Report: Disney switching to FastPass+ only at Magic Kingdom on Jan. 14

[Rumors Rocks]

http://mynews13.com/content/news/cf...icles/cfn/2014/1/10/disney_fastpass_plus.html

As Disney World gradually switches to its new FastPass+ system using the MagicBand (pictured), the Magic Kingdom will reportedly stop distributing paper FastPass tickets starting Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014, according to a report from Orlando Attractions Magazine. (FILE/Walt Disney World, Kent Phillips)

By Mike Westfall, Senior Web Content Editor
Last Updated: Friday, January 10, 2014, 5:01 PM

LAKE BUENA VISTA --
Walt Disney World will reportedly stop distributing paper FastPass tickets at the Magic Kingdom in favor of the resort's new FastPass+ reservation system starting early next week, according to our partners at Orlando Attractions Magazine.

The report, posted Friday, said the Magic Kingdom is set to stop using the "legacy" FastPass machines and start offering FastPass+ only starting Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Walt Disney World says FastPass+ and all other aspects of its new MyMagic+ system, including the MagicBand bracelets for resort guests, are still in "testing" mode.

However, Disney's Animal Kingdom stopped offering paper FastPass tickets in December. Paper tickets will still be available at Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios until further notice.

So, what does that mean for you if you want to reserve a ride time? That all depends on whether or not you already have a MagicBand, which currently is only available to guests staying at certain Disney World resorts.

If you have a MagicBand:
You can make a FastPass+ reservation online at MyDisneyExperience.com or through the My Disney Experience mobile app up to 60 days before their visit.

If you don't have a MagicBand:
You can't yet use the website or app. This includes day guests and Annual Passholders who have not already gotten a MagicBand by booking a stay at a Disney resort.

Instead, guests without a MagicBand will have to visit one of the MyMagic+ kiosks around the theme park to scan your plastic ticket and make your FastPass+ selections. Guests with MagicBands can also make their selections at these kiosks.

Once it's time to use your FastPass+ reservation, you'll scan your card at the FastPass+ entrance at a Mickey post similar to the ones installed last year at the entrances to the theme parks.

You can change any FastPass+ reservation, but you'll have to go back to one of the kiosks to do so.

Whether or not you have a MagicBand, the limit on FastPass+ reservations is three per day at only one park per day.
Attractions Magazine suggested that if you're planning a trip to the Magic Kingdom before Tuesday, or to Epcot or Hollywood Studios in the next few weeks, you may even want to grab some of the last paper FastPass tickets ever and keep them as a souvenir before what could very soon be the end of an era at Walt Disney World.

 

[ToyStoryMania1]

The system faces their biggest hurdle on the 14th. If successful, the additional parks of EPCOT and HS should be relatively easy. I'm not sure if the 1 park per day limit is going to go over well with many visitors. But parks other than Magic Kingdom could be the most benefited with ride wait times.

 

[jdh008]

Interesting strategy to make MK the next to go to full FastPass+. I would have thought they would have rolled out at the three other parks first, in hopes that the system would be as smoothed out as possible by the time they got to MK.

I'll agree with TSM1. This is going to be the biggest test of the system. Should be interesting to watch unfold.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

~I hope the test goes smoothly at MK, I am so sick and tired of waiting, but I understand that Disney has to get this right. I read so many positive reviews from users over the two busiest holidays of the year. We'll see.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Anybody know if this went off?

 

[xie]

Anybody know if this went off?

It did. The fast pass machines at MK were all bagged and unavailable yesterday. There are some rather lengthy threads going about it over in the Theme Park Strategies board.

Generally speaking, they flipped the switch on a very (relatively speaking) low attendance day in the middle of a low attendance week. So yesterday, apparently, pretty much everything in MK was a walk-on or only a very few minutes' wait. Therefore who would have really needed fast passes anyway?

Small tests to see what's going to happen to the standby lines will be MLK weekend and President's Day week. The big test will be Spring Break season.

 

[wiigirl]

~I hope the test goes smoothly at MK, I am so sick and tired of waiting, but I understand that Disney has to get this right. I read so many positive reviews from users over the two busiest holidays of the year. We'll see.

 

[rteetz]

So far everything I've seen from Facebook and twitter of those in MK the test is going well. Yes its low attendance which is good for the test I think start out small and work your way up to bigger crowds. I heard today that there was a bit of a back up at the turnstiles tho many people don't know how to do the RFID turnstiles.

 

[WDWChloe]

Does anyone know if MK has what Epcot has/had with choosing only 1 or 2 "premium" attractions? Or is it pretty even for all attractions?

 

[rteetz]

Does anyone know if MK has what Epcot has/had with choosing only 1 or 2 "premium" attractions? Or is it pretty even for all attractions?

that's called tiering you choose 1 top attraction and 2 lesser attractions this is being done at both Epcot and DHS only at this time.

 

[WDWChloe]

that's called tiering you choose 1 top attraction and 2 lesser attractions this is being done at both Epcot and DHS only at this time.

Thank you! ^_^

 

[jon18uk]

There was a good article on MousePlanet about using FP+ at the Magic Kingdom with no advanced reservations. Looks straight forward to me, but as others have said its relativly quiet this week.

http://www.mouseplanet.com/10591/Managing_FastPass_Guidance_for_NonResort_Guests