Why think FP- system will be phased out?

[curemyreed]

Hi, everybody. Why do we think the FP- system will be phased out? Is it possible FP+ will be offered exclusively to guests staying in Disney resorts, AP holders, and whatever other groups Disney selects...like how only Disney resort guests are allowed Extra Magic Hours? It seems like offering FP+ as an incentive to stay on-site, purchase costly AP's, etc. while still allowing those same guests to collect FP- along with day guests makes more sense.

You know the old phrase "don't fix it if it ain't broke"? I never heard any complaints about the established FP system. Why not add on an extra FP type (FP+) for certain groups paying more to Disney?

Following these same lines I could see Disney offering 3 FP+ to those staying in a Value hotel, 4 FP+ to those staying in a Moderate, etc. Again, as a bonus or incentive.

Your thoughts?

 

[mesaboy2]

As I recall, Disney itself has said legacy FP is going away. It also makes little sense to have both systems online permanently.

 

[ktlm]

After being here for a week, we have seen That they are definitely trying to discourage those with FP+ from using the paper system. We have also watched people be told by CMs they can't use the regular system and have run across several groups that have been told that at check in or otherwise. All were thrilled when we told then it wasn't true right now, but that tells me that they are working on phasing it out. After trying to deal with FP+ and MDE for a week, I am absolutely dreading that day.

It may be awhile though because as we discovered this week, their MDE and wifi can't even handle the testing crowd in the parks so I don't see how they can possibly do MB/FP+ for all guests until they get a lot of their issues fixed. I guess they can just do it and then deal with all the angry guests who can't access MDE or do anything with the app in the parks.

 

[curemyreed]

As I recall, Disney itself has said legacy FP is going away. It also makes little sense to have both systems online permanently.

Hi, Mesaboy2. Why does having both types not make sense? I'm not disagreeing with you....I just am not seeing how. Could you elaborate? I'm a bit thick-headed tonight due to sleep deprivation!

Also, I couldn't find any mainstream media or Disney news stating the legacy FP system was being replaced by FP+. It's likely I just missed that, however. I feel I must have because so many DIS board members post as if that is what is to come.

 

[NancyK]

We were there last week. Some of the old fast pass machines have been removed and there were signs up for Fast pass+ Voyage of the Little Mermaid and Haunted Mansion are two examples of this. I asked a CM about it at Little Mermaid and she said it was now standby only if you didn't have access to Fast pass Plus. I'm sure that they will slowly remove the old machines from all of the attractions'

 

[mesaboy2]

Hi, Mesaboy2. Why does having both types not make sense? I'm not disagreeing with you....I just am not seeing how. Could you elaborate? I'm a bit thick-headed tonight due to sleep deprivation! Also, I couldn't find any mainstream media or Disney news stating the legacy FP system was being replaced by FP+. It's likely I just missed that, however. I feel I must have because so many DIS board members post as if that is what is to come.

Why invest all that time, effort, and money into developing FP+ and then keep the original system? I agree with you by the way--the original system worked just fine.

We were there last week. Some of the old fast pass machines have been removed and there were signs up for Fast pass+ Voyage of the Little Mermaid and Haunted Mansion are two examples of this. I asked a CM about it at Little Mermaid and she said it was now standby only if you didn't have access to Fast pass Plus. I'm sure that they will slowly remove the old machines from all of the attractions'

HM hasn't had FP kiosks in many years.

 

[thegib95]

I know we should never trust cast members especially with updates etc and changes....

But I have been told by several CMs in both It, Guest Relations & Members Services (DVC) that legacy FP isn't going away....

I haven't necessarily believed it but even some people working as CMs think they are staying

 

[curemyreed]

We were there last week. Some of the old fast pass machines have been removed and there were signs up for Fast pass+ Voyage of the Little Mermaid and Haunted Mansion are two examples of this. I asked a CM about it at Little Mermaid and she said it was now standby only if you didn't have access to Fast pass Plus. I'm sure that they will slowly remove the old machines from all of the attractions'

Well, that right there seems to prove that the FP- system is DEFINITELY replaced by FP+. Thank you for sharing that info.

 

[NancyK]

The fast pass machines at HM seemed to come and go over the years. We used fast pass there last year but it wasn't there on a previous visit. Jungle Cruise was still using the old fastpasses last week but the new signage said Fast pass + My DH loves Jungle Cruise. . I will be sad when I have to start waiting in a standby line for that one. I won't be wasting a Fast pass+ on that ride.

 

[LaurLaur04]

The legacy FP machine is now gone from Peter Pan as well.

 

[FLSarah]

I think people who are staying offsite should still be able to use some sort of FastPass. Some people (myself included) simply can't afford to stay onsite. I scrimped and saved to get us APs because it made more sense financially for us, so I guess at some point I'll get FastPass + access but I still think some form of it should be available to everyone.

 

[NancyK]

The legacy FP machine is now gone from Peter Pan as well.

That's too bad. People will want to have a fast pass+ for that one. Standby lines have always been crazy for Peter Pan except first thing in the morning.

