Magic Kingdom going FP+ only on 1/14/14

[StarWarsGirl]

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD??
I saw it November on two different occasions.

I was there last week and did not see it happen. I noticed it in August, but they seem to have fixed the issue.

 

[SirLink]

The reason for MM+ was to increase revenue, not control staffing. Why do you think they want you to preplan everything? It gurantees that you will stay in their park longer, instead of leaving early and spending your money elsewhere!!!

Labor costs could be used in accordance with MM+ if they do allow EVERYONE to prebook everything, but that hasn't been the case as of yet, and I really doubt thy will let offsite guests really book 60 days out. Most offsite guests either get discounted tickets from other places or buy them at the gate that day, with no knowledge that thy could book their FP selections months in advance if they buy their tickets early enough...

MM+ was designed to control costs(mainly labor) and 'siphon an additional 11% from guests', they want you/me/us onsite/offsite/domestic/international to plan 60 days out ... they don't care where you stay. They would rather get you to spend 11% extra on MagicBand upgrades,MagicBand accessories and Dining. They hope they can sell a couple of T-shirts or some overpriced tat as well.

 

[Andyjshort]

I can't be the only one who looks at the weather forecast in the morning before deciding which park to go to.

Why would I go to DHS if there is a thunderstorm forecast during Fantasmic, or a water park if a storm is predicted midday?

Most of my park selections are made on the day. In 2013 the only ADRs I made were Cinderellas Royal Table and Be Our Guest, but we didn't start either of those days in MK.

 

[Fractal514]

I'm with you on your main point... But COMPLETELY disagree with the above line. This system doesn't balance anything. It still tips the table toward certain people... It's just that now YOU don't control the table tipping... Disney does.

This, to me, is the OPPOSITE of balancing it for everyone.

I should be more specific, it balance the number available to everyone. It certainly, currently, does favor on-site guests in terms of selecting which 3.

 

[Fractal514]

I can't be the only one who looks at the weather forecast in the morning before deciding which park to go to.

Why would I go to DHS if there is a thunderstorm forecast during Fantasmic, or a water park if a storm is predicted midday?

Most of my park selections are made on the day. In 2013 the only ADRs I made were Cinderellas Royal Table and Be Our Guest, but we didn't start either of those days in MK.

And while that is a totally valid way of touring, the price you pay for that flexibility is that others who were willing to gamble got better FP+ selections and possibly ADRs. It's all about what your priority is.

 

[Redhawk]

And while that is a totally valid way of touring, the price you pay for that flexibility is that others who were willing to gamble got better FP+ selections and possibly ADRs. It's all about what your priority is.

Or how open you are to letting things work out in unexpected ways. If you absolutely must go to certain table-service restaurants, and can't imagine quick-service would be just fine, or dining at more "off" hours might work, etc. then you have to stick with your plans.

A lot depends as well on when you go. High-crowd times probably require tight adherence to advance plans, lower-crowd times allow for more flexibility.

 

[JimboJones123]

We discovered a while new glitch in FP+ (at least new that I have not seen noted) at MK last night.

We arrived with just under 2 hours before the park closed, but were only eligible for one FP+. The system had 8 eligible attractions to choose from, but once we selected one, it would not let us choose another.

We picked Space Mt., where the FP+ was literally 17 minutes later, but we were not able to select another even though there was plenty of time to get two more in (more than 90 minutes).

We were told that we were trying to get FPs too late to get more than one. So, apparently, even if there is FPs available, and time to use them, you will be limited after specific times.

We are locals, so it was not a big deal, but for somebody with a park hopper trying to squeeze in as much as possible, this left us missing out on 2 attractions last night. And not for any reason or posted reason.

So, just be aware, if using FP+ late, you can't to the fullest.

 

[Redhawk]

Well, that could be a big bummer, but it might change in the future. The system is so new and it was a low-crowd day.

Also, when the parks are open later and for EHM, if it's not a high-crowd time, you often don't really need a FP to get on a headliner ride, many have a short wait by that time.

 

[Lord_Vader]

We discovered a while new glitch in FP+ (at least new that I have not seen noted) at MK last night.

We arrived with just under 2 hours before the park closed, but were only eligible for one FP+. The system had 8 eligible attractions to choose from, but once we selected one, it would not let us choose another.

We picked Space Mt., where the FP+ was literally 17 minutes later, but we were not able to select another even though there was plenty of time to get two more in (more than 90 minutes).

We were told that we were trying to get FPs too late to get more than one. So, apparently, even if there is FPs available, and time to use them, you will be limited after specific times.

We are locals, so it was not a big deal, but for somebody with a park hopper trying to squeeze in as much as possible, this left us missing out on 2 attractions last night. And not for any reason or posted reason.

So, just be aware, if using FP+ late, you can't to the fullest.

