This just in from Disney Parks blog!

[WillAustin]

More FP's of what? Rides that previously were walk-on?

You're going to need FPs for those because standby will be really slow on busy days with this system. I'm not saying it's better than the old system, but it's incrementally better than "only 3". We're not going to get the old system back.

As I've mentioned before, on most busy days, by the time I was pulling our 4th FPs on the legacy system the headliners were out of FPs, so it's not going to be that different for us.

With this new system I also expect them to hold back some slots for changes on the fly and same-day additions. When people no-show, the slot can also probably go back into the system that day and swap out a standby slot.

 

[FLchick415]

So, let me see if I'm understanding this correctly (and feel free to correct me if I'm over simplifying)

A lot of people who used FP- to its fullest extent weren't happy with only three FP+.

Now that we're being given the option to get MORE than three, there still seems to be a problem.

I think that maybe a "rolling" 3 FP+ might have been better (after you use the first of your three, you can get another, so forth, so on...etc) but this is better than nothing, yes? And I agree with whoever said that this getting a 4th after you use your three will be easier to do during the slower times of the year.

(Also, I apologize if this post comes across as condescending or rude. It's not my intent. Tone is hard to gauge on the internet. lol)

 

[glamdring269]

Depends on who it is. This now gives the rope droppers the potential to have more FPs if they make the effort while still guaranteeing late arrivals their reserved FPs. For rope droppers, the potential of more than three is better, and for others, three is better than zero.

Lots of theoretical here but a person at RD could set up there 3x FP+ for the 9,10,11 slots.

That gives potential for something possibly even better than FP-...

Before lunch:
TSMMx2 w/FP
RnR x1 (maybe even x2)
ToT x2 w/FP
Star Tours x2 w/FP

Evening:
If at MK, there is a high likelihood you can get a FP+ for pretty much anything.

If at Epcot, you might be able to get one for either TT or Soarin' depending on how others do their initial set up.

The key here is that a RD person slots at 9,10,11 so would also be able to schedule a 4th ahead of the later arrival folks who are likely set to 10,11,12 or 11,12,1.

All completely theoretical of course and likely tied heavily to seasonality.

 

[morethananyonex]

So, let me see if I'm understanding this correctly (and feel free to correct me if I'm over simplifying) A lot of people who used FP- to its fullest extent weren't happy with only three FP+. Now that we're being given the option to get MORE than three, there still seems to be a problem. I think that maybe a "rolling" 3 FP+ might have been better (after you use the first of your three, you can get another, so forth, so on...etc) but this is better than nothing, yes? And I agree with whoever said that this getting a 4th after you use your three will be easier to do during the slower times of the year. (Also, I apologize if this post comes across as condescending or rude. It's not my intent. Tone is hard to gauge on the internet. lol)

Yes, it's better than nothing, hopefully. If it screws up rope drop and secondary lines throughout the day, maybe not, that remains to be seen.

To be fair, some people who liked FP+ from the start are also not happy with this change. They are worried about lack of availability for switching their 3, in addition to the rope drop and secondary line worries.

 

[FLchick415]

Yes, it's better than nothing, hopefully. If it screws up rope drop and secondary lines throughout the day, maybe not, that remains to be seen.

To be fair, some people who liked FP+ from the start are also not happy with this change. They are worried about lack of availability for switching their 3, in addition to the rope drop and secondary line worries.

Yes, I noticed that too, which is also odd to me. I guess I'm just in a totally different place with all of this because of the way I do the parks (semi-local, visit several times a year). Everyone's concerns are valid, and I hope FP+ reaches a place that can satisfy the most people. I know not EVERYONE will be happy with everything, but this is a step in the right direction IMO.

 

[OtherScott]

You're going to need FPs for those because standby will be really slow on busy days with this system. I'm not saying it's better than the old system, but it's incrementally better than "only 3". We're not going to get the old system back.

As I've mentioned before, on most busy days, by the time I was pulling our 4th FPs on the legacy system the headliners were out of FPs, so it's not going to be that different for us.

With this new system I also expect them to hold back some slots for changes on the fly and same-day additions. When people no-show, the slot can also probably go back into the system that day and swap out a standby slot.

With time they'll have accurate data on the redemption rates and will strategically overbook. More FPs without increasing capacity. If rates remain prohibitively high, they'll increase attractions where FP can be used.

It's hard for people to understand just how little it takes for some guests to be satisfied. Everyday there will be at least one guest whose top priority will be to meet a character, or ride Pirates, or Small World. These people won't be taxing capacity at headliner attractions.

 

[Lsdolphin]

I am ok with doing 4th fast pass+after using first 3 but not sure how that will work if you want to use a pass for parade or fireworks viewing. Also wondering if they are still considering selling extra fastpasses as that was a rumor a while back.

