NO MORE AP PAYMENT PLAN?

[Earl Sweatpants]

The up-charge for Max Pass is just dumb. Fix crowding instead of asking customers to shell out more money to bypass the mobs that YOU created.

100% agree. I'll never use it.

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

I mean, sure. Anyone can justify anything. Just because someone can justify something doesn't mean it will occur. I can justify Disney closing Big Thunder and rethemeing Frontierland to Arendelle with a Sven's Sleigh Ride, but it doesn't mean I'm going to lose sleep over it either. And prices do go up, that's the way the world works. They went up with crowds and without crowds. Cost is about supply and demand. If churros are $10, the demand will not be there no matter what the crowd size are.

False. That is unjustifiable!

 

[Professortango1]

The up-charge for Max Pass is just dumb. Fix crowding instead of asking customers to shell out more money to bypass the mobs that YOU created.

Well, fastpass does create more crowds. This is their way to help limit fastpasses and limit their impact on crowds. I've always believed fastpasses should be an extra-cost item that is included with resort stays for free. Tourists get first crack at rides, locals can pay to get first crack or just wait standby.

 

[SSG]

The up-charge for Max Pass is just dumb. Fix crowding instead of asking customers to shell out more money to bypass the mobs that YOU created.

I do wonder if this is a test for making all fastpasses an upcharge.

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

Here's a thought...tell me if you think its stupid.

What if instead of an AP, people could purchase a number of ticket to use any time during a year-long period? Say I know I want to go to Disneyland 3 times in a year, but not sure when. So in January I purchase 3 tickets that are valid for one year. Cost per-ticket would be a bit cheaper than if I paid for each the day I went. Normal blackout dates apply and possibly "holiday season" tickets would be a bit extra.

 

[Professortango1]

Here's a thought...tell me if you think its stupid.

What if instead of an AP, people could purchase a number of ticket to use any time during a year-long period? Say I know I want to go to Disneyland 3 times in a year, but not sure when. So in January I purchase 3 tickets that are valid for one year. Cost per-ticket would be a bit cheaper than if I paid for each the day I went. Normal blackout dates apply and possibly "holiday season" tickets would be a bit extra.

They have that right now with 3 days for $150. I like the idea, but it needs to remain limited.

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

They have that right now with 3 days for $150. I like the idea, but it needs to remain limited.

Wasn't aware of that. And sure, there always has to be limitations.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

Well, fastpass does create more crowds. This is their way to help limit fastpasses and limit their impact on crowds.

The easiest way to control crowding is to lower the limits on how many people can enter.

Has it been proven that FP creates more crowds? I was around when FP was first introduced and the park wasn't noticeably more crowded immediately after the service launched. I would wager that the huge influx of traffic from promotional pricing + big seasonal events + APs, which converged during the Pressler era, has created far more headaches than FP has.

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

The easiest way to control crowding is to lower the limits on how many people can enter.

Has it been proven that FP creates more crowds? I was around when FP was first introduced and the park wasn't noticeably more crowded immediately after the service launched. I would wager that the huge influx of traffic from promotional pricing + big seasonal events + APs, which converged during the Pressler era, has created far more headaches than FP has.

Its all an illusion. FP doesn't itself create more crowds...the same number of people are in the park whether they have FP or not. But when someone isn't having to wait in a queue for their ride, they're more likely to walk around, thus making it seem like theres more people out and about.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

But when someone isn't having to wait in a queue for their ride, they're more likely to walk around

Has that been proven though? Is there data that you've seen to support this? I know I've never just walked around any Disney park while waiting for a FP window. As a tourist I'm typically taking in other attractions, watching a parade or show, or eating during that time. Maybe it's the AP crowd strolling around waiting...

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

Has that been proven though? Is there data that you've seen to support this? I know I've never just walked around any Disney while waiting for a FP window. As a tourist I'm typically taking in other attractions, watching a parade or show, or eating during that time. Maybe it's the AP crowd strolling around waiting...

Sorry, "walking around" was meant to be an all-encompassing statement. I just mean, they're not in a particular queue which means they're somewhere else in the parks. Whether thats a restaurant, store, other queue, or bathroom, its all the same. It makes the park seem one person busier.

 

[Professortango1]

The easiest way to control crowding is to lower the limits on how many people can enter.

Has it been proven that FP creates more crowds? I was around when FP was first introduced and the park wasn't noticeably more crowded immediately after the service launched. I would wager that the huge influx of traffic from promotional pricing + big seasonal events + APs, which converged during the Pressler era, has created far more headaches than FP has.

Fastpass gives duplicates you for a time. You are currently waiting in line digitally for Indiana Jones with your fastpass. Instead of being in that queue for the 60 minutes it is listed as, you're waiting 20 minutes for Alice in Wonderland, 10 minutes for Tea Cups, taking up space in The Mad Hatter, and then using a table at Village Haus. You've affected 4 different parts of the park while still in line for Indy and making that line 60 minutes long. Now, cut out the 20 minutes worth of fastpass guests, and the ride now has a 40 minute wait. Or, if those 20 minutes worth of guests all still decide to ride Indy, that means the other areas of the park will not be affected while they are housed in that attraction.

Queues take people out of walkways, stores, restaurants, and other queues. Fastpasses allow you to be in two-three places at once.

