With FASTPass+ rolling out for non-resort guests of Walt Disney World, there have been a number of questions and concerns regarding what can and can’t be done. Well, Doctor Disney has spoken with some sources dealing with the project and found out some new information.
FASTPass+ is indeed still in testing phases for many aspects before the official full roll-out comes sometime this year. Yes, it’s been in testing for a long time, but there are still new things coming and old bugs to be worked out.
Upon speaking to a few Cast Members and some of my own sources, here is the latest update on the entire MyMagic+ situation for non-resort Disney guests/daily visitors. This does not include Annual Passholders.
~ Non-resort/Non-AP guests will not be getting MagicBands. There are no plans at this time for them ever to get MagicBands by being given them or purchasing them.
~ Non-resort guests cannot use My Disney Experience (MDE) to organize/adjust/make their FASTPass+ reservations. They can use it for dining and everything else, but not for their FASTPass+ reservations at all.
They can connect/link their theme park tickets to their My Disney Experience account, but nothing will be able to be done with it. All FASTPass+ reservations for non-resort guests must be made/altered via in-park kiosks and can only be done on the day of their visit.
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Believe it or not, the FASTPass+ and MagicBands are really not causing problems and are actually making standby lines shorter. Statistics were shown to me from the past three months and standby line wait times have dropped.
Also, FASTPass+ for Disney Resort guests has not seen all the times taken in advance before daily guests arrived.
On Monday for example, Doctor Disney checked through MDE at 12:30 p.m. and saw over 10 different FASTPass+ times for Soarin’ and that includes one a mere hour and a half later. There were times for every single other ride in Epcot and the other three parks as well…including eight different times for Toy Story Mania.
It’s not so bad if you give it a chance.
“It’s not so bad if you give it a chance?”
Please!!! We are ride-centric visitors to WDW and there is NOTHING about FP+ that is an improvement for us over the legacy FP system. We used to be able to ride our favorite rides multiple times each day using FP. Now, we are limited to one FP a day, per ride. I have also read that many rides now have absurdly long wait times for the FP lines. Why? Because Disney is literally pushing everyone into making 3 FP reservations per day.
Also the limit of 3 per day, per park is ridiculous. We easily used 6-7 FPs a day under the old system.
And I HATE the idea of having to plan out each park day 60 days in advance, but that’s what you have to do as you make your FP+ reservations.
And I am far from alone in my frustration with the limitations Disney has now imposed on FPs.
I much prefer Universal’s system. So much so that my next trip to WDW will probably be my last unless Disney makes changes to the FP limitations. I can stay more cheaply at a Universal hotel than at a Disney deluxe resort AND I get front-of-the-line privileges included. On my last trip to Universal, we NEVER waited to get on any ride, except for one instance on Spiderman when we waited 15 minutes. Front of the line is a great idea and easy for the guest to use. Disney’s FP+ is absurdly complicated and limiting.
You don’t like it, I do. Not saying everyone has to like it or approve of it or be happy with it.
But you also state that you “far from alone” in being the only one that doesn’t like it. While being in the parks 5-7 days a week, I meet very few that dislike it. I never wait to get on attractions. Never wait at all at Disney Parks.
To each their own.
I was able to completely re-do my fastpass selections last night, at 10pm, the night before presidents day and I was able to get everything I wanted, when I wanted it. Less walking, able to show up in the middle of the day with 3 fastpasses… So far it’s great! The only real downside (for resort guests) is that you can’t FP multiple times on the same ride. If you want that (and we did) you just need to arrive early, which you’d have to do under the old system anyway. How could you, under the old system, show up at 3pm and walk on to toy story mania?
Exactly.