FP + What we know and what we want to know

[bcrook]

It costs (present-day) approx. one hundred million dollars to create a major new "E-ticket" attraction, give or take a few million.

A billion dollars would net TEN brand new "E-ticket" attractions, give or take an attraction or two.

Would being able to ride 8-12 new major attractions appeal to guests?

Could you shave a few million out of there to give me back that third EMH hour (I will take it at just MK). We spend a lot of time hoping for those 10 new attractions - and now we get interactive Jungle Cruise queues. I just can't let it go.

By the way - The Discovery Channel runs an WDW Advertisement every 5 minutes. I wonder when that new marketing campaign hits.

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

I think the 'pay to play' mentioned late last night is the other shoe dropping.

US and basically every other theme park charges something for their version of FP. Disney was giving it away for free. Don't you think they wanted to get some return on that? People were paying many hundreds of $ for a stay in a deluxe, and complaining "there were no FPs available when I showed up! Do you know how much I paid for this? I deserve better! I'll go to US where they are happy to take my money and give me superior benefits."

And Disney was giving the best FP perks away for free to people who probably didn't spend as much (I know I sure didn't.)

I think a valid ticket will get us some minimal FP+, and staying on-site or at a fancier resort will get you more.

As a family of 5, we always stay off-site ($75 for a 3 bedroom condo instead of $300 a night for anywhere at Disney). I'm disappointed, but I understand the business reasons behind it.

The mouse wants his cheese.

This is what I'm afraid is coming. I always resented that I either had to stay at a Universal resort...which I didn't want to do...or pay a LOT of extra money to avoid lines at Universal. Refused to do either when we visited Universal.Honestly, as a family of 5 we just couldn't add on anymore expense. I loved that Disney allowed all their guests regardless of ability to pay to have the same opportunity to have a positive experience and avoid the long lines by just doing a little planning and research. I get it. It's about money but the idea makes me sad. I hope this doesn't end up being the case with FP+

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Could you shave a few million out of there to give me back that third EMH hour (I will take it at just MK). We spend a lot of time hoping for those 10 new attractions - and now we get interactive Jungle Cruise queues. I just can't let it go.

By the way - The Discovery Channel runs an WDW Advertisement every 5 minutes. I wonder when that new marketing campaign hits.

It's coming...have you heard the tag line? Every family is different...some like the park time, some the pool time, some the night life...

Just waiting for them to add the schedule your fp for your family's perfect time...

 

[estherhead]

http://www.pdcorp.com/en-us/rfid-ent/case-study-great-wolf.html

There are over 31,000 rooms at wdw resort. If keyless access to each door cost $100 that is $3.1 million. Then add the hardware to all other doors and each server, etc. Even if they hadn't touched FP at all, just changing the resort would have cost $5 million easily. I read an article that said just the lack of maintenance alone makes installing the, pay for itself. plus non-American cell phones have RFID capacity in them. the project that in the very near future you will just get a code for your phone and no hotel card or bracelet at all. so any forward thinking hotels like Hyatt are changing now. And all the cool kids are doing it. They don't like being followers. And I'm sure they didn't want customers having to have a card just for FP as they wouldn't like having two things. But they didn't want to get rid of FP. So they upped the ante.

 

[Tink10]

It isn't FastPass+ directly (unless the rumors are true and they pull it out from under the offsite guests and make it a perk), but the whole MyMagic+ idea. Make it faster and more convenient for people to spend money, and they will spend more without thinking about it.

ITA...As many of us here know, planning a WDW vacation is quite a bit different & more involved than planning a trip to Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head.

I talk to so many new visitors don't have a clue about dining ressies, Fast Passes, Dinner Shows, Dining Plans, etc, etc, etc.

The MyMagic+ brings it all together on one site, so people can understand the options and planning. and it allows them more time to buy the goodies

 

[doconeill]

I've read through the updated terms and conditions. Not a ton has changed.

At first, I thought the part about "or associate valid park admission to your account" further confirms that this is not limited to resort guests...but that just might cover resort guests who book room only. Still, I don't think it excludes anyone.

On "you will select a FastPass+ experience set" - that is sounding more like you will have choice of several pre-selected sets of FP+ experiences, and not be able to choose individually. And you can't change any individual FP+ experience, but only the whole set, until the first one is redeemed or expires. THEN you can freely change them around.

So maybe their aren't tiers to choose from, per se - but you'll only get choices that do not include more than one E-ticket.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Not a scientific sample.
Just a very telling one.

I think you've counted well! I would just argue that an unscientific (quite skewed) sample, by definition, isn't really telling.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[WishnDisney]

I'm surprised at how some want to make me feel bad that I think that if I do the work by doing research and being at the park at RD and stay until closing that I think is okay that I get more FPs. Isn't that what we are taught as children? You do the work and you reap the rewards. I don't want anyone to have a bad time on their vacation but why should I be happy that Disney wants to take from my family that will do the work and give it to someone that doesn't want to do the same. I really really do not like getting up early. I am so not a morning person but I do it for Disney so that I can reap my rewards.

Also it keeps getting pointed out that just because Disney may limit my FP to 1 headliner, it is NOT keeping me from riding anything I want to ride because I can get in the SB line. But yet, my "super-using" of FPs is keeping others from riding rides. Aren't they just as able to get in the SB line as me? And as long as you are in line by the time the park closing, aren't you allowed to ride? We pull FPs until well in the late afternoon and early evening so the idea that FPs are running out by 12:00 or 1:00 all over DW just doesn't fly. We travel in June for the past 6 years and have only seen this as a problem with TSM and Soaring. If that is the main problem it could have been fixed easily without spending a billion dollars.

