DEBATE:Don't DVC Members Deserve the New Elite Fastpasses?

[Tonyspad]

When is this new fastpass perk supposed to begin?? I heard about this two years ago, but at that time it was going to be a VIP type of park admission that would come at a premium. I am booked through CRO for a May trip and I hope this is active then ???

 

[Eeyore2U]

How many of us, when we purchased, got a deal that helped us decide to buy? MB

Why is it wrong for Disney to offer incentives to fill the resrts/parks.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Mitch, if you were speaking to me, I'm not saying it's wrong to offer perks to fill the parks. I'm saying it's wrong to offer a service that is exclusive. And cutting the line if you pay more is a pretty exclusive perk.

I think that where I may have spoken my opinions poorly was the last paragraph of my post. All I was saying is that if this system comes to pass as a way to get people to book through AAA, or the Disney Travel Company, that's how they're trying to get guests to book through those two services. Something else was offered to prospective DVCers, and it had to be pretty nice to put up the amounts of money that have been tossed around in this thread! They're two seperate things. That's all I was saying.

SHOULD that service be offered, I don't think that the DVC members deserve it anymore than anybody else. You agreed with it here:

Originally posted by RoutemanDan
While I would love to have them, I don't feel we deserve anything more than the average guest.

What RMD said.

Clarified?

 

[Eeyore2U]

SS,

My post was not directed to you. It was thrown out in general. I think we are comparing apples to oranges when we compare DVC to WDTC.

I think we as DVC know what we are getting and we can want more, but should not complain if the "Corporation" does what it has to do to say viable.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Gotcha!

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by Tonyspad
When is this new fastpass perk supposed to begin?? I heard about this two years ago, but at that time it was going to be a VIP type of park admission that would come at a premium. I am booked through CRO for a May trip and I hope this is active then ???

Are you going to Disneyland in May? This is a RUMOR for Disneyland. If true, it is for people who book through AAA or WDTC, not CRO (does Disneyland even have a CRO?). Disneyland does not have any DVC resorts, so this whole thread is just a "what if?" not based on facts.

 

[Another Voice]

Disneyland is often used as the testing ground for new marketing tricks and other corporate ideas. The “unlimited” FastPass is another test. If it is a success out here then it will certainly appear sometime later at WDW.

It should also be noted that people who book Disneyland packages through Walt Disney Travel have been receiving “anytime” FastPasses for a while now. These FastPasses are good on any attraction at any time. The number you receive is based on the type of package you buy (either one for your entire trip or one per day).

Many people inside Disney have wanted to offer a whole range of premium priced tickets using the FastPass system ever since the project was conceived. It’s simply a matter of time before something shows up at WDW, but what shows up can be influenced by what people like DVC owners tell Disney. It’s either let you feelings be known or sit back accept whatever The Company decides to dole out.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Generally, those who buy packages are paying more than many of us who know better (or care), IMHO.
The special packages for meals for example -- I would be very surprised of someone buying a Disney mal plan didn't spend a lot more money on meals than we do.
This kind of reminds me of the travel package for marathoners. I haven't researched it for the last two years, so don't know the current pricing/perks.
For January 2001, in order to attend the pre-race pasta dinner, guests had to book a marathon travel package through Disney. And NO discounts were offered.
I passed because I compared what we paid and what we would had to pay for that package. That pasta dinner was going to cost us an extra $400 (for two adults).
So, like with the marathon package, the perk is available. It just depends on what it is worth to you. Good rates, or an padded package.

 

[WDW2002]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
Just curious....did you read the whole thread?

I didn't realize that that was a requirement when answering the OP question which was "Don't DVC Members Deserve the New Elite Fastpasses?"

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

No! We don't deserve it.

What you get for your money is a discounted deluxe accomodation at a price that is frequently less than what a cash customer will pay for the identical accomodation...and can also be less than what a cash customer will pay for a hotel room in a deluxe hotel.

You also get pool hopping...a privilege that is denied to people who don't have "MEMBER" printed on their hotel keys (never mind SAB and AKL). Plus Disney will send you neato merchandise like pins and postcards for "free" and gives you other member only discounts when you stay on property.

It would be NICE but deserve it? I don't think so. It also isn't a slap in my face. I would hope that if this does come to pass in WDW, Disney would have the sense to regulate it so that the FASTPASS system still works to manage the flow of riders. People standing in ride lines don't buy food, drink and souveniers...and they leave the park earlier because their feet hurt (further limiting their opportunity to buy food, drink and souveniers). That's one of the reasons for FASTPASS in the first place...it wasn't put in to improve your day in the park.

