Some details of FastPass+ on the "My Experience" Disney web site

[doconeill]

I'm surprised the discussion hasn't spilled over to here yet...the My Experience web site terms of conditions enumerates various aspects of FastPass+, which might be good fodder for the next show...

They don't let you cut-and-paste easily, but here is the link:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/media/park-experience-terms-and-conditions.html

You can also reach it by logging in to the My Experience part of the new site, and going down to the bottom right.

Some of the key items discovered:

- If you convert your ticket to be able to use FP+ (i.e. get it RFID enabled), you will NOT be able to use regular Fastpass, AT ALL. The "ticket" will no longer be compatible.

So, if you use your FP+ experiences for some of the more unusual personalized experiences (whatever they may be), plan to stand in long lines the rest of the time.

- You can only book FP+ experiences at a single park per day.

Forget about park hopping and being able to avoid the standby lines at another park.

- You can only get one FP+ for a given attraction in a day.

- It appears that up until the first "experience" time comes up, you can change the whole thing, even to a different park. One the first time comes along, redeemed or not, you can only modify an experience to be within the same park (i.e. switch experiences or times, subject to availability).

- Disney can vary the number FP+ available to you based on whatever mood they are in (similar to the Birthday/GAD Fastpass cards, which at one point varied by day/park).

Of course, since it's not implemented yet, these things are subject to change, but it's the most real info seen so far. And if it stands as-is, I'm really, really not liking it...

And with FP return time enforcement reportedly coming to Disneyland, could FP+ be far behind?

 

[skier_pete]

Wow. Surprised you have no replies on this.

Interesting that you will not be able to use the FastPass system at all if you choose to use FastPass+. That to me would tell me I better be able to get at least half a dozen FastPass reservations with the new system in order for me to be interested in using this. If it is limited to say 4 a day, I'd rather take my chances with the regular FP, which at least at MK I have often gotten as many as 8 or 9 in a single day.

I also find it a little disappointing that you can only use it in one-park one-day. We normally don't hop, partly because of the existing FP system and how hopping limits you. My thought was we might start hopping if we could pre-book FPs in one park in the afternoon, and a different park in the evening. Maybe they were worried that would be overly complicated.

Speaking of overly complicated, and I know this has been brought up many times, but I wonder what percentage of guests are really going to enjoy these services. Personally for me, this is right in my wheelhouse. I love the idea of being able to make a plan like this, and am looking forward to the first time I get to try it. That said, based on the what I know of my friends and family, the vast majority of people would either not be able to figure out how to use this, or hate the idea of being tied down to this. I suppose as long as they don't eliminate the OLD way, having a new option is a good thing.

SkierPete

 

[stargazertechie]

I'm foreseeing a high likelihood of Disney discontinuing the paper "fastpass" system when they go fully RFID. I don't think we will have a choice eventually.

That being said, I'm excited at the opportunities it will give to those of us who park hop. My plan will be to make my FP+ reservations for my evening park/2nd park of the day, and use my mornings to focus on really hitting those headliners during the AM EMH/first few hours of the day when the lines are nonexistent. No having to criss-cross to get FP's, no having to hustle back for return times under the new enforcement system.

I'm cautiously optimistic

 

[skier_pete]

. No having to criss-cross to get FP's, no having to hustle back for return times under the new enforcement system.

I'm cautiously optimistic

I am with you here, again what will really affect this is the # of passes you are allowed to get. If it's like the tests and limited to 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening, that's not gonna be a good replacement.

 

[doconeill]

I am with you here, again what will really affect this is the # of passes you are allowed to get. If it's like the tests and limited to 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening, that's not gonna be a good replacement.

I think the morning/evening divide was just an early test. Later tests didn't show that, but it appears they are going to a tiered system like the Birthday/GAD Fastpass cards, and you will be limited on the number per tier.

 

[jcb]

Interesting that you will not be able to use the FastPass system at all if you choose to use FastPass+. That to me would tell me I better be able to get at least half a dozen FastPass reservations with the new system in order for me to be interested in using this. If it is limited to say 4 a day, I'd rather take my chances with the regular FP, which at least at MK I have often gotten as many as 8 or 9 in a single day.

Being the nerd that I am, I actually read (and save) the terms and conditions pages on Disney's (and other) websites. When I finally went to Disney's new website, after quite a long time avoiding it (and at that, I only went to the Disney website to see the train wreck), it required me to agree to new terms and conditions.

Regarding the number of FP+ experiences, I noted the new terms and conditions provide:

Availability of a FastPass+ experience, the number of experiences you may select and arrival windows are limited and vary based on factors such as the theme park you are visiting, the attraction or entertainment experience, the time of year and the day of the week, and prior demand. In addition, the number of days for which you can hold FastPass+ selections at any given time is limited.

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Why it takes 67 words to say, "the number varies with park attendance and other factors" beats me.

 

[doconeill]

Why it takes 67 words to say, "the number varies with park attendance and other factors" beats me.

Well, I think they are anticipating complaints like, "Why do I only get 3 experiences at DHS when I can get 5 at MK on the same day?" stuff.

Of course, the "other factors" can include their mood, phases of the moon, etc.

