Staying offsite and just booked advance FP+ for next week!

[velvetsqueeze]

Good news! We are staying offsite next week, and Disney allowed me to choose FP+ for my stay! I linked our tickets (purchased from UT 3 weeks ago) and dining to MDE, and Disney emailed me saying I could test FP+ as an offsite guest.

Now to wait to find out if (a) the choices I made are still on my account when we get there, and (b) if I made lousy choices based on time, location, and/or real wait times. I took pictures of the computer screen for each day.

I did shake my Magic 8-Ball to see if I was making the right choices and made changes when it gave me negative answers.

 

[donnajherren]

Oh hey, that's cool!

 

[MOpGrad2013]

Woo Hoo! Let's hope this works out for the best.

 

[Planogirl]

That's great news! This is one of the things that was bothering me the most.

 

[ArwenMarie]

 

[johde]

I normally stay onsite now but stayed offsite in my younger days. It's great news for the offsite people and one more step towards prebooking for everyone.

 

[lizabu]

Me too. So exciting!

 

[velvetsqueeze]

I do plan on doing a daily update (with pictures if my computer and camera will play nice with each other), so be on the lookout this Saturday! Park days will be Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evening (FP+ for MSEP and Wishes). We are taking Tuesday and most of Friday off.

 

[Vivianne]

I do split stays, on & offsite Hope the test goes well. Good for you. Be sure to come back & post your experiences

 

[JimmyV]

This is excellent. I realize that your trip is just around the corner, but did you get the sense that you would have been given the same 60 day window, or do you think that they are allowing off site guests to book under a much tighter window? Hopefully we this will put an end to the whining from people who insist that pre-booking should be an "on site" perk and that they have no sympathy for people who have to wait in one hour long kiosk lines. As soon as the pre-booking benefit is extended to everyone, the scenes that we witnessed (and which were posted to Twitter) over Predisdent's Day weekend will be a thing of the past. The sooner the better.

Now, if they could just do away with the first "Mickey tap" at the entrance to the queue area and funnel FP returnees into the designated queue areas instead of makeshift ropes, my two biggest issues* with FP+ will be eliminated.

*Yes, I think that "3" and "tiering" are big issues too. But I am now convinced that the math does not support a wholesale change here. I'd still like to see a fourth (or fifth) FP doled out on days when the crowd levels would support it.

 

[FreeThinker]

Great News! I'm not going until May, but I will go make a few reservations. Did you make one for every day? Was there a limit on the days you could make selections? Is your first ressie on your first day there?

 

[redrosesix]

Good news! We are staying offsite next week, and Disney allowed me to choose FP+ for my stay! I linked our tickets (purchased from UT 3 weeks ago) and dining to MDE, and Disney emailed me saying I could test FP+ as an offsite guest.

Now to wait to find out if (a) the choices I made are still on my account when we get there, and (b) if I made lousy choices based on time, location, and/or real wait times. I took pictures of the computer screen for each day.

I did shake my Magic 8-Ball to see if I was making the right choices and made changes when it gave me negative answers.

Congratulations!! And don't sweat it on the choices -- if the SB line is short, the FP line will still probably be faster since you have priority. We had trouble changing FPs while in the parks because of wifi issues. Eventually I just looked at it like booking flights -- do your homework, book what you're comfortable with and don't look back.

This is excellent. I realize that your trip is just around the corner, but did you get the sense that you would have been given the same 60 day window, or do you think that they are allowing off site guests to book under a much tighter window? Hopefully we this will put an end to the whining from people who insist that pre-booking should be an "on site" perk and that they have no sympathy for people who have to wait in one hour long kiosk lines. As soon as the pre-booking benefit is extended to everyone, the scenes that we witnessed (and which were posted to Twitter) over Predisdent's Day weekend will be a thing of the past. The sooner the better.

Now, if they could just do away with the first "Mickey tap" at the entrance to the queue area and funnel FP returnees into the designated queue areas instead of makeshift ropes, my two biggest issues* with FP+ will be eliminated.

*Yes, I think that "3" and "tiering" are big issues too. But I am now convinced that the math does not support a wholesale change here. I'd still like to see a fourth (or fifth) FP doled out on days when the crowd levels would support it.

When is your trip? It would be interesting to know how far out they are allowing offsite guests to book.

Yup, yup, yup. Get those roped off lines outta there. Most of the FP queues have a gate or some kind of exit mid-way -- not sure why they don't use that as the spot for the first scanner.

