So if FP+ ever becomes a reality at DLR

[Masonmj84]

(I hear they are planning to test it sometime later this year), I hope there are some differences from how it is set up at WDW.

First and foremost, I think the idea of allowing only 3 daily advance FP reservations that are limited to the same park would be terrible at DLR. It would virtually destroy park hopping (which is otherwise much easier at DLR than WDW) and, moreover, the two DLR parks each have a far greater number average number of attractions than each of the four WDW parks.

I think if someone buys a park hopper ticket, they should be allowed at least 4 daily advance FP+ reservations that could be used for attractions in either park (if they have a non-park hopper ticket, they would just get 3 in the same park, the same as at WDW). Allowing this would not only preserve the advantage of park hopping at DLR but it would also presumably take at least some pressure off of RSR (vis a vis allowing 3 per day in the same park) because guests with park hopper tickets would have to choose between all of the combined DL and DCA attractions for 4 FPs instead of just the DCA attractions for 3 FPs.

I don't have a problem with them introducing magic bands to DLR. I rather like these. It's just so convenient to have everything on the band and not have to fumble around for tickets, credit cards, room keys, etc.

I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but I also don't have a problem with DLR resort guests getting a 30 day jump on FP+ reservations (by way of full disclosure, we prefer staying on property, even at DLR). Since there are only 3 DLR resorts (as compared to 20 WDW resorts), DLR resort guests would presumably not come close to using up all of the FPs for the hottest attractions before those staying off-site would get a crack at them. They would just be spared from having to deal with a mad rush for the hottest FPs at the 30 day mark. This, to me, seems fair given the premium charged for staying on property and the fact that staying on property at DLR doesn't otherwise have as many relative perks at DLR as it does at WDW (no Magical Express, less location advantage, etc.).

 

[SeattleSuz]

Blasphemy! Oh lord, don't say that! I am already not looking forward to dealing with this on our next trip to WDW, cuz from everything I have heard, it seems like it's a HUGE pain, unless you are a Commando Disney person. I am hoping that they phase this out at WDW.

 

[V2000]

I do like planning in advance but there are others who don't like planning. WDW fast pass+ has so many restrictions. You can't even book more than 3 passes and it can't be for the same ride. If they do make this happen, I am hoping that the Disneyland Resort will have less restrictions because it's a smaller resort. I'm fine either way I can make it work. I just hope they can add fast pass for the shows at the Disneyland resort. Waiting 5 hours for a parade is too long of a wait!

 

[V2000]

Again, it may be that the WDW resort is so much larger but the 180 +10 days for reservations and the 60 day advance on fast passes bug me. All the reservations are gone by the time regular guests have a chance to book anything! Even when I stay at the resort it is not for anything close to 10 days. Ressies are mostly gone by day 1.

 

[V2000]

Too many rules = no fun

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

The biggest issue I see and that I have trouble wrapping my head around is how they will deal with the advance reservations aspect of it. It would either be too large of a disadvantage or too large of an advantage for the large number of APs. What I mean is, it will either greatly disadvantage those who only decide to go to the parks for the weekend, or that day, because the prime FPs will all be booked up. Or, APs will catch on and start booking up FPs 30 days in advance even if they only maybe feel like going to the park that day. A month later they decide they don't feel like going and don't bother cancelling the FPs. Either way, either locals or tourists are being greatly disadvantaged over the other group, and I don't see that going over too well. For FP+ to really work at DLR, they'd have to take out the whole pre-selecting FPs part of it, but then it's not really FP+ anymore.

I think the most likely scenario is that Magic Bands, or some kind of app, or possibly plastic entry cards with chips, will make the current FP system a paperless one. This wouldn't be a bad thing at all, it would make the process faster and less reliant on CMs to enfore the rules (because the reader will clearly tell them if a FP isn't valid). It could also be used to implement the hotel room and payment features of Magic Bands. The only thing that confuses me about this is that recent LA Times article where they said Magic Bands would not be coming to DLR. But, like I said maybe they are planning to just update tickets or install wifi and make better use of smart phones.

 

[pxefig]

Just saw this article the other day about this very subject
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-...eyland-but-no-magic-bands-20150521-story.html

 

[Djscarlette]

Or, APs will catch on and start booking up FPs 30 days in advance even if they only maybe feel like going to the park that day. A month later they decide they don't feel like going and don't bother cancelling the FPs.

At WDW, AP holders are limited to only booking so many FP+ passes within a set number of days. If I remember correctly (WDW AP holder last year, alas I am no longer), you could only book FP+ passes on 10 days out of each 30 day period... it may have been a 60 day period. Preventing AP holders from just booking fast passes and not actually planning on using them.

