RFID Scanners installed around MK

[Buffalo2Disney]

Here's another article about the Fastpass+ testing that will start May 1st. I think this one from WDWMagic explains what is going on better.

Fastpass+ Testing

 

[BebopBaloo]

Here's another article about the Fastpass+ testing that will start May 1st. I think this one from WDWMagic explains what is going on better.

Fastpass+ Testing

I think that article sums it up well- at least what we know of it. This actually sounds more relaxing than the current fast pass system. You can book fast passes ahead of time, no running, trampling, bumping, being sad because the person in front of you got the last one..etc. If you want to leisurely stroll around and hop in line for a ride, whenever you want - you can. I see this as a plus to the fastpass system without taking away from the ability to queue up in the normal standby queue.

My two cents

 

[ttintagel]

Crud. I was hoping I'd get one more trip in before this folderol started.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I think that article sums it up well- at least what we know of it. This actually sounds more relaxing than the current fast pass system. You can book fast passes ahead of time, no running, trampling, bumping, being sad because the person in front of you got the last one..etc. If you want to leisurely stroll around and hop in line for a ride, whenever you want - you can. I see this as a plus to the fastpass system without taking away from the ability to queue up in the normal standby queue.

My two cents

I was thinking the same thing, especially since I'm a teacher who has to travel during peak times. I'd rather go online and pick out my FP times vs. getting up at the crack of dawn and dealing with the FP stampede.

 

[Planogirl]

...guests must visit the attractions on their itinerary in the specified order at the specified times...

Yuck just yuck. I can't hyperplan this much.

 

[conniehar90]

Have we heard any more info on offsite vs. onsite? We always stay offsite and don't see us moving to onsite. Will there be any options for those that stay offsite or will it now be only available for onsite guests?

 

[UndercoverMama]

It's bigger and has a screen for the apparent purpose of selecting return times.

Actually, I really like that.

Actually the recent rumors are leaning toward it being a perk for staying at a Disney resort.

As a card carrying elitist, I personally wouldn't mind if it cost extra.

When you think about it, touring plans tell you to avoid EMH, a lot of people recommend using your own cars to get to the parks instead of taking their transportation, and the value of buying a DDP is constantly being questioned. I would not be surprised at all if they wanted to think of a new way to entice people to try on-site or return to on-site.

And, no one had figured this is a way of tracking your rides/activities?

My computer tracks me, my grocery store card, my debit card, my library card, my DVR.. etc. Disney already knows when I go, what resorts I use, and if I am off-site, where I like to eat, what places I have used a photopass (in turn knowing how many characters we go to etc.). I at this point don't care if they know what ride I am on.

Possibly, that depends a bit on how they deploy them.

I'm more concerned about CMs having to deal with "I missed my reservation at XXX because of Derpiderp!"

Really, I have nothing to add here except I am using this as an excuse from now on.

In our three trips, we have used a total of 3 fastpasses. I just don't like sending my husband to go fetch them, or all running to an attraction and not riding it. Kind of a pain to me with four kids. So AS LONG AS THIS IS FREE I am down with it. I don't HAVE to get FPs - got along just fine without them, but if we decide we want to try them I can do so ahead of time. Kind of cool.

 

[Planogirl]

they can if they want too... you may feel it will be a disaster, and I agree it might be, but if they want to do that, they most certainly can. They can sell a limited number to offsite guests.... Maybe they would do a tier system for their onsite guests, value resort gets so many free, then after that, they get a discount, moderate the same thing but more free than the value..and the deluxe and home-away-from-home get all free... You cannot say never just because you feel it will be a disaster... again, I agree with you that it can possibly be (if not done correctly), but since when has anything stopped Disney from doing what they wanted to. There are ways they can do it...

Either way you look at it, they are free now, and with all that are using them, it has not turned into a complete mess. If there was a fee, you bet your bibibidy boppity boop there won't be as many using them. All that are staying onsite now are using them, aren't they?

by the way, if you noticed, I did not say "unlimited" attractions.. I said "so many" and "all". Universal's fee based Express Pass doesn't give you unlimited. Onsite does (or at least it did last time I stayed onsite).

Universal does still give unlimited FOL to onsite guests. The difference is that this is quite manageable with only three resorts. We never buy the extra FOL tickets and do just fine. I can't see it being manageable with the tons of hotel guests that Disney has though. I'm trying to imagine the mess at such popular rides as Toy Story Mania and Soarin'.

 

[fflmaster]

With the testing over the next two weeks, how long before we something concrete as to when this will start and who will get this feature?

Do the insider think end of 2012 or something more likely in 2013?

