Fastpass Enforcement coming?

[job09]

This just seals the deal for us, no parks this year, just not worth it. Collecting fast passes is the only way to manage the throngs of crowds during spring break. It is getting less and less worth it to go to WDW might just be time to sell my DVC.

 

[Reddog1134]

If disney wants to offer fp for their on site guest only, than offsite guest will have to decide whether the fp is worth the cost of moving onsite.

I'm not arguing that. My point was more that the things you mentioned are segregated. If I have a complimentary breakfast on the concierge level, there aren't any off site guests standing there watching me eat it. I'm not "throwing it in anyone's face". If I have someone making reservations for me, no one else is going to know.

If I'm walking in the "resort guest only" line to an attraction, everyone in the standby line will see me. That's what creates the animosity and the "must be nice to have money" glares.

 

[KellifromCanada]

Meh, I can't say I love it, but I will adjust. It wasn't that often that we collected fast passes in the morning and used them in the evening but we have done it.
We'll just tour differently now. No big deal.
However, I feel just awful for the cast members who are going to have to enforce this policy on guests unaware of the change. I think they are going to deal with a lot of petulant meltdowns and verbal abuse for this policy change.

Exactly! And that's why I find it odd that the change would be implemented during a VERY busy time at the park. Even if each FP location is "manned" by a manager who is advising guests of the change, just imagine...some will not understand it, and a discussion with need to take place. A few will be "meh" and some will want to vent and argue. This all sounds like unhappiness, during Spring Break. Just doesn't seem smart. If we are happy with our more relaxed touring plans, we are taking time to $pend money eating at restaurants and $hopping for $ouvenir t-shirts etc.

Kelli

 

[Love Tink]

One of the best things is that everyone can get them You can just buy them. So no class system. Everyone has the same chance of using them.

This is a joke, right? No one could possibly be this dumb.

 

[Liandro]

I'm not arguing that. My point was more that the things you mentioned are segregated. If I have a complimentary breakfast on the concierge level, there aren't any off site guests standing there watching me eat it. I'm not "throwing it in anyone's face". If I have someone making reservations for me, no one else is going to know.

If I'm walking in the "resort guest only" line to an attraction, everyone in the standby line will see me. That's what creates the animosity and the "must be nice to have money" glares.

You will never see the difference between the FP. I have no idea why you even think of a special entrance for resort guests.
And if they really would see you going into this line,so what?

 

[Liandro]

This is a joke, right? No one could possibly be this dumb.

Dumb? My friend was/is a CM in Paris and they sold these passes like hot dogs.
The price was 75 Euro per person,per day.

 

[KellyNY]

One of the best things is that everyone can get them You can just buy them. So no class system. Everyone has the same chance of using them.

Yes, that is the best part. I do not like all the this resort category can get this and this category can only get that, not because of classes but because I do not want to choose resort based on park access. Just tell me how much and I will decide where to stay and what to buy. I believe that resort category is exactly what it is resort category. It is not suppose to be connected with parks experience. If I like CBR I do not want to stay at Poly to get better access to park. I do not mind paying for pass as well but I want it to be like in Paris or Universal, no advance planing. Can't wait to hear details on XPass.

 

[Reddog1134]

You will never see the difference between the FP. I have no idea why you even think of a special entrance for resort guests.
And if they really would see you going into this line,so what?

I was referring to FP only being available to resort guests hence the "resort guest only line", are you referring to something else?

Even if it's a pay for play type deal, it still separates everyone into the "haves" and the "have nots".

It's not that some guests pay more to get more that creates the class system. It's when the other guests that have not paid (or cannot afford to pay) for those services/perks see other using them that creates the class system.

ETA: Just look at EMH. I've read many stories about irate off site guests that couldn't understand why others were allowed on the ride after "closing time".

 

[KellyNY]

This is a joke, right? No one could possibly be this dumb.

What do you mean?

 

[Jennygt]

i am disapointed about this because it was quite a help for my family when touring the parks. Everything is so timmed for us so this was one thing I could relax about. We only go to wdw about every 2-3 years so FP is important to us. At this point I do belive that this will happen, I hope that they just go ahead and roll out the new system so I can just get a handle on it prior to our May trip. I will be even more bummed out if they just take away the late return and don't offer anything else that might be a perk. What's gonna be is gonna be, just spill the beans Disney so I can make some new touring plans!

 

[DisneyFive]

O.K. Let me say up front that I can’t stand the idea of this new FP policy. I would like to point out some examples of how a change like this will REALLY impact our touring style. During our two trips to WDW in 2010 and 2011, we’ve used the FP system as allowed and loved it.

