My magic+ testing report

[doctornick]

So your argument is that a system more complex than the current system will be better for the "casual guest". You realize how crazy that is, right?

I'm imagining that people can opt for Disney to just assign them FP+ and many would do that. And that they would enjoy using the FP+ whereas in the past a similar guest would never realize/understand the FP system and not use it.

Could be wrong, will have to see how it get implemented.

 

[ParentsOf4]

I was exhausted from being the "runner," the family was split up a lot (I know we're standing here to ride attraction X, but the 4 of us have FPs for Y so we'll meet you later...can't let them expire!), not to mention the one time I forgot to give the "nap team" their tickets back (I was the runner) and we then had to plan on meeting back at the gate later to give tickets back.

Based on your post, you are FP+'s target market and I mean that in a positive way. Disney is truly trying to help you.

Beyond the business objectives, one of the complaints that Disney is genuinely trying to solve is this: families having to separate because of FP.

FP+ should make WDW vacations less stressful because guests will have their FP+ selections in hand prior to arrival.

As a tool, FP+ is less physically taxing. However, FP+ is more complicated but at least most of its complexities will be brought home. Guests will face these complexities from the comfort of their residences instead of at the parks.

Of course, Disney could make WDW vacations both less stressful and less complex by completely eliminating FP+/FP but this would not support corporate Disney's business objectives, which includes having guests preplan their entire vacations at WDW prior to arrival so they are less likely to wander off to theme parks that are building new and exciting attractions.

 

[bubbles1812]

Ohh, it sounds complex if you make a resort reservation and then Disney ask you what you want to see. Then they try to guarantee that you will see it.

Now imagine telling that to someone... You've oversimplified it to the point a newbie wouldn't understand how to use the system. What you said doesn't remotely explain how it works. It's going to take a lot of explanation. I think you think I'm trying to be a snarky. I'm actually not. But you've proved my point. A simple explanation can't really be given because the system is now quite complex. You didnt explain it. And again, a reminder that FP+ is just one component.

 

[ddrongowski]

Disney hasn't made any official comments on how this will work for Annual Passholders but those with the doom & gloom attitude may be pleasantly surprised by their final decision

Is that what your crystal ball tells you? I like the way you used the word "MAY", very committal.

 

[PhotoDave219]

It is possible that the reason that you can't understand how there could be positives is because your assumptions about how it will work are incorrect.

Will you post specifics of how the system will work?

 

[ddrongowski]

Here is a positive thing for FP+. Once it is fully implemented and they remove the existing FP machines, they will have more area for food/nick knack selling stands. YEA!!!!!!

 

[ddrongowski]

Another positive thing for FP+. Nobody can give away their not going to be used fastpasses to other guests. YEA!!!!

 

[ddrongowski]

One more positive for FP+. No more standing behind that person that is getting the 27 fastpasses for their group that is not even in the area, but is in some other line waiting until they get near the front and then calls on their cell phone to the fastpass getter, so that person can line jump while repeating the phrase "excuse me my friends are farther up in the line" over and over and over again. WHOA THAT IS A HECK OF A RUN ON SENTENCE!!!!! YEA!!!!!

 

[ddrongowski]

AP holders could kill FP+ if they wanted. I have a hard time believing that AP holders go to WDW every day. Now with that in mind, I just read on the MM+ etc details page "AP holders will have the same FASTPASS+ rules as resort guests, with 60 days out reservations, for one park only per day, and three selections per day." So if AP holders reserved FP+'s for everyday, even ones when they are not there, then FP+'s would have to be extremely rare. Not that AP holders are going to do this, but it is wrench that could damage the cogs of the FP+ system.

 

[DrewmanS]

Will you post specifics of how the system will work?

From the different reports I have read, I expect the system to be relatively simple. When you make your reservation you will receive information to go online to complete your registration. Here you will be guided through entering information about your party, adding other guests to your group, etc.

Then the system will ask if you want to set up fast passes. It will walk you through each day asking what park you plan to visit and your favorite rides. It will then provide several options for a group of fast passes for that day. You pick one and move on.

The system will not have each person develop detailed itineraries with specific times and rides. That would be to complicated and would defeat part of the purpose of fastpasses; to spead out crowds evenly around the park to improve capacity.

So now instead of trying to go around the park getting fast passes during the day, you can tell your family, " OK we will meet at Space Mountain at 9, Haunted Mansion at noon, Pirates at 3, and Small World at 5. Lunch is in Beast Castle at 1 and dinner is at Diamond Horseshoe at 7:30. In between, do what you want."

While I like being spontaneous, to a larger family this could be much less stressful than trying to get everyone to agree what to do next as you stand in the sweltering Florida sun on the third day of your vacation.

 

[PhotoDave219]

From the different reports I have read, I expect the system to be relatively simple. When you make your reservation you will receive information to go online to complete your registration. Here you will be guided through entering information about your party, adding other guests to your group, etc.

Then the system will ask if you want to set up fast passes. It will walk you through each day asking what park you plan to visit and your favorite rides. It will then provide several options for a group of fast passes for that day. You pick one and move on.

The system will not have each person develop detailed itineraries with specific times and rides. That would be to complicated and would defeat part of the purpose of fastpasses; to spead out crowds evenly around the park to improve capacity.

So now instead of trying to go around the park getting fast passes during the day, you can tell your family, " OK we will meet at Space Mountain at 9, Haunted Mansion at noon, Pirates at 3, and Small World at 5. Lunch is in Beast Castle at 1 and dinner is at Diamond Horseshoe at 7:30. In between, do what you want."

