Bedgeters: Disney X-Pass, would it be worth it?

[MichelleinMaine]

I'm wondering about a parallel to the ADRs. Back in the olden days, you could walk into EPCOT and book your dinner. Now people are fighting for some places 180 days out.

Is that how rides will be with this new system? Sure, you don't have to do ADR's, but at certain times you're out of luck without them. "Sorry, Space Mountain has been booked for 6 months, but you still have options... you can do Tomorrowland Transit Authority...."

*disclaimer I like TTA, just trying to think of a less popular attraction at the park

 

[DawnM]

No, but we travel off-season anyway and I would see no need for it.

 

[KS_Disney_Dad]

I realize that there are a lot of "what if's" as to how this will work but -

- How will it work for DVC owners and those on rented DVC?
- What happens when I "pre-book" ToT because my DS6 says he can conquer it and he chickens out when we get there? (With a FP I can ride it again or give to someone else). Wouldn't the "pre-book" take a spot away from someone? (Hmmm, making an ADR and not showing up ring a bell?).

Too many questions yet to be answered but I would say NO. If the additional $80 a person is the cost, I can spend that a little more wisely and create a better memory for my family then getting into TSM faster than other guests.

 

[SaraJayne]

A lot will depend on how it is implemented because if taking full advantage requires pre-planning rides and shows months in advance it won't work for us. We don't have our travel dates set in time to make the most of the ADR system and with too long a window this could be the same - scrambling for the leftovers because we can't know 6 months in advance exactly when we'll be able to get away.

Something else that will make a difference is how this effects the current FP system and standby waits. If it becomes all but essential to enjoyable touring and/or replaces free Fastpass, we'll drastically cut down on how often we go but might book deluxe rather than two moderate rooms when we do. We're a family of 5 that decided the values just aren't a good fit for whole-family trips, and the price difference between two moderate rooms and a sleeps-5 deluxe isn't very substantial (~$20/night in value season) so if Xpass is in fact going to be a deluxe perk it would be a good reason to bump up a level. I doubt we would spring for it as a ticket add on. One of the rumors put pricing at $80pp and an extra $400 on top of the $1400 that tickets already cost for my family is a deal-breaker.

My biggest concern with this is how much, if any, flexibility will be left by the time they're done adding the ability to pre-reserve everything short of bathroom stalls. We often change plans on the fly and the idea of not being able to sit down to watch Off Kilter on the spur of the moment because we have reserved ride times to get to makes Disney World a much less desirable destination in my mind. Someone else put it very well on the big thread on the theme parks board - as SAHM to three kids and chauffeur to their activities and appointments, my day-to-day life is watching the clock and keeping track of who needs to be where when. I don't want to be doing that on vacation.

I agree with everything you said.

 

[SaraJayne]

The problem is that we don't know how it will work. At best, it seems like FPs will become harder to get as the Xpass system books a percentage before the park even opens, OR standby lines get longer because a percentage of ride capacity is set aside for the Xpass system in addition to FP. At worst, well... Universal used to offer a free FP type system that has been entirely replaced by paid options, so the choice may ultimately be only Xpass or standby. And I think that's where the "I'd vacation elsewhere" feelings come in - at the prospect of either paying for the ability to micro-manage your vacation days in advance or being stuck in the 90 minute standby line for TSM.

I agree with you again. I think it will eventually come down to either you pay for xpass or you stand in line.

 

[Marionnette]

The problem is that we don't know how it will work. At best, it seems like FPs will become harder to get as the Xpass system books a percentage before the park even opens, OR standby lines get longer because a percentage of ride capacity is set aside for the Xpass system in addition to FP. At worst, well... Universal used to offer a free FP type system that has been entirely replaced by paid options, so the choice may ultimately be only Xpass or standby. And I think that's where the "I'd vacation elsewhere" feelings come in - at the prospect of either paying for the ability to micro-manage your vacation days in advance or being stuck in the 90 minute standby line for TSM.

I'm not an expert on crowd flow but it seems as if the people who are willing to pay for XPass are the same people who currently use FP anyway. There will still be those people who will continue to use FP but not elect to pay for XPass and there will also be those who are "out in the weeds" and have no clue what either one is.

It sounds as if Disney will just take the number of FPs they currently make available and reserve a certain percentage of them for the XPass users. And they will also spread the XPass availability out over the course of the day so that all the FPs for a peak time period will not be taken.

I'm sure that there are fears that Disney will totally do away with free FPs if they see it will be profitable to go the way that Universal has gone. I don't doubt for a minute that they have studies the USO model and have already made their decision based on how well it will fit into their plans.

 

[eliza61]

I'm not an expert on crowd flow but it seems as if the people who are willing to pay for XPass are the same people who currently use FP anyway. There will still be those people who will continue to use FP but not elect to pay for XPass and there will also be those who are "out in the weeds" and have no clue what either one is.It sounds as if Disney will just take the number of FPs they currently make available and reserve a certain percentage of them for the XPass users. And they will also spread the XPass availability out over the course of the day so that all the FPs for a peak time period will not be taken.

I'm sure that there are fears that Disney will totally do away with free FPs if they see it will be profitable to go the way that Universal has gone. I don't doubt for a minute that they have studies the USO model and have already made their decision based on how well it will fit into their plans.

Unfortunately I think they will do away or severly cut down the number of fast passes. I have no proof of this but simply because in order to FORCE people to either purchase the upgrade or upgrade to a deluxe they have to sell the fact that t his will greatly enhance your experience.
So prime parade spots will be reserved leaving a teeny tiny space for the non xpass general public.
non xpass, fp's will be sold out that much quicker.

I think like the ddp where it was first a great money saving tool, the initial offering will be great but they will slowly whiddle down the non paying offerings until they sort of force you to use it.

As you can tell I'm not a fan although I am a fan of enforcing fp return times