 

[Luv2Roam]

People standing in ride lines don't buy food, drink and souveniers...and they leave the park earlier

Very true. Even with FP, we did this in MK the day after Memorial Day. The park was VERY busy and we found ourselves just killing time between getting FP's. We kept saying, "We will do that in January." So we finally just left.

 

[Mooobooks]

Gee, this thread seems to have generated lots of interest from DVC owners when it was on the DVC Forum, and not a single response since it's been moved to the Rumors forum. Perhaps the moderators should take note of the group who's actually interested in the contents and move it back!

 

[ohanafamily]

Oh My, where to begin. I have 400 DVC points, and am proud of the fact that I have never managed to bank one of them. The people who got in on the very beginning of the whole DVC thing (which I was not one of) got FREE PARK PASSES. They were promised FREE PARK PASSES for a number of years! That perk expired. (I say that as an aside that the benefits have gone down in this too)

We DVC members are not owed by contract anything other than the deluxe accommodations which we paid for. I feel that we are owed something else, Respect. We are owed respect for the fact that we supported Disney over all other places enough to prepay our vacations there for the next 40 years. We should not be scoffed at, ridiculed, or made second class citizens because of this.

That having been written, we are not OWED the UFOLP pass, nor should we be given it unless… The UFOLP pass is given to all onsite guests (Like US does). If the pass is only given to people who book special packages, we should be able to get those packages by paying a fee, and not made to book through a specific place. For example, if only Gold Pass Vacations can get this pass, they should make a Gold Pass program available to us without the room rental. If they don’t do this, then the fact that we prepaid our vacations is being held against us (and we are definitely NOT being treated with the respect we are due). The other option is for them to give the UFOLPes to the high end resorts (The Grand Floridian, or Contemporary, etc…) I would be OK with this as well because we can always use our points to stay there. I would draw the line (as far as when these passes should be given to us) at that point. If they gave the UFOLP passes to Dolphin and Swan or the All Star (IE the Value resorts) then I would feel slighted if it weren’t a DVC Perk while staying on property.

Here is the fun part; IT IS NOT a workable solution to give all onsite guests a UFOLP (like US does). There are just too many guests. So the question remains how can they limit it? If you have to book through Disney’s Travel Agency, then I feel they do owe us the ability to purchase the UFOLP for a fee. Because we have prepaid our vacations it is unreasonable for them to expect us to use DTA. It is also penalizing us for using our DVC.

Again, for the record, WE ARE NOT OWED THE PERK, But out of respect for our support of Disney, we should be allowed a way to purchase the pass.

As far as Park passes being included in the Annual fee, I am against that. This year I paid over $1600 in fees (I have 400 points). Someone with 200 points would have only paid $800+/- This is unfair to me and I would be subsidizing their park passes. I feel that we should be offered a discount annual pass, but again, we are not owed it. I would think that with US doing all sorts of things to sell their AP’s, WDW might think about trying to shore up its relationship with DVC members.

This is all IMVHO

 

[DisneyKidds]

I agree with most of what ohanafamily said. DVC members (I am one) don't deserve anything other than the accomodations for 40+ years which we paid for AND the proper respect and recognition that, having been so loyal to Disney that we did prepay for those accomodations, we are unable to book through WDTC for accomodation that would include the "premium" fastpasses. All non DVC WDW guests have the choce about when and with whom to book their travel arrangements. DVC members don't have that luxury. As such, I think ohana's concept of offering a package without the accomodations is a good one. Some way to allow those who have already paid for their accomodations to have access to what represents a substantial benefit. While we are not entitled to anything, I think they should find some way of offering DVC members "premium" fastpasses at a price. Of course, is Disney is of the attitude of "sr**w them, we have their money and don't need to keep them happy" they can do what they want. It is too bad that that is probably the case.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I would like to preface my statements with the fact that I still think that this whole system is fundamentally WRONG. There should be no such thing as Ultimate Fastpass. It inherently goes against every standard that Walt established when he created Disneyland.

Gee, this thread seems to have generated lots of interest from DVC owners when it was on the DVC Forum, and not a single response since it's been moved to the Rumors forum. Perhaps the moderators should take note of the group who's actually interested in the contents and move it back!

I rather like this discussion here. I'm not a DVC owner. If I could afford it, I probably would be, but I can't. BUT, if one group gets it, then someone else will feel entitled to it! I would bet that group A will feel the SAME way the DVC owners do. And group B will feel the same way. It's just a matter of time until EVERYBODY feels that they should be entitled to it. I can see this conversation in every single one of the deluxes now:

"But I booked through my travel agent! I'm staying at the Grand Floridian, paying top dollar, and I can't get this Ultimate Fastpass because I didn't use a certain booking agent?!"

