UPDATED: MagicBands will NOT be coming to Disneyland

[cakebaker]

I don't think it's as much a matter of MB and FP+ being a failure at WDW as an acknowledgement of the different style of visitors at each park.

I absolutely agree. But I also don't think that one blurb in the article is even close to scrapping the system at DLR.

 

[cakebaker]

We are here right now and LOVE the FP- system. We were able to pull 10 on our first day. We actually had FIVE valid FP- at one time!!!

Soooooooo glad to hear they scrapped the idea of bringing that crap out here!!!

Congrats! And I'm so glad they do have fp+ at WDW so that kind of thing can't happen there anymore!

Btw- It's my understanding the crowd level is very low this week at DL, surprised you really even need fp's for a lot of things! Should be a great time to visit.

 

[mom2rtk]

DLR is very compact. Rides and their lines are extremely close to one another. I just can't imagine them being able to implement FP+ into these parks, because it would require space for both a FP+ line and a SB line. Just not practical IMO.

I have used FP+ at WDW and I do not like it. IMO it takes away spontaneity. I was not able to experience as many attractions because the SB lines were considerably longer. The only reason I am saying this is in response to posters who assume you haven't tried FP+ and that' the reason you don't like it.

I will be thrilled if DLR remains as is. I love deciding what park to visit on the spur of the moment, I love having park hoppers and having FP's for both parks simultaneously, I love going in a shorter SB line for rides like POTC, HM, IASW, TSMM because there is no FP competition. I will not be returning to WDW because of FP+, it's nice to know I will not have to stop visiting DLR.

The bottom line is that if they thought it would pad the bottomline, they would find a way to shoehorn it in. Not everything they do with FP+ makes sense to us. I mean, who thought Living With the Land would be a Tier 1 FP? Or that Captain EO would ever have FP? It's just proof that they do what they have to when they are motivated.

I'm so happy it appears we don't have to go out with a bang in 2015. I'm now looking forward to having DLR remain our "home park" for many years to come.

Now, all of us who post on the WDW side as well need to quit telling everyone how great an alternative DLR is. It's crowded enough already.

 

[mom2rtk]

Congrats! And I'm so glad they do have fp+ at WDW so that kind of thing can't happen there anymore!

Wow.

Why would you not wish the best possible experience for your fellow park goer?

 

[scrapshappen]

I did not read this entire thread, just bits and pieces. So this has probably already been mentioned. If so, skip it.

I noticed last week that the CMs who were checking FPs had the same ticket readers that they use at the front gate. You know the hand held devices that bring up your picture when your ticket is scanned? I wondered why they had them but I did find out. When Indy went down on our last day, we were just steps away from getting on the ride. Instead of just handing out FPs, they were scanning tickets and adding them directly to them. So then when you wanted to use that FP, you handed your ticket over to the CM who scanned it and could see if you really had one. We didn't have our APs with us (my husband had them and he didn't ride with us) so they still handed us a paper one. Seemed like some kind of test they were running.

As for wifi, the photographers were complaining about the wifi system used by park employees with all of those wireless scanners and how it was causing all kinds of delays for them. So it sounds like significant upgrades would be necessary even before it was as half as good as WDWs is.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Congrats! And I'm so glad they do have fp+ at WDW so that kind of thing can't happen there anymore!

What "kind of thing" would that be?

 

[cakebaker]

Wow.

Why wow? I think it's a great thing that people can no longer hoard fp's in the morning to use in the afternoon and evening, while people arriving late saw no availability. FP+ allows us to be able to go to an afternoon park assured that we will be able to ride a few headliners- this has not been possible in the past and I'm thrilled about it.

I understand others don't like it. We're each allowed our opinions.

 

[cakebaker]

What "kind of thing" would that be?

Collecting as many fp's as one possibly can in order to use them later in the day, eating up availability for others. At DL, that is not the issue it is at WDW- more parks, bigger crowds translated into a big problem for people who wanted to, for whatever reason, arrive at a park later in the day.

 

[agamble]

I think some form of FP+ will find it's way to DL eventually. As mentioned they could just use an app. Honestly, I don't think it's necessary for rides as there are a lot fewer rides at DL than at WDW that use FP and the rides are closer together so grabbing one for a ride on the other side of the park isn't as bad as at WDW. However, I've recently read posts where others were complaining that they couldn't get the exact WOC or Fantasmic time they wanted without constant checking and waiting for the window to open. I think it would be nice if they made the shows and M&Gs that use FP schedulable. They could use an app or even a kiosk of some kind instead of distributing the plain FP tickets. Who knows what they'll come up with though. He did still My Magic was coming, just not the magic bands themselves. Which is not that surprising as there are only 3 hotels at DL.

 

[wisblue]

We are here right now and LOVE the FP- system. We were able to pull 10 on our first day. We actually had FIVE valid FP- at one time!!!

Soooooooo glad to hear they scrapped the idea of bringing that crap out here!!!

Glad to hear that you are having a successful trip and that the crowds you were concerned about apparently did not materialize. As I have looked at the wait times at Disneyland and DCA the last couple of days it is hard to find any longer than 20-30 minutes, except for RSR, even for the attractions that offer FP.