 

[mom2rtk]

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.

I'm really doubtful about re-rides. And that continues to be a big issue for us. when Andyman's rumor surfaced about maybe being able to buy FP slots, it specifically said you couldn't even purchase a re-ride.

I know that rumor has not panned out so far, but I don't doubt that it might have been in the works at one time. Sort of makes me wonder whether they have had to scrap plans for that to "fix" the public outcry over all the limits. I would LOVE to be in on some of those meetings.

I wonder what impact this will have on availability during the day. When I booked our 3 FP+ selections for MK, I was only able to select ETWB for late afternoon into into the night time. In this scenario, I would only be able to get an additional FP+ after using up the early evening selection, which wouldn't really be of much benefit to our family. Balancing headliners vs. number of OK FP+ will be tough.

Certain rides are just never going to be available for a 4th FP. I'm sure we all know what they are. But if legacy FP was on ETWB, it was never going to be available in the afternoon anyway, which is sort of what it's like getting a 4th FP under legacy FP.

This message board is the most negative place on the internet I think.

1st world problems for sure. I'm just going to see for myself in November and just pay attention to ride/restaurant threads for the time being

It's a Disney planning board. Is there any problem that ISN'T of the first world variety?

I'm on the fence and see no reason yet to jump to one side or the other.

I don't expect them to ever go back to FP- and I doubt that most people do. Wishful thinking is nice but just as useful as wanting Horizons to come back.

The point is that to some of us this is stressful. My vacations are supposed to be easy and relaxing because my work days are crazy with schedules and problems. I don't want to worry when I go on vacation! Maybe I won't have to but so far I'm not convinced hence my uncomfortable seat on the fence.

People all have different needs and wants. I get the sense that most of those who complain are worried and upset and yet still hopeful that the end product will work for them.

That pretty much sums up how I feel about this. I'm so happy Disney is finally listening and responding to their customers. But I need to see this in action before I decide if it's a real give-back or just smoke and mirrors.

1) Will there be anything worthwhile left?
2) Do I really have to wait through a kiosk line to MAYBE avoid a ride line?
3) Will re-rides be allowed?
4) How will tiering work?
5) Do I need to get to my second park get a 4th FP if I want to hop?
6) Can I get a 5th?
7) Do I really have to use all 3 first, or can I delete them and move on to my 4th? (A real issue at DHS and Epcot)

Haven't read the whole thread... My internet connection is too slow... But we are here now, and any fast passes that you might want are gone by the time we arrive at the park. Maybe at less busy times it might help you out, but we were just trying to add on splash mountain tomorrow, and the earliest time we could get is 5:30 pm... It will be all out by 9:30 tomorrow am... Fast passes to less popular rides are readily available, but not needed! Getting extra fast passes isn't gong to help very much IMO...

We're really going to need a year's worth of data to know how this plays out. What you report isn't surprising for spring break. I am a bit concerned it might be the case during many other times of the year, but won't know until people actually try it and report back. I wonder if Touring Plans will track this. Maybe they should have people start reporting the times the headliners run out.

Freaking AWESOME!

Forget Tron/Test Track....how about an entire LAND about a Avatar? Sheesh...if they're needing a new land, how about something that actually has a large following....like their relatively new purchase of Star Wars....considering how insane Star Wars Weekends are, can you imagine a land of all SW rides, characters, dining, parades.......heck I'm guessing that MK might no longer be the one that closes down during major holidays, lol. But Avatar? Those better be some absolutely freakingly good rides to make anyone even go in.

Or maybe an entire land for Tron?

I wouldn't be so upset about Avatarland if Disney added things quickly and often. My greatest complaint about Avatarland is that we get something so seldom and THIS is what they choose? It's not about what they are doing. it's about what they are then NOT doing.

I thought the biggest benefit to all of this, as repeated loudly and constantly by the Pro-FP+ crowd, was that you didn't have to wake up early and rush to the park anymore? I thought everyone was excited to sleep in? Now, we're back to rope drop being essential for everyone, and suddenly people are happy to get up for rope drop again? I'm confused.

Yeah. Funny how that works.

So, let me see if I'm understanding this correctly (and feel free to correct me if I'm over simplifying)

A lot of people who used FP- to its fullest extent weren't happy with only three FP+.

Now that we're being given the option to get MORE than three, there still seems to be a problem.

I think that maybe a "rolling" 3 FP+ might have been better (after you use the first of your three, you can get another, so forth, so on...etc) but this is better than nothing, yes? And I agree with whoever said that this getting a 4th after you use your three will be easier to do during the slower times of the year.

(Also, I apologize if this post comes across as condescending or rude. It's not my intent. Tone is hard to gauge on the internet. lol)

I think the mixed reactions are explained by my list of 7 questions above.

