Fast Pass to become "Pay for Play"?

[Mister Disney]

Lets keep debating! I am not trying to be nasty nor do I think you are foolish - I just disagree.

Hey - beats working

I LOVE a good debate....especially when people are NOT slinging personal attacks!

GROUP HUGS FOR ALL GOOD DEBATERS!!!!

 

[missypie]

You pay more, you get more. You pay for a deluxe, you get a fridge in the room; you pay for a value, you don't. I stay at a LaQuinta and I get plastic cups and thin, small towels. I stay at a Four Seasons and I get glass glasses and thicker towels. I pay for standard view at the YC and see the parking lot. I pay for water view and I see the lake.

So, how is it so different if the number of Fast Passes you get is included in the info about the room rate? I pay $335 for YC and I get 10 FP; I pay $125 for Pop and get 5 FP. The number of FP would just go into the decision making, just like whether there's a slide or a spa or a water view. I don't hear about people getting up in arms because there's a concierge lounge that they can't get the benefit of unless they pay for concierge.

The PR trouble comes with taking things away, however.

What about people who rent multiple rooms at a value or moderate, instead of fitting everyone into one room at a deluxe? They may be actually paying more money. Do they get fewer FP, or more?

 

[BostonRob]

I wasn't referring to you - Sorry.

I know it was a bad analogy. It's my belief though, that when things like this start, they tend to get out of control rapidly.

If Disney starts this, what's next? That's my (and I think alot of others as well) point.

I think the laws of supply and demand will keep Disney a family friendly place. They have what, like 20,000 hotel rooms? There's no way Disney could change WDW so radically that it would cater to the wealthy and leave the littly guy stuck at the back of the line, because then they'd never fill those 20,000 rooms.

 

[Frances999]

I don't see why people can disagree with this. Why shouldn't guests spending more hard earned $$$ to stay onsite get more perks than guests staying offsite and therefore parting with less money to Disney? It makes sense and I really hope it goes ahead.

 

[lllovell]

I think no one likes change (pretty much everyone will agree with that). I also agree that there are slippery slopes in life.

What I think we are seeing here is a massive attempt to get people to stay on-site and spend more and more money. From a business standpoint, you can't blame them. I am sure they have beat to death the negative impact this might have and I see some really easy clear cut ways of wiping it out with one blow. Here goes....say the average number of fast passes you can get on a really busy day is 3 (and to me that is pushing it when really busy since you can only have 1 at a stinking time now - even though changes to this have also been kicked around) so you start the people at the lowest rung off with 3 per registered guest per day. With each rung up the ladder, you add 1 or 2 more. Heck, there are only so many fast pass attractions available anyway, so how many are actually physically possible in a day? This will give everyone an equal chance at getting what they desire (those 1-2 special rides you dont want to miss), and the perk isnt really out of hand.

I dont see how there can be THAT much difference between the top rung and the bottom rung anyway, but more power to the person that wants to try to play 8 Fast Pass stops in a day. Wont be me or my family. Too much running from place to place worried about being on time here or there. *blah*

 

[Frances999]

How is it so different if the number of Fast Passes you get is included in the info about the room rate? I pay $335 for YC and I get 10 FP; I pay $125 for Pop and get 5 FP. The number of FP would just go into the decision making, just like whether there's a slide or a spa or a water view. I don't hear about people getting up in arms because there's a concierge lounge that they can't get the benefit of unless they pay for concierge.

Excellently put! I totall agree.

 

[ophie]

I also recognize that this may not be implemented. I just think that attaching to resorts is a horrible idea, PR nightmare, and could look like class discrimination. If they want to give people the option to buy additional FPs, simply make it a ticket option and leave the resorts out of it.

 

[C.Ann]

This is interesting.. Mainly because I'm not a die-hard on-site fan nor am I much of a ride person..

However, just this past April I broke my own "rule" and stayed on-site for the very first time - at Pop Century.. I loved the whimiscal nature of the resort (although I'll admit that a few of the things seemed a little gawdy to me) and I really loved the Disney transportation.. My entire reasoning for staying on-site though was because I was traveling alone, didn't want to rent a car, and logical or not, felt as a woman alone, I would be somewhat safer there.. I had a very enjoyable time and do not regret my choice..

Now - if I were to go back again with my adult DD, her DH and my granddaughter - we would be looking at an entirely different situation.. First of all, the Disney transportation that I so loved would be irrelevant because my son-in-law would insist on renting a car and using it to go back and forth to the parks.. Secondly, the "ride" situation would change because my son-in-law is somewhat of a "thrill seeker" and not too big on waiting in long lines.. So.......if this FP situation were to come to fruition - and it meant that the rider in our group had to wait in line as long as an off-site guest because we were "only" staying in a value resort - I can tell you right now, we would go back to staying off-site in a heart beat.. Much, much larger accomodations, the same cost (or less) as the value resort and no difference in wait times.. If there is going to be any backlash to Disney if they institute this policy, I believe that others will make the same choice when if push comes to shove..

As for me? If I travel alone, it really doesn't matter.. Just keep up the great bus service!!

