The Future of Fast Pass Plus

[FlipHipster]

Most people don't know this but NexGen started about 10 years ago. The original system was going to have people use mobile phones, and either a call tree, txt messages, in park kiosks or a mobile web app (remember those things that were built to run on the tiny LCD screens of like the razor?) About the time they started to get ready for it, smart phones came out, and they where like "Oh Man the iPhone changed everything." So they scraped that whole version of it.

Wait you're saying it's been in development for 10 years? iPhone came out 7 years ago. They should have just published an API for their backend services and let some kid write an app. In 6 months, they could have bought him out for $10m and made everyone happy and had a much better app.

Some of us love change BTW. Like when they brought back legacy FP for 3 days for A&E. Awesome change. More change please.

 

[dkrauss]

I think FP+ stinks.

I don't like having to do work to plan my vacation and everything I want to do 30 or 60 days out(and don't say that "I don't have to". I do if I want to do any of the better attractions or shows.)

I will say you don't have to! Especially as you wrote the above statement. FP+ doesn't stop you from doing any attraction or show.............it just doesn't.

Now if you want to say without it you have to wait in a longer line for those attractions........I would agree..........but that's no different than how the paper FP worked.

Doug

 

[dkrauss]

True, but you also get to wait in stand by lines that are double the pre-FP+ wait for lesser attractions, so, are you really ahead?

Not according to the statistical gurus at TouringPlans.com

http://blog.touringplans.com/2014/02/19/fastpass-affecting-your-wait-in-line-disney-world/

Doug

 

[chapie1968]

I will say you don't have to! Especially as you wrote the above statement. FP+ doesn't stop you from doing any attraction or show.............it just doesn't.

Now if you want to say without it you have to wait in a longer line for those attractions........I would agree..........but that's no different than how the paper FP worked.

Doug

I knew someone would give me that reply so I put it in there first. You may be right, it doesn't stop me, but try going to the Parks during peak times without a single FP and see how much you actually get to do for your $100. Basically nothing, or 3rd rate attractions or you get to shop.

 

[chapie1968]

Not according to the statistical gurus at TouringPlans.com

http://blog.touringplans.com/2014/02/19/fastpass-affecting-your-wait-in-line-disney-world/

Doug

Tell that to the people who have been there and have been experiencing 45-60 minute waits for Pirates or Small World, typical pre FP+ system walk ons.

 

[dkrauss]

I knew someone would give me that reply so I put it in there first. You may be right, it doesn't stop me, but try going to the Parks during peak times without a single FP and see how much you actually get to do for your $100. Basically nothing, or 3rd rate attractions or you get to shop.

I'm with ya.........really. Good response

Doug

 

[btk2333]

I knew someone would give me that reply so I put it in there first. You may be right, it doesn't stop me, but try going to the Parks during peak times without a single FP and see how much you actually get to do for your $100. Basically nothing, or 3rd rate attractions or you get to shop.

well but it's not a plan everything at 60 days or no FP+ at all. You could plan the night before and still have decent FP+ options. Sure you won't be seeing Anna and Elsa, but you could probably still get Space FP+ and the like the night before or even day of. I just checked for tomorrow and the only FP+ unavailable are Anna and Elsa, Wishes, Illuminations, Toy Story, and It's Tough to be a bug (not sure what's up here, maybe they're not using FP+ here at all anymore?). So it's not like you are being forced to book 60 days in advance or you only have slop for FP+. You can even get a 7DMT FP+ for tomorrow right now.

 

[dkrauss]

Tell that to the people who have been there and have been experiencing 45-60 minute waits for Pirates or Small World, typical pre FP+ system walk ons.

So you're saying that the statistical analysis is incorrect? That the folks who do this type of WDW analysis for a living.......are wrong? There will always be anomalies.........times when the lines are longer due to time of year or event. But overall what Touringplans is saying is that overall the impact of FP+ on stand-by lines is not significant........... Now you can argue that if it impacts YOU and YOUR line is long it's significant..........and I would agree. But making that statement as you did as a blanket statement just doesn't prove out given the facts. In fact isn't it misleading those who haven't visited recently?

Doug

 

[mom2rtk]

I will say you don't have to! Especially as you wrote the above statement. FP+ doesn't stop you from doing any attraction or show.............it just doesn't.

Now if you want to say without it you have to wait in a longer line for those attractions........I would agree..........but that's no different than how the paper FP worked.

Doug

Except that it IS different now. They are allocating a greater percentage of each ride's capacity to FP than ever before. So you can do any attraction you want without FP. You just have to let more people than ever cut in line ahead of you...... by most counts between 70 and 90% of the ride's daily capacity.

 

[chapie1968]

So you're saying that the statistical analysis is incorrect? That the folks who do this type of WDW analysis for a living.......are wrong? There will always be anomalies.........times when the lines are longer due to time of year or event. But overall what Touringplans is saying is that overall the impact of FP+ on stand-by lines is not significant........... Now you can argue that if it impacts YOU and YOUR line is long it's significant..........and I would agree. But making that statement as you did as a blanket statement just doesn't prove out given the facts. In fact isn't it misleading those who haven't visited recently?

