A change in the Fastpass system?

[harumph]

With WDW having hotel space for 66,000 people (I remember this from somewhere - hopefully accurate) the impact of EFP would be felt by non-EFP guests much more keenly. That may be why DLR offers it and WDW does not.

Actually, I think the number is closer to about 30,000, including Swan, Dolphin, Shades of Green, and the DVC units, but you're right about it being significantly more than DL.

 

[David R]

I live literally across the street from Universal yet I visit DW more than UOR. Why? Because at Disney I can get a fast pass and spend my time walking around, getting something to eat, catching a show, etc. At Universal, I spend my time waiting in line. Of course, Universal's offer to on-site resort guests is absolutely fantastic!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

How about this...if there are 20 hotels, and 4 parks, how about 5 hotels have FP's to MK, another 5 have FP's to AK etc. Of course on a rotating basis. Perhaps even offer FP's to resort guests for all rides, not just the FP attractions. This would allow Disney to "steer" resort guests to one park or another. It should also leave plenty of FP's for off site guests.

 

[harumph]

How about this...if there are 20 hotels, and 4 parks, how about 5 hotels have FP's to MK, another 5 have FP's to AK etc. Of course on a rotating basis. Perhaps even offer FP's to resort guests for all rides, not just the FP attractions. This would allow Disney to "steer" resort guests to one park or another. It should also leave plenty of FP's for off site guests.

If I read it correctly, that's what this article says:

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2005/05/16/604.aspx

Even if I don't read it correctly, it's still relevant and interesting.

 

[HydroGuy]

Actually, I think the number is closer to about 30,000, including Swan, Dolphin, Shades of Green, and the DVC units, but you're right about it being significantly more than DL.

You may very well be right. I guess the actual number has to depend on assumptions of number of guests per room.

 

[harumph]

You may very well be right. I guess the actual number has to depend on assumptions of number of guests per room.

Oh, yeah, duh! It's about 30k rooms, which means there could easily be 66k guests. So sorry!

 

[bicker]

I would have no problem with Disney making the fastpasses available for onsite guests as long as S/D was included in those 'onsite'.

That's probably going to be up to the Swolphin, if they're willing to absorb the fee that Disney will assess for their participation.

 

[bicker]

How will the fastpass machines know we are on site guests because off site guests can purchase the exact same passes as us. Because of this one fact, I see no way Disney will change the current FP system. JMO

I'm a DVC member and have never had any trouble proving that I'm an on-site guest. If, as I suggested, the enhanced FastPass capability is delivered via a kiosk in the hotel, it won't be any trouble at all.

 

[TommyTutone]

There are far too many people staying onsite to make the idea of extra fast passes (or FOTL) viable for Disney. Let's draw the line even further and see how some folks react when I say that they SHOULD copy Universal, but offer unlimited FOTL for only those who stay at an onsite deluxe or are AP or DVC members.

 

[Mainebound]

There are far too many people staying onsite to make the idea of extra fast passes (or FOTL) viable for Disney. Let's draw the line even further and see how some folks react when I say that they SHOULD copy Universal, but offer unlimited FOTL for only those who stay at an onsite deluxe or are AP or DVC members.

I would like this a lot actually. It would get us back onsite, I am sure. And it would be well worth paying for, IMHO, having experienced FOTL at Universal.

Not everyone is outraged by the prospect of changes to Fastpass.

 

[Matt]

I have a serous problem with Disney creating a caste system for levels of resorts. Once in the parks, everybody should seem equal. I stay at moderates mostly but I stay at the Wilderness Lodge too. It's selfish for folks to think that this is a great idea. I don't care if I can afford a really nice place but others have to stay at value. I'm sorry, but that is not the idea that Walt intended. Once in the parks, everyone should be treated equal. That's keeping the fantasy aspect alive in everyone.

 

[bicker]

It would get us back onsite, I am sure.

Those are the magic words.

Once in the parks, everybody should seem equal.

Having the new FastPass capabilities delivered via a kiosk in the hotel lobbies will accomplish that.

Regarding what Walt intended: It is well-established that Walt didn't intend a theme park where Epcot now stands.

Disney has far exceeded Walt's vision, and far surpassed it IMHO. Walt Disney was a visionary in his time, but he's dead, and the company he left behind isn't slaved to what a man of the 20th century would have done. That would kill the company far faster than anything else.

 

[Mainebound]

Once in the parks, everyone should be treated equal.

