Some FP+ Info

[dadddio]

Actually what you are describing is no longer a fastpass system. It is an appointment system.

FPs have always been analogous to appointments, at least since the return times have been enforced, anyway.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

Again, the patent application for the system mentioned that the system will be set up so that if a guest isn't using their appointment times, they are "punished" by not being allowed to make more appointments in the future. I'm sure that wouldn't be indefinite, but this system is collecting massive amounts of information about each guest that is going to allow them to build models to predict who is and isn't going to use their appointment times. It's like actuarial science, but for amusement parks. The patent application talks about the ability for Disney to create customized touring plans for each guest, based on a ton of information, including information collected from the guest, and guest behavior during prior visits. It also talks about freeing up spots on rides and in shows if data indicates that a guest is going to miss an appointment time. Remember with all this, Disney will be tracking your location in the park with its RFID scanners. If you have a 12:00 appointment for Space but you're standing in the queue of Splash at 11:50, they know that you're going to miss your Space appointment and will "release" it, which then free up a spot to standby rider, or will allow the Guest Management System to send a notification to another guest who has a Space appointment at 12:30 but is exiting Buzz at 11:50 that--SURPRISE! They get to get in the line early.

Like I said, the patent applications are fascinating and paint the picture of a much more dynamic system than I had imagined. I think the problem is that we are so married to the current FP system that it's hard to imagine something that's so radically different. This isn't going to be just FP with a fancy bracelet, or FP with the ability to make ride reservations ahead of time, but a whole new crowd control system that is going to change the way guests experience the park. That is, if the system actually does what the Imagineers have imagined it will do.

~Wow!!! Jtown, this makes me want Fastpass+ even more! I am so excited, I just can't wait for fastpass+ & I will be happier when regular FP goes away for good! I do feel kind of bad for those who feel FP+ is ruining their Disney vacation -- it's so sad for them but awesome for me! That's too bad, I really do hope they find another vacation spot to love the way I love Disney World! This post is beautifully written, logical, sound, thoughtful & insightful! I don't need to read any further so I'm going to stop here! Thank you so much!!!

~Unsubscribed...

 

[mesaboy2]

Just so I understand: I'll get to schedule FPs two months in advance--including a whopping one E-Ticket attraction--just so I can stand in the same line with everyone else? What's not to love?

 

[dadddio]

Just so I understand: I'll get to schedule FPs two months in advance--including a whopping one E-Ticket attraction--just so I can stand in the same line with everyone else? What's not to love?

If you are only in that line for a few minutes, why do you care if 'they' use it also?

 

[golf4miami]

I don't know what to tell you. Your hypothetical choices seem to be preselected some FPs and then get some more same-day, allow then to preselect some for you and get some more same-day, just use same-day FPs, pr don't use any FPs.

1. Same day FPs are out of the picture, it's just not going to happen there are not enough going around.

2. None of those other options are very customer friendly. Can you not see how any of those work for me? Vacation shouldn't be about planning my day down to the minute if I don't want to plan it that way.

There's several rides and attractions that could be FPable in AK and Epcot. For instance, we have small children, so our AK FPs are going to be heavy on the character meets. That being said, if there are only three attractions that you want to ride, just get three FPs.

There are several that they could add FPs too. However, there still won't be enough. Again, the math doesn't add up.

FPs have always been analogous to appointments, at least since the return times have been enforced, anyway.

Not at all. Simply because right now they don't require you to make those reservations 60 days in advance. The system now is based on a first come first serve basis. With FP+ you won't even have to be in the park in order to make your reservation.


To be honest, I'm not even 100% against this system. I just don't think it should be used on such a large scale and such a restrictive way. If you allowed me and everyone else to schedule 1 FP to any ride they want at any time they want and then do FP distribution the rest of the day the same way it is now, I would be totally behind this. This would allow people to schedule some things in advance and get that 1 FP they absolutely "Have to have" while still allowing for flexibility for the rest of the day.

 

[ManyMinnie]

Just so I understand: I'll get to schedule FPs two months in advance--including a whopping one E-Ticket attraction--just so I can stand in the same line with everyone else? What's not to love?

