My Magic + details ...

Clancy Wiggum

Clancy Wiggum

Member
If FP+ implementation is poorly received, as suggested earlier, I would think WDW would seek to address some of the complaints. It seems unlikely they would just write off the investment and abandon the project. There is little chance they won't understand that everything is not hunky dory. They will have analytical data and someone, uh, analyzing it.

Once the system is running, I have to guess that coding to allow multiple parks would be a simple matter. Tweaking the number of available FP+ slots per day would also be simple coding.

It might be a bit more difficult to emulate the current FP system within the framework of FP+ but it would be doable in time. By emulating the current FP, I mean anonymously without a Disney account and using ticket media on the day of. Maybe adding to onsite kiosks a means of activating the ride selection screen via RFID chip without entering an account/password. If they could get that done, it would actually be better than the current system because you wouldn't have the stampede for the specific ride FP machines and you could select a return time, instead of accepting the current time window.

I do like the basic idea they are working here. But like many others, I think the parameters of implementation are a little off. Since this is a tech-based system, it can be re-configured on the fly, in some ways more easily than others. I'm willing to wait for a year or so after it actually kicks off to start grumbling, or considering alternatives with my vacation time and money.
 
Grumpy21

Grumpy21

Member
I'm looking forward to the system and hope I will be part of the test. With all new things that come out there is resistance and anger towards all that is wrong. IMO I think a lot of people are between denial/resistance or emotional on the change curve.
 
Clancy Wiggum

Clancy Wiggum

Member
Another thing that would be easy to do within the framework of the MM+ system as we "know it" now...for those that have done online check-in, got Magic Bands and drive to the resort...No visit to the front desk. You pick up your resort welcome packet at the guard shack and get a text on your cell phone with the room number as soon as the room is ready on check-in day.

For those arriving by car, it would be a wonderful option to drive up the resort and go right to your room. I think I've read somewhere that is in the works. If not, it should be. And again, it would be easy to implement. Most of it is already in place. The only thing that would be new is getting your "room key" (ie Magic Band) prior to arrival.

There is a ton of potential here. Potential does not necessarily translate into improvement. But if Disney listens to their customers, I think they can put most of the complaints to bed. If the cost estimates I've seen are correct, Disney has a billion reasons to want to make this work to enhance the guest experience. One thing that seems to have already been addressed is the complaints of "being tracked". The Disney FAQ says you can request a RFID card instead of Magic Band. The cards only allow touch-based activation/reading.
 
K

kittybubbles

Active Member
luv said:
I really like the idea of booking all FPs for afternoons. In this way, you can hit big rides in the mornings and afternoons. It was always a challenge for me, having sleep-in mornings after fireworks and still getting enough mornings to hit all the big rides.

I think that part would be very helpful for planners. :)
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I guess one of the unknowns to me is if the morning standby queues for the big rides will already have a long wait because 80% of the ride's capacity between 9 AM and 10 AM were already booked two months ago
 
Animaniac93-98

Animaniac93-98

Well-Known Member
How will event parties use Magic Band and Fastpass + tech?

In the past, your ticket would be a seperate card and after scanning you'd be given a wristband as proof that you are allowed in. No Fastpass would be available.

Does Disney intend to start using FP now during party hours? I assume party ticket info could be loaded onto a band for scanning, but would Disney make people wear two wristbands as proof of purchase? Or will party guests just get seperate (say, orange coloured) bands?
 
71jason

71jason

Well-Known Member
Clancy Wiggum said:
Once the system is running, I have to guess that coding to allow multiple parks would be a simple matter. Tweaking the number of available FP+ slots per day would also be simple coding.
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Both of which benefit the people who "get" it--but do nothing but increase stand-by lines even more for those who remain clueless.
 
71jason

71jason

Well-Known Member
Animaniac93-98 said:
How will event parties use Magic Band and Fastpass + tech?

In the past, your ticket would be a seperate card and after scanning you'd be given a wristband as proof that you are allowed in. No Fastpass would be available.

Does Disney intend to start using FP now during party hours? I assume party ticket info could be loaded onto a band for scanning, but would Disney make people wear two wristbands as proof of purchase? Or will party guests just get seperate (say, orange coloured) bands?
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I would assume the paper wristbands aren't going anywhere soon.
 
luv

luv

Well-Known Member
kittybubbles said:
I guess one of the unknowns to me is if the morning standby queues for the big rides will already have a long wait because 80% of the ride's capacity between 9 AM and 10 AM were already booked two months ago
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Good point! Hadn't thought of that! Guess I can't stick that in the PLUS column just yet.

The other thing I like about this whole business is wristbands for the water parks. I am hoping that if your park AP and water park AP are two different cards, like mine are :), that you will be able to get a wristband for the water parks and not have to wear one for the regular parks. Haven't heard peep about that yet.

