FastPass+ Most Certainly Not Coming Back As It Was

[Weather_Lady]

Let's put it this way.

WDW is never going to be able to offer what Universal offers: unlimited Express Pass for all Deluxe Resort guests.

Universal has 2400 Deluxe Resort rooms. WDW has (depending on lockoffs) over 10,000 Deluxe rooms.

The previous poster had an entirely unrealistic expectation the Disney might offer a family of 4 unlimited FastPasses for a week for $1000.

Disney is not going to offer (as you call it) "the smartest way to do it". That's the point.

The point is, what Disney will offer could cost thousands (plural) of dollars for a week and be considerably less than unlimited FastPass.

The point is, what the previous poster thought might cost $1000 might actually cost many times that, and still fall far short of that poster's unlimited express access expectations.

I agree, the smart way to do it at Universal is to stay onsite. Disney is never going to allow you to do it the "smart" way at WDW.

Based on what we've heard so far, Disney is considering implementing something somewhat similar to the original FastPass (which was "free"), but then charge you for it.

I think you misunderstood my post. When I said "smartest way to do it, " I was talking about the smartest way for a family to get unlimited express pass at Universal, at a fraction of the cost calculated by the poster to whom I was responding.

I completely agree that due to its limited ride capacity and larger visitor base (among other factors), Disney could never offer a comparably broad "express pass-style" benefit at any price - hence why there's no way to compare it to Universal, "apples to apples."

 

[Waters Back Side]

Based on what we've heard so far, Disney is considering implementing something somewhat similar to the original FastPass (which was "free"), but then charge you for it.

Here is the other question...based on what we have heard? Seriously, What have we heard? We have heard nothing but endless proposals, suggestions, ideas, and mumbo jumbo about what people THINK will happen. I have heard rumors of paid FP for 10 years.

I will bet money that Disney offers ********SOME TYPE******** of free front of line access to resort guests. Will it be like before? No. Considering each perk they used to have has been taken away or lessened (loss of night extended hours for guests not in Deluxe, loss of Magic Express, loss of advance ride booking, etc.) They cannot afford to hurt themselves in other segments of their business. They are always looking to make money, but they have to do it in a way they do not lose money. This perception people have that guests will keep coming is not true. People are there now because they were stuck in their house for a year with limited travel options and just want to be at WDW knowing in advance the offerings and options are limited.

 

[kong1802]

Here is the other question...based on what we have heard? Seriously, What have we heard? We have heard nothing but endless proposals, suggestions, ideas, and mumbo jumbo about what people THINK will happen. I have heard rumors of paid FP for 10 years.

I will bet money that Disney offers ********SOME TYPE******** of free front of line access to returning resort guests. Will it be like before? No. Considering each perk they used to have has been taken away or lessened (loss of night extended hours for guests not in Deluxe, loss of Magic Express, loss of advance ride booking, etc. They cannot afford to hurt themselves in other segments of their business. They are always looking to make money, but they have to do it in a way they do not lose money. This perception people have that guests will keep coming is not true. People are there now because they were stuck in their house for a year with limited travel options and just want to be at WDW knowing in advance the offerings and options are limited.

I’m not so sure. In a way I’m thinking the EMH offerings are meant as a “free” fast pass for those groups. Even though the good neighbor hotels get them too, minus the evening offerings for deluxe. Unless they get those. I can’t remember and I’m lazy.

 

[Waters Back Side]

I’m not so sure. In a way I’m thinking the EMH offerings are meant as a “free” fast pass for those groups. Even though the good neighbor hotels get them too, minus the evening offerings for deluxe. Unless they get those. I can’t remember and I’m lazy.

They always offered that with FP. One thing has nothing to do with the other. It's simply more time theh give you access to the parks. Why read more into it until we know for sure?

 

[ParentsOf4]

They always offered that with FP. One thing has nothing to do with the other. It's simply more time theh give you access to the parks. Why read more into it until we know for sure?

You mean why have a discussion forum explicitly titled WDW Parks News, Rumors and Current Events?

 

[DisneyHead123]

Disney's movie re-release schedule, and vault strategy, was predicated on the fact that their key demo turns over every 7 years. New humans provide a lot of cover when it comes to what people are willing to do. New parents don't know what things used to be like. They were kids when they came before. They didn't know. If it's ridiculous for them, it must have been ridiculous for their parents and their grandparents. And others will jump in to say how their family couldn't go before, so it absolutely was the same level of ridiculousness. It takes something really big and external to force the situation. There have been wobbles. 9/11, financial crisis. Disney didn't learn anything. They just converted deluxe rooms to DVC, and reduced capacity within the parks by closing attractions or replacing high capacity rides with headliners with crappy OHRC. Like nature in Jurassic Park...apparently "Disney finds a way."

