Fastpass Enforcement coming?

[wmharley]

10 years ago there was only 7,000 users on the DIS(or whatever year I registered). Now there are how many???? I can't see the number now, but we all know that 10 years ago there were not that many people knowledgeable about using the FP past its stated time. Because of the internet, so many more people know. So it many not have been a problem when first implemented, but they must see the problem now since they are changing it.

I'm still amazed at how many selfish people are out there and don't understand how the current rules are screwing it up for others and are only thinking about how this change is going to ruin their vacation. People, get over it. You will adjust. Your vacation will be just as magical. (this is not in response to the PP I quoted)

The number of people registered includes people that sign up once and never come back, or asked a one and done question, if at all. I'd wager there is a large segment of that.

How are the current rules screwing it up? i'd rather say if people at a deluxe resort can pay for a FP and they limit the non-paying people's FPs, then that's worse than people going after their time window, considering Disney encouraged it.

The same could be said to those who can't figure out why Disney WOULD start enforcing times.

It's all moot. They're going to do what they're going to do and we will all just adjust how we tour to compensate. How ever did we all even survive a day in the park before FP came along?



There's almost as much whining on both sides here as there were on the Avatar threads...and lord knows how much I whined about that! We the visitor have NO power here. We are at the mercy of Disney's decisions and will just have to get over it.

Prices in 1999 were about half of what they were today, and crowds weren't as bad. Higher parking, higher hotels all contribute. As for being at the mercy, yes and no. I will look hard at my renewal come this summer, with me more than likely dropping them altogether in favor of a BG/SW combo which is half the price of my current pass.

If enough people drop, or reduce their visits, disney will notice. After all, if they are making changes to get folks into the Deluxe rooms, that's saying the demand isn't there.

Let me throw this out there: Right now, with a FP, you might walk right onto a ride... or you might end up waiting 5-10 minutes.

What if the new enforcement is because they are about to give out MORE fastpasses and want to better manage the expected wait FP users will have -- so that instead of either a walk-on or a short wait, there will always be a consistently short-ish wait.

Those extra FPs could be part of the early Xpass experiments that are probably coming, in theory.

Anyone?

I do hope this is true, and would hope that the window to get another FP is shortened for those with waits of 2hrs for the next opening. Maybe cap at 1hr until your next FP window opens.

Ok, apologies for not reading though 48 pages to check if this has already been mentioned, but I hear from a reliable source (yes, even more reliable than Jim Hill ) that this is being done in preparation for the next step where guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts can reserve fast passes online in advance.

Disney are having trouble filling their Deluxe Resorts without the use of discounts so this is seen as another perk to encourage guests to stay there rather than Value or Moderate Resorts.

It is hoped that the move to enforce fast pass return times will help create the capacity in the system to allow for these reserved fast passes as some fast passes will end up not being used or people not getting them as the return time does not suit them. This will help mitigate the impact on those guests not staying at Deluxe Resorts.

Cry me a river that the Deluxes aren't at capacity. Lower the darned prices and see demand increase.

Amazon makes a ton of money because they sell more product at less profit each, compared to a local store that sells less product at a higher profit each.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

I sense a new reality show coming: The Men and Women of FastPass Policy Enforcement

LOL!

I know a guy who would be the perfect leader of that group:

I love the Dog but nobody messes with Big Ang!

 

[nytimez]

Not just rumblings...Iger or one of his minions came right out and said it - something like two years ago. Hasn't really worked...

Unfortunately for me, this doesn't sound like "deluxe" will include DVC resorts (which are usually in the same category) any time soon, since DVC occupancy is driven by different metrics.

Eisner was always against discounting -- he felt it cheapened the product and that once you start offering big discounts, it's hard to reverse course. As his successor is now learning first-hand...

 

[eliza61]

There are also rumblings that Disney is trying to wean the public off of discounts in general, so we may see the end of pin codes and free dining in the not-to-distant future.

remember when free dining was offered during a very, very limited time frame? I think when it first started it was offered 4 weeks between mid sept and early oct.
Now it seems like free dining is every day except Christmas and thanksgiving.

 

[doconeill]

Eisner was always against discounting -- he felt it cheapened the product and that once you start offering big discounts, it's hard to reverse course. As his successor is now learning first-hand...

But under Eisner, were rooms "right priced"? That is, the rack rate being more in line with what people would pay vs. jacking the price up and then offering discounts? I don't recall when the trend started, but undiscounted deluxe rooms seem to be coming out about 40% higher than what I remember in 2006.

There is marketing logic in the higher-price-but-discounted method though. It makes the consumer think they are getting a better price. (It's like perpetual "sales" at retail stores, and now some chains are starting to puck the trend and just lowering the prices, and riding the "goodwill" wave...)

