Some questions about new fastpass+

[pad406]

Apologies if this has been asked and answered but I couldn't find an answer. We are a family of 4, myself DW, DD and DS. Now DW and DS don't really like the thrill rides like TOT, RNR, Space Mountain etc etc, so historically we could get 4 fastpasses and lucky DD & I got to ride twice. Is that still going to be possible? Can we ride, then switch 'magic bands' and ride again? If not can we book different sets of fastpasses for different people in the group? In words DD&I book for RNR and DW and DS book for something they'd like.

There is one other thing I have been wondering about, the tiering. Given that in HS and Epcot people now have to choose less 'headline' attractions, is there any evidence that the different crowd dispersion is affecting standby lines (in a good way) on the other headliners?

 

[Aliceacc]

As I understand it-- someone please correct me if I'm wrong-- the new FP+ is tied to the individual, not the group. So if your wife doesn't use her Space Mountain FP+, it's not transferrable to you.

As I see it, the best way to deal with it is for the 4 of you to make 2 different sets of FP+ reservations at the same time-- you and your daughter do Space Mountain, while your wife and son do Pirates or something-- all within the same booking window. You split up, then meet again at the Haunted Mansion, or something similar.

 

[pad406]

That would be OK, not ideal, but OK, providing that we can make different FP+ reservations as we will all be on the same hotel/park ticket reservation

 

[Aliceacc]

Actually, you're going MUCH sooner than we are... we're both teachers, so it's always a summer trip for us. So I'll be watching this thread to see what you think.

I'm curious to see in person how it all works out. But I am liking the fact that I know we'll be able to do some headliners twice with a minimal wait-- one at rope drop, one later in the day with FP+.

 

[rlovew]

Dh doesn't like thrill rides as well so I made a set of FP reservations for both of us and then changed his Space Mountain to Pooh at the same time and we both went on our rides and then met up. So yes even when you go together and have the rest of your FPs together you can have 1 set that are different.

If you switch magic bands you h=may get questioned as the name on the band (not the nickname but actual name shows up on the screen for the cm so if you have on a band with the wrong name you may be questioned about it.

 

[SRUAlmn]

I'm so glad we're not the only ones in this situation. We will also have two thrill riders and two non thrill riders. I'm SO tired of people saying to schedule two FPs for the thrill riders and then schedule two for the non riders at the same time. This is a family vacation. We don't want to spend it separated the whole time. Especially because I'm a non rider and my husband is a rider. We usually hang in the area of the thrill ride and shop or snack while we wait and then all go do something together. I feel like this new system is pushing families apart more than its letting them spend time together.

 

[pad406]

Sorry Aliceacc. My ticket is wrong and actually 2 years old. Need to do a new one. We're not actually going till Christmas/new year.

 

[pad406]

I'm so glad we're not the only ones in this situation. We will also have two thrill riders and two non thrill riders. I'm SO tired of people saying to schedule two FPs for the thrill riders and then schedule two for the non riders at the same time. This is a family vacation. We don't want to spend it separated the whole time. Especially because I'm a non rider and my husband is a rider. We usually hang in the area of the thrill ride and shop or snack while we wait and then all go do something together. I feel like this new system is pushing families apart more than its letting them spend time together.

A good point but I guess that option is still there albeit a bit more complicated.

 

[pad406]

Just had a thought on a major advantage, for us anyway, of fast pass +. We like to alternate late nights and early mornings do from now on we will be able to ride on the days we sleep in. And for us, as we come from Ireland, we generally stay 2 weeks or more so we will get to ride everything unlike those who stay a shorter time. The only big disadvantages for us are the ability to swap and do FP for 2 headliners in HS & Epcot. Will have to wait and see how that works. Either way we're in Disney at Christmas.

 

[disney1990]

Apologies if this has been asked and answered but I couldn't find an answer. We are a family of 4, myself DW, DD and DS. Now DW and DS don't really like the thrill rides like TOT, RNR, Space Mountain etc etc, so historically we could get 4 fastpasses and lucky DD & I got to ride twice. Is that still going to be possible? Can we ride, then switch 'magic bands' and ride again? If not can we book different sets of fastpasses for different people in the group? In words DD&I book for RNR and DW and DS book for something they'd like.

There is one other thing I have been wondering about, the tiering. Given that in HS and Epcot people now have to choose less 'headline' attractions, is there any evidence that the different crowd dispersion is affecting standby lines (in a good way) on the other headliners?

There shouldn't be any reason why you can't switch bands.

 

[SRUAlmn]

There shouldn't be any reason why you can't switch bands.

I have read reports of people switching bands, but your name comes up on the CMs iPad. I did read one report where a male was using a female's band and the name came up and they were denied entrance, but I only read one instance where that happened. I really think there are so many names that could be either male or female they might be hesitant to make a point to tell you no?

