Fast Passes - 2008 Forward

[byoung]

From the article:
"Walt Disney World visitors could someday order line-skipping, "FastPass" ride tickets from their cell phones or home computers, and could receive preferential treatment based on the price of their Disney accommodations, using a new technology the resort's parent company is developing."

I have a big problem with preferential treatment to deluxe visitors. The child whose parents can only afford a value resort should have the same ride access as the parents whose child can afford a deluxe. Can you imagine? "Sorry, Billy, we have to wait one hour in line because we're poor. Your pal Johnny gets to skip the line because he's rich." That makes me sick. If that happens, Walt will be rolling in his grave.

Glad it's just rumor for now.

I totally agree with you it should be the same for anyone staying onsite.

 

[dopeyfanatic]

Onsite guests get plenty of perks. ME, Disney transportation, free parking if you have a car, package delivery to your room, EMH. The thing about all of those also is that it's the SAME regardless of which hotel you stay in. I don't think the family that had to scrimp and save to stay at value should have any less extras than the one who is staying deluxe. Yes, some people scrimped and saved to stay deluxe, but most of the time those people could have easily stayed value or moderate with no problem. The extra saving was just to go up to deluxe. Does that make them better because they make more money? No. I think changing the FP system over to resort guests only would be a shot in the foot. They would have MANY unhappy guests. FP allowed shorter wait times making kids happier, and adults happier. Can you imagine going back to the days where most people were waiting an hour in line for a ride? That would be chaos! What I see being possible is that people who stay onsite can get more than one FP at a time. Perhaps two? Instead of having to wait two hours until you can get another one. Gives that extra little perk to onsite guests while still allowing the majority of guests there (which are offsite) the chance to get one.

 

[SnwflkCts]

This keeps getting batted around and I guess we will have to wait and see. What I don't understand is how come nobody pans Universal for doing exactly this? Onsite get unlimited fast pass and the rest ... expect to pay! No free ride there!!! And we know THEY don't have enough rooms for everyone to stay onsite!!!

I think fast pass does seem to work out well the way it operates now and no hurt feelings all around ... but I think there will be some changes because this rumor has come around before ... where there is smoke ... there are burning fast passes --

 

[Blueyed Girl]

I can see both sides of this. When I was a kid we were the family who couldn't afford it. Now that I'm an adult I'm very glad that I can say that we can afford these "perks". HOWEVER, I would feel so guilty using it because I'd look at those I pass by and remember that those people could easily be us or we could easily be them! It just doesn't seem very fair. I can't imagine how my parents felt having to tell us we couldn't afford some stuff, and I can't imagine how horrible I'd feel having to say it to my son.

 

[disneyag]

I would love to see Fastpasses for onsite guests! I don't think it should be tied to the price of your hotel, however. It seems like onsite "perks" are less than they used to be. ANYONE with a multiday pass can use Disney transportation in the parks (actually, I have never even seen a CM look at a park ticket before a guest got on a bus.) EMH isn't much of a perk anymore. Those parks get so crowded. In the early 1990's, the early onsite at the MK some mornings were VERY uncrowded. Now, that's just not true. Package delivery isn't even to your room anymore (unless you stay Club Level), it's just to your resort's gift shop. I would love to see an additional perk for Disney resort guests.

 

[purvislets]

Here is my opinion: they should keep the fastpass machines as they are so that anyone can get a fastpass (as long as they aren't gone that is!) and maybe give the Disney resort guests 1 fast pass for all fast pass attractions. It could be preprogrammed into their keycards that could be scanned at the ride. Once they use up the fast pass for a particular ride then they'd be even with everyone else. I wouldn't see how that would really hurt things, you know?

 

[Metro West]

It's a terrible idea and it's one of the things I hate about Universal.

And what pray tell are some of the other things you hate about Universal?

So...you actually hate another resort simply because they give their onsite guests a perk? Wow! What would you say to someone staying offsite at Disney because they couldn't afford to stay onsite and complaining about not being able to stay later because it's a EMH night? I wonder if that would be one of the things they would hate about Disney?

