Next generation FASTPASS system to begin guest testing this week

[jakeman]

So you have no problem reserving Toy Story Midway Mania, right now, for Thursday, July 5 at 9:15am? Nothing could possibly happen that would make you decide not to be there on July 5 and go to another park? Or something external to Disney prevents you from getting there in time? You are ok with reserving that time, missing it, thereby preventing someone from having a FP because you decided three months ahead of time that's when you were going to go?

So you have no problem making a dinner reservation at a popular and fancy restaurant with limited capacity, right now, for Thursday, July 5 at 9:15am? Nothing could possibly happened that would make you decide not to be there on July 5 and somewhere else? Or something external to the restaurant prevents you from getting there in time? You are ok with reserving that time, missing it, thereby preventing someone else from having dinner because you decided three months ahead of time that's when you were going to go?

 

[Buried20KLeague]

So you have no problem making a dinner reservation at a popular and fancy restaurant with limited capacity, right now, for Thursday, July 5 at 9:15am? Nothing could possibly happened that would make you decide not to be there on July 5 and somewhere else? Or something external to the restaurant prevents you from getting there in time? You are ok with reserving that time, missing it, thereby preventing someone else from having dinner because you decided three months ahead of time that's when you were going to go?

You make an EXCELLENT point...

ADR's 180 days in anvance are completely ridiculous too.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

I agree. Also at my age, I need the fewest steps possible. What do I mean. Well, now I can schedule Soarin for 10am and go to Test Track first. I won't have to walk to get a FP at Soarin then walk to Test Track to ride.

I like your "must do's" When I first stated going to Disney in the 90's, I wrote "must do's" on a note pad.

The same thing could be accomplished by putting a large bank of FP machines inside each park's entrance.

And that wouldn't cost anywhere NEAR 2 billion dollars.

 

[dcibrando]

I wonder what would happen if a family spends alot of time booking certain attractions / shows / events at certain times, and then they are down due to a problem or cancelled due to the weather? Then they have to get in the back of the line to do it again later (if possible) behind those that booked it for those other times? That would be tough

 

[fosse76]

So you have no problem making a dinner reservation at a popular and fancy restaurant with limited capacity, right now, for Thursday, July 5 at 9:15am? Nothing could possibly happened that would make you decide not to be there on July 5 and somewhere else? Or something external to the restaurant prevents you from getting there in time? You are ok with reserving that time, missing it, thereby preventing someone else from having dinner because you decided three months ahead of time that's when you were going to go?

Yes, I do. I don't make reservations, anywhere. And I know people complain about that on this board as well, having to make ADRs when they can't be 100% sure that they will want that restairant at that time. So much for you trying to put me in my place.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

I wonder what would happen if a family spends alot of time booking certain attractions / shows / events at certain times, and then they are down due to a problem or cancelled due to the weather? Then they have to get in the back of the line to do it again later (if possible) behind those that booked it for those other times? That would be tough

I would assume they would follow the same protocol as they do now when that happens... BigThunderMatt could probably clarify, but I'm fairly sure if you have a FP for the down window, it's simply honored later in the day.

In the long, LONG list of things that could cause a problem with this, what you suggest is probably fairly low on the list.

 

[jakeman]

Yes, I do. I don't make reservations, anywhere. And I know people complain about that on this board as well, having to make ADRs when they can't be 100% sure that they will want that restairant at that time. So much for you trying to put me in my place.

So because you have a personal problem with the concept of a reservation, no one should be allowed that opportunity?

Do you not make doctor's appointments? Car service appointments? Meetings? Pre-purchase movie tickets? Tee times? Hotel reservations?

 

[ToTBellHop]

So because you have a personal problem with the concept of a reservation, no one should be allowed that opportunity?

Do you not make doctor's appointments? Car service appointments? Meetings? Pre-purchase movie tickets? Tee times? Hotel reservations?

He's being ridiculous. It's best not to engage people making absurd points.

Life is on a schedule, but Disney is not forcing anyone to preschedule things. You can still plan your day on a whim, but for those of us who aren't so absurd as to have a blanket "I plan nothing ahead" policy, we can plan.

 

[MichWolv]

Yes, I do. I don't make reservations, anywhere. And I know people complain about that on this board as well, having to make ADRs when they can't be 100% sure that they will want that restairant at that time. So much for you trying to put me in my place.

