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

[disney4life2008]

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

I have a windows phone thank you you very much

 

[flynnibus]

and a grip I have. You get a windows phone

I'm smarter than that...

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.

Or you're just still griping...

 

[ParentsOf4]

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.

I agree. If offsite guests continue to be able to access FP+ via the kiosks only, then I believe WDW will have to add more kiosks.

I'm hoping someone at DAK during Christmas posts photos of what the kiosk lines are like. The kiosks seem so much more time-consuming to use than the old FP ticket dispensers that I'm envisioning monster lines.

I hope I'm wrong. I hope Disney has thought this through and is ready.

I'd hate to see people's vacations ruined because they had to stand in those lines, only to be shut out of all the good attractions.

Here's the part I can't figure out.

Let's say I really want a FP/FP+ for Expedition Everest.

Using the old system, the return time is posted for all to see. Before I even step up, I know whether to get in line to wait for one. And because those dispensers are for only that one attraction, I have an idea of how many more will get used before it's my turn. Because the old FP dispensers were relatively simple to use, lines moved rather quickly.

The FP+ kiosks are much slower to use because they offer choices. With the FP+ kiosks handling multiple attractions, how do I know what's available until I step up to the kiosk?

Is WDW going to have a CM announcing "All FastPass+ selections for Expedition Everest are gone"? Is there going to be a tote board at all kiosk stations? (Sorry, I didn't pay attention during my last visit.) Are the kiosks going to be dedicated to attractions?

How does Disney not end up with a bunch of frustrated offsite guests who stood in a FP+ kiosk line only to end up with a FP+ for It's a Bug's Life?

 

[ParentsOf4]

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.

For guests, MyMagic+ (MM+) has 3 major components:

• My Disney Experience (MDE) - the new webpage and phone app.
• MagicBands (MB) - Replaces MYW tickets
• FastPass+ (FP+) - Replaces FP

The only one of these components with substance is FP+. MDE and MB offer some modest conveniences yet FP+ has the potential to save guests hours of waiting in lines each day. (Which is why I think it's the most important component of MM+.)

FP+ is what's going to drive increased occupancy rates at WDW's hotels.

In one form or another, FP+ is here to stay.

 

[Space Mountain]

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.

This is not a glitch and the system is working correctly. Regardless what your resort may have told you, FP+ selections can be made for any 10 days in a 60 day window if you have an Annual Pass linked.

 

[Sped2424]

so offsite guests have to wait the day of but not resort guests? How about hey simplify it and just make it the day of for everyone.

 

[wdwmagic]

so offsite guests have to wait the day of but not resort guests? How about hey simplify it and just make it the day of for everyone.

Yes in this test at AK.

 

[mm52200]

I'm just still very confused as to why they're going to test this during the busiest week of the year at WDW, it's like they're setting themselves up to fail.

 

[Cesar R M]

I'm just still very confused as to why they're going to test this during the busiest week of the year at WDW, it's like they're setting themselves up to fail.

its probably the biggest stress test yet?

 

[StarWarsGirl]

so offsite guests have to wait the day of but not resort guests? How about hey simplify it and just make it the day of for everyone.

That's what I say. Let everyone come in and make reservations on their mobile device and do it like traditional FP. It would give the convenience of not having to run to get FPs but levels the playing field and gets rid of issues such as only allowing 3 per day.

 

[Sped2424]

Yes in this test at AK.

Yes in this test at ak, however that type of thinking follows what many of have been saying about giving people who stay at the resorts advantages to this system.

 

[ford91exploder]

As currently announced, offsite guests visiting DAK will be able to access FP+ only via the kiosks.


I cannot understand why Disney wants to test this during Christmas week.

Because TDO IT ALWAYS rolls out new tech on Christmas week, I was there for the LILO cutover was doing a spilt stay and it lost the larger half of the split, Resort manager did his best but the upshot was family got 4 days of a 10 day vacation. Best part was I was CHARGED (in DVC points) for the FULL 10 days even though I was only able to stay for 4. TWDC did BUPKIS for us, Needed to get guide involved to get the 6 days of points refunded.

System insisted I was there for 10 days even though it only gave me a room for 4 - It had bugs with multi-resort splits sound familiar ie no FP- for multiple parks, Guess system architect overslept in CS-101 when they described 'linked lists'

Incidents like this is why I have no mercy or tolerance for Disney IT screwups.

 

[lazyboy97o]

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.

There is a mobile Walt Disney World website.

 

[ford91exploder]

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.

My vote is 'MM- fully live for earnings call',

 

[ford91exploder]

For guests, MyMagic+ (MM+) has 3 major components:

• My Disney Experience (MDE) - the new webpage and phone app.
• MagicBands (MB) - Replaces MYW tickets
• FastPass+ (FP+) - Replaces FP

The only one of these components with substance is FP+. MDE and MB offer some modest conveniences yet FP+ has the potential to save guests hours of waiting in lines each day. (Which is why I think it's the most important component of MM+.)

FP+ is what's going to drive increased occupancy rates at WDW's hotels.

In one form or another, FP+ is here to stay.

It is here to stay indeed, My thought is it will drive people away big time.

 

[ford91exploder]

There is a mobile Walt Disney World website.

True - but it does not work with all mobile browsers its pretty much Chrome and iOS only.

 

[OswaldTheRabbit]

I will be at AK Christmas week (12/23) and I will let you guys know how it is. I am pretty nervous in general about this trip since we have never gone at such a busy time. The MB were a huge headache for us in Novemeber when we went so I am sure it will be worse next week!

 

[Tangled21]

Fp+ should be unlimited to all guests, with time constraints like how it was with legacy fp. These fp+ should only be available day of. HOWEVER, to encourage on site stays, resort guests will have the option to book 3 fp+ in advance.

This would be a much easier pill to swallow.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Fp+ should be unlimited to all guests, with time constraints like how it was with legacy fp. These fp+ should only be available day of. HOWEVER, to encourage on site stays, resorts guests will have the option to book 3 fp+ in advance.

This would be a much easier pill to swallow.

I like your idea very much. It was along the ideas of what I was thinking. And guests could make FP reservations on their phones or at a kiosk, so they wouldn't have to run from one end of the park to the other

 

[msteel]

Just my 2 cents:

Not allowing FP+ reservations ahead of time must be either true testing or a transitional part of the phased rollout. A documented purpose of MM+ is to get guests to reserve things ahead of time, so that Disney gets more of their wallet. This is only effective if you can actually reserve things ahead of time.