This just in from Disney Parks blog!

[msdroz]

I think this is definitely a step in the right direction. This board proves that you cannot please everyone and people will have a reaction no matter what solution Disney provides.

I do hope that this is implemented soon, especially with the park hopper option before summer. I know that this is a super busy time of the year and I doubt Disney wants to frustrate so many customers who are spending their good earned money on a summer vacation. My biggest complaint was the park hopper tickets are pretty much useless with the fast passes and I regretted upgrading our ticket.

If I'm not mistaken, it seems like the technology is already there to make the changes and since the announcement let the "cat is out of the bag" I'm inclined to believe they will move fast on this. Wishful thinking!

 

[amg35]

What do you think will happen at rope drop? Why will it increase crowds? I'm just curious. As I said before, I really didn't read up too much about this since I don't have to make any plans until October.

I'm thinking more people will now be at the park at rope drop since they need to use all 3 fast passes before they can schedule another. And if they don't use their original 3 before early afternoon, chances of getting a good fast pass for a big ride would be slim.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

I'm willing to be that "Park Hopping with FP+" means that you still get only 3 FP+ per day, but you can use them at different parks.

If so, I cant wait to see the outrage. lol

 

[Minnie222]

This would create long long standby lines even at Rope-Drop time.

And also, if I am done with my first 3 FP+ by noon, and find nothing left in the afternoon for 4th FP+, do I wait in insane lines?

Lines will be long at the kiosks. Standby lines will be long throughout the day, as FP+ takes up a higher percentage throughout the day.

I am not sure how this would work and how to optimize a touring plan. This makes planning / booking more complicated than the current system.
All these are very difficult maths.

Nevertheless, this news is better than the current arrangement.

 

[glamdring269]

Once they’ve used the three they’ve booked, we’ll enable them to select another at kiosks in the parks.

No. This is not the way. The whole idea of getting in line to get additional FP+ is simply hilarious to consider. Use the online technology you supposedly spent millions to develop instead of asking people to stand in yet another line in order to hopefully spend less time standing in yet another line.

What a mess. I have no confidence that this company has any idea how to effectively harness the technology that is readily available to everyone.

 

[morethananyonex]

I'm willing to be that "Park Hopping with FP+" means that you still get only 3 FP+ per day, but you can use them at different parks. If so, I cant wait to see the outrage. lol

I think that's still better than what we have, provided there are no between park tiers.

Being able to use your tier 2 waste of FP from Epcot at a different park would be awesome. Actually, my family even had AK FP that went to waste because only 1 person rides EE. Being able to split those ones would be nice too.

 

[chrismb22]

I'm thinking more people will now be at the park at rope drop since they need to use all 3 fast passes before they can schedule another. And if they don't use their original 3 before early afternoon, chances of getting a good fast pass for a big ride would be slim.

OHHHHHH!! Ok, that makes sense!! DOH!!!! Thanks

 

[Pamnkevin]

I think this is definitely a step in the right direction. This board proves that you cannot please everyone and people will have a reaction no matter what solution Disney provides. I do hope that this is implemented soon, especially with the park hopper option before summer. I know that this is a super busy time of the year and I doubt Disney wants to frustrate so many customers who are spending their good earned money on a summer vacation. My biggest complaint was the park hopper tickets are pretty much useless with the fast passes and I regretted upgrading our ticket. If I'm not mistaken, it seems like the technology is already there to make the changes and since the announcement let the "cat is out of the bag" I'm inclined to believe they will move fast on this. Wishful thinking!

Wasn't there also a "glitch" once that allowed this

 

[clsteve]

No. This is not the way. The whole idea of getting in line to get additional FP+ is simply hilarious to consider. Use the online technology you supposedly spent millions to develop instead of asking people to stand in yet another line in order to hopefully spend less time standing in yet another line.

What a mess. I have no confidence that this company has any idea how to effectively harness the technology that is readily available to everyone.

But, you're not going to Hop or might not come back to the same Park you were in if you can do it via MDE from your hotel room and see no availability....

Well, if nobody was reserving those 9am FP's---- they sure will now...

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

I guess I don't understand why this is good news...if you have to wait until you use your 3 fast passes, then most of the fast passes will already be gone.

Or otherwise then you have to schedule all your fast passes first thing in the morning, which will kind of ruin the idea of getting there early for rope drop to get on rides w/out waiting.

If they are going to do something, then let it be more scheduled fast passes, or being able to schedule 3 (each) in two parks on same day!

Agreed. And what about people who scheduled a FP for MSEP or Wishes? I would much rather have seen them go with a rolling option that allows you to hold 3 FP at a time and pick a new one after one is used.

So I wonder if they require that you use all 3 before booking another, or if you can use 1, then cancel the others and schedule another? The line for Captain EO really might take a hit! Or maybe people will just go scan their bands, then back through the line and take off running for the nearest kiosk?

That would be anice option considering there is nothing at Epcot (and possibly DHS) in tier 2 I need really need a FP for.

I agree.

Also, regarding rope drop, my initial thought was that this would put a crimp in that plan. But on second thought, I am not sure that would be correct. Rope drop and do 3 pre-booked FP between say, 11am and 1-2pm. At which point your time frame for finding decent FP is much larger than if you started looking for them after 8pm.

This probably would be the best option, but it's only really going to work at MK because its the only park with enough attractions to support it. Even by noon, I would think availability at the tier 1 attractions at Epcot and DHS would be pretty slim.

Personally, while the method of getting extra FP+ is better than nothing, I'm pretty disappointed they decided to go with the use 3 instead of use 1 route. Especially disappointed that it has to be done from a kiosk. That really limits the usefulness of the extra FP, especially in tiered parks.

