IllumiNations Reflections of Earth testing FASTPASS+ viewing locations

[janoimagine]

Okay Seriously, Calm Down.

To me the issue isn't so much that they are doing it ... it's the fact that they are wasting resources and capital on something so unnessecarry when their are clearly other glaring issues at the parks other than some mommy bloggers OCD that requires her to plan out every minute of her vacation to avoid a nervous breakdown.

 

[Tip Top Club]

If you're looking at it from that perspective, it's not as much about planning as it is knowing where to send your recources. If, for some reason, The Haunted Mansion has a booked up Fastpass+ Window and Pirates is completely dead, they can send more resources to Mansion at that specific time. Or if they were expecting a day to be pretty empty and then get surprised by a surge of Fastpass+ Bookings they can even alter their attendence projection and get budgets raised and more cast brought in to help with the unexpected crowd.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

There are currently no plans to charge for Fastpass+.

If you (or anyone else) doesn't believe that Disney is going to use this system to benefit those that spend more money with them (staying on-site, or in Deluxe or DVC, for example), I believe you're in for a rude awakening. To think anything less is absolute folly. Everything has pointed that direction for YEARS. Magical Express. Extra Magic Hours. The Dining Plan. These are all benefits they only offer to those staying on site. With FP+, they've developed a system that can be manipulated, worked, changed... All to their desire, and with absolutely no way for Joe Public to know. Outside of thinking "hmmm... It really felt like there were a lot of people in the FP line today at Space Mountain..." we're going to be completely clueless and have no idea what so ever.

Disney will ABSOLUTELY use the line that they will never charge extra for this system... They'll just allocate more of the system to those that pay extra in other ways. They won't be lying that way, right?? And a good number of the sheep that wander their parks will have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA. It's exactly the way they want it, I'm sure.

It's all in the symantics. To quote my favorite musical, Wicked:

A man's called a traitor... Or liberator.
A rich man's a thief, or philantropist.
Is one a crusader, or ruthless invader?

It's all in which label is able to persist.

 

[flynnibus]

If you (or anyone else) doesn't believe that Disney is going to use this system to benefit those that spend more money with them (staying on-site, or in Deluxe or DVC, for example), I believe you're in for a rude awakening. To think anything less is absolute folly.

Isn't that the motivation behind EVERY addition to the parks? Including rides and attractions? The point of any of those things is to get you to come and spend money with Disney.

Everything has pointed that direction for YEARS. Magical Express. Extra Magic Hours. The Dining Plan. These are all benefits they only offer to those staying on site

Yet none of those (sans Dining Plan) are seen as items 'Disney charges for'. Costs rolled into other things? Sure.. just like transportation is. But no one pays out of pocket for transportation.. just like they don't pay out of pocket to use FP.

 

[WildcatDen]

Maybe they should ask the rich people to pay a little more, then everything would be good at WDW again.

If you listen closely, you can hear my golf clap. . .

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Isn't that the motivation behind EVERY addition to the parks? Including rides and attractions? The point of any of those things is to get you to come and spend money with Disney.


Yet none of those (sans Dining Plan) are seen as items 'Disney charges for'. Costs rolled into other things? Sure.. just like transportation is. But no one pays out of pocket for transportation.. just like they don't pay out of pocket to use FP.

Again... You're arguing symantics.

That argument really bothers me, because a large section of the public won't look any further than "we don't pay out of pocket".

It's a cost. It's "pay for play". Whether it's broken out as a separate line item on my invoice seems completely immaterial to me. It came out of my pocket either way... Even if you didn't tell me that's what you took it for.

That part bothers me. It feels shady. And this whole program quite literally can be run by "the man behind the curtain" in any way he sees fit, with no way for me to know. It feels VERY nefarious.

I mean, let's say I know the deal, and it's common knowledge that by staying in a Deluxe, I will get more use of the system than others. So I go ahead and book the Poly. Outside of knowing the benefits that I personally am going to get for staying in that Deluxe, I have no idea how else the system is going to be manipulated while I'm there and how that may effect what I expected as an added perk by booking that deluxe.

