Fast Pass Improvement Idea

[jade1]

Some other ideas on how to do this "home" FP:

1. Only one "home" FP per day per ticket.
2. The park ticket must be paid for to sign up for the "home" FP, and the ticket and FP must match once you're in the park.
3. You can go online and get a Home FP as soon as you own your park ticket - not at a certain time before your visit, no zero hour (like 180 days before, a la ADRs).
4. Home FPs would only be for return times later in the day...not the early slots.
5. Only a certain % of total FPs would be available as Home FPs - say, 33% of the FPs after 2pm.
6. The earlier you buy your park ticket and commit it to a day, the better your odds of getting a Home FP for the ride/time you want. If over time your plans change, you can try for a new FP, but are subject to current availability. (like ADRs)
7. Once in the park, you can get other FPs in the normal way, EXCEPT for the ride for which you have a Home FP. So the home FP won't mess you up if you are a morning person, other than to take that one "home" ride out of the equation until later in the day.
8. To get the actual FP, the person would have to bring their ticket to the ride's FP area and swipe into the machine. The machine would then spit out the Home FP as if it were a normal one. In effect, the machine would 'store' the FP until the person showed up to claim it that day.

All of this would happen 'in the background' where a customer would just see the following: "you just bought a ticket, if you wish to login and commit your ticket to a park and date, you might be able to get a FP."

This perk would have the following business justifications:

• People would buy tickets earlier instead of waiting until just before their first day (this is HUGE - early money is GOLD)
• Similarly, non-expiring tickets would be worth more.
• Disney would have greater visibility to predict park attendance instead of just using room bookings and ADRs.

I think something like this would work, has business justification, is not complicated and requires only a website tie-in to the existing FP system, and some software modifications. It is available to every guest (provided they buy their tickets early) and does not change the current FP in-park system in any way. It even requires coming to the ride early to get the FPs, so still the 'walk around and buy stuff' factor.

I would say either 1 per day-and you still qualify for the "in park" distribution, 2 or 3 per day and you no longer qualify.

 

[jayandstacey]

I would say either 1 per day-and you still qualify for the "in park" distribution, 2 or 3 per day and you no longer qualify.

baby steps

 

[epcot.girl]

I really can't see them ever going through with anything that required data usage in the parks, unless of course they're going to FINALLY install free wifi. But even then, there are people who don't take their phones on vacation, or simply don't have one (or a smart phone). As a Canadian, I feel your pain on the roaming charges, believe me.

The only way I could see an advanced FP system working is if it was restricted to onsite guests only and done with KTTW cards (and maybe even at the hotel only).

Even then, I think there's too many complications (like the data issue in this example) and it just wouldn't be worth it for them with all the hassle it would bring.

I agree - way too complicated.

Why be so negative about it rather than suggest an alternative as I did earlier in the thread. Instead of having it tied to your phone, why not have a Kim Possible type device like they use in Epcot right now. That way, everyone has the same opportunity. Not everyone in the US has a data plan and surely not everyone in your party has a smart phone regardless if you live in Orlando or Ontario.

The alternative I would suggest is the one that already exists. I genuinely think the FP system is as close to perfect as it could possibly be already.

(Sorry about how my post came across - I'm usually very neutral in my online posting!)

 

[jade1]

baby steps

Ha, I will follow your lead from now on

But are you saying 1 per day, and you do qualify for more? Or 1 per day and your locked out?

 

[jayandstacey]

Ha, I will follow your lead from now on

But are you saying 1 per day, and you do qualify for more? Or 1 per day and your locked out?

One per day from home - and once in the park, you can get FPs for any ride per the FP rules, as if you didn't have that Home FP.

Essentially, you can pre-plan your day around at least one major ride, in exchange for pre-buying your tickets.

It is simple because...if you forget you had your Home FP, you would come into the park and go get FPs anyway - you'd just be pleasantly surprised when your HomeFP ride gave you an earlier pass than was posted. "oh, yeah, I reserved that months ago..."

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Some other ideas on how to do this "home" FP:

1. Only one "home" FP per day per ticket.
2. The park ticket must be paid for to sign up for the "home" FP, and the ticket and FP must match once you're in the park.
3. You can go online and get a Home FP as soon as you own your park ticket - not at a certain time before your visit, no zero hour (like 180 days before, a la ADRs).
4. Home FPs would only be for return times later in the day...not the early slots.
5. Only a certain % of total FPs would be available as Home FPs - say, 33% of the FPs after 2pm.
6. The earlier you buy your park ticket and commit it to a day, the better your odds of getting a Home FP for the ride/time you want. If over time your plans change, you can try for a new FP, but are subject to current availability. (like ADRs)
7. Once in the park, you can get other FPs in the normal way, EXCEPT for the ride for which you have a Home FP. So the home FP won't mess you up if you are a morning person, other than to take that one "home" ride out of the equation until later in the day.
8. To get the actual FP, the person would have to bring their ticket to the ride's FP area and swipe into the machine. The machine would then spit out the Home FP as if it were a normal one. In effect, the machine would 'store' the FP until the person showed up to claim it that day.

All of this would happen 'in the background' where a customer would just see the following: "you just bought a ticket, if you wish to login and commit your ticket to a park and date, you might be able to get a FP."

This perk would have the following business justifications:

• People would buy tickets earlier instead of waiting until just before their first day (this is HUGE - early money is GOLD)
• Similarly, non-expiring tickets would be worth more.
• Disney would have greater visibility to predict park attendance instead of just using room bookings and ADRs.

I think something like this would work, has business justification, is not complicated and requires only a website tie-in to the existing FP system, and some software modifications. It is available to every guest (provided they buy their tickets early) and does not change the current FP in-park system in any way. It even requires coming to the ride early to get the FPs, so still the 'walk around and buy stuff' factor.

