FastPass+ open to all guests including offsite beginning next week at Disney's Animal Kingdom

[StarWarsGirl]

Being able to reserve them on your smart phone upon entering the park solves this.

Exactly! Why not make it like the traditional FP in reserving times the day of but allowing guests to do it via kiosks or Smartphones? That I would not have a problem with. And that would actually be convenient whereas this whole system is inconvenient.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Whaaaaaaat? Who has a Windows phone? I get weirded out when people aren't blue on my iMessage chats.

I have an Android. Would not get a Windows Phone even though I have the Surface. App store is far too limited, especially when it comes to Disney apps.

 

[TP2000]

Am I reading these numbers correct? DLR has 77 attractions between two parks and WDW has only 85 attractions between 4 parks? I see why more and more people go to DLR.

You are reading them correctly. It's been a topic here before, but the numbers speak for themselves.

There are some exclusives for WDW though. EPCOT is the huge example of that, with 23 "Attractions" but only 8 of them actual "Rides". Each World Showcase pavilion counts as at least one Attraction, even if it's just a pretty themed courtyard of shops and a restaurant, like Italy, Germany, Japan, Morocco, etc.

But just to give you an idea of the differences, here's the list of E Tickets in each park...

Disneyland - 11 E Tickets = Jungle Cruise, Indiana Jones Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, It's A Small World, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Space Mountain, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Star Tours

DCA - 5 E Tickets = Soarin' Over California, Grizzly River Run, California Screamin', Tower of Terror, Radiator Springs Racers

Magic Kingdom Park - 7 E Tickets = Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, It's A Small World, Space Mountain

EPCOT - 4 E Tickets = Spaceship Earth, Mission Space, Test Track, Soarin'

Disney's Hollywood Studios - 3 E Tickets = Tower of Terror, Rock N' Roller Coaster, Star Tours

Disney's Animal Kingdom - 4 E Tickets = Kilimanjaro Safari, Dinosaur, Kali River Rapids, Expedition Everest

One could argue over whether badly aging but physically long rides like Ellen's Energy Adventure or The Great Movie Ride or Listen To The Land or Gran Fiesta Tour are E Tickets or not. That's what makes us Disney nerds. But the overall ride count still stands, and it quite clearly should have been a giant red warning bell to anyone planning on implementing MagicBands and FP+ in theme parks that don't have enough rides.

 

[ParentsOf4]

You are reading them correctly. It's been a topic here before, but the numbers speak for themselves.

The argument that FP+ doesn't work as an onsite perk can be based on even simpler numbers:

- Universal: 2 theme parks, 2,400 onsite rooms
- Disneyland: 2 theme parks, 2,500 onsite rooms
- WDW: 4 theme parks, 28,000 onsite rooms

The number of rooms at WDW is a killer. Let's recall that even limited to 3 FP+ per onsite guest, WDW had to tier attractions at 2 of its 4 theme parks.

WDW's last major expansion was DAK in 1998. (The New Fantasyland's 2 new attractions simply replace 2 shuttered attractions; Snow White & 20,000 Leagues. As rides go, it's hardly an expansion at all.)

Since the opening of DAK, WDW has added 10,000 hotel and DVC rooms.

WDW's "best kept secret" is not DVC; it's that WDW is no longer in the theme park business. It's in the hotel and timeshare business.

The newly announced FP+ policy for offsite guests demonstrates that WDW has far too many rooms and nowhere near enough attractions.

 

[danv3]

This is going to be spectacular. One week before Christmas, no app support for off-site guests, a park that arguably doesn't have 3 attractions that need a FP in the first place. If I didn't know better I'd think someone was trying to sabotage the project.

That thought has crossed my mind. Given the crowds and the "success" of earlier tests, it seems almost insane to roll this out right now, when they could wait two weeks for a much better testing period.

 

[GoofGoof]

That thought has crossed my mind. Given the crowds and the "success" of earlier tests, it seems almost insane to roll this out right now, when they could wait two weeks for a much better testing period.

It seems pretty foolish to me too. Either the lack of "success" of testing has been highly exaggerated (which is possible given that a lot of people were biased against going in) or there is a push to be able to say this thing is completely live by the next earnings call. I think the truth probably lies in the middle.

 

[CDavid]

That thought has crossed my mind. Given the crowds and the "success" of earlier tests, it seems almost insane to roll this out right now, when they could wait two weeks for a much better testing period.

The thought that has crossed my mind is whether there is a back-up plan, because I really think they're going to need one. What do you do when the longest lines in the park are for the kiosks themselves, and you have thousands of irate guests effectively shut-out of Fast-Pass (of any type) for that day? Obvious answer is to have a stack of paper FP's stashed nearby for the poor guest relations CM's to hand out, but you can't do much of that due to ride capacity constraints.

