This just in from Disney Parks blog!

[jade1]

This new change is just like legacy FP. The earlier you get to the parks, the more FP's you get. They spent a lot of money to get back to square one.

It's only square one if you thought legacy FP was somehow unfair and hypothesized FP+ was created to address that perception.



It's not much different than FP- was on a busy day. We'll ride standby at rope drop in addition to the 3 reserved FPs. When we visit WDW it's usually busy, so by the 3rd FP, the headliners were mostly gone anyway. We weren't getting 3 FPs (with the built-in time delay) and then two more for Soarin' and Test Track. They were already out.

Yep, it just depends who's looking at it. Since the average guest arrives after noon-it's light years ahead of square one for the average visitor.

For the early am (even mid am) guest-they can now have a similar experience to FP- other than it remains to be seen what is left after the 3rd FP+, and seasons will dictate what's left, as well as future expansion. But they cannot select the FP's that the "average " arrival guest now has in their possession, like they could in the past.

But hey, if you liked FP- and your saying this is just as good-you will be happy.

 

[Shaden]

The way our family would tour with FP- was pretty close to booking 3 in the morning while also riding standby at rope drop, and then getting more FPs if they were available. Now the first 3 can be used closer together than before.

Most of the time, on busy days, the big headliners (TSMM, TT, Soarin') would be gone by noon, so they were almost never available for our 4th anyway. This new tweak to the system will be closer to how we did it before. On a lot of days we'd leave the park after lunch.

The first is very true. Even our current strategy will use our FPs much faster.

RD, then FP for 10:30-11:30, 11:30-12:30. 12:30-1:30.

Out plan is to ride SB until 11:30, hit our first FP+, then immediately walk to the second FP+ (if there is a low wait time between maybe hop on it) hit our Second FP, and then either wait around or find a low SB ride to hit, or just walk right to the 3rd FP.

Potentially doing all 3 FPs in about an hour.

When we have gone in the past, on Mid level crowd days though, we have been able to pull FPs all day, and even sometimes when returning at night. I am thinking this system will be a big improvement for most of the year, and will make no real difference during the busier parts because, as you say, the headliners will be gone after the 3 most likely.

 

[WillAustin]

But hey, if you liked FP- and your saying this is just as good-you will be happy.

I think we'd be happy anyway.

It's better than 3.

 

[tlady]

New information about FP+ "As expected, most of our guests think that securing times to ride our attractions is one of the best ways to maximize the fun of a Walt Disney World Resort vacation. We’ve heard from a number of guests that they would like the opportunity to add additional FastPass+ entitlements during their visit, in addition to the three they can plan in advance. So, we’re working on providing them with the ability to add and enjoy additional entitlements on the day of their visit. Once they’ve used the three they’ve booked, we’ll enable them to select another at kiosks in the parks. And once they’ve used the fourth, they can select another, and so on. We also heard that other guests liked the fact that with the FastPass+ service they could use FASTPASS when they park hopped. So we’re working on a service enhancement to add that feature to FastPass+ as well."
More info: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...alt-disney-world-resort-hotel-and-day-guests/

After reading the first line, I knew that this was just more of the Disney "hype". What an absurd statement.

However, allowing one to secure an additional FP, after the first 3 are used up, is only a marginal improvement to the current FP+ system. And what it will do is entice people to schedule their first 3 FPs for early in the day (when they are least likely to be needed) in order to ensure they are used up quickly so that more can be obtained.

Again, Disney is only feebly "tinkering" with this awful system. What I'd love to hear from them is: "We are aware of the major problems encounted under FP+, chief among them the long lines and return times. We apologize to our guests for the inconveniences that they have endured. As a short-term solution, we at WDW plan to . . . . As a long-term solution, we will be investing $$$$$$ into creating even more rides and attractions at the parks."

 

[mom2rtk]

Again, Disney is only feebly "tinkering" with this awful system. What I'd love to hear from them is: "We are aware of the major problems encounted under FP+, chief among them the long lines and return times. We apologize to our guests for the inconveniences that they have endured. As a short-term solution, we at WDW plan to . . . . As a long-term solution, we will be investing $$$$$$ into creating even more rides and attractions at the parks."

But April Fool's Day was yesterday...........

 

[verdell82]

I think the possible 4th is great. It is still better than just 3. I personally love going Standby at RD for awhile. Then I like to wander, have a snack, pin trade, shop etc until my FP+ after lunch. At least now I know I can possibly get to through a line faster on a 4th later in the day. I'll take it. I did pretty good at getting other FP- but for me I think I'll break even and get to ride my headliners midday.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think we'd be happy anyway.

It's better than 3.

Yes. Because 3 + X >3 so long as X > 0.

 

[andyman8]

I think this is a win-win for Disney and the guest. This eases my two major problems with the system for the most part:the lack of FP+s I can select (particularly at MK) and the attraction tiers. If I were to only reserve one Epcot FP+ in advance (one for say Soarin' at 11am-12pm), I could then go to a kiosk or (hopefully) use my phone to reserve TT at a later time int he afternoon. Because the first guests of the day to get access of this fourth FP+ (assuming they've chosen the earliest possible times for attractions) should be able to get them at about 11:15 or so (if they have 9-10,10-11,11-12), I'd imagine that just past 12, they'll still be a sizable amount of FP+s left over for TT. That's good news.

