Disney considering VIP and other add-on options to their tickets....

[NX2I85]

I'd pay $8000 in cash today for me and my family to have the Theme Park Club membership.

The $150 unlimited FP sounds mighty high. When we did the DVC tour they gave us each a card that we could use on any FP attraction at any time and get immediate access (usable 3 times IIRC). That was very cool having that, but no way on earth would I pay anything close to $150 for that -even if I was a billionaire.

Some of the other stuff looked interesting too. I hope WDW adds in some more customizable options.

 

[wm49rs]

This board doesn't mirror the opinions of the public at large. And, as I've mentioned in other posts in this thread, Disney is currently underserving a very lucrative market. They've realized it and are likely going to aggressively pursue it. It's extremely unlikely that the pursuit of this market is going to noticeably impact their other markets, if at all.

In fact, what Disney is probably realizing is that they've catered too extensively to those of modest means and it's hurting them with their premium, and more potentially lucrative, customers. Time to turn that Walmart-ization trend around.

Continued free dining and discounted room rates aside.....

 

[SleepingMonk]

Fantastic news!

The VIP option is a great idea and a long time coming.

 

[devoy1701]

I'd pay $8000 in cash today for me and my family to have the Theme Park Club membership.

The $150 unlimited FP sounds mighty high. When we did the DVC tour they gave us each a card that we could use on any FP attraction at any time and get immediate access (usable 3 times IIRC). That was very cool having that, but no way on earth would I pay anything close to $150 for that -even if I was a billionaire.

Some of the other stuff looked interesting too. I hope WDW adds in some more customizable options.

I think you might pay it if you were a billionare. :animwink:

 

[devoy1701]

Fantastic news!

The VIP option is a great idea and a long time coming.

yeah... too bad our normal resident cynics aren't here anymore to bash us for our elitist attitudes!

 

[wolf359]

And, as I've mentioned in other posts in this thread, Disney is currently underserving a very lucrative market. They've realized it and are likely going to aggressively pursue it. It's extremely unlikely that the pursuit of this market is going to noticeably impact their other markets, if at all.

In fact, what Disney is probably realizing is that they've catered to extensively to those of modest means and it's hurting them with their premium, and more potentially lucrative, customers. Time to turn that Walmart-ization trend around.

I agree completely. Disney already offers a version of many of these perks already, they just exist under the radar of the overwhelming majority of park guests, and even many of the more informed "insider types" on the message boards.

Even if Disney expands beyond the current offerings by implementing some of the plans suggested by the survey their impact on the average guest is still likely to go unnoticed, even if the existence of them becomes more commonly known.

 

[CaptainWinter]

Do you feel like you are any less of a person when you see someone with a VIP Tour Guide??? You see the tour guide, but you not having one does not negatively affect your experience. How would having these ticket tiers be any different at all? You wouldn't be able to tell by looking at them who has a premium Unlimited Fast Pass ticket or who got to use a separate VIP entrance.

Why worry about something that isn't going to affect you directly. Is it the idea that bothers you? Are you bothered by the fact that you'll (and most of us for that matter) will never get to stay in the Castle Suite or get to access Club 33????

stop griping...there are many MANY amenities that alot of us can't afford, or don't want. There's nothing wrong with Disney wanting to cater some of it's offerings to the higher class.

I'm allowed to gripe. Look around these boards. I want Disney World to remain an experience I can afford as a member of the middle class, and I don't apologize for that.

If premium tickets were to become popular enough, it could affect my visit, in theory, because Fastpasses are limited and could become harder to come by. Alternatively, as some have said, it could all happen unobtrusively and then perhaps no one is the worse for it.

Yes, other posters have pointed out the various perks that exist already if you're willing to pay -- and there are plenty. Most of these don't bother me one bit. But going to the parks (as opposed to staying in a luxury suite) is the one common experience everyone has. The more experiences are separated into premium and non-premium, the less hospitality I feel during my visit as an average-Joe guest. That's a subjective thing and your mileage may vary.

