UPDATE p. 37. I finally canceled. Too much uncertainty for us.

[bcrook]

My bad. If your premise is that Disney will use FP to manage park capacity, how do you envision that in practice on the front end (advance selection)? Seems to me that they would have to either group or space individuals based on totality of that group's overall itinerary to achieve whatever goal they have in mind. What good does advance selection provide if the guest has first come, first served access to a day's selection. Baking randomness into a management plan? Doesn't make sense to me.

And what's they're goal: narrowing your window, expanding it, nudging you into routes within the parks for revenue pops?

I don't think Disney is rectifying any problem with FP. I think they are thinking years out.

JMO

Disney execs CFO said they are looking forward to getting as many people booked up in advance for rides. To do this people have to purchase tickets in advance. Get people to commit to as many days as possible at wdw. Also if fastpasses are difficult to obtain (and they will be) people will be less likely to waste them or skip a park day (thus spending more money). When Disney advertising goes into effect, fastpass+ acquisition will become much more of a planning challenge.

Disney people also see fastpasses as a way to get people to use the existing infrastructure more in lieu of building more attractions. Fastpass+ are designed to get people on high capacity rides like pirates and haunted mansion.

Magicbands are designed to wring out an additional 15% of cash out of people.

Interviews with Disney execs can be found in the link in my signature.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Yes, they do have the right to be upset. Others have the right to think it's a little early to panic just yet, and Disney has the right to run their business the way they see fit.

Voicing concerns is not the same as panicking. I'm getting a bit tired of the "doom and gloom", "panicking," (insert negative label here). I have not at any point used any names or negative adjectives for people who are thrilled about fp+. I know there have been a few select people who have gone that route, but *most* of the posters I see repeatedly posting about concerns they have are doing so respectfully. Those same said posters are also not what I would in any way call panicking. It would be nice to see the same in return.

 

[Planogirl]

Ok, I have searched and cannot locate the Ignore Button. Can someone please help me out? I wish I would have known earlier.

Copy the name, go into your User CP at the top left and then find the Edit Ignore List tab in the list on the left. That's how I do it anyway.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Ok, I have searched and cannot locate the Ignore Button. Can someone please help me out? I wish I would have known earlier.

Go into UserCP on the upper left, Edit Ignore List.

 

[clsteve]

My bad. If your premise is that Disney will use FP to manage park capacity, how do you envision that in practice on the front end (advance selection)? Seems to me that they would have to either group or space individuals based on totality of that group's overall itinerary to achieve whatever goal they have in mind. What good does advance selection provide if the guest has first come, first served access to a day's selection. Baking randomness into a management plan? Doesn't make sense to me.

And what's they're goal: narrowing your window, expanding it, nudging you into routes within the parks for revenue pops?

I don't think Disney is rectifying any problem with FP. I think they are thinking years out.

JMO

It's a brilliant plan on Disney's perspective. Take a look at some of their C-level comments as well as some of the analysts' comments.

It seems you agree that this massive investment is geared towards the vast majority of Disney guests- 1st timers and casual visitors.

In order for them to do long term Capacity Management- what better way than to lock them into a specific Park, minimize Park Hopping and make them feel like they're getting value than having them commit to a Park and establish specific tracking based on their selection of FP+ times up to 60 days in advance?

Go over to the 2 hours and 10 minutes to book FP+ -is this fun yet? thread and you can already see it in action. Disney is pre-populating FP choices and times based on their (Disney's) needs.

You have a good handle on the benefits of the downstream measurement, but it is the upstream management that allows this to happen.

Objectively, this is a brilliant plan. However, it's still painful to many of those outside of the target group.

 

[WillAustin]

Disney execs CFO said they are looking forward to getting as many people booked up in advance for rides. To do this people have to purchase tickets in advance. Get people to commit to as many days as possible at wdw. Also if fastpasses are difficult to obtain (and they will be) people will be less likely to waste them or skip a park day (thus spending more money). When Disney advertising goes into effect, fastpass+ acquisition will become much more of a planning challenge.

Once this system is fully rolled out, Disney wants as many people as possible to be locked in by booking FP+ in advance. I'm sure they will make it as easy as possible, even offering incentives for people to book early.

I see very little chance that same-day FP availability will somehow return to equilibrium once everyone is participating in FP+.

 

[rebbyparker]

Copy the name, go into your User CP at the top left and then find the Edit Ignore List tab in the list on the left. That's how I do it anyway.
__________________

into UserCP on the upper left, Edit Ignore List.

Thank you!

