Disney does not want or need FastPass+ Haters business!

[TLSnell1981]

Oh, please..this mess has NOTHING to do with fairness. Disney must "break the system", before it can be "fixed". Access to FP+ will cost guests more $$$$$...one way or another. It's ALWAYS about the money.

 

[Poly-Anna]

And that's why we're going to Universal this year and skipping Disney...

 

[CAHarwell]

On our 3 previous trips, the worst paper FP hoarders were the tour guides for the HUGE groups. Can't count the times I would see them at the FP machines with a giant stack of theme park passes grabbing every available FP. We even on several occasions approached a FP line at an attraction only to be behind a tour guide and part of his group, and then the rest of the group would show up and push past us and others to get to where said guide was holding the stack of FP. If the FP+ system puts a halt to that! then I say "Hooray"!

 

[superdiz]

What confuses me is - IT SHOULD BE ABOUT THE MONEY. Bottom line, end of the day, when all is said and done, Disney is a Fortune 500 company with shareholders to work for. It is America's largest media conglomerate. It is a business. Walt Disney opened this as a business. Yeah, he wanted it to be a place families can enjoy, but he never intended it to be free and never changing. In order for a business to stay afloat, prices need to go up and changes need to be made.

Glitches will be worked out, but I am all for them thinking of the bottom line. Sorry someone moved your cheese but I'm glad the mouse has cheese to move!

 

[illiram]

To the OP, this is brilliantly said. You must be an economist like me. This is a FOR PROFIT business. Disney has done everything possible to get people to stay on property, like building the Value resorts. Yet people are still staying offsite.

If some people can't understand the FP+, bye bye! Thanks for clearing up the lines for me and my family and giving me a better parade and fireworks view!

That being said, I am not a big fan of FP+ in its current form but as we have seen over the years, things change quickly with Disney so the current program will be tweaked.

 

[TeamJones22]

Would like to add my voice to the people saying the OP is correct and very well written.

Unfortunately loyalty doesnt have much place in business, especially in a successful one. Somewhere like DLP, where guests numbers are essentially the same/dropping slightly then they need to rely on loyalty of their guests/consumers in order to get along. Hence the ridiculously cheap annual passes and the shareholders club that they have in Disneyland Paris.

In a booming, growing business/organisation such as WDW there is no need to reward loyalty as your customer numbers are always growing.

Whilst i dont think its been there intention to deliberately alienate a particular type of fanbase, thats the major side-effect of this system. WDW focusing more on the 'tourist' type of guest and tailoring their product to that consumer base, and trying to maximise the money they spend, leads to them inadvertently alienating their 'hardcore' fanbase as we see in the incessantly negative threads against Fastpass+.

Simply put, with growing numbers of guests and half the world only just emerging from recession this isnt a process that will reverse. The healthier the worlds finances get, the more tourists there are with full wallets to target.

Great news if youre a shareholder. Bad news if youre a WDW veteran.

 

[Vidia2]

To the OP, this is brilliantly said. You must be an economist like me. This is a FOR PROFIT business. Disney has done everything possible to get people to stay on property, like building the Value resorts. Yet people are still staying offsite.

And yet there are those who insist that FP+ was made for offsite guests (not talking about local/AP) to get them to spend more time in the parks and that there's just not enough room at the resorts for everyone anyway so Disney doesn't even care about that. LOL

 

[brockash]

It seems like Disney has decided to join the ranks of businesses that have recognized which customers are good for their business and bottom line----and those customers who are bad for business.

The park goers who used FastPass to the fullest extent are no longer welcomed or desired at Disney. They use up the most resources.....likely to pay the least when compared to others...... and are the most likely to maximize discounts and savings. This group gets their money's worth and some. It's no crime--- but with consumerism at an all time high------businesses have begun to scrutinize and profile their patrons----to identify who their ideal customers are and who their least ideal customers are.

Some restaurant buffets have resorted to banning certain people for eating up all the food or the choice items. These restaurants have gone on record stating---that they don't want the business of folks who eat more than the average guest. It does seem like Disney is taking a similar approach---just short of banning certain people.

The philosophy behind this is called the "Pareto Principle"--- where the common rule of the thumb in business is "80 percent of your sales come from 20% of your customers....also known as the 80-20 rule.

It means that only 20% of customers provide 80% of all profits. Inversely, it means 20% of customers suck up and devour an astonishing 80% of all resources, direct consumer costs, time w/customer service-- and wreak the most havoc. Disney wants to increase the 20% group and decrease the 80% group.

FastPass+ may be weeding tool to cull those customers who Disney considers to be the least desirable and least profitable customers----which will free up all the resources to better address the needs of their best customers. All businesses know that the best customers are not always the ones who spend the most. Disney has now established terms or services that will only appeal to their most ideal customers. Those who don't like it will feel left out in the cold... for sure.

Businesses also know that they can always drum up temporary business quickly by throwing the least desirable and least profitable group of customers a bone every now and then.....in the form of some kind of discount or freebie and they will come a runnin'.

Disney will not get rid of FastPass+ ----- it's designed with this purpose in mind.

I basically agree with the fact that Disney is changing and really isn't interested in, what some would say has in the past been their most loyal customers (those who own dvc, annual pass holders, locals and even a good amount of their yrly visitors who held the attractions with little wait as a high priority). - We came pretty close to buying into DVC about 2 yrs. ago and I'm so thankful that we waited and ended up not doing it. Unfortunately though for us, we are part of that last group and although I know it won't effect Disneys bottom line, nor will they care, this will result in our family spending our vacation dollars elsewhere.