That's a pretty convenient line to draw on "equality" for someone who can afford to go to WDW.

 

[Matt]

It's a pretty basic concept. I really can't dumb it down anymore. Since we're discussing an issue that occurs inside the park, I have no idea what you are whining about.

 

[momandseandodisney]

I have never used a fast pass , I I dotn think it woud be a perk that would make me stay onsite

I do stay onsite, but it would not be for a little perk like that

 

[Matt]

Bicker, yeah I agree with they have to move on. However, it does create a caste-like system inside the park. I'd benefit from it usually, but I don't think it's appropriate. In fact, I'm not sure it would encourage more people to stay on site.

Disney knows what it needs to do to get more people on site. That's building more suites (like turning the 2nd half of Pop Century into suites). They have a pretty big chunk of the "family of 4" crowd. They need to get the "Family of 6" from off property.

Forgetting the economics for a moment, I don't think it sets the right tone for a company to say "If you are at the Polynesian, you get unlimited fastpasses. If you are Pop, you get 1. Yes, I think it's ok to differentiate between off site and on. That has nothing to do with economics.

 

[KimberlyC]

I have never used a fast pass , I I dotn think it woud be a perk that would make me stay onsite

I do stay onsite, but it would not be for a little perk like that

I tried not using a fast pass for Winnie the Pooh (a fast pass ride) a few years ago. The sign at the entrance said something like 20 or 30 min. expected wait. Well we were in that line for over an hour because people with fast passes came and got in the fast pass lane and they just seemed to keep coming. Had I known that the wait was going to be that long I never would have got in line. When we left, the sign estimating the time had been corrected but that didn't help us. Now, unless I get in line first thing in the morning or when the line is really short, I won't ride a fast pass ride without a fast pass.

 

[Mainebound]

It's a pretty basic concept. I really can't dumb it down anymore. Since we're discussing an issue that occurs inside the park, I have no idea what you are whining about.

I am not sure if this post is directed at me or not. If it is, I'm confused, because I said I would be happy with the changes under discussion. I am also happy with the way it is now. I am not sure if "being happy either way" qualifies as "whining".

I guess my point, which I did not make clearly, is that it is interesting to me that to it crosses a "fairness" line to give some perks but not others to deluxe resort guests. Already, deluxe resort guests get perks which other guests do not ($1500 charge limit, concierge option, multiple on-site service restaurants, more CMs per guest, etc. etc.). And that's "ok". But add a fastpass perk and some line has been crossed.

I can see your point Matt that "once inside the park everyone should be treated euqally" but I guess I respectfully disagree. For one thing, guests are not equal inside the park as things stand right now. Some folks in that park will have the option of parkhopping because they could pay for it. Others will not. Some will have the option of returning to WDW parks the next day, or every day for a calendar year, while others can only afford one day at a Disney park. Some people can pay WDW to have someone escort them around the parks. Some people can eat breakfast at Cinderella's castle, others will only be able to snack or eat offsite. People at the costliest deluxe resorts can get back to their resort by monorail, others can not. It seems to me that all of this would have to be changed to ensure true "equality once inside the parks".

Also, you can stay more cheaply with similar amenities offsite than on. Many families stay offsite because they cannot afford staying onsite (your mention of families of 5 is one obvious group, but other family sizes have issues here. There are $40 a night hotels offsite, but even the AllStars don't get that low). So, I guess, IMO, it doesn't make sense to say that it is fair to discriminate between onsite and offsite guests but not fair to disriminate between deluxe and value onsite guests.

I hope this makes my view a little clearer.

 

[blestmom]

Disney knows what it needs to do to get more people on site. That's building more suites (like turning the 2nd half of Pop Century into suites). They have a pretty big chunk of the "family of 4" crowd. They need to get the "Family of 6" from off property.

Yeah!

 

[DizBelle]

How about a kiosk located in each Disney resort that allows resort guests, with their resort key, to receive a given number of fast passes (?5) in advance for a specific park? The amount would be deducted from an averaged total of all fast pass locations in that park. The resort acquired fast passes would not have a time assigned.

The problem with this idea is what about all the folks that get their fast passes at the resort, therefore reducing the total quantity that is going to be offered that day for that attraction, but they never make it to the park to use them? Yes, you could also leave the park after you've gotten a fastpass but before you used it. But, if you were in the park to begin with, the chances of you using the fastpass you've obtained are MUCH greater than if you never went in the park in the first place.