FastPass+ Most Certainly Not Coming Back As It Was

[pdude81]

"But it works for me..." -- WDW Fan

let's try this in a song

 

[yensid67]

"...moving guests out of queues and into the park frees up time for them to shop and dine - all important factors for boosting Disney's earnings per guest."(SHOWING JUST HOW GREEDY DISNEY HAS BECOME!!!!)

I had a feeling something like this was coming, but I get an 'almost sinister' feeling coming from Disney! The above sentence proves my point!
They want you in and out of PAID queue lines so you can give them even more money(SPEND) in dining and shopping areas! I DO NOT LIKE THAT FEELING!(as well as others)

If I pay $9-$18 for ride reservations, assuming the most popular rides with be the higher price, why on earth would I give Disney more money for food and souvenirs? I WILL NOT!
In all fairness to include, if they want to inclusion and diversity(since they stop using the regular announcement), then "there would be a set price for a single FP, if you reserve 4 or more FP's, then a DISCOUNT should be initiated"
So as an example...

Guest 1 reserves It's A Small World , Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise...each FP would be $10=$30
Guest 2 reserves It's A Small World , Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder, Pirates, Splash and 7DMT...each would cost $8=$56
(GUESTS CAN UTILIZE MY DISNEY EXPEIENCE/GENIE TO ADD EACH FP TO EVERYONE ATTACHED TO THEIR GROUP, SO ONLY 1 GUEST NEEDS TO MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR THEIR PARTY))

But in order for this to happen, I would suggest that the TICKET PRICES be reduced if this system is implemented in WDW! The French might not say much, but Americans will say something about being SWINDELED
If any other park were charging for RIDE RESERVATIONS per ride I would expect the same!

And how will you pay for these reservations? I think the easiest way to implement this IF THEY DO is to include it in the TIME OF PLANNING and PURCHASE.
THIS WAY...
#1 They will get their precious money up front
#2 They will know IN ADVANCE of what the crowds will look like on any given day
#3 They will know where they need Cast Members the most
#4 This would be the best way to initiate the FP discount for more than 4 FP(PER GUEST)


I HOPE SOMEONE FROM DISNEY SEES THIS AND PASSES IT ON!

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

I applaud you for finding an example…

..:I double dog dare you to find another?

Initially the dining plan was a discount deal. I priced it out carefully in 2005 and 2006. Originally, the DDP included appetizers and gratuity. Even if you didn't order all the food/drinks, as long as you ate/bought a TS entrée/buffet, a QS meal, and a snack for each day; you came out with a substantial discount.

Another time - temporarily - was back in 2009. for a short period WDW offered this crazy discount package deal:

Guests who buy a four-night/four-day non-discounted Walt Disney Travel Co. Magic Your Way hotel and ticket package for stays most nights from Jan. 4 to April 4, 2009, and April 19 to June 27, 2009, will receive three extra nights of hotel accommodations and three more days added to their theme park tickets for free. As a bonus, guests traveling on this package from Jan. 4 to March 29, 2009, will also receive a free $200 Disney Gift Card.

If you could go to WDW for 7 nights, the room was 43% off, the tickets were each $10 off, and you ALSO got a $200 gift card.

The crazyiest part of this offer was that club level rooms were included, so CL folks also got a significant food discount.

I know, not technically a lowering of prices, but it was a pretty crazy offer!

 

[Chip Chipperson]

Probably, but I actually changed quite a few FP on the day I planned to use them. FP+ changed over time. Initially, there was very little flexibility, but the system became more flexible over time.

(With the tiering in Epcot, IMO, it didn't matter a ton which attractions you picked, especially for your tier 2 attractions. Very often the standby and FP lines were nearly identical, and modifying was easy. It took all of about 15 seconds.)

