The Future of Fast Pass Plus

[monkeybug]

ADR's as long as you're not looking for BOG, then you can pretty much get whatever you want if you're not traveling at Christmas

This has not been my experience at all! Once I knew we were going I hopped online to get ADR's and I've only been able to secure one of the ones on our list. On previous trips we've gotten everything we wanted, pre-park opening Crystal Palace, dessert party, CRT, BBB at the castle, Chef Mickey's and Ohana. This time none of those are available. I can't even get Yak & Yeti or SciFi! Looks like this will be a trip with lots of new experiences--including restaurants!

 

[mom2rtk]

True. Just thought it was a little ironic the PP used those exact words when that's honestly what.Disney used to advertise. I should have given you credit to mom2rtk.....I know you have a bunch of those slogans. I truly enjoy them. "Disney...better than shoveling snow"....that was one of my.faves.

No need for credit. I've just had fun collecting slogans.

Before I took a power hit (sorry big rain storm here in Boston) I was saying.

100% isn't going to happen, not realistic I work in operations I deal with things like this every day (like the power hit we just took.) My guess even a goal of six sigma isn't going to happen. My guess is they are at or below the error goals they signed off for.

Disney is riding a thin line. If word gets out all you need is a print out/screen shot of your FPs and you are good to go, people will start abusing it. Same reason they had to revamp the GAC program. Too many people where abusing it and the system was about to fall over (or if you ask some people had fallen over.)

IS MM+ perfect? no.
Would I like to see some changes? yea.
Do I think the system was built for me? No.
Do I think I'll see the changes? Maybe one day.
Do I think I can handle it as is? Yes, I've done 3 trips with it already, and had problems, but they were not outside of the realm of issues I've had with other trips to Disney and else where.

And as I said, long ago I figured out As a DVC member, and AP holder, and someone that visits the parks multiple times per year, they really don't care about me. Disney is about the First Time visitor, or the the once every 3-5 year visitor.

As I said, no need for 100%. Just a willingness to have adequate guest recovery that does not involve accusing guests of lying.

As long as I hung on to my paper fastpass, it was 100% foolproof. And if I lost one, it was on me. So yes, 100% is possible. Disney apparently just considers a portion of their guests losing FP (without them being able to replace them) to be an acceptable level of loss. And I'm at a loss for understanding how that came to be the case from the leader in customer servie.

 

[btk2333]

Disney is riding a thin line. If word gets out all you need is a print out/screen shot of your FPs and you are good to go, people will start abusing it. Same reason they had to revamp the GAC program. Too many people where abusing it and the system was about to fall over (or if you ask some people had fallen over.)

I would add that this worked for me twice I'll describe each circumstance
1) That FP+ still showed in MDE but wasn't in their computer- I was asked to show them in my app that the FP+ was there and they let me through (they were able to see that I only had 3 scheduled)
2) All my FP+ for the day were gone- I was asked to show them my screenshot and my blank app and they reinstated my FP+ (my screenshot was dated the same day)

 

[JanieMc]

That's a good idea. Print the screen!

OMG! Brills! Just did that. Now I'm going to scan and email it to myself for backup... Thanks for the tip! Very common sense--of the kind I'd not have thought of myself.

 

[btk2333]

This has not been my experience at all! Once I knew we were going I hopped online to get ADR's and I've only been able to secure one of the ones on our list. On previous trips we've gotten everything we wanted, pre-park opening Crystal Palace, dessert party, CRT, BBB at the castle, Chef Mickey's and Ohana. This time none of those are available. I can't even get Yak & Yeti or SciFi! Looks like this will be a trip with lots of new experiences--including restaurants!

When are you traveling? I concede CRT, I've never tried to get BBB (DW and I are going to keep that from our daughter as long as possible lol), Ohana or Dessert party. I've always been able to get CP and CM with a little persistence- remember a good time to check is one week prior and at the 24 hour mark as people will start to cancel to avoid paying the cancellation fee. I consider it a fun game

SciFi and Y&Y surprise me too- makes me wonder if we should try Y&Y, we've never done it before and since our next trip will be with 10 month twins we're spending most of our time people watching and eating

 

[monkeybug]

When are you traveling? I concede CRT, I've never tried to get BBB (DW and I are going to keep that from our daughter as long as possible lol), Ohana or Dessert party. I've always been able to get CP and CM with a little persistence- remember a good time to check is one week prior and at the 24 hour mark as people will start to cancel to avoid paying the cancellation fee. I consider it a fun game

SciFi and Y&Y surprise me too- makes me wonder if we should try Y&Y, we've never done it before and since our next trip will be with 10 month twins we're spending most of our time people watching and eating

I think it's because we are going during free dining and have a large party. (7 people) All though when I looked it shows that free dining isn't available for our dates, so I'm not too sure about that. We are going from October 13th to the 19th. I'm hoping that I'll be able to snag some closer to our trip due to people canceling, but I've got to admit, stalking the dining website is not a fun game to me at all! I find it super annoying and frustrating to have to keep checking for openings.

