Fastpass for deluxe resort guests only?

[John]

But this bit is bollox. Universal's Xpress pass system is based on 'pay more, get more'. Why shouldn't the luxury hotel guest then get better perks than the value guest?

It has an internal logic. But me I simply resent that sort of system in the first place. What you are looking for, are doom&gloomers who will defend this scheme at Universal, but resent it at WDW. It's not me, I'm quite consistent in my views.

What I am saying is that it already does exsist at WDW. The DDP discount policy....if youn stay at a Delux or a mod you are offered one type of free dining vs another type for staying at a value....how is this different and how is it not a segregation of class as you have described?

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Ahh Jimbo still passing off other folks posts as your own ideas. However as I said in the other thread if it works in my favour I dont give a

And hasnt Uni been doing the pay thing for years. I know your backward but thats hardly new.

 

[John]

Thats entirely my point.

It can't be acceptable for one and not the other. Disney offers the same perks for the guest who has millions as to the guest who has pennies. You can say those who spend more deserve more, and thats valid, and I agree with that to an extent, but if you're staying on Disney property, you're just as important at an All-Star or Contemporary.

At Universal, whom everyone has this notion they are pushing the envelope, they just created a class system where if you don't stay at one of there premium resorts, you're missing an the boat. You're on property, but second class.

If Disney implemented such a system, it would create havok.


Jimmy Thick- Too much pixie dust, not enough time...

Jim what you are implying is that the value guest will be unable to get the premimum pass at all....but wont they too be able to purchase it?.....So what they are doing is chooseing how to spend thier money....delux/free pass vs value/pay for it. I dont see where this is creating a clss system. I am not here defending UNI's policy. I just disagree with the notion that it is createing a class system as you percieve it.

 

[wilkeliza]

What I am saying is that it already does exsist at WDW. The DDP discount policy....if youn stay at a Delux or a mod you are offered one type of free dining vs another type for staying at a value....how is this different and how is it not a segregation of class as you have described?

This is a discount policy though and not something that is offered year round. Also not everyone staying at every resort gets the discount during the period. Only a certain number of rooms have the discount and once that is met no one else gets the discount.

You can't look at something that is offered as a discount and count it as the same as something that is offered as a perk.

 

[janoimagine]

I voted yes ...

Ok all joking aside ... for Disney to invoke a class system would be against everything Walt stood for when he created the Anaheim property. I think however to an extent their could be a hint of this absurdity when they roll out xpass.

 

[coachwnh]

Ummm, I don't know about that...


Jimmy Thick- Secrets secrets...

Not included. Universal wants everyone to experience the entire attraction, which includes the line!! No go to the front with this one!

 

[fosse76]

Now Iam nothing if not open minded.

But allow me to pursue a rather daunting topic.

Apparently, Universal will build a new value resort for the value budgeted guest. Thats fine and to be brutally honest, much needed. But in return for this value resort, the guest will NOT have access to the one worthwhile thing staying at a Universal resort, the front of the line perk.

See, if you stay at one of Universal's premium resorts, you don't wait in line, you go right to the front, and even for Potter, you wait no more than 5 minutes. This is the king of all resort perks, and in my opinion, better than Fastpass because the premium Universal resorts I guess are never fully booked, you really don't wait.

But for this cheaper resort they are building, they are taking away this delightful option, and making those guests wait with the rest of the people, who are visiting from Disney or staying off property.

Class system anyone?

No one seems to notice this fact, so lets dial it up a notch.

Since its ok for Universal to do this why not Disney? Should Disney offer Fastpass only to guests staying at their premium, deluxe resorts? If this proves successful for Universal, who are obviously pushing the envelope, (/sarc), then it should be acceptable for Disney to follow suite.

It's not the same. Universal is offering, for free, a perk to its on-site guests that is available for purchase to ALL park guests. The cost of the Express Pass is arguable absorbed in the room rate. If I stayed off-site, I can purchase an unlimited, 2-park express pass at the park. And if I combine what that would cost with what I pay off-site, it may or may not be the equivalent amount of money as it would be staying at a Universal Resort.

Should people such as myself be the only ones allowed to have no waits while other in a different financial bracket slog through 40-50 minute queues?

No. If they offered it free to Deluxe guests but charged other guests, then it wouldn't nearly be as problematic.

Or is Universal the ones dropping the ball and creating a class system based on how much money you have?

They didn't. Universal's hotels aren't anywhere near as being overpriced as Disney's, so the average middle class family can afford to stay there for a night or two without killing their budget. But even if you argue it's still too expensive, Universal guests can purchase the express passes without being an on-site guest. And depending on where off-site you stay, it can still be significantly cheaper.

 

[fosse76]

Ummm, I don't know about that...


Jimmy Thick- Secrets secrets...

I do. Neither the Rip Rocket ride nor Harry Potter are available for use through their Express Pass. That is fact.