 

[Figments Friend]

I've said this before, but I see this turning into an additional revenue generator for Disney, more-so for off-property guests though.
Here's a few ways I could see this playing out:

Ticket Options:

• Base Ticket $99 (No FP+)
• Base+ w/ FP+ capabilities at day of arrival - $104
• Base++ w/ Advanced FP+ and access to MM+ - $109
• Add-on additional FP+ - $2 for each FP+ or $5 for 3

On-property guests, or at least those who buy into a package would get the third option by default as would APers.

They could also offer FP+ packages for off-property guests to be able to have 3 pre-selected FP+ attractions and times. This would make for a quicker/easier process when arriving and trying to select attractions and times for the day at a Kiosk.

Regardless, I think we're going to see them doing a lot of tweaking of the system next year.

I would not at all be surprised if we see such 'package offers' in the future.
A part of me has suspected from the start that plans exist and will eventually be implemented.
It is just too tempting for Disney to not do, and i know millions of Guests would not bat an eyelash at all in paying up.

 

[Lucky]

The argument that FP+ doesn't work as an onsite perk can be based on even simpler numbers:

- Universal: 2 theme parks, 2,400 onsite rooms
- Disneyland: 2 theme parks, 2,500 onsite rooms
- WDW: 4 theme parks, 28,000 onsite rooms

The number of rooms at WDW is a killer. Let's recall that even limited to 3 FP+ per onsite guest, WDW had to tier attractions at 2 of its 4 theme parks.

WDW's last major expansion was DAK in 1998. (The New Fantasyland's 2 new attractions simple replace 2 shuttered attractions; Snow White & 20,000 Leagues. As rides go, it's hardly an expansion at all.)

Since the opening of DAK, WDW has added 10,000 hotel and DVC rooms.

WDW's "best kept secret" is not DVC; it's that WDW is no longer in the theme park business. It's in the hotel and timeshare business.

The newly announced FP+ policy for offsite guests demonstrates that WDW has far too many rooms and nowhere near enough attractions.

Congratulations on hitting 10,000 well deserved "likes"!

 

[lentesta]

I'm re-doing all of our Animal Kingdom touring plans to be FP+ only. One of the things I've seen is that for parents with children too small to go on Everest, the only real bottleneck attraction is the Safaris. So if you get there early, or can get a FP+ for that, the AK park is pretty easy to tour most of the year.

I haven't yet done the "winter holiday" versions of the plans. But not needing FP+ for AK might be why it was rolled out first there.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Exactly! Why not make it like the traditional FP in reserving times the day of but allowing guests to do it via kiosks or Smartphones? That I would not have a problem with. And that would actually be convenient whereas this whole system is inconvenient.

Just to expand on this, one does not need the app to gain mobile access. For those on Windows Phone, unsupported Android or iOS devices, etc. the Walt Disney World website is still available.

 

[flyerjab]

But the overall ride count still stands, and it quite clearly should have been a giant red warning bell to anyone planning on implementing MagicBands and FP+ in theme parks that don't have enough rides.

My curiosity is getting the best of me. I have to pose this, what would seem like, fantasy scenario at this point. Let's say that after MM+/FP+ is fully implemented, and DVCs exist and are operational at every deluxe resort, TDO or TWDC or Burbank (or whoever…specifics don't particular matter for this question) decide, "Hey, we should probably put some more rides in the Orlando parks to accommodate all of these grumpy MM+/FP+ guests."

I am no ParentsOf4 (and this is meant as a compliment) so I wouldn't know the proper number of new C/D/E ticket rides to be added in relation to the number of guests per park per any given day, etc, etc. However, if ride additions were to occur, let's say 1-2 E tickets and 1 or more C/D ticket rides to the 3 parks that need them, park price increases would obviously occur in conjunction with, or subsequent to, said additions.

People already complain about how expensive a WDW vacation costs now. "X" number of ride additions to 3 of the parks would obviously justify increased ticket prices? Ticket prices will always increase to some degree due to inflation, I know, but this in my mind would get WDW to a point where even more people would simply be priced out.

I have also started considering this option. Through addition by subtraction, do you think WDW would ever close one of its parks, or in the case of EPCOT, shut down half of the park (i.e., Future World), to balance increased operating costs for improvements at the other parks?

 

[doctornick]

Since there appears to be fewer FP+ kiosks than FP stations, it seems distinctly possible that lines for FP+ kiosks might become longer than some attractions themselves.

One thing would hope they would do is simply replace every FP machine with a FP+ kiosk -- if you are getting rid of paper FP, then there is no reason for the FP machines, so utilizing that existing space for more FP+ kiosks in addition to kiosks scattered around the park (like near the entrances) would help the issue of having day guests having to use them. At least a little.

