Just an FYI, but the rumors will fly.

[Master Yoda]

I don't know because Disney never shared that information with the survey company. But it's not the first time disney refuses to share info about how many park hoppers they sell. Check this article out.
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/09/business/la-fi-disney-passes-20130109

Knowing that number is essential to prove your claim that Disney looses money by charging for parkhopping. Without it all you have is a hypothetical maybe.

During my time as a TA about 60% of my clients purchased the parkhopper option and that was without me pushing it. I even recommended against it in some cases. I can not imagine my numbers being higher than what occurs as a whole considering that both Disney and most TAs push that option.

The bottom line is, as you stated, comes down to simple math. If the money they make by selling parkhoppers exceeds the hypothetical amount that they are loosing in lost sales, then selling parkhoppers is the right thing to do. Considering that Disney knows exactly how much they bring in by selling the parkhopping option and has an educated estimate of how much is left on the table by those who do not purchase it, it is fairly safe to say that the simple fact that they continue to sell it confirms that there is more money to be made by selling it.

 

[Ray B]

It's great that you will be able to park hop using FP+ but how will that work for people not staying on property? Right now the kiosk lines can get long as people try and decide what 3 FP they want for a day. Will they now have the option of breaking those 3 options across multiple parks? I can see that adding even more time to the wait as people try and decide not just what rides to FP but whether they will end up park hopping.

 

[bhg469]

Knowing that number is essential to prove your claim that Disney looses money by charging for parkhopping. Without it all you have is a hypothetical maybe.

During my time as a TA about 60% of my clients purchased the parkhopper option and that was without me pushing it. I even recommended against it in some cases. I can not imagine my numbers being higher than what occurs as a whole considering that both Disney and most TAs push that option.

The bottom line is, as you stated, comes down to simple math. If the money they make by selling parkhoppers exceeds the hypothetical amount that they are loosing in lost sales, then selling parkhoppers is the right thing to do. Considering that Disney knows exactly how much they bring in by selling the parkhopping option and has an educated estimate of how much is left on the table by those who do not purchase it, it is fairly safe to say that the simple fact that they continue to sell it confirms that there is more money to be made by selling it.

This is totally correct. I could see them losing money if very few people did it but to not do it is not practical. And disney (especially the disney of our time) doesn't do anything without knowing there is a profit involved. Even the 2.5 billion dollar disaster was a way to make more money but will just never pay for itself.

 

[ultraplayer26]

I didn't work for the company that did the survey. This info I got from a buddy of mines that his mom works for the company. When I see his mom I'm gonna ask her about that exact number. But why would she lie about such a simple thing anyways? I'm sure there's some truth behind this. Either way I'm sure when you were a TA that so called 60% your saying couldn't be constant either. I'm sure ticket sales vary from month to month basis. If not disney wouldn't have the low attendance months they currently have. Either way I thought it was interesting to see disney do such survey anyways. I know the new age Disney is only about what they make money wise. But now with the only 3 FP rule two things can happen. People can either buy more days to visit that same park, or just be turned off and just call it a day. It just seems like the new disney is making a vacation seem like a trap. Thats the last thing you would want a vacationer to feel.

 

[Master Yoda]

I didn't work for the company that did the survey. This info I got from a buddy of mines that his mom works for the company. When I see his mom I'm gonna ask her about that exact number. But why would she lie about such a simple thing anyways? I'm sure there's some truth behind this. Either way I'm sure when you were a TA that so called 60% your saying couldn't be constant either. I'm sure ticket sales vary from month to month basis. If not disney wouldn't have the low attendance months they currently have. Either way I thought it was interesting to see disney do such survey anyways. I know the new age Disney is only about what they make money wise. But now with the only 3 FP rule two things can happen. People can either buy more days to visit that same park, or just be turned off and just call it a day. It just seems like the new disney is making a vacation seem like a trap. Thats the last thing you would want a vacationer to feel.

The 60% number came from my entire customer base over a 3 year period.

The problem is that you are trying to draw a conclusion based on one piece of a thousand piece puzzle.

I don't doubt that the number that you got friends mother were what the survey showed, but what that number lacks is relative context. It would not surprise me one bit if nearly every person that did not get parkhopping claimed that had they had it for free they would have gone to another park and spent some money. What you are lacking is how many people this actually entails. How much money would they spend? Would they do this every day? How many people would actually go through with what they claimed? etc.

If Disney collects $100k in parkhopping options every day, and the people who don't buy parkhopping would only spend an additional $50k if they got it for free, Disney is better off charging for parkhopping.

 

[ChrisM]

Yay progress! Once they figure out park hopping and eliminate the tiers, FP+ is darn near perfect for this family!