I still think there will be a moment it all comes crashing down. It's just not going to be after a global pandemic, with all this pent up demand and upper middle class people who, all things considered, saw considerable growth in their savings and didn't experience job insecurity.

I haven't seen inflation mentioned in this thread but that could well be the next Big Reset. I've been keeping an eye on it in the news but I'm not in-the-know about economics to begin with and I can't make heads or tails of our economy at the moment (the stock market was soaring during a global pandemic, for example - everyone kept saying that was a bubble that would crash hard when people realized the reality of the situation, but so far this hasn't happened). So maybe the inflation talk will amount to nothing more than a blip, but, maybe not.

 

[kong1802]

They always offered that with FP. One thing has nothing to do with the other. It's simply more time theh give you access to the parks. Why read more into it until we know for sure?

There's a lot that's been offered and changed. Just postulating on what may occur.

Part of me thinks there will be some kind of front of the line preference given to onsite, but I just don't know.

I mean, 5 or so years ago people were saying the cuts to EMH hours were being done so that in the future Disney could charge people for them. I thought those people were being too cynical.........

I wouldn't count anything out, is all I'm saying. Maybe the cynical folks have it figured out........

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The Universal cost for express pass is high as a ticket add-on, but that's not the only (or the smartest) way to do it. In one month my family of 4 will be staying at Hard Rock for $235/night (APH rate) and will get unlimited express pass for our length of stay... plus the premier hotel room for a fraction of the cost of a Disney deluxe... plus 2-park seasonal annual passes that cost $305 per person and are good for 15 months from first use, as compared with WDW tickets that were over $500 per person for 5 days...

I know you used the figures you did because you were trying to make the best possible apples-to-apples comparison, but I'm not sure it can be done given the interplay between the various paid components of a vacation and the myriad ways things can be packaged. Universal is simply a banana.

I had portofino booked for $190.91 a night (with tax)…that would have gotten 4 unlimited express pass. Can’t beat that any day

but plans changed.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I mean, 5 or so years ago people were saying the cuts to EMH hours were being done so that in the future Disney could charge people for them. I thought those people were being too cynical.........

how’d you do on that?

 

[Waters Back Side]

There's a lot that's been offered and changed. Just postulating on what may occur.

Part of me thinks there will be some kind of front of the line preference given to onsite, but I just don't know.

I mean, 5 or so years ago people were saying the cuts to EMH hours were being done so that in the future Disney could charge people for them. I thought those people were being too cynical.........

I wouldn't count anything out, is all I'm saying. Maybe the cynical folks have it figured out........

I agree with all of this. Years later, Extended Evening hours and Early entry (the replacement of EMH) is still free.
So was FP for the last 20 years. So is the fact the more tickets per day you buy the cheaper they get. So it the discounts they offer at different times. Considering half the complaints we have will never be fixed completely, it is possible Disney will look to make money on things without it hampering the guest satisfaction.

 

[kong1802]

I had portofino booked for $190.91 a night (with tax)…that would have gotten 4 unlimited express pass. Can’t beat that any day

but plans changed.

In 2018 we stayed at Royal Pacific in December for $240/night and got 5 express passes.

Same price as as ASMu family suite same time at WDW since we are a family of 5…

I know they aren’t the same parks, but one was a way better deal….

 

[kong1802]

how’d you do on that?

It’s when I decided it was time to join cynics anonymous

 

[mightynine]

The more I read the more I feel like there’s just no way for Disney to offer complimentary (since some people here freak out when you use the word free) whatever the FP replacement will be called to WDW resort guests. Wouldn’t it clog up the existing FP queues to the point where selling access won’t be an attractive option?

I still maintain that resort guests will be able to purchase CashPass (I gotta call it something) bundles and the price will depend on the category of where you’re staying.

It does feel that the Magic Hours for resort guests is the attempt to replace FP, especially the evenings for Deluxes. If you race after rope drop, you could get a headliner at a park with a reasonable wait, depending on when you visit.

As for increasing guest spending, I do wonder if it’ll just be a wash, and people move money from gifts and dining to the CashPass. Of course, if Disney prices it right - for them - it may be more per guest no matter what they choose.

Ain’t it magical?

