Disney says guests will be able to reserve ride times from home

[getback]

When I was 25 it was so easy to go to Disney. You can basically get a dining reservation almost on the same day u dine and you could relax and do what u want when you wont. Now that will soon be gone. I feel sorry for today's 25 year old. They wont enjoy what I did at that age. Part of the magic is the unexpected.

 

[OldsDr]

When I was 25 it was so easy to go to Disney. You can basically get a dining reservation almost on the same day u dine and you could relax and do what u want when you wont. Now that will soon be gone. I feel sorry for today's 25 year old. They wont enjoy what I did at that age. Part of the magic is the unexpected.

I am going to reserve judgement on the new system untill they roll it out, I was originally against FP but now love it.

But I feel this is one more step in the wrong direction as you stated. I remeber in my 20s sitting on the airplane with a Birnbaums deciding where we would eat when we got down there and never had trouble getting in where we wanted. I would never dream of doing that today.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Actually, FastPass is a total failure based on the original intent.

Internal reports within Disney expected people to, instad of standing in line for attractions, to go shopping and/or eating while waiting for their return time. Financial records showed that there was no increase in merchandise or dining sales, other than from routine price increases, when the FastPass porogram went into effect.

If Disney were to totally eliminate FastPasses it would have not effect on crowds and really would not have any effect on wait times as there would be no express line.

And it would save a lot of money. Eliminate the upkeep of the machines and the cost of the fastpasses, as well as eliminating need fro CMs to monitor FastPass machine locations as well as access control.

 

[DC7800]

If Disney were to totally eliminate FastPasses it would have not effect on crowds and really would not have any effect on wait times as there would be no express line.

The single remaining (standby) line would move faster without Fastpass than it does currently, though the total wait time may be unchanged.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Folks, FastPass is here to stay. And if anything Disney has fallen behind its competition on this front.

Every other park I go to, I have the option of waiting in shorter lines if I'm willing to pay for the privilege (Universal Express, FlashPass, Quick Queue, etc.).

And for those of you that say 'Oh Disney wouldn't do that'...well they already do (or have done). In Paris and California, I took advantage of premium priced packages that allowed special FastPass privileges.

In CA, I booked a AAA package that allowed me to have multiple FastPasses at once (has since been discontinued). In Paris, I got vouchers that allowed immediate access to the FastPass line.

Disney knows it's leaving money on the table by not having this option for more of its guests. Right now, only the fabulously wealthy will spend for a VIP tour. I'd gladly pay-up for the certainty that I can experience the attractions and shows that I want to see on a stress free schedule.

While NextGen is not only so Disney can offer a near-VIP experience for those willing to pay for it, I'd make a big bet that that's an important part of the plan.

 

[mitros]

Couple of thoughts: More things done on PCs, less cast members to hire who would normally do these things. I'm sure Disney would prefer to have less bodies that they would have to pay. {more for Iger!}

 

[Disneyman_10]

Isn't waiting in line part of the experience at disney?
Walking through the waiting areas, watching the preshows, and the anticipation of riding the idea

 

[doconeill]

The single remaining (standby) line would move faster without Fastpass than it does currently, though the total wait time may be unchanged.

Exactly. There would be more people in the lines (and therefore be physically longer), but they would physically move faster. It's all pretty much a wash, except it would prevent people from being in line for one attraction while "virtually" in line for another attraction.

It would end forever the debates about late FP use though...DISboards volume would probably drop 10%.

I'm rather surprised it had NO effect on sales on merch or food. I would have expected some effect, but not as much as expected and perhaps not enough to offset the cost.

But I agree, to get rid of it completely might be a PR nightmare given that other parks have it, at least as an option. I still have some trouble reconciling how the new system could co-exist with FP without having detrimental effects to either FP or the standby line.

 

[yitbos96bb]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-...eneration-experience-20110217,0,5411916.story


Future visitors to WDW will be able to reserve ride times from their home computers and bypass hotel check-in desks once they arrive at the resort, the head of the Disney's global theme-park division said during an investors conference Thursday.

This has Promise...

I don't know. Disney can't make a website or online system worth a can of soup. How they expect to pull this off I don't know. Some of the most poorly designed and implemented systems I've ever seen. Makes me think whomever is responsible knows where the bodies are buried or is related to a higher up. Either way, they would not have a job in my company.

 

[B.B. Sots]

Isn't waiting in line part of the experience at disney?
Walking through the waiting areas, watching the preshows, and the anticipation of riding the idea

Depends if you are a Park Commando or a Park Stroller


"Future visitors to WDW will be able to reserve ride times from their home computer"
Not sure how many people would know about this perk and use it... Besides Disney geeks who read boards.. daily... about Disney...

 

[brh46268]

DH and I agree completely.

We have traveled to WDW and DL for many years....often a few times a year. We are no longer commandos.....we are far more relaxed and enjoy our holidays far more.

On our last trip we tried to dine off property as much as possible.....vs. planning 180 days in advance.....we also saved just over 40% on our food budget. It was flexible, food was sooooooo much better and we did not allow a "list" made months in advance to control our day.

Deciding ahead what rides we want to ride and when is simply not the way we travel to WDW any longer. We prefer to "stop and smell the roses" vs. pushing each day to go through the list.

Have tried it both ways....we enjoy less planning.


......but hey, expect Disney will eventually charge for this priviledge when they think they can get away with it. Perhaps more people will discover our way of Disney travel is fun too!!

