Disney to cancel FPs if room is cancelled

[CMNJ]

I wish disboards had an option for LOL like Facebook-sometimes likes just don’t cut it!

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Don't feel bad. I don't either, despite writing many posts in this thread.

Oh, you definitely do! I process rather slowly, so I'm always a few pages behind in terms of contributions! But I like to follow along nonetheless...

 

[cel_disney]

I had a split stay for April - and cancelled the first part of it today because we will not be able to meet my cousins early. Will report out if any of my FP get cancelled (the ones from the first reservation or the second that were booked with the continuous reservation).

Good Morning Dissers...Quoting myself to just report that so far - nothing has happened to my FP for the ‘leading reservation’ that I cancelled on thursday. No email and the FP are still there for April 9th.

My FP window for these days has correctly been removed. (I have an AP so I can make FP for next 30 days plus my trip)

Since it’s been 3 nights - I am assuming that Disney is not checking for this 60/30 day case yet - so decided to try one more thing...Modifying the FP!!

It let me get all the way thru the process bringing up the screen to replace old with new- and then I got the red bar ‘something went wrong screen’. After attempting to exit the screen - it said ‘There are no more times available for the attraction you selected’. The next option it gave me was to ‘pick a different experience - at which point the app crashed. After a restart - the FP from April 9th are all still there.

Wil be interesting to see if this triggers anything different to happen. This was a legit split stay and I will really be at Disney in april - arriving now on the 11th. I have FP for Buzz, Splash and SDMT for the 9th that I really should cancel at some point so that others can grab them but I don’t mind one more round of experimenting if anyone has an idea of what to do.

One funny note from this: Barnstormer FP and Splash Mountain we’re suddenly gone for this day - could there be so many people experimenting that we have grabbed all of them??

 

[guerns17]

Good Morning Dissers...Quoting myself to just report that so far - nothing has happened to my FP for the ‘leading reservation’ that I cancelled on thursday. No email and the FP are still there for April 9th.

My FP window for these days has correctly been removed. (I have an AP so I can make FP for next 30 days plus my trip)

Since it’s been 3 nights - I am assuming that Disney is not checking for this 60/30 day case yet - so decided to try one more thing...Modifying the FP!!

It let me get all the way thru the process bringing up the screen to replace old with new- and then I got the red bar ‘something went wrong screen’. After attempting to exit the screen - it said ‘There are no more times available for the attraction you selected’. The next option it gave me was to ‘pick a different experience - at which point the app crashed. After a restart - the FP from April 9th are all still there.

Wil be interesting to see if this triggers anything different to happen. This was a legit split stay and I will really be at Disney in april - arriving now on the 11th. I have FP for Buzz, Splash and SDMT for the 9th that I really should cancel at some point so that others can grab them but I don’t mind one more round of experimenting if anyone has an idea of what to do.

One funny note from this: Barnstormer FP and Splash Mountain we’re suddenly gone for this day - could there be so many people experimenting that we have grabbed all of them??

Did you do this on the app? Because I noticed the same thing happen when I experimented last week. Cancelled room...fastpasses stuck around. I tried to adjust one on the app to test it out and it gave me that “something went wrong”. So I tried on the website and it let me adjust things no problem.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

This is all very strange. With the apparent (so far anyway) lack of enforcement or fully plugging the hole to begin with, I'm actually wondering if that wasn't the goal. Maybe split stays were actually the target and not the collateral damage. With word that they added 1500 more rooms with 60 day eligibility maybe they just wanted to open up more 60 day availability to sell to these new hotels. I'm sure a lot more people use legit split stays than the leading reservation and not treating it as a continuous stay frees up a lot of availability. And Disney has proven in the past that they can slam the door pretty solidly shut on a loophole when they want to (see the SDFP thread).

If leading reservations were the real target then they desperately need to hire some white hats. I think a couple people on this thread would be good candidates. Disney could probably pay them in Anytime FPs.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Did you do this on the app? Because I noticed the same thing happen when I experimented last week. Cancelled room...fastpasses stuck around. I tried to adjust one on the app to test it out and it gave me that “something went wrong”. So I tried on the website and it let me adjust things no problem.

MDE was it's usual snafu self yesterday. I got a lot of strange errors I have never seen before when playing with FPs. A couple times after clicking the park and taking me to the screen where you pick the attraction and time there was literally nothing on that page except for the back and start over buttons (chrome interface).

 

[cel_disney]

Did you do this on the app? Because I noticed the same thing happen when I experimented last week. Cancelled room...fastpasses stuck around. I tried to adjust one on the app to test it out and it gave me that “something went wrong”. So I tried on the website and it let me adjust things no problem.

Yes - I was using the app! I will try on the web shortly!

 

[cakebaker]

Apparently, I did not curse myself. Today was my legitimate 60 day window. Got everything I wanted, at the times I wanted, despite a beginning snafu when I realized I couldn’t book for my grandson and had to log into my daughters account to book for us.

FOP and SDD were wide open, booked them both on multiple days. I was booking SDD at 60+1,FOP at 60+3 and SDMT at 60. Easiest time I’ve ever had booking fp’s. I think I love early May!

The website glitched a couple of times, but on the whole, not bad at all.

 

[MommaBerd]

@cakebaker - That is great news for you!

 

[Runnsally]

Apparently, I did not curse myself. Today was my legitimate 60 day window. Got everything I wanted, at the times I wanted, despite a beginning snafu when I realized I couldn’t book for my grandson and had to log into my daughters account to book for us.