We only really pay attention to the beginning time of the FP window because we know we can use them anytime after that for the remainder of the day. This is all completely accepted and by the rules, as mentioned many times already. Thanks for bearing with me if you take the time to read thru the rest of this. Each of these examples are how the current FP policy has helped us enjoy or stay, and the new policy may change things for the worse. It just makes for more potential conflicts and scheduling issues. Not something I want to deal with while trying to relax on vacation.

#1 – Rope drop. TSMM and Soarin’ rope drop mad rush to the FP area. So we rush over to get FP’s. This is always a very long line in the morning. Who knows what time the FP window will be at by the time you get to one of the machines. It changes significantly just in your time to walk over to the ride and the line to get to the machine. So let’s say you finally get to the machine after waiting in line, and the window is 11:30 to 12:30. (very plausible) You have an ADR for 11:30, or the time window is during a planned show time we wanted to see? What do you do? You obviously can’t get FP’s because the time window doesn’t work. So now you’ve gotten up early and made a mad rush to get FP’s only to find out it won’t work. Do you get out of line and go all the way to the back of the line, and wait until you get back to the machine hoping for a time that will work? This can take a long time with the FP machine lines in the morning. Do you just sit and wait until the time window works for your schedule? This is a waste of time and not enjoyable! The way things are currently, I would have gathered FP’s and just used them sometime after our ADR or show and walked away a happy guy.

#2 – Unknown FP time windows. I’m at Space Mountain late morning but want to get FP’s for BTMM to use later in the afternoon or evening. So I make the long trek over there only to find out that the time window is at 1:00-2:00. Standby is 45 minutes (very plausible). We planned to take a nap back at the resort after lunch. Well, we don’t want to wait in line for 45+ minutes for the ride (that’s why we went there in the first place, to get FP’s). So now what? Do we stand around waiting for the FP time window to get to a point that is after our planned nap? That could take a long time and is a waste of time. So we can’t get FP’s and who knows what the stand-by time will be after we get back later in the day. The way things are now, I would get FP’s walk away a happy guy and use them later in the day. The only park I can think that that posts the FP windows is Epcot. I know they have a large sign in front of The Land and I think on by Mission Space that shows current wait times and FP windows. That helps with this example, but is limited to Epcot and you have to be near a sign that shows the info. I choose not to use a Smartphone, so I don’t have one of the many Apps that show current SB wait times, and FP windows, so that isn’t an option. I can see a lot of walking around the parks with no idea if when you get to a FP machine, the time will work for our schedule.

#3 – Being even MORE tied to a schedule. As if ADR’s aren’t already forcing your park schedule to some extent, now the FP’s will even more. Lets say I had FP’s that had a time window starting in 5 minutes, but I suddenly saw that a show like Light Motors Action is starting soon and my family really want to go see it. The way things are now, we happily walk over to LMA and watch the show and then stroll over to the ride and use the FP’s when we feel like it. With the new policy this will not be possible.

The ability to get FP’s and use them any time later in the day has been great. Knowing you have a fun ride to look forward to if you decide to head back to the resort for a break, or park hop to another park for a while. (we don’t park hop, but I could see this change negatively impacting park hoppers)

The enforcement of the time window will eliminate a LOT of the flexibility we’ve thoroughly enjoyed these past two years, and I’m bummed by it. I don't like the idea of being tied to a certain area of the park for a defined time window. Does it ruin a trip? No. Can it be a big hassle versus how things are now, and make vacation less enjoyable? Yes. At least it feels good venting a little.

Dan

 

[Wadecool]

What do you mean?

DLP has the same FP system as WDW, enter your park ticket into FP machine, get a ticket out, which all park guests have access to and is included in the price of admission. What Liandro is referring to is a VIP or premium FP which allows you unlimited access to the FP line and can be purchased at the hotels on property.

 

[recmouse]

Why? seriously? If you can't afford a mercedes should chrystler daminer (sp) offer discounts until you can?

Disney already does this. If you don't stay on site you are not supposed to use the resort pools. If I'm a guest staying at the Beach club, yeah I'm may be a bit peeved if off site guest can use the facilities I'm paying for.

In a free market system there are places I can't afford to go. If I'm staying at the Motel 6, I would never expect the perks that one gets at the Ritz carlton. If I'm flying coach, I never expect the perks that first class flyers get. They get those perks as a condition of spending that cash.

Remember the uproar when Disney built the BLT? One of the perks of being an owner was you got to view the fireworks from the special viewing lounge. Not sure what the outcome of that was but I had absolutely no problem with it.

doesn't Universal already do this and there seems to be no uproar over it. It's an incentive.