And then, they can always suck extra money out of guests that don't look for the discounts, or travel during peak...

 

[jpeka65844]

remember when free dining was offered during a very, very limited time frame? I think when it first started it was offered 4 weeks between mid sept and early oct.
Now it seems like free dining is every day except Christmas and thanksgiving.

Or NEVER for DVC members.

 

[MELSMICE]

Not just rumblings...Iger or one of his minions came right out and said it - something like two years ago. Hasn't really worked...

Unfortunately for me, this doesn't sound like "deluxe" will include DVC resorts (which are usually in the same category) any time soon, since DVC occupancy is driven by different metrics.

I was thinking the same thing........it doesn't sound like it will include DVC.

Originally Posted by MJ6987
Ok, apologies for not reading though 48 pages to check if this has already been mentioned, but I hear from a reliable source (yes, even more reliable than Jim Hill ) that this is being done in preparation for the next step where guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts can reserve fast passes online in advance.

Disney are having trouble filling their Deluxe Resorts without the use of discounts so this is seen as another perk to encourage guests to stay there rather than Value or Moderate Resorts.

It is hoped that the move to enforce fast pass return times will help create the capacity in the system to allow for these reserved fast passes as some fast passes will end up not being used or people not getting them as the return time does not suit them. This will help mitigate the impact on those guests not staying at Deluxe Resorts.

Another reason I love my DVC. Room rates have increased & we've still been able to go to WDW 3-4 times a year.

The FP change will definitely change the way we do the parks. We are very casual park tourists. We go in if/when we want.....get a FP for something & usually return within the time frame, however, if we don't, we use it after the allotted time or give it away on our way out. This is if we tour in the morning.

More times than not, we go into the parks after dinner & the most popular attractions are out of FP's anyway. We either decide to wait in a line (nothing over 30 minutes though ) or do the less popular attractions & get our favorite snacks!

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

Not just rumblings...Iger or one of his minions came right out and said it - something like two years ago. Hasn't really worked...

Unfortunately for me, this doesn't sound like "deluxe" will include DVC resorts (which are usually in the same category) any time soon, since DVC occupancy is driven by different metrics.

I understand that we're all speculating on what the future holds, but I'm curious why you think that the theoretical X-Pass won't be extended to DVC stays.

On the one hand, I see why it's obvious, in that it won't help drive DVC reservations because of the way those stays are booked (basically a captive audience that has no choice but to book), but on the other hand, while I understand that DVC is a different division of Disney Corp. with a separate internal P&L, I was under the impression that it is one of their most profitable divisions and so it seems like a perk that they may want to make available to help drive those sales. Otherwise, they could see a dimunition of point sales if such a large perceived benefit isn't available to DVC members.

Just curious...

 

[doconeill]

I understand that we're all speculating on what the future holds, but I'm curious why you think that the theoretical X-Pass won't be extended to DVC stays.

On the one hand, I see why it's obvious, in that it won't help drive DVC reservations because of the way those stays are booked (basically a captive audience that has no choice but to book), but on the other hand, while I understand that DVC is a different division of Disney Corp. with a separate internal P&L, I was under the impression that it is one of their most profitable divisions and so it seems like a perk that they may want to make available to help drive those sales. Otherwise, they could see a dimunition of point sales if such a large perceived benefit isn't available to DVC members.

Just curious...

If they are only rolling out to Deluxe resorts to drive occupancy of those rooms, as the post says (and not saying it is true), then it would be up to DVC to negotiate separately for the perk (as with all perks), and in that case it could come to having to pay for it - either as a pay-for perk or rolled in to maintenance fees.

And if that could even happen may depend on what kind of impact X-Pass actually has. If the number of Deluxe guests using it somehow causes a negative impact, you can be sure it won't roll out much farther.

But, as is everything right now with X-Pass, it is all speculation and subject to change.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

1. where the heck is Hookedonears? Did he explode with joy into a cloud of Mickey head confetti?

2. the internal document or email or whatever from "the Hub" posted a few pages back kind of makes it clear to me that we were wrong in thinking late FP use had zero effect. I think there was an effect, albeit small, but now that more and more people were using FPs the effect was growing. At least that's how I read it.

 

[doconeill]

1. where the heck is Hookedonears? Did he explode with joy into a cloud of Mickey head confetti?

One can only hope...

2. the internal document or email or whatever from "the Hub" posted a few pages back kind of makes it clear to me that we were wrong in thinking late FP use had zero effect. I think there was an effect, albeit small, but now that more and more people were using FPs the effect was growing. At least that's how I read it.

That email/posting contradicts the actual operational documents (which Buzz kindly confirmed is still there) as to what the policy really was.

