Could a Park Pass Exchange System be possible?

[TTLUTS]

We just came back from a 10 day trip (April 15-25) and had everything planned in advance (out of state DVC hotel guest)............The weather changed our plans during our trip since we were doing 2 park days then pool day and repeating the schedule. Our first pool day was overcast and showers and we did not have a park pass reserved (and they were sold out). We would have taken a park pass for that day and given up our park pass for the next day in HS had it been an option.

I am wondering with the ongoing evolution of the Park Pass System (since it seems like its here to stay) if Disney could implement an exchange system within their network. As more and more hotel guests return in the coming months, it would be better if they had some flexibility in what parks they could visit since even the best plans do seem to change.

I wonder if it would be too difficult to implement a Park Pass Exchange system, where groups could exchange passes for different parks (thereby adhering to capacity limits)

for eg.......

1) Same day exchange = Looking for PP Wed April 21 for 5 people at HS in exchange for PP same day for 5 people at Epcot - click here to make the exchange...........

2) different day exchange = PP for 5 at MK on Tuesday April 20 in exchange for 5 in Epcot Wednesday April 21

They could implement this into Disney Genie and it would provide more flexibility

I know Disney IT doesn't have a great reputation but this seems like it wouldn't be that difficult......

 

[JIMINYCR]

With the park days reserved, Disney has control over how many guests will be entering on any day which is a known entity to count on. If an unknown element was added, as you are asking for, swapping out numbers over different parks, I'd assume it would be too chaotic, even with equal numbers being transferred over. With a good system in place it could be done, but Disney has a bad reputation on how their technology has operated in the past, and I doubt they would want to add it in. Good concept you are putting out there though.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

(since it seems like its here to stay)

People keep saying this. Where is this coming from?

 

[TTLUTS]

With the park days reserved, Disney has control over how many guests will be entering on any day which is a known entity to count on. If an unknown element was added, as you are asking for, swapping out numbers over different parks, I'd assume it would be too chaotic, even with equal numbers being transferred over. With a good system in place it could be done, but Disney has a bad reputation on how their technology has operated in the past, and I doubt they would want to add it in. Good concept you are putting out there though.

Thanks..........Since it does not affect the numbers in each park (because would have to be an equal exchange) it would just come down to whether their IT could handle it or not. My guess is the Park Pass system will show its flaws as WDW gets back to normal numbers and this could help with guest flexibility.

 

[TTLUTS]

People keep saying this. Where is this coming from?

Thought Chapek mentioned in his interview with Bloomberg

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Thought Chapek mentioned in his interview with Bloomberg

I think what people don't think through is the fact that FastPass+ already provided Disney with the same information that Park Pass gives them now. In that way, Park Pass isn't actually anything net new. Disney doesn't need to know that you booked a reservation for Splash Mountain at 10:30 AND that you made a Park Pass for the Magic Kingdom, they only need to know one of those things. If any when FP+ comes back, even if it looks a little bit different, it'll serve the same function that Park Pass has served in the interim.

 

[TTLUTS]

People keep saying this. Where is this coming from?

This is from Parks Chairman Josh D'Amaro

"The technology doesn’t only help us during a time of a pandemic, but I also think it actually leads to a better cast and guest experience. So these are things that are helping us now, but I think they’re here to stay."
Josh D’Amaro, Disney Parks Chairman

 

[JIMINYCR]

Thanks..........Since it does not affect the numbers in each park (because would have to be an equal exchange) it would just come down to whether their IT could handle it or not. My guess is the Park Pass system will show its flaws as WDW gets back to normal numbers and this could help with guest flexibility.

I'm just thinking about the difficulties guests still have have had ongoing with ADR's bookings, MDE connections, transfers of info as simple changes needing to be made. Disney has long needed serious upgrading across the board in their IT systems and dept.

 

[JIMINYCR]

I'm just thinking about the difficulties guests still have have had ongoing with ADR's bookings, MDE connections, transfers of info as simple changes needing to be made. Disney has long needed serious upgrading across the board in their IT systems and dept.

But hey... they have a walking Groot coming.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

This is from Parks Chairman Josh D'Amaro

"The technology doesn’t only help us during a time of a pandemic, but I also think it actually leads to a better cast and guest experience. So these are things that are helping us now, but I think they’re here to stay."
Josh D’Amaro, Disney Parks Chairman

He ran off an entire laundry list of technologies before that line.

- Reservations to manage capacity
- Mobile order
- Queue reservation systems (i.e. FastPass)
- Contactless merch transactions

Considering that Disney doesn't even *have to* manage capacity other than maybe 10 days a year, there's no reason to keep Park Pass as a mandatory component year-round. The parks simply don't fill to capacity outside of extremely rare occasions.

 

[TTLUTS]

I think what people don't think through is the fact that FastPass+ already provided Disney with the same information that Park Pass gives them now. In that way, Park Pass isn't actually anything net new. Disney doesn't need to know that you booked a reservation for Splash Mountain at 10:30 AND that you made a Park Pass for the Magic Kingdom, they only need to know one of those things. If any when FP+ comes back, even if it looks a little bit different, it'll serve the same function that Park Pass has served in the interim.