I believe the original post was about these perks being transferred over to the parks.

I have stayed at every level resort. When I stayed at Pop Century - I wasn't expecting to get what I had at the Wilderness Lodge. All level resorts get the same opportunity for EMH... why not the FP's or XPass or whatever may be ahead.

 

[KellyNY]

DLP has the same FP system as WDW, enter your park ticket into FP machine, get a ticket out, which all park guests have access to and is included in the price of admission. What Liandro is referring to is a VIP or premium FP which allows you unlimited access to the FP line and can be purchased at the hotels on property.

I got it, I just do not understand why it was refered as dumb to buy it. Many people including me do not want to wake up at 6AM on vacation to make it by rope drop only to collect few FPs and ride few rides. Many would gladly pay for FOTL access even with current FP system.

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

One of the best things is that everyone can get them You can just buy them. So no class system. Everyone has the same chance of using them.

This is a joke, right? No one could possibly be this dumb.

In reference to these two post, I believe that what was considered "dumb" was that paying for a perk is not a class system.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

Losing the Magic:

The quality of service i.e. overflowing trash cans, dead flowers, chipped paint, broken rides, multiple closures (tarp city), loss in customer service (in general), undertrained CMs.

The dining and merchandise has been dumbed down. Generic food and merchandise, are firmly in place...no longer unique to particular restaurants or shops.

I find it to be the exception..not the norm to hear " have a Magical Day".

The above are just a couple areas, where the decline is noticeable, but definitely not a complete list. These things are Disney's fault NOT the "cheaters and scammers", otherwise known customers...

Wow...I don't think it's possible for you to be more off base.

Flowers - It is truly amazing how often WDW swaps out flowers for different seasons and the landscaping at the parks is nothing short of breathtaking. there's probably millions of flowers at WDW and it is incredible the attention they pay to this detail. For one, walk down the Canada pavillion towards Le Cellier and look around. For another, the GF had a bouquet the size of small automobile at the top of the grand staircase last week. Gorgeous. there are too many other examples to get into.

Merchandise - have you even been to WDW recently? every resort has resort specific merchandise only found at that resort. I don't recall seeing ToT stuff sold anywhere but at the shop at Tot...same for RNRC, SM and others...you want Christmas stuff? you have two choices: DTD and MK. The sheer volume of merchandise is MINDBLOWING...what more could you possibly want?

Dining - so ....what are you saying? the French Onion soup at Chefs de France can be had elsewhere? Don't think so. Neither can the short ribs. or anything on that menu. tell me all the places you can get a lobster roll at WDW? or is it just Columbia Harbor House? How about dole Whip? Are those everywhere? I could go one and on and on. BUT, if you are saying you eat french fries and chicken fingers then yes I agree, those are generic.

Tarps/Chipped paint - so let me get this straight - you are simultaneously criticizing WDW for both the wear and tear on paint, and also the fact that they have to fix it ? This is idiocy of the highest order.

Broken rides/ride closures - see previous point.

oh....and Have a Magical Day!

 

[Alesia]

I got it, I just do not understand why it was refered as dumb to buy it. Many people including me do not want to wake up at 6AM on vacation to make it by rope drop only to collect few FPs and ride few rides. Many would gladly pay for FOTL access even with current FP system.

They weren't saying that buying it is dumb, but that the idea that being required to pay for it does not create a class system is dumb.

 

[MrToad_at_BLT]

Without quoting all the of the points that have been made about "class system" or "have/have nots" I still feel that people shouldn't have an issue with additional benefits being offered to people and being used by those lucky enough to have the means to.

It's no different than an airplane. If I spend the money to fly first class, I would expect to have the benefits of that (roomier seats, food, drinks or whatever). I never see anyone getting angry or taking issue with this.

When we get to the X-Pass system people don't have to use it. But if they don't it's not fair to the people who do spend the money to looked at as having an unfair advantage over everyone else.

 

[koryandlesli]

I've heard maybe April. Anyone else know if it will be March or April? Any other cast member updates?

 

[KellyNY]

They weren't saying that buying it is dumb, but that the idea that being required to pay for it does not create a class system is dumb.

But why paying for something creates class system, I do not get it. Do we have to get rid of BMW because not everyone can or want afford it? However idea of giving perks based on resort category is in fact class system, because it is pretty much sais if I am fancy and rich enough to pay for Deluxe, I deserve special treatment in other, non resort related areas. I think the fact that I am free to pay for special service regardless of category of resort eliminates classes idea and therefore DL Paris pass is classless.