TSM standby-less test Oct. 6-9

[Suvadoo]

Why does the FP+ line shoot up to a 45 minute wait when they do this?

I'm late to all this but I read that's what happened at A&E when they tested it there.

Is it that they release many more FP+s when they go FP+ only?

Yes, they release more FP+, so the FP+ line is in fact the stand by line. I think Disney is trying to deceive people into thinking they wait less.

 

[Suvadoo]

I love this response, it was dead on.

We save for a long time to pay for these vacations, and they aren't cheap, so it's not my fault someone didn't do the research on their trip before they go there. I'm going to do everything I can to get the value out of my vacation, and by that I mean, I'm going to do everything I can to ride any ride as much as my family wants to as long as its inside the rules.

Agreed, but it's tough to plan a vacation when Disney suddenly changes the rules.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Agreed, but it's tough to plan a vacation when Disney suddenly changes the rules.

Totally agree.

 

[grimley1968]

While I agree that there is no way to know how Walt Disney would feel about most decisions made after his death, that's not entirely true. Walt was notorious for putting quality product over the bottom line and the Walt Disney company was not in the black until the construction of Disneyland. He would constantly go over-budget when making movies, demanding nothing but the best, leaving his brother to deal with the finances, and they spent nearly 30 years in perpetual debt [Walt Disney: The Triumph of American Imagination, Neal Gabler].

Agreed, and I love that book. I've read it 3 times now, though I have to have a jar of Tums nearby while reading about the 1940's.

So, can anyone report whether this blunder is over for real or has it been extended?

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

Never

Seriously though, part of the problem is that they let too many darn people into the parks for the amount of ride capacity they have.

I would gladly pay more for a better, less crowded experience.

That's why the MNSSHP and extra charge events are happening IMO, and expect more to come.

 

[mesaboy2]

As a local AP -I never had 60 days. Only 30.

It's worked out fine. The only thing I still can't get a FP+ for is 7D, but a lot of ppl are in that boat. I got one months ago, when it first opened. But it's actually harder now than it was in the middle of summer to get certain FP+.

It's been tricky for an upcoming week at WDW in November. A friend is coming down from ATL and she's staying with us - so she has the 30 day window too. She's not a thrill ride person, but getting TSMM was a challenge. Course I'll keep checking every day to see if we can get a better time. Important thing is, we have one, and if it's available, we can still do SB.

It's a very delicate balance here.
Disney knows - (they're not THAT stupid) - that 100% of guests cannot stay on property. Not how it is now anyway. So they need the hotels/rentals around the area. The hotels/rentals in the area know Disney doesn't every thing it can to lure ppl onto property.

There's several off-site resorts being built right now.

But really, right now, a lot of the Disney hotels aren't a good deal for a large family. You can rent a 6 bedroom house with private pool for $1500/week (if not less) in the area. You're not going to get that on property. So the lure will remain to stay off-site. Since, as others have mentioned, the Disney resort perks aren't that great.

I don't remember it ever being 60 either. I remember early speculation it may be 60 or perhaps even announced at 60 then reduced to 30 before FP+ became active (Disney wouldn't change their mind, would they? ) , but that's it.

 

[Suvadoo]

That's why the MNSSHP and extra charge events are happening IMO, and expect more to come.

But the problem is, you used to be able to get on the attractions with minimal or no wait time. Now, they sell out the park for hard ticket events, so the no wait benefit is gone.

 

[ArwenMarie]

That's why the MNSSHP and extra charge events are happening IMO, and expect more to come.

Very true!

 

[cakebaker]

Then what reason do you think Disney opened pre-booking up to off-site guest at all? If they were not the least bit concerned, then when fp+ started with pre-booking, it would have been the perfect time to leave it to onsite guest only but they didn't.

Making off site guests happy doesn't have a thing to do with making off site businesses happy. I don't think Disney has any concern for what happens to off site businesses- other than to cut into their take as much as they possibly can.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

Agreed, and I love that book. I've read it 3 times now, though I have to have a jar of Tums nearby while reading about the 1940's.

It's a wonder Roy outlived his brother, considering how many sleepless nights he probably had trying to figure out where to find the money for Pinocchio and Fantasia.

So, can anyone report whether this blunder is over for real or has it been extended?

Wait times at TSM look to be about 75 minutes, instead of the very efficient 55 minutes FP+ only netted, so I think it's over.

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

But the problem is, you used to be able to get on the attractions with minimal or no wait time. Now, they sell out the park for hard ticket events, so the no wait benefit is gone.

If that's the case they need to double that price as well IMO.

 

[ArwenMarie]

This is from WDW Magic from March 12, 2014

FastPass+ selection window reduced to 30 days for Annual Passholders

The FastPass+ reservation window has been reduced to 30 days for Annual Passholders not staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel.

Passholders can now make FastPass+ reservations up to 30 days in advance, and can hold up to 7 days of FastPass+ reservations across a 30 day rolling window.

