Update on FastPass+ System

[Timeflys4us]

Has anyone heard any new information about obtaining fastpasses under the new fastpass+ system? Are people still being limited to 3 fastpasses per day and only at one park, or has this policy been changed? I am planning on going to WDW in October of this year and would like to know in advance.

 

[erionm]

As for the initial three per day, nothing has changed.

After you use all of the initial FastPass+ experiences on the day of your visit (or your arrival windows have passed), you can select one additional FastPass+ experience to use that same day (based on availability). The additional FastPass+ experience is a rolling FastPass+ experience—each time you use an additional FastPass+ experience, you can select a new one.

Additional FastPass+ selections must be made at a FastPass+ kiosk within the same park as the FastPass+ experience that you wish to select, and they can be made at a different park from your previous selections.

 

[cbonewjersey]

my first time was today. I'm at 60 days out for August. I'm a Dis pro, and this has thrown me upside down ! Not happy. I want to be, but I'm so stressed !
I went on at midnight, and it wouldn't let me do anything. I tried and tried. At 1 I gave up. At 0630 it was ok. but by then, I lost all that time and the times I needed were gone !
It's 3 per day in 1 park. Once you use them. you can get a 4th anywhere, but I think, only at a kiosk. Not on your mobile device. So if you at CR or GF and want to go to Epcot, you have to get there first, then get the FP. It's not good.

 

[wdrl]

my first time was today. I'm at 60 days out for August. I'm a Dis pro, and this has thrown me upside down ! Not happy. I want to be, but I'm so stressed !
I went on at midnight, and it wouldn't let me do anything. I tried and tried. At 1 I gave up. At 0630 it was ok. but by then, I lost all that time and the times I needed were gone !
It's 3 per day in 1 park. Once you use them. you can get a 4th anywhere, but I think, only at a kiosk. Not on your mobile device. So if you at CR or GF and want to go to Epcot, you have to get there first, then get the FP. It's not good.

I'm quite surprised that you say "the times I needed were gone", especially since you are doing this at 60 days out. We've had two trips using the FP+ system and we've found that we can usually tweak the times and experiences to suit our needs.

There are some quirks in the FP+ system and, as you get more familiar with them, you'll find it more flexible. Quite often, we'll accept the times initially offered by the system. Then, we immediately reenter the system and see what other times are available for one of the attractions. The system might initially offer us a 10:20 AM time for a ride, but then we find there are better times available. We make the change and move on.

Another quirk with the FP+ system is that Disney doesn't offer some experiences -- particularly for parades -- right at the 60 day mark. Some experiences won't show up until about two weeks before the date.

Overall, we found the FP+ to be fairly flexible. We made numerous changes to our experiences and/or times, sometimes the day before, sometimes the same day. The only attractions that seemed to be problematic were the Anna & Elsa Meet & Greet, Toy Story Mania, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Not to say we couldn't get FP+ for one of these attractions in the last 24 hours, but you have to be flexible to accept the times offered.

 

[HokieGCC]

• Able to book in advance - Good!
• Able to book on line or with an IPhone App - Really Good!
• Limited to 3 initial FastPasses per day - Seems a little restrictive but ok fine.
• After the initial 3 you can only add one at a time - Ok fine
• After the initial 3 you can only add at the Kiosks within the park you want the fast pass - This is bad bad bad for several reasons. It penalizes people who leave the parks in the afternoon and return in the evening because you have to get to the park to make the reservation. It is also Bad because it creates lines to get fast passes - Disney does not need to create more line situations. It is also bad because it is tying up (a lot of) staff working the Kiosks.

So, if they would allow you to book all of the fast passes online it would be a good system. Save the Kiosks for people having problems.

 

[magicaldisney]

When we went last November, we could only get 3 fastpasses at that time. I'm glad they are making more available. I also don't like that we have to be in that park at get to a kiosk.

My question to those of you who have used the kiosk....is it user friendly? Does it go pretty quickly? Are there maps that show where these kiosks are at each park? Can anyone in our party go to the kiosk?

