Any more news on Fastpass changes?

[marciemi]

We were planning a trip to Disney for this summer which ended up being cancelled since we moved out of state instead and couldn't juggle both. Now we're trying to replan one for next summer before the kids all get TOO old (they'll be 15, 14 and 12 then).

I really haven't read the boards for about 6 months, but remember a big discussion about that time regarding changes in fastpasses. I've tried to do some searches and look through old listings, but am not seeing anything. It had to do with only resort guests being able to get them, or having priority for them based on how expensive of a resort you were in, etc. I remember people saying it wouldn't take effect until late 2006 or 2007 so didn't pay much attention since we were planning then on visiting before then.

Now, with a 2007 planned visit, though, I'm just wondering/worrying since we'll be staying off site. Are there any more rumors of this? Or has the idea been scrapped? Thanks for any help/detail/info you can give me!

 

[Robo]

That was just one of those RUMORS that sweeps thru every so often.

No changes at all were made.

 

[Bob P]

No changes planned as of today. Everything you may have heard or read was a rumor.

 

[Donold_Fan]

No changes that I've heard of. Universal has changed their version of it to only be resort guests or people who pay for the fast pass. Hopefully Disney will not follow suit, and hasn't yet.

There are changes to the Dining Plan for 2007 evidently, so if you are looking at utilizing that, you may want to investigate. Mostly just removing restaurants from the package.

 

[justplaingoofy]

No changes that I've heard of. Universal has changed their version of it to only be resort guests or people who pay for the fast pass. Hopefully Disney will not follow suit, and hasn't yet.

I would like to see Fast Passes only for disney resort guests. (not that you have to pay extra for it) but I think it would be an added incentive to stay on property.

 

[FantasmicDreams]

I've never heard anything to that effect.

I can't imagine Disney saying people in more expensive rooms get more fastpasses...

 

[Robo]

I can't imagine Disney saying people in more expensive rooms get more fastpasses...

We don't need to start THAT debate again.

 

[kenban]

I am trying to find it right now but I read something talking about the new golden fastpasses that will be part of the Year of a Million Dreams. It talked about how Disney is planning on giving guests staying at the high end resorts these same golden fastpasses that are good all day at all fast pass rides. I thought it was in the WDW update on mouseplanet but I went back and checked and I am not seeing it there.

No clue if this is just one more bad rumor that will turn out to be wrong or if there is something behind this.

 

[subtchr]

Now we're trying to replan one for next summer before the kids all get TOO old (they'll be 15, 14 and 12 then).

I just have to comment on this line -- we went to WDW this past June with our kids, who were 20, almost 18, and 14, and they still had a blast, so don't give up hope!! If you're interested, here's a link to my trip report about it: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1160683

Have fun!!

 

[cabanafrau]

Can't resist commenting that a week ago our DD12 stood in MK after Wishes ended w/ huge tears rolling down her cheeks because she, "Didn't want it to end, EVER!" Somehow we think that means she'll never outgrow Disney & we can look forward to several more family visits, leading up to the time when that will include her children someday!

 

[Cool-Beans]

Now, I thought I just read that they are taking out some FPs...a mod posted something about some FPs disappearing either from certain rides or at certain times. I *think* it was in the MK.

I'm not making this up!

 

[Cool-Beans]

I've never heard anything to that effect.

I can't imagine Disney saying people in more expensive rooms get more fastpasses...

Don't go there. They fought that out here...and if that wasn't bad enough, you should've seen the fight they had on the Universal boards about the disappearance of free EPs. Jeepers! And the Universal boards are one of the friendliest on the DIS (except when someone goes trolling to say Universal is bad, Disney is good.)

 

[Samantha/NC]

Now, I thought I just read that they are taking out some FPs...a mod posted something about some FPs disappearing either from certain rides or at certain times. I *think* it was in the MK.

I'm not making this up!