The way I read the posting, it isn't that there was any current effect that needed addressing, but rather they will be getting more people to use FP (in a sense, through X-Pass), and THAT could cause late FP use to have a detrimental effect (due to how X-Passes will be allocated/used, or they are really trying to drive up FP to nearly 100% of load, which does change the mathematics).

 

[nytimez]

But under Eisner, were rooms "right priced"? That is, the rack rate being more in line with what people would pay vs. jacking the price up and then offering discounts? I don't recall when the trend started, but undiscounted deluxe rooms seem to be coming out about 40% higher than what I remember in 2006.

There is marketing logic in the higher-price-but-discounted method though. It makes the consumer think they are getting a better price. (It's like perpetual "sales" at retail stores, and now some chains are starting to puck the trend and just lowering the prices, and riding the "goodwill" wave...)

And then, they can always suck extra money out of guests that don't look for the discounts, or travel during peak...

Right, there wasn't that yo-yoing of the rates where it was impossible to tell whether you were getting a great deal or an average one, the way there is today. But now, even if the discounts aren't as good as people think thanks to jacked-up rack rates, there is still the expectation that there has to be a discount or it's not worth it.

It's sort of a marketing vicious cycle.

1. where the heck is Hookedonears? Did he explode with joy into a cloud of Mickey head confetti?

2. the internal document or email or whatever from "the Hub" posted a few pages back kind of makes it clear to me that we were wrong in thinking late FP use had zero effect. I think there was an effect, albeit small, but now that more and more people were using FPs the effect was growing. At least that's how I read it.

1. I suspect it's not Computer Day in the asylum yet.

2. I still doubt it. I'm convinced this is the first step towards the first phase of X-pass testing, and they want to make sure that there are as few variables as possible.

And I'm also convinced that the first phase of X-pass will be to people who pay for it and/or Deluxe hotel guests. And then heads will REALLY explode around here, but that doesn't mean it will stay that way. They need to test the system on large numbers of people, but a fraction of daily traffic. By offering it as a premium service for pay or deluxe hotel stays, they get that subgroup they can test on.

Then, based on those tests they can change it... expand it... kill it... whatever. Who knows, once they have it all figured out they may go back to allowing late arrivals again depending on what the system ultimately looks like. But right now, I think they want a firmer grip on who is going where and when while they figure out what they're dealing with once X-pass goes out "into the wild."

 

[Wadecool]

1. where the heck is Hookedonears? Did he explode with joy into a cloud of Mickey head confetti?

I have been wondering the same thing. Maybe he hasn't run out of champagne yet from celebrating...

 

[GatorLady]

1. I suspect it's not Computer Day in the asylum yet.

I don't know who this person is, but I love this line!

 

[angelmav]

Wow another Disney policy that brings out the Love it or Leave it crowd. How many does that make in the past year?

While I don't see any logic on how some can cheerlead this decision (your not gaining anything), I am more concerned about what X-pass will really mean. Once I started looking into it, it looks more and more like in the short future you will have to pay a premium for what used to come with the price of admission.

 

[mesaboy2]

1. where the heck is Hookedonears? Did he explode with joy into a cloud of Mickey head confetti?

I had to come back just once to convey my sincere appreciation and props for this line.

Pop quiz--who am I paraphrasing here: "Dude, you've got some hookedonears on you."

 

[doconeill]

Wow another Disney policy that brings out the Love it or Leave it crowd. How many does that make in the past year?

While I don't see any logic on how some can cheerlead this decision (your not gaining anything), I am more concerned about what X-pass will really mean. Once I started looking into it, it looks more and more like in the short future you will have to pay a premium for what used to come with the price of admission.

There are some that think this results in shorter lines. I think that X-Pass will actually cause longer lines and in the end no one will see any benefit real or virtual of the policy change.

I had to come back just once to convey my sincere appreciation and props for this line.

Pop quiz--who am I paraphrasing here: "Dude, you've got some hookedonears on you."

Edit: Nevermind...missed "paraphrasing"...

 

[Goofy4]

no one will see any benefit real or virtual of the policy change.

I'm already visualizing 0 people passing me in the late EMH fastpass lane at RnR, and it feels *very* good.

And that late afternoon queue at HM at PoTC... It just got shorter, because the late FP holders won't be there.

And I won't wake up in a cold sweat at night because I dragged my kids through a fastpass lane with expired passes. Their futures look brighter now, and I can lay off the sleeping pills and ulcer medications. Ok.. I'm done.

 

[Eric in TX]

I had to come back just once to convey my sincere appreciation and props for this line.

Pop quiz--who am I paraphrasing here: "Dude, you've got some hookedonears on you."

Hurley from "Lost".... "Dude, you've got some Arzt on you."

LOL!

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

I would not miss free dining.

PLEASE! PLEASE GET RID OF FREE DINING! Then we can maybe get more variety in the restaurant department.