This keeps getting batted around and I guess we will have to wait and see. What I don't understand is how come nobody pans Universal for doing exactly this? Onsite get unlimited fast pass and the rest ... expect to pay! No free ride there!!! And we know THEY don't have enough rooms for everyone to stay onsite!!!

And your point is...........? This is exactly the reason Disney probably can not give their onsite guests FOTL access like Universal does. Disney has too many people to do that w/o making everyone unhappy and "unmagical".

 

[pepperw23]

From the article:
"Walt Disney World visitors could someday order line-skipping, "FastPass" ride tickets from their cell phones or home computers, and could receive preferential treatment based on the price of their Disney accommodations, using a new technology the resort's parent company is developing."

I have a big problem with preferential treatment to deluxe visitors. The child whose parents can only afford a value resort should have the same ride access as the parents whose child can afford a deluxe. Can you imagine? "Sorry, Billy, we have to wait one hour in line because we're poor. Your pal Johnny gets to skip the line because he's rich." That makes me sick. If that happens, Walt will be rolling in his grave.

Glad it's just rumor for now.

I agree.

 

[inkkognito]

Onsite guests at WDW have perks that I, as a local and AP holder, cannot take advantage of (like EMH). What's the difference if they change the FP system? At least at Universal, I can be on even footing with the resort guests (albeit after 4 p.m.) by buying a Premier Pass that gets me to the front of the lines too. Other than the offseason, WDW lost a lot of $$ from me this past year. Why go there in the peak season, only to find all the FPs for the good rides gone within two hours, when I can go FOTL at Universal?

 

[DVCLiz]

I'd be delighted to get extra FPs as a result of staying at a Disney resort, and I'd like it even better if I got more or better perks by staying at a more expensive resort.

 

[DisneyDadof3]

Onsite guests at WDW have perks that I, as a local and AP holder, cannot take advantage of (like EMH). What's the difference if they change the FP system? At least at Universal, I can be on even footing with the resort guests (albeit after 4 p.m.) by buying a Premier Pass that gets me to the front of the lines too. Other than the offseason, WDW lost a lot of $$ from me this past year. Why go there in the peak season, only to find all the FPs for the good rides gone within two hours, when I can go FOTL at Universal?

Interestingly enough, Universal has lost my money for the same reason - I'm just on the other side of the issue - everyone at WDW in treated evenly. I will NOT pay for the extra like at Universal. Everyone has the same opportunity each day as WDW. If WDW used the same system as Universal, I would not buy the annual passes and come 3-4 times per year - thus losing my money.

On a side note, I have been to WDW over Christmas, Easter, and in June and have never seen the fastpasses all gone to any of the rides until at least mid-afternoon.

 

[phyllis1966]

...I have a big problem with preferential treatment to deluxe visitors. The child whose parents can only afford a value resort should have the same ride access as the parents whose child can afford a deluxe. Can you imagine? "Sorry, Billy, we have to wait one hour in line because we're poor. Your pal Johnny gets to skip the line because he's rich." That makes me sick. If that happens, Walt will be rolling in his grave...

KimWDW, I agree wholeheartedly with you, and I am a deluxe visitor. There are already other perks available, and I wouldn't mind them adding additional perks, if they really feel they must, but I can't see penalizing anyone, especially children whose parents can't or won't pay extra to stay onsite/deluxe/whatever - it seems heartless. I know it's a business, but I'm sure they can find other ways to make money.

 

[CanadianGuy]

This falls under the Rumors and News board much better than TPA&S right now.

I'm moving this over there. Thanks,

Knox

 

[DisneyDadof3]

This falls under the Rumors and News board much better than TPA&S right now.

I'm moving this over there. Thanks,

Knox

agreed!

 

[keishashadow]

Disney applies for many patents each year (all those imagineers earning their keep ). This was 1st bandied about couple years ago, when it wasn't clear what was considered to be a deluxe resort (dvc'ers were getting nervous ).

