Reserve ride time from home?

[horizons1]

Doesn't this concept take out the spontaneity in visiting a park?

I agree. While we're at it, let's set aside a certain number of tables at each restaurant for walk-ups. ADRs are ruining the spontaneous enjoyment of the parks.

[Wizzard419]

But anyway, looking at the article, it looks like a small expansion of what they already offer. I would love to see how that is going to mess with fastpass distribution since the service is kind of unnecessary, but may work if the price is right.

I would assume it would decrease the number of fast passes to be distributed for that time period.

That is the issue I was hinting at, I remember going during the high season in 2001 and attractions at DL and WDW would run out of passes early in the day. That might not be the case anymore, so they may be able to do it without disturbing the normal flow too much.

As for the hotel rooms, I am guessing that their occupancy rates have fallen enough that they can offer the rooms far earlier than normal, which means they have to plan to have your room empty a day ahead of time since it would be kind of bad if the previous guest hadn't left yet and you were there trying to get into your room.

[Amy]

Doesn't this concept take out the spontaneity in visiting a park?

I agree. While we're at it, let's set aside a certain number of tables at each restaurant for walk-ups. ADRs are ruining the spontaneous enjoyment of the parks.

I like this idea....a lot!

[Wizzard419]

While I am never against a place taking full advantage of it's consumer base, the dining stuff has gotten a bit out of hand. Places have full bookings the moment they can start taking reservations (A year in advance if I recall)? That is just crazy.

[mindflipper]

While I am never against a place taking full advantage of it's consumer base, the dining stuff has gotten a bit out of hand. Places have full bookings the moment they can start taking reservations (A year in advance if I recall)? That is just crazy.

Having a family members with dietary restrictions and digestive disorders, ADR's have been a god-send. However, I will admit the fact that being able to get ADR's soooooo far ahead does present a problem they get taken. Many of these people have plan changes and those ADR's placed so early don't get cancelled. I would like to see ADR's availability window scaled back some. I thought it was 180 days. I wouldn't mind seeing it cut back to 120 days and see if that could cut down some on the ADR's that don't get used.

[Wizzard419]

I remember it use to be 6 months and then it was boosted to a year (a co-worker was telling me how she had to get up early to call in, long distance even, at 6 AM PST on the nose) to get a reservation at the place in the castle because they fill up for that date minutes after they can start taking reservations.

[Brian845]

I remember it use to be 6 months and then it was boosted to a year (a co-worker was telling me how she had to get up early to call in, long distance even, at 6 AM PST on the nose) to get a reservation at the place in the castle because they fill up for that date minutes after they can start taking reservations.

I think they switched it back to 180 days, that's what it is currently. You can book online at 6AM and call and speak to someone at 7AM.

[Wizzard419]

That is still a crazy distance, I know the scheduling people love it since they don't get surprises but dang, I think you don't even need a month's notice for reservations at french laundy.

[Polynesian Princess]

I hate the advanced fast passes and hope it never happens or at least sees major adjustments before it happens. I like being able to do whatever I feel like at the moment when I'm on vacation. It's already enough of a hassle to book dining reservations that don't get in the way. Plus, I wonder how they will limit these fast passes - surely I can't decide that I want to ride Space Mountain 20 times and get passes for that many times.

I don't see much benefit to the hotel check in. They already have online check in where you can just run up and get your key, it seems like this will cost more in postage than it's worth.

[mindflipper]

It does seem like it's the wave of the future; gotta do something with that iphone, right?

[Polynesian Princess]

I've also started wondering how this would affect the distribution of fast passes at the attraction - will this altogether eliminate that or just reduce it? Also, will it be limited to those staying on property or will there at least be a perk for staying on property (reserve earlier, reserve more, etc)?

[Jacca5660]

This program is the last stage of HAY!!!! You know horse S@%T!!

[secondstar]

the problem I see with this is people reserving times on rides then not even attending that park. How would that be addressed? Right now, you can't get a FastPass without being in the park. But imagine if you are home and trying to plan out your trip. You could have the best intentions of fulfilling your schedule, but when you arrive (if you arrive), you may have changed your mind and attended a water park that day. What would happen then? (I'm sure they've thought of this, though.)

[Amy]

the problem I see with this is people reserving times on rides then not even attending that park. How would that be addressed? Right now, you can't get a FastPass without being in the park. But imagine if you are home and trying to plan out your trip. You could have the best intentions of fulfilling your schedule, but when you arrive (if you arrive), you may have changed your mind and attended a water park that day. What would happen then? (I'm sure they've thought of this, though.)

Good point ~ lots of people don't stick to their ADR's so why would they stick to their advance FP. I wonder if they have considered this possibility?!

[mindflipper]

Good point, secondstar. It's one of the biggest flaws I have seen with this process but I think I have a solution: a reservation confirmation process. Within 24 hours of the date, you will have to confirm the reservation and without a confirmation it will be deleted, allowing those reservations to revert back to being unoccupied and available.