 

[SMD]

I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but I also don't have a problem with DLR resort guests getting a 30 day jump on FP+ reservations (by way of full disclosure, we prefer staying on property, even at DLR). Since there are only 3 DLR resorts (as compared to 20 WDW resorts), DLR resort guests would presumably not come close to using up all of the FPs for the hottest attractions before those staying off-site would get a crack at them. They would just be spared from having to deal with a mad rush for the hottest FPs at the 30 day mark. This, to me, seems fair given the premium charged for staying on property and the fact that staying on property at DLR doesn't otherwise have as many relative perks at DLR as it does at WDW (no Magical Express, less location advantage, etc.).

Most DLR reservations are room only and can be canceled up until the day before. I think they'd have to come up with a system where you lose your reservation or they'll get a lot of dummies ones and have empty rooms. Plus I don't foresee DLR releasing their hours or schedule any sooner than they do now, so 30 days is too long. I could see 21 days vs. 14 days. Or 21 for resort, 14 for good neighbor and 7 for AP.

At WDW, AP holders are limited to only booking so many FP+ passes within a set number of days. If I remember correctly (WDW AP holder last year, alas I am no longer), you could only book FP+ passes on 10 days out of each 30 day period... it may have been a 60 day period. Preventing AP holders from just booking fast passes and not actually planning on using them.

Maybe they'll do what airlines do and penalize people who make too many dummy reservations just in case and then give them back at the last minute. The theory being that if another guest can't get the FPs they want for Friday they'll make it a non-park day or shorten their trip. Then the person holding the just in case FP cancels and Disney loses revenue from both guests.

 

[sheetz]

At WDW, AP holders are limited to only booking so many FP+ passes within a set number of days. If I remember correctly (WDW AP holder last year, alas I am no longer), you could only book FP+ passes on 10 days out of each 30 day period... it may have been a 60 day period. Preventing AP holders from just booking fast passes and not actually planning on using them.

All that does is prevent a single AP holder from booking FP+ for every day of the month. It does not prevent the rest of the 1 million AP holders from snatching up the rest of the FP+ for that month.

 

[superlarz]

At WDW, AP holders are limited to only booking so many FP+ passes within a set number of days. If I remember correctly (WDW AP holder last year, alas I am no longer), you could only book FP+ passes on 10 days out of each 30 day period... it may have been a 60 day period. Preventing AP holders from just booking fast passes and not actually planning on using them.

WDW Passholders can book 7 days in a 30 day period, 30 days in advance, unless they are staying onsite, which allows the same benefits that resort guest receive(can book FPs 60 days in advance for length of stay)

 

[superlarz]

(I hear they are planning to test it sometime later this year), I hope there are some differences from how it is set up at WDW.

First and foremost, I think the idea of allowing only 3 daily advance FP reservations that are limited to the same park would be terrible at DLR. It would virtually destroy park hopping (which is otherwise much easier at DLR than WDW) and, moreover, the two DLR parks each have a far greater number average number of attractions than each of the four WDW parks.

I think if someone buys a park hopper ticket, they should be allowed at least 4 daily advance FP+ reservations that could be used for attractions in either park (if they have a non-park hopper ticket, they would just get 3 in the same park, the same as at WDW). Allowing this would not only preserve the advantage of park hopping at DLR but it would also presumably take at least some pressure off of RSR (vis a vis allowing 3 per day in the same park) because guests with park hopper tickets would have to choose between all of the combined DL and DCA attractions for 4 FPs instead of just the DCA attractions for 3 FPs.

I don't have a problem with them introducing magic bands to DLR. I rather like these. It's just so convenient to have everything on the band and not have to fumble around for tickets, credit cards, room keys, etc.

I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but I also don't have a problem with DLR resort guests getting a 30 day jump on FP+ reservations (by way of full disclosure, we prefer staying on property, even at DLR). Since there are only 3 DLR resorts (as compared to 20 WDW resorts), DLR resort guests would presumably not come close to using up all of the FPs for the hottest attractions before those staying off-site would get a crack at them. They would just be spared from having to deal with a mad rush for the hottest FPs at the 30 day mark. This, to me, seems fair given the premium charged for staying on property and the fact that staying on property at DLR doesn't otherwise have as many relative perks at DLR as it does at WDW (no Magical Express, less location advantage, etc.).

Disney has recently raised the cost of a single day park hopper ticket much more significantly than other multiday tickets. I think Disney is trying to discourage park hopping honestly. I also disagree with the thought that allowing people to book FP+ for both parks in the same day in advance would take pressure of RSR. In fact, I think it would have the opposite effect as people who plan on spending the entire day at DL might book a Racers FP and hop over just for that attraction.


I do agree that resort guests should have an added bonus and be able to book in advance of offsite guests and APs. The booking window doesnt need to be as far in advance as WDW's 60day/30day window. I think DLR should let resort guests book in advance either 30 or 15 days and let everyone else get same day FPs once they arrive in the parks. This would prevent APs from booking passes just in case and not showing up, and it would give you a huge incentive to pay a premium and stay on site.

