Fast Pass to become "Pay for Play"?

[Sk8Leigh]

What theme park ticket and options you have is a choice that everyone has.

And what hotel you stay at is a choice that everyone has as well.

 

[tlbwriter]

Not true. I could stay at the GF and actually pay LESS for my park admission today than someone staying at Pop Century. Or I could end up paying MORE... it all depends on the ticket add-ons I choose to purchase or take a pass on. Park admission is no longer the "great equalizer" that it once was.

That's right... it depends on the ticket add-ons you choose. You can enhance your park experience by paying more for your park ticket. Which is as it should be IMHO.

As for why someone staying at the GF should get more than someone staying at Pop inside the parks... because the person at GF is paying more to come to Disney in the first place. Pay for play... it works everywhere else.

But the person staying at the GF is paying more for their resort. And they're getting more at their resort. Which is, again, as it should be. Now, if you tie extra park benefits to the resort, you are no longer using a straight pay for play. You're saying you have to pay more for one thing (resort) to get more out of an entirely different thing (park). As I said before, it's like tying other ticket add-ons, like park hopper or no expiration, to your resort, and saying that only people in Deluxe resorts can use them. Obviously Disney is a business and they have every right to try to make as much money as they can. But the system they have right now, where you pay more and get more at a resort, and/or pay more and get more at the parks, feels fair to everyone. The proposed system feels very unfair to a lot of people. Would it be a smart business decision for Disney to put it into use?

 

[Sk8Leigh]

No it isn't.

Many people simply cannot afford to spend $300 a night on a hotel room.

Ah, but you say that the ticket options are something that everyone has open to them...maybe someone can't afford the extra $$ to add Park Hopper or No Expiration. Should Disney stop offering that option as well, just because some people can't afford it?

 

[tlbwriter]

No it isn't.

Many people simply cannot afford to spend $300 a night on a hotel room.

It's still their choice. They could choose to go less frequently, and save more money for the trip. They could choose to borrow the money. They may not have a lot of good options, but they still have choices.

 

[Lewisc]

And this is simply where the main difference of opinion is. I think it would be wrong. I don't think it's fair to allow someone to cut in front of someone else in a line for a ride based on what hotel they are staying in on Disney property. What theme park ticket and options you have is a choice that everyone has. There is no part to a theme park ticket that offers one guest an advantage over another guest in a particular line. The new system would allow that to happen. Perhaps, if Disney from day one had had this policy in effect, maybe it would go over a bit more smoothly. It would still seem unfait to many, but would be easier to take. But to change policy now, won't go over well with many people.

No matter how many times you post this I don't see how letting a guest staying at the POP ($200/night for 2 rooms) cut in front of a guest staying offsite (condo under $50 /night) is any fairer than letting the GF guest cut in front of a POP guest.



All three families have the same ticket pricing options available to them and may very well be paying the exact same price for the ticket.

There are too many rooms onsite for Disney to give significant FP benefits to all guests without significantly impacting other guests.

The present EMH system treats everyone fairly. Resort guests get their benefits via extended park hours. During normal park hours all guests are treated the same.

 

[babyblue61]

BTW, BostonRob, we loved you and Amber on The Amazing Race!

 

[Tigger_Magic]

But the person staying at the GF is paying more for their resort. And they're getting more at their resort. Which is, again, as it should be. Now, if you tie extra park benefits to the resort, you are no longer using a straight pay for play. You're saying you have to pay more for one thing (resort) to get more out of an entirely different thing (park). As I said before, it's like tying other ticket add-ons, like park hopper or no expiration, to your resort, and saying that only people in Deluxe resorts can use them. Obviously Disney is a business and they have every right to try to make as much money as they can. But the system they have right now, where you pay more and get more at a resort, and/or pay more and get more at the parks, feels fair to everyone. The proposed system feels very unfair to a lot of people. Would it be a smart business decision for Disney to put it into use?

Disney is already doing this. I don't hear outrage over the Sunrise and Sunset Safari at AK (park) -- available only to those who book rooms at the AKL (resort) concierge level. These park perks are not available to everyone, certainly not to all resort guests.

As you said Disney is a business. It is unfortunate that people try to idealize Disney as some kindly grandfather who wants to be "fair" to all his "grandchildren." The reality is Disney is looking for ways to separate you from more of your money on every trip to make there. To that end, what seems fair to you or me may not matter much in the final analysis.

 

[tlbwriter]

Disney is already doing this. I don't hear outrage over the Sunrise and Sunset Safari at AK (park) -- available only to those who book rooms at the AKL (resort) concierge level. These park perks are not available to everyone, certainly not to all resort guests.

The difference, IMHO, is that Fast Pass is available to everyone and is widely used. The safaris, if I understand correctly, are of interest only to a limited number of people. Now, if there were more experiences that only people in certain resorts could have - such as making CRT available only to GF visitors - you'd see an uprising.

