Disney , please don't do this...

[5Hfan]

But if EMH’s go away as some people suspect (they’ve already reduced the number of days it’s offered and the hours), then Disney may add something such as more FPs to entice onsite stays. Plus, it’s a perk that would cost Disney virtually nothing. AND they would save all the money associated with running the parks for the extra hours.

this is what I fear is going to come as people accept prebooking fast pass plus as an onsite perk. Why would they keep EMH? Costs lots of money, and they've been cutting those back for quite some time (hours, characters, days etc). By creating this new false demand for prebooking fast pass (moving rope drop up an arbitrary 60/30/whatever days) and calling it a perk? Smaller on going cost once it is all on line, and more people want to stay on-site for less benefits? win-win from a business standpoint!

 

[OtherScott]

But if EMH’s go away as some people suspect (they’ve already reduced the number of days it’s offered and the hours), then Disney may add something such as more FPs to entice onsite stays. Plus, it’s a perk that would cost Disney virtually nothing. AND they would save all the money associated with running the parks for the extra hours.

This the thing that we mere mortals cant quantify. We don't know what the line is between someone visiting or not. Sure, Disney would love all guests to stay on property but they have to consider that many can't/won't.

And of those that do decide to move on, Disney now has to consider how often they'll come, how long they'll stay and how much they'll spend.

Every guests comes with his own comfort level of spending. Disney gets it by a combination of products - room, parks, concessions, merchandise.

Does an offsite guest spend more per person inside the parks? Do they tend to visit more days on a given trip? Do they tend to make more trips? Do they stay longer inside the park on a given day?

We can only guess what Disney knows by what we see Disney do. And my point is that Disney has always offered FP across the board.

Maybe that will change.

 

[LucyBC80]

I hope they do offer extra FP+ to onsite guests. And if they don't, sell them for $100 for 3 more FP+, I'll be first in line to buy at least 2.

 

[ArwenMarie]

The biggest problem Disney has with its occupancy rate (and it has dropped over the past ten years) is that the prices of their hotels are just too high. Period. There is way too big of a gap between onsite and offsite when you compare apples to apples.

The bad news for everyone is that if they try to use FP to try to differentiate their onsite hotel products from offsite hotels, the more onsite will pay (or the less discounts that will be given).

When the park experiences were equal, the offsite hotels put price pressure on Disney's hotels. If Disney manages to make the onsite and offsite park experience vastly different, onsite will pay more and offsite will get a worse experience. Lose-lose IMO.

 

[TLSnell1981]

The unlimited express pass or quick queue has at least one potential fatal flaw. That's greed. The business model is built on scarcity. If too many people have access to express line. It no longer feels express and worth the costs. While at the same time, people without express passes feel like their wait they aren't getting their money's worth because their waits are longer.

All they would need to do is limit the number sold. They "technically" do this for hard ticket events. Although, many more tickets are sold, than in the early years. The party's were more exclusive..not so crowded. Disney decided to make it more "fair", so they raised prices and increased availability. Disney's moved into "greed" a long time ago.

 

[CinqueTerre]

All they would need to do is limit the number sold. They "technically" do this for hard ticket events. Although, many more tickets are sold, than in the early years. The party's were more exclusive..not so crowded. Disney decided to make it more "fair", so they raised prices and increased availability. Disney's moved into "greed" a long time ago.

You don't have to limit the number sold. Just come up with a price which limits purchase. Unlimited FP should be an extreme luxury which most people simply can't afford.

 

[TLSnell1981]

You don't have to limit the number sold. Just come up with a price which limits purchase. Unlimited FP should be an extreme luxury which most people simply can't afford.

What's your suggestion for a price point?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Unlimited FP should be an extreme luxury which most people simply can't afford.

Why?

Would you also say the same about the Dining Plan? Specialty cruises? Makeovers at the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique? All because only a certain amount of visitors can be accommodated per day for each of these extra add-ons?

 

[captain america 2003]

Just to throw my $0.02 in as well.

I'm very much against charging extra for FP's, especially when the old paper FP system worked the way it was for years and years.

The "FP" at Universal is very expensive ($35-50 per person per day or so). For a family of 5 on a week long trip, well you do the math!

I don't want to pay what we've been paying for our Disney vacations $$$ AND for FP's.

Onsite, offsite, annual pass, IMO should all have the same FP+ privileges.

