News Gotta Pay2Play: Paid FP on the way!

[SirLink]

Why would this be an issue? I would love this at moderates. It would be great if I could pay $1,000 over 5 days for 15 extra fast passes (for each person in my family). This would likely save me from needing a day 6&7, which means I save $250 a night on hotel and another $200-300 a day on food. This would pay for itself if it was offered on moderate resorts.

If it was offered at Moderates you wouldn't get 3 FP extra for $50, it would be $50 for 1 / 2 extra FP for the same cost. I would assume 1 FP.

MaxPass Florida is next.

 

[njDizFan]

I would not say wait times for a given attraction and 'crowding' are the same thing.

Wait times are obviously manipulated by things such as number of cars, amount of FPs given, operating hours, etc.

Crowding is determined by the daily attendance, which is primarily controlled by ticket prices.

If he was discussing wait times by saying 'crowding', then he's correct. But I thought he was talking about the actual daily attendance (crowd).

If more people are on rides the less crowded it feels

 

[Tony the Tigger]

The precedent that this sets is troubling to me. Selling privileges to rich people and, simultaneously, reducing the number of FP available to "regular" guests is despicable. It shows how much the company values its not so wealthy customers.

Welcome to capitalism.

 

[DisneyJoe]

I imagine so too.

But I kind of cringed at it being $50. It's clearly testing the waters.

I bet it has been surveyed much more than you realize - and I wouldn't be surprised that club level guests have answered surveys about the VIP services or tours and have answered that they are willing to pay this amount for FP+ rather than pay for a full 7hr+ VIP tour.

I agree it is a test, just a well researched test.

 

[MrHappy]

Isn't the point of MM+/MagicBands/FP+ is to fuel a database that will help make the parks run and flow more efficiently? It's a mash up of pre-planned data with real time data. So if a larger % of FastPass inventory is taken by the affluent months in advance, Disney should be able to react and open more FastPass inventory (if they choose) since, as been stated, they have the capacity to do so. If they also choose, they can read the actual flow of actual FastPass usage and decide to open or close sides or do whatever other trick (operational "things") to meet their goal in short order. If they want wait times to ALWAYS be 45 minutes, they can make that happen no matter how many FP+s are out there.

So with added profits of folks adding extra FP+s to their package, those suckers could essentially be paying for the operating costs - thereby benefiting other guests. It's up to Disney. They have the data, the inventory, and benchmarks already set.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I can't for the life of me understand why this isn't offered to everyone? Makes no sense.

It just seems so...gross...that the chance to purchase - key word here - extra fast passes is only offered to Club Level guests.

Simple: because they don't have enough rides to handle their attendance...purchase fastpasses except to limited customers won't work right now...

If it could...it would roll out to at least dvc members...but it isn't.

Management has failed to build enough...I've said this for going on 2 decades...since the stagnation started in late Eisner.

...eventually...people will see it/believe it.

 

[MrHappy]

I bet it has been surveyed much more than you realize - and I wouldn't be surprised that club level guests have answered surveys about the VIP services or tours and have answered that they are willing to pay this amount for FP+ rather than pay for a full 7hr+ VIP tour.

I agree it is a test, just a well researched test.

Agreed. I would also bet that non-club guests would actually feel the effects of this at all. Disney will open more inventory of FPs for the small increase in FPs that clubers actually secure in advance and USE. Not to stereo-type all clubers but I doubt Thurston and Lovey will use more that 3 FPs in a day even if they were like the rest of us....up at 12:01am 90 days in advance to secure them with the will to remain in the park for several hours waiting for your FP turn.

I have no doubt clubers would say "of course I'm willing to pay for your best". I'm sure they'll pay for this premium amenity, but lets see what they do with it.

 

[King Panda 77]

Just try and allow some Canadians to sneak in too.

Well you do know how to spell right.

 

[King Panda 77]

nah fix your own Disney park. stop sucking up all the capacity at ours. not my fault DLP isn't popular with Europeans. go on your 300 week vacations over there. your local GDP will thank you.

Not my disneypark ... or at least not once Brexit is done

 

[Kamikaze]

That is not
Their goal...they can state it until their blue in the face.

There are good motivations for them to take that stance...but market forces make it impossible

The goal is to make money. If they make more money by raising ticket prices just enough to reduce attendance while continuing to make money, then that is what they will do. If they make more money on 15 million guests at a higher price than they do on 16 million at a lower price, then they want 15. Its that simple.

 

[MrPromey]

Thank the Lord for DVC. If a park is busy I leave. If not I’ll stay. I can come back tomorrow, next week or next year. With 6 Fastpasses that’s 5-6 hours in a park. Methinks not. Three will suffice. The only issue I have is why if I have a park hopper can I not book my three Fastpasses for different parks? That needs to be addressed.

Because capacity isn't high enough on popular attractions. They need people still burning fastpasses for JIYI because they already have one for Soarin, Test Track, or Frozen and can't book it for Space Mountain.

The last thing they want is you booking FOP, Frozen, and SDMT in one day.

 

[Kamikaze]

If more people are on rides the less crowded it feels

Fair, but Disney does not want people in lines. Can't buy things while you're waiting in line.

 

[Walt d]

So wait... You want me to pay more so I can get on the rides I should be able to already, if the parks weren't so overcrowded? A situation you've allowed to happen and can entirely control? Yeah, no.

Yea” next its pay bathrooms,

 

[MrHappy]

Yea” next its pay bathrooms,

Prepaid I hope

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The goal is to make money. If they make more money by raising ticket prices just enough to reduce attendance while continuing to make money, then that is what they will do. If they make more money on 15 million guests at a higher price than they do on 16 million at a lower price, then they want 15. Its that simple.

With rising operational/IP costs in entertainment and the slow collapse of their cable tv profit generator...the Walt disney company has no realistic course but to both grow attendance AND charge everyone maximum for everything. It's not a financially feasible "either/or"

The first step is to jack the prices (we're in the middle of that plan)...second is to try to flood it (that's Just rolling out now)

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Prepaid I hope

L M A O...

Would rfid on a magic band like ezpass be sufficient?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Fair, but Disney does not want people in lines. Can't buy things while you're waiting in line.

There are limits on how many people can sit in each seat at a given time...

Unless you want doombuggies to unload like clown cars...

 

[MrPromey]

Prepaid I hope

Let's hope not! The last thing we need is Disney's Pooping Plan driving up the retail costs for guests looking to pay-per-potty.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Let's hope not! The last thing we need is Disney's Pooping Plan driving up the retail costs for guests looking to pay-per-potty.

"Experience the new MAGICAL!!! Princess Potty Plan!!! Your little princess will feel like a true Disney Princess every time nature calls, pampered during each step of the process! Only $299.99 per day (5-day minimum purchase required, theme park admission not included)"

 

[lazyboy97o]

I would not say wait times for a given attraction and 'crowding' are the same thing.

Wait times are obviously manipulated by things such as number of cars, amount of FPs given, operating hours, etc.

Crowding is determined by the daily attendance, which is primarily controlled by ticket prices.

If he was discussing wait times by saying 'crowding', then he's correct. But I thought he was talking about the actual daily attendance (crowd).

I'd be more inclined to agree if they hadn't stated at earnings reports that they were okay with attendance declines because it reduced overcrowding. It certainly helps that they have been making money money on less guests, which is obviously the long term goal.

You’re definition is incorrect. Crowding is not directly related to daily attendance, it is a relative term that describes density. A larger park with greater capacity will be less crowded than a smaller park with less capacity even if they have the same daily attendance.