Next Gen+ for dummies

[tractorm3]

Well I will start off with this. Mods, maybe given the scope on the Next gen stuff comming out we should have a dedicated forum for it?

I have read through all the things online and I am sure I missed a bunch so my apologies if this is repeated.

Here Is my question/take. From what I have read and seen My Disney Experience is part website, part smart phone, part next gen stuff with wrist bands. So we can now book ride fast passes and viewing areas well in advance and so one. The wristbands really repalce the keys to the kingdom cards for everything. AWESOME! Will the guest who utilizes this system still be able to walk into the park and get a fastpass for a ride the day off? I want to be able to walk into DHS and grab a fastpass (i know the ticket fastpasses will be gone but with my new wristband) to star tours (just an example) then go ride tower of terror and come back between the times given to me.

Does this still happen?

 

[G00fyDad]

My question is this... what if I get to the park and realize that I truly do not want a wrist band? Can I go back to my resort and get a KttW card issued to me? I know they will have to have an "opt out" option for the wrist band so they will still have KttW cards, but what if I have already been issued a wrist band?

 

[JustInTime]

What I want to know is when this new service goes into effect...

 

[RandomPrincess]

Well I will start off with this. Mods, maybe given the scope on the Next gen stuff comming out we should have a dedicated forum for it?

I have read through all the things online and I am sure I missed a bunch so my apologies if this is repeated.

Here Is my question/take. From what I have read and seen My Disney Experience is part website, part smart phone, part next gen stuff with wrist bands. So we can now book ride fast passes and viewing areas well in advance and so one. The wristbands really repalce the keys to the kingdom cards for everything. AWESOME! Will the guest who utilizes this system still be able to walk into the park and get a fastpass for a ride the day off? I want to be able to walk into DHS and grab a fastpass (i know the ticket fastpasses will be gone but with my new wristband) to star tours (just an example) then go ride tower of terror and come back between the times given to me.

Does this still happen?

Disney has said that once you use FP+ you can not access regular FP.

 

[tractorm3]

Well so why is every one so in arms about the stand by lines taking a hit? sounds to me liek Disney is smart to set that rule. all those people who do this in advance will not be able to do it on the spot.

I for one will always do the FP in the parks and not the +. I just think given WDW its hard to plan exactly when and where you will be. Factors like, crowds, parades, how your feet feel, weather, EMH, other people in the group etc all play a hand on what rides when.

 

[sbkline]

Disney has said that once you use FP+ you can not access regular FP.

I'm curious about this part. By this statement, do they mean that once you use FP+, you can never again access regular FP...EVER? Or do they mean for the remainder of that particular stay? Or just the remainder of that day? If I access FP+ today, are they saying I can no longer access regular FP for the rest of the day, but that I can start out fresh tommorrow?

 

[Skippy's Pal]

Everything I've read seems to cast a big fat black cloud over the future of park hopping under FP+. Much of what I've read supports the contention that one of the hidden agendas behind NextGen (besides revenue enhancement) is "experience rationing'" limiting peoples' ability to take in attractions, vs. actually building new ones. And finally, I can't get past the degree to which NextGen ties me to the same technologies (cell phones, Internet, iDevices) that I want to get away from when I'm on vacation. What's the point of Disney "place making" and immersive experiences when I have to keep logging-in to the real world? Am really, seriously, most depressed and bummed-out by all this. I am afraid that our last trip to WDW may have been, in fact, our last trip. May have to look to DL until that, too, succumbs.

 

[City Girl]

I don't want to be tied to Internet and iPhone while at Disney either. That's why the FastPass+ appeals to me - but only if I can make those FP+ attraction reservations before I leave home. Right now, sadly, that option is not available to me in My Disney Experience.

 

[CaptainShortty]

I'm curious about this part. By this statement, do they mean that once you use FP+, you can never again access regular FP...EVER? Or do they mean for the remainder of that particular stay? Or just the remainder of that day? If I access FP+ today, are they saying I can no longer access regular FP for the rest of the day, but that I can start out fresh tommorrow?

The FP kiosks as you know them are going to disappear eventually. That being said, there is more to the FP+ system than just people picking at home for when they get there. Day guests, CMs, those that choose to not participate in FP+ will not be without FPs entirely. For the details unfortunately you'll have to wait until Disney formally releases them.

Another thing to remember with the whole MyMagic+ thing. It is going to take a LONG time to role out this entire operation. It is already being pushed farther and farther back as they realize new things about it. What is hard to realize I guess is that even with all the tests, when you put any piece of technology into an environment this big with this many variables, there are bound to be lots of things that come up that they never thought would or that didn't come up in the test. Patience is key. When it does start rolling out, it will definitely be in waves, just as TTP has been in waves (which only 2 of 4 have been completed so far), MagicBands, FP+, etc will also role out slowly. It's not one day you don't have them and then one day everyone does. Especially with MagicBands, in the beginning they are only going to be rolled out to very specific types of guests and then they will be rolled out to more and more people.

