The Future of Fast Pass Plus

[Suvadoo]

Is it just me or does FP+ seem like an awful lot of work for a vacation?

I keep reading posts on how to book fastpasses: First pick the attractions you want, then let the MDE select the times, then go in and edit the times for the times you want. All of this information is only learned from other users' experiences.

Once you're in the parks and have used your 3 FP's go to a kiosk and wait in a line to avoid waiting in an attraction line and try to get a 4th FP.

From what I've read on the boards, aside from the glitches, most people like FP+. The DisBoards,however, are loaded with Disney Fanatics and this is a small subset of WDW visitors. The average WDW visitor does minimal or no research prior to visiting WDW.

How do you think the average park goer is coping with FP+?
Do you believe FP+ will last?
If so, do you think it will remain as it is, or think it will be modified?
What modifications will be made?

 

[BeerMe]

I agree that it's a lot of work. My last trip was over Christmas and we didn't use fp+ because por ap's wouldn't link so we never actually had experience with fp+. I've got to study this for our next trip

Sent from my QMV7A using DISBoards

 

[ziravan]

1. You'll eventually be able to book 4th FP on MDE.

2. You'll eventually be able to book in mult parks on same day (TT in morning, SM and 7DMT in evening).

Both of those updated have been more or less promised at some point.

Speculation: extra FPs for staying on site in upgraded rooms (for example, 1 extra for each day booked to book in moderate, 2 to book deluxe). Universal offers FotL for park guests staying on site, it would be completely within industry standard to skew the system even more (than 60 day booking) to increase rooms filled.

 

[AmyB2006]

How do you think the average park goer is coping with FP+?

I think the "average" park goer is coping just fine. But I guess that depends on your definition of the average park goer.

Do you believe FP+ will last?

Yes


If so, do you think it will remain as it is, or think it will be modified?

I think it will undergo a few more modifications.


What modifications will be made?

I think you'll eventually be able to book additional FP+ from the app instead of having to use a kiosk.

 

[dmband]

The whole fp+ thing sucks IMO and a few times has been a waste. Example, a ride that's normally packed with a long line ends up being short and thus the fp is wasted where in the old days you would just go get a fp for something else with + you lose out completely

I would love to be able to book multi parks in one day and have more control over on the fly decisions like the old way gave you for weather, eating, buses, naps, the many things that can come up that you can't plan for 60 days in advance

 

[jco_direwolf]

1. How do you think the average park goer is coping with FP+?
2. Do you believe FP+ will last?
3. If so, do you think it will remain as it is, or think it will be modified?
4. What modifications will be made?

1. how do you think the average park goer coped with FP? FP was more or less an insider secret for its whole life span. Disney NEVER got the word out to major part of the guest that it was included with admission. going to the park as often as I did, I can remember ever not being ask "how much does FP cost?" or "Can only AP holders use it?" or ....

2. We will have FP+ till Disney IT comes up with a new idea that is FP++ or FP pro or FP NexGen (although that last one likely won't be used since it' the name of the current project.)

3. Why would it remain stagnate? The system since it's all virtual and modular can me modified and changed, added to and parts removed. It's seen several major changes since it started it's roll out (what they call testing, but to me is a phased roll out.)

4. who knows. I unlike others suspect multi park pre-booking will not happen for a while. Not for any technical reason only because right now it's simple to explain. "3FP+ 30/60 days in advance in 1 park." People can read that and understand it. "3FP+ 30/60 days in advance in any park, except for the following tier 1 rides which you can only book one of, and if you book one of those then you must book at least one of these tier 2 attractions." too hard to explain.

 

[Suvadoo]

But everyone is speaking about their personal experiences. And everyone here has a lot of knowledge.

What about the average guest?

I will define "average" as someone who has done minimal or no research prior to their vacation.

 

[btk2333]

How do you think the average park goer is coping with FP+?

I think they are handling it the same way they handled legacy FP. The average park goer has never been efficient tourers. Honestly, from the people I know who've gone since FP+ was installed who had never used the old system, they think it's great.

Do you believe FP+ will last?

Yes- Disney has invested too much money and there are too many benefits for the company to revert to the old system.

If so, do you think it will remain as it is, or think it will be modified? What modifications will be made?

It will be modified. 4th FPP from the app as previously mentioned. Park hopping; however, unlike PP I don't believe you will be able to book e-tickets across parks. I think there will be a tiering system set up across the parks so for example you can't book TSM and 7DMT on the same day.