 

[DisneyDoc5]

I am the only person dreading this entire thing? I am dreading it because I know being the 'Disney planner' type I will HAVE to utilize it! For me, the big picture of strolling through the park, relaxing on vacation, grabbing the occasional fast pass, and letting the wind take us where we want to go is now going to have to change whether I like it or not. It makes me sad. But, like with all change, maybe I will be surprised by it and like it in the future, who knows.

I do hope that we can ask CheshireFigment or some other expert type on the boards create an easy to understand FP+ tutorial sticky or something, it just seems a little overwhelming.

Happy Friday!

 

[skier_pete]

I am the only person dreading this entire thing? I am dreading it because I know being the 'Disney planner' type I will HAVE to utilize it!

Ha, I am sure there are many that are dreading it, but not sure how many are dreading it because they HAVE to use it.

 

[Jotash]

I'm not sure if I'm the opposite of most people or not. I don't want to use this. I am not a "planner" when it comes to my WDW trips. I've been often enough that rides are not really that big a deal for me. I usually go alone, so even sit-down meals are not that important. I usually go "where the wind takes me." If I see a ride with a low wait time, I'll get in line. I don't like thrill rides, so most of the rides I do like don't really have the extremely long waits. If I'm hungry, I eat. If I'm in the mood for table service and there is availability, I'll do it. If not, counter service is fine.

What I'm concerned about is that I will have to use this as it expands out to even counter service restaurant ordering and rides that don't have traditionally long wait times. To me, that makes a trip to Disney no longer a vacation. It becomes a pre-planned, stressful experience where you HAVE to be here or there at a certain time. Not my idea of a good time.

 

[doconeill]

I tend to be a planner, but I'm not "down to the minute". I've got the ideas of what I want to do, but play it by ear in the parks.

Only our last trip, immediately after PCC3.0, did I actually use a touring plan. And it worked out quite well. But that was because we weren't spending as many days at the parks as usual. So in general I don't know if I'd utilize this system well, even without the restrictions.

 

[safetymom]

I don't use FP that often but am not looking forward to having to wear an RFID bracelet. I like pulling my ticket out of my pocket and using it.

There are so many rules that it sort of takes the fun out of it for me. Maybe it appears more complicated than it actually will be.

Guess we will have to wait and see.

 

[lugnut33]

I'm usually a very rah rah Disney person, but I have not seen anything about this program that I like. To me it just seems like a way for Disney to spread people out through the park, thus allowing even more people into the parks and maximizing profits. Remember, you have to follow the money and this is all about getting more people in the parks and resorts.

We often ride things more than once, but with this new system it doesn't seem like that will be an easy thing to do. For example, once you've done Space Mountain for the day you're done, unless you want to wait in the standby line. Yuck, that is not appealing. At least with the regular fast pass one could pull another time slot to ride it.

I refuse to make dining reservations six months in advance and that has resulted in my eating more meals off-site. Having to reserve rides months in advance does not appeal to me at all.

Also, while you could change your mind the day before about which park you want to visit, and thus change your FP+, that doesn't mean you are going to get fastpasses for the attractions you want to visit. You know you're not going to get FP+ for Toy Story MM the night before you go.

 

[grimley1968]

I'm usually a very rah rah Disney person, but I have not seen anything about this program that I like. To me it just seems like a way for Disney to spread people out through the park, thus allowing even more people into the parks and maximizing profits. Remember, you have to follow the money and this is all about getting more people in the parks and resorts.

We often ride things more than once, but with this new system it doesn't seem like that will be an easy thing to do. For example, once you've done Space Mountain for the day you're done, unless you want to wait in the standby line. Yuck, that is not appealing. At least with the regular fast pass one could pull another time slot to ride it.

I refuse to make dining reservations six months in advance and that has resulted in my eating more meals off-site. Having to reserve rides months in advance does not appeal to me at all.

Also, while you could change your mind the day before about which park you want to visit, and thus change your FP+, that doesn't mean you are going to get fastpasses for the attractions you want to visit. You know you're not going to get FP+ for Toy Story MM the night before you go.

ITA.

Disney really needs to rethink this. I don't mind an RFID-enabled KTTW card (because there are some benefits to a system like this), but tying it to FPs is over the top, IMO. Way too much planning and work for a vacation.

 

[lugnut33]

Also, what happens to those families that come for a one day visit and purchase a one day ticket? Or those families that purchase park tickets from Undercover Tourist and stay off-site? Will they have access to FP+ once they get rid of the current system? You know they are not going to have two systems operating simultaneously.

 

[doconeill]

Also, what happens to those families that come for a one day visit and purchase a one day ticket? Or those families that purchase park tickets from Undercover Tourist and stay off-site? Will they have access to FP+ once they get rid of the current system? You know they are not going to have two systems operating simultaneously.

They will to start...given that they specifically state you can't use the old FPs if you convert your tickets for FP+, they must have plans to run them together at least for a short time.

I'd be fine with having some more limitations than before...if you use FP+ for an attraction, no regular FP...and if you use FP+, you can't get a FP for a certain amount of time around it, etc...but not completely exclude FPs, since that gets rid of ant sort of spontaneity and reduces wanting to park hop.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

I wonder if the no hopping part of it will change once they have more people using the system and they have all the parks on line with it. As I think Animal Kingdom isn't on it yet. As to the wrist bands I really hope they give people an option if they don't want them.