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

Fastpass gives duplicates you for a time. You are currently waiting in line digitally for Indiana Jones with your fastpass. Instead of being in that queue for the 60 minutes it is listed as, you're waiting 20 minutes for Alice in Wonderland, 10 minutes for Tea Cups, taking up space in The Mad Hatter, and then using a table at Village Haus. You've affected 4 different parts of the park while still in line for Indy and making that line 60 minutes long. Now, cut out the 20 minutes worth of fastpass guests, and the ride now has a 40 minute wait. Or, if those 20 minutes worth of guests all still decide to ride Indy, that means the other areas of the park will not be affected while they are housed in that attraction.

Queues take people out of walkways, stores, restaurants, and other queues. Fastpasses allow you to be in two-three places at once.

So...what you're saying is that if no one got a fast pass for a particular attraction, the actual wait time for it would be shorter?

 

[Professortango1]

So...what you're saying is that if no one got a fast pass for a particular attraction, the actual wait time for it would be shorter?

If no one got a fast pass and decided not to ride, yes. If they did decide to ride, other lines would be shorter. An attraction can only go through so many bodies an hour.

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

If no one got a fast pass and decided not to ride, yes. If they did decide to ride, other lines would be shorter. An attraction can only go through so many bodies an hour.

No I get that. But I don't know that I completely understand the system. To me, it always functioned like dinner reservations. You had a pre-determined time to show up and eat. The restaurant isn't physically holding your table the whole time.

Sometimes you get a fastpass for Space Mountain at 1 in the afternoon and the return time says 7 or 8. Your digital representation isn't standing in line for 6 hours.

 

[Curious Constance]

If guests don't care about theme and details, then why are they going to Disneyland? They're probably better off sticking to Universal and Knotts. #shotsfired

I get what you're saying though. And yeah, it would be great to always know that the parks weren't going to be a zoo when you showed up. However, once prices of things are upwardly adjusted to compensate, you have no one to complain to.

Put it this way, to get my family down there for a week, it's going to be a minimum of about $5000 for us to spend, and that's without staying on property. How long are people going to continue forking that kind of money over to go to a place that's miserable when they get there? And they better do something to fix that, because since I'm from out of town, I'm not going to just stop by after work, I'm going to be there for a week, and I'll need to eat, drink, and buy souvenirs while I'm there. And I could potentially also want to stay on their properties. I'll be stopping in town and dropping off a few thousand bucks. As opposed to people just stopping by after work who have been there already 15 times that year who might get a $4 churro while they are there and block main Street for 5 hours waiting for a parade.

 

[Professortango1]

No I get that. But I don't know that I completely understand the system. To me, it always functioned like dinner reservations. You had a pre-determined time to show up and eat. The restaurant isn't physically holding your table the whole time.

Sometimes you get a fastpass for Space Mountain at 1 in the afternoon and the return time says 7 or 8. Your digital representation isn't standing in line for 6 hours.

No, but it's standing in line between 7 and 8. Take 10 jars and fill them with balls. These are the queues for an hour of time at Disneyland. Now, take 10-20 balls out of each jar and replace them with rocks to hold their place in the jar. Now put those 10-20 balls per jar in other jars. Notice how all of the jars are fuller now?

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

Put it this way, to get my family down there for a week, it's going to be a minimum of about $5000 for us to spend, and that's without staying on property. How long are people going to continue forking that kind of money over to go to a place that's miserable when they get there? And they better do something to fix that, because since I'm from out of town, I'm not going to just stop by after work, I'm going to be there for a week, and I'll need to eat, drink, and buy souvenirs while I'm there. And I could potentially also want to stay on their properties. I'll be stopping in town and dropping off a few thousand bucks. As opposed to people just stopping by after work who have been there already 15 times that year who might get a $4 churro while they are there and block main Street for 5 hours waiting for a parade.

I hear you and where you're coming from and I completely understand your sentiments of wanting to get the most out of your heavy investment via less-crowded parks and more enjoyable experiences. You definitely should get your money's worth.

But I think some caution needs to be displayed because this can very easily turn into a "who actually deserves to enjoy Disneyland more" debate and (though I hesitate to even say it) I don't think that was Walt's intention when he created the parks.

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

No, but it's standing in line between 7 and 8. Take 10 jars and fill them with balls. These are the queues for an hour of time at Disneyland. Now, take 10-20 balls out of each jar and replace them with rocks to hold their place in the jar. Now put those 10-20 balls per jar in other jars. Notice how all of the jars are fuller now?

Right, but I think I interpreted what you originally said as if my "rock" goes into the jar from the moment I get my fastpass until I turn in my ticket and get on the ride. But I don't think that's entirely accurate. My "place" may be held in line, but I'm also not preventing anyone behind me from getting on before I do.

 

[Professortango1]

Right, but I think I interpreted what you originally said as if my "rock" goes into the jar from the moment I get my fastpass until I turn in my ticket and get on the ride. But I don't think that's entirely accurate. My "place" may be held in line, but I'm also not preventing anyone behind me from getting on before I do.

Yes you are. Get a fastpass and have a friend get in line when you enter the line. Guarantee that you will get on the ride before they do. And also the person who got in line 10 minutes before your return time. And the person in front of them. You are preventing an hour's worth of guests from getting on before you do.