 

[sbkline]

The FP kiosks as you know them are going to disappear eventually. That being said, there is more to the FP+ system than just people picking at home for when they get there. Day guests, CMs, those that choose to not participate in FP+ will not be without FPs entirely. For the details unfortunately you'll have to wait until Disney formally releases them.

Another thing to remember with the whole MyMagic+ thing. It is going to take a LONG time to role out this entire operation. It is already being pushed farther and farther back as they realize new things about it. What is hard to realize I guess is that even with all the tests, when you put any piece of technology into an environment this big with this many variables, there are bound to be lots of things that come up that they never thought would or that didn't come up in the test. Patience is key. When it does start rolling out, it will definitely be in waves, just as TTP has been in waves (which only 2 of 4 have been completed so far), MagicBands, FP+, etc will also role out slowly. It's not one day you don't have them and then one day everyone does. Especially with MagicBands, in the beginning they are only going to be rolled out to very specific types of guests and then they will be rolled out to more and more people.

That doesn't really answer my question though. I know that eventually, regular FP will be phased out. But while it is still here, I am curious what it means when someone says that once you use FP+, you can no longer access regular FP. Again, my question is, does this mean that somehow they have my info such that once I use a FP+, I can never, EVER use regular FP again (like if we make another visit in 6 months, and regular FP is still in use)? Or does it simply mean that I can no longer use regular FP on this current trip, under the wristband that I am using right now? Or does it only mean that once I use FP+, then for the rest of that particular day, I can not access regular fastpass? When I go back into the park tommorrow, can I once again access regular fastpass as long as I don't use FP+ for that day?
ther
Again, whether regular fastpass will be completely phased out isn't the issue. I'm talking about that period of time (whether it be two weeks, two months, two years, etc) when the regular FP system exists simultaneously with FP+ and wondering what it means for my future ability to use regular FP once I use FP+ the first time.

 

[RandomPrincess]

@sbkline no one knows but Disney.

 

[Juliaz3]

Maybe it's too early for anyone to know this but what I'm not quite understanding about FP+ (and I realize it's actually not in use yet, or is it on a limited basis for certain resorts?), is this: If under the new system you are allotted, for example, 3 FPs per day, then does that guarantee you will get three FPs for the 3 attractions of your choice, although maybe you'll have to take whatever times are still open/available? Or, if there are 6 FP attractions in a particular park, does it mean you'll get 3 FPs, but they might not be for the attractions or the times you prefer?

If so, it seems to me that FP+ is better than the current system, which can "run out" of FPs early in the day for the most in-demand rides (TSM), meaning you can't get a FP for that ride that day at all. My husband and I are not rope-drop people and we don't run to the FP machines as soon as we get in the park. If this new system allows us a chance to get/plan our FPs without all the silly running, then I'm all for it. In addition, we will have some choice of what time we want to use the FP, rather than just taking whatever window of time the FP machine spits out and then having to plan our next couple of hours around that.

Imagine we check in at our resort and buy our park tickets that day for the next 4 days. If we can then go online or use a kiosk at the ticket sales desk to choose our FPs, as long as I am guaranteed that I will get 3 FPs to use at some point during our day in each park, then I'm pretty happy. Maybe the times I prefer will be unavailable but at least we'll have the chance to ride a ride without a 90-minute wait.

 

[sbkline]

Maybe it's too early for anyone to know this but what I'm not quite understanding about FP+ (and I realize it's actually not in use yet, or is it on a limited basis for certain resorts?), is this: If under the new system you are allotted, for example, 3 FPs per day, then does that guarantee you will get three FPs for the 3 attractions of your choice, although maybe you'll have to take whatever times are still open/available? Or, if there are 6 FP attractions in a particular park, does it mean you'll get 3 FPs, but they might not be for the attractions or the times you prefer?

If so, it seems to me that FP+ is better than the current system, which can "run out" of FPs early in the day for the most in-demand rides (TSM), meaning you can't get a FP for that ride that day at all. My husband and I are not rope-drop people and we don't run to the FP machines as soon as we get in the park. If this new system allows us a chance to get/plan our FPs without all the silly running, then I'm all for it. In addition, we will have some choice of what time we want to use the FP, rather than just taking whatever window of time the FP machine spits out and then having to plan our next couple of hours around that.

Imagine we check in at our resort and buy our park tickets that day for the next 4 days. If we can then go online or use a kiosk at the ticket sales desk to choose our FPs, as long as I am guaranteed that I will get 3 FPs to use at some point during our day in each park, then I'm pretty happy. Maybe the times I prefer will be unavailable but at least we'll have the chance to ride a ride without a 90-minute wait.

