4th Fastpass easier today 6/7 than yesterday?

[LukDuk]

I want to see a jury respond after reviewing Disney's promotion of FP+, looking at what customers paid for their WDW accommodations and ticketing -- and reviewing actual breakdowns of wait times for various rides, including FP+ riders and those in standby, as in the type of metrics only known to Disney, along with data associated with availability of FP+ to those specific guests during their visit and those of other high volume FP+ MDE accounts in the same time period.

I don't think a jury is going to look at the opportunity of guest A to use their legitimate FP+ and 3 hours extra in standby lines per day to ride SDMT, Soarin', TOT, PP, etc or decide to wait less and go with Imagination, Living With the Land, Aladdin's Carpets while a review of guest B using their legitimate FP+ and several scammed accounts has entry to multiple attractions listed on Disney's own systems as Tier I in the same amount of time and say guest A and guest B were allowed the same advantages for their price of entry to the park that day.

What concept of law do you think Disney is violating? Personally I'm not sure the case you describe would ever make it to trial. Whether within the TOS or not, Disney didn't handpick who did and didn't use the advantage. I agree that it's good customer practice to equalize experiences to the extent practicable; I'm just curious what you think creates an associated legal obligation in this case.

 

[Wojodis]

I want to see a jury respond after reviewing Disney's promotion of FP+, looking at what customers paid for their WDW accommodations and ticketing -- and reviewing actual breakdowns of wait times for various rides, including FP+ riders and those in standby, as in the type of metrics only known to Disney, along with data associated with availability of FP+ to those specific guests during their visit and those of other high volume FP+ MDE accounts in the same time period.

I don't think a jury is going to look at the opportunity of guest A to use their legitimate FP+ and 3 hours extra in standby lines per day to ride SDMT, Soarin', TOT, PP, etc or decide to wait less and go with Imagination, Living With the Land, Aladdin's Carpets while a review of guest B using their legitimate FP+ and several scammed accounts has entry to multiple attractions listed on Disney's own systems as Tier I in the same amount of time and say guest A and guest B were allowed the same advantages for their price of entry to the park that day.

Just to play devil's advocate and I will also preface this by stating that never, not even 1 time, have I ever used any magic band other than my own to enter the park or an attraction--no SDFP, extra magic bands, family members bands, party changes from families bands, nothing (also I don't have an AP--never have); but how is Disney responsible. Is it their lack of action to stop it? Everyone gets the same rules. Should Disney be responsible to disclose how others are using (some say abusing) the system? People use this system everyday, within parameters set by Disney, to obtain an advantage and sometimes it's actually a requirement (ex. free dining packages)--come on people, can you honestly tell me that if you had an AP and were forced to buy extra tickets to obtain free dining at a resort, you wouldn't book 3 FP/day on 2 separate valid forms of admission media. Now, I don't really know if it works that way but I would book it out that way if I could. As long as FPs are booked at the appropriate intervals and guests enter and re-enter--I see no reason why this should be a problem for anyone. Personally, I find it a bit shadier that guests who buy party tickets can book FPs for times before the party even starts.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

Personally, I find it a bit shadier that guests who buy party tickets can book FPs for times before the party even starts.

That's because party tickets include admission to MK up to 3 hours prior to party starting.

The real shame is that party tickets command a very high price per hour compared to regular park entry and limits party guests to only a 3 hour window for FPs.

Also if I purchase a regular admission ticket and a party ticket for use the same day, according to MDE I'm only eligible for 3 FPs total when in fact I have purchased 2 separate tickets for a total of (up to) about $230 (if purchasing single-day tickets) per person for a single day at MK.

 

[Wojodis]

That's because party tickets include admission to MK up to 3 hours prior to party starting.

The real shame is that part tickets command a very high price per hour compared to regular park entry and limits party guests to only a 3 hour window for FPs.

Also if I purchase a regular admission ticket and a party tickets for use the same day, according to MDE I'm only eligible for 3 FPs total when in fact I have purchased 2 separate tickets for a total of (up to) about $230 (if purchasing single-day tickets) per person for a single day at MK.

I agree completely--you are required to buy 2 separate tickets. I see no reason why you should not get 6 FPs--but in terms of this thread--if people could do that then they would most likely not be getting more desirable 4th FP--haha

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

That's because party tickets include admission to MK up to 3 hours prior to party starting.

The real shame is that part tickets command a very high price per hour compared to regular park entry and limits party guests to only a 3 hour window for FPs.

Also if I purchase a regular admission ticket and a party tickets for use the same day, according to MDE I'm only eligible for 3 FPs total when in fact I have purchased 2 separate tickets for a total of (up to) about $230 (if purchasing single-day tickets) per person for a single day at MK.

I think all this comes back to the perceived value for the huge sums of money we are paying. The poster below hit the nail on the head!

What all of this has shown me, both on the discussion topics that took place yesterday and the ones taking place today about various "tools", is that WDW is walking a real fine line with their prices versus perceived value.

When customers are pushing the envelope literally at every turn, it makes you wonder

 

[Wish Upon A Starbucks]

That's a bummer...especially at MK.

Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever been able to get a 4+ FP for the Tier 1 rides at either HS or Epcot? We have never been able to. I was hoping that the 3rd track for TSM at HS and the 3rd theater for SAW at Epcot would have helped...or maybe we just have bad luck!

Yes. By refreshing a few times in the app I have gotten TSM and Soarin as a 4th FP. In mid-August. Keep trying!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Ok, my account makes all the FP selections for everyone. So as long as I go, it's good, right?

