XPass

[nancytoby]

I'm an XPass hater already:

"next year's roll-out of the XPass program (which - for a price -- will offer WDW Guests the opportunity to pre-book an entire vacation's worth of rides on the Resort's most popular attractions as well as guaranteeing these high-end customers a primo reserved viewing spot for theme park parades and/or nighttime extravaganzas like Epcot's "Illuminations" and DHS's "Fantasmic!") ."

From http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_c...cting-to-have-a-very-merry-xpass-in-2012.aspx

 

[DizCaptain]

Disney experiences are turning more and more each year into a hierarchy based on, what else, money. Pretty soon they'll charge you to watch fireworks based on what land you're in... I swear. I'm sure there are alot of people who see this as cool, but there's nothing wrong with fast pass other than complaints about new guests "not understanding it." I personally consider it something earned, stampeding to the kiosk in the morning and grabbing the fast pass, and of course, the less who know about it the better this whole booking thing is a disaster waiting to happen imho.

 

[nytimez]

This part sounds even worse:


That said, things might get a little awkward on attractions like "it's a small world" (where people who have booked the XPass vacation package will - prior to their arrival in Orlando - then be able to go online and build their very own customized Mary Blair-esque doll. Who will then appear on a flat screen in "it's a small world" 's finale sequence and dance for & wave to the Guest who actually created this doll). When there's a boatload of tourists experiencing this attraction together. And this CG "it's a small world" doll zeroes in on a single Guest and then only interacts with them.

 

[Faldred]

Consider the source... isn't Jim Hill the guy who posts bogus Disney rumors on a regular basis?

 

[ASteelersMidget]

Consider the source... isn't Jim Hill the guy who posts bogus Disney rumors on a regular basis?

I sure hope it isn't true. It would be potentially the worst screw up I can remember in Disney's park history.

 

[nytimez]

Jim Hill has hits and misses. Time will tell which category this falls into...

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Is there a 'master' article where he talks more in-depth about Xpass? I have heard about the *idea* of NextGen, but his discussion of Xpass begs for a deeper discussion of what it's going to be.

 

[Faldred]

The main reason I disbelieve this is that WDW already has the premium VIP tours, which offer most of the same benefits (sans the need to plan ahead). Why would they need this "XPass"?

The whole "insert yourself into IaSW" thing makes me even more skeptical.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

The main reason I disbelieve this is that WDW already has the premium VIP tours, which offer most of the same benefits (sans the need to plan ahead). Why would they need this "XPass"?

Why? I've personally paid for FOTL at several theme-parks and have stayed on-Site at Universal to get the Express Access.

The Disney offerings for VIP treatment are not justifiable to my budget (more than $1,000 for a family a day). The extra $100 to $300 a day I've paid for my family to have a leisurely experience at other parks has been do-able.

Disney needs this mid-tier/semi-VIP level to be competitive.

 

[doconeill]

Jim Hill seems to have access to a lot of the "blue sky" plans that get dreamed up, but very rarely see the light of day. This could be based on early ideas and supposition on how XPass will work...true details of which have not been released, and I've heard no corroborating evidence or rumors.

Seriously...was there actually an increase in fistfights in 1999 over Fastpasses?

 

[GrnMtnMan]

I've heard no corroborating evidence or rumors.

Tom Staggs has openly spoken of NextGen and has specifically mentioned how guests could plan their say, down to scheduling rides, when they book their vacation.

we are currently developing an innovative system that will, in essence, create a version of FASTPASS for their entire Disney vacations. Now we define the guest experience as beginning from the time a potential guest sits down at a computer or picks up a phone to make a reservation. Our new tools will help them better understand all that we have to offer and better plan their time with us. They’ll be able to create a personalized itinerary that gives them the exact Disney vacation they want.

Guests will be able to reserve times for their favorite attractions and character interactions… secure seats at our shows and spectaculars… make dining reservations… and pre-book many other favorite guest experiences – all before even leaving their house

I recall hearing that several billion has been dedicated to implementing NexGen...maybe now known as Xpass.

 

[doconeill]

Tom Staggs has openly spoken of NextGen and has specifically mentioned how guests could plan their say, down to scheduling rides, when they book their vacation.

Which doesn't say that it is a premium upcharge service, or exactly how the system works, or anything like what Jim Hill mentions. Basically, he only mentions that you can use it to plan certain aspects of a trip ahead much like making ADRs.

I recall hearing that several billion has been dedicated to implementing NexGen...maybe now known as Xpass.

NexGen is many things, some of which we've already seen - new virtual queue ideas like was tested at RNRC, more queue interactivity like the new HM queue, etc. XPass is likely just another aspect of it.

 

[tjkraz]

Don't really get why Disney fans seem so fearful of change. The specifics will be tested, adjusted, massaged, reworked and otherwise altered a dozen times over.

Some aspects of park touring may be negatively impacted but based upon everything I have heard, it will easily be a net gain.