I am intrigued about the park hopping they mentioned though. It would be really nice if you could book Soarin' for the first part of your day in Epcot, and use the other 2 for rides in the MK later at night instead of wasting them on Epcot tier 2 choices.

Kinda makes you wonder if too many people were booking mid-day and afternoon FP-s and not enough in the mornings. This will change that quickly....

I always wondered if FP+ led to a lot of "wasted" FP slots. Because Legacy FP always gave you the next available time, it might have been more efficient. I would think that a lot of early morning fast pass slots go unsused now.

I'm thinking more people will now be at the park at rope drop since they need to use all 3 fast passes before they can schedule another. And if they don't use their original 3 before early afternoon, chances of getting a good fast pass for a big ride would be slim.

That's possible. In theory it makes sense, but I'm not sure it will happen. More people may plan to get there earlier, but the same people who have a hard time getting up early now to make to rope drop, will still have a hard time getting up and out the door.

 

[slickpoetry]

I'm thinking more people will now be at the park at rope drop since they need to use all 3 fast passes before they can schedule another. And if they don't use their original 3 before early afternoon, chances of getting a good fast pass for a big ride would be slim.

The logic you employ here is sound, but I don't think the average WDW visitor will consider it. The average person doesn't plan that far ahead. So they will probably just use their three FP+ the same way they always did.

 

[JanaDee]

It can't really make the problem worse. The number of FP+ slots aren't going to change.

Exactly, which so many people seem to be ignoring. You can only get more FP if there are more to give.

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

Great news!!!!!! The pro FastPass+ folk were certainly right all along when they said FastPass+ would indeed see improvements in the future from Disney!!!!!! I hope there are more great things on the horizon for FastPass+ as Disney continues to test!!!!!

 

[Nole95]

If they do implement this, there is zero reason that anyone with a smart phone should have to stand in line to get the fourth FP+. That is plain dumb. If they spent all this money on the technology then let people use it. Whether you are on your phone or at a kiosk, the system should know whether or not you have used your three initial FP+.

I also agree that this will probably increase standby times early in the morning. In order to maximize my time of getting a decent fourth FP later in the day, I could schedule my FP+ experiences from 9-12. Get to the park at RD and ride as much as I could in standby with the intent of using the first FP+ at 9:50 or so.

 

[amg35]

The logic you employ here is sound, but I don't think the average WDW visitor will consider it. The average person doesn't plan that far ahead. So they will probably just use their three FP+ the same way they always did.

Hopefully!

And since I'm feeling particularly evil....maybe they won't offer any free dining or other discounts in October and that will keep the crowds away! Yes, I'm being selfish.

 

[over50visits]

we’ll enable them to select another at kiosks in the parks. /[/url]

They've got to be kidding. The lines "at kiosks in the parks" are already overflowing, slow time sinks. When we were there last week one couple told us they had waited 45 minutes to get to the kiosk.

So, a 45 minute wait for a FP+?? Kind of an oxymoron. They have now effectively controlled any real access to more FP+ AND they can say "hey we increased the number of FP+s you can have!!!"

Just like DDP, MB, ME, low cost tickets for 4th day and subsequent, Disney can say what a good deal they're giving us when the opposite is true.

We love going to Disney and will continue to do so, but don't tell me how great it is I can stand in a long line to get more FP+s!

 

[WINTER]

anxious for the park hopping details!

 

[Luv2trav]

I think this is absolutely wonder news. I don't really see the difference now between this and the old FP system. Yes there might be a chance a FP won't be available after you use your 3rd but that was the same thing as with the old system. Only this saves you all the time running around the park..

Adding park hopper is my FAVORITE.... Love love love... Now can they have this ready by my trip in July??

 

[practicallyperfect77]

It's funny, some people who used to hate fast pass plus are now saying because of this they are doing a turn around, where as before I was fine with fast pass plus but now find myself disappointed for fear of what willl happen to wait times at rope drop!

Man I thought I had it all figured out! For example, I was going to rope drop AK one morning and go on all the rides without much of a wait, and then use my fast pass at MK that night. Now, if everyone is using their fast passes in the morning, my standby waits at AK will skyrocket.

Standby lines at RD have already increased at some parks...specifically Epcot. But I have been watching wait times for quite a while now (granted using MDE which I've read isn't exactly correct anyway) and have noticed longer waits in the morning.

Of course my initial reaction to this is that it is good news but I'm really not so sure. All depends on availability. Who knows what attractions will have openings later. I wouldn't count on 7dmt or the mountains but if Buzz, PotC or HM do that'd be cool. If it's only Stitch tho - not so cool.

Not sure I like the use your 3 and then get a 4th either. How will that work for MESP or fireworks?

I can totally get on board with allowing it for hoppers tho. How cool would it be to FP soarin' in the morning, ride TT standby and then go over to HS for TSM and ToT.

 

[morethananyonex]

If they do implement this, there is zero reason that anyone with a smart phone should have to stand in line to get the fourth FP+. That is plain dumb. If they spent all this money on the technology then let people use it. Whether you are on your phone or at a kiosk, the system should know whether or not you have used your three initial FP+. I also agree that this will probably increase standby times early in the morning. In order to maximize my time of getting a decent fourth FP later in the day, I could schedule my FP+ experiences from 9-12. Get to the park at RD and ride as much as I could in standby with the intent of using the first FP+ at 9:50 or so.

Unless they are trying to discourage people from leaving the parks by making it harder for them to set up later in the day FP on their phone, instead requiring them in park to do it. They could also just be discouraging people from booking the 4th FP altogether so there is more availability, so they're making it more difficult to get.

Who knows, it's weird that they specified it can be done at a kiosk. From the blog post, it seems like they're pretty clear that it's a kiosk only thing.