Of course, as it always seems with this system, I have more questions than answers. Mr. Staggs was awfully vague in his post: when are these changes occurring? How are they dealing with tier twos?

Regardles, the mere fact that they're evolving this program based on guest feedback is good news.

 

[Lynnilou]

I think it is a step in the right direction. And, maybe they will start to "tinker" with the park-hopping issue.

 

[cseca]

Yes. Because 3 + X >3 so long as X > 0.

Hey, FP+ math is easier than common core math

 

[Laketravis]

Thank you Mickey may I please have another......

 

[msdroz]

I know it's anyone's guess but who wants to bet when this will all roll out?

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Laketravis-------------------Only if you've used the first 3..............

 

[tlady]

New information about FP+ "As expected, most of our guests think that securing times to ride our attractions is one of the best ways to maximize the fun of a Walt Disney World Resort vacation. We’ve heard from a number of guests that they would like the opportunity to add additional FastPass+ entitlements during their visit, in addition to the three they can plan in advance. So, we’re working on providing them with the ability to add and enjoy additional entitlements on the day of their visit. Once they’ve used the three they’ve booked, we’ll enable them to select another at kiosks in the parks. And once they’ve used the fourth, they can select another, and so on. We also heard that other guests liked the fact that with the FastPass+ service they could use FASTPASS when they park hopped. So we’re working on a service enhancement to add that feature to FastPass+ as well."
More info: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...alt-disney-world-resort-hotel-and-day-guests/

The reason this will result in only marginal improvements to the long lines and wait times is because these problems are not created by the FP 3 per day limitation. Instead, the long lines and absurd wait times have resulted from the fact that thousands more park goers are now aware of and using FP than ever before. And the parks simply do not have enough rides to handle this new, significantly increased demand.

Disney has trumpeted FP+ to everyone and - "surprise! surprise!", everyone is using it and will continue to do so. Previously, a significant percentage of park goers did not use legacy FP for a variety of reasons.

That's why I term Disney's proposal a mere "tinkering". It will not solve the main problems for the reasons I've already stated. What WOULD help to solve them is loads more $$$ invested in park infrastructures, but I see no evidence that WDW intends to do that on the scale that would be needed.

 

[Kristina4109]

What if someone has FP+ for Wishes or IllumiNations or Fantasmic? This would mean if they wanted to get an additional one they'd have to wait until after the show was over.

 

[lovin diz]

The reason this will result in only marginal improvements to the long lines and wait times is because these problems are not created by the FP 3 per day limitation. Instead, the long lines and absurd wait times have resulted from the fact that thousands more park goers are now aware of and using FP than ever before. And the parks simply do not have enough rides to handle this new, significantly increased demand.

Disney has trumpeted FP+ to everyone and - "surprise! surprise!", everyone is using it and will continue to do so. Previously, a significant percentage of park goers did not use legacy FP for a variety of reasons.

That's why I term Disney's proposal a mere "tinkering". It will not solve the main problems for the reasons I've already stated. What WOULD help to solve them is loads more $$$ invested in park infrastructures, but I see no evidence that WDW intends to do that on the scale that would be needed.

Sorry everyone. I am pages behind, but I think we have a winner!!

 

[dawgsgirl]

A vacation should not be this complicated and stressful.

 

[CandleontheWater]

Well, having the chance to get more than three is better than three and done. I'm not dancing in the street, but I'm happy to at least have the chance to fight over the scraps.

Here's what I'm thinking, the rule is that you have to use your three FP+ before getting another one, but no one is saying you actually have to ride the ride. I think tapping and dashing is going to be my new strategy.

Here goes- make a FP+ for Spaceship earth from 9-10am. Tap yourself in as you are walking by right after rope drop, but instead of riding the ride, just continue on to ride Soarin'. When you are done with Soarin' take a ride on Living with the land and then head over to TT for a 10-11 FP+, and then when you are done with TT walk over to Mission space to tap yourself in for a 11-12 FP+, but don't ride, instead rush over to the nearest kiosk to book yourself another ride on Soarin' or TT (or even better do it on your phone as you walk over if that is available).

Most times of the year you'll still be able to get a TT or Soarin FP at 11 am, and then you'll still likely be able to get a FP for Malestrom after that. Since you don't really need FP for anything else at Epcot, you'll be golden.

Take that tiering!

 

[horse11]

I am just wondering if this will change the lines at RD and the first two hours. We were hoping to save our FP+ for the afternoon and do Fantasy Land the very first two hours of MK opening. Should we still keep this plan or will it make the stand by lines longer in the first two hours? Any thoughts?

 

[crostorfer]

They also haven't said if you can FP the same ride more than once. I'd keep my 3 in DHS, if that was all we were given, if I could have 3 for the ToT.