TSMM to start digital FP in November?

[Disney Dad ADL]

I, for one, am very happy that this is not occurring until after my trip. I hate the new system at WDW, it greatly reduced the number of fastpasses to use in a day and for many of the parks, makes fastpasses almost zero benefit.

Just out of curiosity, how would this digital system reduce the benefits of FP? It seems to me it would be exactly the same except less walking. Do you think there would be a lot of people booking digital FPs "just in case" and not using them compared with paper? Is that the problem, or some other thing I'm overlooking?

 

[Darkbeer1]

im pretty sure they will be connected to paper tickets...

There are no plans for in-park kiosks, so how do you register for the digital signup?

 

[Albort]

There are no plans for in-park kiosks, so how do you register for the digital signup?

they don't technique need a kiosks. they can be added by these handheld devices cm carry.

they look similar to what target employees carry in the stores...

 

[ClaraOswald]

My hopes....

1. They get free wifi in the parks and it doesn't suck.
2. You can only book fast passes once you've entered the park for that day. None of this 60 days in advance crap!
3. The rides aren't on "tiers" with limits per tier.
4. This doesn't make non-FP ride lines longer like I think it did at WDW.

 

[DLRExpert]

The system is exactly like it is now with the option of using your phone. The only problem this system will have is...
- The amount of Fastpass attractions will grow. Even if the attraction doesn't need it.
- Stand By will again be a nightmare.
- Walkways will be even more crowded.

I wonder if Disney hotel guests will be getting a 24-hour FP booking window.

 

[GatorChris]

Let me get this straight. The Disney team that can't even attach the Disney Hotel room keys to your ticket is going to try to implement digital FP??? Can you say "Hindenburg". Cause this is going up in flames with no survivors.

My hopes....

1. They get free wifi in the parks and it doesn't suck.
2. You can only book fast passes once you've entered the park for that day. None of this 60 days in advance crap!
3. The rides aren't on "tiers" with limits per tier.
4. This doesn't make non-FP ride lines longer like I think it did at WDW.

This nailed it for me! Can you imagine the outrage from locals if they put in a 30-60 day window? Wait, nevermind. Disneyland can't even get an entertainment schedule up 30 days in advance. So this part will NEVER work out.

But I'm worried about what it will do to lines elsewhere. There are confirmed stories that rides that didn't use to have FP (and now do) now see wait times that have doubled. Pirates will now be an average 60 minute wait instead of 30 minutes. Matterhorn will be an hour plus standby. Nemo Subs won't be worth standing in line for anymore. And dark rides like Alice, Tea Cups, Monsters Inc, and Winnie the Pooh will see significant increases.

I say leave the whole thing alone. Vote No on FP+.

 

[Donalyn]

Just out of curiosity, how would this digital system reduce the benefits of FP? It seems to me it would be exactly the same except less walking. Do you think there would be a lot of people booking digital FPs "just in case" and not using them compared with paper? Is that the problem, or some other thing I'm overlooking?

We were last at WDW in April of 2014, staying off-site. The FP+ system was relatively new. If off-site, had to book FP the day of (I understand that it has changed to 30 days out now). Worked okay at MK, as there were rides that we wanted to ride that still had FPs available when we got to the park (at rope drop, mind you). However, at Epcot - none of the major rides had FPs available to day guest when we were there (again, at rope drop). Not one. Didn't get to ride Test track that trip. In the old system, I'd run to TT and get our first fast pass, while DH and DDs would walk to Sorin. And we'd get to do both, in a time effective manner (whether we were staying on site or not). (Didn't visit AK or DHS that trip, so don't know how it was working there.) So, FP+ equaled more time in line for us and maybe a little less walking. I'd rather walk to get the FP than stand in line (or miss an attraction because the line was so long).

The digital system also limited the number of fast passes in a day, particularly if you book a late return time for one of your three. Before it was in place, I could use 6 or more in a day, with a good FP runner. Not after that. Also, it reduces your flexibility - if the pre-planning goes into effect, like at WDW, you will be locked into FPs times (and parks) months in advance. Very non-DLR, in my opinion. I just don't get the appeal of planning that you want to ride SM at 11:50 on X day, when we are two months out from that and the entertainment calendars are not even up yet. And don't get me wrong - I'm a huge Disney trip planner. I just also realize that days in the park don't always go as planned and like to be flexible.

Also, you may end up wasting a fastpass (meaning that the ride's standby line wasn't actually that bad, but now you have wasted one of your limited FPs on that ride, instead of being able to get a second one at RSR, or something like that).

The booking and not using - not sure that there would be much difference there.

Oh, and I also don't like that it took away your ability to share the Disney magic. Our last DR trip, we ended up with a few FPs for Sorin that didn't get used (3 year old had to go back for a nap). Anyway, you should have seen the look of appreciation on this young couples' faces when I explained to them how FP worked and handed them the FPs. Can't do that now at WDW.