While I like being spontaneous, to a larger family this could be much less stressful than trying to get everyone to agree what to do next as you stand in the sweltering Florida sun on the third day of your vacation.

No, thats not what I meant. I understand how FP+ should theoretically work and I'm firmly in the "this is going to me off A LOT" camp.

I basically want to see specifics posted where I am wrong about these assumptions, the largest one being that all the FP+ reservations will be reserved 60 days out and that passholders will get screwed big time.

Like others have wondered, how will same-day tickets be handled? How will tickets be handled by anyone who gets one through an authorized Disney seller (Military, AAA, Disney Stores)?

 

[DrewmanS]

AP holders could kill FP+ if they wanted. I have a hard time believing that AP holders go to WDW every day. Now with that in mind, I just read on the MM+ etc details page "AP holders will have the same FASTPASS+ rules as resort guests, with 60 days out reservations, for one park only per day, and three selections per day." So if AP holders reserved FP+'s for everyday, even ones when they are not there, then FP+'s would have to be extremely rare. Not that AP holders are going to do this, but it is wrench that could damage the cogs of the FP+ system.

I am sure there will be language in the rules/regulations against abusing the system and that Disney can revoke Fastpass+ at any time. If someone makes reservations for every day and then never uses them, they would likely get an email that the privilege was suspended.

As with everything else in life these days, the more people try to abuse the system the more rules that will be implemented restricting everyone's use of it.

 

[PhotoDave219]

AP holders could kill FP+ if they wanted. I have a hard time believing that AP holders go to WDW every day. Now with that in mind, I just read on the MM+ etc details page "AP holders will have the same FASTPASS+ rules as resort guests, with 60 days out reservations, for one park only per day, and three selections per day." So if AP holders reserved FP+'s for everyday, even ones when they are not there, then FP+'s would have to be extremely rare. Not that AP holders are going to do this, but it is wrench that could damage the cogs of the FP+ system.

Ive taken the week off but I plan to return next week.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Yes, in the future, I suspect this will become the strategy for park hopping with FP+.

Agreed! That's our plan: hit the headliners in one park by arriving early, and then hop to another one after lunch/naps, with fastpasses in hand for the most popular attractions there.

We're still going to end up with fewer rides on our favorite attractions because of the 3-fastpass-limit, but we'll just make the best of it, and hope that the diminished pool of fastpasses will have a positive effect on the flow of standby lines.

 

[asianway]

1. Any three
2.you could plan them any time, either before or the day your going to the park
3. Yes, for the most part, a small amount of times were restricted for certain rides.
4. 1 hour
5. No, never.

Were you/will you be given an exit survey to report back to TDO how MAGICal the experience was?

I imagine it will be as follows:

1.) MAGICal
2.) Extremely MAGICal
3.) MAGICally MAGICal
4.) DD was in tears it was so MAGICal
5.) Zipadeedoodah from my oraface MAGICal

 

[ddrongowski]

Were you/will you be given an exit survey to report back to TDO how MAGICal the experience was?

I imagine it will be as follows:

1.) MAGICal
2.) Extremely MAGICal
3.) MAGICally MAGICal
4.) DD was is tears it was so MAGICal
5.) Zipadeedoodah from my oraface MAGICal

Got to love those stacked answers to questionnaires.

 

[RSoxNo1]

It is possible that the reason that you can't understand how there could be positives is because your assumptions about how it will work are incorrect.

I hope my assumptions are incorrect, but nothing to date has indicated that they are incorrect.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Based on your post, you are FP+'s target market and I mean that in a positive way. Disney is truly trying to help you.

Beyond the business objectives, one of the complaints that Disney is genuinely trying to solve is this: families having to separate because of FP.

FP+ should make WDW vacations less stressful because guests will have their FP+ selections in hand prior to arrival.

As a tool, FP+ is less physically taxing. However, FP+ is more complicated but at least most of its complexities will be brought home. Guests will face these complexities from the comfort of their residences instead of at the parks.

Of course, Disney could make WDW vacations both less stressful and less complex by completely eliminating FP+/FP but this would not support corporate Disney's business objectives, which includes having guests preplan their entire vacations at WDW prior to arrival so they are less likely to wander off to theme parks that are building new and exciting attractions.

This may come off as "changing the argument" but that's not the intent. What FP+ is aiming for is a stress free vacation for some, but it's at the cost of not necessarily experiencing as much. However, if people are ignorant of that fact presumably it won't affect their satisfaction. I don't buy it.

It points to the maintenance issue. Someone could go on Expedition Everest and enjoy the ride, they could leave 90% satisfied without knowing that the Yeti was supposed to move. That same person could ride it again for the first time, have the Yeti move and leave 95% satisfied. Just because someone is ignorant of what they're missing it doesn't mean there's no effect. What if the difference between 90-95% satisfaction is the purchase of a $20 on ride photo?

 

[RSoxNo1]

FP+ would not be more complex than the current system. It is far less complex, in fact. There is no racing around the park to collect FPs and then return at the specified time. Instead, newbies will simply be issued a FP set. They can either use the FPs as assigned, or trade any of the for something more to their liking. That's a darn simple system, from a newbie's point of view.

I love the fact that you're not racing around the park. Change the system to one that's just on your phone or in park kiosks and I'm 100% on board. That's not what they're doing though.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Here is a positive thing for FP+. Once it is fully implemented and they remove the existing FP machines, they will have more area for food/nick knack selling stands. YEA!!!!!!

Nope, stroller parking.