My Magic + details ...

[bubbles1812]

We don't actually know that there will be a three FP limit. We only know that three FPs will be ale to be prereserved.

It should be noted that in every FP+ test including the current one, people were able to preserve FPs and also obtain additional same-day FPs. The fact that paper FPs using the current FP system won't be available doesn't mean that same-day virtual FPs won't be offered.

Except for the fact that literally everyone who has reported on this project has stated that that's the ultimate goal... And 3 looks to be the number people will get. The only reason people are additionally allowed to use the paper FPs is because it's a test. That will not be a feature for when FP+ goes into effect... No paper same day. No virtual same day. Nada. And that too has been reported by literally everyone giving info on the subject.

 

[TalkingHead]

"There will be activities that are FP+ only - no standby option."

What...

Presumably the FP+ only option would apply to things like fireworks or parade viewing areas? I've wondered about that too.

If they really want to eventually eliminate standby lines altogether, I'm not sure how anyone would tour the park without being part of MDX.

 

[PUSH]

You know what else would grind my gears?

When I preplan a FP and walk up to see the line is only 15 minutes for Splash Mountain (for whatever reason)...

Now, I've burned one of my FPs...

Oh, yeah, I can hop on my phone and change it!

<fiddles on phone and grabs Space Mountain>

Wait, there are no more FPs available because the other 30 - 50k guests at MK that day booked them all up?

Oh, and it rained for 2 hours this afternoon due to a tropical storm, so hard that Big Thunder (another one of my FPs) was shut down.

Now, all the people with a 20 minute window for their pre-reserved FPs are straight out of luck...so Disney starts giving them "use anytime" FPs as Guest Service, and when the rain stops, they all show back up.

is Disney thinking?

You know what really grinds my gears?

When I preplan a FP for Splash Mountain and hop in line perfectly fine, but then the ride breaks down when I'm in line. Then when I come back later to use it (assuming they have a plan and not just a SOL method), it's still down, but I'm ready to leave the park.

Happened to me with paper FPs on my last trip actually, it just would me off even more if I planned it two months ahead of time.

 

[dadddio]

Interesting thought about the waterparks. I would agree that the hyper planning/getting so few passes will force people to rigidly plan so much that they forget about the waterparks. I wouldn't be surprised with the Magic Bands being waterproof if they try to incorporate some good ol' FP+ into them as well.

Final thoughts...
1) 3 is too few a number. I can see a lot of guests being unhappy
2) The FP+ only things are weird, especially for food. I feel bad for the poor suckers who use their FPs on stuff like that. Or even for the fireworks... Sorry but I can find a spot just fine without needing a FP

They have stated that ordering food via FP+ wouldn't effect your daily FP limit or the amount of FPs that you can hold at a time.

3) The new system would appear to royally screw anyone who takes spontaneous trips to Disney that aren't planned from months out. Can't imagine happy guests there either
4) I don't see Park Hopping as very advantageous with this new system. I suspect guests will figure that out. Maybe Disney will get hurt there when they notice that overpriced feature isn't being bought as much.

Many people already have a plan for that. Rope-drop park one, FP park two.

 

[WDW1974]

We don't actually know that there will be a three FP limit. We only know that three FPs will be ale to be prereserved.

It should be noted that in every FP+ test including the current one, people were able to preserve FPs and also obtain additional same-day FPs. The fact that paper FPs using the current FP system won't be available doesn't mean that same-day virtual FPs won't be offered.

That's not how it is going to be. Once FP+ is live for all, FP will not exist. In paper or in virtual form.

If Disney were going to allow folks to get unlimited FPs besides the three they are reserving, then the whole system would fail. Virtual spaces are being set aside for guests who show up and buy a $95 ticket. They can't go to OCD planner X in New Jersey who booked Sapce Mountain at 9:15 a.m., meeting Cinderella at 11:00 and riding the Haunted Mansion at 11:45 exactly at the 60-day mark.

Also, Disney is getting hammered in a lot of places, like this MAGICal realm, over the system. Doncha think if you truly had an option of booking the three above and then showing up at EPCOT at 1:45 p.m. and getting a FP for Tron Track that Disney would want that info. out?

 

[TalkingHead]

I talked to a management type last month and was told they are internally saying January 1st, but that they are prepared for it to be summer of 2014.

That should make for one hell of an interesting summer next year.

Uni's management must be licking their chops right now.

 

[WDW1974]

How long until guests figure out to reserve FP+ for the afternoon at MGM and start the day at DAK doing the handful of things there?

Very nicely saves you from spending a full day at either park.

I'm sure Universal doesn't mind.

I am sure Bill Davis and Company were having a good laugh over it as they debuted Transformers to the public last week.

I just wish I could go back in time and watch and hear what went on when this was pitched to Iger and the Board ... just effing amazing.

 

[PhotoDave219]

There will be activities that are FP+ only - no standby option.

What the (Meg) is this happy (Pooh!)?!!?!?

... I'd like to not overreact entirely, do we have any specifics as to what what this means?

 

[Next Big Thing]

That's a big part of FP+'s fail right there.
Say I want to run over to Studios for Tower and TSMM, so I use my FPs there.
Then I hop to MK for the remainder of the day, at like noon...and I'm forced to be FP-less?

Yeah...this system's better...

To play devil's advocate here, if you were going to DHS in the morning just for those three, you wouldn't really need FP+. Just hop in line quickly and use FP+ for MK later on in the day.

But I agree, there are really no advantages to this system.

 

[englanddg]

What the (Meg) is this happy (Pooh!)?!!?!?

... I'd like to not overreact entirely, do we have any specifics as to what what this means?

I am sure Bill Davis and Company were having a good laugh over it as they debuted Transformers to the public last week.