Tiering based on the level of resort at which you're staying only makes sense. Increased on site perks make sense for Disney.

 

[Suvadoo]

1. how do you think the average park goer coped with FP? FP was more or less an insider secret for its whole life span. Disney NEVER got the word out to major part of the guest that it was included with admission. going to the park as often as I did, I can remember ever not being ask "how much does FP cost?" or "Can only AP holders use it?" or ....
.

With FP+ Disney is advertising " Reserving your ride from your recliner" So they are trying to advertise to the general public. Do you think reserving FP+ is user friendly?

Also, now there are long stand by lines on rides that never had long waits. For example: Pirates, Haunted Mansion. Do you think this is from FP+ or do you think it's from increased attendance?

 

[btk2333]

With FP+ Disney is advertising " Reserving your ride from your recliner" So they are trying to advertise to the general public. Do you think reserving FP+ is user friendly?

Also, now there are long stand by lines on rides that never had long waits. For example: Pirates, Haunted Mansion. Do you think this is from FP+ or do you think it's from increased attendance?

I think FP+ is user friendly for the general public, because they likely don't micromanage as much- they just take the first set of options given by the system. That's the reports I've heard from my friends who are first time visitors.

There are long standby lines at rides that rarelyhad long waits, yes- likely due to FPP due people booking FP+ for these rides. Disney wants this though- they want to maximize utilization of their rides.

 

[dropout]

FP+ is here to stay, but it will be modified. I think that's the whole point of this system. They really couldn't do too much with the old FP system. It worked great for people that knew how to work the system, but most guests didn't really know how to get the most out of it, and actually didn't really want to use it. People always talk about this idea of spontaneity or relaxation when on vacation. Get the most out of the parks has never worked that well with those ideas. And cue some other posters saying they were able to relax, be spontaneous and use 10 fastpasses every day of their Disney trip.

Disney can continue to modify this system, and will, because it is digital and not physical. They will absolutely look at feedback, as they already have, and make tweaks. It was far harder to incorporate feedback on the old system.

It's still in the early stages and I believe in another year, let alone a decade, it will be a a new and fantastic system. It can grow with new technologies. As digital tech becomes more and more prominent in our lives the more people will get used to this system. I imagine in 2024 teenagers will be shocked we used to have paper Fastpasses that we had be in the park to get. I also think we'll see some sort of paid Fastpass tier as well.

Anytime something new is launched there is always going to be an outcry. Who really likes to learn a whole new system? Especially when on vacation. But Disney will learn what is the good criticism and what is the bad and adjust the the system to accommodate the majority of guests.

 

[BudgieMama]

I found scheduling FP+ easier than trying to figure out our schedule for our trip to NYC last summer... That involved so many websites to check opening times, details of when we could use our Passes, figuring out how to get from one place to another, guidebooks galore and a small pile of post-it notes that moved around our grid about 50 times before we could fit in everything we wanted to do.

Visting North Wales the year before caused multiple scheduling problems, and again required heaps of trawling websites to get times, costs, travel times, etc...

Maybe I just like to plan things (no maybe about that!) but I found FP+ easier than other holiday planning! I'm not someone who could go and sit on a beach for a week!

 

[hildarumpole]

I'm a planner, but did not enjoy having to think about scheduling FP+ 2 months ahead of our trip. We just got back and didn't encounter any major problems, but found MDE unreliable. We wanted to switch a FP+ one day in MK, but the app kept crashing, then required me to sign in multiple times. It was frustrating. It seemed a waste of time to wait in the long FP+ line, so we just stuck with our original plans. Getting a 4th FP+ wasn't worthwhile, since the lines were long and the availability was limited for most rides, except the ones we rode easily as walk-ons.

We witnessed a fair amount of confusion. The most common mistake was people in the FP+ line without a pass. We also saw people completely off on their times, either way too early or too late. If MDE was more reliable, it would probably help cut down on that issue. At Peter Pan, a family attempted to enter through FP+ only to be told by the CM that they didn't have one for that ride, but for Big Thunder Mountain roller coaster. Grandpa: "This isn't a roller coaster?" CM: "No, this is the Peter Pan ride." Mom: "Is it a roller coaster?" CM: "No." Grandpa: "We wanted to ride a roller coaster." CM then explains how to get to BTMR. Mom: "I don't want to walk that far. Let's ride this one." The CM then directed them to the stand-by line.