 

[babyblue61]

I don't know. The 2 differing points of view aren't going to change each other's minds about this. That's why we live in America.

Yes, but as a Republican; i.e., one who does not flip-flop, I at least understand that there is a clear right and wrong to everything, and here the clear right is that not only is this a brilliant idea, it is a fair practice. If people pay more, whether it be for a pass or for a room, why shouldn't they get more? The argument that others can't afford it doesn't work because that wouldn't be Disney's fault. Disney wouldn't be telling anyone they couldn't do something - Disney would just be putting options on the table, and I'm all for it!

 

[BostonRob]

BTW, BostonRob, we loved you and Amber on The Amazing Race!

We should have won too. We dominated the race from beginning to end - then the whole thing came down to whomever was lucky enough to find somebody who knew where one particular cigar shop was.

(no, I'm not 'that' Boston Rob, nor do I want to be, but I am a big fan)

 

[lllovell]

That's exactly how I feel. I think if Disney offered a new fastpass system for purchase to EVERYONE, it'd be a great idea. I'm sure many would be upset about purchasing something like that. But hey, that would be their choice. At least it's an option available to everyone. That, I see no problems with whatsoever.

Here is my problem with this scenario.

Mom, dad and kids come to Disney on a budget. Saving for a while to get there, not having lots of extra spending money when they do. So under your suggestion above, there is probably NO WAY they would be able to afford $25 per ticket per day to get Fast Pass priviledges. So...this family would find themselves in truly horrible lines (during peak seasons) and would think that WDW was the biggest waste of their money EVER and they would not return to spend more money.

Now, if that same family could come to WDW, sign onto a terminal in their room when they get there and figure out that they can ride Buzz Lightyear at 1, Pooh at 3:10 and see Philharmagic at 5 pm that night, they would be able to see and do so much more at WDW and would be able to know when was a good time to get up, what they could fit into a day (swimming, lunch, other rides, etc) and would feel like they got their money's worth at the end of a nice vacation.

I do understand that you feel like resort options and park options are two seperate issues. I see your points. I don't agree with them because to my family, its all one trip, one big adventure. Our hotel room is not just a place to come back and crash. It is our home away from home (yep - I am a DVCer - maybe we have different views on things) and we enjoy both time in the parks and time at the resorts.

I think that every day life is seperated by how much you pay and when you go, etc. It could even be said that park admission is NOT equal because of Annual Pass sales (which come in all shapes and sizes as well). I have an annual pass and get special discount rates, food discounts, ability to buy the DDE card for MORE restaurant discounts, etc. It is fair that just because you are a daily ticket buyer, you can't purchase those things? It is fair that you don't get the same discount on your hotel rooms? Things are not balanced. People spending more money get more.

 

[BostonRob]

The difference, IMHO, is that Fast Pass is available to everyone and is widely used. The safaris, if I understand correctly, are of interest only to a limited number of people. Now, if there were more experiences that only people in certain resorts could have - such as making CRT available only to GF visitors - you'd see an uprising.

But that is exactly the direction that Disney is going. The Sunrise Safari is a brilliant idea (and I disagree with your assertion that it appeals to a limited numeber of people). Other exculisivities will follow, as soon as Disney can conceive them.

Your CRT example is amusing because whether you realize it or not, it is heading in that direction too. If you want to go to CRT, you have to get on the phone every morning at 6:58 AM and pray. You may get lucky or you may not. OR, you can reserve a concierge room at a deluxe hotel and ask them to book it for you. See, you already do get more for your $500 per night room than just a better pool. More perks will follow.

There was an article posted here (I think it was from the Orlando Sentinnal) about how Disney doesn't plan on building any additional theme parks. Instead, they're focusing on getting more money out of what is already there. This faspass plan is a perfect example of that. Make the Deluxe rooms more attractive with extra perks and you'll make more money.

I submit that those who say "this is just an idea - merely a patent application - it will probably never happen" are just being naive. If Disney isn't booking all their deluxe rooms, this is exactly what will get those rooms booked an paid for.

 

[lllovell]

I agree with you Boston Rob, but I think they will NEVER do it at the expense of the Value and Moderate guests. Those hotels make up the majority and are the bread and butter of WDW on a daily basis (in my opinion). There are simply too many rooms there for them to leave those people out of the equasion. Same for Florida Resident AP holders. Those folks spend lots of cash at the parks during off peak times. Same with DVCers in my opinion. Big cash outlays for things like tickets, dining, shopping, etc.

 

[lllovell]

I don't know. Do you really think people will pay an additional $200 a night for extra fastpass perks?

I mean, that's an AWFUL lot of money to pay for some extra fastpass benefits.