Well, since Disney has suppossedly allocated up to $1 billion for these various projects, I think they can afford the software update.

I like your posts on this thread and the ideas you've had. I agree that this could work for Disney and guests.

In particular, I like the idea that you are only reserving your FP ahead of time and you still have to pick it up at the machine. That allows Disney to "release" your FP if it's not picked up by a certain time which should help reduce the number of unused FP's.

My only disagreements are when you can get your FP's and what time you will can use them. I still like the idea of some kind of loyalty program similar to the cruise lines. Repeat guests would be able to get their FP's sooner than first time visitors. Also, you could give preference to those with Annual Passes or on-site visitors. Plus, why limit FP's to just the afternoon. What about early risers? I could live with your plan, but I think Disney could make money by actually allowing two per day in different parks. This would cause more guests to buy park-hoppers.

But I do agree that this would really help Disney get cash sooner and help Disney better forecast. This could mean more discounts if they see that a particular time is slower. It could also mean discounts go away faster if a particular time books up quickly.

The alternative I would suggest is the one that already exists. I genuinely think the FP system is as close to perfect as it could possibly be already.

(Sorry about how my post came across - I'm usually very neutral in my online posting!)

No problem. Sometimes posts come across different than intended. I don't think anyone is trying to intentionally exclude any segment of guests. At least I hope not!

 

[jade1]

One per day from home - and once in the park, you can get FPs for any ride per the FP rules, as if you didn't have that Home FP.

Essentially, you can pre-plan your day around at least one major ride, in exchange for pre-buying your tickets.

It is simple because...if you forget you had your Home FP, you would come into the park and go get FPs anyway - you'd just be pleasantly surprised when your HomeFP ride gave you an earlier pass than was posted. "oh, yeah, I reserved that months ago..."

OK well that sounds good, I would do that for sure. Like I said, I would otherwise do 2 or 3 from home and be happily locked out in the park, be about the same amount of FP's for us-just better/easier planning.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Nice speech. You forgot, "Bow before me, lesser mortals". Maybe try to add something to the forum rather than a self-serving gabfest.

Wow, I can't even believe how rude and condescending your response to me is. I tried rereading what I said a few times to figure out what you could have interpretted as self-serving or a gabfest or where I might have even remotely suggested that I was better than anybody else but I just couldn't find it. I suspect you may need to look in a mirror and read your own response to yourself because you just came across as exactly how you seem to have tried to portray me.

ETA: In no way am I saying I'm opposed to change, just that there should be a reason for change. Jayandstacey has given some great ideas that are very well thought out including what benefit there would be to Disney with such changes. Very well thought out discussion and everybody on both sides is being respectful and sharing information back and forth in a polite and effective manner. LOVE IT!!!

 

[jayandstacey]

My only disagreements are when you can get your FP's and what time you will can use them. I still like the idea of some kind of loyalty program similar to the cruise lines. Repeat guests would be able to get their FP's sooner than first time visitors. Also, you could give preference to those with Annual Passes or on-site visitors. Plus, why limit FP's to just the afternoon. What about early risers? I could live with your plan, but I think Disney could make money by actually allowing two per day in different parks. This would cause more guests to buy park-hoppers.

I hadn't considered a loyalty program. I would like it, even if I don't benefit from it. The question is - does Disney need such a thing? From the business standpoint, the program is designed to encourage repeat business - which Disney seems to do pretty well with anyway.

As for the early birds - I did think of that. My thought is that any pre-planning types are also more likely to be early birds. The HomeFP is designed to stay 'out of their way' as they do their normal morning thing, including rushing to get a FP.

But....let's say they get a HomeFP for Soarin at 8pm, and they are happy with that. So in the AM they instead head to Test Track and are rewarded with an early FP. They use that one and then plan the later part of their day around Soarin and the HomeFP they *knew* they had. The effect is that now...those people never went to Soarin in the early part of the day, yet they got the benefit of riding Soarin, from the FP line, and at a time they could manage (arrange ADRs, make a plan) around.

It would be kind of like Park Hoppers - nice for some, but not everyone would choose it. And those who don't choose it shouldn't feel slighted. Commandos might instead not bother getting a HomeFP- knowing that they could probably just get a FP for Soarin, on their own and possibly for an earlier time. That's fine too. I know I'd be happy to plan around an 8pm Soarin FP, maybe making 6:30 ressies at the Land or Seas restaurants.

 

[jade1]

As for the early birds - I did think of that. My thought is that any pre-planning types are also more likely to be early birds. The HomeFP is designed to stay 'out of their way' as they do their normal morning thing, including rushing to get a FP.

But....let's say they get a HomeFP for Soarin at 8pm, and they are happy with that. So in the AM they instead head to Test Track and are rewarded with an early FP. They use that one and then plan the later part of their day around Soarin and the HomeFP they *knew* they had. The effect is that now...those people never went to Soarin in the early part of the day, yet they got the benefit of riding Soarin, from the FP line, and at a time they could manage (arrange ADRs, make a plan) around.

It would be kind of like Park Hoppers - nice for some, but not everyone would choose it. And those who don't choose it shouldn't feel slighted. Commandos might instead not bother getting a HomeFP- knowing that they could probably just get a FP for Soarin, on their own and possibly for an earlier time. That's fine too. I know I'd be happy to plan around an 8pm Soarin FP, maybe making 6:30 ressies at the Land or Seas restaurants.

I like your thinking-I will say for us though, its late risers for us (and still planners) as our kids are older and stay up late. Late arrivers would benefit because now we would have a shot at a TSM or Soarin FP. No chance otherwise, which we live with-just saying this would be nice.