If I'm going to pay more for something, and expect more, it will be for the resort amenities, food, etc. NOT for enjoying the park attractions.

Dan

Thanks Dan for supporting this . Look , we all know at the end of the day that Disney is a business and that businesses need to be profitable to survive and thrive . I just feel that especially after a year of record attendance and profit from their theme parks that making such a fundamental change to who gets what in terms of FP+ as opposed to the old FP system is not right or fair . To quote Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast , "If it ain't Baroque don't fix it " . We all know that nothing in life is fair to everyone under every circumstance or situation but it doesn't mean that we shouldn't always strive to make things as fair as possible to as many as possible under most circumstances or situations .

 

[Planogirl]

We've gone the last three years in early June without them and it was no problem. Only waited for one ride (Spiderman) for 60 minutes. Other than that we have never really waited more than 45 minutes, Half the time Hulk, RRR, Curse of the Mummy and other headliners are under 20 minutes.

That's been our experience in August too

The biggest problem Disney has with its occupancy rate (and it has dropped over the past ten years) is that the prices of their hotels are just too high. Period. There is way too big of a gap between onsite and offsite when you compare apples to apples.

The bad news for everyone is that if they try to use FP to try to differentiate their onsite hotel products from offsite hotels, the more onsite will pay (or the less discounts that will be given).

When the park experiences were equal, the offsite hotels put price pressure on Disney's hotels. If Disney manages to make the onsite and offsite park experience vastly different, onsite will pay more and offsite will get a worse experience. Lose-lose IMO.

Good points all. If Disney starts offering huge perks then why not increase resort rates? It would make sense.

Thanks Dan for supporting this . Look , we all know at the end of the day that Disney is a business and that businesses need to be profitable to survive and thrive . I just feel that especially after a year of record attendance and profit from their theme parks that making such a fundamental change to who gets what in terms of FP+ as opposed to the old FP system is not right or fair . To quote Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast , "If it ain't Baroque don't fix it " . We all know that nothing in life is fair to everyone under every circumstance or situation but it doesn't mean that we shouldn't always strive to make things as fair as possible to as many as possible under most circumstances or situations .

I don't think that Disney is concerned with what is fair. They are looking for a good balance of profit and demand.

 

[jade1]

If Disney starts offering huge perks then why not increase resort rates? It would make sense.

Yep look at US hotels, RP was always $79 maybe $99 when we went in the summers, HRH $119 maybe $129. My niece went last Sept mid week HRH $249.

 

[2Tiggies]

Good points all. If Disney starts offering huge perks then why not increase resort rates? It would make sense.

Well that would almost certainly price us out of Disney as a vacation destination, however I can see what you are getting at. It would become almost an elite club for those who could afford it and they would then be able to maximize profits while allowing the capacity to be reduced, which in turn would surely diminish vey heavy crowds to at least moderately heavy crowds.

 

[AmyB2006]

I know when it comes to it Disney is a company and its ultimate goal is to make money, and this may come from me growing up poor, but I always thought there was something magical about once you entered the parks everyone was the same. Everyone had the same shot at meeting a princess, riding a ride or seeing the fireworks no matter how much money they had. We usually stay on property and can probably learn to live with just three fastpasses but somehow knowing some people can buy more "magic" will just make the place seem less special.

Some people can already buy more magic. It's called the VIP tour. How does this affect you and your vacation and whether or not it's "magical"? Honest question.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Yep look at US hotels, RP was always $79 maybe $99 when we went in the summers, HRH $119 maybe $129. My niece went last Sept mid week HRH $249.

And yet....even with the included unlimited Express Passes at the Universal onsite hotels, they are still increasing at a slower rate than their Disney counterparts....19% vs 61-88%:

Item - 2003 Price - 2013 “Inflation Price” - 2013 Actual Price - Percentage change from 2003 - 2023 Extrapolated Price

All Star Music - $77 - $96 - $124 - 61% - $199
Coronado Springs -$133 - $166 - $245 - 85% - $453
Polynesian Resort - $299 - $371 - $562 - 88% - $1056
Hilton at Lake Buena Vista - $99 - $123 - $129 - 31% - $169
Portofino Bay (Uni) - $259 - $321 - $309 - 19% - $367

http://micechat.com/23546-price-increases-walt-disney-world/

 

[captain america 2003]

That's been our experience in August too


Good points all. If Disney starts offering huge perks then why not increase resort rates? It would make sense.