So again, I'm very happy that FP+ (or any similar forms) will not be in place at DL when I get there in less than 3 weeks (so excited).

 

[Jerryp49]

I used SR several times when the ride first opened when it was offered. I only see FP working for that ride if they redo the queue to make the return somewhere on the other side of Mr. Potato Head. Otherwise there's just nowhere for the returners to wait.

From the article :
Some recent queue modifications were made at the attraction in preparation for this.

I read somewhere that they removed a planter box to make room for the FP queue

 

[Happyjenz]

I hate having to worry about my phone being charged all day, or taking time to go somewhere to charge it. Two trips ago I made the mistake of putting our ART passes on my phone and it was stressful worrying if my phone would make it. I decided I would not do that again if I have the choice. Having to have a phone charged for fast passes takes away a little vacation fun....

 

[Geemo]

I hate having to worry about my phone being charged all day, or taking time to go somewhere to charge it. Two trips ago I made the mistake of putting our ART passes on my phone and it was stressful worrying if my phone would make it. I decided I would not do that again if I have the choice. Having to have a phone charged for fast passes takes away a little vacation fun....

I invested in a portable charge unit for my cell phone.
It works fairly well. It's a little slow but gets the charge transferred over to the phone.
I don't know if they make ones that have a faster transfer of charge.

You might want to get one to have on hand. They aren't very big.

 

[Darkbeer1]

I invested in a portable charge unit for my cell phone.
It works fairly well. It's a little slow but gets the charge transferred over to the phone.
I don't know if they make ones that have a faster transfer of charge.

You might want to get one to have on hand. They aren't very big.

So now you need more things and restricting more people from using the system without decent free in-park WiFi.

A delay in needing to scan each barcode separately also sounds like it will be a nightmare.

There will be a lot of things that will be addressed, and more than likely fixed and corrected in the near future.

 

[Nonsuch]

Let me get this straight. The Disney team that can't even attach the Disney Hotel room keys to your ticket is going to try to implement digital FP??? Can you say "Hindenburg". Cause this is going up in flames with no survivors.

Not to go too far OT, but there were 62 survivors and 36 fatalities.

Disney should try to utilize some of the digital ticket standards used by airlines (also sport and concert venues). A FP generated on a Disneyland app (or website) then could be transferred to Apple Wallet (or equivalent app on other brand phones).

 

[grelca]

I just hope that whenever this eventually happens, whether they start testing it next month or not, it comes with wifi in the parks. Don't forget that wifi in the parks didn't happen at WDW, either, until around when they started testing MyMagic+ and FastPass+, when a reliable internet connection for the app became somewhat necessary!

 

[ClaraOswald]

So how much will the FP+ line back up if people are having to pull up a barcode or whatever on their app? You know so many people won't have it out and ready to go ahead of time.

 

[grelca]

So how much will the FP+ line back up if people are having to pull up a barcode or whatever on their app? You know so many people won't have it out and ready to go ahead of time.

I would expect we'll be able to use our actual tickets or the app barcode, much like entering the park, because the fastpasses will be connected to the ticket. Much like the Magic Band is your ticket and your FP+ at WDW.

 

[allsaintsatx]

Not to go too far OT, but there were 62 survivors and 36 fatalities.

 

[Leopardstars]

I'm glad that we're not going until 4 months after this roll out. I'm one of those rare 30-somethings that don't have a smart phone. I may have to look into one now and look for one that has a US add on (I'm from Canada).

 

[allsaintsatx]

From the article:

"The new system will utilize a barcode within the app or on a guest’s Disneyland Resort park ticket to redeem the FastPass. The app will be the only way to book the FastPass reservations during the early stages. In-park kiosks for booking may eventually be introduced."

So, according to the article it may be an app, or it may be your park ticket. And if it is an app on your phone it will only be during the "early stages". Doesn't sound too catastrophic.

The only tragic takeaway is that our manageable TSMM standby line was a point of pride when talking to WDW Vets. It was fun to hear them say, after visiting DLR, how short the waits were for our Soarin' and our TSMM. In Florida the TSMM & Soarin FP+'s are a "must have" to avoid standby lines that could potentially be an hour and a half long. Unfortunately, the implementation of a similar FP here in DCA will inevitably make our standby line much much longer though still probably not as bad as WDW. Thanks Shanghai!!

 

[grelca]

Yeah, the app for booking the fast pass, and then either one for using the fastpass. Just like you can use the app as your park ticket: the barcode in the app is already equivalent to your park ticket. So it only makes sense that they both would be acceptable for getting into the fastpass line.

 

[Jerryp49]

I copied this from Micechat.

Over at Midway Mania the refurbishment work to the garden area is now finished. They have created an opening between main walkway and the queue. No chains or gates have been installed yet.

I don`t see how this is going to work. Maybe this will be the Standby entrance and the FP will be to the left where the red and yellow stripes are .