I think the underlined part of your above quote would pretty much mean that there can be no absolute guarantees that you will necessarily get the 3 specific fastpasses that you want. If, as you say, you have to take whatever times are open or available, then that implies the possibility that you waited too long and ALL the time slots are now gone for that ride for that day and you will now have to settle for a second choice. As long as there continues to be limited amounts of fastpass time slots available, I don't see how there can be any GUARANTEE that you will get a fastpass for that ride. The 60 day time window may make it very likely that you will be able to do so, but there would still be the possibility that everyone else could already beat you to it.

 

[WDW!]

What I want to know is when this new service goes into effect...

me too!!

 

[MarkTwain]

That doesn't really answer my question though. I know that eventually, regular FP will be phased out. But while it is still here, I am curious what it means when someone says that once you use FP+, you can no longer access regular FP. Again, my question is, does this mean that somehow they have my info such that once I use a FP+, I can never, EVER use regular FP again (like if we make another visit in 6 months, and regular FP is still in use)? Or does it simply mean that I can no longer use regular FP on this current trip, under the wristband that I am using right now? Or does it only mean that once I use FP+, then for the rest of that particular day, I can not access regular fastpass? When I go back into the park tommorrow, can I once again access regular fastpass as long as I don't use FP+ for that day?
ther
Again, whether regular fastpass will be completely phased out isn't the issue. I'm talking about that period of time (whether it be two weeks, two months, two years, etc) when the regular FP system exists simultaneously with FP+ and wondering what it means for my future ability to use regular FP once I use FP+ the first time.

From what I understand (and take this with a grain of salt), the full implementation of FastPass+ and the removal of the FastPass machines will be almost simultaneous. That's because FastPass+ is in part intended to be an upgrade to the current FastPass system. Touchscreen computers are currently being set up outside attractions all across WDW, each of which will access a homescreen that allows you to manage your FastPasses or to request a FastPass for that ride. So instead of going to a FastPass machine (many of which are technical nightmares), putting in your ticket and withdrawing a FastPass, you would instead go to these touchscreens. There may actually be a level of selection in it, so you can actually select what time frame you would like to return in that day (beyond a minimum earliest timeframe, of course). That said, you would still be entering the same FastPass database that Disney hotel guests had drawn from months before, so selection for same-day FastPasses would be more limited. But from what I hear they will still be available.

But in other words, FastPass+ and same day FastPass will be pretty much one and the same.

Another thing to note: many have compared NextGen to a cruise ship model based on reservations and planned events. My family and I have gone on several cruises with Disney, and have learned a lot about how they reserve excursions. One time we tried to book months ahead of time for a particular excursion on a Mediterranean cruise (it was the only excursion which went to both Florence and Pisa in the same day), and were informed that they had already run out of their advance reservations. However, they informed us that a certain percentage of tours were being held until the actual cruise for booking, so they told us to simply visit them as soon as we walked onboard and we could book it that way. Which we did.

So depending on how well they handle this, and on how well they've learned from their cruiseline, Disney may reserve a certain number of FastPasses+ for advance booking, and then hold a certain number for day-of requests. That would better accommodate guests more accustomed to the present day-of FastPass system, and wouldn't completely screw guests that don't stay on-property. We'll see.

 

[Juliaz3]

Disney may reserve a certain number of FastPasses+ for advance booking, and then hold a certain number for day-of requests.

This to me seems the only "fair" way to handle it. Not every resort guest is going to buy their park tickets 60 days out or plan their days that far in advance. I would never want to do that! To go into the system expecting you have 3 FPs to use/schedule only to learn you can't use any of them would be like telling a resort guest that they can't enter a park during Extra Magic Hours because it's "full". (Which I suppose might happen on the very-highest-capacity days but that's only a few days a year.)

 

[Redhawk]

From what I understand (and take this with a grain of salt), the full implementation of FastPass+ and the removal of the FastPass machines will be almost simultaneous.

I suppose for the first week or so that FP+ is in full use it will be great for those who use the FP kiosks in the parks. There won't be many "advance" (180-day-out) FP times already taken, so basically the system will be wide open until resort guests hear about it and begin scheduling their FPs the way they do their ADRs.

 

[RogueHabit]

So, one of the key things is to make sure you know your Disneyworld.com login details as you will need those to make all of this stuff woprk, is that a fair comment?

 

[Redhawk]

So, one of the key things is to make sure you know your Disneyworld.com login details as you will need those to make all of this stuff woprk, is that a fair comment?

Maybe. But an easier way it may work is that you swipe your wristband or RFID-enabled card at a kiosk and then make or alter your FP "reservations". If you want to alter them without using a kiosk, then you may need or have the option to link to your Disneyworld.com login so you can use a smartphone app. I believe Disney does not expect every guest to walk around the parks using a smartphone all day, but they know that many will, so are trying to build a new system that incorporates the most modern technology. This is all speculation of course.

 

[Mammymouse]

All this NexGen stuff is giving me a headache. All I want to do is go to Disneyworld and enjoy myself, and I don't want to have to get a MBA in Tech to figure it out. Am I over-reacting?