What is going on with the FP+ crackdown?

[DonaldDuck77]

I'm not sure what you mean by outside of the MDE program but I can go in right now with the MDE app, make a FP for myself somewhere (Mad Tea Party for example) then change the fastpass over to my son using the change party function.

Right. We know that it is in the MDE programming and that it works for "something". I can't find anything from Disney that mentions this function (and what its intended legitimate uses are). Strict reading of the TOS would not allow you to use change party in any situation.

 

[MrInfinity]

Heck, most didn't even bother to plan period, much less scam. I never saw hoards of people running to FP kiosks with spare bands every day getting extra FP, did you?

I saw some. One thing you'd see is people from two groups firing up sets of bands on adjacent kiosks, then talking back and forth about how they can coordinate rides. Not only ties up two kiosks, but took forever. One would stand there and do absolutely nothing but hold their screen while the other clicked back and forth trying to see similar rides.

The day the systems changed, it was interesting to people-watch around the kiosks as folks complained to the cast members... "it used to work!" and the CMs telling them no you can't do that. Some would not let it go.

I didn't realize they limit APs FPs to 7 days. I thought it was length of stay. Interesting.

Wow...I never knew this before! So if you are going for 10 days, u can only have 7 days of FP+? Or, can you then book more on your 7th day, for the rest of the days? I don't get it. Why would this be?

Yes, it's length of stay if you're staying onsite. Length of stay @ 60-day window. If you're offsite, Disney has no idea what your stay is, or if you're going at all. You can book up to 7 days on your AP @ 30 days, as long as you don't otherwise have 7 days booked further out (due to staying onsite, later).

 

[Roxyfire]

Right. We know that it is in the MDE programming and that it works for "something". I can't find anything from Disney that mentions this function (and what its intended legitimate uses are). Strict reading of the TOS would not allow you to use change party in any situation.

Sure there is, people have outlined those in previous comments. It's mainly for larger groups, not for people prebooking FP for use by themselves only.

 

[DonaldDuck77]

Sure there is, people have outlined those in previous comments. It's mainly for larger groups, not for people prebooking FP for use by themselves only.

I am not being clear. I realize that there are legitimate uses and that people use them and have used them. I am saying that Disney has not published any instructions regarding this function (like it has regarding many other aspects of using FP+).

 

[DisneyMom93]

But...why wasn't it done from the start then?

Usually if they aren't doing something...it's either because they can't or think the reaction will cost them money somehow. I don't think either apply here. I would assume that the majority of scammers aren't going away if you crack down on their fast passes. It doesn't take Scotland Yard to figure out who's doing it...

I think they may have not done it sooner because they are trying not to take away from others while trying to stop the cheaters.

Let's say you have a family member that is planning to go to Disney with you but they won't know 100% until two weeks before. So they plan to wait to buy their tickets once they know it's certain. Before this latest update you could have booked the FPs for them with your party and held a spot for them because they legitimately had intention of going. Now you can't do that because they didn't purchase a ticket yet.

 

[Roxyfire]

I am not being clear. I realize that there are legitimate uses and that people use them and have used them. I am saying that Disney has not published any instructions regarding this function (like it has regarding many other aspects of using FP+).

It seems more like an advanced function and likely to confuse people who are already relying on disney to help them with the basics. I have no doubts if a person had a larger group and wanted to know how to change the fastpass party, someone in concierge would show them. There are a lot of advanced functions I do not point out in training. It doesn't make those functions illegal or against the rules, it's just that they don't need to know it yet, if ever.

I think people are confusing the how with the why. You can, within the rules, change your fastpass party. You cannot, within the rules, use that function for your personal gain.

 

[DisneyMom93]

it would certainly work. Let's assume the person wants to park hop every day and wants to have 6 FP selections. They could just buy two sets of tickets and use one ticket for entry in the AM park and the other ticket/band in the PM park. Their MDE would need a profile for each band.

Whether it's against the TOS, I do not know. But the person did follow the rule of using the FP+ selection by the user that made the FP selection and entered the park that day.

But honestly -- this would cost someone around $500 extra for a week, so I highly doubt there will be many people that would do this.

If this infuriates you, then are you also mad about people paying for VIP tours? Those come with unlimited fastpasses. Sure, those VIPs don't take away a chance at getting a FP+ selection, but they do slow down the queue for the ride...which is ultimately what we're all worried about.

The cost of each Private Premium VIP Tour varies between $400 and $600 PER HOUR, depending on the season. All Private Premium VIP Tours have a minimum duration of 7 continuous hours. So that's $2800 minimum.

So, ONE, you're cheating Disney out of charging a premium to offer this to guests on Disney's terms. And, TWO, by doing it for a lot less money you're making it something that A LOT more people can afford to do, and those people will be taking away FPs from people that can't afford the extra $100 or more a day.

If Disney wanted to charge $100 for 3 extra FPs they would.