Sounds awesome, doesn't it?

 

[mom2rtk]

FPs have always been analogous to appointments, at least since the return times have been enforced, anyway.

Yes, but it is looking more and more like they are moving to a system where that will be the only way to do a ride.

 

[Robo]

Do you want us to pay attention to THIS statement...

The FP system is only near capacity if you consider the FP line secondary to the SB line. If you make FP the primary line, you have tons of excess capacity.

Or THIS statement...

The scheduled FP wait time could never be 60 minutes. The only way that it could reach 60 minutes is if they scheduled FPs to meet 100% of a ride's capacity and everyone else who had the same return time as you stepped into the queue seconds before you.

 

[dadddio]

I do feel kind of bad for those who feel FP+ is ruining their Disney vacation -- it's so sad for them but awesome for me! That's too bad, I really do hope they find another vacation spot to love the way I love Disney World!

Don't feel bad for them just yet. For all you and I know, they might be wrong and end up loving FP+ or we might be wrong and end up hating it. We'll all just wait and see....

 

[mesaboy2]

If you are only in that line for a few minutes, why do you care if 'they' use it also?

A ginormous if, that.

I need two hands to count the number of times I've been to WDW in the last year, and I feel confident in concluding now that there are more FPs in circulation than before. I have seen consistently longer FP lines with longer waits on most if not all of those trips.

 

[mikegood2]

I appreciate the points you are making and I appreciate the way you are trying to make them as well. The point is that I don't get to visit very often since I'm from Ohio and it seems at least to me that this is going to severely limit the amount I'm going to be able to accomplish in a trip. Especially since I'm not a planner.

You're right about it only being a rumor, yet considering this is how the system has worked for all the beta testers so far, I think it's fairly logical to assume this is going to be how it would work. The problem in allowing more FP's to be released the day of is that given each guest 4 fast passes already the system is already almost to full capacity. Adding more to that would just overload it.

I don't see how this could be possible considering I can only get 4 fastpasses at some point if I want to ride more than 4 rides I'm going to have to get in a Stand By line.

I just don't like it when mommy and daddio fight!

Actually I'm in a similar position as you. We're from Illinois and this will only be the second time I've gone to WDW when fast passes were available or there were more than two parks. My brother and SIL have gone multiple times with FP so that helped. After a day are two we were very comfortable with FP system. They are planners, me not so much, but on or last trip I was. I figured it was going to be a once in a lifetime trip, nieces first visit, or course two years later we are going again. believe me I understand the frustration, I have some of it also, but, maybe just maybe some of it will be better. It just seems like too many people on these threads can see nothing good in it.

It also seems like people are basing all of the numbers on everyone, especially when it will be the only option, using it. What % of people won't have any interest in using it? I've also read the capacity numbers thread even though I don't understand most of it and have a headache when I leave it. one example used was 50,000 visitors x 4 FPs = 200,000 fast passes preselected a day, but that's based on 100% participation, which will not happen. As the system is today, how many people use fastpass? I'd be surprised if more than half do and many of those people use it sparingly.

 

[andyman8]

Wow, this is getting intense...

 

[dadddio]

1. Same day FPs are out of the picture, it's just not going to happen there are not enough going around.

there is enough capacity that everyone who currently waits in the SB line gets to ride. If you scheduled all those people into the FP line, you would have the capacity and their wait times would be fairly short.

2. None of those other options are very customer friendly. Can you not see how any of those work for me? Vacation shouldn't be about planning my day down to the minute if I don't want to plan it that way.

I don't know what to tell you. How do you do the parks now? Do you use FP?

There are several that they could add FPs too. However, there still won't be enough. Again, the math doesn't add up.

Sure it does. See above.

Not at all. Simply because right now they don't require you to make those reservations 60 days in advance. The system now is based on a first come first serve basis. With FP+ you won't even have to be in the park in order to make your reservation.

I'm missing your point.