It seems like a lot to you and I, but it might not be to someone on the fence between a moderate and a deluxe. This is where the magic of Disney marketing comes in. They rarely miss (when it concerns things they can control).

 

[BostonRob]

I don't know. Do you really think people will pay an additional $200 a night for extra fastpass perks?

I mean, that's an AWFUL lot of money to pay for some extra fastpass benefits.

For many people, money is no object - they certainly will pay for it. The rest of us have to decide what is "worth it". But clearly, you're not just paying for fastpasses - you're paying for location, room size, bed size, fancier pools, etc. Extra fastpasses would be one additional factor to consider when chosing a hotel.

Personally, I think $400 per night is obscene. But then again, so is $200 per night when you look at the rooms size and bed size of a Moderate. And when I look at all the benefits the extra $200 per night a Deluxes gets you right now, its tempting. Add fastpass perks into the mix and I might be sold. We're talking about an extra $1000-$1500 per vaction. In the big picture, that isn't very much. Smokers pay more than that per year to smoke. Drinkers pay more than that to drink. Most people pay that much in a few months just for their car. So it is all relative. But yeah, I would probably save a while longer for that, and I think a lot of other people would too.

 

[Lewisc]

It's really not. I'll give you that.

All I can say is that it's just an accepted practice. Disney has ALWAYS offered perks to Resort guests. It's just the way it's always been. All Disney Resort guests have always received the same theme park perks.

Right now all the extra perks that Resort guests get don't impact other guests during normal park operating hours. Things like package delivery and charging back to your room doesn't diminish the other guests trip. Resort guests get to skip the monorail/ferry boat and go right to MK but is that really a big deal? Even EMH doesn't impact the other guests. During normal park hours all guests are equal, the park is open extra hours for resort guests.

Disney used to open up restaurant PS earlier for resort guests. They stopped that. Suppose Disney decided to open up reservations for CRT and Chef Mickey's 95 days in advance for deluxe guests, 94 days in advance for moderate guests and 93 days in advance for value guests? How about they linked your PS with your resort reservation so if you cancel your resort reservation your PS will get automatically canceled at the same time?

Once Disney adds perks that have a direct impact on other guests they're changing the policy. At that point I wouldn't think they'd even be able to treat all resort guests the same.

Disney has done a lot to separate more affluent guests from their wallets. Expensive restaurants. Concierge service. Sunrise and Sunset Safaris. Surfing at TL. Backstage tours. Fireworks cruises. Those all get Disney extra revenue with an impact on other guests

Disney is getting close to having 30,000 rooms on site. Any plan that gives all resort guests anything close to Universals FOTL policy will make it all but impossible for a non-resort guest to ride any of the mountains at MK. You'd have all available, non-resort, FP gone within an hour. Standby lines would be hours long. They might even have to close the standby lines.

Disney is offering ME and MYW Dining. Those programs give us an incentive to stay on-site but doesn't detract from other guests.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I don't know. Do you really think people will pay an additional $200 a night for extra fastpass perks?

I mean, that's an AWFUL lot of money to pay for some extra fastpass benefits.

People pay that now without getting extra FP benefits. They pay for the location, the amenities, the larger rooms, the concierge service. The addition of some extra FP perks would just be icing on the cake.

 

[PrincessMelissa]

I assume the little smiley thing means her post is a joke. I'm not good at interpreting them.

I guess I shouldn't have used a smiley thing. It wasn't a joke. Okay, Okay, I guess you guys who would not have felt guilty for using my yellow fastpass thing have a point. I just felt like why me? Were they just picking people at random? Has no one else ever seen these? I understand fully not feeling guilty one bit (hey, I paid to be in the parks like everyone else) but at the time, I guess I was so shocked that I hesitated to use it when I saw the 60+ minute waits and tired people standing in them. ( Then again, they could have used regular fastpass, right?)
Great, now I'm conflicted!

 

[Sherrilatte]

From a PR standpoint, it's kinda hard to go backwards and take away (or charge for) what once was free. .

Why would it be hard? Businesses do it all the time.

 

[lllovell]

I guess I shouldn't have used a smiley thing. It wasn't a joke. Okay, Okay, I guess you guys who would not have felt guilty for using my yellow fastpass thing have a point. I just felt like why me? Were they just picking people at random? Has no one else ever seen these? I understand fully not feeling guilty one bit (hey, I paid to be in the parks like everyone else) but at the time, I guess I was so shocked that I hesitated to use it when I saw the 60+ minute waits and tired people standing in them. ( Then again, they could have used regular fastpass, right?)
Great, now I'm conflicted!

It has ALWAYS amazed me how few people KNOW about Fast PAss to begin with. I cannot tell you how many times I have tried to explain it or given away tickets when we changed our plans only to get REALLY blank stares back - or people that are pretty sure we are trying to trick them.