The FP+ system works itself, it's no better time to test the capacity then in their busy season. Disney grew some balls on this one. And to be fair, DAK is busy during the holidays, but never THAT busy.
In general, systems & procedures are better tested first with modest loads than with maximum loads.
I'm not particularly concerned with the technical functionality of the FP+ kiosks or the network & database behind it. They've been used by onsite guests for a while. I'm thinking more in terms of people and procedures.
DAK has FP+ kiosks at:
- Guest Relations
- Disney Outfitters
- Creature Comforts
- Kali River Rapids
- Primeval Whirl
- Expedition Everest
Large crowds are sure to form at several and perhaps even all of these, with lots of guests getting their first look at FastPass+.
Will CMs be ready to handle these crowds? Will ropes be in place to handle potentially huge lines? How will Disney handle guests that are shutout from good FP+ selections after waiting?
With many onsite guests having made their FP+ selections prior to arrival, they were relatively familiar with the FP+ user interface. Those needing to make changes had the option of doing so via the MDE webpage, the MDE phone app, or one of the kiosks. The numbers using the kiosks would have been extremely light. (At least, they were when I was there Thanksgiving week.)
Offsite guests are limited to the kiosks only. What happens when hundreds of offsite guests stand in front of these kiosks and see these screens for the first time?
Why not wait a couple of weeks and test the people and procedures in early January? Work out the kinks before spring break and then test with an increased load then.
What could Disney possibly gain by beginning a major phase of testing during its most busy week. Is there an internal (arbitrary?) milestone for Disney to claim that MM+ was in test phase for all guests in 2013? Perhaps there's a supplier payment or executive bonus tied to this milestone.
In my career, I've seen lots of intermediate deliverables being jammed through even though a system was not ready, for the simple reason that money was tied a specific date and forfeited if that date was missed.
Disney learned their lesson at Disneyland and intentionally opened the Magic Kingdom on October 1, during one of the least busy times of year. It seems that Disney is throwing out that lesson with the introduction of FP+ to offsite guests during its busiest time of year.
Disney spent over a year gradually introducing MM+ to onsite guests. Yet they seem to be rushing to begin FP+ testing with offsite guests.
Just thinking about things that might go awry. It sounds as if you have more confidence in Disney being ready than I do. I could be wrong.
I do think DAK is the best park to first try FP+ with offsite guests because DAK's most popular attractions also happen to be its highest capacity attractions and, as you allude to, DAK's crowds are more manageable. Epcot and DHS both have special Holiday festivities while MK is, well, MK and always crowded. If they are going to do it at any park during Christmas, DAK is it.