So are you suggesting that xPass is a bad system overall because, in order to take advantange, one needs to plan ahead of time, or are you just saying that you personally won't take advantange of xpass because of that?

I rarely plan my trips more than 60 days ahead of time, so the 180 day window for ADRs generally means I don't get what I would like. But that doesn't lead me to say it's a bad system or that nobody should be able to plan that far ahead. I choose flexibility...they choose certainty. That's life.

 

[Mawg]

He's being ridiculous. It's best not to engage people making absurd points.

Life is on a schedule, but Disney is not forcing anyone to preschedule things. You can still plan your day on a whim, but for those of us who aren't so absurd as to have a blanket "I plan nothing ahead" policy, we can plan.

I have a little issue with all the reservations too. I just wish they didn't open up the window so early (180 days for ADR's and who knows for X pass). I like to plan ahead but planning what park I'm going to seems more appropriate 30 days out. I get that Disney is trying to give incentives to book early in the hopes that they will have enough bookings that they will not have to offer deep discounts sometimes. I just think 180 days out for a dinning reservation is too far away for me to think about.

 

[wagnerdanp]

Has anyone received an email to be invited to test out X-Pass yet? I will be in the world and staying on property from May4th through May 14th and I was really hoping that I could be selected!

 

[ToTBellHop]

I have a little issue with all the reservations too. I just wish they didn't open up the window so early (180 days for ADR's and who knows for X pass). I like to plan ahead but planning what park I'm going to seems more appropriate 30 days out. I get that Disney is trying to give incentives to book early in the hopes that they will have enough bookings that they will not have to offer deep discounts sometimes. I just think 180 days out for a dinning reservation is too far away for me to think about.

Agreed. 6 months is a bit extreme--but as you said, it allows them to incentivize early bookings.

 

[COProgressFan]

I have a little issue with all the reservations too. I just wish they didn't open up the window so early (180 days for ADR's and who knows for X pass). I like to plan ahead but planning what park I'm going to seems more appropriate 30 days out. I get that Disney is trying to give incentives to book early in the hopes that they will have enough bookings that they will not have to offer deep discounts sometimes. I just think 180 days out for a dinning reservation is too far away for me to think about.

180 days is completely insane for dining reservations. 30 days is probably ideal, and it's probably about the max that any restaurant in the "real world" would take. Even 60 days might be somewhat reasonable.

Planning where you're going to have your lunch 6 months in advance is crazy. Just as planning what ride you're going on 6 months in advance is.

Much like the situation with how many restaurant tables are left for walk-ups (unfortunately, few, if any), the issue with x-pass will be how many ride slots are allocated for the early planners, how many for the late planners (on arrival, or right before) and how many for the day guests who just want a fun day in the park, and didn't know they were going to be in the MK six months before hand. The execution is key here. Hopefully they can find the reasonable balance that keeps most guests happy.

 

[GrumpyFan]

Not sure if anybody mentioned this yet, but Kevin Yee posted on his blog at Ultimate Orlando the name for the enhanced RFID Fastpass will be Fastpass+.

 

[amejr999]

http://9to5mac.com/
Disney outfitting park employees with iPads to add magic to Magic Kingdom
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May 1, 2012 at 11:07 am

This was a concern I had when they were testing the new entry system at Epcot. The CMs in the photos had their noses stuck in the tablets and weren't looking at/interacting with guests. I'm sure that can change somewhat with practice, but it still seems a bit impersonal.

 

[Gator]

If it ain't broke.....

IT AIN'T BROKE.

 

[wdwmagic]

Take a look at http://www.wdwmagic.com/Other/FASTP...look-at-the-NextGen-RFID-FASTPASS-readers.htm for some photos of the new RFID readers at the attraction entrances.

 

[devoy1701]

Take a look at http://www.wdwmagic.com/Other/FASTP...look-at-the-NextGen-RFID-FASTPASS-readers.htm for some photos of the new RFID readers at the attraction entrances.

curiouser and curiouser...

 

[HMButler79]

Mansion Butlers and Maids with IPads OH JOY. Who knew Master Gracey had teh forsight to purchase Apple products in 1860s New York :hurl:

 

[invader]

Take a look at http://www.wdwmagic.com/Other/FASTP...look-at-the-NextGen-RFID-FASTPASS-readers.htm for some photos of the new RFID readers at the attraction entrances.

Oh and just a note, there is another RFID reader in SM's queue just before the line splits between the Alpha and Omega tracks.