FastPass+ open to all guests at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot next week

[Rob562]

A few Quick Questions:

1. If I have a resort reservation for May, how early can I start booking FP+?

2. If I am an AP holder that has a MB from a previous visit, can I book FP on that MB in advance?

3. I am booked under two reservations for my next visit, which means I have to get two more new wrist bands. Are the FP+ linked to the specific MB, or are they linked to my MBE account? In other words, since theoretically each MB will programmed to open the door at the resort, how do I keep all of these straight?

3a. Can I choose one MB and have it linked to my AP, FP+, Credit Card and both resort reservations for the entire stay?

1) Anyone who has access to FP+ has access starting 60 days before the date in question. But resort Guests get an extra 10 days' worth starting 60 days from their checkin date (kinda like how the ADR window works at the 180-day mark)

2) An AP holder who has a Band from a previous trip also has access to FP+ 60 days before the date in question, though without a resort reservation doesn't get those extra 10 days.

3 and 3a) FP+ are "stored" on your MDE profile, not a Band. Any Band assigned to your MDE profile can be used interchangeably, though some have come across occasional glitches in Bands working for room keys. So if you have three different colored Bands, you can color-coordinate each day, if you wanted to.

-Rob

 

[alissafalco]

Indeed it is. Every Guest Relations resource you find (in park or on the phone in response to emails) has now been coached well to refuse to answer any questions at all on the topic. They will not describe what (if any) access Passholders will have when the program is deployed for them, nor will they give you any timeline other than the up to 6 months from now statement they gave me on Sunday. The website still has the same 'later this year' language they posted in April, 2013 and have never updated. I've had CM's tell me that they've seen the materials for it and seen internal communications that it's 'coming soon' but they've been using that language for close to a year now so I don't believe any of it any longer.

I've started referring to it as the Passholder tax where the only way for a Passholder to get admission to the full program is to pay for a resort stay. Disney is refusing to activate access to FP+ reservation on your profile any other way. Now that I've booked my one-night stay for Friday night I have full access to the program starting on that date and looking forward for 60 days from that date.

Ok, so having a resort stay only allows you to make FP reservations for up to 2 months ahead of time. So after those 60 days are up, you would have to book another resort stay to get it again? You also said it allows up to 7 consecutive days to reserve. What if you want to reserve a couple days hear and a couple days there, but it adds up to more than 7 but not consecutive?

 

[donsullivan]

Ok, so having a resort stay only allows you to make FP reservations for up to 2 months ahead of time. So after those 60 days are up, you would have to book another resort stay to get it again? You also said it allows up to 7 consecutive days to reserve. What if you want to reserve a couple days hear and a couple days there, but it adds up to more than 7 but not consecutive?

Nope. From others who've had access, once you have that resort stay you are on a rolling 60 day calendar during which you can have FP+ reservations on any 7 calendar days (do not need to be consecutive) subject to all of the same constraints of one-park, etc.. that everyone else has.

 

[alissafalco]

Nope. From others who've had access, once you have that resort stay you are on a rolling 60 day calendar during which you can have FP+ reservations on any 7 calendar days (do not need to be consecutive) subject to all of the same constraints of one-park, etc.. that everyone else has.

Ok, so a resort stay on allows you a 2 month window to book FP. Correct?

 

[donsullivan]

Ok, so a resort stay on allows you a 2 month window to book FP. Correct?

I'm just getting started in it only having gotten access on Sunday when I booked my resort stay. What I see right now is that I have the ability to reserve up to 7 unique days for the next 60 days following the first day of my resort stay that starts this Friday. I'm told by others who gained access in the fall that once I complete that resort stay it will continue as a rolling 60 days window during which I can have a maximum of 7 days of FP+ reservations at any time. You need to either let expire, cancel or use a day of FP+ reservations before you can book another day if you have all 7 of your maximum days booked.

You need to have your AP linked to your My Disney Experience account before you create the resort reservation for all of this to kick in but so far, it seems to work just as everyone has described it to me over the last few months.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Ok, so a resort stay on allows you a 2 month window to book FP. Correct?

I linked to MyMagic+ one of my (many ) sets of 10-day no expiration tickets for my last onsite WDW stay in November.

I still have unused days on these tickets and am able to make FP+ selections for days up to 60 days out even though I have no WDW vacations scheduled for 2014.

 

[wdisney9000]

We arrived after 11 and it was pretty low crowd levels. But looky looky what was happening at Star Tours FP+ entrance. lol The line started where the lady in black shirt (right side of pic) was and ended a few yards past the kid in the orange hoodie. We used standby line and rode before orange hoodie kid did. The two lines merge in the droid room and we only waited about 5 minutes.

