Fast Pass Future? Predictions...

[TLSnell1981]

I really like the MaxPass in DL. I could live with that change. Easy, flexible and doesn't kill the budget.

 

[GoingSince1990]

Hmmm.

I think off-site guests will have to pay for all fast-passes.
I think resort guests will give a certain amount for free, then will have to pay for any on top of the free ones.
I think booking will remain same - 30 days off-site, 60 days on-site.

Or perhaps resort guests will be given different options dependent on what package they buy, still working out better than what off-site will get.

Wouldn't a max-pass (available to all, on-site and off-site) have to be really expensive to try and discourage a large amount of people from purchasing it? Otherwise if so many people got it, wouldn't it be rendered useless?

I remember doing some back-of-the-envelope calculations a while ago and concluded that an all-day unlimited FP-access pass would cost something like $700 per person, per day.

 

[wdw&sonny]

5 for DVC, 3 for deluxe, 2 for moderate, 1 for value. paid extra for off-site.
Book your virtual queue when you put your deposit on your room/ticket package. The further out you book, the better the selection. Same for ADRs. Can reserve when you commit to your package. This avoids the 180 day or 60 day rush.
Can also join one virtual queue from app within park, as long as you don't hold any others, for everyone.

 

[snappy]

I like the 5 for DVC for sure

 

[KrazeeK120]

Just to point out that most attractions are not running at 100% capacity.

Yes, that’s true. But I still think standby lines would be crazy. My parents took me once as a child, I’m 1995. I distinctly remember standing in an almost 2 hour line to ride Space Mountain. I’d prefer not to go back to those days!

 

[yulilin3]

Yes, that’s true. But I still think standby lines would be crazy. My parents took me once as a child, I’m 1995. I distinctly remember standing in an almost 2 hour line to ride Space Mountain. I’d prefer not to go back to those days!

Yeah i remember those days as well. Tbh with all the attraction and shows additions to the parks it wouldn't get that bad on a daily basis, only around holidays. If the parks were running all offerings at 100% you wouldn't see wait times go over an hour if that. The problem with fp+ it's that they gave way to many slots, if fp were capped lower the standby line wouldn't balloon as much

 

[Farro]

I remember doing some back-of-the-envelope calculations a while ago and concluded that an all-day unlimited FP-access pass would cost something like $700 per person, per day.

If you go for long stays, I could see maybe buying an express/max type pass for certain parks for one day, then the rest of the days just regular tickets/hoppers.

But no way could we spend $700 per person. That's just ludicrous.

 

[Timandalicia]

I think that if and when it returns, it’ll be tiered to your resort category. Those staying DVC and Deluxe will get three to start with, those staying Moderate will get two, and those staying Value will get one. You can make more like before after the initial ones. Somewhere in there, AP holders will get to make them in advance as well. But those staying offsite will have to wait until day of to make them. This would serve to appease people who feel that Disney is taking away so many resort perks.

Or they could go a completely different route and do something like Disneyland that you have to pay extra for. Perhaps the price would be different for the different tiers of resorts.

Well somebody is a dvc owner. Dream on. Jk. totally kidding.
This is an interesting idea but I think it will be more subtle then resort type. I speculate they will want to upsell to a wider group (or at least have the option) than just those in deluxe. So maybe it is the “concierge” kind of thing at all resorts. Idk just speculating.

 

[Grasshopper2016]

I think that Disney will almost certainly find a way to make money from selling line access. The days of unlimited free fastpasses through refreshing the app are over. But at the same time, Disney needs to find a way to: (1) make everyone feel like they are getting some special access; (2) incentivize on-site stays; and (3) make it possible for guests to have a good time without standing in line all day.

Here is my prediction:

*3 Free fastpasses per day included in the price of every ticket. Can be booked in advance, with a head start for on-site guests, and with tiers in some parks. Just like before.

*Additional free fastpasses provided to on-site guests based on resort category: 1 for value, 2 for moderate, 3 for deluxe. Maybe even 4 for club level. Maybe an additional one for DVC. Can be booked in advance. Will also be tier limits on how you can use them.

*Extra fastpasses available to everyone for advanced purchase. (Supplies probably limited.) I could see this taking any number of forms, including packages of various rides (like some of the foreign parks sell), additional regular fastpasses, and/or additional anytime fastpasses. I suspect that, whatever form they take, they will be very expensive. Might even by an unlimited fastpass option, but it would be insanely expensive. Can be booked in advance.