I think that was in Disney Land

 

[tmarquez]

Now, I thought I just read that they are taking out some FPs...a mod posted something about some FPs disappearing either from certain rides or at certain times. I *think* it was in the MK.

I'm not making this up!

I think you are talking about a post about the FP being closed at Jungle Cruise, the 3d movie, and I think there was one more but I can't remember. It was only for certain dates according to the original poster. The FP machines at those 2 attractions were definately covered up this past Saturday.

 

[Robo]

I think you are talking about a post about the FP being closed at Jungle Cruise, the 3d movie, and I think there was one more but I can't remember. It was only for certain dates according to the original poster. The FP machines at those 2 attractions were definately covered up this past Saturday.

And I don't think they've uncovered the FP machines at Haunted Mansion for about a year.

 

[marciemi]

Thanks everyone for the info - hopefully FP's will still be available for us next summer, even if it ends up that other people have priority. We're really the "first one in the parks" commando type people, and since we're planning on getting the 10 day passes, hopefully we won't need them too much, but I'm not sure how critical they'll be on the attractions we really want to see that are new since our last visit (Everest, Soaring) so it'd be nice to have them as an option!

subtchr - I agree with you that we're finding that our kids still love Disney even as they get older. Our last visit (Jan 2005) was when my husband had to go down for business. We almost only brought our youngest (then 9) and were going to leave the other 2 (then 11 & 12) with Grandma, but due to cheap airfares gave in at the last minute and took them all. They all had a really good (but exhausting! since we did almost everything in 3 days) time and really loved things like pin trading and some of the bigger rides they hadn't been able to do when they were younger. I think at this point I'm more worried about schedules and ever working it out to go together. Two kids on travel soccer seems to take most of the summer and now with a high schooler starting soccer in the fall, August is pretty much tied up too. We have the 2 weeks slotted in for next summer between the two for Disney, but I know as they get older they have Driver's Ed, required pre-AP summer classes, jobs, etc., etc! And it seems like any other break (here we only get a week for Christmas and a week in March), there's not enough time to drive, airfare is exorbitant, and crowds are at their worst. I know crowds will be bad in the summer, but with 10 days we can pace ourselves.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Praying Colonel]

I just have to comment on this line -- we went to WDW this past June with our kids, who were 20, almost 18, and 14, and they still had a blast, so don't give up hope!! If you're interested, here's a link to my trip report about it: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1160683

Have fun!!

We just got back from a week with DD17 and DS15, and we all still had a lot of fun. They enjoyed some things a little less but enjoyed other things a lot more. DD17 got mad when we were talking about booking our 08 trip during a time when she'll be in college--she still wants to go with us on our next trip, so DW and I were happy about that.

 

[kenban]

Thanks everyone for the info - hopefully FP's will still be available for us next summer, even if it ends up that other people have priority.

I do not think we are going to see free Fastpass go anywhere. There are two important things that occur by fastpasses. First better usage of rides. By giving people the chance to "stand" in one line while they ride something else often people will go to rides that had shorter or no lines. Second and most important (to Disney) by spending less time in line it allows people more time to shop. My understanding is that after fastpass was started gift shop sales went up.

This does not mean there will not be a premium fastpass but I expect the free version will still exist.

 

[raidermatt]

The sales did not go up nearly as much as projected, hence Disney has kicked around ways of changing the system. There was even a blurb in the Official Guide about FP possibly not remaining free for guests not staying in deluxe resorts. However, nothing has been announced, and its almost time for the 2007 guide to come out.

A lot of guests have integrated FP into the way they experience the parks, so any kinds of limitations placed on certain guests could be problematic. Yes, Disney wants you to stay on-site in a deluxe resort, but they also can't just alienate everybody else. Very tricky.

Bottom line, I don't think its LIKELY that it will become limited to on-site guests or deluxe guests, but its still certainly a possibility. I'd plan as if it won't change and if by chance it does, adapt to the new system as best you can.