This part sounds even worse:


That said, things might get a little awkward on attractions like "it's a small world" (where people who have booked the XPass vacation package will - prior to their arrival in Orlando - then be able to go online and build their very own customized Mary Blair-esque doll. Who will then appear on a flat screen in "it's a small world" 's finale sequence and dance for & wave to the Guest who actually created this doll). When there's a boatload of tourists experiencing this attraction together. And this CG "it's a small world" doll zeroes in on a single Guest and then only interacts with them.

Really?

When a parade float rolls by and Goofy specifically points and waves at a guest 10' to your right, do you feel slighted?

IMO Hill really missed the mark with this passage. Just because dolls are dancing and waving on a video screen doesn't mean they will be singling out a guest. As great as the RFID technology appears, I have my doubts that designers could (or would) have a video rendering accurately seek out one guest out of 15-20 in a moving boat.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'd think its a bit early to start hating XPass. Lets at least give somebody a chance to see it "in the wild" as it were. Rumors are one thing, actual practice might be something else.

Even after it does get introduced, I'm sure there will be a bunch of "fine tuning" that Disney will find necessary over time depending on how its implemented and how guests react in real life (as opposed to DIS life).

 

[ASteelersMidget]

I think the majority of you are missing the point. this is still a rumor. Let's wait to discuss whether it will work or not once it is officially announced from Disney. At this point it is rumored specifics of something we know in some form or fashion will happen. I believe we need to treat it as such.

 

[nytimez]

Don't really get why Disney fans seem so fearful of change. The specifics will be tested, adjusted, massaged, reworked and otherwise altered a dozen times over.

Some aspects of park touring may be negatively impacted but based upon everything I have heard, it will easily be a net gain.



Really?

When a parade float rolls by and Goofy specifically points and waves at a guest 10' to your right, do you feel slighted?

IMO Hill really missed the mark with this passage. Just because dolls are dancing and waving on a video screen doesn't mean they will be singling out a guest. As great as the RFID technology appears, I have my doubts that designers could (or would) have a video rendering accurately seek out one guest out of 15-20 in a moving boat.

Not sure how you can say Hill missed the mark "in your opinion." It's either accurate or not -- not really a matter for opinion. Either we will see this happen, or we won't -- and personally, I don't think Jim Hill or you have the definitive inside track on what will happen.

However, as described, the plan as envisioned with "small world" is quite a bit different from Goofy randomly waving to people at a parade, and I think most people will recognize that.

You might have your doubts about the Imagineers and their ability to pull this off, but I'll reserve judgement until I see the finished product.

 

[tjkraz]

However, as described, the plan as envisioned with "small world" is quite a bit different from Goofy randomly waving to people at a parade...

In what way?

EDIT: With regard to the previous passage, it's my opinion that Hill sensationalized this aspect of the changes or order to gardner a bit more attention (and the accompanying hand-wringing) from Disney fanatics. Based upon my knowledge of the situation, I have no reason to believe that these interactive elements will go out of their way to engage one guest above-and-beyond all others.

 

[FWDisneyfan]

I just re-read the Tom Staggs Investor speech and it doesn't appear to me that FastPass is necessarily going away, they are looking @ tweaking it and adding a new option. I think making it a pay only option would be foolish and I don't think the Disney brass will make a foolish choice. (At least I hope not)

 

[anthony2k7]

Not sure how you can say Hill missed the mark "in your opinion." It's either accurate or not -- not really a matter for opinion. Either we will see this happen, or we won't -- and personally, I don't think Jim Hill or you have the definitive inside track on what will happen.

However, as described, the plan as envisioned with "small world" is quite a bit different from Goofy randomly waving to people at a parade, and I think most people will recognize that.

You might have your doubts about the Imagineers and their ability to pull this off, but I'll reserve judgement until I see the finished product.

I think Hill is basing his article on some of the blue sky thinking still going on in Disney about this project. I don't doubt that all of what he says is planned. Equally I dont doubt that its all technically possible - even for Disney's Imagineers and their recent lack of creativity!

However, I think the practicality of all this will be a different matter. The issues already raised about sectioning off a big area of the parade route etc. Also the costs involved - the small world changes alone sound expenses depending how elegant the solution is. How will they track where the XPass people sit in the boats - each boat will need RFID readers I assume, maybe even each seat? Will Disney really go ahead and spend that much money at the moment?

Also, I was under the impression the Epcot RFID turnstyles trial was less than successful?

 

[nytimez]

I think Hill is basing his article on some of the blue sky thinking still going on in Disney about this project. I don't doubt that all of what he says is planned. Equally I dont doubt that its all technically possible - even for Disney's Imagineers and their recent lack of creativity!

However, I think the practicality of all this will be a different matter. The issues already raised about sectioning off a big area of the parade route etc. Also the costs involved - the small world changes alone sound expenses depending how elegant the solution is. How will they track where the XPass people sit in the boats - each boat will need RFID readers I assume, maybe even each seat? Will Disney really go ahead and spend that much money at the moment?

Also, I was under the impression the Epcot RFID turnstyles trial was less than successful?

Agreed.

As for RFID, I haven't heard too much -- but I think you launch a trial like that on a limited and off-the-beaten path location (back gate as Epcot has the lowest foot traffic of any park entrance) knowing there will be problems, bugs and other kinks... then you tweak/change the system based on how it operates in that real-world test.