For those planning a trip to Disneyland, it might help to explain how you were able to have 5 active FPs at once. It isn't hard for me to see how that could be done considering that there are some "disconnected" FPs at each park and the FP systems at the 2 parks are independent from each other. But, I would be interested in hearing how you rounded up 10 FPs in a day, what they were for, and how many of them you used.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Glad to hear that you are having a successful trip and that the crowds you were concerned about apparently did not materialize. As I have looked at the wait times at Disneyland and DCA the last couple of days it is hard to find any longer than 20-30 minutes, except for RSR, even for the attractions that offer FP.

For those planning a trip to Disneyland, it might help to explain how you were able to have 5 active FPs at once. It isn't hard for me to see how that could be done considering that there are some "disconnected" FPs at each park and the FP systems at the 2 parks are independent from each other. But, I would be interested in hearing how you rounded up 10 FPs in a day, what they were for, and how many of them you used.

I will post pictures for u when I get back.

 

[wisblue]

I will post pictures for u when I get back.

I don't need pictures. A simple description will do.

 

[wisblue]

Crowds are pretty steady. RSR has had 90 minute waits....Space Mtn at 60....BTMR at 45. Not exactly. Ghost Town.

Hmmm, apparently the wait times posted on the Touring Plans site are not accurate.

As of now (12:41 PDT) they show the wait at BTMRR at 15 minutes, with a FP return time of 1:10, and Space at 20 minutes with a FP return time of 1:40. If those were accurate anyone could do lot of repeat riding , with or without FP. And this is with Indy, Peter Pan, and the Matterhorn all closed.

 

[sheetz]

I don't see FP+ adding much to the experience at DLR so the cost of implementing it there is probably not worth it. Unlike at WDW the 2 parks at DLR have adequate ride capacity so the only attraction that gets super long lines is RSR, and even that one has a single rider option. As a perk for those staying onsite it's a simple matter to just give guests free paper FPs.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Collecting as many fp's as one possibly can in order to use them later in the day, eating up availability for others.

DLR has enforced return times just like WDW. You cannot "hoard" fps for use later in the day. It is possible to hold as many as that poster did.at once because there are things like world of color and fantasmic that are not connected to the fp system - the time at which you can.pull your next fp is pretty much immediate, and printed on the fp. Also, the fp system in DLR is not connected to DCA, so one can hold fps in each park simultaneously. Park hopping takes very little time, so this is quote doable.

Assuming there is rule.breaking or hoarding going on would be a mistake, imo.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I will post pictures for u when I get back.

Go enjoy your vacation! The DIS can wait

 

[theworldneedscolor]

Why wow? I think it's a great thing that people can no longer hoard fp's in the morning to use in the afternoon and evening, while people arriving late saw no availability. FP+ allows us to be able to go to an afternoon park assured that we will be able to ride a few headliners- this has not been possible in the past and I'm thrilled about it.

I understand others don't like it. We're each allowed our opinions.

But you can't do that at Disneyland; Fastpass times are enforced. The people who are able to use lots of Fastpasses are just being smart with how they use and collect them.

ETA: Looks like Angel Ariel beat me to it!

 

[mom2rtk]

Hmmm, apparently the wait times posted on the Touring Plans site are not accurate.

As of now (12:41 PDT) they show the wait at BTMRR at 15 minutes, with a FP return time of 1:10, and Space at 20 minutes with a FP return time of 1:40. If those were accurate anyone could do lot of repeat riding , with or without FP. And this is with Indy, Peter Pan, and the Matterhorn all closed.

Hey WisBlue! Nice to see you over here on the DL side of things. Are you planning a return trip?

 

[wisblue]

Hey WisBlue! Nice to see you over here on the DL side of things. Are you planning a return trip?

Not in the foreseeable future.

Disneyland is fun, and we would like to visit sometime other than Christmas to be able to enjoy it with lower crowds. But, that is hard with teachers in the family who also teach summer school. And we like to use the summer breaks for other things. Our plans for the next couple of summers include a visit to Denver and the parks in that area, and maybe a Disney Cruise to Alaska.

A trip to California is a lot more money and hassle for us than going to Florida, and we prefer the overall resort experience at WDW a lot more than DLR, especially when we can visit at times of the year when the weather is a lot better in Florida than it is at home (read, not summer). I don't see us ever going to California just to visit Disneyland. We have always combined it with other things when we have gone.

 

[mom2rtk]

Not in the foreseeable future.

Disneyland is fun, and we would like to visit sometime other than Christmas to be able to enjoy it with lower crowds. But, that is hard with teachers in the family who also teach summer school. And we like to use the summer breaks for other things. Our plans for the next couple of summers include a visit to Denver and the parks in that area, and maybe a Disney Cruise to Alaska.

A trip to California is a lot more money and hassle for us than going to Florida, and we prefer the overall resort experience at WDW a lot more than DLR, especially when we can visit at times of the year when the weather is a lot better in Florida than it is at home (read, not summer). I don't see us ever going to California just to visit Disneyland. We have always combined it with other things when we have gone.

Awww, that's too bad. I thought when I saw you over here that you were planning a return trip.