Why think FP- system will be phased out?

[MJ6987]

We were there two weeks ago, and ALL the legacy FP machines that are typically available and operational were still there.

If they have started taking them out it must have been in the past 14 days, and this is news to me.

Yes, this is a very recent thing I understand

 

[mom2rtk]

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!

I don't think Disney believes FP+ will be a downgrade for most guests. But I do think they have severely underestimated the downgrade this is for many guests. (The same way they severely underestimated the crowds for the "Unleash the Villains" event.)

My own personal belief is that they will open FP+ slots guests can schedule on a kiosk in the park or by smartphone, after they have used their 3 prescheduled slots. But I also believe that by putting scheduling at the tip of everyone's fingertips, availability will go way down, and during the busy seasons there will not be enough capacity to offer more than 3. I also believe that when there are more than 3 spots available, it won't be fore the headline rides, so will be there, but not be really valuable anyway.

To be honest, if all they had done was change traditional fastpass to a limit of 3 per day with no more than one of those for a given ride, it would have been seen as a horrible downgrade. And that is really what they have done, but wrapped it up in a fancy magicband so many think it's exciting and new so aren't seeing it for the downgrade that it is.

The bottom line is that for those who never bothered to pull more than 3 FPs per day, it could be an upgrade. For anyone who pulled more than 3 in a day, it's a definite downgrade.

 

[katdralion]

No one checking-in in Dec has access to FP+ yet, and I wouldn't put ANY stock in what CM are saying. I would keep checking your MDE webpage. Do you have everything linked?

We check in on Nov 30th and have spent many hours on the phone trying to sort this out without success. We finally received an email on the matter which said the following:-

"Thank you for contacting us at Disney?s Internet Help Desk regarding the
issues you were having. We do apologize for the difficulties you may
have been experiencing and for the delay in getting back with you.

It was necessary for me to escalate the challenge you were having to a
different department for them to look further into this matter and that
is why there was a delay in the response. They have confirmed that the
DVC Annual Passes that you have purchased will not physically have a
ticket number until they have been physically redeemed at a Walt Disney
World® ticket location or Guest Relations at one of the Theme Parks or
Downtown Disney®. Once you have redeemed your Annual Passes you will be able to link them to your My Disney Experience® account. You can link
them by logging into your My Disney Experience® on a computer or by
using the My Disney Experience® app on a smartphone or tablet."

So it looks like we are out of luck!
We will not have a computer, smartphone or tablet so will likely be spending the first day of our vacation holding up the line at a FP+ kiosk to make 3 weeks worth of FPs. Sounds like fun!!

 

[mom2rtk]

We check in on Nov 30th and have spent many hours on the phone trying to sort this out without success. We finally received an email on the matter which said the following:-

"Thank you for contacting us at Disney?s Internet Help Desk regarding the
issues you were having. We do apologize for the difficulties you may
have been experiencing and for the delay in getting back with you.

It was necessary for me to escalate the challenge you were having to a
different department for them to look further into this matter and that
is why there was a delay in the response. They have confirmed that the
DVC Annual Passes that you have purchased will not physically have a
ticket number until they have been physically redeemed at a Walt Disney
World® ticket location or Guest Relations at one of the Theme Parks or
Downtown Disney®. Once you have redeemed your Annual Passes you will be able to link them to your My Disney Experience® account. You can link
them by logging into your My Disney Experience® on a computer or by
using the My Disney Experience® app on a smartphone or tablet."

So it looks like we are out of luck!
We will not have a computer, smartphone or tablet so will likely be spending the first day of our vacation holding up the line at a FP+ kiosk to make 3 weeks worth of FPs. Sounds like fun!!

Gee that sounds magical. Not. It would drive me nuts that the rest of the world was busy scheduling spots I didn't have access to.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Chiming in late, but I think they have said the old machines are going away. Kind of makes sense...I'm not sure they can have both systems running, they need all of the FP capacity to go into FP+, so that is seen as successful as possible.

 

[mesaboy2]

Sorry, but there were no FP machines at HM last year or the previous year. You must be confusing it with something else.

OK, I'm lost. Isn't Peter Pan down for refurb? If it's not, it will be very soon.

I believe FP- is definitely going away, but it has to stay available until offsite and day guests have a means of accessing FP+.

And .

 

[AmyB2006]

Yeah, that's why I said rumour (rumor).

LOL, wasn't a knock on anything you are saying, just a statement in agreement, I guess. I'm of the opinion that this is totally not going to happen though. Not even a chance. Only time will tell.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Wow, seems FP- already ran out for TSMM today at 930 am. Seems like they are already dialing back those machines if I had to take a guess.

