Fastpass disappearing and your DVC membership.

[Noah_t]

https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs...nally-overhaul-fastpass-and-extra-magic-hours
After reading this article I have to confess I am really worried about what will happen. Having the 60 day priority windows on fastpass was a really good privelege granted to onsite guests. If that were to go away I don't think I would even want to keep my DVC property. I would expect them to replace it with a new benefit though but I am interested to hear what everyone thinks on the matter and if anyone wants to speculate on what might replace fastpass.

 

[Sandisw]

Park policies have nothing to do with DVC. For me, I didn’t buy because of all that.

I was a yearly cash guest before FP and FP+ was even a thing.

So, I’ll go with the flow with the parks and still enjoy it all with DVC.

 

[bluecruiser]

I'd be happy if they went back to day-of FastPasses for everyone. I hate having to plan every park day 2 months out. Ditto for the 180-day dining reservation system.

 

[bigredbeta]

I'd imagine that in terms of making regular guests a priority, that perks would still be given out to DVC members in some way. I know the cynics like to point out how DVC membership has been stripped over the years, but at the end of the day, they still need to give some sort of incentive for staying on property. I believe that need will keep resort guests a priority.

One of the podcasts I follow pointed out that the current use of ADRs and FastPass + is how Disney has engineered the vacation habits of its guests to fit what Disney wants - full parks, full restaurants, lines that are long but considered manageable, and all of it predictable months in advance. Any new system will have to continue that predictability. I wonder if the Genie app mentioned will have recognizable patterns much like how you can spot which drivers are using Waze on their commute because they all end up on the same back roads making the same turns. While a real-time planning app might help spread crowds throughout the park for rides, it seems harder to get rid of the ADR system because it's for the entire property...

 

[Noah_t]

Park policies have nothing to do with DVC. For me, I didn’t buy because of all that.

While I know technically you are correct the Own a piece of the magic angle definitely sells the idea you are buying into the parks. If DVC truly had nothing to do with the parks they would just be another Orlando timeshare and wouldn't command anything near the prices they do.

 

[DisneyGal24]

We used to be all about the parks but things have changed for us over the years. We’ve enjoyed a lot of park time (had APs for awhile) but we’ve come to love the DVC resorts just as much. In fact, even before corona we were planning a resort only stay. We’re excited just to relax and, gasp, step out of the Disney bubble a bit to see what else is out there. Wouldn’t trade our DVC for anything. We hope to be back in the parks in 2021 but if that doesn’t work out I think will try HHI.

 

[Sandisw]

While I know technically you are correct the Own a piece of the magic angle definitely sells the idea you are buying into the parks. If DVC truly had nothing to do with the parks they would just be another Orlando timeshare and wouldn't command anything near the prices they do.

I was referring to the policies like FP and stuff. Not the actual park being there.

My point was I li WDW before you did anything more than walk in and hit a ride by waiting standby, walking up to a place to eat and Waiting with no priority

I thought you were asking those ideas played a role in my membership.

 

[Noah_t]

After only three stays, two at WDW and one in Aulani I am definitely open to the idea it's not just the parks that make DVC so attractive. Our first stay at Aulani was really truly the best hotel stay of our lives. The way Cast Members are trained to really care about the guests experience really does make a difference in the experience. I think I would enjoy say a SSR stay and do a lot of the other Orlando attractions one day.

That being said I really hope they there is something like the 60 day window for DVC guests in the future.

 

[Dizzydizney]

It’s an article filled with speculation and opinion. Sure technology is changing so Disney will change things up. I like planning ahead and like the fast pass system the way it is. They need to have an incentive like the 60 window to entice people to stay on property. Lots of cheaper lodging all around the outside of the bubble. But they really need to change out their decrepit IT systems....DVC website was always a challenge....haven’t even bothered trying lately. Remember a couple of months ago some journalist claimed Disney would be shut down until 2021.

 

[Noah_t]

I like planning ahead and like the fast pass system the way it is. They need to have an incentive like the 60 window to entice people to stay on property. Lots of cheaper lodging all around the outside of the bubble. But they really need to change out their decrepit IT systems....

Yes couldn't agree more with you on both points. Bringing back the 60 day advantage with a rebuilt modern IT system would be great.

 

[taaren]

https://www.piratesandprincesses.ne...s-for-the-many-adventures-of-winnie-the-pooh/
We might see something like this temporarily until herd immunity is reached.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I really liked the FP+ system that was in place. I hope to enjoy whatever new system that comes about as much.

 

[AdamsMum]

I'd be happy if they went back to day-of FastPasses for everyone. I hate having to plan every park day 2 months out. Ditto for the 180-day dining reservation system.

Me to. I almost lose my mind trying to book fast passes after dining reservations are booked 180 days in advance. For me the day of fastpasses worked fine. The only concern I have is that they might go to a Universal Express type of system where you pay for the day and can fastpass anything you want all day long. I was at universal shortly after they started it, I wasn't aware of the express option so we didn't have it. It really was not an enjoyable day, unending waits for every attraction while hundreds of people just ran past us to the front of the line. I like Disney's old fastpass system, I felt like it was fair to all guests, and for many people who are unable to pay an extra $50 per person per day aren't frozen out of the magic. JMHO. I know there are lots of people who love having their fastpasses booked 60 days out. Each to his own I guess

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I’ll take it one step further.... I’d go “day of” dining reservations.