"Yes, that's correct."

Or what about Disney's loyal customers who can't afford anything more than their "value" resorts? Should those who go once or twice a year but can't afford more than the All Stars be penalized because they can't afford more? Or because they can't afford those Disney packages at AAA?

If the pass is only given to people who book special packages, we should be able to get those packages by paying a fee, and not made to book through a specific place.

Why? In essence, what you've done is booked your non-refundable "package". You see a better "package" and want to cancel out of your first "package" for the benefits of the other.

You're now seeing the ULTIMATE face of what the Disney corporation has done to the most magical place on earth; giving it to the loyal guest right up the tail pipe.

Here is the fun part; IT IS NOT a workable solution to give all onsite guests a UFOLP (like US does). There are just too many guests. So the question remains how can they limit it? If you have to book through Disney’s Travel Agency, then I feel they do owe us the ability to purchase the UFOLP for a fee. Because we have prepaid our vacations it is unreasonable for them to expect us to use DTA. It is also penalizing us for using our DVC.

How is it penalizing you? In all the discussions that I've seen, standard Fastpass would still be around. I haven't read anything that says that they'll cancel that completely. You still would be able to use Fastpass.

Not to mention that you are getting good accomodations for a better rate than anybody else can get them. That's your reward, and that's what you signed up for.

Furthermore, waiting in line is a fact of life. Unless it would create a public safety hazard (as in the case of celebrities) there is NOBODY above waiting in line. I'm assuming that booking through whichever avenues would allow this Ultimate Fastpass wouldn't mean you'd have to pay more for the privelege, it would be included. But EITHER way, someone has now BOUGHT their way to the front of the line. What a way to make someone who can't afford it feel second class because they can't buy that option.

Again, for the record, WE ARE NOT OWED THE PERK, But out of respect for our support of Disney, we should be allowed a way to purchase the pass.

Like I said before, how many other groups are going to be saying the SAME thing.

PS:

WE ARE NOT OWED THE PERK

then I feel they do owe us the ability to purchase the UFOLP

It seems to me you feel you ARE owed that perk, regardless of whether it's free or available for a fee...

PPS:
I think each and every DVC member has every right to feel slighted should this come to pass. And a lot of others should feel slighted too. Which is why I think it's a horrendous idea.

 

[Another Voice]

To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin…

A perk is always acceptable in the first person:
I should get FastPasses because I’ve paid for my vacations four decades in advance.

A perk is occasionally acceptable in the second person:
Can you use your ticket to get a FastPass for me?

But a perk is never acceptable in the third person:
They are unfairly taking advantage of the system just because they have money!



Sometimes I really wish people in Disney Marketing would have paid more attention in English class so they’d think about the impact of their harebrained schemes.

 

[raidermatt]

Ok, first, I want to set aside all of the entitlement arguments. We are entitled to nothing from Disney that they are not contractually responsible for.

Now, on to the practical issue at hand...

How is it penalizing you? In all the discussions that I've seen, standard Fastpass would still be around. I haven't read anything that says that they'll cancel that completely. You still would be able to use Fastpass.

If these unlimited FPs are given out in any kind of significant number, it will result in a significant negative impact to ALL other park guests, DVC members included. FPs will run out earlier in the day, forcing these other park guests to wait in more standby lines than they do today.

If we use your logic, Snacky, all other park guests could be limited to one FP per day, and it would not be a "penalty" because the program is not canceled. ("penalty" isn't really the right word, but rather than debate the semantics, I'll just stick with it for now..)

The practical result is going to be a reduced ability of other park guests to use FP, in other words, a "penalty".

Why is it wrong for Disney to offer incentives to fill the resrts/parks.

Its not, Mitch. The problem comes when the incentive comes at the expense of other guests. And when those other guests are the most committed guests Disney has, it doesn't seem to be a very smart thing to do.

Giving other groups a 10% discount, or a free gift basket, or whatever, doesn't have a direct impact on my resort or park experience. I still get what I agreed to pay for. But if other guests get unlimited FP's, it WILL have a negative impact on my ability to get FP's, and that's why this incentive is whole different ballgame.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I think some of the latter posters are completely missing the point. I will be the first person to agree that Disney/DVC owes me nothing more than top notch accommodations. The problem is, that I can not get this feature, even by paying a fee, simply because I am a DVC member.