I'm just thinking about the difficulties guests still have have had ongoing with ADR's bookings, MDE connections, transfers of info as simple changes needing to be made. Disney has long needed serious upgrading across the board in their IT systems and dept.

i dont think you'd get any argument on that

 

[TTLUTS]

He ran off an entire laundry list of technologies before that line.

- Reservations to manage capacity
- Mobile order
- Queue reservation systems (i.e. FastPass)
- Contactless merch transactions

Considering that Disney doesn't even *have to* manage capacity other than maybe 10 days a year, there's no reason to keep Park Pass as a mandatory component year-round. The parks simply don't fill to capacity outside of extremely rare occasions.

I think you're actually making the point to keep PP.........They don't fill to capacity so Disney can use it to better staff parks........for eg........MK only at 58% capacity on Friday? great, only have 120 cast members working that day, not the 200 they would normally

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I think you're actually making the point to keep PP.........They don't fill to capacity so Disney can use it to better staff parks........for eg........MK only at 58% capacity on Friday? great, only have 120 cast members working that day, not the 200 they would normally

Right but I'm saying FastPass+ already gives them that information. The only thing that Park Pass does that FastPass+ doesn't do is keep some people out, but you only need to keep people out if you're hitting 100%.

 

[TTLUTS]

Right but I'm saying FastPass+ already gives them that information. The only thing that Park Pass does that FastPass+ doesn't do is keep some people out, but you only need to keep people out if you're hitting 100%.

Not all guests book FP (in advance) and if the new FP system will be a paid system, it will create even further need to manage attendance levels/capacity/staffing since the majority of people will not pay for it

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Not all guests book FP (in advance) and if the new FP system will be a paid system, it will create even further need to manage attendance levels/capacity/staffing since the majority of people will not pay for it

Not all guests will be booking Park Pass either. They're only doing it now because capacity is so limited that you HAVE TO.

If I'm traveling in a hypothetical world where 1) capacity is no longer COVID-limited and 2) there's no pre-booked FastPasses, why would I bother to book a Park Pass ahead of time? I'll book it on the bus/monorail/Skyliner on the way to the park in the morning.

 

[TTLUTS]

Not all guests will be booking Park Pass either. They're only doing it now because capacity is so limited that you HAVE TO.

If I'm traveling in a hypothetical world where 1) capacity is no longer COVID-limited and 2) there's no pre-booked FastPasses, why would I bother to book a Park Pass ahead of time? I'll book it on the bus/monorail/Skyliner on the way to the park in the morning.

From everything I've read, management has liked the granularity of the park pass system and wants to keep it as a permanent requirement going forward to better staff the parks

I think it is here to stay, even when the pandemic and 35% capacity limits are long gone

 

[CaptainAmerica]

From everything I've read, management has liked the granularity of the park pass system and wants to keep it as a permanent requirement going forward to better staff the parks

I think it is here to stay, even when the pandemic and 35% capacity limits are long gone

Again, you're missing my point.

Management is only getting that level of granularity *because* of the 35% capacity limit, which is forcing guests to pick a park weeks ahead of time. When the capacity limit goes away, the guests are no longer going to be willing to commit to a specific park weeks in advance because they have no incentive to do so. FastPass+ was the carrot that got people to commit to particular parks. Capacity-limited Park Pass and the fear of getting locked out was the stick. Without one or the other, people are just going to make their reservations day-before or day-of.

 

[TTLUTS]

Again, you're missing my point.

Management is only getting that level of granularity *because* of the 35% capacity limit, which is forcing guests to pick a park weeks ahead of time. When the capacity limit goes away, the guests are no longer going to commit to a specific park weeks in advance because they have no incentive to do so.

They will if they are required to and risk the park being sold out if they dont

 

[CaptainAmerica]

They will if they are required to...

That's not a thing. That's not even a thing now. Guests are ALLOWED to make same-day reservation, the parks are just too full.

...risk the park being sold out if they dont

That's only a risk on like... Christmas Day at the Magic Kingdom.

 

[TTLUTS]

Again, you're missing my point.

Management is only getting that level of granularity *because* of the 35% capacity limit, which is forcing guests to pick a park weeks ahead of time. When the capacity limit goes away, the guests are no longer going to be willing to commit to a specific park weeks in advance because they have no incentive to do so. FastPass+ was the carrot that got people to commit to particular parks. Capacity-limited Park Pass and the fear of getting locked out was the stick. Without one or the other, people are just going to make their reservations day-before or day-of.

That's not a thing. That's not even a thing now. Guests are ALLOWED to make same-day reservation, the parks are just too full.


That's only a risk on like... Christmas Day at the Magic Kingdom.

I understand your point. But if Disney makes it a requirement and you know you are going to go to the park in 2 weeks, would you wait until 2 weeks from now to make it and risk not being able to get in? Even though all parks dont sell out, some parks might sell out because of varying demand (HS when ROTR opened or maybe Epcot when construction is done and its food and wine). Plus resort guests book way in advance and if they are required to have a PP they will make it when they book their room/buy their park tickets