 

[doctornick]

If FP+ ends up being as big a mess as it might be, any chance they might drop or significantly modify it? Seems to me that FP+ is only a small component of the MM+ program and is the one that is the focus of the majority of ire. Having the MBs exist for charging convenience and guest tracking can still occur without FP+. I would think that the main value of FP+ to Disney is getting people to "pre-plan" their trips by reserving rides and committing to going to WDW (as opposed to other options in the area) and that can be done with having 1-2 FP+ a day instead of three.

Others have said it, but a simple fix would be to allow people to "reserve" 1 FP+ a day ahead of time and then just run the rest of the FP+ as legacy FP had functioned -- you can get them in the park only the day of as long as they are available with some time limit (a new one every 2 hours or whatever). I think people would actually like the functionality of not having to run across the park to get a paper FP if they can use their smartphone or can book any ride from an in park FP+ kiosk.

Alternatively, is there any way that FP+ causes Disney to recognize that they are majorly underserved with rides in WDW and causes them to go on a building spree? Yeah, I know, stop laughing.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

I do very much hope that Disney fails--hard--with MM+ and FastPass+. So glad we did not buy into DVC wayyy back when, because current Disney vacations are not nearly as good with FP+ and MM+.

I've thought this same thing myself. I got so close as to have had all the paperwork sent to me ready for signatures about 6 years ago, and for some reason I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Countless times over the last few years I've counted my lucky stars I didn't sign those papers... Between their rules and policy changes for owners, to devaluing your ability to sell if need be, to THE YETI, and mostly MM+.

So glad I've kept that $140,000 (over the length of the contract) in my pocket and not put it in TDO's. So glad.

 

[wishiwere@wdw]

I apologize I this has already been mentioned but I honestly have not had time to keep up with every page of these threads.

Just wanted to point out that we have AP's and in fact used them with wrist bands the week of Thanksgiving while staying at a cabin in Fort Wilderness (somewhat affordable way for a family of 6 to stay onsite ) and had no major problems to speak of. Not a fan of the system and had similar experiences as parentsof4 with limited flexibility, etc. but it worked. Just don't bother booking Fantasmic with it!

Anyway, the interesting part is that I just now used the app on my phone and randomly picked January 13th, 2014 which is still within the active period of our AP's and had zero problems booking FP+ for BTMR, SM and Pan for my entire family. I have to assume this is a bug in the system? That will work out nice when I'm visiting on business throughout the year since I usually only get 2-3 hours in the evening to visit but I doubt it's supposed to be this way lol.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Am I reading these numbers correct? DLR has 77 attractions between two parks and WDW has only 85 attractions between 4 parks? I see why more and more people go to DLR.

I've tried to tell people here for YEARS not to believe the stereotype and head to DL. You won't be sorry.

 

[disney4life2008]

Can't you use the website?

the website at least on my phone is not mobilized and takes forever to load. They need a mobile mme site.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

My curiosity is getting the best of me. I have to pose this, what would seem like, fantasy scenario at this point. Let's say that after MM+/FP+ is fully implemented, and DVCs exist and are operational at every deluxe resort, TDO or TWDC or Burbank (or whoever…specifics don't particular matter for this question) decide, "Hey, we should probably put some more rides in the Orlando parks to accommodate all of these grumpy MM+/FP+ guests."

I am no ParentsOf4 (and this is meant as a compliment) so I wouldn't know the proper number of new C/D/E ticket rides to be added in relation to the number of guests per park per any given day, etc, etc. However, if ride additions were to occur, let's say 1-2 E tickets and 1 or more C/D ticket rides to the 3 parks that need them, park price increases would obviously occur in conjunction with, or subsequent to, said additions.

People already complain about how expensive a WDW vacation costs now. "X" number of ride additions to 3 of the parks would obviously justify increased ticket prices? Ticket prices will always increase to some degree due to inflation, I know, but this in my mind would get WDW to a point where even more people would simply be priced out.

I have also started considering this option. Through addition by subtraction, do you think WDW would ever close one of its parks, or in the case of EPCOT, shut down half of the park (i.e., Future World), to balance increased operating costs for improvements at the other parks?

World showcase makes way too much money on food and alcohol.

They wouldn't close a park... They would just figure out ways to ratchet down attendance to cut overhead and bleed more out of those guests.

Hmmmmmmm......

 

[disney4life2008]

No, I'm talking about his griping that he has Windows phone which doesn't have a MDE app.

and a grip I have. You get a windows phone and try even logging in to the mme website. It is not mobilized it is set up desktop style and given all the screens it is next to impossible to reserve any fp on there.