For all the folks who were annual passholders before Animal Kingdom was built: What would you say if Disney said "No, you can not visit this park because you bought your pass before the park was open". Now....assume your annual pass didn't expire for 40 more years.
A bit of an exaggeration, but the same general idea.

What I'm saying is that even if I was willing to pay for this, I have no way to buy it. I agree that DVC does not owe it to me.

 

[ohanafamily]

Thanks for your help raidermatt. I do have a few responses of my own for SnackyStcky...

Originally posted by SnackyStacky
I would like to preface my statements with the fact that I still think that this whole system is fundamentally WRONG. There should be no such thing as Ultimate Fastpass. It inherently goes against every standard that Walt established when he created Disneyland.

Yup, I agree with you on this!!!!!

I rather like this discussion here. I'm not a DVC owner. If I could afford it, I probably would be, but I can't. BUT, if one group gets it, then someone else will feel entitled to it! I would bet that group A will feel the SAME way the DVC owners do. And group B will feel the same way. It's just a matter of time until EVERYBODY feels that they should be entitled to it. I can see this conversation in every single one of the deluxes now:

"But I booked through my travel agent! I'm staying at the Grand Floridian, paying top dollar, and I can't get this Ultimate Fastpass because I didn't use a certain booking agent?!"

"Yes, that's correct."

Or what about Disney's loyal customers who can't afford anything more than their "value" resorts? Should those who go once or twice a year but can't afford more than the All Stars be penalized because they can't afford more? Or because they can't afford those Disney packages at AAA?

My point on this is that WE ARE the people who would most want this perk, and since WE supported disney enough to give them the money up front, they should allow us the opportunity to pay for this. It is not a perk we are owed, but it is not right for them to leave us out. Even if we were to use our points to stay at the Grand Floridean, we would have to book through DVC. Regardless, a perk this big with the possiblity of destroying the entire Fastpass system should not be done lightly, especially leaving out the most vocal group of your most loyal customers.

Why? In essence, what you've done is booked your non-refundable "package". You see a better "package" and want to cancel out of your first "package" for the benefits of the other.

I will answer this with a question, how would you feel if you booked a package 6 months in advance, and they came up with a feature on a new package with much more services 2 months later. How would you feel if you very much wanted those services, but Disney said "Tough Luck"

You're now seeing the ULTIMATE face of what the Disney corporation has done to the most magical place on earth; giving it to the loyal guest right up the tail pipe.

OK, we agree, but they haven't done this yet.....

How is it penalizing you? In all the discussions that I've seen, standard Fastpass would still be around. I haven't read anything that says that they'll cancel that completely. You still would be able to use Fastpass.

It is penalizing us by making the fastpass system oversold, without allowing us to be a part of the problem.....

Not to mention that you are getting good accomodations for a better rate than anybody else can get them. That's your reward, and that's what you signed up for.

Yes, but that is why we bought in, and why you might too one day; they have great financing plans...

Furthermore, waiting in line is a fact of life. Unless it would create a public safety hazard (as in the case of celebrities) there is NOBODY above waiting in line. I'm assuming that booking through whichever avenues would allow this Ultimate Fastpass wouldn't mean you'd have to pay more for the privelege, it would be included. But EITHER way, someone has now BOUGHT their way to the front of the line. What a way to make someone who can't afford it feel second class because they can't buy that option.

I agree as well, but unfortunatley, the current regime at WDW is a little on the money hungry side. seriously, I am not saying that we deserve it as a perk, I am saying that we shouldn't be excluded from getting the perk. there is a difference.

Like I said before, how many other groups are going to be saying the SAME thing.

Sort of, we DVC members cannot use our points other than with Member services. This is a creation of Disney. The other groups that can get upset will be able to change their future vacation plans to book through DTA. We CANNOT

It seems to me you feel you ARE owed that perk, regardless of whether it's free or available for a fee...

Again, I am not saying that we deserve it as a perk, I am saying that we shouldn't be excluded from getting the perk. there is a difference.

I think each and every DVC member has every right to feel slighted should this come to pass. And a lot of others should feel slighted too. Which is why I think it's a horrendous idea.

Again, I agree.

Dan, I have tried to answer your post without vicious retorts, I do understand your point that buying these perks is fundmentally wrong to the liberal mind. My point is that Disney is (through design) alienating a set of their core clientelle. this is not a good thing. If I recall from a previous thread, you used to be in a band. Did you ever have a similar problem with backstage passes? just a question...

Sorry for the long post.

 

[jcodespoti]

I love this. A four page debate on something that , at least in WDW does not exist!!!


Joe in CT