A change in the Fastpass system?

[jswalker1981]

I'll take the flame also. Those of us that stay on site pay some good, hard earned cash and should receive a nice perk like free Fast Passes. The extra hours perk is cool, but the Fast Passes would be better . You pay the big money to stay Disney, you should get on the rides before the non-Disney resort staying guests. Unless they want to pay to get on with you.

P.S. The FP's should also go to the AP holders.

I agree with you about the AP holders! I don't stay on-site, because we have friends that live about 20 minutes away from WDW, so it is nice to visit with them, and still be able to get to the parks. I just got AP's for myself and my girlfriend, and I would still pay for FPs if I had to, but I wouldn't mind getting a perk for purchasing the APs.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

I keeeeep waiting for Disney to do what Universal does. (I'm not getting into the very heated debate about whether Universal shoulda pulled the free Express passes...leave that to THAT board.)

But, I'll be thrilled when I don't have to worry about riding things at certain times anymore at WDW.

 

[wdwguide]

I agree with you about the AP holders! I don't stay on-site, because we have friends that live about 20 minutes away from WDW, so it is nice to visit with them, and still be able to get to the parks. I just got AP's for myself and my girlfriend, and I would still pay for FPs if I had to, but I wouldn't mind getting a perk for purchasing the APs.

AP holders are unlikely to be excluded - they are too much of a cash cow for Disney to piss off.

 

[DisneyFreq]

From a business perspective, every guest who stays at Days Inn for $69 per night instead of Pop Century for $78 per night is "penalizing" Disney.

Bicker-
I know this is a little OT but I have to say how sad it makes me when I hear of people doing this thinking they are SAVING money . Nine dollars less a day. The parking at disney is $8 now isn't it...shouldn't that just about cover the difference...not to mention gas used (which is at such a premium price these days) getting from the hotel to the park! Yes, indeed staying at a days inn at those rates IS penalizing Disney, not to mention the guest that could HAVE had a "free" upgrade.

 

[DisneyFreq]

The "enhanced" fastpass option given to purchasers of AAA packages in Disneyland allows guests to hold unlimited fastpasses at one time (with the exception of mulitple FP for the same ride...you have to wait till the time on your first FP for, say BTMRR, starts before you can get another FP for BTMRR.) I think this perk would be perfect extended to WDW resort guests..or possibly, in the same way its offered in DL....only when purchased in a package.

 

[HydroGuy]

The "enhanced" fastpass option given to purchasers of AAA packages in Disneyland allows guests to hold unlimited fastpasses at one time (with the exception of mulitple FP for the same ride...you have to wait till the time on your first FP for, say BTMRR, starts before you can get another FP for BTMRR.) I think this perk would be perfect extended to WDW resort guests..or possibly, in the same way its offered in DL....only when purchased in a package.

As I have stated elsewhere (sorry if repeating myself) I think the impact at WDW with EFP would be much more severe. The number of potential users at DLR is much smaller because there are only three hotels there. That is potentially a few thousand users out of 60,000-80,000 people in the two parks on a busy day.

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.

In addition, DLR does not market the EFP very stongly. I have only heard about it thru the forums - not thru Disney.

 

[ericafny]

One comment, one question...

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

Question: Did Universal really pull the free fastpasses?!?

 

[Disneynut25]

I mean this in the nicest possible way, but you don't have a "right" to FastPasses; it's not mandated by the Disney Constitution or anything. It is Disney that has the "right" to change the FastPass system in any way they choose, including eliminating it, or providing FastPasses only to guests at their Deluxe resorts, or anything in between.

I've seen several DISers complain that it would not be "fair" for Disney to take away FastPass for offsite guests, but Disney runs a business, and business isn't always fair. As I said previously, Disney has had trouble filling their hotel rooms, and they are going to continue to look as ways to get people into their resorts, not just their parks.

I don't think Disney will ever do something as extreme as Universal has done by eliminating free FastPasses entirely for offsite guests. As someone already said, WDW has many more hotels than Universal or Disneyland, and therefore more guests. So, even though there are more WDW parks, the FastPass lines would probably become too long to be seen as a perk. But you can be sure that Disney marketing and crowd control experts are looking at how they can change the FastPass system to Disney's advantage.

You've got to be kidding me right? Only on the Disboard can someone mention the Constitution when speaking about a perk at Disney. You have taken that quote way too seriously. Some of these people need to get a life!!!and quick!!!! You never saw me type about it not being fair for Disney to take away the Fast Passes for off-site guests because guess what? Here's a news flash for you...They haven't taken it way!!!! I think it boils down to alot of wishful thinking..... But anyway have fun on your next trip to Disney...See you at the Fast Pass machine !!!!!

