Disney World Unveils Next Gen in Trip Planning with MyMagic+ and FASTPASS+
As promised Monday, we wanted to bring you more information about the massive project Walt Disney World unveiled this week aimed at enhancing the guest experience. Dubbed MyMagic+, these new initiatives — which will roll out over the coming months — are aimed at allowing guests to better customize and plan their trips in advance as well as inside the parks. Guests would begin planning through a new Disney website and mobile app called “My Disney Experience.”
A key piece of this is FASTPASS+, which will allow guests to book guaranteed times for certain shows and attractions in advance. With the current FASTPASS system, guests have to physically visit ride locations to obtain a pass to come back during a specified time window to skip the regular wait line. FASTPASS+ and FASTPASS will be separate from each other, and guests will not be able to take advantage of both.
According to a Walt Disney World press release, guests could book FASTPASS+ from home and make changes on the go:
- For the first time, guests will be able to reserve firework and parade viewing areas, shows, Disney character Greetings and more, in addition to their favorite attractions.
- For guests who don’t know where to start, Disney will recommend FastPicks – a set of three FastPass+ selections that serve as a starting point – and give guests the option to customize their selections.
- Disney FastPass+ service is included with Theme Park admission.
Disney is also rolling out radio frequency identification-equipped wrist bands — initially to select guest resorts — that would serve as tickets and room keys, similar to the existing Keys to the World card. Guests would be able to use these “MagicBands” to make purchases in the parks as well as interfacing with FASTPASS+ kiosks and PHOTOPASS by simply touching their band to one of the RFID devices.
Tom Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts, shared more specifics about the MagicBands in comments on his original Disney Parks Blog post:
“Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels, and Annual Passholders will receive a band, as well as those guests who purchase a photography package. Guests who stay at non-Disney hotels will receive a ticket with features of touch to enter the park, touch to redeem FastPass+ and touch to pay. These guests can participate in My Disney Experience and purchase a MagicBand if they wish.”
Guests will not be required to use MyMagic+, but they will have to if they want to take advantage of FASTPASS+. The current FASTPASS system will still be available to guests who do not use FASTPASS+.
As we mentioned yesterday, if you have recently purchased tickets or you are planning to purchase tickets through Undercover Tourist, you might be concerned that you will be “missing out” on this new technology. Rest assured, you will still have access to the same opportunities offered through MyMagic+. In addition, just as you can have your tickets purchased from Undercover Tourist added to your Keys to the World card, you will be able to enjoy new functionality in the future. You will find additional details on this post.
- Currently, no one is shipping RFID tickets. As soon as they are made available to us, we will begin shipping them. They will work with FASTPASS+ and continue to offer the same benefits as if buying from the Disney Gate.
- For customers who have existing paper tickets or make purchases before FASTPASS+ is launched: Once available, there will be a process to convert paper to the RFID tickets.
Timelines for these features have not yet been announced, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated in the coming weeks with developments on MyMagic+ and how FASTPASS+ could fit into your vacation planning. As always, we offer a ton of resources — from when to visit to which ticket makes sense in our Planning Guide.
Related: Exploring the pros and cons of FASTPASS+ … so far
Here’s to making vacation memories in 2013!
– Leap
to Orlando, Florida-area attractions, including Disney World, Universal Studios Orlando, SeaWorld, Richard Petty Driving Experience, Medieval Times and more.
Love getting tickets from you.We recently booked a trip and they made us purchase at least 1 day tickets, because we wanted the Dining Plan. I can’t believe how expensive a one day ticket is. Thanks for your wonderful service and giving us the opportunity to purchase bargain prices on tickets.
Marisa,
Thank you for the kind words! We’re glad to help.
–Leap
When will fastpass+ take effect. I am coming to WDW in February. My first time & I want it to be great experience. I am AP @ Disneyland & entry changes they made yesterday was a nightmare.
Thanks,
Judy
I heard it will not be any sooner than March at the earliest. DizNut
It says you can have your tickets purchased from undercover added to your keys to the world.. how do I do that?? My family was at Disney World over Christmas and would have done that if I had known.
How will the “adding tickets purchased from Undercover Tourist to your Key to the World card” work if our UT tickets are for longer than that particular WDW trip? (We usually buy the 10-day non-expiring Park Hoppers plus fun visits, then use them for three or four trips.)
Hi Beth,
You would check in with concierge to get your tickets added to the Keys to the World card. If you have remaining days for your next visit, you would bring the Key to the World card to concierge, and they would issue a new Key to the World card (or MagicBand if applicable).
Hope this helps!
– Leap
Is there a specified date of when will the wrist bands start being used? We have annual passes, but they run out in July. We are making our last trip for a while in June. We would love to have the wrist bands and start planning our trip as soon as possible. I guess you would have to go to guest relations and show them your annual pass to get the wrist band?
Jaclyn,
A timeline has not been announced! Stay tuned in the coming weeks.
–Leap
Estou planejando minha ida para WDW e demais parques agora em Março 2013 e gostaria de detalhes ex preços totais para obter FASTPASS aqui no Brasil .
Grato
Olá,
FASTPASS is FREE and included with your admission to the parks.
– Leap
So if I’m understanding this correctly, we can purchase tickets from Undercover and then add them to My Disney Experience, thus becoming eligible for the FastPass Plus system when it is implemented? I was set to purchase from you but am now concerned about eligibility before arriving. I assumed I could be part of the system after my first “swipe” of Undercover tickets, but that kind of defeats the purpose of advance reservations for rides/attractions.
Hi there,
You’ve got it right! You will have the same opportunities to use MyMagic+ and FASTPASS+ as if you purchased your tickets at the gates. You probably have already read this post, but we do offer a few more details at this link.
http://blog.undercovertourist.com/2013/01/update-on-disney-mymagic-announcement/
I don’t know when you are planning on going, but please note that FASTPASS+ has not yet been implemented yet.
– Leap
I am staying at the Fort Wilderness Cabins in March, & I am wondering how do I find out if my family is included in the test phase for the Magic Bands & Fastpass+? Is this something we find out at check in, or do we receive an email? Thank you for your help.
Hi Vicki,
We don’t have a definitive answer since we don’t know the testing details, but our understanding is that you would be notified by Disney before your trip at least for FASTPASS+ testing so you could book selections.
Fort Wilderness Cabins should be a lot of fun! Let us know how it goes.
– Leap
Has the fastpass+ been initated yet? We are going march 14??
Thanks.
Hi Deb,
How lucky for you — less than a month to go! FASTPASS+ has not been launched yet. We will update this post when it does!
– Leap
We are planning a trip for October 2014 and we always stay on property because we are DVC members. I usually buy my park tickets separately from booking hotel rooms from the UT site. Since our rooms and tickets are separate do you think this will cause any sort of complications in converting paper tickets to RFID tickets. We are definitely staying on property and I want to make sure we won’t have to purchase wristbands after we arrive if we are using the MyMagic+ system
Hi Layla,
There will be a process in place to convert existing tickets to RFID tickets. From what has been announced already, MagicBands will be free for guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort.
Best,
– Leap
Hey there, we are planning on visiting from Australia in December. Has the fastpass + been implemented yet? Starting to plan. Thanks. Cal
Hi Carolyn,
Fastpass+ has not yet been implemented. We’ll post it here when it does!
Best,
–Leap