I won't be pleased until they begin offering an increasing number of FP+ slots based on resort tier.

 

[LAKid53]

I am leaving for Disney World tomorrow for two weeks. As I just logged onto the MyDisneyExperience Ap to give my reservations one last look, I had a notification. I clicked it and it was actually a survey of 3 questions.

Question 1.) Your ticket includes Park hopping. With 3 fast pass reservations, will you use 3 in one park or save a reservation for another park. It asks me to click, Somewhat likely, most likely or not at all.

Question 2.) On an average day, will your party be visiting more than 2 parks.

Question 3.) Will you and your party be utilizing the FP+ Kiosks set up throughout the parks.

I am curious about the first question. It seems to me that they are either currently experimenting with FP+ and Park Hopping, or that they will be very soon.

I received a call from GS over the weekend and the CM indicated that WDW has received MANY complaints/comments about limiting the FP+ to only one park, especially now that passholders are receiving magic bands and all the paper ticket machines have been removed from the 4 parks. She said the testing phase was 2 years (should have about a year to go?) and that WDW would probably be making some changes based upon feedback. So we can only hope that WDW will allow FP+ for more than one park per day if the guest has purchased a ticket with the park hopper option or is an annual passholder. Since WDW limits the time frame for making advanced FP+ - depending on whether or not the guest has a resort reservation - it shouldn't be a problem. I also would like the option to choose only 1 or 2 FP+, depending upon the park.

My next reservation is in April and I've not received the survey, but then I e-mailed my thoughts/suggestions to WDW - which is why they called - so they already know my thoughts.

 

[LAKid53]

So, on April 1st when I make my FP+ reservations can I make them all for the entire trip or do I have to log on each day on the 60 day mark? Also, if I take a screen shot or print off the FP+ reservations will they honor those reservations or will I just be out of luck if my reservations get dropped? thanks

You will be able to make them for the entire trip if you have a resort reservation. As the CM told me, the 60 day window is for resort guests and the 30 day window is for annual passholders, once the passholder receives their magic band. I have reservations both in April and May. Right now, I can only make FP+ selections for the April trip. But once I'm within that 60 day window for the May trip, then I can make FP+ selections. You should also receive an e-mail notification when you can start making FP+ selections.

 

[No Time To Say Hello Goodbye]

We're probably going to see the tiers for a while, until they A) add more rides, or B) analyze their data to see if crowds can still be disbursed among the E-Ticket attractions while allowing more than one e-Ticket per day.

True, but MK and AK have no tiers. So if PH is added to FP+, you might be able to get a Tier 1 ride at EP or HS and then add 2 FP+ for rides at the non-tiered parks. FP RnR at HS, then hop to MK for the rest of the day. Or start your day with 2 FP at AK, then when it closes hop to EP where you have a FP for Soarin that evening.

 

[jlsHouston]

The problem with that would be that the total inventory was the same. As more guest were given FP+ reservation capabilities, the number of legacy FPs available decreased. It would have been a miserable experience for FP+ and legacy users if they left both system in full operation once FP+ was nearly globally available.

You are probably right. I just think the way they decided to structure testing of FP+ really sucked. Last November I thought I might like it for the convenience. Then I experienced it in person with no legacy around for back up, and lots of people at the parks and I was not ...impressed? happy?

 

[MOXOMUMD]

I was not ...impressed? happy?

having a magical time?

 

[jlsHouston]

having a magical time?

Ahhhh..I love going to WDW....Usually I get to do pretty much what I want when I want. This time I had DBF and DGS7 and I had to lead them around the parks....which meant I had to have rides and attractions and food breaks that worked for them as well as me. FP+ kind of didn't live up as well as legacy would have. FP+ has convenience but legacy had opportunity.

 

[kylewr86]

I am leaving for Disney World tomorrow for two weeks. As I just logged onto the MyDisneyExperience Ap to give my reservations one last look, I had a notification. I clicked it and it was actually a survey of 3 questions.

Question 1.) Your ticket includes Park hopping. With 3 fast pass reservations, will you use 3 in one park or save a reservation for another park. It asks me to click, Somewhat likely, most likely or not at all.

Question 2.) On an average day, will your party be visiting more than 2 parks.

Question 3.) Will you and your party be utilizing the FP+ Kiosks set up throughout the parks.

I am curious about the first question. It seems to me that they are either currently experimenting with FP+ and Park Hopping, or that they will be very soon.

I didn't even think about adding park hopper for the upcoming trip since you cannot make fastpasses at multiple parks. So i feel they are missing out on revenue if others are like me.