 

[NX2I85]

I think you might pay it if you were a billionare. :animwink:

hmmmm... I don't know. Even as a billionaire I still think that sounds like too much.

 

[WDWFigment]

I think you might be grossly underestimating this potential impact, personally.

If Disney does this, they're going to go full bore. They're going to spend millions in advertising pushing this.

Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Making Fastpass a privilege you have to pay for to do IS affecting me directly. At the moment fastpass is available to every guest, they don't even discriminate between day and resort guests like Universal does where you either have to stay on property or have to pay for their Universal Express or how it is called. And I am not jelaous at people who get these privileges, I just consider it an insult to the other guests in general. If Disney makes the Fastpass a feature you have to pay for I will not, even though I can afford it . 150$ or something in that range for a 10 day stay is no problem to me at the moment if I pay it only once for my entire stay. But although it would mean to me to avoid lines I still don't like it, I am not that egoistic.

Obviously we will have to wait and see, but what makes you two think there will be such a big impact? I see this as being quite analogous to the VIP Tour Guides, and those aren't advertised heavily and, presumably, don't have a big impact.

Something that would likely be this cost-prohibitive would have limited appeal, and thus advertising would be counterproductive. Moreover, advertising would harm business goodwill among those who feel a hierarchy were being created. Disney wants to get as much money as it can, but the company does have some business sense. It's not going to promote something that has an overall negative impact. For those reasons, I don't think this would lend itself to much marketing, nor would it be used by many.

 

[Fizbain32]

Wasn't FastPass originally for resort guests only?

 

[Buried20KLeague]

This board doesn't mirror the opinions of the public at large. And, as I've mentioned in other posts in this thread, Disney is currently underserving a very lucrative market. They've realized it and are likely going to aggressively pursue it. It's extremely unlikely that the pursuit of this market is going to noticeably impact their other markets, if at all.

In fact, what Disney is probably realizing is that they've catered too extensively to those of modest means and it's hurting them with their premium, and more potentially lucrative, customers. Time to turn that Walmart-ization trend around.

So... You've been in the planning meetings, and know exactly how this is going to effect the average Joe?

GREAT! Nevermind then. This is the best thing since sliced bread.



You don't know, and neither do I. We'll have to wait and see. I tend to think there's a lot more potential to effect "Average Joe" than you do. We shall see. This is what we call a classic case of a difference of opinion.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Continued free dining and discounted room rates aside.....

And crappy food... And homogination of merchandise not only at most locations at WDW, but at all "Disney Parks", etc etc...

Much more would be need to be done to turn the Wal-Mart tide around.

 

[jakeman]

Check these boards and the overall tone from two years ago vs. today. That public opinion is being swayed negatively as we speak. Anyone who doesn't think so has their heads in the sand.

Two years ago we started receiving visitors who sole purpose was to convince everyone they were idiots and Disney=Walmart.

While there has been polarization as a result, the tone hasn't changed from the time I've been lurking and posting here. Disney has been heading downhill since the internet was around.

We aren't public opinion. Most of the fan base mobilized last year around the removal of LoW and it was met with a "meh" from Disney and a halfhearted promises that is looking like it will be unfulfilled.

If that doesn't put the fan's influence into perspective then they have their head in the sands.

 

[wm49rs]

And crappy food... And homogination of merchandise not only at most locations at WDW, but at all "Disney Parks", etc etc...

Much more would be need to be done to turn the Wal-Mart tide around.

Until the "Wal-Mart tide" stops being the largest customer base however, not much is going to change.....

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

As long as WDW continues to withhold building exciting, new attractions, I won't be needing a $150 Fastpass to see them.

 

[panther726]

I'm allowed to gripe. Look around these boards. I want Disney World to remain an experience I can afford as a member of the middle class, and I don't apologize for that.

If premium tickets were to become popular enough, it could affect my visit, in theory, because Fastpasses are limited and could become harder to come by. Alternatively, as some have said, it could all happen unobtrusively and then perhaps no one is the worse for it.

