My Magic + details ...

[Figments Friend]

( reads all the info in the original post...contemplates....compares notes....)

See...there is a reason why Disneyland is known as the 'Happiest Place On Earth'.

 

[Tim_4]

The difference is WDW is a theme park whose core business is built around rides. Onsite guests will now get first shot at these.

Please understand that as a business strategy, I think the "60 + 10 days rule" sets the right balance. I'm just saying offsite guests and locals are going to be left with onsite guest leftovers; just like they are today with ADRs.

I understand. What I'm saying is that WDW has a much higher "ride capacity" than "restaurant capacity." Even after the resort guests pick their Fastpasses, there is still plenty of capacity for there to be a wide (possibly full) selection of FP+ for the off-property guests.

 

[JenniferS]

I really think the smartphone part of this is a moot point. An article I read published this month says that 61% of the mobile phones on the market are now Smartphones, up from about 50% last year and 40% the year before. Chances are someone in the family is going to have an idea around how to work a smartphone app.

I have a smart phone. I know how to use it. I am Canadian, and therefore subject to the worst cell phone rates in the world and the HIGHEST ROAMING FEES. I shut my roaming off as we pass the Duty Free shop before crossing the Peace Bridge.
Now what? 30 minute lines for a FPP kiosk?
Time to get busy planning a November 2013 trip. One more chance to catch the Osborne Lights beore they disappear possibly forever, and one more chance to enjoy the parks before the crap hits the fan.
I guess it will be many years before I get to ride the Mine Coaster - as may years as it takes Disney to sort out this mess known as FastPass Plus.

 

[englanddg]

Y'now what I cant wait for? In about 20 years when some lifestyle blogger who is only 4 or 5 now, does blog posts detailing decaying next gen infrastructure in the parks.

That is a brilliant!

 

[asianway]

Did I miss any details about FP+ allotments differing by resort category? Will Value resort guests be receiving the same number of FP+ options as Deluxe resort guests?

I dont think anything is concrete at this time beyond 3 for all.

The thing everyone needs to be aware of is that they now have a very powerful tool that can be used to allocate the FP+ inventory however they want to. Pools can be alloted for guests at certain resorts, sure. But dont stop there. Maybe you get extra if youre paying rack rate vs a 40% off rate. Free dining? Ha, you just got less FP+.

And they can...charge for each one, which is where Im sure it is going.

 

[ChrisM]

I have a smart phone. I know how to use it. I am Canadian, and therefore subject to the worst cell phone rates in the world and the HIGHEST ROAMING FEES. I shut my roaming off as we pass the Duty Free shop before crossing the Peace Bridge.
Now what? 30 minute lines for a FPP kiosk?

In park wi-fi. Cross your fingers and pray it works.

 

[Figments Friend]

Don't have the time to sort thru 12 pages. Just read the MM+ thing to the husband over the phone. That didn't go very well. Lots of cursing. And laughing. We were already burned-out on the crazy amount of planning it takes to do WDW. This just piles more crap on top of what already was too much to have to do. No, thanks. Neither of us have any desire to "learn" all this new garbage. We'll skip it. Thanks, Disney.

Come enjoy a Magical day at Disneyland instead!

You will be glad you did....exspecially next year.

 

[Lord_Vader]

It currently looks like the WiFi and cell data performance is the biggest barrier to this going live. I can't see how it can possibly work without the data infrastructure being reliable. Perhaps they have a big upgrade coming there from Cisco which will eliminate that specific issue.

I would not count on Cisco for any great WiFi upgrades to what is already deployed. There are much better solutions out there than Cisco, if that is what they chose, for very large scale deployments that can allow simultaneous use of all WiFi bands without much of the older limitations (802.11G being remanded to 802.11B etc.) and provide much higher bandwidth to users of 802.11N that can utilize it.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Did I miss any details about FP+ allotments differing by resort category? Will Value resort guests be receiving the same number of FP+ options as Deluxe resort guests?

As far as what's been publically disseminated, DVC, Deluxe, Moderate, and Value Resort guests will get the same access to FP+ for the initial rollout.

WDW has approximately 4300 DVC, 5600 Deluxe, 7500 Moderate, and 10,600 Value rooms. Occupancy rates average around 80%, occupancy about 3 per room (rough numbers). Based on some calculations I've made, I believe WDW has sufficient FP+ capacity to satisfy onsite guests with at least one "good" FP+ each day.