That's also true, you have/had the flexibility with FP+ if you did change your mind - and another mark against this rumored change being an improvement. Anyone happy about the rumored new system allowing them the flexibility to choose what to do while already in the parks already had that flexibility with FP+ for free - and I wouldn't anticipate better results consistently enough with the rumored plan to justify the price. I don't think too many people were saying, "My kids love Frozen so we're booking that for our day in Epcot," and then getting to the park and saying, "Nah, let's see if we can switch that to Test Track" - certainly not enough to make this an improvement for most guests. Some might argue that this system will allow guests to book FastPasses for BOTH rides on the same day, but that ignores the fact that many guests won't pay for something that was previously free and therefore won't get a FastPass for either ride. It also assumes that those who want to pay for both will be able to get convenient times for both when the reality is that the paid-for "spontaneity" could leave them with hours between rides that they don't want to fill shopping, eating, riding lesser attractions, or standing in the sun wishing time moved faster so they can get on the ride they paid for.

 

[DisneyMusician2]

Well... some people don't like change. You'll still find people complaining about the loss of Mr Toad's Wild Ride.

What I'm talking about is value, which for this conversation I define as: Experiences had/money paid.

45 attractions for $400 is a better value than 30 attractions for $400

Similarly, 45 attractions for $400 is a better value than 45 attractions for $600

Higher ticket prices (including paid FP), reduced hours (including closing MK for a ticketed event) and longer wait times all equal less value for your vacation. You have to pay more to have the same experiences (or maybe fewer experiences)

Your point is taken but this doesn't account for the changing ways people spend money or some of the massive upgrades done to the resort hotels and properties, new fireworks shows, new technologies, increasing cost of labor including live performers, etc.

I've said this before, I don't think this really accounts for every price increase we see, but it is so much more complicated than we make it out to be sometimes on the boards.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Hmmm…ETA on that?

My guess is when the new version of FastPass is ready to go, so will the Genie. I imagine it will all launch as one integrated system.

 

[MouseMelly]

I realize I'm late to asking this... and this thread has gone off the rails... but anyone mind explaining why MaxPass wouldn't work? I understand DLR is a much shorter vacation length, but what else am I missing? Thanks in advance... (and pretty please don't make me feel like an idiot ) thank you

 

[ctrlaltdel]

I realize I'm late to asking this... and this thread has gone off the rails... but anyone mind explaining why MaxPass wouldn't work? I understand DLR is a much shorter vacation length, but what else am I missing? Thanks in advance... (and pretty please don't make me feel like an idiot ) thank you

That's really just legacy FP on your phone. WDW probably has too few attractions to make it work as well as it did in DLR, which is why it went in the FP+ direction in the first place. Different guest-mix (far more AP-heavy in CA) between WDW and DLR too.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

Did you notice your hotel room doesn't get cheaper the longer you stay? The ticket discounting is the lure... the hotel, food&beverage is the lioness hiding and ready to take you down.

Housekeeping costs aren't even a factor here... That's something they do in volume all the time anyway. That would be chasing pennies while dollars fly over your head.

Sure, But I dont see how Disney is going to try and keep 36,000 hotel rooms full by running guests off every 3-4 days. I still think they want people there as long as possible. Of course I could be completely wrong. Wouldn't be the 1st time.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

My guess is when the new version of FastPass is ready to go, so will the Genie. I imagine it will all launch as one integrated system.

…hopefully in May

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I realize I'm late to asking this... and this thread has gone off the rails... but anyone mind explaining why MaxPass wouldn't work? I understand DLR is a much shorter vacation length, but what else am I missing? Thanks in advance... (and pretty please don't make me feel like an idiot ) thank you

I would think it could work but I think this plan maximizes profits.

 

[RobbinsDad]

Wdw isn’t filled with nearly as many “high wealth” people as they lead to believe and…apparently you believe.

it’s what I said way upthread…it’s new money types that revel in what they’re charged and feel proud…not a luxury playground.

it was built for a middle class that sadly has changed…but it’s still built/run for them

everyone should consider that slaphead doesn’t care if he pushes it too far and attendance tanks? Why should he? He just moves on into retirement if it does and gets paid regardless.

disney isn’t run the way people assume it is…while also making excuses for price increases and trusting they won’t go too far.

which is it?