 

[fosse76]

Jim what you are implying is that the value guest will be unable to get the premimum pass at all....but wont they too be able to purchase it?.....So what they are doing is chooseing how to spend thier money....delux/free pass vs value/pay for it. I dont see where this is creating a clss system. I am not here defending UNI's policy. I just disagree with the notion that it is createing a class system as you percieve it.

Until we know their pricing structure for the resort, it may even be cheaper for those guests to buy the pass separately at the park than if they had stayed at the more deluxe resorts.

 

[fosse76]

What I am saying is that it already does exsist at WDW. The DDP discount policy....if youn stay at a Delux or a mod you are offered one type of free dining vs another type for staying at a value....how is this different and how is it not a segregation of class as you have described?

I think that had more to do with its popularity and the inability to make ADRs because they were too full. But, you can upgrade to the full dining plan for a fee, which is still a significant savings.

 

[cardmagi]

The difference I see is that Disney uses a system with a fixed number of Fast Passes that are allowed per attraction per time period. Universal, I imagine knows how many onsite hotel guests + non-hotel guest Express Pass purchases are made for any given day and what affect that has on wait times. To allow another potential 7,000 people (ballpark 900 suites + 900 rooms X 4 guest) give or take a few hundred could really throw off the balance. Even a few thousand more Express Pass holders per day could make a big difference with only 2 parks.

 

[baymenxpac]

just so i'm clear, we're baiting hypocritical views on a hypothetical system that we don't have any concrete evidence about?

summer is a sweet time of year.

 

[olinecoach61]

Did Walt say that from Club 33?

Ah well said.

 

[olinecoach61]

I don't have a problem if Disney were to offer bonus fast passes or extra fast passes for guests who stay at a premium resort. I think all resort guests should have access, but if you want to give a bonus to those paying more to stay in a deluxe, it's fine with me.

 

[menamechris]

I agree with several other posters. The fact that you can purchase the "front of the line" option - means it is Universal's prerogataive to use as a freebie to their deluxe resort guests. If it were an exclusive perk that could not be purchased - Jimmy's point and analogy would make more sense. But the fact that more than likely - guests at the new Universal value resort will probably be able to get their room and front of the line pass for cheaper than to stay at a deluxe - well, that's still a deal.

 

[ShookieJones]

I agree with most posters here that say you can purchase the service it's just added as a freebie to the folks paying top dollar.
It also has to do with the fact that Uni has a ton of 70 dollar a night sister hotels offsite that are considered value and don't currently have this 'express pass' option available to guest staying there.

 

[Rivers Rowe]

I agree with several other posters. The fact that you can purchase the "front of the line" option - means it is Universal's prerogataive to use as a freebie to their deluxe resort guests. If it were an exclusive perk that could not be purchased - Jimmy's point and analogy would make more sense. But the fact that more than likely - guests at the new Universal value resort will probably be able to get their room and front of the line pass for cheaper than to stay at a deluxe - well, that's still a deal.

How is it a deal when Disney offers fast pass for free to everyone. How does it benefit the Universal resort guest who has to actually pay for the fast pass perk when other Universal resort guests get it for free because they have more money?

 

[bethymouse]

A restaurant with a menu with different courses at different prices is not a class system, it merely presents a variation of choices.

A restaurant with a roped off vip area with extra waiters and different cutlery is a class sytem. Why should I eat there if I'm not the one in the roped off area? I would only feel second rate.

Kinda like coach vs. first class on an airplane?

 

[Tinkwings]

Personally I would just be thrilled for them to revert back to unenforced Fastpass return times....while I always hope to stay at the WL....surely they would only increase the ol' rack rate for that additional perk..... Betting they will be raising it anyhow with the new refurb ongoing..... Fun discussion anyhow.....

 

[bethymouse]

It's not the same. Universal is offering, for free, a perk to its on-site guests that is available for purchase to ALL park guests. The cost of the Express Pass is arguable absorbed in the room rate. If I stayed off-site, I can purchase an unlimited, 2-park express pass at the park. And if I combine what that would cost with what I pay off-site, it may or may not be the equivalent amount of money as it would be staying at a Universal Resort.


No. If they offered it free to Deluxe guests but charged other guests, then it wouldn't nearly be as problematic.


They didn't. Universal's hotels aren't anywhere near as being overpriced as Disney's, so the average middle class family can afford to stay there for a night or two without killing their budget. But even if you argue it's still too expensive, Universal guests can purchase the express passes without being an on-site guest. And depending on where off-site you stay, it can still be significantly cheaper.

Wasn't there a time when only resort guests were able to access fast pass? Most "parks" charge for some sort of "fast pass" system, don't they? Disney's is still free (so to speak). I guess if I paid for a deluxe resort, then I would want to be treated like a "deluxe" guest, and in a way, it's true. With the availability of all types of resorts, etc. at Disney, doesn't that create a bit of a "class" system in and of itself? Almost like DVC? I know my hubby doesn't really want to stay at GF due to the "stuffiness" of the folks who stay there (yes- I know!)