 

[OtherScott]

I am ok with doing 4th fast pass+after using first 3 but not sure how that will work if you want to use a pass for parade or fireworks viewing. Also wondering if they are still considering selling extra fastpasses as that was a rumor a while back.

A feature of this approach is the flexibility and scalability:

If 2 of your FPs are for rides/characters and your 3rd is an evening event, maybe you'll be allowed to book additional FP after 2 ride FPs are used.

Of course, law of unintended consequences applies. Within 10 minutes there will be a thread dedicated to booking ghost fireworks/Fantasmic FP so you can book ride FPs at a faster clip, thus driving up demand for time specific evening attractions.

 

[FLchick415]

1) Will there be anything worthwhile left?
2) Do I really have to wait through a kiosk line to MAYBE avoid a ride line?
3) Will re-rides be allowed?
4) How will tiering work?
5) Do I need to get to my second park get a 4th FP if I want to hop?
6) Can I get a 5th?
7) Do I really have to use all 3 first, or can I delete them and move on to my 4th? (A real issue at DHS and Epcot)


I think the mixed reactions are explained by my list of 7 questions above.

All VERY valid, and some I wouldn't mind answered myself.

 

[morethananyonex]

A feature of this approach is the flexibility and scalability. I see no reason why Disney couldn't adjust this for time specific attractions: If 2 of your FPs are for rides/characters and your 3rd is an evening event, maybe you'll be allowed to book additional FP after 2 ride FPs are used. Of course, law of unintended consequences applies. Within 10 minutes there will be a thread dedicated to booking ghost fireworks/Fantasmic FP you can book ride FPs at a faster clip, thus driving up demand for time specific evening attractions.

Maybe Disney sees it differently, but I think if someone chooses to hold a late in the day FP, whatever that FP is, that's their choice and they shouldn't have the ability to get around the rule that you have to use your 3 FP to get more. I don't view that situation any different than people who choose to save all their FP until the afternoon, putting themselves in a situation where they may get less overall per day.

Besides, with the limited number of extra FP that will be available for anything desirable at certain times of year, I'm not sure this isn't seen by Disney as a barrier that makes extra FP harder to get keeping them around longer.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Lots of theoretical here but a person at RD could set up there 3x FP+ for the 9,10,11 slots.

That gives potential for something possibly even better than FP-...

Before lunch:
TSMMx2 w/FP
RnR x1 (maybe even x2)
ToT x2 w/FP
Star Tours x2 w/FP

Evening:
If at MK, there is a high likelihood you can get a FP+ for pretty much anything.

If at Epcot, you might be able to get one for either TT or Soarin' depending on how others do their initial set up.

The key here is that a RD person slots at 9,10,11 so would also be able to schedule a 4th ahead of the later arrival folks who are likely set to 10,11,12 or 11,12,1.

All completely theoretical of course and likely tied heavily to seasonality.

There are already reports of TT FP's being unavailable at RD. It will ALL come down to seasonality. It always did. I would much rather go during value season like we used to but going during Holiday's is all we can do for now.

I would never put my FP+ in an AM slot over peak. All of the FP- for headliners were gone by Noon in years past and there isn't any significant increase in capacity that would indicate more FP's in the system. Nothing has changed except RD is now 30 day's out for FP's.

 

[cseca]

I think I would feel better if they were digitize FP- instead of doing all this mess.
Booking starts the moment your tickets are scanned into the park and the rules stays the same.
Use your FP and you get another 1 or 2hrs after your current one expires.

They'll have to deal with a bunch of people clogging the entrance possibly whipping up their phones as soon as they get in the door but at least the system is the same and fair.
You get there early you can get as many FPs as possible.

 

[sethschroeder]

When FP+ was announced many posters touted how wonderful it was to get FP+ for afternoon and now AM would be even more empty. But with AM FP+ beginning at opening instead of 40 minutes AFTER opening I was skeptical it wouldn't be that simple.

Then longer SB lines were reported.

Then longer SB lines started earlier in the AM.

Now it seem you can't get a fourth FP+ until after you use the first 3. However, I am skeptical of what will be available later in the day, especially now that everyone is in the pre-book pool.

So two variables have changed.
1) More pre-books
2) Earlier FP+ are now more attractive.

I USED to be more imperative to be at RD, until yesterday's announcement.

You missed the biggest variable:
The time of year.....

From my understanding Spring break time is always long lines?

Also you mentioned posters which accounts for basically nothing in comparison to attendance. You couldn't get more FP- until 2hr/after ride in the past as well so by getting there at RD you could assure multiple rides on headliners of choice.

I just don't see this as an actionable event for those who don't do RD.