FOP and SDD were wide open, booked them both on multiple days. I was booking SDD at 60+1,FOP at 60+3 and SDMT at 60. Easiest time I’ve ever had booking fp’s. I think I love early May!

The website glitched a couple of times, but on the whole, not bad at all.

Great...seems like this summer is a set up for manageable crowds.

 

[mckennarose]

This is all very strange. With the apparent (so far anyway) lack of enforcement or fully plugging the hole to begin with, I'm actually wondering if that wasn't the goal. Maybe split stays were actually the target and not the collateral damage. With word that they added 1500 more rooms with 60 day eligibility maybe they just wanted to open up more 60 day availability to sell to these new hotels. I'm sure a lot more people use legit split stays than the leading reservation and not treating it as a continuous stay frees up a lot of availability. And Disney has proven in the past that they can slam the door pretty solidly shut on a loophole when they want to (see the SDFP thread)......

Very interesting! I was thinking it had a lot to do with preparing for SWGE somehow, but this makes more sense. Disney doesn't do anything to make it "fair" or a level playing field for their guests; they do things to make more money. I'm sure they are aware of all the strategies people use like the leading reservations, walking reservations, throwaway rooms, etc, but they only seem to care and change things when they can potentially make more money off the change.

 

[rteetz]

Very interesting! I was thinking it had a lot to do with preparing for SWGE somehow, but this makes more sense. Disney doesn't do anything to make it "fair" or a level playing field for their guests; they do things to make more money. I'm sure they are aware of all the strategies people use like the leading reservations, walking reservations, throwaway rooms, etc, but they only seem to care and change things when they can potentially make more money off the change.

SWGE is also part of all of this.

 

[Runnsally]

SWGE is also part of all of this.

Agreed. I still think the split stay thing is collateral damage and this is mostly about SWGE, (eventually) preventing offsite guests from gaming the system, and controlling the supply of FPs for future monetization, etc.

 

[mckennarose]

SWGE is also part of all of this.

How do you see it fitting with SWGE? I'm sure it does also, but I was thinking it was the only reason for the change. Now there seems to be so many other pieces at play (particularly the 2 new hotels added to the list) and its interesting to see how they fit together.

 

[rteetz]

How do you see it fitting with SWGE? I'm sure it does also, but I was thinking it was the only reason for the change. Now there seems to be so many other pieces at play (particularly the 2 new hotels added to the list) and its interesting to see how they fit together.

I think SWGE is the biggest driver for sure. There is a huge “storm” that is sweeping the theme park world with this addition. Disney is making so many changes to their parks because of this one land. That’s never been seen before.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Agreed. I still think the split stay thing is collateral damage and this is mostly about SWGE, (eventually) preventing offsite guests from gaming the system, and controlling the supply of FPs for future monetization, etc.

Except that they aren't doing any of that, based on testing that has happened and actually increased the number of people vying for them. The two things are very inconsistent - worried about SWGE and adding more hotels. Maybe they are putting everything in place and will actually swing the hammer (cancel FPs) later. But why do it in two stages? Why not announce the change and make the change?

But if they do swing the hammer, then I would agree it's at least in part due to SWGE.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

why do it in two stages?

Disney IT, that's why.

 

[Marionnette]

Except that they aren't doing any of that, based on testing that has happened and actually increased the number of people vying for them. The two things are very inconsistent - worried about SWGE and adding more hotels. Maybe they are putting everything in place and will actually swing the hammer (cancel FPs) later. But why do it in two stages? Why not announce the change and make the change?

But if they do swing the hammer, then I would agree it's at least in part due to SWGE.

Well, in a way they have. Guests who booked throwaway rooms can no longer get a rolling 60-day window for the days following the night that they booked. They get 60+1, which is their LOS.

Something else To chew on: Disney rarely makes official announcements when it comes to closing loopholes and they didn’t do it this time, either. However, the word was leaked out thru trusted bloggers. I’m looking at this as being similar to when they changed their TOS to specifically remove GLFP as an option. It’s still possible to use GLFP...for maybe a day...but then the offenders get thrown in FP Jail and need to contact Disney to get bailed out. When they call, they are reminded of the TOS and given a firm lecture along with making them declare that they understand their transgression. A repeat offense could get their account permanently locked. There was a post about this very issue just this past week on the TPAS.

I would not be surprised if something similar is coming down the pike. The guest who got caught GLFPing was able to do so on their visit but when they tried to make FPs for the next visit, they learned that accounts were locked. Maybe people who think they’re safe by booking FPs using leading reservations now could find themselves in FP Jail on their next trip.

 

[Runnsally]

Except that they aren't doing any of that, based on testing that has happened and actually increased the number of people vying for them. The two things are very inconsistent - worried about SWGE and adding more hotels. Maybe they are putting everything in place and will actually swing the hammer (cancel FPs) later. But why do it in two stages? Why not announce the change and make the change?

But if they do swing the hammer, then I would agree it's at least in part due to SWGE.

Also, Disney has not (and likely will not) made any announcement about these FP changes. All this discussion was initially driven by a post on WDWMAGIC. While the post is reputable and there have been some substantive changes by disney, this whole idea of timelines and phases is our own narrative.

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

Are split stays still separate? I thought recent reports (with all the FPs wonkiness, mind you) were the window was opening for splits.
Honestly, it's hard to keep up with all the glitches...