Disney , please don't do this...

[2Tiggies]

THIS!! Not everyone is in the same financial situation to be able to afford all the perks. It was always nice to know you could go, and have the same opportunities as others in the parks.

I agree. Disney does not give a subsidy for low income families. It just costs them more, relatively speaking. But once you enter the park, you enter equally. It is then open for anyone to enhance their experience with optional extras, like where to eat, or by managing their day with a strategy.

 

[CinqueTerre]

THIS!! Not everyone is in the same financial situation to be able to afford all the perks. It was always nice to know you could go, and have the same opportunities as others in the parks.

You don't have the same opportunities as others. Most people that I know that go to Disney haven't even heard of restaurants like Le Celier or Chefs de France. Why? Because they simply can't afford it. They're eating turkey legs. So even in today's world, not everyone who goes to Disney has the same opportunities.

 

[sheetz]

I don't see how paying for FP+ is any more stratified than the original ticket system where people with more money could pay for more rides. At least with a pay per FP+ system there are still workarounds (arriving at RD, traveling during off season, etc.), or one can just get in standby. With tickets there was just no way to avoid shelling out extra money.

 

[maxiesmom]

You don't have the same opportunities as others. Most people that I know that go to Disney haven't even heard of restaurants like Le Celier or Chefs de France. Why? Because they simply can't afford it. They're eating turkey legs. So even in today's world, not everyone who goes to Disney has the same opportunities.

Exactly. Disney has always had many offerings for those who had more money. From fancier rooms to restaurants to guided tours. It has never been a level playing field.

 

[CinqueTerre]

Exactly. Disney has always had many offerings for those who had more money. From fancier rooms to restaurants to guided tours. It has never been a level playing field.

Yup I think we can all agree that outside the park, those with more money have major advantages. But I've noticed that people on this thread and other threads keep saying, "once you enter the park, we are all on an equal playing field." No we are not.

 

[Planogirl]

Yup I think we can all agree that outside the park, those with more money have major advantages. But I've noticed that people on this thread and other threads keep saying, "once you enter the park, we are all on an equal playing field." No we are not.

We are (or were) when it comes to rides. That is except for those who can pay for the tours.

Again the problems come when people perceive that something that they are used to is being taken away.

 

[2Tiggies]

We are (or were) when it comes to rides. That is except for those who can pay for the tours.

Again the problems come when people perceive that something that they are used to is being taken away.

I think we can all agree though that the tours have little to no impact on the other guests because of the tiny percentage of people who use them. I would to as far as saying that the majority of guests in a park at any given time are not even aware that they exist. Disney have made sure now that if you didn't know or care about FP before, you do now. Perhaps they shouldn't have done that if they were intending to start charging for it at some point.

 

[lugnut33]

Disney will have to sell extras to help pay for the cost of the MM+. It's inevitable.

Let's not forget that Club 33 existed at Disneyland. That's a pretty exclusive perk for rich people.

 

[2Tiggies]

Disney will have to sell extras to help pay for the cost of the MM+. It's inevitable.

That's all very well but selling what has always been included with admission as an extra is not going to go down too well. Generally the consumer will accept something additional that was previously not included or not an option as an extra. And that is before you even start to put a price tag on the additions.

 

[CinqueTerre]

That's all very well but selling what has always been included with admission as an extra is not going to go down too well. Generally the consumer will accept something additional that was previously not included or not an option as an extra. And that is before you even start to put a price tag on the additions.

Disney could maintain 3 FP+ per day per person. And then simply sell additional FP+ on the side. So nothing is being taken away. And anyone who doesn't like it can simply vacation elsewhere.

 

[TimothyG]

Honestly, what other theme park is giving every single guest free FPs in the first place? Sure isn't Universal, Six Flags, Sea World, Busch Gardens, etc. I can't recall one major theme park that I've been to recently that gives you any free FPs.

Disney is a business, not a charity, and people staying at higher-end resorts get better perks because they are spending more money and Disney wants to reward them. Plain and simple. And evidently, people do like the perks because the Deluxe resorts always have tons of people staying.

It's not unfair that the Poly guests gets a monorail and POP doesn't. Or that people staying at POR get a water slide at their pool and the All Stars don't. People at Poly/POR pay so much more money to stay there. Higher end resorts have always had better amenities than lower end. And people staying on site should have more benefits.

Have fun when you're down there and don't make it all about the number of attractions you've rode. There's so much more to the parks than attractions. You might experience something you wouldn't have normally experienced. And don't compare your toys with other people's toys.