 

[sethschroeder]

I think I would feel better if they were digitize FP- instead of doing all this mess.
Booking starts the moment your tickets are scanned into the park and the rules stays the same.
Use your FP and you get another 1 or 2hrs after your current one expires.

They'll have to deal with a bunch of people clogging the entrance possibly whipping up their phones as soon as they get in the door but at least the system is the same and fair.
You get there early you can get as many FPs as possible.

Social programs like FP+ are progress though lol.

Works for majority (<3 FP- people) but hurts the few(3+ FP- people).

 

[MaryKatesMom]

1) Will there be anything worthwhile left?
2) Do I really have to wait through a kiosk line to MAYBE avoid a ride line?
3) Will re-rides be allowed?
4) How will tiering work?
5) Do I need to get to my second park get a 4th FP if I want to hop?
6) Can I get a 5th?
7) Do I really have to use all 3 first, or can I delete them and move on to my 4th? (A real issue at DHS and Epcot)



We're really going to need a year's worth of data to know how this plays out. What you report isn't surprising for spring break. I am a bit concerned it might be the case during many other times of the year, but won't know until people actually try it and report back. I wonder if Touring Plans will track this. Maybe they should have people start reporting the times the headliners run out.

Agreed. The Mouse has the cheese on the move for sure!

However, I would never plan on FP+ for Headliners AT ALL same day being available during peak. If the FP- ran out by noon limited only by attendance in THAT park THAT day, now FP+ are limited only by the number of active tickets holders WORLDWIDE, jeepers, maybe even Figment becomes unavailable same day.

There is already a report that TT was unavailable at opening. As more and more people become aware of how the system works, I imagine there will only be a increase in users.

 

[WillAustin]

7) Do I really have to use all 3 first, or can I delete them and move on to my 4th? (A real issue at DHS and Epcot)

Hmm... Interesting.

 

[OtherScott]

Maybe Disney sees it differently, but I think if someone chooses to hold a late in the day FP, whatever that FP is, that's their choice and they shouldn't have the ability to get around the rule that you have to use your 3 FP to get more. I don't view that situation any different than people who choose to save all their FP until the afternoon, putting themselves in a situation where they may get less overall per day.

Besides, with the limited number of extra FP that will be available for anything desirable at certain times of year, I'm not sure this isn't seen by Disney as a barrier that makes extra FP harder to get keeping them around longer.

Didn't mean to suggest Disney would do something about this, just that they could. If I was Disney I would at least consider that these FPs are for attractions that are not available throughout the day. It's not just a matter of someone choosing to do it late as opposed to early.

I'd have to weigh it against all other factors. If my goal is to lock you in early and keep you in the park longer, I'd certainly look at redemption rates of these FPs. If they are low, it might make sense to give you an extra FP after the first 2. If they're high (you're hanging around anyway), probably no need to adjust.

 

[2Tiggies]

Yep. I had a hard time picking the second tier for EPCOT.

So have we! We only used to FP TT and Soarin. Tbh, we never actually used FP at Epcot for anything else that I can recall.

Does anyone think Soarin' will be available for 1 PM during peak?

I don't know. I guess it's a long shot - unless they hold back some for in-park day-of selections, but I don't know that they will be able to offer second rides to folk if there weren't enough to go around for round one for all the guests.

Figment? Captain EO? I've already seen them several times.

We do like Figment but we will do what we've always done and just stand in line (ok the line part is new ) when we are in between activities for the day. Ditto for Nemo and Crush.

I rearranged my schedule (again). I am now planning on 3 and out each park.

Oh tell me about it. Since the recent announcement, I have not touched my plans and don't intend to unless I feel there is a very good reason to do so. As is, we have many of our FP's for around the middle of the day or early to late afternoon. I steered clear of pegging times in the evenings because we generally do other things in the evening in any case so it would have been standby for us by that stage of the day anyway. I have no idea if our plans will work. I am happy enough in the present circumstances and based on what information we have right now that we have a fair chance of achieving most of what we want to. The only difference this trip is we are doing less of it.

And like you, we want our times back to back. Unless we already had a planned evening of shows and fireworks, it's 3 and out for us. We've already booked and made arrangements for various other activities outside of the parks and I am starting to look forward to them so changes between now and us arriving onsite are not likely to change my plans as they stand - at least not to lure us back into the parks. I will only revise them now if it looks like what we want to achieve is under threat due to it suddenly becoming a 'bad strategy'.

Sorry I can't help

 

[cseca]

Social programs like FP+ are progress though lol. Works for majority (<3 FP- people) but hurts the few(3+ FP- people).

Progress ... Hmm... You are much too kind ...lol
I know it'll never happen but I am still holding out hope.
I'm a sucker that way