*Spur-of-the-moment, good-for-the-next-hour fastpasses offered for sale on the Genie app to everyone, on a ride-by-ride basis, based on current waits and demand. Price will vary by ride and demand, and will adjust dynamically. Might be $5 for Small World on an uncrowded day (where the standby line is 20 minutes); might be $75 or more for FOP when the standby line is 150 minutes. The price will always adjust to a level that ensures that the fastpass line doesn't get overwhelmed.

*No more free same-day fastpasses after you have used all of your pre-booked ones.

 

[disneyseniors]

While I will agree FP takes more planning - park capacity is at like 40% capacity at best right now. If parks were at a much higher capacity - the wait times would be much longer. And for folks who spend big bucks on vacation - spending an hour or more in every line is not how folks want to spend their vacation. My partner's first experience with Disney was when there was no FP of any kind in the middle of the summer waiting in the heat for line after line. That was a horrible memory. He loves FP and ADR's because enough of the day is planned that he can cope with the crowds - because he knows something won't be about waiting in line.

Yes I understand that the over crowding at disney lately would be a problem. I just don't find it fun to do fp's weeks before our trip, then when we get there, it is too crowded to more than just the 3 fp's. We find that we just do our 3 fp's even if we have changed plans or don't want to at that day for some reason. It's being locked into them and no spontaneity about dong what you want to do at the time, whether it is the fp you set up weeks ago. That's just me.
I love the way Universal does it. You can get EP's with delux hotel stays or you can pay for them. They have a limited number each day, so you are not competing with hoards of others, such as fp. I wonder how Universal is going to handle the number of frustrated people from Disney who say they are now going to Universal? I don't think the overcrowding at disney is going to be a problem this year, but who knows for sure?

 

[GoingSince1990]

Yes I understand that the over crowding at disney lately would be a problem. I just don't find it fun to do fp's weeks before our trip, then when we get there, it is too crowded to more than just the 3 fp's. We find that we just do our 3 fp's even if we have changed plans or don't want to at that day for some reason. It's being locked into them and no spontaneity about dong what you want to do at the time, whether it is the fp you set up weeks ago. That's just me.
I love the way Universal does it. You can get EP's with delux hotel stays or you can pay for them. They have a limited number each day, so you are not competing with hoards of others, such as fp. I wonder how Universal is going to handle the number of frustrated people from Disney who say they are now going to Universal? I don't think the overcrowding at disney is going to be a problem this year, but who knows for sure?

One thing to bear in mind is that Universal EP is a bit of a different product than Disney FP. Several times on busy days we have waited over 45 minutes for Despicable Me and Gringotts in the Express line, and when I asked about this I was told that EP only guarantees 50% of the standby wait time. On Disney FP lines, though, it is very rare to have to wait for more than about 20 minutes.

 

[JakeAZ]

They know every other park charges for it. Why would they give it away free, this is the opportunity to press the reset button on a lot of things.

This.

They'd be crazy not to use this once in a lifetime event to their advantage.

 

[Farro]

One thing to bear in mind is that Universal EP is a bit of a different product than Disney FP. Several times on busy days we have waited over 45 minutes for Despicable Me and Gringotts in the Express line, and when I asked about this I was told that EP only guarantees 50% of the standby wait time. On Disney FP lines, though, it is very rare to have to wait for more than about 20 minutes.

Didn't know that about the Universal Pass. Thanks!

 

[JakeAZ]

5 for DVC, 3 for deluxe, 2 for moderate, 1 for value. paid extra for off-site.
Book your virtual queue when you put your deposit on your room/ticket package. The further out you book, the better the selection. Same for ADRs. Can reserve when you commit to your package. This avoids the 180 day or 60 day rush.
Can also join one virtual queue from app within park, as long as you don't hold any others, for everyone.

Very optimistic haha.

Unfortunately, they already have the DVC guests doing multiple trips. They don't need to offer incentives to get them to come. They made that decision when they bought DVC.

Book your FP at time of booking is an interesting idea, but it's hard to see how they can offer that feature when, in the past, they've offered 499 days out.

 

[JakeAZ]

Disney needs to find a way to: (1) make everyone feel like they are getting some special access; (2) incentivize on-site stays; and (3) make it possible for guests to have a good time without standing in line all day.