 

[OtherScott]

It's a brilliant plan on Disney's perspective. Take a look at some of their C-level comments as well as some of the analysts' comments. It seems you agree that this massive investment is geared towards the vast majority of Disney guests- 1st timers and casual visitors. In order for them to do long term Capacity Management- what better way than to lock them into a specific Park, minimize Park Hopping and make them feel like they're getting value than having them commit to a Park and establish specific tracking based on their selection of FP+ times up to 60 days in advance? Go over to the 2 hours and 10 minutes to book FP+ -is this fun yet? thread and you can already see it in action. Disney is pre-populating FP choices and times based on their (Disney's) needs. You have a good handle on the benefits of the downstream measurement, but it is the upstream management that allows this to happen. Objectively, this is a brilliant plan. However, it's still painful to many of those outside of the target group.

Two things about this don't make sense to me:

Disney offers a high profit product in Park Hopper and this would tend to cut against it while promoting a lesser profit product - additional days. Maybe they make it up through increased concessions and with additional lodging of resort guests?

Secondly, MBs and RFID readers. Disney could achieve your goal of management with existing infrastructure. You could book FP+ online as planned, then use existing card tix and kiosks to print out FPs at park. No need for any new MBs and readers. But they didn't do that. They are investing mightily in disposable MBs and readers at FP attractions.

I don't know what their ultimate goal is, but the investment in the MBs and readers lead me to believe that comprehensive RFID capability may be the driver behind this. RFID enabled cards in pocket don't work as well as bracelets.

 

[bcrook]

Two things about this don't make sense to me:

Disney offers a high profit product in Park Hopper and this would tend to cut against it while promoting a lesser profit product - additional days. Maybe they make it up through increased concessions and with additional lodging of resort guests?

Secondly, MBs and RFID readers. Disney could achieve your goal of management with existing infrastructure. You could book FP+ online as planned, then use existing card tix and kiosks to print out FPs at park. No need for any new MBs and readers. But they didn't do that. They are investing mightily in disposable MBs and readers at FP attractions.

I don't know what their ultimate goal is, but the investment in the MBs and readers lead me to believe that comprehensive RFID capability may be the driver behind this. RFID enabled cards in pocket don't work as well as bracelets.

This article about Pandora shows where magicbands are going. But I don't see the connection to FP+.

 

[OtherScott]

This article about Pandora shows where magicbands are going. But I don't see the connection to FP+.

Me neither.

 

[robpa]

To you.


That's the nice version.


I think that some people just want to give other people trouble. I got tired of it and I'll just say that the Ignore feature is a nice one.

I honestly still don't believe that chastising people for having concerns is going to get them to change their mind or quit going to WDW. I don't really understand the motivation for this but it doesn't seem to be working.

Yeah I don't get it either. I'm trying to cut back on my sugar so every now and then I find one of those overly sweet Disney is awesome threads to get my fill. I never see all the negative nelly's posting in there telling them they are wrong and they should just learn to accept the evil that is Disney

 

[ArwenMarie]

Two things about this don't make sense to me:

Disney offers a high profit product in Park Hopper and this would tend to cut against it while promoting a lesser profit product - additional days. Maybe they make it up through increased concessions and with additional lodging of resort guests?

To your first point, I think they price park hoppers high to discourage park hopping, because it contributes to more crowds at MK at night. They want people to stay at one park for the day and night, preferably one other than MK. Hence why they are also adding a nighttime show of some sort at AK supposedly.

Additional days would definitely generate more profit via food and lodging, which is why they price the tickets like that to begin with I guess.

 

[Laketravis]

This article about Pandora shows where magicbands are going. But I don't see the connection to FP+.

Me neither.

I'm betting the decision to spend over a billion dollars on this concept was not based on a single component but rather several:

Yield management of attractions and resources (FP+)
Proximity Detection and Access Management (RFID)
Unique Experience Programming (interactive responses)
Guest data accrual (what you like to ride, buy, eat, etc)
And yes....marketing of all of the above.

Yet I've still gotten three emails this week warning me that I don't have much time left to verify my address and customize my MagicBands, even though I've already received two complete customized sets in the mail for my upcoming reservation(s) beginning 11/21.

Yeah, they've still got some bugs to work out which can seriously impact consumer confidence in their product.

 

[nonnasally]

Just wanted to say we just got back last week. Ten of us at blt. It was great. Fp and Mp worked great after we knocked out a few kinks on day 1. Biggest problem was pin code not working for some of our family and we were all in the same room. Dh used wheel chair but we never asked for DAS. All in all my advise is to hang in and be patient. Hotel staff could not do enough to help correct kinks. At 8K I certainly understand concerns but we truly had a rare problem passed day 2 . MDE and MB really were a work in progress. My biggest con was photopass plus. Very disappointing for the price.