 

[dansamy]

Wow, seems FP- already ran out for TSMM today at 930 am. Seems like they are already dialing back those machines if I had to take a guess.

Not unusual at all for TSMM.

 

[mesaboy2]

Not unusual at all for TSMM.

That early is unusual, but I'd guess it has more to do with the holiday weekend crowd than it does with nefarious FP+ tinkering.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

I dont have any basis to predict what will happen. But, I do hope the will keep the regular fast passes for some of the busier rides. I have mixed emotions about fast pass+. I am really excited to be able to select some in advance, and 2 - 4 in advance is excellent! BUT 2 - 4 fast passes total for a day is such a small number. It almost feels like 1 step forward, 2 steps back...........

I also think it would be great if you could get them at 2 parks when you paid for park hopping...Could be a win - win. More people might pay for park hopping (more $$ for Disney) and people could get 4 - 8 fast passes in a day instead of 2 - 4. They wouldnt be charging for fast passes per se, but it would be a "perk" and a way for someone to get extra fast passes...

Fingers crossed....

 

[#1hoosierfan]

I am leaving WDW today after being there this whole week. I also saw that all the FP legacy machines were still in place.

While did like most aspects if the FP+, it definitely still has kinks to be worked out. The system pretty much crashed one day we were there, and no one was able to make any changes to FP+ attractions...

I am glad we still had access to the old fast pass system, especially yesterday in a CrAzY busy MK when I kept getting error messages on my MDE account.

 

[dansamy]

That early is unusual, but I'd guess it has more to do with the holiday weekend crowd than it does with nefarious FP+ tinkering.

They're routinely gone by 11 ish. Now, dole some out to Fp+ testers, add in a holiday weekend and it's really NO surprise they're already gone.

 

[ArwenMarie]

That early is unusual, but I'd guess it has more to do with the holiday weekend crowd than it does with nefarious FP+ tinkering.

Oh yeah, the holiday is a factor for sure. Just seemed early too me. I wasn't suggesting nefarious FP+ tinkering, but rather earnest FP+ tinkering They have to get those FP+ from somewhere.

 

[mesaboy2]

Wow, seems FP- already ran out for TSMM today at 930 am. Seems like they are already dialing back those machines if I had to take a guess.

Not unusual at all for TSMM.

Gone by 9:30a is unusual. The PP's surprise makes sense, even on a holiday weekend.

They're routinely gone by 11 ish. Now, dole some out to Fp+ testers, add in a holiday weekend and it's really NO surprise they're already gone.

Gone by 11:00a is not unusual.

 

[dansamy]

Gone by 9:30a is unusual. The PP's surprise makes sense, even on a holiday weekend.

Gone by 11:00a is not unusual.

Not when you factor in that some of the ride's usual fast pass allotment was already gone before the park even opened today. (Via them being assigned to fast pass plus users.) I expect that we'll eventually see a situation where there are no regular paper fast passes available at RD due to all available time slots being allotted to FP+ users. That would of course be near to the completion of MM+ rollout and just before they completely shut down and remove the legacy system.

 

[beer dave]

Wow, seems FP- already ran out for TSMM today at 930 am. Seems like they are already dialing back those machines if I had to take a guess.

Same at Epcot friday-- FP for soarin and TT at 630 around 10 am. Definitely prepping for removal.

 

[dansamy]

Same at Epcot friday-- FP for soarin and TT at 630 around 10 am. Definitely prepping for removal.

That's exactly what I mean. In order to test the new system, they have to burden it with ever greater loads. To do that, they have to increase FP+ allotments for the rides already in the system. They can't do that without reducing the number of legacy fast and passes available.

 

[mesaboy2]

Not when you factor in that some of the ride's usual fast pass allotment was already gone before the park even opened today. (Via them being assigned to fast pass plus users.) I expect that we'll eventually see a situation where there are no regular paper fast passes available at RD due to all available time slots being allotted to FP+ users. That would of course be near to the completion of MM+ rollout and just before they completely shut down and remove the legacy system.

You are misreading me. I am no fan of the FP+ concept, and I am very aware of how FP+ must come from a limited pool of ride slots that were once made up of only FP and standby.

But to suggest that the early sellout of FPs this morning is "not unusual" and is more because of FP+ siphoning than holiday crowds is jumping the gun a bit in my opinion.

I stand by, for now, my assertion that a 9:30a sellout of FPs for TSM is unusual and can be attributed to the holiday weekend.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Today is a busy day, but I think this is an indicator of how many same-day FPs are going to be available for the top attractions going forward. Not many.