 

[kong1802]

I agree with all of this. Years later, Extended Evening hours and Early entry (the replacement of EMH) is still free.
So was FP for the last 20 years. So is the fact the more tickets per day you buy the cheaper they get. So it the discounts they offer at different times. Considering half the complaints we have will never be fixed completely, it is possible Disney will look to make money on things without it hampering the guest satisfaction.

They are still free, but there were months where EMH hours totaled 30+ For MK alone. Then they were in the teens.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I agree with all of this. Years later, Extended Evening hours and Early entry (the replacement of EMH) is still free.
So was FP for the last 20 years. So is the fact the more tickets per day you buy the cheaper they get. So it the discounts they offer at different times. Considering half the complaints we have will never be fixed completely, it is possible Disney will look to make money on things without it hampering the guest satisfaction.

I think you might be reading that backwards

 

[Waters Back Side]

They are still free, but there were months where EMH hours totaled 30+ For MK alone. Then they were in the teens.

Yep. Just like there were years where there were far to many Fast passes available. So maybe...just maybe..they keep them free and say....limit them??? Lol

 

[kong1802]

Yep. Just like there were years where there were far to many Fast passes available. So maybe...just maybe..they keep them free and say....limit them??? Lol

Anything is possible.

I don’t know what model they will go with. If deluxes get one free “premium” pass and mods get a free “moderate” pass and values get a 10% off dole whip coupon pass…

It’s fascinating to watch unfold.

 

[pdude81]

The more I read the more I feel like there’s just no way for Disney to offer complimentary (since some people here freak out when you use the word free) whatever the FP replacement will be called to WDW resort guests. Wouldn’t it clog up the existing FP queues to the point where selling access won’t be an attractive option?

I still maintain that resort guests will be able to purchase CashPass (I gotta call it something) bundles and the price will depend on the category of where you’re staying.

It does feel that the Magic Hours for resort guests is the attempt to replace FP, especially the evenings for Deluxes. If you race after rope drop, you could get a headliner at a park with a reasonable wait, depending on when you visit.

As for increasing guest spending, I do wonder if it’ll just be a wash, and people move money from gifts and dining to the CashPass. Of course, if Disney prices it right - for them - it may be more per guest no matter what they choose.

Ain’t it magical?

They can give one free per ticket, whether pre-scheduled or day-of. They used to give 3 free per ticket and then you could get more over the top from drops or remaining ones with lower demand. This would still allow for a significant amount of money to be raised from fastpass and dissaude some from using it.

If they were to allow one free per ticket, pre-scheduled, that takes away some of the argument that you have to rope drop to get on anything. Then you allow purchase after park entry, so like MaxPass used to have there would be a huge benefit for early entry into the parks. That's where the on-site hotel advantage kicks in for fastpass. Deluxe on top of that gets the extra evening hours.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yep. Just like there were years where there were far to many Fast passes available. So maybe...just maybe..they keep them free and say....limit them??? Lol

You’re consistent…I’ll give you that.

1. They can’t manage their crowd without fastpass
2. They want to charge you for them
3. “Guest satisfaction” isn’t the silver bullet you believe it to be. Only a drop in revenue is.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The more I read the more I feel like there’s just no way for Disney to offer complimentary (since some people here freak out when you use the word free) whatever the FP replacement will be called to WDW resort guests. Wouldn’t it clog up the existing FP queues to the point where selling access won’t be an attractive option?

I still maintain that resort guests will be able to purchase CashPass (I gotta call it something) bundles and the price will depend on the category of where you’re staying.

It does feel that the Magic Hours for resort guests is the attempt to replace FP, especially the evenings for Deluxes. If you race after rope drop, you could get a headliner at a park with a reasonable wait, depending on when you visit.

As for increasing guest spending, I do wonder if it’ll just be a wash, and people move money from gifts and dining to the CashPass. Of course, if Disney prices it right - for them - it may be more per guest no matter what they choose.

Ain’t it magical?

Agree

They can give one free per ticket, whether pre-scheduled or day-of. They used to give 3 free per ticket and then you could get more over the top from drops or remaining ones with lower demand. This would still allow for a significant amount of money to be raised from fastpass and dissaude some from using it.

If they were to allow one free per ticket, pre-scheduled, that takes away some of the argument that you have to rope drop to get on anything. Then you allow purchase after park entry, so like MaxPass used to have there would be a huge benefit for early entry into the parks. That's where the on-site hotel advantage kicks in for fastpass. Deluxe on top of that gets the extra evening hours.

Can…but won’t. It would involve much more management of the system and day off in the parks and cut into the revenue streams