Check it out...
http://www./2010/08/surveys-show-di...options-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland/
http://www./2010/08/surveys-show-di...options-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland/
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Disney considering VIP and other add-on options to their tickets....
- Thread starter WDWmazprty
- Start date
Some of the ticketing options mentioned like the two half day tickets and the touring ticket seems like they would just make it more difficult for the ride ops. I mean how are they going to enforce an opening to 3pm ticket? Are all of the guests going to have to constantly show their tickets or will you have to slide your tickets to on turnstiles to each ride to gain access? Seems kinda far fetched.
devoy1701
Well-Known Member
read through that article and some of those ideas seem GREAT!!!!
I would love for some of them to be implemented such as half day tickets, Touring tickets, the 10-year tickets, the all inclusive WDW add-on, etc.
You know, some might think the half day tickets and touring tickets are a rip off, but being pass holders, it would be great if we could invite a friend out for a day and them not have to shell out $80 for a single day (when we know they probably won't be back, or that the only time they will be back is with us).
and those touring only tickets would be great for parents or grandparents who like being there with the family but don't like to go on the attractions!
I would love for some of them to be implemented such as half day tickets, Touring tickets, the 10-year tickets, the all inclusive WDW add-on, etc.
You know, some might think the half day tickets and touring tickets are a rip off, but being pass holders, it would be great if we could invite a friend out for a day and them not have to shell out $80 for a single day (when we know they probably won't be back, or that the only time they will be back is with us).
and those touring only tickets would be great for parents or grandparents who like being there with the family but don't like to go on the attractions!
devoy1701
Well-Known Member
the 3pm tickets probably wouldn't be allowed in the park until 3. the turnstyles would give a denied code...
There's also an option for opening until 3 p.m. With that kind of ticket and the no rides/touring only ticket, it does raise the question of how is ride ops going to enforce that?
Another question, what about those of us with APs? If we want to add on one of the VIP options, I guess it could be done upon check-in? It'll be interesting to see how this develops, if it does.
bgraham34
Well-Known Member
I don't at all like the option to purchase a VIP Fast Pass. That is something I would never buy because its way out of my price range. A lot of these things are geared more towards people with money and leave the average person in the dust. I personally wish they would do more for Annual Pass Holders or DVC members first. I do like the 10 year park pass and the half day admission. I used that in Paris a few years back.
dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
Definitely sounds like a throwback to ticket books.
Enforcing the morning 1/2 day deadline is doable, just gonna be a pain for ops. Where most rides currently have electronic sensors to detect numbers, put in turnstiles. Scan your ticket for each ride. Or perhaps short range RFID per that new initiative? If you are past your validation time, no more rides for you. No way to force them to leave the park though.
Enforcing the morning 1/2 day deadline is doable, just gonna be a pain for ops. Where most rides currently have electronic sensors to detect numbers, put in turnstiles. Scan your ticket for each ride. Or perhaps short range RFID per that new initiative? If you are past your validation time, no more rides for you. No way to force them to leave the park though.
ChrisM
Well-Known Member
It looks like we just stumbled onto a prime use of the RFID / NextGen technology.
Given the correct sensor array it will be trivial for CMs to identify and escort those with expired tickets out of the parks or to deny guests access to ride queues (or identify them if they manage to slip in).
The unlimited Fast Pass feature sounds interesting, but if it's really at that cost and it's not guaranteed Fast Pass access to all attractions at all times (i.e. you still need to actually secure a paper Fast Pass from the general FP pool) it's really not worth the expense. At that price it has to be unlimited and at any time.
janoimagine
Well-Known Member
That is exactly what I was thinking as well, seems like an excellent use for it.
71jason
Well-Known Member
Sea World has been heavily promoting an after-3 p.m. AP the past couple weeks. And EPCOT has had an after-4 AP available for years, tho they don't advertise it much. So the half-day tickets make sense, but logistically seems much easier to sell a late day ticket than an early day ticket (and I would think the late day ticket would be better for crowds).
The VIP treatment seems mainly aimed at Tour Guide Mike and his competitors. Wonder if he finally got big enough to get on TDO's radar.
The VIP treatment seems mainly aimed at Tour Guide Mike and his competitors. Wonder if he finally got big enough to get on TDO's radar.
Pioneer Hall
Well-Known Member
Some of the options there are interesting, but I don't think they are all practical. I don't see half day and touring only tickets happening because the people that are going are paying the full price as it is. I think the most logical and easiest to implement is the all inclusive resort package, which is basically covered now if you have a dining plan. The only extra in there would be the recreation, and I assume the price difference would be based on the restaurants and resort you wanted to stay at.