We go to WDW at least 2 times year and have done so since 2003. I have done trips both ways - zero planning and the 180 day in advance, color-coded Excel spreadsheet planning. Both methods have their distinct advantages and disadvantages. The decision to hardcore pre-plan and schedule or no planning at all, really depends on the "experience" we want on that particular vacation. I like that Disney is exploring these options. And they are just that- options that will be available. Guests will not be forced to pre-book an attraction time but it will be a great option for us Type A guests out there. I have seen the lines grow longer and longer and dining locations harder and harder to book even 180 days in advance over the years. The last few vacations have been "scheduled" ones and those have worked out very well. However, if I want truly schedule free, go with the flow vacation, I go on the DCL. And while I know you can plan port and activities 90 days out, I choose not to. There is just something about going on the cruise line and not firing up Excel 6 months out that is becoming more and more popular with me. I guess I am becoming less of a planner with age but like that Disney is making the option to plan more things for those that want to a reality.

 

[englishrose47]

I like the idea !!! It would certainly make Rope Drop less hectic !!I certainly wouldn't miss the Dash for TSM or the line for a FP!!!I think they should try it out with a few rides that are the MOST popular and judge the success from that!!I am hoping there is no charge for this although I still might be tempted for TSM !!!

 

[mike the canuck]

I like the idea !!! It would certainly make Rope Drop less hectic !!I certainly wouldn't miss the Dash for TSM or the line for a FP!!!I think they should try it out with a few rides that are the MOST popular and judge the success from that!!I am hoping there is no charge for this although I still might be tempted for TSM !!!

I agree completely

 

[doconeill]

I like the idea !!! It would certainly make Rope Drop less hectic !!I certainly wouldn't miss the Dash for TSM or the line for a FP!!!I think they should try it out with a few rides that are the MOST popular and judge the success from that!!I am hoping there is no charge for this although I still might be tempted for TSM !!!

Instead, people will be scrambling every morning to be the first one online to get their desired ride times...

Anyone want to wager on the over/under for how long the servers will stay up on the first day? I'm thinking somewhere between 3 and 6 minutes...

 

[englishrose47]

Instead, people will be scrambling every morning to be the first one online to get their desired ride times...

Anyone want to wager on the over/under for how long the servers will stay up on the first day? I'm thinking somewhere between 3 and 6 minutes...

Let's hope they have a 180 day window like for dining !!!I'd still rather scramble from home than do the TSM dash!!!

 

[mskayjay]

Are we supose to schedule potty breaks too?????
Does Disney want its guest to be machines????
My heart breaks for what this is turning into.

I agree with you. Is there anything anymore that is just about relaxing, being spontaneous, and you know...just being on vacation????? I mean its bad enough that you have to decide 6 months ahead of time where you want to eat and at what time and now this. Just don't like it at all and I can see where anyone who doesn't do this is going to have their trip just ruined.

 

[mskayjay]

DH and I agree completely.

We have traveled to WDW and DL for many years....often a few times a year. We are no longer commandos.....we are far more relaxed and enjoy our holidays far more.

On our last trip we tried to dine off property as much as possible.....vs. planning 180 days in advance.....we also saved just over 40% on our food budget. It was flexible, food was sooooooo much better and we did not allow a "list" made months in advance to control our day.

Deciding ahead what rides we want to ride and when is simply not the way we travel to WDW any longer. We prefer to "stop and smell the roses" vs. pushing each day to go through the list.

Have tried it both ways....we enjoy less planning.


......but hey, expect Disney will eventually charge for this priviledge when they think they can get away with it. Perhaps more people will discover our way of Disney travel is fun too!!

yeah this! This is how we do it now too and my gosh we enjoy the parks so much more! We don't do offsite since we ME in to the resort so we do have the issue of the ADRs but otherwise it is like it was when I went in '72.....just go with the flow and where you feel like being at the time. Vacation!

 

[aliceinwdr]

I just got back from Disney last week - on what I was hoping was going to be a relax and go with the flow trip. Yes - it was Spring Break and myself and the rest of the state of Texas was there.

The crowds were SO incredibly bad - I have NEVER seen Disney that bad at all. Fastpasses were the only way to go. Only we couldn't get them for many rides after 11 AM. We watched as every popular ride had a 75 to 120 minute wait time. I will NOT wait 2 hours in line for ANYTHING!

As we left I just thought - you know I paid all that money to book online in advance - stay on Disney property - and then everyone else showed up on the side. I decided that Disney needs to add another perk to resort guests - those of us that pay a premium to stay on property only to find the parks so overcrowded we can't ride anything. So crowded you cant use photopass or barely walk on a sidewalk for all of the people.

My idea is a Fastpass que in the resort lobby itself - resort guests can choose 2-5 fastpasses - from the hotel - no more than 24 hours before the day you use them - that way you dont hog fastpasses like restuarant ressies. Insert your KTTW - get your fastpasses and go to the front of the line! I would pay for Disney property for that.

The only way we got to ride anything this past week was fastpasses and we stayed until 1AM - 3 AM in the parks on the EMH for resort guests.

Then there are parks like AK where we spent the whole morning collecting fastpasses and yes rode the high ticket rides but never got to see a show because we were trying to time the hour intervals for fastpasses racing from one side to the other.

I think advance fastpasses would be AWESOME - and a great perk for resort guests.

 

[englishrose47]

I don't mind booking my adr's 180 days out in fact I enjoy it!!I know which rides we love and need FP's sooo to me this is an awesome idea!But I do like the idea of getting fast passes at the resort too!!This would give the on site guests an edge and still leave plenty for at the parks for all !! Her's my idea at 9pm you can start to get Fp's for the next day all the way thru till noon on the actual day !!Yes I realise ther would be lines but you would be at your resort and could switch off in line if necessary. Have limits on how many FP's you can get per ride say like 2 maximum. I would LOVE to head to DHS with my TSM fp in hand !!!

 

[johnGorski]

I hope they have a alternative for those who don't want to wear a wrist band during a 1 week plus vacation. Maybe a badge with a radio chip! therefore I could but the badge in my wallet.