To be honest, I'm not even 100% against this system. I just don't think it should be used on such a large scale and such a restrictive way. If you allowed me and everyone else to schedule 1 FP to any ride they want at any time they want and then do FP distribution the rest of the day the same way it is now, I would be totally behind this. This would allow people to schedule some things in advance and get that 1 FP they absolutely "Have to have" while still allowing for flexibility for the rest of the day.

I'm not understanding your concern, I guess. You would be for 1 preselected FP, but not for 4 preselected FPs. Why? Do you feel the same regardless of whether only one of the preselected FPs are for an e-ticket ride?

 

[Robo]

there is enough capacity that everyone who currently waits in the SB line gets to ride. If you scheduled all those people I to the FP line, you would have the capacity and their wait times would be fairly short.

Again, two mutually exclusive ideas.

If were talking about an E-ticket like Soarin', TSM, Safari, Space Mtn, Peter Pan...

The standby lines have very, very long waits.

Putting a large percentage of those guests into what's called the "Fast"Pass line is not gonna speed anything up.

 

[dadddio]

Do you want us to pay attention to THIS statement...

Or THIS statement...

Both of them.

 

[dadddio]

Again, two mutually exclusive ideas.

If were talking about an E-ticket like Soarin', TSM, Safari, Space Mtn, Peter Pan...

The standby lines have very, very long waits.

Putting a large percentage of those guests into what's called the "Fast"Pass line is not gonna speed anything up.

Of course it will because you would schedule the return times. Aren't you the one who agreed that FPers are technically 'in line' just not 'in queue'? It's the same thing. Instead of all those people standing around in the SB line, they will simply show up to the FP line when it is their turn.

 

[golf4miami]

there is enough capacity that everyone who currently waits in the SB line gets to ride. If you scheduled all those people into the FP line, you would have the capacity and their wait times would be fairly short.

But yet again that means that everyone would now be in the FP line instead of the SB line which is basically saying, "Oh hey why don't you schedule a time to wait in line?". No, I don't think that will fly as others have said.

I don't know what to tell you. How do you do the parks now? Do you use FP?

Yes, I FP like a fiend. Like I said, I'm from Ohio so I only get to visit once every two years IF I'M LUCKY and I know there are others who visit less than I do. I need to maximize my time in the parks and FP is the best way to do that. However, I don't feel FP+ will allow me to do this.

I'm not understanding your concern, I guess. You would be for 1 preselected FP, but not for 4 preselected FPs. Why? Do you feel the same regardless of whether only one of the preselected FPs are for an e-ticket ride?

Yes, everyone who has a ticket that day can pre-select a FP to ANY ride they want, even an E-ticket ride. This would allow them to choose that one that they NEED to get and then all of the left over FP for that day would be distributed the FP- way.

 

[mesaboy2]

 

[Robo]

Of course it will because you would schedule the return times. Aren't you the one who agreed that FPers are technically 'in line' just not 'in queue'? It's the same thing. Instead of all those people standing around in the SB line, they will simply show up to the FP line when it is their turn.

But, that's simply not mathematically possible.

 

[doggydoc]

Of course it will because you would schedule the return times. Aren't you the one who agreed that FPers are technically 'in line' just not 'in queue'? It's the same thing. Instead of all those people standing around in the SB line, they will simply show up to the FP line when it is their turn.

On even an average to low attendance day Soarin' has a 60 minute wait time and the FP's are gone by noon, TSMM is even worse. How is prescheduling return times for massive amounts of FP's going to do anything but shift the wait from 1 line to the other? Unless capacity is increased there is no way to prevent wait times on a ride that has a long line all day long. It might allow some that get to the park later to get a FP that might not have been able to before, but some are gonna have to wait in line. Supporting the logic behind your statement takes us back to the "Disney is trying to punish the superuser" argument. There is not much Disney can do to prevent lines on a macro scale without increasing ride capacity, adding rides, limiting attendance or, unfortunately, limiting the number of FP's any individual can get in a day. That might change things on a micro (individual) basis in that some will have access that didn't before. The angst comes from the fact that access is only limited by choice, i.e. sleeping late.