 

[DisneyMom93]

As for the cost - an AP costs $830. I will spend about 40 days in WDW parks this year, which means that I am paying about $21/day for park entry, and about $7 per FP+. So, for someone like me an additional investment of $830 makes sense to double my FP+. For someone visiting less frequently - maybe less so. And for a local FL resident going every day - not only is the AP cheaper, but the cost per FP+ would be much, much lower.

My point - most people doing this would not be spending $33/FP+. They would be spending anywhere between $2 and $10 per FP+. Not as crazy as it sounds.

It's not, but can't only buy one AP in your name per year?

EDITED: Or is that just FL residents?

 

[DonaldDuck77]

It seems more like an advanced function and likely to confuse people who are already relying on disney to help them with the basics. I have no doubts if a person had a larger group and wanted to know how to change the fastpass party, someone in concierge would show them. There are a lot of advanced functions I do not point out in training. It doesn't make those functions illegal or against the rules, it's just that they don't need to know it yet, if ever.

I think people are confusing the how with the why. You can, within the rules, change your fastpass party. You cannot, within the rules, use that function for your personal gain.

Best explanation I have seen yet.

 

[AngiTN]

Wow...I never knew this before! So if you are going for 10 days, u can only have 7 days of FP+? Or, can you then book more on your 7th day, for the rest of the days? I don't get it. Why would this be?

They don't. I had a 10 day on site trip earlier this month. We had FP for every day
Where you have issues if if you try to book 2 shorter trips within a 60 day period. This does get you as an AP holder.
But 1 long one, no problem.

 

[DisneyMom93]

is it even possible to get a second AP? Don't they check your ID?

If they don't now that will be the next step, along with only allowing one AP used as entrance per person per year, once this become's the new "strategy."

 

[Roxyfire]

Best explanation I have seen yet.

Thank you, I'm trying to say what it is without going into detail. It's proving to be somewhat difficult. Rulebreaking behavior tends to be that you know it when you see it.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

It's not, but can't only buy one AP in your name per year?

EDITED: Or is that just FL residents?

I do not know about FL resident rules, but I am sure that Disney has issued at least 2 APs with my name on them at my address since my son has my name. Finger scans aside, our APs would appear identical to Disney except he has a different MDE account.

 

[Disney & ME]

If they don't now that will be the next step, along with only allowing one AP used as entrance per person per year, once this become's the new "strategy."

Over Memorial Day I activated the AP that I purchased at the end of last year (to get the 13 months). When I activated it at Guest Relations I had to show my MDE account (I didn't get a paper certificate) and my driver's license.

 

[DisneyMom93]

Over Memorial Day I activated the AP that I purchased at the end of last year (to get the 13 months). When I activated it at Guest Relations I had to show my MDE account (I didn't get a paper certificate) and my driver's license.

Yeah, but what happens when you go to show the second AP? It's probably linked to your driver's license number not your name. So they will know you have two.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

If they don't now that will be the next step, along with only allowing one AP used as entrance per person per year, once this become's the new "strategy."

I don't think for a second that Disney would stop this unless they began monetizing FP+. From their point of view, they are getting more money while providing absolutely no additional service to a customer.

Now, if they start to sell additional FP+ directly, I expect them to tightly close every possible hole in their system for obtaining additional FP+ through any other means. They will want to control every FP+. I suspect that 4th FPs would also become a thing of the past unless purchased.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Yeah, but what happens when you go to show the second AP? It's probably linked to your driver's license number not your name. So they will know you have two.

They do not take any of the info on your DL, and you can use any other form of picture ID. My youngest son used his high school ID. There is nothing to keep a person from having 2 APs linked to separate MDE accounts.

 

[DizBelle]

Wow...I never knew this before! So if you are going for 10 days, u can only have 7 days of FP+? Or, can you then book more on your 7th day, for the rest of the days? I don't get it. Why would this be?

It's poorly written on the WDW website but I believe the rule for FP with AP is this:

If you are staying off site, you can get 7 days of FP.

If you are staying on site, you can get 7 days of FP or the length of your stay, whichever is longer, up to a maximum of 14 days.

So, if you have an on site stay of 18 days, you can only get FP for 14 days. If you have an on site stay of 12 days, you can get FP for all 12 days.

 

[BRDisney]

It's poorly written on the WDW website but I believe the rule for FP with AP is this:

If you are staying off site, you can get 7 days of FP.

If you are staying on site, you can get 7 days of FP or the length of your stay, whichever is longer, up to a maximum of 14 days.

So, if you have an on site stay of 18 days, you can only get FP for 14 days. If you have an on site stay of 12 days, you can get FP for all 12 days.

We will be 10 nights at the BC in jun/jul, then a split stay with 4 nights at AKL and 7 nights at AoA in mid july. We are AP holders. We could make FP+ for BC 60 days before for all the stay (10 nights). Then, we could make 11 more nights for our split stay 60 days before the AKL check-in date.

 

[Boski]

Unless something changed, the moderators on TPAS board stated that you could post if your account was locked.

There was a thread, and one mod they said they would allow it, and then it got deleted. I think because if you post I tried XXX today and no issues you are promoting the cheating of the system.