ChrisM
Well-Known Member
A few other comments...
I don't necessarily see a huge value in this aside from the possibility of making dining reservations easier.
Sounds like a combination of the old E Ticket Night and a scaled down hard ticket event (which are already scaled down, so who knows how lame the snacks and character experiences would actually be). That said, this would be pretty awesome - the old E Ticket Nights were great. Would this eliminate Evening Extra Magic Hours, be interspersed with them, or take place at some ungodly late hour?
I'm extremely curious as to what the intention is here - would they implement this on all major holidays, exclusively? As in, if you want to get in on Christmas, you better pony up the dough? I can't imagine the outcry that would receive. I'm all for pay-to-play but I could see this creating PR difficulties. Although, knowing Disney, they would just dial back max attendance by a few thousand, jack up the price as stated, and say, "Hey, we limited the number of guests - we just didn't tell you by how much. Suckers!"
I've always assumed this was going to happen at some point. I'm also going to assume they food and drink are going to be terrible.
I don't necessarily see a huge value in this aside from the possibility of making dining reservations easier.
Sounds like a combination of the old E Ticket Night and a scaled down hard ticket event (which are already scaled down, so who knows how lame the snacks and character experiences would actually be). That said, this would be pretty awesome - the old E Ticket Nights were great. Would this eliminate Evening Extra Magic Hours, be interspersed with them, or take place at some ungodly late hour?
I'm extremely curious as to what the intention is here - would they implement this on all major holidays, exclusively? As in, if you want to get in on Christmas, you better pony up the dough? I can't imagine the outcry that would receive. I'm all for pay-to-play but I could see this creating PR difficulties. Although, knowing Disney, they would just dial back max attendance by a few thousand, jack up the price as stated, and say, "Hey, we limited the number of guests - we just didn't tell you by how much. Suckers!"
I've always assumed this was going to happen at some point. I'm also going to assume they food and drink are going to be terrible.
Spike-in-Berlin
Well-Known Member
VERY stupid. At least some of these options are. Fastpass was open to every one, making it a privilege to those able to pay more would annoy a lot of guests who couldn't afford it and would feel as a second-class guest. It feels very undisneyesque. I wouldn't pay for this privilege and I don't know if I even would accept it. Perhaps I would even boycott Disney as long as they introduce this. And going back to the ticket-system is by far the greatest mistake they could do. I would definitely not go to WDW any longer if they brought back the ticket system, I don't want to think about what I am spending my limited tickets on. I want to be free in my choices.
CaptainWinter
Active Member
That's a dreadful vision. How'd you like to be escorted out of the park while you were waiting for your kid to come out of the bathroom? Or had gotten separated from your party? Or were standing in line for a hot dog? That'll take a fun day out and turn it into a nightmare. All present RFID plans are optional, and you will be free not to participate.
CMs check FastPasses now; checking for half-day/full-day passes isn't all that different. No fancy tech needed. If you flip this scheme around, and sell tickets for the *second* half of the day, this problem goes away completely, since it's handled at the entrance. In fact such tickets already exist for conference attendees.
I'm in favor of second-half-of-the-day tickets, and very much opposed to premium tickets. WDW tickets are "premium" enough! I *might* be convinced that touring tickets are a good idea. But basically, I think once you get through the gate you should be the same as everyone else.
Regardless of technology, some of the ticket options would be a logistical nightmare.
Partial Day Ticket – Access to theme parks from opening until 3:00 pm or 3:30 pm until closing (between $29 and $49 per guest, per day);
Only the latter will work. The former would be near impossible to enforce. Other guests will be inconvenienced if they have to repeatedly pull out their ticket anytime they want to do something. And it's not solely that action which is inconvenient. How many times are you held up at an entrance because someone is blocking it while "arguing" with a CM or questioning a CM. Disney will have to staff more employees. And what if a guest stays past 3:00pm? Will they be escorted out and by whom?
Touring Only / No Rides Ticket – Access to theme parks to enjoy everything except the rides and shows with a queue (between $29 and $49 per guest, per day);
What is the point of this? And how would it be enforced. It would have the same logistical problems as the opening-to-3pm ticket. And let's say it is RFID technology that unlocks turnstyles as it scan your ticket. What's to stop a guest from simply hopping over the turnstyle. Disney's non-confrontational approach to guests practically guarantees the guest won't be questioned.