 

[drew64]

That's all very well but selling what has always been included with admission as an extra is not going to go down too well. Generally the consumer will accept something additional that was previously not included or not an option as an extra. And that is before you even start to put a price tag on the additions.

It worked just fine for Universal

 

[CinqueTerre]

It worked just fine for Universal

But But But But But... Disney is special.

 

[OtherScott]

It seems as though these boards exist so that people have an opportunity to see if they can put forth the one exception they believe disproves the rule. So charging only offsite guests for something all that used to be equally provided to all guests, regardless of accommodations, is a viable business strategy because some people eat PBJ while others eat steak.

Charging for FP+ isn't unfair and it isn't morally wrong. It's just problematic from a business perspective. Why? For one, those who stay on property now are already incentivized to do so, and have been with what has been, up to this point, equal treatment of FP.

Would FP+ provide an incentive for those who have demonstrated a desire to stay off property to move on property? Would this number be large enough to offset the number that would choose not to come at all? Would those moving on property adjust the amount of time they visit, the frequency of visit and the total amount of money spent?

We have a paradox on this board. Some people lament the low number of FPs available via prior booking while others believe current off property guests would pay more to access them. And greedy Disney, who hasn't charged for FPs up to this point, won't be able to resist now. My guess is, based on Disney's historical treatment of FP, is that the value is insufficient to incentivize behavioral changes across the target customer base to positively impact revenue.

 

[Bullseye]

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.

Yeah but then you're stuck with a guide for at least $180 dollars a person. Sure, you get front of the line access but it's not like you're bolting from ride to ride trying to get your moneys worth. She's stopping and reciting the whole time

My initial thought was $100 per day per person. Disney would have to come up with a price not so ridiculous but not so easily attained which would defeat the purpose of an unlimited FP.

5 guests for an additional $500 more a day over the regular price! For what? Which park would be worth that even if it worked beautifully? How many times can you ride a ride?

 

[Planogirl]

It seems as though these boards exist so that people have an opportunity to see if they can put forth the one exception they believe disproves the rule. So charging only offsite guests for something all that used to be equally provided to all guests, regardless of accommodations, is a viable business strategy because some people eat PBJ while others eat steak.

Charging for FP+ isn't unfair and it isn't morally wrong. It's just problematic from a business perspective. Why? For one, those who stay on property now are already incentivized to do so, and have been with what has been, up to this point, equal treatment of FP.

Would FP+ provide an incentive for those who have demonstrated a desire to stay off property to move on property? Would this number be large enough to offset the number that would choose not to come at all? Would those moving on property adjust the amount of time they visit, the frequency of visit and the total amount of money spent?

We have a paradox on this board. Some people lament the low number of FPs available via prior booking while others believe current off property guests would pay more to access them. And greedy Disney, who hasn't charged for FPs up to this point, won't be able to resist now. My guess is, based on Disney's historical treatment of FP, is that the value is insufficient to incentivize behavioral changes across the target customer base to positively impact revenue.

I suspect that some (not all) of those who regularly stay onsite hope to get their own fastpass allotment back up to the number that they are used to. If the offsite people get less then that's the price for staying offsite. Saying that they are losing something that they've had before doesn't sink in or in some cases doesn't matter.

Some others never used fastpass much in the pass so don't see the big deal if others did and now can't. People often seem to see much of this from only their own perspective and thus make assumptions about others.

That paradox is interesting. The numbers of fastpasses allotted are too low and the rules are too restrictive for many. Yet it's OK for one group to have to do with even less or pay up for more. At least that how I read it.

 

[CinqueTerre]

5 guests for an additional $500 more a day over the regular price! For what? Which park would be worth that even if it worked beautifully? How many times can you ride a ride?

Then don't buy it.

 

[babydoll65]

Have fun when you're down there and don't make it all about the number of attractions you've rode. There's so much more to the parks than attractions. You might experience something you wouldn't have normally experienced. And don't compare your toys with other people's toys.

LOVE THIS very well said.

 

[Rip]

From my admittedly limited experience, the prices vary widely likely mostly due to demand. I've priced them at various times over the years and sometimes the Portofino has the lowest price and the Hard Rock costs the most. Like you, I would like to see if all three resorts have had a similar history as Portofino but I couldn't even begin to guess due to the consistent price fluctuations.

Yup. The only time I've stayed at the Portofino it was about $30 less per night than RPR and about $50 less than HRH.

 

[Rip]

It worked just fine for Universal

Exactly. People tend to forget that EP at Universal used to work exactly like FP-. I think, though I'm not sure, that part of the reason for changing it was to make staying onsite more popular because the occupancy rates were fairly low back then.