In order to get three FP reservations you must be in the park 3+ hours before closing and reserving your rides, 2+ hours gets you 2 reservations, 1+ hour gets you 1 reservation. The scheduling restriction has more to do with the one hour windows than availability.

 

[Redhawk]

If you're hopping to another park in which you'll only spend a couple of hours, then it seems like you should definitely make your FP selections well in advance -- with some planning and arriving right at the close of your first FP window, you could manage to get and use 3.

 

[msteel]

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD??
I saw it November on two different occasions.




I never saw it happen before they installed FP+ or changed the queue. Am I saying its a major issue? No, but it happens NOW, whether its CM laziness or whatever else you would like to blame it on. I never saw every other boat going out empty in all the years I visited but I saw it twice in November. I understand the new queue design requires CM's to be on the look out. My point is simply that it does happen now and it probly is just CM laziness but the laziness is an effect of what FP+ allowed when they changed the queue.

First of all, I wasn't trying to single you out. Others have said the same thing and until your last post I had seen no substantiation. It seemed to me like something someone had pulled out of his hat and others were glad to pile on because they don't like the system. It was just your post that put me over the edge.

I'll take your word that it happens sometimes, and I hope you'll take my word that it isn't happening all day every day.

Even when I went back to read your post again it seemed that you were saying it was always happening that way. I was just trying to dispel that line of thinking because it contradicted my personal experience.

 

[JimboJones123]

If you're hopping to another park in which you'll only spend a couple of hours, then it seems like you should definitely make your FP selections well in advance -- with some planning and arriving right at the close of your first FP window, you could manage to get and use 3.

For APs, we cannot make reservations in advance.

 

[djkidkaz]

Any word on when Epcot and Studios will go FP+ only? It seems everything is moving along great with little issue at this point. Once those two parks are on the system all that should be left would be AP'ers and Cast Members to get on the system so they can make reservations also.

 

[Redhawk]

For APs, we cannot make reservations in advance.

For now you can't, that might change. If you're AP holders then I imagine you know that lines for the E-rides during parades and fireworks are shorter. I 'd take my one FP+ and use it to best advantage.

 

[Redhawk]

Any word on when Epcot and Studios will go FP+ only?

Last week a CM told me "by the end of this month" and others on here have heard the same. No official word from Disney.

 

[amy1985]

My husband and I went in October and stayed on property with magic bands- we aren't particularly big planners, so we just picked our three fast passes as we were leaving our hotel and we always got what we wanted. I should note that it was just a soft rollout, but the parks were fairly crowded and we had no problems getting fast passes- the only thing I didn't like was that you can only choose fast passes for one park per day

 

[muteki]

We discovered a while new glitch in FP+ (at least new that I have not seen noted) at MK last night.

We arrived with just under 2 hours before the park closed, but were only eligible for one FP+. The system had 8 eligible attractions to choose from, but once we selected one, it would not let us choose another.

We picked Space Mt., where the FP+ was literally 17 minutes later, but we were not able to select another even though there was plenty of time to get two more in (more than 90 minutes).

We were told that we were trying to get FPs too late to get more than one. So, apparently, even if there is FPs available, and time to use them, you will be limited after specific times.

We are locals, so it was not a big deal, but for somebody with a park hopper trying to squeeze in as much as possible, this left us missing out on 2 attractions last night. And not for any reason or posted reason.

So, just be aware, if using FP+ late, you can't to the fullest.

That is really lame. If I can get 3 FPs it should not matter what time of day I show up.

 

[stevehousse]

Yes but you have to remember that fast passes run out just like on the old system so I am not surprised by this...

 

[djkidkaz]

Yes but you have to remember that fast passes run out just like on the old system so I am not surprised by this...

If the fast passes run out that is fine, but he's saying that its still offering the ability to get FP for other attractions so even if Im showing up late, why can't I get my 3 FP's?

 

[GoofGoof]

MM+ was designed to control costs(mainly labor) and 'siphon an additional 11% from guests', they want you/me/us onsite/offsite/domestic/international to plan 60 days out ... they don't care where you stay. They would rather get you to spend 11% extra on MagicBand upgrades,MagicBand accessories and Dining. They hope they can sell a couple of T-shirts or some overpriced tat as well.

Disney has huge margins on hotel rooms. WDW is for the most part a bunch of hotels with a few theme parks sprinkled in. The only way they come close to that 11% is to get more people to stay on property. Hotel occupancy has been flat or down the past few years. I can't see them not keeping on property guests at an advantage with this system. There has also been speculation that they could reduce or eliminate EMHs and replace them with advanced FP+ reservations as the on property park perk saving costs. Rolling the full system out to everyone makes little business sense. Then again a lot of this system makes little sense so they probably will do it to be consistent.