Convenience Add-On – Pre-planned itinerary, valet parking, dining reservations, private park entrance ($100 per group, up to 6.);
Unless your reservations are guaranteed for wherever you want, I don't see any real value in this.
VIP Attraction Add-On – Unlimited use of Fastpass ($150 per person on top of regular park admission, subject to availability.)
I have mixed feelings on this one. I'm assuming it just removes the restriction on the number of FPs you can hold at one time. I'm ok with that, since it most likely won't have any significant impact on waits (since the return time distrubution remains the same).
If it is a FP where you walk onto attractions in the way Universal Resort guests can with the Express Pass, then I have issues. But I don't see any significant impact on waits, either.
Premium Holiday Ticket – Entrance to the Magic Kingdom or Disneyland on popular holidays with a limit on the number of guests allowed in the park, allowing more time with characters and shorter lines for attractions ($99 per person, per day – $17 more than the current one-day ticket);
I'm guessing that this would mean those designated holidays would be sold as separate tickets (i.e., if you have 10 day park hopper, it's not valid for admission on that particular day, without some kind of upcharge, and admission will be limited). It MIGHT work at DLR, which attracts enough locals to where they can just go another day. WDW is entirely different. And this is the kind of thing that will drive people away to another oRlando park, taking money out Disney's hand.
All-Inclusive Disney Resort (Walt Disney World) – Unlimited food and non-alcoholic beverages, resort recreation (boat rentals, parasailing, etc.), amenities (Internet access, gym, etc.) ($40 – $80 per person, per night. Does not include room rate.)
What if you are staying at a resort that doesn't offer any of that?
Partial Day Ticket – Access to theme parks from opening until 3:00 pm or 3:30 pm until closing (between $29 and $49 per guest, per day);
Only the latter will work. The former would be near impossible to enforce. Other guests will be inconvenienced if they have to repeatedly pull out their ticket anytime they want to do something. And it's not solely that action which is inconvenient. How many times are you held up at an entrance because someone is blocking it while "arguing" with a CM or questioning a CM. Disney will have to staff more employees. And what if a guest stays past 3:00pm? Will they be escorted out and by whom?
Touring Only / No Rides Ticket – Access to theme parks to enjoy everything except the rides and shows with a queue (between $29 and $49 per guest, per day);
What is the point of this? And how would it be enforced. It would have the same logistical problems as the opening-to-3pm ticket. And let's say it is RFID technology that unlocks turnstyles as it scan your ticket. What's to stop a guest from simply hopping over the turnstyle. Disney's non-confrontational approach to guests practically guarantees the guest won't be questioned.
Convenience Add-On – Pre-planned itinerary, valet parking, dining reservations, private park entrance ($100 per group, up to 6.);
Unless your reservations are guaranteed for wherever you want, I don't see any real value in this.
VIP Attraction Add-On – Unlimited use of Fastpass ($150 per person on top of regular park admission, subject to availability.)
I have mixed feelings on this one. I'm assuming it just removes the restriction on the number of FPs you can hold at one time. I'm ok with that, since it most likely won't have any significant impact on waits (since the return time distrubution remains the same).
If it is a FP where you walk onto attractions in the way Universal Resort guests can with the Express Pass, then I have issues. But I don't see any significant impact on waits, either.
Premium Holiday Ticket – Entrance to the Magic Kingdom or Disneyland on popular holidays with a limit on the number of guests allowed in the park, allowing more time with characters and shorter lines for attractions ($99 per person, per day – $17 more than the current one-day ticket);
I'm guessing that this would mean those designated holidays would be sold as separate tickets (i.e., if you have 10 day park hopper, it's not valid for admission on that particular day, without some kind of upcharge, and admission will be limited). It MIGHT work at DLR, which attracts enough locals to where they can just go another day. WDW is entirely different. And this is the kind of thing that will drive people away to another oRlando park, taking money out Disney's hand.
All-Inclusive Disney Resort (Walt Disney World) – Unlimited food and non-alcoholic beverages, resort recreation (boat rentals, parasailing, etc.), amenities (Internet access, gym, etc.) ($40 – $80 per person, per night. Does not include room rate.)
What if you are staying at a resort that doesn't offer any of that?
ChrisM
Well-Known Member
Excellent. I hope a huge number of people respond in the exact same manner.
Please, tell all of your friends. In fact, I think you should start boycotting Disney now, in anticipation of these changes.