 

[simzac]

There is one major point that has not been addressed in this discussion about FP. We are DVC members, and thus will always be staying on site. We only go once a year, thus we don't buy AP's, we buy our MYW tickets thru ticketmania. 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

 

[ericafny]

There is one major point that has not been addressed in this discussion about FP. We are DVC members, and thus will always be staying on site. We only go once a year, thus we don't buy AP's, we buy our MYW tickets thru ticketmania. 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

YES! When I read this thread I got nervous because of two reasons, one we are staying at S/D and sometimes they don't share in the same perks as onsite guests even though they are technically onsite and two we are buying our tix from ticketmania too!

Do people really think that Disney will do this???

 

[babiesX2]

Who cares what Universal did?

There is a reason why we all Disney so much and that is because of how we are treated while there. They have a high level of customer service that other theme parks don't.

Since the "on-site" deluxe resort guests pay the most, maybe they should be the only guests eligible for FP. Guests at the values don't spend that much. After all, WDW should only care about the guests who are spending the most money with them exclusively. AND, if "on-site" guests are the only ones who receive FP then EMH should be done away with. They would be saving so much time with their FP's that EMH would be unnecessary.

 

[harumph]

You've got to be kidding me right? Only on the Disboard can someone mention the Constitution when speaking about a perk at Disney. You have taken that quote way too seriously. Some of these people need to get a life!!!and quick!!!! You never saw me type about it not being fair for Disney to take away the Fast Passes for off-site guests because guess what? Here's a news flash for you...They haven't taken it way!!!! I think it boils down to alot of wishful thinking..... But anyway have fun on your next trip to Disney...See you at the Fast Pass machine !!!!!

 

[MomPlanner22]

Well, this is certainly a lively discussion! I would love to get front of the line or whatever it is called for what I am paying to stay at the Contemporary before Christmas but that is not my question.

If you have multiple ticket holders in your party, can you each pull a FASTPass for a different ride? If so, what happens when your party of 6 shows up between 10:05 and 11:05 to ride Buzz Lightyear with one FASTPass? Can you all go on or just one person?

I am just trying to figure this all out and although my DH thinks I have become Disney obsessed in just a few short days since we decided to go, I don't think he has any idea how much information and experience is out there! Of course it is my job to make this a trip fun for us and the kids (DS 4.5 and DD 2.5) and one where we get the most for our time and money.

Anyway, any FASTPass suggestions you gurus have is much appreciated!

 

[mdhkitten]

MomPlanner, you just made me realize that if let's say 4 people go (a husband, wife, and let's say one of the spouses parents) and the older parents aren't into thrill rides, the younger couple who are can get the other two ticket holders fastpasses and use them, right? I had never even thought of that! I'm going in May with my 22 month old daughter, my mom, and my daughter's dad. My mom has no interest in riding any of the "exciting" rides, so we could have an extra fast pass, but I guess it wouldn't do us any good. Oh well!

 

[MomPlanner22]

Does that mean that everyone in your party must get their own FASTPass if you all want to ride the same ride? That was my question. I still think I am still in the dark on this one!

 

[harumph]

Does that mean that everyone in your party must get their own FASTPass if you all want to ride the same ride? That was my question. I still think I am still in the dark on this one!

Yes, every individual must have a FastPass to go through the FastPass line.

You CAN hand off your passes to one member of your party who can go to the FastPass Kiosks and get FastPasses for everyone.

 

[abaldacci]

While I'm sure there is some "them and us" I think there is more to it that than. Disney's preference would be that we all stayed on-site. They would like to have enough rooms (and could have more if the market was ready for them) and would like to have enough guests ready, willing and able to fill them, at Disney's premium prices. From a business perspective, every guest who stays at Days Inn for $69 per night instead of Pop Century for $78 per night is "penalizing" Disney. (I wouldn't use the word "penalizing" but I mean it in the same way it is used in brer rabbit's message above.) If it better serves the objectives of the enterprise to provide greater incentive to get more off-site guests to become on-site guests, then that's what they "should" do.

very well said. Disney is all about making money we here at DIS tend to forget that sometimes.

 

[TimothyG]

I'm sure that this was somewhere previously in the post but Disney has officially announced publically that they are not going to do this. The plan was only to offer MORE fastpasses for guests.

 

[abaldacci]

I think WDW will follow DL in CA. I think if you are a resort guest with package you will get more Fastpasses. AP holder and DVC will get it also but to what extent I don't care to guess. it may be a trial run in CA. If 66,ooo guest is the correct # of people WDW resorts hold then it could be done. MK alone can hold upto what 90,ooo why can't the fastpass system handle 66,000 in a day in 4 parks not counting BB and TL. and also people just relaxing at the hotel or shopping because they don't have to run to the parks everyday to see everything or ride everything while they're at MK or AK.
Just what I THINK!!
after thought FPasses should still be issued as always to non-resort guest.

 

[ericafny]

Does that mean that everyone in your party must get their own FASTPass if you all want to ride the same ride? That was my question. I still think I am still in the dark on this one!

Yes you are correct, everyone in your party must have their own fastpass to gain access to a ride via the fastpass entrance. I am not sure how child swap works with fastpass so maybe someone else can talk about that. Hope you have a wonderful trip and welcome to the DIS!