The biggest plus for me was not having to deal with FP tickets. We like to park hop, so having the ability to make selections in advance at different parks for the same day would be nice. MDE (when it worked) was most useful for checking wait times or if a ride was closed/reopened, but not for managing FP+.

 

[Jennasis]

I am not enthused about MDE at all or FP+ booking at all, as evidenced by my posts earlier this week. I was so looking forward to getting into the app/site and playing around with FP+ when my window opened after hearing some encouraging reports. What a total disappointment.

For starters, I have no idea how tech unsavvy folks like my parents will ever be able to figure it out. Our friends who are traveling with us and have NEVER been are terrified of the whole system and so grateful that I am taking care of all the planning.

I think FP+ is hear to stay in one incarnation or another. It's too big to fail at this point.

That all said, now knowing it's a big disaster AFAIC I will change my thinking and strategy. I now expect total catastrophic failure is a real possibility (so if it doesn't happen, I will consider it a bonus), and have my expectations set so low that it will not be such a let down when it happens.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

I am not enthused about MDE at all or FP+ booking at all, as evidenced by my posts earlier this week. I was so looking forward to getting into the app/site and playing around with FP+ when my window opened after hearing some encouraging reports. What a total disappointment.

For starters, I have no idea how tech unsavvy folks like my parents will ever be able to figure it out. Our friends who are traveling with us and have NEVER been are terrified of the whole system and so grateful that I am taking care of all the planning.

I think FP+ is hear to stay in one incarnation or another. It's too big to fail at this point.

That all said, now knowing it's a big disaster AFAIC I will change my thinking and strategy. I now expect total catastrophic failure is a real possibility (so if it doesn't happen, I will consider it a bonus), and have my expectations set so low that it will not be such a let down when it happens.

I know. At this point I am just hoping I will pleasantly surprised by manageable standby waits at most rides so I can punt the whole system but for those headliners you've always needed a FP for. I also intend to get to the parks at opening time each and every day, which is also something I've never done. Get on the good stuff first thing if you can and then go from there.

 

[eeyorepixie]

I resent having to plan every moment so far in advance and I am a planner, so that says something. The old FP system, allowed us to make choices the day of, and it was a level playing field if you were at the park early.

I resent that there are no confirmation numbers if the fast passes disappear

I resent that Disney can change the times of the parks and take away EMH's long after I had to commit to a plan!

We have already had a family meeting that Disney will not be our next year trip, and we are seriously discussing a non-Disney trip after that...we have been the last 6 years this will be our 7th...we are soured on the whole process. It does not help that I have a dark cloud over my head thinking "what if" they lose our Fastpasses, what if the bands screw up. I know this can happen because it just happened on my BFF's trip and she was not happy! She has been 30+ times, she said it is a lot of money and it was quite the pain.

 

[btk2333]

That all said, now knowing it's a big disaster AFAIC I will change my thinking and strategy. I now expect total catastrophic failure is a real possibility (so if it doesn't happen, I will consider it a bonus), and have my expectations set so low that it will not be such a let down when it happens.

Just out of curiosity what would constitute a total catastrophic failure?

 

[d1gitman]

a coworker of mine recently did a first family trip to WDW during spring break. they ended up loving the FP. they did moderate planning as first timers. i think this is the target audience.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Just out of curiosity what would constitute a total catastrophic failure?

Losing your reservations in a system crash would be my guess. And having no way to fix it (and thus being stuck in a long standby line or missing out on the ride).

 

[sonofanarchy]

1. You'll eventually be able to book 4th FP on MDE.

2. You'll eventually be able to book in mult parks on same day (TT in morning, SM and 7DMT in evening).

Both of those updated have been more or less promised at some point.

Speculation: extra FPs for staying on site in upgraded rooms (for example, 1 extra for each day booked to book in moderate, 2 to book deluxe). Universal offers FotL for park guests staying on site, it would be completely within industry standard to skew the system even more (than 60 day booking) to increase rooms filled.

This needs to happen. Although our trip worked out better than I expected, one thing we've been discussing since we got home is how exhausting FP+ was. So much advance planning, so much time spent waiting in line at FP+ kiosks, so much time walking back and forth to FP+ kiosks. Keeping track of what rides we had FP+ for and what time we had to be there, planning meals around it. It really was kind of ridiculous now that I've had a week to reflect upon it.