 

[ses1230]

As I understand it-- someone please correct me if I'm wrong-- the new FP+ is tied to the individual, not the group. So if your wife doesn't use her Space Mountain FP+, it's not transferrable to you.

As I see it, the best way to deal with it is for the 4 of you to make 2 different sets of FP+ reservations at the same time-- you and your daughter do Space Mountain, while your wife and son do Pirates or something-- all within the same booking window. You split up, then meet again at the Haunted Mansion, or something similar.

We went in both December and January and my husband used my band each time (I don't do thrill rides).

 

[pad406]

We went in both December and January and my husband used my band each time (I don't do thrill rides).

I hope that this continues to work. I don't see any issue in officially allowing people to do it. Whether a group of 4 or a group of 2 goes twice should really make no difference to the queues. It would make the whole process a lot easier and better for a lot of families, I think.

 

[smbowtie]

I hope that this continues to work. I don't see any issue in officially allowing people to do it. Whether a group of 4 or a group of 2 goes twice should really make no difference to the queues. It would make the whole process a lot easier and better for a lot of families, I think.

This is being done all the time. We did it and many other posters have. There is no names when you touch the MB to the Mickey head. It just turns green and you go.

 

[disneytripper024]

Apologies if this has been asked and answered but I couldn't find an answer. We are a family of 4, myself DW, DD and DS. Now DW and DS don't really like the thrill rides like TOT, RNR, Space Mountain etc etc, so historically we could get 4 fastpasses and lucky DD & I got to ride twice. Is that still going to be possible? Can we ride, then switch 'magic bands' and ride again? If not can we book different sets of fastpasses for different people in the group? In words DD&I book for RNR and DW and DS book for something they'd like. There is one other thing I have been wondering about, the tiering. Given that in HS and Epcot people now have to choose less 'headline' attractions, is there any evidence that the different crowd dispersion is affecting standby lines (in a good way) on the other headliners?

You can swap magic bands but you should make sure that its from son to son or father. Or daughter to mom or sister. I swapped mine with my dad in Epcot to get a fp+ for soarin(dads) test track (mine). You shouldn't run into any problems if you do it that way.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[SRUAlmn]

I hope that this continues to work. I don't see any issue in officially allowing people to do it. Whether a group of 4 or a group of 2 goes twice should really make no difference to the queues. It would make the whole process a lot easier and better for a lot of families, I think.

Completely agreed!!! Here's hoping it will work for us as well. It will allow us to spend more time doing things as a family while everyone still gets to do what they individually enjoy and you're right. It shouldn't make any difference from Disney's perspective whether a group of 4 each uses 1 FP or two of the group members reach use two. It still comes out to be four bodies in line and four behinds in a seat The only 'issue' I see is that people could override the tiering system by doing this, thus creating longer lines for the headliners, but we aren't planning to use it that way.

 

[SRUAlmn]

See, there's the point... The last four posts on the previous page sum up what's causing a lot of the frustration (sorry, don't know how to multi-quote on my iPhone.). One person says you can switch and names don't come up, one person says you can switch even across gender, one person says you can switch but only within gender, and I mentioned the names coming up and some people being allowed and some not. There's no clear, consistent rule and its frustrating.

 

[delmar411]

See, there's the point... The last four posts on the previous page sum up what's causing a lot of the frustration (sorry, don't know how to multi-quote on my iPhone.). One person says you can switch and names don't come up, one person says you can switch even across gender, one person says you can switch but only within gender, and I mentioned the names coming up and some people being allowed and some not. There's no clear, consistent rule and its frustrating.

We switch bands all the time. My 10yrold DD uses everyone's bands to ride the thrill rides and has never been stopped or asked who she is. Including using her brothers' bands. Names 100% of the time come up on the screen but we've found that CMs have stopped looking at the screens for the most part and definitely don't address people by name anymore. I would be very surprised if the OP had any issues with band switching. The CMs will likely just be happy to see a green Mickey instead of a blue one.

 

[SRUAlmn]

We switch bands all the time. My 10yrold DD uses everyone's bands to ride the thrill rides and has never been stopped or asked who she is. Including using her brothers' bands. Names 100% of the time come up on the screen but we've found that CMs have stopped looking at the screens for the most part and definitely don't address people by name anymore. I would be very surprised if the OP had any issues with band switching. The CMs will likely just be happy to see a green Mickey instead of a blue one.

Fantastic news! Thank you!! I was also thinking (since we go in the summer) that it will be so busy they'll be trying to move everyone through quickly and won't have time to stop for each person to check the name Thanks for the reassurance!

 

[MermaidMommy]

This is being done all the time. We did it and many other posters have. There is no names when you touch the MB to the Mickey head. It just turns green and you go.

No, the names do always come up where the CM can see them. During early testing, they would often address people by name, but they don't do that anymore.