We weren't able to visit Disney for many years; so glad we now can work it into our budget.

I don't begrudge everyone who went when I couldn't; so I can't see why anyone can honestly say it isn't fair for Disney to reward what they construe to be their best (whether best revenue producing or more of a reward inducing guests to stay onsite/deluxe i cannot say) customers. Think of it as a carrot to increase revenue. Yes, I am a stockholder; yes, Disney is a business albiet pixiedust filled.

Another poster mentioned the fact that if you are a non-onsite guest; there are many strategies to follow (off season, be @ gates when they open, etc.). We spent a portion off-site @ the Sheraton Vistana last year in the summer; surprised how well things went.

As for Universal, even though we do currently have APs, doubt we'd visit unless staying onsite...def. part of the whole experience there for us...FOTL is incomparable!

I do feel for the locals; they are the ones who need to navigate around all these tweaks to the system and the hoardes of tourists invading their turf.

 

[mill4023]

However I disagree when you say that EMH does not affect others who cannot use it!!! First off, those parks are always busier that day, the EMH guest are already in the parks, and can grab fast passes faster than someone can run to the location after being let in at rope drop.

Sure, but off-site visitors can choose to visit the non-EMH parks each day, and in that way, it can be an advantage, because the EMH draws extra visitors away from the non-EMH parks. In any case, it doesn't have the same directly negative effect on those who cannot use the perk. Universal's system of giving free Express line access to resort guests makes the lines much longer for those who do not have that perk. You could argue that Disney's current FP system also makes stand-by lines longer, but at least EVERYONE has the choice of whether to wait in the longer stand-by lines, or use FP to come back and ride later.

Special events like MNSSHP and MVMCP are different. These are special events that anyone can choose to pay to attend or not. When you buy MYW tickets and go visit a theme park, you are paying the same price for admission to the parks as those who stay on-site and you should receive the same park experience. It's my opinion that once you have paid your admission and entered the park, you should not be penalized by your choice of which hotel you are staying at.

 

[bubba's mom]

You could argue that Disney's current FP system also makes stand-by lines longer, but at least EVERYONE has the choice of whether to wait in the longer stand-by lines, or use FP to come back and ride later.

everyone also has the option of purchasing the EP at Universal too...if you opt not to purchase it, that's fine....but you ARE (at least) given the option (whether it's a purchase OR staying onsite)

It's my opinion that once you have paid your admission and entered the park, you should not be penalized by your choice of which hotel you are staying at.

See, that is the difference....I don't see it as a "penalty", I see it as "paying for the privledge"

 

[everylastbreath]

What I don't understand is how come nobody pans Universal for doing exactly this? Onsite get unlimited fast pass and the rest ... expect to pay! No free ride there!!! And we know THEY don't have enough rooms for everyone to stay onsite!!!

Exactly

 

[cindalu]

I disagree. There have been a few times that me and my family could not get fastpasses. I think this is a great idea. It could stop some people from getting more that one pass for the same ride.

JMO

 

[everylastbreath]

KimWDW, I agree wholeheartedly with you, and I am a deluxe visitor. There are already other perks available, and I wouldn't mind them adding additional perks, if they really feel they must, but I can't see penalizing anyone, especially children whose parents can't or won't pay extra to stay onsite/deluxe/whatever - it seems heartless. I know it's a business, but I'm sure they can find other ways to make money.

In a perfect world this is correct, but the fact is that we live in a world where the more you pay the more you get, so you could say the same thing to the child that rides in the mini van, when his friend has a cadillac, if you can afford the extra you should not be penalized because you can (or choose) to spend extra. Everyone is not equal, if that were true there would be no concierge (spelling?) rooms, people choose to pay for that perk and they should receive it. If I (or anyone) chooses to pay for the deluxe hotel they should recieve more. My personal opinion is it should be for all on-site guests (regardless of deluxe or value hotel), that should be a perk for staying on site.