 

[The Goof]

Me to. I almost lose my mind trying to book fast passes after dining reservations are booked 180 days in advance. For me the day of fastpasses worked fine. The only concern I have is that they might go to a Universal Express type of system where you pay for the day and can fastpass anything you want all day long. I was at universal shortly after they started it, I wasn't aware of the express option so we didn't have it. It really was not an enjoyable day, unending waits for every attraction while hundreds of people just ran past us to the front of the line. I like Disney's old fastpass system, I felt like it was fair to all guests, and for many people who are unable to pay an extra $50 per person per day aren't frozen out of the magic. JMHO. I know there are lots of people who love having their fastpasses booked 60 days out. Each to his own I guess

I can see both sides. While I do like knowing I will be normally be able to reserve the restaurants I want, it is pretty nerve racking to plan out parks/restaurants six months in advance. And then try to plan fast passes four months later. Again, I like that I will likely get to experience whatever the new attraction is since I've reserved, but I agree that the old system of having to dash across the park at opening to get fast pass tickets was a little more fair to guests using the first come first serve way of thinking.

 

[The Goof]

I can see both sides. While I do like knowing I will be normally be able to reserve the restaurants I want, it is pretty nerve racking to plan out parks/restaurants six months in advance. And then try to plan fast passes four months later. Again, I like that I will likely get to experience whatever the new attraction is since I've reserved, but I agree that the old system of having to dash across the park at opening to get fast pass tickets was a little more fair to guests using the first come first serve way of thinking.

Although I guess the first come first serve could also be applied to the online reservation thing too. I guess I just liked the extra exercise...

 

[The Goof]

I can see both sides. While I do like knowing I will be normally be able to reserve the restaurants I want, it is pretty nerve racking to plan out parks/restaurants six months in advance. And then try to plan fast passes four months later. Again, I like that I will likely get to experience whatever the new attraction is since I've reserved, but I agree that the old system of having to dash across the park at opening to get fast pass tickets was a little more fair to guests using the first come first serve way of thinking.

Although I guess the first come first serve could also be applied to the online reservation thing too. I guess I just liked the extra exercise...

 

[AdamsMum]

Although I guess the first come first serve could also be applied to the online reservation thing too. I guess I just liked the extra exercise...

When I visited Disneyland in 2018 I was still in my WDW mindset. I was kind of freaked out that I couldn't reserve dining 180 days out, I believe it was 30 days there. But once I got there, and found I had flexibility to get my fastpasses along the way, I found it to be a much more relaxing vacation.

These days at WDW I only book 1 or 2 dining reservations, and frequently blow off fastpasses. I also like to know I'm going to be able to experience the newer or my favourite attractions, but so many attractions are on fastpass+ now, it's unreasonable. Tier 1/Tier 2 ...In order to get another fastpass for something you want, you have to book them for attractions that have no interest for you. Journey into Imagination with Figment - cute but a prime example of an attraction that doesn't need fastpasses. I have to think it's just Disney's way of controlling where you are every day. Thanks for the rant.

 

[The Goof]

When I visited Disneyland in 2018 I was still in my WDW mindset.

We visited DL California once and it was the worst Disney experience I've ever had. It was 2012, Carsland was brand new, and we had a super early breakfast reservation at Ariel's Grotto, with the explicit reasoning that I could run to Carsland and get the fast passes for all of us for the Cars version of Test Track. The gate opened at I think 8am or 9am, and our reservation was for 30 or 45 minutes before the gate would open. At WDW, they allow early reservations into the park for their reservation, and for us this has historically been a great time to get photos without any or to many other people in the pictures. We were also able to get a fast pass for whatever the "hot" attraction was at that park. So that was the plan for this Cars ride. Only at DL, they put all dining reservations in a special line but didn't let us in. All said and done, we didn't get into the park until 15 minutes after the park opened, were an hour late to our dining reservation (put us down as "no show" and we ended up having to wait another 45 minutes for a table!), and all the Cars fast passes were gone. Our "special" dining reservation line was the last one to open!

That happened on the first day, and I just couldn't get past it and wound up nitpicking everything and came home deciding I will never go back.

Thanks for the rant.

And now I thank you for mine lol

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I'm not sure I see the direct connection between potential FP+ changes and DVC. These perks are not special for DVC. They've been available for all WDW resort guests - and even a few of the 'neighbor' hotels.

But just like so many things with WDW, people have various opinions about what works for them and what is fair. As Disney has done for decades, I expect they'll continue to change and adjust. But if there appears to be any kind of a trend in recent years, it's that WDW appears to be getting more into the pay-for-perks area - so if anything, I could see another perk or 2 heading towards those staying DVC or staying in the deluxe resorts. But that's only yet another guess and opinion on my part.