 

[Speechphi]

Disney has recently raised the cost of a single day park hopper ticket much more significantly than other multiday tickets. I think Disney is trying to discourage park hopping honestly. I also disagree with the thought that allowing people to book FP+ for both parks in the same day in advance would take pressure of RSR. In fact, I think it would have the opposite effect as people who plan on spending the entire day at DL might book a Racers FP and hop over just for that attraction.


I do agree that resort guests should have an added bonus and be able to book in advance of offsite guests and APs. The booking window doesnt need to be as far in advance as WDW's 60day/30day window. I think DLR should let resort guests book in advance either 30 or 15 days and let everyone else get same day FPs once they arrive in the parks. This would prevent APs from booking passes just in case and not showing up, and it would give you a huge incentive to pay a premium and stay on site.

And DLR needs to encourage guests to stay on site because??? From what I understand on here, and from trying to book hotel rooms myself, DLR doesn't have a bunch of empty hotel rooms that they are trying desperately to fill. Hence the lack of discounts.

I have no idea if FP+ is coming to DLR. I hope it isn't. If it comes, we'll have to work with it somehow.

 

[superlarz]

And DLR needs to encourage guests to stay on site because??? From what I understand on here, and from trying to book hotel rooms myself, DLR doesn't have a bunch of empty hotel rooms that they are trying desperately to fill. Hence the lack of discounts.

I have no idea if FP+ is coming to DLR. I hope it isn't. If it comes, we'll have to work with it somehow.

It would be an added benefit that would allow them to further raise room rates.

Would you rather pay 250 for paradise pier knowing you can get 3 FPs in advance or 150 for something on Harbor where you can only get day of FPs? I know what the answer is for me, but there are plenty of people that would have previously chosen a hotel on Harbor that will spend some time thinking about this

 

[HydroGuy]

Blasphemy! Oh lord, don't say that! I am already not looking forward to dealing with this on our next trip to WDW, cuz from everything I have heard, it seems like it's a HUGE pain, unless you are a Commando Disney person. I am hoping that they phase this out at WDW.

Well now you can say you have heard something different. See "Observations and Experiences on FP+/MB/MDE from our trip this week" http://www.disboards.com/threads/ob...on-fp-mb-mde-from-our-trip-this-week.3410624/. FP+ was better than I was expecting. And after an investment of over a billion dollars and maybe as much as two billion, this is not going to be phased out.

 

[HydroGuy]

(I hear they are planning to test it sometime later this year), I hope there are some differences from how it is set up at WDW.

First and foremost, I think the idea of allowing only 3 daily advance FP reservations that are limited to the same park would be terrible at DLR. It would virtually destroy park hopping (which is otherwise much easier at DLR than WDW) and, moreover, the two DLR parks each have a far greater number average number of attractions than each of the four WDW parks.

I think if someone buys a park hopper ticket, they should be allowed at least 4 daily advance FP+ reservations that could be used for attractions in either park (if they have a non-park hopper ticket, they would just get 3 in the same park, the same as at WDW). Allowing this would not only preserve the advantage of park hopping at DLR but it would also presumably take at least some pressure off of RSR (vis a vis allowing 3 per day in the same park) because guests with park hopper tickets would have to choose between all of the combined DL and DCA attractions for 4 FPs instead of just the DCA attractions for 3 FPs.

I don't have a problem with them introducing magic bands to DLR. I rather like these. It's just so convenient to have everything on the band and not have to fumble around for tickets, credit cards, room keys, etc.

I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but I also don't have a problem with DLR resort guests getting a 30 day jump on FP+ reservations (by way of full disclosure, we prefer staying on property, even at DLR). Since there are only 3 DLR resorts (as compared to 20 WDW resorts), DLR resort guests would presumably not come close to using up all of the FPs for the hottest attractions before those staying off-site would get a crack at them. They would just be spared from having to deal with a mad rush for the hottest FPs at the 30 day mark. This, to me, seems fair given the premium charged for staying on property and the fact that staying on property at DLR doesn't otherwise have as many relative perks at DLR as it does at WDW (no Magical Express, less location advantage, etc.).

In that DL and DCA have many more top flight attractions per park than the WDW parks and more rides to spread folks out - plus typically longer park hours - it would seem having four FP+ reservations with no tiering (like Epcot and DHS) should work fine.

I think the biggest issue of FP+ is where to put the FP+ queues. DL especially as well as DCA do not have the space for this like the WDW parks do. Plus with so many more rides per park it just would be a huge infrastructure challenge. If they do build it I do not see a huge issue for AP holders or day trippers. Just like dining reservations are not as big a deal at DLR as WDW, I think the last minute guests at DLR would be fine. Disney knows how many of these folks show up to their parks and it would seem they could easily keep FP+ slots in reserve for such folks and release them the day before or day of.