I don't think that Disney is concerned with what is fair. They are looking for a good balance of profit and demand.

Disney has no obligation to be fair (or what we might consider fair) . But, that doesn't mean that we can't ask them to be fair and to do what we think is right . I don't see them in need of doing this (FP+ perk) to attract people to stay at their resorts. Again,I realize they are a business and when all is said and done they are going to do what they feel is in their companies best interests . I believe that FP+ being equally available to all guests to their parks is fair and thus in the long run in their best interest . But,that's my opinion and apparently not the opinion of most of the people responding to this thread .

 

[kittyab]

Disney has no obligation to be fair (or what we might consider fair) . But, that doesn't mean that we can't ask them to be fair and to do what we think is right . I don't see them in need of doing this (FP+ perk) to attract people to stay at their resorts. Again,I realize they are a business and when all is said and done they are going to do what they feel is in their companies best interests . I believe that FP+ being equally available to all guests to their parks is fair and thus in the long run in their best interest . But,that's my opinion and apparently not the opinion of most of the people responding to this thread .

I agree with you. What we are seeing people upset that they cannot go commando style in the park and snatch up fast passes for all their favorite rides like they use to. Some people don't like change

There has not been one word from Disney saying they will charge for extra fast pass picks. I have not seen anything saying Disney will give extra picks to AP or onsite folks but everyone here is all up in arms.

Everyone need to chill out, it is a new system and soon enough they will have most of the bugs worked out.

 

[jade1]

And yet....even with the included unlimited Express Passes at the Universal onsite hotels, they are still increasing at a slower rate than their Disney counterparts....19% vs 61-88%:

Item - 2003 Price - 2013 “Inflation Price” - 2013 Actual Price - Percentage change from 2003 - 2023 Extrapolated Price

All Star Music - $77 - $96 - $124 - 61% - $199
Coronado Springs -$133 - $166 - $245 - 85% - $453
Polynesian Resort - $299 - $371 - $562 - 88% - $1056
Hilton at Lake Buena Vista - $99 - $123 - $129 - 31% - $169
Portofino Bay (Uni) - $259 - $321 - $309 - 19% - $367

http://micechat.com/23546-price-increases-walt-disney-world/

FP+ will increase it even further if a perk.

Noticed the "value" (and mod) was included for WDW but not for US. Curious what RP did-I'm showing $239 for August.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

FP+ will increase it even further if a perk.

No doubt! Scares me a little for those who enjoy staying onsite. Prices are already sky-high.

Noticed the "value" (and mod) was included for WDW but not for US. Curious what RP did-I'm showing $239 for August.

The costs of the Universal properties don't vary as widely as the split between the values, moderates and deluxes, so that's probably why they only used one example. If I was a betting woman, I'd guess that RP showed similar increases as PB....but who knows if I'd be right or wrong!

 

[disneynutz]

Disney has no obligation to be fair (or what we might consider fair) . But, that doesn't mean that we can't ask them to be fair and to do what we think is right . I don't see them in need of doing this (FP+ perk) to attract people to stay at their resorts. Again,I realize they are a business and when all is said and done they are going to do what they feel is in their companies best interests . I believe that FP+ being equally available to all guests to their parks is fair and thus in the long run in their best interest . But,that's my opinion and apparently not the opinion of most of the people responding to this thread .

They aren't in business to be fair, they are in business to make money. Every process, policy, and program is evaluated on how it will increase revenue, not on is it fair.

Bill

 

[jade1]

No doubt! Scares me a little for those who enjoy staying onsite. Prices are already sky-high.



The costs of the Universal properties don't vary as widely as the split between the values, moderates and deluxes, so that's probably why they only used one example. If I was a betting woman, I'd guess that RP showed similar increases as PB....but who knows if I'd be right or wrong!

I think folks wanted FOTL as cheap as possible, so RP would be first to fill IMO. Similar to simply reserving FP+ by wasting a one night room ressie at WDW currently.

The info is out there somewhere.

Time flies, just read EXpress Pass started in 2005? Noticed a lot of $99 RP rooms in 2002, then 2005 folks were having trouble getting under $229 at RP.

If that's the case the rates are pretty flat at US hotels the last 8 years after the FOTL bump. But somebody may have rack rates by year etc I don't see it.