Another point is if more had decided to use the old FP system, there would have been less FPs for all of us "super-users". Disney could have just spent money on trying to make more people aware of their FP system that way it was. This would have cut how many FPs I was able to get.

I believe this is about so much more that FPs but just something that Disney saw a chance to do something about. But I refuse to take the blame (super-user) for all these changes and I refuse to feel bad that I feel like I deserve more for my "work". Just as someone that paid more for their ticket at US deserves more than the normal ticket by moving to the front of the line. And maybe that is where Disney is headed anyway!

 

[sophielab1]

does anybody know if they offer the app for windows phones?

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

It isn't FastPass+ directly (unless the rumors are true and they pull it out from under the offsite guests and make it a perk), but the whole MyMagic+ idea. Make it faster and more convenient for people to spend money, and they will spend more without thinking about it.

And I have a sneaking suspicion that some will believe even though it is not a resort perk, they'll see it as one or at least more easily used if you stay at the resort, given all the confusion about getting tickets, etc.

I would not at all be surprised to see a resort tie in at some point in the future.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Addressed to no one, in particular-

The way I count the respondents in this thread, I see about a half dozen, or so, posters who applaud the pending changes (as much as we know of them) and everybody else who thinks the new system may be disappointingly flawed.

Not a scientific sample.
Just a very telling one.

If you don't like my figures (such as they are) go ahead and count them yourself.

(We'll wait.)

Thank you.

 

[doconeill]

does anybody know if they offer the app for windows phones?

Not currently. Just iOS and Android. Haven't heard if it is planned either.

 

[Tink10]

does anybody know if they offer the app for windows phones?

I had heard that it was coming, but no date has been given yet.

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

I've read through the updated terms and conditions. Not a ton has changed.

At first, I thought the part about "or associate valid park admission to your account" further confirms that this is not limited to resort guests...but that just might cover resort guests who book room only. Still, I don't think it excludes anyone.

On "you will select a FastPass+ experience set" - that is sounding more like you will have choice of several pre-selected sets of FP+ experiences, and not be able to choose individually. And you can't change any individual FP+ experience, but only the whole set, until the first one is redeemed or expires. THEN you can freely change them around.

So maybe their aren't tiers to choose from, per se - but you'll only get choices that do not include more than one E-ticket.

Sets of FP+ experiences to choose from. One E-ticket? Really? Ugh I'd like my freedom back please...

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

I was just thinking about this while getting caught up...

How many "problems" have been cited as the reason FP+ was created?

- FP "angels" giving away their Fastpasses...well, it doesn't cost a billion dollars to have scanners at the FP returns to verify the owners

- Late FP users...well, it doesn't cost a billion dollars...oh, wait...they fixed that one already. And it didn't cost anything but some thickened skin for the frontline CMs...

- Repeat FP "uberusers" - it doesn't cost a billion dollars to change it so that any given ticket can only get 1 or 2 FPs at any given attraction, just some programming, and maybe a slightly larger
database.

- Rope-droppers...it doesn't cost a billion dollars to restrict FPs in the morning to spread them out more. Make the exclusion time two hours no matter what.

So, why do they spend a billion dollars? To make more than that back.

And funny, Disney has admitted that's the reason they did it. Not to fix any perceived problem.

Anyone who would like to explain how they stand to make a billion+ on this whole thing, feel free. I'm not seeing it.

 

[Sammie]

Addressed to no one, in particular-

The way I count the respondents in this thread, I see about a half dozen, or so, posters who applaud the pending changes (as much as we know of them) and everybody else who thinks the new system may be disappointingly flawed.

Not a scientific sample.
Just a very telling one.

If you don't like my figures (such as they are) go ahead and count them yourself.

(We'll wait.)

What it tells is that when people don't like something, they are always more vocal about it than those that do like it and many are in the middle and really don't care either way. Honestly at this point not sure we have enough concrete facts to know for sure

 

[bcrook]

ITA...As many of us here know, planning a WDW vacation is quite a bit different & more involved than planning a trip to Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head.

I talk to so many new visitors don't have a clue about dining ressies, Fast Passes, Dinner Shows, Dining Plans, etc, etc, etc.

The MyMagic+ brings it all together on one site, so people can understand the options and planning. and it allows them more time to buy the goodies

I agree with all of this. I really like the way the app looks. If they can get people on the app (which in this day and age it fairly simple) they shouldn't have any trouble hooking people in the planning.

 

[mousermerf]

Notes:

"Resort Package" identifies a room with tickets in Disney-speak. Once again, it's linked to tickets.

And the group selection is, from what I've heard, based on preferences made in the tiers. You'll still have some ability to designate what you want, but not cherry-pick, and if you don't or your desires don't match availability Disney will make "recommendations."

And one more time before people freak out.. It is tied to admission media. The resort "package" just designates people as having valid tickets 'on hold' so to speak. APs and guests with 'paper' tickets will register with their barcode as mentioned when this all started. No ticket in hand, no FP+ reservations. Military, CM, YES, etc.. tickets are not a priority.

 

[clareita]

Sets of FP+ experiences to choose from. One E-ticket? Really? Ugh I'd like my freedom back please...

If that turns out to be accurate, I'm guessing that even some of people here who think FP+ will be the best thing since sliced bread will wish we had the old system back, warts and all.

 

[doconeill]

Sets of FP+ experiences to choose from. One E-ticket? Really? Ugh I'd like my freedom back please...

One E-ticket per day has been discussed for quite some time...