Doug

I'm only going by first hand reports from people who have been their, not a general collected data site. Touringplans and EASYWDW are both very helpful sites, but I trust people who give real time reports via instant posts more.
I will be doing my first visit to WDW (in almost peak August) since FP+ completely kicked in, so I will be able to have my own first hand experience.

 

[Fantasia79]

True, but you also get to wait in stand by lines that are double the pre-FP+ wait for lesser attractions, so, are you really ahead?

I felt they were longer, but didn't seem as long as standing in line without a fast pass. Then again, I'm pretty low pressure moving in a fastpass line!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Fantasia79]

That hasn't changed. It was ALWAYS that way. Only now Disney has made "early" MIDNIGHT 60 days before park opening, instead of 9am at park opening.

Totally. You can get on most every ride (except seven dwarfs from what I hear) at 9am, without a terrible wait, then you'd get a fastpass for 9:30!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Fantasia79]

Not anymore, two of our local theaters have reserved seating now, and have had it for over a year now.

Just an analogy, but that's awesome! We only have one theatre in Chicago like that.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[btk2333]

I'm only going by first hand reports from people who have been their, not a general collected data site. Touringplans and EASYWDW are both very helpful sites, but I trust people who give real time reports via instant posts more.
I will be doing my first visit to WDW (in almost peak August) since FP+ completely kicked in, so I will be able to have my own first hand experience.

with all due respect, that's like watching one baseball game and saying that the #8 hitter (who happened to go 3-4 that game) is better than the 3 hitter (who happened to go 0-4 that game) without looking at the stats for the season.

Touringplans compiles everyone's individual experiences into one consensus. It's like a review article in medicine that combines hundreds of studies into one statement

 

[MouseClubMama]

I really like your response. Being self-aware is very important IMHO. Your vacation will be great, not because you did or didn't use FP+ but because your with your family/and or friends Isn't that the point!!!!

Doug

Yes! For me it's not about how many major attractions we can conquer before noon, it is about enjoying our time together. But different strokes for different folks. For some, planning = magic, for others the magic will happen anyway!

 

[tj4disney]

I find it interesting that some people are coping with FP+ by lowering their expectations and "pressing on". And that others are commending them for their "stick-to-it-tive-ness" attitude.

For some crazy reason, I actually want to enjoy my hard-earned time away from work to the max. Under FP+ it is impossible for my family to enjoy the parks the way we used to...it's not even close. Once I experience awesome, not sure why I want to pay ever increasing prices for something significantly less awesome. I confess that sometimes I do wonder about going back, but when it comes time to write the check, we've been going elsewhere.

I'm 100% certain that Disney couldn't care less that my family isn't returning, and I'm sure there aren't enough haters to make a difference...it is what it is.

 

[lilpooh108]

Ugh, spent over 2.5 hours today booking FP+s for our trip. Hated it, and this is coming from an OCD crazy planner. It was stressful and I can't get all our times together which I know doesn't matter much but I hate having to remember it.

We did a trip last Dec and my LEAST FAVORITE PART was having to look at my phone during our trip. I hate it when my kids play on our phones, and I think that family time = not on the phone time. Yes yes, I don't have to change our FPs but sometimes the times don't work out until you get there. Unlike legacy FPs which you can just grab another, you have to reschedule these FP+s = get on the phone during park time.

Anyway, rant over.

 

[Suvadoo]

So you're saying that the statistical analysis is incorrect? That the folks who do this type of WDW analysis for a living.......are wrong? There will always be anomalies.........times when the lines are longer due to time of year or event. But overall what Touringplans is saying is that overall the impact of FP+ on stand-by lines is not significant........... Now you can argue that if it impacts YOU and YOUR line is long it's significant..........and I would agree. But making that statement as you did as a blanket statement just doesn't prove out given the facts. In fact isn't it misleading those who haven't visited recently?

Doug

Every week Fred Hazelton from Touring Plans reports the differences between their predictions of crowds vs what was seen. Most of the time, their predicted crowds have been at least 1 point lower than what the crowds were.

This may not seem like much but if this equates to a 5-10 minute longer standby line and you multiply that by multiple lines, people may think that standby wait times have significantly increased.

 

[dkrauss]

I find it interesting that some people are coping with FP+ by lowering their expectations and "pressing on". And that others are commending them for their "stick-to-it-tive-ness" attitude.

For some crazy reason, I actually want to enjoy my hard-earned time away from work to the max. Under FP+ it is impossible for my family to enjoy the parks the way we used to...it's not even close. Once I experience awesome, not sure why I want to pay ever increasing prices for something significantly less awesome. I confess that sometimes I do wonder about going back, but when it comes time to write the check, we've been going elsewhere.

I'm 100% certain that Disney couldn't care less that my family isn't returning, and I'm sure there aren't enough haters to make a difference...it is what it is.

I'm curious what you found the difference between your experience with the old "paper" FP and the new FP+ system..........in the park? I've done the paper FP (last May) and will be doing FP+ (in Sept) and I will surely be looking into this enjoyment factor you speak of. While I can't speak to it yet..............just curious as to what you found made FP+ so bad during park time.

Doug

 

[dkrauss]

Here's an opinion and the subsequent feedback from a recent visitor to WDW...............

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3309185

Doug