The idea of the wristbands at the water parks is one I like a lot, assuming they are waterproof, of course. :)
 
gwhb75

gwhb75

Well-Known Member
luv said:
Good point! Hadn't thought of that! Guess I can't stick that in the PLUS column just yet.

The other thing I like about this whole business is wristbands for the water parks. I am hoping that if your park AP and water park AP are two different cards, like mine are :), that you will be able to get a wristband for the water parks and not have to wear one for the regular parks. Haven't heard peep about that yet.

The idea of the wristbands at the water parks is one I like a lot, assuming they are waterproof, of course. :)
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I doubt WDW would allow any ride or attraction to have 80% of the capacity tied up by fastpass at any point in time during the day. I'm thinking the fastpass slots will be in the same quantity as they were under the paper system....but that's just my thought.

From what I understand the bands will be waterproof.
 
ParentsOf4

ParentsOf4

Well-Known Member
gwhb75 said:
I doubt WDW would allow any ride or attraction to have 80% of the capacity tied up by fastpass at any point in time during the day.
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You really don't know, do you?

A number of CMs who work the "merge point" between FastPass and Standby lines have reported that the ratio gets as high as 10-to-1 for some of the popular, low capacity attractions.

There's a reason attractions such as Soarin' and Toy Story Mania frequently have 2-hour waits even when the parks are not particularly crowded. :(

It's why I'm now of the opinion that WDW would be a better place if they completely eliminated FP/FP+.
 
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Did Knee

Did Knee

Active Member
can someone explain what the "ride strategy" would be using this new system? In the past I would do stuff like grab a FP for big thunder and ride Splash, or at DS I would grab a FP for RNR coaster and ride TOT. I understand that wont be possible anymore, but what is the strategy to use to minimize wait times when using this new system?
 
ParentsOf4

ParentsOf4

Well-Known Member
Did Knee said:
can someone explain what the "ride strategy" would be using this new system? In the past I would do stuff like grab a FP for big thunder and ride Splash, or at DS I would grab a FP for RNR coaster and ride TOT. I understand that wont be possible anymore, but what is the strategy to use to minimize wait times when using this new system?
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The park hopping strategy with the FP+ system would be to tour the first park immediately after opening before the lines get too long using the Standby lines. Lines typically are shortest for the first hour or two after opening. Then, hop over to the second park in the afternoon, if you have later FP+ selections for that park.

For example, be at DHS for rope drop, use the Standby lines for TSM, RnRC, TOT, and STII. Depending on your pace, you could be done with these by 11 AM. (I've done them even faster.) If you want, then watch one of the DHS shows (which handle lots of people), perhaps have lunch, and then hop over to Epcot where, hopefully, you have afternoon or early evening FP+ selections for either TT or Soarin'.

The key is to be able to get "good" FP+ return times for popular attractions.

Note that I use "good" in quotes because different people will have different definitions of what constitutes "good" FP+ experience return windows. Like FP, it appears FP+ will provide guests with a return window of about 1 hour.

If you are not park hopping, then get FP+ return times when lines are the longest, typically in the afternoon.

Always get FP+ selections for attractions with the traditionally longest wait times that you intend to ride (e.g. Space Mountain). Don't waste a FP+ selection on your "favorite" attraction if it traditionally has a short wait.
 
cslafferty

cslafferty

Well-Known Member
I have only heard that Disney is trying to discourage park hopping by only letting you schedule FP at one park per day. If they get rid of park hopping altogether, I think that would really backfire for Disney. If they think that eliminating park hopping will force me to spend the day at AK or even DHS they are sadly mistaken, because I will skip those parks altogether. It will also affect my dining choices. For example, I would probably not use the DDP, and do mostly QS meals, since we usually spend most of our time at MK but eat most of our meals at Epcot. I would venture to guess that many who park hop do so to eat at Epcot. There just aren't quality TS restaurants in any of the other parks, and the quality resort restaurants are hard to get into as it is.

I can understand why they would try to encourage people to stay in one park, but I can't see that they would take away the park hopper option altogether.
 
luv

luv

Well-Known Member
I think that we will need details of the whole thing before coming up with touring strategies.

Me, myself, I also need to know what all the Disney fans' strategy is so I can avoid that, too. :). If they're all going straight to Toy Story, we are going to RnRc. :)
 
cbsav

cbsav

Active Member
What I'm interested to see is if upon check-in those that don't have FP reservations will be given them by the CM checking them in. If that's the case I think the number of people using FP may actually increase considerably as it will essentially be forced upon people. And limit day of FP changes
 
Did Knee

Did Knee

Active Member
luv said:
I think that we will need details of the whole thing before coming up with touring strategies.

Me, myself, I also need to know what all the Disney fans' strategy is so I can avoid that, too. :). If they're all going straight to Toy Story, we are going to RnRc. :)
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I wanted to see if there were some opinions on how FP+ will affect touring plans. I probably will have to wait for next year's "Unofficial Guide" to really get a grip on the methodology for minimizing wait times with this.
 

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