 

[missypie]

I am assuming that everyone has priced hotels in the "real world" and knows that except maybe for Manhattan, the WDW hotels cost more than just about any other comparable hotel. In Paris, we rented a 2 bedroom flat with kitchen and washer/dryer for $750 for a full week. A few weeks ago I sent around a link to a beautiful house in Provence, with a private pool, that can be rented in high season for $300 per night (under $200 in "value" season).

My point is that for the price they charge of and and ALL of the WDW resorts, there should be lots of perks attached. A couple of weeks ago I paid about $60 for our family to stay at a LaQuinta. Breakfast was included. Mind you it was not a hot, cooked to order breakfast, but there was juice, coffee, cereal, milk, muffins, yogurt and toaster waffles. But yet, not even a $335 "standard" room at YC includes a little breakfast.

 

[kidshop]

I have to agree about leaving the resorts out of it. All the perks mentioned...water views, better towels, concierge, etc, are HOTEL perks, which is a totally separate topic from the parks. Making it a ticket option is logical, but tying FP to the level of resort just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[lllovell]

come on!! This is Disney we are talking about here! They are WAY too smart to make you feel like you are second class because you are staying at one of their WONDERFUL hotels. I love POP! Not so crazy about All Stars, but they are plenty nice enough too! I am very very very sure that if this plan is ever put into place, people at the value resorts will get a nice perk too! It will be better than the typical FP experience now or why bother? There are so many hotel rooms in the value level that they will NEVER offend those guests.

A lot of this debate is like MYW. It didnt seem so great to me at first, but the more I learned about it, the better it sounded. I am an AP holder, but there might come a time when that doesn't work for me. I also am very glad to see length of stay tickets that don't require you to pay extra for things you dont need for those that really DONT need it. Disney makes money off all income levels. They won't blacken the eye of one and expect to make it up on the others.

 

[Frances999]

Disney allows Pop Century guests to swim at Poly's pool. I think that's very nice of them, but if they didn't allow it, I'd understand and think it's fair.

No, Disney do not allow this at all.

 

[Mister Disney]

As for me? If I travel alone, it really doesn't matter.. Just keep up the great bus service!!

This is SO interesting....bus service.....monorail service...boat service....those are all perks based on what level resort you stay in also.


People don't feel like second class citizens because of the transportation levels they have available at their disposal, why would they feel differently for other levels of perks?

I for one hate the bus system, which makes the monorail and boat launches a HUGE perk for me. When I can't get somewhere via monorail or boats, I drive a car.

 

[Mister Disney]

I agree.

Specific Resort ammenities should be reserved for that Resorts guests. No 2 ways about that. Disney allows Pop Century guests to swim at Poly's pool. I think that's very nice of them, but if they didn't allow it, I'd understand and think it's fair. People at Poly are paying more to enjoy that resort's pool. However, people at Poly are NOT paying more to enjoy Space Mountain.

Resort pools are reserved for those resort guests. Disney does not allow guests from one resort to use the pool at another resort.

 

[bhoffman]

Even if they assign passes in terms of 2,3, and 4 depending on what resort you stay at even moderates are ahead of where you are now, getting only one at a time....glass is half FULL!!!

 

[ophie]

People don't feel like second class citizens because of the transportation levels they have available at their disposal, why would they feel differently for other levels of perks?

Uh... yeah they do. I know people who do... but this is an issue of location, not resort level. All Deluxes do not have monorails or boats. Both Port Orleans resorts have boat service to DTD but they're moderates. Even FW users can boat to MK and it's a campground, so that's not really a resort level issue as much as it it is location.

 

[lllovell]

That is a DVC only perk (unless you are staying at "sister" resorts like Port Orleans is my understanding) and we can't always hop if its busy.

 

[Mister Disney]

Uh... yeah they do. I know people who do... but this is an issue of location, not resort level. All Deluxes do not have monorails or boats. Both Port Orleans resorts have boat service to DTD but they're moderates. Even FW users can boat to MK and it's a campground, so that's not really a resort level issue as much as it it is location.

That is true....but the level of transportation is the issue.

I could be standing for a correction here, but....

Does Wilderness Lodge have "more" busses at their disposal than pop, etc? Faster services with buses etc?

I am open for a spanking for being incorrect in my thought....

 

[lllovell]

That is true....but the level of transportation is the issue.

I could be standing for a correction here, but....

Does Wilderness Lodge have "more" busses at their disposal than pop, etc? Faster services with buses etc?

I am open for a spanking for being incorrect in my thought....

The difference I have noticed is that the All Star buses pick up/drop off at all 3 which makes their demand much higher (so fuller buses). I have not noticed a difference in the actual number of buses though.

I also have never stayed at many of the hotels, but the two DVC hotels I have stayed at have many bus stops throughout the property, unlike Pop and All Star which only have one and it can be one heck of a walk. I also greatly enjoyed riding around the lake at CS recently as did my children and riding the boat from FW to MK (when we got on the wrong bus at DTD lol).

 

[ophie]

I'm really not sure. I think # of buses is determined by # of guests at the different hotels. But, like I said, I can't be sure.

In any case... this is a different issue.

FPs are available to everyone who buys a park ticket. If people want to upgrade their tickets to include more FPs, great! You get what you pay for. But attaching it to resort categories as a perk is a bad bad idea.