Yes, other posters have pointed out the various perks that exist already if you're willing to pay -- and there are plenty. Most of these don't bother me one bit. But going to the parks (as opposed to staying in a luxury suite) is the one common experience everyone has. The more experiences are separated into premium and non-premium, the less hospitality I feel during my visit as an average-Joe guest. That's a subjective thing and your mileage may vary.

I still don't see an issue. Let's say this unlimited fastpass thing is in effect. How will anyone know who is using it and who is not. They won't be wearing buttons saying "I can get unlimited fastpasses!" and cast members will all the sudden focus their attention on them. It's the same as saying everyone can ride the monorails, but the cast members really pay attention to those guests who are staying at a Deluxe Resort on the monorail line.

We must remember that this is purely a survey.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Obviously we will have to wait and see, but what makes you two think there will be such a big impact? I see this as being quite analogous to the VIP Tour Guides, and those aren't advertised heavily and, presumably, don't have a big impact.

Something that would likely be this cost-prohibitive would have limited appeal, and thus advertising would be counterproductive. Moreover, advertising would harm business goodwill among those who feel a hierarchy were being created. Disney wants to get as much money as it can, but the company does have some business sense. It's not going to promote something that has an overall negative impact. For those reasons, I don't think this would lend itself to much marketing, nor would it be used by many.

I can't speak for the other poster... But what leads me to believe it might have an impact is the hard RFID and "nextgen" push we hear about so much these days. They don't spend millions upon millions on R&D for that kind of thing without figuring out how to recoup that, and make money on top of the recoup. I don't see how they would do some of these things without heavily involving these new technologies... It would be too cumbersome to manage manually.

That's what makes me think Disney might want to make these offerings "mainstream", as opposed to just something you could pay for if you've done your homework.

I also think that people underestimate the creativity of the marketing team. Magic Your Way tickets and Magical Express are genius, and in many cases changed how people vacation. I fully believe that they could have more "game changing" ways to package this stuff that we probably haven't even thought of yet.

Again, I could be wrong. I just can see the potential upside (theme rooms, walking safari, etc) and downside (effecting Average Joe) both, and don't want to assume this could only be candy and roses for everyone.

I think the worst possible outcome of this would be what I said earlier... That I, as a consumer, feel like I have to get some of this stuff just to "keep up" with the crowd so I'm not negatively impacted. Maybe it never comes to that, but I certainly would think that Disney wouldn't be upset if it did.

 

[CaptainWinter]

I still don't see an issue. Let's say this unlimited fastpass thing is in effect. How will anyone know who is using it and who is not. They won't be wearing buttons saying "I can get unlimited fastpasses!" and cast members will all the sudden focus their attention on them.

They could get more of them. As we all know, they stop issuing fastpasses after a certain number has been distributed. Premium guests could in theory get more than non-premiums.

I know this is all wild speculation. It's just some stuff to consider.

We must remember that this is purely a survey.

Yes -- agreed.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Two years ago we started receiving visitors who sole purpose was to convince everyone they were idiots and Disney=Walmart.

While there has been polarization as a result, the tone hasn't changed from the time I've been lurking and posting here. Disney has been heading downhill since the internet was around.

We aren't public opinion. Most of the fan base mobilized last year around the removal of LoW and it was met with a "meh" from Disney and a halfhearted promises that is looking like it will be unfulfilled.

If that doesn't put the fan's influence into perspective then they have their head in the sands.

I don't know about people coming here to do nothing but bash. I don't have any way of knowing. I can only speak for me personally, and I've been here since 2004, and my opinion has changed because I think the product has changed... And I only complain when I think it's warrented, and even then I only do it because I really love WDW and only want the best for it.

I also try hard to praise when it's warrented, too. I've done so recently.

I agree that most of what's said here probably falls on deaf ears... But I also know that at some point, a single straw breaks the camel's back. There's a tipping point. I think DL is a great example of that.

Maybe backlash from the LoW doesn't do much on its own... But add to that the yeti going mainstream, this year's backlash of no replacement from LoW (because you know there will be one), etc... It all adds up. You never know.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Until the "Wal-Mart tide" stops being the largest customer base however, not much is going to change.....

You're right about that, I'm afraid...