I just wish I could go back in time and watch and hear what went on when this was pitched to Iger and the Board ... just effing amazing.

Something like this, I'd imagine...

 

[PUSH]

If Disney were going to allow folks to get unlimited FPs besides the three they are reserving, then the whole system would fail. Virtual spaces are being set aside for guests who show up and buy a $95 ticket. They can't go to OCD planner X in New Jersey who booked Sapce Mountain at 9:15 a.m., meeting Cinderella at 11:00 and riding the Haunted Mansion at 11:45 exactly at the 60-day mark.

So if I show up and don't buy my ticket until I arrive at my resort, will I be allowed to use the FP+ that are set aside, or would I fall under the category of "60 days out"?

And this isn't as big of a concern, but would I still have my MagicBand shipped to me within the 30-10 day mark?

 

[JenniferS]

To play devil's advocate here, if you were going to DHS in the morning just for those three, you wouldn't really need FP+. Just hop in line quickly and use FP+ for MK later on in the day.

But I agree, there are really no advantages to this system.

Oh there are lots of advantages to the system. They just favour Disney over the park guest.
Good night everyone. Time to pretend I have a real life now.

 

[WDW1974]

That should make for one hell of an interesting summer next year.

Uni's management must be licking their chops right now.

Wouldn't you be?

They just keep planning new state of the art attractions and resorts and parks ... yeah, water parks, I meant ... and Disney is interested in datamining and limiting parkhopping and trying to spread out capacity, which will only work when people have reasons to want to go to Studios or DAK instead of MK.

 

[TalkingHead]

Now, all the people with a 20 minute window for their pre-reserved FPs are straight out of luck...so Disney starts giving them "use anytime" FPs as Guest Service, and when the rain stops, they all show back up.

is Disney thinking?

The plan is to turn Guest Services into its own attraction -- a game of chance, if you will.

You pay $19.99 (not included with park admission) to lodge a complaint at Guest Services. Better give it your all, because your prize depends on how magically hot and fiery you can get. Can you make the CM cry? Go ahead and try!

If you're lucky and crush the CM's will to live, they'll give you a front-of-the-line pass to meet a character of your choice, an unlimited FP, a key to the secret Winnie the Pooh restrooms, or even free park tickets.

If you're unlucky, they'll hand you a brochure with directions to Harry Potter.

 

[WDW1974]

What the (Meg) is this happy (Pooh!)?!!?!?

... I'd like to not overreact entirely, do we have any specifics as to what what this means?

No, I'm going to ask that. I thought it meant food or, perhaps, character greets.

 

[dadddio]

Except for the fact that literally everyone who has reported on this project has stated that that's the ultimate goal... And 3 looks to be the number people will get. The only reason people are additionally allowed to use the paper FPs is because it's a test. That will not be a feature for when FP+ goes into effect... No paper same day. No virtual same day. Nada. And that too has been reported by literally everyone giving info on the subject.

I don't know who these reporters are that you are referring to. No official word has been released related to additional same-day FPs and the T&C suggests that the will be available.

 

[angelmichellexx]

No, I'm going to ask that. I thought it meant food or, perhaps, character greets.

So food and character greets would/could/might be/become non-standby?

 

[stevehousse]

Glad to hear the food aspect doesn't affect your passes because I thought te same thing when I read it!

Really want to know what these "activities" are???

I am bummed that I won't be able to spread magic FP on people anymore. I stated earlier that I always get way more than 3 FP a day and I am bummed I can't gift them!

As for our family we do not like to park hop, we always spend the day at one park. Even if we leave in th afternoon, we alway go back and finish! I'm sorry to those who this will affect now!

This whole thing is just rediculous and i wonder how much everyone was smoking when they greenlit the project!

I will say that I actually like every component to mm+ EXCEPT the FP. It should have never been implemented into this kind of system!

 

[WDW1974]

To play devil's advocate here, if you were going to DHS in the morning just for those three, you wouldn't really need FP+. Just hop in line quickly and use FP+ for MK later on in the day.

But I agree, there are really no advantages to this system.

To be fair, very rarely, VERY, VERY rarely do I 'need' FP at WDW. In parts of 17 days there last month, I got exactly three FPs. One for KS. One for ToT. One for PPF.

They all were showing waits of 20-40 minutes at the time (so likely less) and I just didn't feel like waiting.

But I also don't visit during the two weeks around Easter or the week between Christmas and New Years or July 4th anymore ... and I NEVER get to the parks before 11 a.m., but usually late afternoon. Still, I ride plenty and I don't wait plenty. I am used to walking on most things and I have no intention of suddenly standing in a 45-minute standby line for PoC on a Friday afternoon in February. Boy,does this system suck.

 

[dadddio]

That's not how it is going to be. Once FP+ is live for all, FP will not exist. In paper or in virtual form.

If Disney were going to allow folks to get unlimited FPs besides the three they are reserving, then the whole system would fail. Virtual spaces are being set aside for guests who show up and buy a $95 ticket. They can't go to OCD planner X in New Jersey who booked Sapce Mountain at 9:15 a.m., meeting Cinderella at 11:00 and riding the Haunted Mansion at 11:45 exactly at the 60-day mark.

Also, Disney is getting hammered in a lot of places, like this MAGICal realm, over the system. Doncha think if you truly had an option of booking the three above and then showing up at EPCOT at 1:45 p.m. and getting a FP for Tron Track that Disney would want that info. out?

1) There is no such thing as unlimited FPs. I didn't make that claim.
2) FP+ is FP virtualized with a prereservation component.
3) Disney isn't withholding the information. It's right there in the T&C. Beyond that, I don't see why fanboy angst and internet supposition should cause the company to make any statements about anything.