Yep!

 

[JakeAZ]

might be $75 or more for FOP

I get you were just using this price as an example, but if this is the route they go, count me out.

This just opens up the possibility of intentionally inflating lines. Operate just just one side? Short staff the ride? etc. I know this is the Disney MO; create a problem and then offer a paid solution. Too crowded at rope drop? Buy EMM. Too crowded at night? Buy After Hours. Too crowded at fireworks? Buy one of our many dessert parties. etc.

But let's just use your $75 FP example for FOP. If the ride has a 150 min wait, the FP line is probably at least 30 min. A family of 4 would have to pay $300 to enter that line on an impulse buy. I can see people just completely turned off by this.

Again, I know you were just throwing out numbers. I'm just commenting on that strategy being too much of a cash grab.

Tell me how much I have to pay and what I get...in advance. If I feel there is value, I will buy it.

 

[cjlong88]

I think that Disney will almost certainly find a way to make money from selling line access. The days of unlimited free fastpasses through refreshing the app are over. But at the same time, Disney needs to find a way to: (1) make everyone feel like they are getting some special access; (2) incentivize on-site stays; and (3) make it possible for guests to have a good time without standing in line all day.

Here is my prediction:

*3 Free fastpasses per day included in the price of every ticket. Can be booked in advance, with a head start for on-site guests, and with tiers in some parks. Just like before.

*Additional free fastpasses provided to on-site guests based on resort category: 1 for value, 2 for moderate, 3 for deluxe. Maybe even 4 for club level. Maybe an additional one for DVC. Can be booked in advance. Will also be tier limits on how you can use them.

*Extra fastpasses available to everyone for advanced purchase. (Supplies probably limited.) I could see this taking any number of forms, including packages of various rides (like some of the foreign parks sell), additional regular fastpasses, and/or additional anytime fastpasses. I suspect that, whatever form they take, they will be very expensive. Might even by an unlimited fastpass option, but it would be insanely expensive. Can be booked in advance.

*Spur-of-the-moment, good-for-the-next-hour fastpasses offered for sale on the Genie app to everyone, on a ride-by-ride basis, based on current waits and demand. Price will vary by ride and demand, and will adjust dynamically. Might be $5 for Small World on an uncrowded day (where the standby line is 20 minutes); might be $75 or more for FOP when the standby line is 150 minutes. The price will always adjust to a level that ensures that the fastpass line doesn't get overwhelmed.

*No more free same-day fastpasses after you have used all of your pre-booked ones.

This was my thought exactly.

Let’s be honest, a regular guest may or may not know that FP was available and free. Skip-the-line programs aren’t free anywhere else. And if they did know it was free, many guests often didn’t realize that you could book additional ones after you use your first 3.

 

[cjlong88]

Random thought: Disney doesn’t want us standing in lines. I think their goal will be to figure out how to create a system that can capitalize on FP’s but minimizes excessively long lines. People cannot spend money when standing in line.

 

[JakeAZ]

Random thought: Disney doesn’t want us standing in lines. I think their goal will be to figure out how to create a system that can capitalize on FP’s but minimizes excessively long lines. People cannot spend money when standing in line.

I can see it now. "Scan this QR code" while in line to have a lightsaber sent to your room. $199 plus $25 "convenience fee" haha

 

[Turk February]

This.

They'd be crazy not to use this once in a lifetime event to their advantage.

100% agree. I personally feel like pandemic or not, they would have eventually ended free Fastpass. This is just the perfect opportunity to re-introduce it as a paid option, and frankly if I was them I'd do it too. With every other major theme park charging for their version, it's silly from a business perspective not to do the same thing. Never let a good crisis go to waste and I think a lot of the cost-saving moves they're making in the last few months were long in the works and COVID presented them with a much easier way to go about it.

I could see them offering 1 free one per day with your ticket and keeping the 60/30 booking time and then offering an additional 2 for X price. Maybe 3 more for an additional fee, or lets go crazy and get 6 more for the price of 5! If you make a sliding scale like tickets, people will spend more than they had planned to get 1 or 2 more rides.

Obviously I think the ride tier system at the parks will remain. I don't think they'll allow you to buy 6 fastpasses and then book FoP 6 times haha.

It'll be interesting to see whatever they decide but I do NOT think this is something that never comes back.