Has anyone heard a rumor about paying for extra fast passes?

[danlb_2000]

Do you know what patent was filed first, Magic bands or this fast pass purchasing Patent.

I don't believe anyone has found a patent for the Magic Bands/My Magic+ beyond some patents for the physical design of the band strap. Someone did recently find a patent that Universal filed for a system very similar to it.

 

[GrumpyFan]

Do you know what patent was filed first, Magic bands or this fast pass purchasing Patent.

It would seem that the concept of advanced FP(+) was filed first. In that patent, they reference tickets as the primary method, but also left it open and mentioned that it could also utilize electronic or biometric methods.

In an embodiment where the attraction is inside of or part of a theme park, the ticket customer uses for validation may be a ticket which is issued to the customer by which the customer gains access to the park itself. In such an arrangement, the first validator may be arranged to communicate with a main database containing information regarding the customer(s), such as by ticket numbers, which are entitled to utilize the second queue.

The first validator may be arranged to read input from a keypad, information on a card, to accept issued tokens, identify one or more biometric identifiers of a customer such as a radio-frequency identification (RFID); retina, voice, thermal, finger or hand geometry signature; or a visual identification of the customer or the like.

I should mention too, that this one goes back to an original filing from 2003.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Shouldn't be a problem. I cut them a check for 1.5 billion yesterday. I included a note that now that MM+ is paid for, they can do some much needed park expansions. I wasn't very explicit in my requests so I hope that wasn't a mistake.

The problem is that you forgot to include extra for corporate bonus's. Had you covered that, they there might have been a chance of some sort of park expansion. Nice try though! You might give them a call and find out if there is a way to up the amount to say 2.5 Billion!

 

[WendyTinkerbell]

At one point they charged like $9.00 per person for extra hours. I kind of remember this being in like March of 2003, and they had random nights with "extra magic hours" at Magic Kingdom and it was an add-on to your ticket. (The name of these hours I think had "night" in it) Does anyone else remember this?

 

[R W B]

In this day and age of patent trolling, it is wise to patent pretty much everything you can

The point of a patent is not to give yourself the ability to do something, the point is to keep others from doing it. Even with a patent though it is still difficult to keep others from using your idea, all they have to do is tweak a few things and it's no longer your idea. Most companies get patents for the purpose of the threat of litigation if another company starts getting in their way in the future.

Right, I understand the need for a patent, I own a few patents myself and I have a few patent pending on file also. Everything I've done/doing is a physical object though. I didn't know you could put a patent on a "process" as in selling fast passes.

 

[Master Yoda]

At one point they charged like $9.00 per person for extra hours. I kind of remember this being in like March of 2003, and they had random nights with "extra magic hours" at Magic Kingdom and it was an add-on to your ticket. (The name of these hours I think had "night" in it) Does anyone else remember this?

E-ride nights. It think it was done primarily at MK.

 

[Master Yoda]

Right, I understand the need for a patent, I own a few patents myself and I have a few patent pending on file also. Everything I've done/doing is a physical object though. I didn't know you could put a patent on a "process" as in selling fast passes.

Take a quick look at what has been going on between Apple and Samsung. There were patents for gestures on smartphones. "Slide to unlock" was actually patented.

 

[birdie31]

Harley tried to patent the sound of their bikes....

 

[WendyTinkerbell]

You're right, it was called E-Ride Nights. I just found it on Mouse Planet. It was one or a couple days a week for Disney Resort guest only. It was $12 for Magic Kingdom and was only for "E-Rides" (and the ride selection could change). You would buy the voucher and then after 4:00 could exchange it for the wrist band.

 

[janoimagine]

It should surprise no one that Disney will use FP+ to explore opportunities to more effectively monetize their attractions, even if that's in the form of resort upsells.

I think you meant to write Exploit ... not Explore.

 

[marni1971]

*shudder*

 

[afar28]

I sure hope not, but knowing Disney I would not be surprised

 

[NoChesterHester]

You're right, it was called E-Ride Nights. I just found it on Mouse Planet. It was one or a couple days a week for Disney Resort guest only. It was $12 for Magic Kingdom and was only for "E-Rides" (and the ride selection could change). You would buy the voucher and then after 4:00 could exchange it for the wrist band.

E-ride nights was the greatest deal in the history of the world. I loved it. Loved.

 

[Disneydreamer23]

I think this is a rumor

 

[PalisadesPkteer]

You're right, it was called E-Ride Nights. I just found it on Mouse Planet. It was one or a couple days a week for Disney Resort guest only. It was $12 for Magic Kingdom and was only for "E-Rides" (and the ride selection could change). You would buy the voucher and then after 4:00 could exchange it for the wrist band.

I recall thinking of buying this option. But believe it was canceled before I got down there. Do not recall the year. Give it time, they will most likely do this again. But with a huge price tag.

 

[Master Yoda]

I recall thinking of buying this option. But believe it was canceled before I got down there. Do not recall the year. Give it time, they will most likely do this again. But with a huge price tag.

They have been doing it for free for resort guests for nearly a decade now under the name "Extra Magic Hours"

 

[George]

Yes. Here's the link - http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...or-about-paying-for-extra-fast-passes.879168/

 

[Disneyfamily4]

If Disney did start to sell options for buying extra fast passes, they will recoup that 1.5 billion in one years time. With that possibility alone, perhaps this is more than a rumor.

 

[GrumpyFan]

If Disney did start to sell options for buying extra fast passes, they will recoup that 1.5 billion in one years time. With that possibility alone, perhaps this is more than a rumor.

Shh! Quiet you!

Seriously though, they have already thought about it, and as shown, patented the idea. I'm guessing at least part of the payback will come from them selling the service to other hotels and perhaps even travel agents outside of the Disney name.

 

[Master Yoda]

If Disney did start to sell options for buying extra fast passes, they will recoup that 1.5 billion in one years time. With that possibility alone, perhaps this is more than a rumor.

I am not quite sure of that. One thing Disney has done since the beginning is kept the playing field in the parks fairly equal. With the exception of VIP tour guides, it has never really mattered if you were a day guest or staying in a suite at the GF. Your access to the parks was equal. Even EMH is not done at multiple parks at the same time give off property guest the plan to avoid it.

Granted, I would not put anything past CEOs wanting to raise the stock price 1/2 a point by any means necessary, but they did not need MM+ to do it. Had they wanted to monetize fastpass they could have easily done it years ago.

My only fear is the amount put into MM+ will force their hand to do so if it fails to pay off in other areas.