It is the admission that matters, not the MDE account. I also make all of our FP+ reservations, but I assign each to the admission of the family members traveling with me. So, the admission is used to get the FP, and that same admission will be used to redeem it, even though my MDE account will be used in the app to book it.

 

[Amanda999]

So now the sole purpose of a kiosk will be for those who don't have smartphones?

I always thought that was the sole purpose of the kiosks since FP+ debuted (except for 4th and later FP, until they made that via phone too).

Why else would you walk to a kiosk, and wait in a line to use it, when you can do the same task on your phone in your pocket? I traded my dumb-phone for a smartphone solely to avoid that additional walk and wait in line.

 

[DisneyMom93]

What gives you the impression your interpretation of the TOS is correct?

Disney set up a system with certain parameters (3 FPs per person) and people exploited the loopholes.

The fact they are not enforcing their ToS shows that's how they wanted it to work in the first place.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I always thought that was the sole purpose of the kiosks (except for 4th and later FP, until they made that via phone too).

Why else would you walk to a kiosk, and wait in a line to use it, when you can do the same task on your phone in your pocket? I traded my dumb-phone for a smartphone solely to avoid that additional walk and line.

Actually, lots of people just arrive, buy tickets and don't have MDE accounts.

 

[mom2rtk]

Actually, lots of people just arrive, buy tickets and don't have MDE accounts.

A bunch of them don't have smart phones either.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

Yes, that has been my experience too. A lot of the people I see are buying tickets at the gate and have no idea what MDE is and just basic knowledge of FP from the maps.

Actually, lots of people just arrive, buy tickets and don't have MDE accounts.

 

[nick-pappagiorgio]

I beg to differ. I've never heard anyone who was doing it say they had to wait more than 1 person to access a kiosk at park open. So how many people could have been doing this?

I thought the same thing. The first year it was bad, but anymore I rarely see more that half the kiosks being used at any one time.

 

[runwad]

Yep we were there last week and at the most I'd see one person at the machines, sometimes no one.

 

[AngiTN]

That's a bummer...especially at MK.

Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever been able to get a 4+ FP for the Tier 1 rides at either HS or Epcot? We have never been able to. I was hoping that the 3rd track for TSM at HS and the 3rd theater for SAW at Epcot would have helped...or maybe we just have bad luck!

Yes, every trip, including last week. Especially now that TSMM and Soarin have added capacity

 

[BK2014]

2. If Disney began to require guests to "scan out" when exiting the parks. (Never gonna happen because they have no right to stop a law-abiding citizen from leaving the park in the event they lose their MB)

I agree that this will probably never happen, but I disagree with the latter part of your statement. If Disney started requiring everyone to scan their MB in and out of the park, the certainly could detain anyone trying to leave without one to determine whether they simply lost their MB, or were trespassing.

 

[Araminta18]

That's a bummer...especially at MK.

Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever been able to get a 4+ FP for the Tier 1 rides at either HS or Epcot? We have never been able to. I was hoping that the 3rd track for TSM at HS and the 3rd theater for SAW at Epcot would have helped...or maybe we just have bad luck!

I was there this March, crowds at 8s/9s (yay spring break!) and was able to get FEA twice as a 4th FP, Soarin twice as a 4th FP, TSMM once as a 4th FP, and 7DMT once as a 4th FP. Basically, refresh the app til a time comes up, take that time (whatever it is) and then use the "modify" button on the app until you get a time you actually want. Sometimes it took a little bit, but some of those FP lines were long enough to do it, or when waiting for the check at lunch, or waiting for the bus. I was really pleasantly surprised, though it was just a party of 2, so that probably helps.

 

[DisneyMom93]

I agree that this will probably never happen, but I disagree with the latter part of your statement. If Disney started requiring everyone to scan their MB in and out of the park, the certainly could detain anyone trying to leave without one to determine whether they simply lost their MB, or were trespassing.

Or to make sure everyone that entered the park also left the park. No more checking behind the bushes.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

I agree that this will probably never happen, but I disagree with the latter part of your statement. If Disney started requiring everyone to scan their MB in and out of the park, the certainly could detain anyone trying to leave without one to determine whether they simply lost their MB, or were trespassing.

You may very well be right for all I know. I'm not a judge, lawyer, P.O., and have no formal knowledge of the laws in Orlando. Keep in mind, a good portion of guests don't have MBs. They drive to the park, purchase a ticket, and enjoy their one day there.

I think anyone that has ever exited MK after Wishes, or EPCOT after Illuminations would agree that this simply wouldn't work. 10's of thousands of guest would not wait in line to exit the park.

In fairness, it can be said that cruise ships require guests to scan when both embarking and disembarking the ship but to me, that's an entirely different set of circumstances.

 

[AngiTN]

I was there this March, crowds at 8s/9s (yay spring break!) and was able to get FEA twice as a 4th FP, Soarin twice as a 4th FP, TSMM once as a 4th FP, and 7DMT once as a 4th FP. Basically, refresh the app til a time comes up, take that time (whatever it is) and then use the "modify" button on the app until you get a time you actually want. Sometimes it took a little bit, but some of those FP lines were long enough to do it, or when waiting for the check at lunch, or waiting for the bus. I was really pleasantly surprised, though it was just a party of 2, so that probably helps.

Party size has a significant impact on availability of the 4th FP, without question. A group looking for 4, 6, 8 + will not have as much luck as one looking for 2 or 3. We have looked for 2 or 3 and like you had no problems.