 

[erionm]

When we went last November, we could only get 3 fastpasses at that time. I'm glad they are making more available. I also don't like that we have to be in that park at get to a kiosk.

There's a lot of speculation that the MDE app will receive an update in July (reportedly) that is supposed to add the capability to book additional FP+s once you've used the initial three.

My question to those of you who have used the kiosk....is it user friendly? Does it go pretty quickly? Are there maps that show where these kiosks are at each park? Can anyone in our party go to the kiosk?

I haven't used a kiosk in quite a while, but there are usually MyMagic+ CMs located there (light blue shirts with green Mickey logo) that can assist with FP+ selections. There are also MyMagic+ CMs with iPads around (not at a kiosk) that can also assist with FP+ selections.

Only one person in the group can get the additional selections for all linked individuals.

 

[wdrl]

My question to those of you who have used the kiosk....is it user friendly? Does it go pretty quickly? Are there maps that show where these kiosks are at each park? Can anyone in our party go to the kiosk?

The latest edition of maps show the locations of the FP+ Kiosks, as well as the My Magic Service area, within each Park. Magic Kingdom has six FP+ Kiosks and one My Magic Service area. Each FP+ Kiosk seems to have several CMs with iPads that can help guests with their FP+ needs.

We used the FP+ kiosk area only one time during our trips in May and June. We were immediately directed to a CM who helped us check for a fourth FP+ while we were at Hollywood Studios.

In November 2013, we actually used a kiosk and it was pretty simple and straightforward. Even then, there were CMs around to help guests if needed.

Here is a link to an article and photos of the FP+ Kiosks from November 2013. Note: Some of the locations of the FP+ Kiosks have changed since that article was published last year. Please don't rely on the article for locating the FP+ Kiosks in each Park.

 

[magicaldisney]

Only one person in the group can get the additional selections for all linked individuals.

Thanks for all the info. Only one of us, but can it be ANY one of us? Here's hoping we can do this on our phone instead of at a kiosk!

 

[magicaldisney]

The latest edition of maps show the locations of the FP+ Kiosks, as well as the My Magic Service area, within each Park. Magic Kingdom has six FP+ Kiosks and one My Magic Service area. Each FP+ Kiosk seems to have several CMs with iPads that can help guests with their FP+ needs.

We used the FP+ kiosk area only one time during our trips in May and June. We were immediately directed to a CM who helped us check for a fourth FP+ while we were at Hollywood Studios.

I November 2012, we actually used a kiosk and it was pretty simple and straightforward. Even then, there were CMs around to help guests if needed.

Thank you to you as well for the info. What is a My Magic Serice area? I don't remember that last November.

 

[erionm]

Thanks for all the info. Only one of us, but can it be ANY one of us? Here's hoping we can do this on our phone instead of at a kiosk!

Sorry, poorly worded. Any individual can make additional selections for the entire group.

 

[Johnny D]

[SsQtieredHokieGCC;51670833]

• Able to book in advance - Good!
• Able to book on line or with an IPhone App - Really Good!
• Limited to 3 initial FastPasses per day - Seems a little restrictive but ok fine.
• After the initial 3 you can only add one at a time - Ok fine
• After the initial 3 you can only add at the Kiosks within the park you want the fast pass - This is bad bad bad for several reasons. It penalizes people who leave the parks in the afternoon and return in the evening because you have to get to the park to make the reservation. It is also Bad because it creates lines to get fast passes - Disney does not need to create more line situations. It is also bad because it is tying up (a lot of) staff working the Kiosks.

So, if they would allow you to book all of the fast passes online it would be a good system. Save the Kiosks for people having problems.[/QUOTE]

Another really really bad aspect is the tiered fast pass+ picks at Epcot and Hollywood studios. My 3 year olds don't want to and can't go on sorin or test track, but I'm forced to pick one. Makes no sense. Love the bands HATE the 3 pass one park restriction!

 

[magicaldisney]

Sorry, poorly worded. Any individual can make additional selections for the entire group.