 

[flynnibus]

Again... You're arguing symantics.

That argument really bothers me, because a large section of the public won't look any further than "we don't pay out of pocket".

It's a cost. It's "pay for play". Whether it's broken out as a separate line item on my invoice seems completely immaterial to me. It came out of my pocket either way... Even if you didn't tell me that's what you took it for.

Are you upset that onsite people get a package service? That they 'pay' for by staying on property?
Or should we all be upset because Disney offers more than one level of hotel offerings? Why should anyone get MORE when then pay more? The audacity!!

If you are so scared of being manipulated... you need to open your eyes a bit more to everyone going on around you. From the grocery store, to TV, to the government.

Disney hasn't shown any signs yet of forcing you to 'pay for play' here. If you are so upset about tiers of service.. then I think you should go back and take the blinders off and look at the parks over the last 40 years and recognize such divisions have always existed one way or another.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Are you upset that onsite people get a package service? That they 'pay' for by staying on property?
Or should we all be upset because Disney offers more than one level of hotel offerings? Why should anyone get MORE when then pay more? The audacity!!

If you are so scared of being manipulated... you need to open your eyes a bit more to everyone going on around you. From the grocery store, to TV, to the government.

Disney hasn't shown any signs yet of forcing you to 'pay for play' here. If you are so upset about tiers of service.. then I think you should go back and take the blinders off and look at the parks over the last 40 years and recognize such divisions have always existed one way or another.

Magical Express, the DP, EMH, package service... All these things don't effect me if I don't stay onsite. A FP allocation system will. That's what this is about... Other people's experiences being negatively impacted. That's not currently the case. At least not overtly. The playing field is FAR more level now than it's going to be in the future.

And I'm fully aware a caste system exists in other areas in my world. That has nothing to do with whether I should willingly and cheerfully accept a move to such a system at WDW.

 

[disneyeater]

Magical Express, the DP, EMH, package service... All these things don't effect me if I don't stay onsite. A FP allocation system will. That's what this is about... Other people's experiences being negatively impacted. That's not currently the case. At least not overtly. The playing field is FAR more level now than it's going to be in the future.

And I'm fully aware a caste system exists in other areas in my world. That has nothing to do with whether I should willingly and cheerfully accept a move to such a system at WDW.

I guess I just don't think it is so terrible that those that pay more can get more, including fastpass. I would prefer only a portion of the daily FP be allocoted to this system with some still left to offsite day guests (but I don't think that will happen). Even if all the FP go to those that pay, I wouldn't find it unfair in any way, even if I didn't want it to be that way.

I say that as a guest who has spent more than half of his trips either offsite or in value resorts.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

I guess I just don't think it is so terrible that those that pay more can get more, including fastpass. I would prefer only a portion of the daily FP be allocoted to this system with some still left to offsite day guests (but I don't think that will happen). Even if all the FP go to those that pay, I wouldn't find it unfair in any way, even if I didn't want it to be that way.

I say that as a guest who has spent more than half of his trips either offsite or in value resorts.

While I don't think there's anything wrong with you feeling that way, I'm willing to bet the farm that you will be in the minority.

Think for a bit about how people fight for firework and parade spots. Think about the dirty looks the FP line gets from the standby. Think about the hundreds of scooters that tool around the MK every day but aren't necessary. Think about those frustrated people you've seen that didn't plan ahead and get ADR's before their trip as they ask if any tables are available for dinner at Rose and Crown. Think about how short tempers get all around WDW for any number of reasons.

The sense of entitlement at WDW, and just the "fight for all you can get" mentality overall, is insane.

These are not people that will treat this whole thing level-headedly.

 

[BigThunderMatt]

The sense of entitlement at WDW, and just the "fight for all you can get" mentality overall, is insane.

These are not people that will treat this whole thing level-headedly.

This is absolutely perfect. More so than ever before, those who pay less expect more and those who pay more expect the same as those who pay less.