I totally agree with you that it isn't filled with high wealth people. Most are staunchly middle class, but that doesn't mean they won't spend money like they have more than they actually do at Disney parks - especially for their little ones. Where I believe Disney is most vulnerable to price shocks is outside the parks - resorts and DS. A family planning to use Premier Access might feel less-inclined to stay on property.

 

[pdude81]

I realize I'm late to asking this... and this thread has gone off the rails... but anyone mind explaining why MaxPass wouldn't work? I understand DLR is a much shorter vacation length, but what else am I missing? Thanks in advance... (and pretty please don't make me feel like an idiot ) thank you

Maxpass doesn't work because it was ten dollars total per ticket and you could still get paper for free if you didn't want to pay, meaning that change wouldn't generate sufficient revenue for WDW to implement.

And in DLR a good chunk of people refused to pay the $10 as there are a lot more things to do there if you don't have passes. . In WDW you'd have people screaming that they only got 2 passes for their 10 bucks and they wanted their money back. So by charging per attraction, more money is made and pricing can be set per attraction instead of per person.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I realize I'm late to asking this... and this thread has gone off the rails... but anyone mind explaining why MaxPass wouldn't work? I understand DLR is a much shorter vacation length, but what else am I missing? Thanks in advance... (and pretty please don't make me feel like an idiot ) thank you

Maxpass probably wouldn’t work because it’s not that used in California…but would be gobbled up in Orlando and overrun the parks.

it would have to be priced high where they may not sell…but not low where everyone gets it. Hard line to walk.

also…every market study shows micro transactions yield more profit.

 

[MouseMelly]

That's really just legacy FP on your phone. WDW probably has too few attractions to make it work as well as it did in DLR, which is why it went in the FP+ direction in the first place. Different guest-mix (far more AP-heavy in CA) between WDW and DLR too.

I could see that causing an issue. Thank you

 

[MouseMelly]

I would think it could work but I think this plan maximizes profits.

Thank you for the response.
That I certainly see and people will eventually pay it. I was hoping they'd see the past success as incentive

 

[MouseMelly]

Maxpass doesn't work because it was ten dollars total per ticket and you could still get paper for free if you didn't want to pay, meaning that change wouldn't generate sufficient revenue for WDW to implement.

And in DLR a good chunk of people refused to pay the $10 as there are a lot more things to do there if you don't have passes. . In WDW you'd have people screaming that they only got 2 passes for their 10 bucks and they wanted their money back. So by charging per attraction, more money is made and pricing can be set per attraction instead of per person.

That makes a lot of sense, thank you!

 

[GhostHost1000]

"...moving guests out of queues and into the park frees up time for them to shop and dine - all important factors for boosting Disney's earnings per guest."(SHOWING JUST HOW GREEDY DISNEY HAS BECOME!!!!)

if this is their plan their are dumber than I thought. While I understand those in queues aren’t spending money, if that make ways for more to be outside of queues shopping and dinning, we’ll dining places already stay full and how many more can you fit into the emporium? They want us to pay for a fastpass to get in there too?

 

[MouseMelly]

Maxpass probably wouldn’t work because it’s not that used in California…but would be gobbled up in Orlando and overrun the parks.

it would have to be priced high where they may not sell…but not low where everyone gets it. Hard line to walk.

also…every market study shows micro transactions yield more profit.

Very good point! I didn't realize it wasn't being used much in Cali. Thank you

 

[ParentsOf4]

How many times do we have to go thru this loop:

Disney introduces Fastpass and the guests hate it and want the old standby queues.
Disney introduces Fastpass+ and the guests hate it and want the old paper tickets.
Disney introduces Virtual Queues and Boarding Groups and the guests hate it and want the old Fastpass+ options.
Disney introduces Paid Fastpasses and ... ?

The original system is still the best. You just stand in line and wait your turn.

It keeps Guests from cluttering attraction entrances.

It results in shorter kiosk lines and less crowded stores, since a person can be in only one place at a time.

The lines keep moving, with (almost) no one cutting in front of you.

It’s the most fair. No special treatment for those staying onsite (booking 60 days ahead) or those able to dish out some cash to jump to the head of the queue.

If Disney really wants to reduce wait times and improve Guest satisfaction, build more attractions!