 

[monkyby87]

I'm sure this has been said before, but I'm worried that the new fast pass system will take away the flexibility the current system allows, in that you must plan ahead of time, not knowing how you will be feeling on the day of the park or what might happen. What if someone gets sick or you just don't end up feeling like a certain park on a certain day? With this new system you're basically locked into whatever you have selected...I don't know, I guess we'll see...

 

[jjsdad]

With the testing over the next two weeks, how long before we something concrete as to when this will start and who will get this feature?

Do the insider think end of 2012 or something more likely in 2013?

I'm no insider but I would think this will not be put into place until next year. Maybe they will advance the type of testing they will do as they near the opening date, but when you think about all the scanners they have to put in, training of employees, updating queues it will take some time before this is fully rolled out.

 

[jjsdad]

One thing I never thought about with all this is I wonder if disney will use the information they gather to dispurse to the guests? What I mean by that is, a lot of us pay for sites such as touring plans or frequent the free ones and do in fact use their best parks recommendations based off of statistical history. Depending on how big the xpass/nextgen system is disney could really take this type of "best parks for this day" advice to a whole new level as they would already see where the numbers are going to be.

 

[UndercoverMama]

One thing I never thought about with all this is I wonder if disney will use the information they gather to dispurse to the guests? What I mean by that is, a lot of us pay for sites such as touring plans or frequent the free ones and do in fact use their best parks recommendations based off of statistical history. Depending on how big the xpass/nextgen system is disney could really take this type of "best parks for this day" advice to a whole new level as they would already see where the numbers are going to be.

That is a very interesting point.

 

[I Love Pluto]

We have NO IDEA what park we will be in on any given day. Weather, health, exhaustion levels -- these all determine what we can/cannot do that day. So - this system is not a great one for us.

The ONLY good part - as far as I can judge - is that I won't be fishing out my room key for every ride during EMHs. I like that part.

I assume that GAC information would be able to be put on the bracelet chip also. Again - a bonus.

For fastpasses - NOT a bonus. IF they had a kiosk housing computers that we could pick our times for an attraction upon entering a park - THAT would be a great idea. But - as with the present system - if you don't get to the Fastpass machines by a certain time, you don't get any.

The early risers get all of the Fastpasses. After 4PM - when some people like to go to the park after enjoying the RESORT all day - it is impossible to obtain a FP for anything. In the summer, we get to the parks much later than in the spring. There are NO FPs left.

 

[jjsdad]

And the covers have been removed, behold! The red one is splash, the blue is philharmagic.


http://twitpic.com/9frpze

http://twitpic.com/9frzkx

 

[andyman8]

Hey everyone. I spent a long time compiling information from various sources (some friends from Disney and websites) and wrote a summary of what FASTPASS+ or xPASS is supposed to be like. This is all hear-say, so nothing is set in stone, but check it out. Please note my blog is still under construction, but bookmark it, for I think it will soon have some very valuable Disney informations.

Check it out and comment on what you think. Seriously folks, comment! Thanks for all your views!

http://disneyplanning.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/14595649-the-real-deal-on-fastpass-

F.Y.I.: I found a lot of contradicting information to what I read on Jim Hill Media.

 

[MusicFeedsYourSoul]

Question: does this mean that FP is being phased out? Now will you ONLY be able to pay and reserve a time? Or will the fast passes still be there? Honestly, I can't think of, well, anyone I know that would be willing to pay to cut the line

 

[andyman8]

Question: does this mean that FP is being phased out? Now will you ONLY be able to pay and reserve a time? Or will the fast passes still be there? Honestly, I can't think of, well, anyone I know that would be willing to pay to cut the line

Don't worry! I have read lots of articles and talked to many people and everywhere I check it says FASTPASSES WILL BE AVAILABLE! Better yet, FASTPASSES won't be greatly affected at all. Although this is hear say, I don't see Disney stopping FASTPASS.

As for your second question. Many people (including me) would pay to skip the line. If you've ever been to Universal, you know people will.

 

[Mister Skellington]

Question: does this mean that FP is being phased out? Now will you ONLY be able to pay and reserve a time? Or will the fast passes still be there? Honestly, I can't think of, well, anyone I know that would be willing to pay to cut the line

We will have to wait and see. Noone really knows. The one thing you can be sure of is that there are PLENTY of people willing to pay to cut the line. Personally, if this goes down the way I envision (again we dont really know!) I will be in Maui so it wont bother me a bit.

 

[jjsdad]

I know I would pay for maybe 2 parks to do this but no way for Epcot and AK. But having it for MK and DHS which have several high demand rides/parades/shows that require early arrival to have good seats I think it might be worth it. Not sure how it'll work whether you can pay per day or you have to pay for your entire trip, i'm guessing it would be the latter.

I also don't know how they would allow people not staying onsite to do this because surely you will need to have some sort of reservation number attached to this system to use it, otherwise you would have people cheating the system with multiple reservations under different names like they do with the ADR system.