 

[robpa]

Disney execs CFO said they are looking forward to getting as many people booked up in advance for rides. To do this people have to purchase tickets in advance. Get people to commit to as many days as possible at wdw. Also if fastpasses are difficult to obtain (and they will be) people will be less likely to waste them or skip a park day (thus spending more money). When Disney advertising goes into effect, fastpass+ acquisition will become much more of a planning challenge.

Disney people also see fastpasses as a way to get people to use the existing infrastructure more in lieu of building more attractions. Fastpass+ are designed to get people on high capacity rides like pirates and haunted mansion.

Magicbands are designed to wring out an additional 15% of cash out of people.

Interviews with Disney execs can be found in the link in my signature.

You should get the link in your signature stickied so you don't have to keep typing it. You must get tired of doing that

 

[dennis j]

You say that, but you do not seem to respect the decision of those who have opted to postpone/cancel their trips until the dust settles. Instead you ridicule them, post snarky comments and in general, act quite unpleasantly toward them. Why be so rude toward people who have made a decision they feel is best for their family? It's not as if your last name is Disney. Why take it so personally?

I can understand that my decision to cancel our trip, while best for us, is not the answer for everyone and that others will be happy enough going to WDW during that time/under those circumstances. Why can you not grasp that others might make a decision different to you, without criticizing them and resorting to condescending remarks?

There is a difference between, "I am still going to WDW, will have a good time, and if you feel otherwise you should not go" and "I am still going to WDW, will have a good time, and if you feel otherwise you should not go......you idiot."

Maybe.. possibly... EMom, most people probably do not care if you decided
to cancel your trip because you are so unhappy with Disneys FP +.
I personally could care less about you or your AP holding friends in
Orlando cancelling their Disney Plans. Yet you choose to use the
forum as your soapbox to let everyone know. Who cares?? I do
apologize for the waaaaa comment but it sounded trivial to me.
IMO, since I have a soapbox too, it is a silly thing for AP holders
in FL to be distraught over FP+ management when they can go
to the parks any time they please and can do so at more than
fair prices. People that come from out of state on a much less
frequent basis.. maybe have a more valid reason for complaint.
I'm sure you will have an argument for this, but hopefully you
would show restraint of calling one an 'idiot' as you did in an
earlier post. Who's calling who rude?

 

[robpa]

Just wanted to say we just got back last week. Ten of us at blt. It was great. Fp and Mp worked great after we knocked out a few kinks on day 1. Biggest problem was pin code not working for some of our family and we were all in the same room. Dh used wheel chair but we never asked for DAS. All in all my advise is to hang in and be patient. Hotel staff could not do enough to help correct kinks. At 8K I certainly understand concerns but we truly had a rare problem passed day 2 . MDE and MB really were a work in progress. My biggest con was photopass plus. Very disappointing for the price.

May I ask if part of your touring plan was using more than 3 fastpasses in the past? Or were you a not really use fastpass family?

 

[nonnasally]

May I ask if part of your touring plan was using more than 3 fastpasses in the past? Or were you a not really use fastpass family?

Sure you may ask! We only used 3 fast passes a day except for one day when my kids fast pass individually without their little ones and some got wasted. We only planned a few fp before we got there and did the rest each morning. Guess we were just a lucky few . Did that help?

 

[robpa]

Sure you may ask! We only used 3 fast passes a day except for one day when my kids fast pass individually without their little ones and some got wasted. We only planned a few fp before we got there and did the rest each morning. Guess we were just a lucky few . Did that help?

Well I kind of meant on past trips or was this a first. I couldn't tell because I didn't see anything in your sig about where you had previously stayed. I am only asking because it seems that the majority of guests who have liked the new fp+ were never really fastpass users in the past and those who are concerned were multi -fastpass users.

Also I think you benefited from a low crowd week. Congrats those seem to be far and few between anymore. I am happy that it worked out for you and your family.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

I Guess that is how I felt for our August trip. I never once had a pull a FP-. I just used our FP+ and it was perfect. But we never pulled more than 4 tops in a day anyway. But we go for 12 days disney and 4 at universal. So I feel we are fine.

Yeah, our family wouldn't be worried much if we were able to spend 12 days at Disney. My DH is a teacher. We have to travel during peak season and we have to stay off-site. We get one day in MK, Epcot and HS each year. We have taken yearly trips since 07 and have had amazing trips each time. We have convinced about 6 or 7 other families to give Disney a try by explaining how to use FP to have a great trip. We are worried and even though I already have our place reserved for next summer, I am not feeling the excitement I normally have thinking about planning our trip. Our family loves Disney so much and it makes us feel sick to think we will no longer be able to tour the way we have loved so much in the past.

BTW, I am glad your trip turned out so well. I envy your family being able to spend so many days at Disney. I hope one day our family will be able to do the same!