Perfect! Thank you!

 

[DebbieB]

Another really really bad aspect is the tiered fast pass+ picks at Epcot and Hollywood studios. My 3 year olds don't want to and can't go on sorin or test track, but I'm forced to pick one. Makes no sense. Love the bands HATE the 3 pass one park restriction!

Without the tiering, most likely Soarin & Test Track and Toy Story & RnR would be soldout before the 30 day window for offsite. I can understand be disappointed that you can't get both at each park but how would you feel if you couldn't get either? The problem is these parks don't have enough headliners to spread the crowds.

Rumor is there will be another update in late July and hopefully you will be able to book your 4th fastpass on your phone.

 

[wdrl]

Thank you to you as well for the info. What is a My Magic Serice area? I don't remember that last November.

The My Magic+ Service areas in each Park are set up to handle more in-depth issues with MagicBands and My Disney Experience, in addition to FastPass+ items.

 

[nkosiek]

• Able to book in advance - Good!
• Able to book on line or with an IPhone App - Really Good!
• Limited to 3 initial FastPasses per day - Seems a little restrictive but ok fine.
• After the initial 3 you can only add one at a time - Ok fine
• After the initial 3 you can only add at the Kiosks within the park you want the fast pass - This is bad bad bad for several reasons. It penalizes people who leave the parks in the afternoon and return in the evening because you have to get to the park to make the reservation. It is also Bad because it creates lines to get fast passes - Disney does not need to create more line situations. It is also bad because it is tying up (a lot of) staff working the Kiosks.

So, if they would allow you to book all of the fast passes online it would be a good system. Save the Kiosks for people having problems.

Another really really bad aspect is the tiered fast pass+ picks at Epcot and Hollywood studios. My 3 year olds don't want to and can't go on sorin or test track, but I'm forced to pick one. Makes no sense. Love the bands HATE the 3 pass one park restriction!

Oh how quickly we forget. Do people not remember not being able to get fastpasses unless you were at that particular ride? I'm sorry, but now we're complaining that one has to be in the park??? I never whined when I was at HS and couldn't get a FP for Test Track. Now people are moaning and groaning as though this is something new.

Also, you don't have to pick TT or Soarin' for your kid. Adjust their FP for them so that they don't "waste" that FP.

 

[magicaldisney]

The My Magic+ Service areas in each Park are set up to handle more in-depth issues with MagicBands and My Disney Experience, in addition to FastPass+ items.

Thank You. We are seasoned visitors to WDW, but I love that I can always learn something new here on the DIS.

 

[thepops]

Oh how quickly we forget. Do people not remember not being able to get fastpasses unless you were at that particular ride? I'm sorry, but now we're complaining that one has to be in the park??? I never whined when I was at HS and couldn't get a FP for Test Track. Now people are moaning and groaning as though this is something new.

Also, you don't have to pick TT or Soarin' for your kid. Adjust their FP for them so that they don't "waste" that FP.

But you have to pick one from pool #1, right? So what if they don't want to do any of those? then you have to "waste" one (which essentially takes it away frmo someone else.

 

[jimim]

my first time was today. I'm at 60 days out for August. I'm a Dis pro, and this has thrown me upside down ! Not happy. I want to be, but I'm so stressed !
I went on at midnight, and it wouldn't let me do anything. I tried and tried. At 1 I gave up. At 0630 it was ok. but by then, I lost all that time and the times I needed were gone !
It's 3 per day in 1 park. Once you use them. you can get a 4th anywhere, but I think, only at a kiosk. Not on your mobile device. So if you at CR or GF and want to go to Epcot, you have to get there first, then get the FP. It's not good.

don't worry about what times you got. go back in and manually change the time. i have done this on 3 diff trips and never had a problem with getting times I wanted and one of the trips was easter week. it seems like you can never get the times u want but then if you go back in and start playing with times they are available.

just play around. you will be able to tweak it pretty easy.

jim

 

[Timeflys4us]

Just wanted to thank everyone who responded for all their helpful information.