There was a still a line at fp+ entrance when we left too.

 

[RSoxNo1]

DHS current wait times:

Coaster: 30
Coaster single rider: "0"
Toy Story: 60
Tower: 100? something must be wrong here
Star Tours: 30
GMR: 5

Don't know how the crowds are, but yesterday was fairly busy. Funny how each park has seen a significant drop in wait times on the very first day of legacy shutdown. Wait no, it's what I said all along, reduce the number of Fastpasses given out, and the standby wait times will also decrease.

Also its possible that Star Tours is seeing more ridership due to FP+ which is good and helps evenly distribute the crowd demand.

Tower is the best attraction in Tier 2 and doesn't have Star Tours' capacity, that's why it's 100 minutes. Either that or there's something wrong with it.

The tiers are working to help standby at Toy Story, Coaster, Test Track and Soarin' but it's having other effects. They really need to just switch it to 1 advanced reservation, and normal distribution day of. With the tiers that's really what you're accomplishing anyway. This way they can do away with the non-sense of FP+ at attractions that don't need it.

 

[JimboJones123]

[quote="RSoxNo1, post: 5900006, member: 12fast passes, is the best attraction in Tier 2 and doesn't have Star Tours' capacity, that's why it's 100 minutes. Either that or there's something wrong with it.

The tiers are working to help standby at Toy Story, Coaster, Test Track and Soarin' but it's having other effects. They really need to just switch it to 1 advanced reservation, and normal distribution day of. With the tiers that's really what you're accomplishing anyway. This way they can do away with the non-sense of FP+ at attractions that don't need it.[/quote]
Well, that will happen if they force feed fastpasses... oh.... and don't have any rides inthe park.

 

[omurice]

Tower is the best attraction in Tier 2 and doesn't have Star Tours' capacity, that's why it's 100 minutes. Either that or there's something wrong with it.
...

There could very well be something wrong with ToT. Only 1 of 2 elevator shafts was operating there last Saturday when I was there, and that drove the wait times up over 130 minutes (that plus EMH morning). The FP+ line was just as backed up as the stand-by line (to the entrance) on Sat around 2pm, so I exited the line after about 20 mins of FP+ line not moving at all. Hoping they fixed that shaft/vehicle issue by now.
When I was at AK and MK last week, most day guests seemed not to want to stand in FP+ kiosk lines to book FP+ -- even on "slow" days (like Tue, 1/14 at MK, first day of FP+ only) those kiosk lines were sort of long*. For that very reason, I believe on busy days, guests may see that kiosk line and skip it. But to me, that's about 15 or 20 mins to save up to 150 mins (kind of a deal on a busy day!).
I would have guessed removal of FP legacy would improve the stand-by times, and for some attractions I think that's really happened. But for others that didn't have FP in the first place like PotC and HM, it's made those stand-by worse (my opinion), it seems as if giving FP+ to some rides slowed down the stand-by and even causing new un-even left/right loading issues that CMs have to stay very vigilant to avoid (on PotC and Space for example).

But it's very hard to tell anecdotally based on one or two attractions over a few days what is happening. AK we're coming up on a month of data, but of course that has so few attractions there's not much to measure there.
Aside from our personal observations, we probably just have to wait for number-crunchers with actual data like @lentesta to tell us in a month or 2 what's going on with wait times in the brave new FP+ only world.

*Edit - I know long kiosk lines sounds like a contradiction, but still felt like most day guests were not using FP+ yet because I was still doing the "FP sprint" past hundreds of guests in the stand-by at 2 of my 3 attractions. But I know it's all anecdotal -- only 3 FP choices out of over 25 attractions does mean you have to wait sometimes.

 

[Space Mountain]

Anyone else find it odd that Maelstrom is included in the same Tier as Soarin', TT, RoE & Character Spot?

Could that possibly be a preemptive move in anticipation of crowds for a Frozen attraction?

Just a thought.

This is due to the fact that they needed a Tier 1 RIDE without a height restriction.

 

[rct247]

I only wanted a FP for TS. I just checked to maybe book an additional FP and the CM already gave me two additional FPs without my permission.

That kinda ticks me off. Wasting FPs for ToT and Star Tours for no reason???

Seems off???

Wonder if they are under orders to pad numbers and book FPs that won't be used for numbers manipulation purposes?