My biggest issue with FP+ is still the crappy wifi in the parks.

 

[EMode]

That is good news

 

[FlipHipster]

Wonder if it was triggered because you have ADR's linked up in MDE? Just curious how they know when your actual window starts since you are staying offsite.

 

[vicb]

Yay! Happy for you and thanks for letting us know.

I'm all linked up for my off site May trip and hope I get lucky like you!

 

[Shaden]

Very very interesting. I agree that offsite people should be able to pre-book as well, and as many of us insisted, this had to happen in order to fulfill the mandate of the FP+ program: "Locking people in, who might otherwise spend their money at other parks/attractions" ...

What will be more interesting is to see the impact of this on FP ability, and ride waits, the impact on RD SB times, once all offsiters are able to book.

I have a feeling the complaints about this system have just begun.

 

[chicagoshannon]

I hope they don't tie it in to ADRs when the testing is done.

As an off site guest I wouldn't mind having to wait until day of to make the FP choices as long as I don't have to use a kiosk!

 

[velvetsqueeze]

This is excellent. I realize that your trip is just around the corner, but did you get the sense that you would have been given the same 60 day window, or do you think that they are allowing off site guests to book under a much tighter window? Hopefully we this will put an end to the whining from people who insist that pre-booking should be an "on site" perk and that they have no sympathy for people who have to wait in one hour long kiosk lines. As soon as the pre-booking benefit is extended to everyone, the scenes that we witnessed (and which were posted to Twitter) over Predisdent's Day weekend will be a thing of the past. The sooner the better.

Good question. Since I had to have dining reservations and tickets linked before I could make selections, I would think the date those two things are done would drive the FP+ window for offsite, up to 60 days advance. However, I don't have any way to prove it. We would need someone staying offsite to buy their tickets more than 60 days in advance, link them along with their dining choices to MDE, and see when FP+ opens up for them.

Now, if they could just do away with the first "Mickey tap" at the entrance to the queue area and funnel FP returnees into the designated queue areas instead of makeshift ropes, my two biggest issues* with FP+ will be eliminated.

Yes, the first Mickey tap definitely needs to go. I fully expect to see that disappear soon, based on the drama and crowd problems. I'd like to see them move it halfway through the FP return line with a CM stationed near it to help people with problems (and a corral for those whose bands don't work so the line can keep moving) and a way to exit those who aren't there at the right time. Or just get rid of the first Mickey altogether and let the one at the ride do all the work. It would give SB riders more opportunity to get on a ride when there's a glitch on the FP side.

*Yes, I think that "3" and "tiering" are big issues too. But I am now convinced that the math does not support a wholesale change here. I'd still like to see a fourth (or fifth) FP doled out on days when the crowd levels would support it.

There is a max to the number of people a ride can handle per day, so issuing more FP for a certain ride may not solve anything. They could offer FP for rides that currently don't have FP, but that would require some construction. Perhaps offering more FP (like 5) in MK and leave 3 at AK, HS, and EP would work?

I understand what they are trying to accomplish with tiering, but the demand for a small number of rides greatly overrides the goal. Certain rides need to be duplicated (like Dumbo). Disney should build another Soarin, TT, and at least two more TSMM.

We were unable to book FP for the princess meetings on Friday, so I assume those FP choices have been fully booked by on-site guests. But it's no skin off our noses, and our vacation won't be ruined if we don't get to see Cinderella.

 

[FlipHipster]

Good question. Since I had to have dining reservations and tickets linked before I could make selections, I would think the date those two things are done would drive the FP+ window for offsite, up to 60 days advance. However, I don't have any way to prove it. We would need someone staying offsite to buy their tickets more than 60 days in advance, link them along with their dining choices to MDE, and see when FP+ opens up for them.

We need someone without dining ADR's to try to book FP+ through MDE with tickets linked. There has to be a trigger that lets Disney know when your window starts. If its an ADR basically we're saying you have to have a dining reservation before you can book FP+

 

[FlipHipster]

What will be more interesting is to see the impact of this on FP ability, and ride waits, the impact on RD SB times, once all offsiters are able to book.

I have a feeling the complaints about this system have just begun.

This ^. Glad to see offisiters may be getting adv booking but its basically robbing Peter to pay Paul. Secretly I am hoping that they still have some pixie dust up their sleeve.