 

[mom2rtk]

I would add that this worked for me twice I'll describe each circumstance
1) That FP+ still showed in MDE but wasn't in their computer- I was asked to show them in my app that the FP+ was there and they let me through (they were able to see that I only had 3 scheduled)
2) All my FP+ for the day were gone- I was asked to show them my screenshot and my blank app and they reinstated my FP+ (my screenshot was dated the same day)

I'm guessing you weren't meeting A/E or riding the Mine Train.

These are the ones people cannot easily replace, and the ones CMs have reportedly been told not to accept a screen shot for. These are the ones people get up in the middle of the night 60 days in advance to schedule.

 

[jco_direwolf]

As I said, no need for 100%. Just a willingness to have adequate guest recovery that does not involve accusing guests of lying.

As long as I hung on to my paper fastpass, it was 100% foolproof. And if I lost one, it was on me. So yes, 100% is possible. Disney apparently just considers a portion of their guests losing FP (without them being able to replace them) to be an acceptable level of loss. And I'm at a loss for understanding how that came to be the case from the leader in customer servie.

It was not 100% foolproof, as you said you had to hold on to it, and there where other issues like fraud/counterfeit FPs. In MM+ the equivalent is where you make a change to your reservation that causes the system to invalidate your FPs. And from everything I've heard outside of a FEW high wait time attractions, Disney HAS replaced FP+ regardless of the why.

People also sold copies of fraudulent FPs you use to be able to find them on eBay. FPs for any attraction at WDW printed with what ever date time you wanted, for scrap booking/souvenir proposes only. Not valid for park admission or attractions.

Yep there is some level of acceptable loss. Just the way things are.

My guess is that Disney knew pretty much the expect level of issues they had with FPs, and they projected those numbers onto MM+/FP+ and that is how they set the targets.

 

[btk2333]

I'm guessing you weren't meeting A/E or riding the Mine Train.

These are the ones people cannot easily replace, and the ones CMs have reportedly been told not to accept a screen shot for. These are the ones people get up in the middle of the night 60 days in advance to schedule.

Nope- but last night I checked availability for today for 7DMT and there was availability today for FP+ for Mine Train so that's a positive. Also just checked and there are 7DMT FP+ available same day right now

 

[practicallyperfect77]

How much of a diminished experience is it really if you don't book at 180 60 30 days?

Last night I looked for FP+ for today, as I mentioned in a PP the only attractions not available were A&E, TSMM, Wishes, Illuminations and It's Tough to be a bug. That's still quite a bit of flexibility <12 hours before park opened (I looked at 9:00PM on 7/27 for 7/28 FP+)

ADR's as long as you're not looking for BOG, then you can pretty much get whatever you want if you're not traveling at Christmas

I've planned trips one week before arrival and been able to get FP+ and ADR's for pretty much anything I wanted. It's not like spontaneity is dead

The real problem with spontaneity is the popularity of the parks, the more guests, the fewer FP+ and ADR options. Those of you who hate FP+ should be rooting for attendance to go down, that would increase spontaneity options and give Disney a chance to see that they've made a mistake. As long as attendance keeps going up I doubt you'll see much remorse from them.

I don't have the ability to.check as I have a package booked..no APs or regular tickets. Were the times available super late at night? For me, because I have ADRs and naps to work around, I am afraid to leave it til the night before. I can see how this might work for some but not everyone. And since it's a once and done trip for my sis and her family, it would be a diminished experience if we weren't able to go on TSM, Soarin', or Mine train unless we waited in an hour long standby line.

 

[JanaDee]

Given your attitude about WDW I can't for the life of me understand why you even go? If you're so unhappy............do something else........why torture the rest with your unhappiness.

Doug

Yippy, the tired if you don't like it, don't go, retort.

 

[surferdave]

It was not 100% foolproof, as you said you had to hold on to it, and there where other issues like fraud/counterfeit FPs. In MM+ the equivalent is where you make a change to your reservation that causes the system to invalidate your FPs. And from everything I've heard outside of a FEW high wait time attractions, Disney HAS replaced FP+ regardless of the why.

People also sold copies of fraudulent FPs you use to be able to find them on eBay. FPs for any attraction at WDW printed with what ever date time you wanted, for scrap booking/souvenir proposes only. Not valid for park admission or attractions.

Yep there is some level of acceptable loss. Just the way things are.

My guess is that Disney knew pretty much the expect level of issues they had with FPs, and they projected those numbers onto MM+/FP+ and that is how they set the targets.

Nothing you said after "you have to hold on to it" means anything to a guest that pulled a FP from a machine themselves like you were supposed to do.

 

[CutlerP]

OMG! Brills! Just did that. Now I'm going to scan and email it to myself for backup... Thanks for the tip! Very common sense--of the kind I'd not have thought of myself.