Strange things at WDW these days. Almost as if they are trying to make it look like stand by lines are moving faster now that FP+ is in play.

In the early days, guests would only pick one FP+ pick for the attraction they wanted it for right then and now. The issue was that once you made your picks, you could only modify them. This means, if you only picked one FP+ pick, you would not be able to pick your remaining 2. You basically forfeited them. People were ed because they didn't know. So that's why there is such a push for everyone to pick 3. Even if you don't use them, you have your 3 entitlements, you can change and modify them if you need to as well, and if you don't use them, no worries. At a park like Epcot, Studios, or DAK it wasn't much of an issue because there weren't many choices people felt they needed, but at MK, it was a big deal. The 3 comes from allowing all guests an equal number. Before there were far too many guests who knew how to work the system and many who had no clue what FP was, this evens the playing field. Research findings showed that guests who had a FP for an attraction were happier even if they didn't need a FP. (Sad, I know. Almost like a placebo effect.) So, limiting it gives the beginners a better opportunity to get FP. Those who don't use all 3 will just make the stand by lines move quicker. Take this into account as well. With paper FP, if a ride went down, the managers could call to reduce FPs being distributed for a short time like 20 mins to allow room for the FP & standby lines to recover and not stay backed up. Unfortunately, with FP+ giving out at all times of the day, they can't do this so there are more backups at times. By not using your FP+ choice, you may be helping reduce a potential backup.

 

[flynnibus]

Forcing 3 choices has many potential values...
- it streamlines the decision logic and choices for the user
- it encourages LONGER STAYS AT THE PARK

Remember.. FP+ is largely about shaping your stay and creating these touring plans that keep you onsite in the park and on property. The use of default values is a key way you influence large group behavior.

Disney doesn't want you to grab one FP+... they want you to come early and stay all day.

 

[msteel]

I linked to MyMagic+ one of my (many ) sets of 10-day no expiration tickets for my last onsite WDW stay in November.

I still have unused days on these tickets and am able to make FP+ selections for days up to 60 days out even though I have no WDW vacations scheduled for 2014.

Have you stayed onsite before with reservations linked to your account?

 

[Bryner84]

This may have been answered elsewhere, but as a possible loophole...does anyone know if the system remembers the tiers after one has experienced the attraction? For example, if I schedule a Tier 1 attraction as my first reservation for the day, after I use it I still have 2 more FastPass+ selections which can be modified. Could I modify one of my remaining Fastpass+ selections to a Tier 1 attraction at this point, or will the system remember that I have already used my only Tier 1 selection?

 

[Rob562]

This may have been answered elsewhere, but as a possible loophole...does anyone know if the system remembers the tiers after one has experienced the attraction? For example, if I schedule a Tier 1 attraction as my first reservation for the day, after I use it I still have 2 more FastPass+ selections which can be modified. Could I modify one of my remaining Fastpass+ selections to a Tier 1 attraction at this point, or will the system remember that I have already used my only Tier 1 selection?

Since the system knows what your other FP+ reservations were for (both used and unused) when giving you options on how to use the "wildcard" FP+ you get when your ride is down during your FP+ time, I presume the same applies to used FP+'s and tiers.

-Rob

 

[71jason]

Tried it tonight at MK, a couple random observations from the POV of an off-site guest:

• FP "kiosk" was just two (cold) kids with iPads standing in front of the covered Space Mt FP machines. Not seeing the efficiency there. And pretty bad show.
  
• After a certain time of day--apparently 6:30 if not sooner--you can only pick two FPs. Presumably there's a point later in the evening you can only pick one.
• I can easily see the lack of a printed record could be problematic for guests over a long day. More importantly, there is no way for front line attractions CMs to check if your window is open. Park was dead, so no issue tonight, but at busy times, this could quickly become a hassle.
• Overall, I like the idea of picking 3 rides at once. Of course, the park was empty, FP was completely unnecessary. If WDW is not holding any "same day" FP back--and they are not, I've heard first hand from a system engineer--I doubt very much I could walk up at 7 pm in the middle of Summer and have my choice of Mountains.

 

[DisneyCane]

One HUGE issue I see with the FP+ system is how long it takes to verify the FP with the RFID scanners. With the paper system it would take maybe a second for the CM to look at it and send you along.

Now it takes several seconds at minimum per person. They either need to add a lot more scanners at each check point or find a way to make the verification happen faster.

This issue is what causes the line seen in the picture above at Star Tours.

 

[rct247]

One HUGE issue I see with the FP+ system is how long it takes to verify the FP with the RFID scanners. With the paper system it would take maybe a second for the CM to look at it and send you along.