The gates of Magic Kingdom are inundated with 1-day, 1-park off-site Wal-Mart shopping families with 5 kids in tow and their 'Get 'er Done' hunting hats and Confederate flag t-shirts and against-park-policy wagons with coolers full of food. These guests expect 5 minute waits on every ride, don't care about height requirements, and expect a full-view curb side spot of the parade and fireworks on Main Street, 1 minute before the start of the parade. And if they don't get it, they'll stand in the middle of an emergency walkway and yell at you about how much money they've spent to come here and that they can do whatever they want ( ) .

Disney can definitely improve things if they find a way to filter out the riff-raff.

 

[mikenatcity1]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...-earth-testing-fastpass-viewing-locations.htm

When I saw the Candlelight Processional, they gave us reserved spots for Illunimations- I think this is something they've done for quite some time. When ever i've seen the fireworks there's always been some sort of viewing area blocked off. I figured this would be the same.

 

[Tip Top Club]

Okay fine. You're all right. A Year of trying to convince all of you otherwise and you've finally convinced me. Disney is terrible. They want you to hate them and your vacation and never come back again. That's the goal of this program.

You can argue motive all you want, but to me, I really don't care. The motive for Fastpass was to get people out of lines and get them spending money. I don't really care, because I don't use it that way. But I do enjoy my experience a little more because I know how to use fastpass wisely, and I imagine (I can't predict the future) that the same will go for Fastpass+.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

You can argue motive all you want, but to me, I really don't care. The motive for Fastpass was to get people out of lines and get them spending money. I don't really care, because I don't use it that way. But I do enjoy my experience a little more because I know how to use fastpass wisely, and I imagine (I can't predict the future) that the same will go for Fastpass+.

... Unless you aren't staying in a deluxe, or booked under the discount code that lets you pay rack rate, but triples your FP allotment for your trip.

 

[Bolna]

But I do enjoy my experience a little more because I know how to use fastpass wisely, and I imagine (I can't predict the future) that the same will go for Fastpass+.

See, I actually think that everything we have learned about FP+ so far seems to indicate that it is intended to create a more level playing field. I think the advantages of "knowing how to use it" will be far less than they were for the old FP. That's why your number of FP+ per day will be limited as well as the type of attractions. They want to distribute the time spent waiting more evenly on all guests - so those who were able to work FP very much for their advantage in the past will be the ones who will have to wait longer...

 

[disneyeater]

... Unless you aren't staying in a deluxe, or booked under the discount code that lets you pay rack rate, but triples your FP allotment for your trip.

Until they say it will be limited to deluxe, responses like this are nothing but speculation.

 

[neoshinok]

That's why your number of FP+ per day will be limited as well as the type of attractions. ...

That's an aspect I haven't seen discussed much, but it is interesting. Some Fastpass+ tests almost resembled the old A-E ticket system; i.e. choose a FP for either Space, Splash or Thunder. Then choose one for either Pan, Pirates or Pooh. Another method of spreading traffic better amongst attractions.

The implimentation of this will be a make-or-break issue for me when it comes time to renew my AP. I'm worried, but I do believe it will be rolled out in a fair way.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Until they say it will be limited to deluxe, responses like this are nothing but speculation.

Speculation is all either one of us have to go on with regard to this system and how it will be implimented and what it will mean to all of us.

I have years of WDW's track record and trends backing up what I believe will happen... What about you?

 

[Buried20KLeague]

See, I actually think that everything we have learned about FP+ so far seems to indicate that it is intended to create a more level playing field. I think the advantages of "knowing how to use it" will be far less than they were for the old FP. That's why your number of FP+ per day will be limited as well as the type of attractions. They want to distribute the time spent waiting more evenly on all guests - so those who were able to work FP very much for their advantage in the past will be the ones who will have to wait longer...

... Or maybe THEY want to decide who gets the "advantage" in the system, rather than having no control over it.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

I'm worried, but I do believe it will be rolled out in a fair way.

I think you're right, initially. I could see everyone on a level playing field for a year, maybe even two. I think they'll want to minimize the "pain" with implimenting the system and teaching the new system to the masses. If everyone has the exact same rules to live by initially and they cut down on the variables, it will simplify it.

I think the tweaking of the system will come gradually, and probably fairly slowly.