Print it to a pdf and save yourself the trouble of scanning. I'll save my pdf on Google Drive or something in case I need to reference it on the fly. (Which I will NOT. *she says optimistically* )

 

[PlutoMars]

What do people expect Disney's customer service to do? Take everybody's word that their FP+s disappeared? Especially on the most popular attractions? Give everyone who called, their desired FP+s? People could just makeup stories and just call customer service without even trying to make FP+s ressies through the system. They cant just overbook attractions. Then people would be on here complaining how long the FP+ lines were.

I know this isnt a popular thing to say but in IT, some problems are caused by the user. I am NOT saying that anyone who is claiming an issue caused it but still sometimes, people dont follow instructions and that causes issues.

 

[mom2rtk]

It was not 100% foolproof, as you said you had to hold on to it, and there where other issues like fraud/counterfeit FPs. In MM+ the equivalent is where you make a change to your reservation that causes the system to invalidate your FPs. And from everything I've heard outside of a FEW high wait time attractions, Disney HAS replaced FP+ regardless of the why.

People also sold copies of fraudulent FPs you use to be able to find them on eBay. FPs for any attraction at WDW printed with what ever date time you wanted, for scrap booking/souvenir proposes only. Not valid for park admission or attractions.

Yep there is some level of acceptable loss. Just the way things are.

My guess is that Disney knew pretty much the expect level of issues they had with FPs, and they projected those numbers onto MM+/FP+ and that is how they set the targets.

Those were all issues Disney dealt with on legacy FP that were invisible to the guest. It's unfortunate if someone was selling counterfeit FPs, but all I know is that once I pulled the ticket, all I had to do was hold onto it. And it worked. Every. Single. Time. Level of loss? 0.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

What do people expect Disney's customer service to do? Take everybody's word that their FP+s disappeared? Especially on the most popular attractions? Give everyone who called, their desired FP+s? People could just makeup stories and just call customer service without even trying to make FP+s ressies through the system. They cant just overbook attractions. Then people would be on here complaining how long the FP+ lines were.

I know this isnt a popular thing to say but in IT, some problems are caused by the user. I am NOT saying that anyone who is claiming an issue caused it but still sometimes, people dont follow instructions and that causes issues.

I preface this by saying I know nothing about IT. However, is it really that hard to have some sort of tracking system where they would be able to verify that yes folks did have them and now they don't. I know folks have commented that adding dining removed FPS b/c the reservation # was changed. But there was another thread I read over the weekend that no changes were made....just looked and one day they were gone. This is not acceptable.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yippy, the tired if you don't like it, don't go, retort.

Keep reading. You'll soon get to the equally popular "you must have done something to cause it yourself" retort.

 

[surferdave]

Keep reading. You'll soon get to the equally popular "you must have done something to cause it yourself" retort.

Pluto covered that one.

 

[clsteve]

It was not 100% foolproof, as you said you had to hold on to it, and there where other issues like fraud/counterfeit FPs. In MM+ the equivalent is where you make a change to your reservation that causes the system to invalidate your FPs. And from everything I've heard outside of a FEW high wait time attractions, Disney HAS replaced FP+ regardless of the why.

People also sold copies of fraudulent FPs you use to be able to find them on eBay. FPs for any attraction at WDW printed with what ever date time you wanted, for scrap booking/souvenir proposes only. Not valid for park admission or attractions.

Yep there is some level of acceptable loss. Just the way things are.

My guess is that Disney knew pretty much the expect level of issues they had with FPs, and they projected those numbers onto MM+/FP+ and that is how they set the targets.

Disney , this far into the game,is still losing production data. That's unacceptable. It's a reservation system. They've been around a long time. How often does an airline lose your reservation - or a major hotel? If there is a catastrophic failure - there are back-ups. If it's human error on their part - you have a confirmation.

In your example above, those FP- issues were statistically insignificant (they had to be because they could have been easily nullified just by telling the CM's to pay more attention), and caused at most passive harm by decreasing that day's FP allocation for that one ride. Not the same as someone's vacation being turned upside down when everything they've planned - to the Parks visited, the times visited, the itinerary, the inter-relationship with ADR's, etc., and the time spent doing it - are now lost and gone to data heaven.

Too many catastrophic incidents are still occurring for Disney to be in any way satisfied right now.

 

[btk2333]

I don't have the ability to.check as I have a package booked..no APs or regular tickets. Were the times available super late at night? For me, because I have ADRs and naps to work around, I am afraid to leave it til the night before. I can see how this might work for some but not everyone. And since it's a once and done trip for my sis and her family, it would be a diminished experience if we weren't able to go on TSM, Soarin', or Mine train unless we waited in an hour long standby line.

I didn't look extensively but the system spit out a 6:30-730 for 7dmt. What do you mean you have a package booked but no tickets? With a package don't you have to get tickets?