For a Passholder staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, the window remains at 60 days in advance of check-in, where FastPass+ reservations can be held for 7 days or the length of the hotel stay.

If you have already made FastPass+ reservations under the 60 day policy, those selections will still be honored unless you choose to cancel them.

Passholders not staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel will not be able to add charging privileges on their MagicBands.

 

[mesaboy2]

This is from WDW Magic from March 12, 2014

FastPass+ selection window reduced to 30 days for Annual Passholders

The FastPass+ reservation window has been reduced to 30 days for Annual Passholders not staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel.

Passholders can now make FastPass+ reservations up to 30 days in advance, and can hold up to 7 days of FastPass+ reservations across a 30 day rolling window.

For a Passholder staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, the window remains at 60 days in advance of check-in, where FastPass+ reservations can be held for 7 days or the length of the hotel stay.

If you have already made FastPass+ reservations under the 60 day policy, those selections will still be honored unless you choose to cancel them.

Passholders not staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel will not be able to add charging privileges on their MagicBands.

Okay, good enough. I can't remember everything!

 

[cakebaker]

Perhaps the PP purpose was to put the Disney CM's on the hot seat. Especially if it was a manager that was stuck explaining their "test" to a child.

Yeah, I wouldn't use my child like that. Not saying the poster did, because that would really be a lousy thing to do your kid. I'm assuming she did what she thought worked best for her child. It wouldn't work for mine. They're upset about something, they want their mother or grandma to talk to them, not strangers.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Okay, good enough. I can't remember everything!

I think you are in charge of remembering almost everything with your awesome FP thread!

 

[cakebaker]

Okay, good enough. I can't remember everything!

Say it's not true!!!

 

[faneuil]

This is from WDW Magic from March 12, 2014

FastPass+ selection window reduced to 30 days for Annual Passholders

.

Interesting. Because I wasn't even able to book FP+ before March 12th of this year.

Course, I think they rolled out FP+ to AP holders, so maybe us Florida residents were last.

 

[mesaboy2]

I think you are in charge of remembering almost everything with your awesome FP thread!

FP takes up about 90% of my brain's capacity, along with obscure pop culture references. It's amazing I have enough left to manage to feed myself.

 

[johde]

Why does the FP+ line shoot up to a 45 minute wait when they do this?

I'm late to all this but I read that's what happened at A&E when they tested it there.

Is it that they release many more FP+s when they go FP+ only?

First of all, yes they are releasing more FP+'s. From a mathematical perspective taken to the extreme, if the park handed out 100% of the rides capacity in FP+ and the ride ran at 100% of capacity, with a one hour return window, one would expect an average wait of a half an hour with a variance equal to the variance of the arrival rate. The trouble is variances in the capacity wouldn't average out they would be additive. If the load time slows because some needs a little extra time the line would get a little longer and stay a little longer on average. If a seat went empty, the same thing. The load crew is running a little slow. You get the picture. So you can't run at 100%. But, the further you get away from 100% the greater the risk you'll have the ride running empty (assuming the goal is all FP+ no SB).

Early on in the test there was talk of people basically walking through an empty queue. With the hourly dumps of FP+'s into the pool they could have experimenting with managing those forces. Dumping this many FP+'s does what to the return line. With the goal of managing either an all FP+ attraction or at least an all FP+ side of an attraction with a semi-predictable return time. For example they could have the goal of releasing 70% of capacity in FP+ in advance, 20% day of + or - 5% depending on operations. If the return line is getting to long the hourly dumps would be smaller. If the return line is short or non existent they could release more. With the goal of trying to maintain an average 10 minute return line.

 

[Laketravis]

First of all, yes they are releasing more FP+'s. From a mathematical perspective taken to the extreme, if the park handed out 100% of the rides capacity in FP+ and the ride ran at 100% of capacity, with a one hour return window, one would expect an average wait of a half an hour with a variance equal to the variance of the arrival rate. The trouble is variances in the capacity wouldn't average out they would be additive. If the load time slows because some needs a little extra time the line would get a little longer and stay a little longer on average. If a seat went empty, the same thing. The load crew is running a little slow. You get the picture. So you can't run at 100%. But, the further you get away from 100% the greater the risk you'll have the ride running empty (assuming the goal is all FP+ no SB).

Early on in the test there was talk of people basically walking through an empty queue. With the hourly dumps of FP+'s into the pool they could have experimenting with managing those forces. Dumping this many FP+'s does what to the return line. With the goal of managing either an all FP+ attraction or at least an all FP+ side of an attraction with a semi-predictable return time. For example they could have the goal of releasing 70% of capacity in FP+ in advance, 20% day of + or - 5% depending on operations. If the return line is getting to long the hourly dumps would be smaller. If the return line is short or non existent they could release more. With the goal of trying to maintain an average 10 minute return line.

In other words:






You are correct!


.