 

[cassie58]

We were there last week. Some of the old fast pass machines have been removed and there were signs up for Fast pass+ Voyage of the Little Mermaid and Haunted Mansion are two examples of this. I asked a CM about it at Little Mermaid and she said it was now standby only if you didn't have access to Fast pass Plus. I'm sure that they will slowly remove the old machines from all of the attractions'

Would this be possible for attractions that normally have FP (as Mesaboy2 mentioned HM did not) to be removed when offsite guests have not been included in FP+ yet? From what I've read, it sounds like they just began testing the process for them, so those guests would not have another option, unless they have to do it in the park the day of visit. If this is changing, I'd like to prep friends who are staying at Bonnet Creek in early Nov. We aren't there until Thanksgiving, and I was hoping to pull FP- when we hop, and for things we want to do more than once(TSMM), since there is no way to do that currently w/ FP+, so I'm hoping they figure out a way to include those options, or let you pull FP- until they do!

cassie58
11/08-ASMo & Timeshare
8/09-CSR
11/11-CSR
11/13-CSR & AKL Jambo

 

[NancyK]

I would hope that they wouldn't take away the legacy machines from the most popular attractions until all guests have access to the new system. I guess only time will tell.

 

[curemyreed]

I know we should never trust cast members especially with updates etc and changes....

But I have been told by several CMs in both It, Guest Relations & Members Services (DVC) that legacy FP isn't going away....

I haven't necessarily believed it but even some people working as CMs think they are staying

I was asked to take a survey when leaving Epcot in, I believe, May of 2010. (I can't swear to the time, though. We go a couple times a year and I may be mixing up trips.) One of the questions posed to me was whether being offered additional FP's for those staying at a Disney resort was appealing. I remember being "wow!"ed by this idea and discussing it with my husband. That being said, maybe somehow surveys led Disney to believe guests would prefer the system be changed to the FP+.

 

[curemyreed]

I would hope that they wouldn't take away the legacy machines from the most popular attractions until all guests have access to the new system. I guess only time will tell.

And it seems really unwise to roll it out park-wide right at the holiday season! I would think Disney would want to have the bugs worked out before asking all guests to partake of the new system.

 

[curemyreed]

Why invest all that time, effort, and money into developing FP+ and then keep the original system? I agree with you by the way--the original system worked just fine.


HM hasn't had FP kiosks in many years.

Okay, I see your point. Disney would be viewing it as too costly and complicated to have two types of FastPasses.

 

[Planogirl]

Are the FP- machines for Peter Pan really gone?

 

[curemyreed]

Are the FP- machines for Peter Pan really gone?

Planogirl, I would like confirmation of this, too, but I'm afraid the question will be missed buried in this thread. Do you wanna start a new thread? More people might see it to respond. If it is gone I wonder if it is temporary & related to the planned rehab?

 

[Minniekins]

The legacy FP machine is now gone from Peter Pan as well.

I think people who are staying offsite should still be able to use some sort of FastPass. Some people (myself included) simply can't afford to stay onsite. I scrimped and saved to get us APs because it made more sense financially for us, so I guess at some point I'll get FastPass + access but I still think some form of it should be available to everyone.

That's too bad. People will want to have a fast pass+ for that one. Standby lines have always been crazy for Peter Pan except first thing in the morning.

I would hope that they wouldn't take away the legacy machines from the most popular attractions until all guests have access to the new system. I guess only time will tell.

Well, now it looks like they actually have started to take FP away from a huge part of their customers by removing the Peter Pan legacy FP machine! So now, anyone who is not staying onsite, or who is but used their 3 FP+'s at another park, will not be able to ride PP without standing in a ridiculously long line. This is one of their most popular attractions at MK, and always has long standby lines except maybe in the early morning, which leaves the whole rest of the day and evening! And I would think that these standby lines, at least at this point, will become much, much longer. I can't believe they won't have many, many angry complaints from guests, especially as more FP machines disappear.

And, why would they possibly want such extremely long lines? Supposedly, they want the guest to have more time to stay in the park and shop and eat and spend money. Well, if I'm forced to stand in longer lines, I'm not out shopping and spending. And, there's not much point in getting park hoppers again, not sure why they would want that. Even getting an AP doesn't sound like a good idea anymore. And, how, with plenty of guests who couldn't figure out how to get a FP and so never used it, how do they expect these guests to figure out these new FP+ that definitely require much more than walking up to a machine. And, I'm not saying I don't plan, but guests shouldn't have to plan everything out to what minute they will go on a ride in which park days and months ahead. Why they are taking things away while expecting us to be happy and spend more truly boggles my mind.

If Disney kept some version of the legacy FP system to be used by any guest and FP+ had some rules on use, then that would be perfect and a definite improvement. Otherwise, in actuality it is a big downgrade for all customers.

One thought I had, I don't know how the machines work at all, but is it possible that they could use the new FP+ machines for day of FP's to guests somehow, and also use it for the prescheduled FP+'s? Or is something like that not possible?

I want to have the magical trip in Dec with my DD23 for her college graduation that we've been planning, and maybe we still will, but I'm afraid it's going to be very frustrating and less than magical! Disney is my favorite place to go but I'm definitely doubting that they care about guests having a magical day anymore!