Now it takes several seconds at minimum per person. They either need to add a lot more scanners at each check point or find a way to make the verification happen faster.

This issue is what causes the line seen in the picture above at Star Tours.

This! The line just to get into the Fastpass Return line has grown substantially throughout all 4 parks and especially on busy days. The Fastpass Return points are also seeing the slow down to the point that many attraction are then forced to send a lot of standby guests (despite a line for Fastpass) just to keep from sending empty cars at times.

The issues that were seen with people and paper Fastpasses are the same. People still arrive early and late. People still try to cheat the system. People still have one person holding all the Fastpasses. People still put away their Fastpasses or not have them ready, and people still don't even know what Fastpass is. The issues are that people now don't have tangible paper in their hand reminding them of their exact Fastpass times. People are booking half of their family at one ride and half at the other, showing up saying they are together, and blaming a technical error for the people without Fastpasses. The person holding all the cards now blocks the way in as they scan each card one at a time at one touchpoint. People put away their cards and even MagicBands (yes, the device designed to wear conveniently on your wrist.). Two groups with blue flashing lights at a touchpoint can instantly form a line. Don't even get me started as I watch people twist their arms in all sorts of wierd ways to get their MagicBand to line up or those with cards that hold it 5 inches away from the touchpoint and are confused why it isn't doing anything.

 

[omurice]

One HUGE issue I see with the FP+ system is how long it takes to verify the FP with the RFID scanners. With the paper system it would take maybe a second for the CM to look at it and send you along.

Now it takes several seconds at minimum per person. They either need to add a lot more scanners at each check point or find a way to make the verification happen faster.

This issue is what causes the line seen in the picture above at Star Tours.

Sorry in advance for the length of this post...
Most of the backups I could see in January, after parks went FP+ only (AK and MK saw last week), were more of the cast members explaining things to people, or some operational choices that slow things down.
As those photos show it gets really backed up at some attractions but I don't think it's only the 4 or 5 seconds to scan the band or ticket... Here's 2 examples.

1) CM explanations / guest education:
Having a MB or ticket alone does not get you in there, you have to book a FP+. I saw this play out numerous times on my trip right in front of me. Usually the family would move over to the stand-by line, and they understood quickly, but other times some wanted a detailed explanation or English is not their first language so CM spends a minute or two in that case explaining about that you had to book FP+. I saw this happen to day guests with plastic tickets and to resort guests with MB. After all this time the resort guests do not all get the whole MB and FP+ thing, so I have to forgive the day guests showing up and seeing FP+ for the first time! In a year I'd be more annoyed, but it's been only a WEEK at the MK.

2) CM making a choice to scan ALL the bands or tickets fora group:
Some FP return points, the CM would say "only one of you has to scan your band in the party" to move things along faster, saw that at BTMR more than once. Then other attractions or other times, CM would make every single person in the party scan their band or ticket. Saw that at Test Track multiple times (still had paper FP when I was there though).

RE #2 -- Either the training is uneven, or CMs have realized some people are already "milking the system" (spreading their FP+ across multiple attractions for different people in the party). Just think with 3 people in your party, if you only had to scan one band or ticket at each FP entry, you could TRIPLE your FP+, in theory. So I suspect the CMs are (perhaps wisely) checking ALL of the people in a party SOME of the time, even when there's a backup. It's unfortunate but...
Checking only one ticket or band on a busy day, people are going to abuse the heck out of that loophole if it became a predictable norm that CMs always only check one ticket/band for a group. So I think the CMs have to intermittently make everyone scan, sort of how parking attendants check your ID vs. your AP about 10 to 20% of the time going thru the parking plazas.
They won't stop everyone but it will deter you if you got checked say one out of five times. And this is where in time, you will see guests have a fake "meltdown" and act outraged they are getting the blue light, and yelling "How dare you check all of us you only checked one of us last time?!" plus some more hystrionics, etc.

I don't like 3 FP or 1 park limit, and most others don't either -- so people are going to try all kinds of tricks to get around these 1 park and 3 FP limits. There are some other creative ways too, people getting around the FP limits it's going to be worse than the whole GAC card abuse thing I fear, if the limits don't ease up soon that is.


HINT: Those CMs with the iPads at the kiosks (or at service centers like Sid Cahuenga's) can do all sorts of things to bend and expand the limits on that system, and do "magical" things we cannot do with the kiosk or the MM+ app! Those limits we can see are only suggestions to a CM in a really good mood.