I think WDW is right to go with this strategy for the initial rollout. They really need to see how their models are going to play out for real before trying to refine it further.

 

[JenniferS]

In park wi-fi. Cross your fingers and pray it works.

In park Wi-Fi blew chunks last November. I can't imagine it will improve with 60K+ people glued to their cell phones checking out DMX every hour or so.

 

[PUSH]

Another question that popped into my head this morning. What happens to Non Expiration Tickets? We have tickets from years ago. Will we be able to use FP+ with these tickets, or are we once again SOL?

 

[Tim_4]

In park Wi-Fi blew chunks last November. I can't imagine it will improve with 60K+ people glued to their cell phones checking out DMX every hour or so.

That's why they rolled it out months ago. They're letting it "blow chunks" before the 60K roll-out so they can identify the problems in advance.

 

[Figments Friend]

I dont think anything is concrete at this time beyond 3 for all.

The thing everyone needs to be aware of is that they now have a very powerful tool that can be used to allocate the FP+ inventory however they want to. Pools can be alloted for guests at certain resorts, sure. But dont stop there. Maybe you get extra if youre paying rack rate vs a 40% off rate. Free dining? Ha, you just got less FP+.

And they can...charge for each one, which is where Im sure it is going.

Yep. Almost certain this will happen eventually ( charging for 'More Magic' options...)...the temptation will be too great to resist for Disney to dip further into Guest's pockets.

I remember ages ago when FP was first rolled out there was talk among people about eventually creating a additonal 'pay for a pass' option. It never happened, but it amuses me now as it seems this is the direction the new FP+ could go in.

Think of the zillions to be banked by offering that option. Many Guests would freely buy additonal FP slots at the touch of a button when they are stuck in line somewhere and already out of their three-allotted options.

Evil thinking...perhaps....but surely i cannot be the only one thinking of such devious ideas that could be used to fully extract more cash from folks...

 

[JenniferS]

And when it inevitably fails, one of the 'silent, sensible majority' will be asked to be Ollie North and take the hit for the guy in the corner office...

I'm sure we would be willing to take up a collection for the designated scapegoat if it means scrapping this insane plan which appears destined to fail.
Or it will work out perfectly and we're just Debbie Downers who like to and moan.

 

[Tim_4]

Another question that popped into my head this morning. What happens to Non Expiration Tickets? We have tickets from years ago. Will we be able to use FP+ with these tickets, or are we once again SOL?

You should be able to "load" those days onto a Band and link them to you MDX account.

I have a few 1971 "B-tickets" lying around. I wonder if I'll be able to convert them...

 

[ddrongowski]

In park wi-fi. Cross your fingers and pray it works.

It won't.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Another question that popped into my head this morning. What happens to Non Expiration Tickets? We have tickets from years ago. Will we be able to use FP+ with these tickets, or are we once again SOL?

You'll need to convert all old tickets to RFID tickets or MagicBands in order to participate in FP+.

You'll still be able to use them to enter the parks for a while. It really depends on how quickly use of old media drops off, which I don't think even Disney has a good feel for how long this will take. Eventually, what should happen is that if you walk up to a park entrance with an old ticket, the CM handling your ticket should direct you to Guest Relations. Given the number of old tickets out there, my hunch is it will be a while before this happens.

 

[Prince-1]

For now.

I truly believe that once this up and running and all the kinks are worked out they will go to a tiered system. Stay at the GF or Poly for example and you can get 5 FP+'s, stay at All Star Music and 3 it is.

 

[PUSH]

You'll need to convert all old tickets to RFID tickets or MagicBands in order to participate in FP+.

You'll still be able to use them to enter the parks for a while. It really depends on how quickly use of old media drops off, which I don't think even Disney has a good feel for how long this will take. Eventually, what should happen is that if you walk up to a park entrance with an old ticket, the CM handling your ticket should direct you to Guest Relations. Given the number of old tickets out there, my hunch is it will be a while before this happens.

And I assume we can do this when we arrive for our vacation, and it won't affect the 60 plus 10 thing?

 

[MickeyPeace]

It's only a matter of time until you PAY for more privileges on your Magic Band from your magical wallet.