 

[Poly-Anna]

But this is more than just a business. it's a business that sells dreams and life experiences to people. A business that sells magic to real people who believe that Disney is more than just hype and money. Otherwise millions of people would never go in the first place. People who believe in pixie dust - real or not.

 

[brockash]

It is not designed to get rid of people, it is designed so that everybody is even. They want everybody to get the same shot at the good fp. If people cannot handle that then yes they may leave but Disneys plan was not to get rid of them

This "even" stuff is just crap. It didn't get much more even then giving the availablability to every paying park guest to stick their tix in a fastpass machine. All were able to enter the park at the same time (obviously except for off-site guests on EMH mornings) and all were able to gain a fastpass with little effort.

I also find it ironic that ppl. that justify the new system as a way to even the playing field, which again is ridiculous, and to keep things fair seem to completely overlook how the new system is designed. Obviously those without technology skills are at a disadvantage, those without a smartphone, those who don't want to think about what rides they want to go on and when 60 days before they even leave town and of course those not staying onsite are all at a disadvantage with the new system. The new system has nothing to do with being fair...it had to do with money plain and simple and anyone who actually believes that a business is concerned with evening things out or making things fair for their customers are just fooling themselves. The motivator is only money and profit, in which any business would be dumb to not be solely motivated by. Whether or not it is a smart decision is still yet to be seen.

 

[tazadd0420]

And that's why we're going to Universal this year and skipping Disney...

Universal has already made it where you have to be an on-site guest to get the benefits, I.e. express pass. Not sure how US is any better??? That said we are looking forward to both wdw and us. Just need to learn how to work the system again. Until they change it again.

 

[superdiz]

So, are you saying that it is not magical because you have to wait in lines now? Pretty sure they had to wait in lines before Fastpass was invented. Were those vacation memories not as magical? "Disney lost me - do they care?" "not getting my vacation dollars", over FASTPASSES changing? Disney's "loyal" customers sound more like Disney's "entitled" customers.

 

[Poly-Anna]

So, are you saying that it is not magical because you have to wait in lines now? Pretty sure they had to wait in lines before Fastpass was invented. Were those vacation memories not as magical? "Disney lost me - do they care?" "not getting my vacation dollars", over FASTPASSES changing? Disney's "loyal" customers sound more like Disney's "entitled" customers.

Meow!

 

[superdiz]

Also - intended or not - this new FastPass+ DOES even out the playing field. Before, as a Disney veteran, I knew to go directly to Toy Story for a FP. Now, I will be choosing that FP along with everyone else who also has to follow the new rules. Curious to see if they know how coveted that ride is and curious to see how long that standby will be with this new system.

 

[pieface]

I have an annual pass and go to Disney three or four times a year. I stay on property eat their food and no I don't get free dinning. I spend a lot of money on merchandise on each trip. I don't like the new fast pass plus but I'll learn to live with it. If Disney wants to weed out the annual pass members just do away with the program. If you really think Disney makes more money on people that makes trips there once every five years or so your dreaming. Just weed out the annual pass holders and see how much money they will lose.

 

[superdiz]

Meow!

No... I'm looking for your response. Are those trips not "magical"? You're going to Universal instead - where you have to buy your FP (and they aren't cheap) or stay on property. If I'm not mistaken, even those on property have to pay a fee for the FP... Disney's is free. So... what is your issue? Inquiring minds would like to know. Or do you just like to complain with no base? Lots of those on here.

 

[Poly-Anna]

Universal has already made it where you have to be an on-site guest to get the benefits, I.e. express pass. Not sure how US is any better??? That said we are looking forward to both wdw and us. Just need to learn how to work the system again. Until they change it again.

My reasons why US is better: their deluxe rooms at their on-site hotels are cheaper than Disney's, their tickets are cheaper than Disney, and they offer the Express Pass to their on-site guests which Disney does not. To each his own.

 

[Poly-Anna]

No... I'm looking for your response. Are those trips not "magical"? You're going to Universal instead - where you have to buy your FP (and they aren't cheap) or stay on property. If I'm not mistaken, even those on property have to pay a fee for the FP... Disney's is free. So... what is your issue? Inquiring minds would like to know. Or do you just like to complain with no base? Lots of those on here.

Have you ever stayed at a Universal property? I would think no or you would know. No you are wrong-those who stay at the 3 current on-site hotels do not pay for Express Pass it is free with the room. (The new Cabana Bay hotel opening in March will not have this perk).

 

[EMode]

Also - intended or not - this new FastPass+ DOES even out the playing field. Before, as a Disney veteran, I knew to go directly to Toy Story for a FP. Now, I will be choosing that FP along with everyone else who also has to follow the new rules. Curious to see if they know how coveted that ride is and curious to see how long that standby will be with this new system.

The playing field was always even. Just because some didn't know enough to play the game doesn't make it unfair. Every guest had the equal opportunity to get fast passes, now that certainly isn't the case. I mean if one is going to bring up fairness lets be fair and admit the truth.

 

[crostorfer]

No... I'm looking for your response. Are those trips not "magical"? You're going to Universal instead - where you have to buy your FP (and they aren't cheap) or stay on property. If I'm not mistaken, even those on property have to pay a fee for the FP... Disney's is free. So... what is your issue? Inquiring minds would like to know. Or do you just like to complain with no base? Lots of those on here.

You are quite mistaken.

Keep drinking your Kool-Aid. Honestly, it doesn't matter to you one way or another, so what do you care if someone is never going back? And those of us that are leaning that way have several reasons in addition to FP+. FP+ is just kind of the straw that broke the camel's back.