated they will be honouring it and the vouchers have a valid date 1 January 2014 - 14 January 2015 so maybe they will honour bookings up to that travel date?

 

[marypoppins81]

When I called yesterday they told me it was not possible that FP replaced it, just like you said. We don't go until October and I will just book a FP for them when I get to the 60 days. PS- it is on my invoice too, but in their t's and c's it says they can withdraw offers at anytime.

Sorry but you were misinformed which happens a lot with disney! This benefit has gone and the locations have been replaces by fp+.

 

[scoobydooby]

Sorry but you were misinformed which happens a lot with disney! This benefit has gone and the locations have been replaces by fp+.

Yes but I think you'll find the pre honoured preferred viewing tickets are been honoured by allowing access to the FP Plus viewing areas.

 

[marypoppins81]

Yes this is what the vouchers are for. They'll allow you in to the fp area with the voucher. Make sure you call to request if you don't receive. It saves me a fp so I don't mind.

Counting down to 14th May!

 

[darthtatty]

that's good to hear

I just paid my final balance and noticed the preferred viewing parts had vanished from my booking. Im not too bothered about them as Id heard the viewing areas weren't too brilliant. However it would be nice to have the FP+ instead

 

[2Tiggies]

Here is my update. I phoned three times today, until I got to speak to one of my 'familiar' CM's who I have always found to be well informed.

Much of what I was told has already been confirmed. I did not relate the experiences and information of/given to anyone else as I wanted to hear an undiluted view from this CM.

She confirmed the following:

The FP viewing area is no longer being offered for new bookings, as of some time back now.

Those who have already booked will still have it honored.

The viewing areas as of now remain as they always have been. They are not the FP+ viewing areas. This is subject to change, but as it stands today, there has been no change

Guests entitled to the vouchers will have them sent out but they will probably not arrive at the same time as the other documents. A system generated letter informing you that this perk has been discontinued will accompany your documents.

A further letter will be issued shortly thereafter and this will have the vouchers enclosed.

This seems to tie in with the reports of some of you who have already received your documents.

As an aside, I don't think the original viewing areas have been affected by any construction as yet. I am not certain about this, but the areas we have used every year have not changed (the lower level seating area outside the Plaza restaurant, to the left, facing the castle - not sure about this one - and the Morocco boat dock at Epcot).

I will probably ring them back just before I go. Trying to sort out this information when you are at the parks is not as easy as you may think. Because this is not a standard perk, many of the CM's have no idea what it is and I am sure that they are immediately going to assume it is FP, when it is not.

Best we can do is all post our live experiences with this for everyone else.

 

[marypoppins81]

The voucher states the wishes location is the rose garden which made me think that it is fp location since is this not where it is?