FastPass+ must be coming soon

[LiveLifeLoud]

I think FP+ works great for the once in a lifetime visitor which is who Disney caters to. You book this trip with your family. You go down for a week and get 5 or 6 day tickets. You get three rides each day that have very low wait times usually. I know had this been around for my first trip I would’ve thought I hit the jackpot.

I think Disney will find a way to make some money from FP+ but the free part is not going to go away completely.

 

[MomOTwins]

Also, comparing any alternatives to Universal or really any other theme park is not possible. First of all, there isn't even a single season pass out there that can compare to the ticket prices of one week at Disney. Secondly, for any other theme park including Universal, adding an unlimited jump the line pass allows you to essentially experience all top attractions in a day if you really wanted to. Booking a Universal deluxe hotel for $400/night gives it to you for 2 days in which case you can really experience the whole park as fully as you want. At a minimum, someone trying to achieve that at Disney would have to purchase 4 days worth of jump the line passes. The costs would simply be astronomical to justify it. Some might say it would only hold value at certain parks, primarily MK, but then you are back to the simple fact that if everyone is getting it for one park, it loses all value in longer lines regardless.
I think people aren't fully embracing how valuable the park reservation system may play out to be for Disney compared to FP+. They can control crowd levels and better staff parks knowing almost exactly how many people will be there on any given day, often well in advance. Having to commit to a park helps spread out crowds to less popular parks like Epcot and provides more value to upsell products like Park Hopper when people can't get into the parks they want. It forces people to commit to a Disney trip well in advance in order to secure the days at the parks they want, and creates an inflated desire for people to get a coveted park and/or upsell products down the road (like party tickets).

Really good point. I remember days when you would look on the app and wait times would be astronomical in one park and minimal in another. It has definitely evened out park attendance.

 

[goofyernmost]

All I know is that if they move to paid FPs and the cost is exorbitant, I will be officially priced out of Disney. I won’t pay an additional $100 a day for FPs and I also won’t be happy going to Disney and not riding my favorite rides because I chose not to pay extra for it. And this makes me sad because I’ll probably never ride the new rides coming out in the next few years. Guess I’ll have to make my October trip truly count as it may be my last.

The good news is without Fastpass, you may stand in line a small amount longer then you would with a pass in hand, but you will see everything you wanted to see in the same amount of time and will end the problem of being stopped for ages in the Standby line. So, you might be giving up for nothing.

If you won't pay for one then many others will feel the same way and it will work like they thought it would to begin with. The idea that maybe 25% of riders were in the fast pass line and 75% in the standby, the Fastpass line would be a little slower, but not by a lot and the standby line would be way faster.

Spoken by someone that spent the first decade or so where no Fastpass existed at all and yet was enjoyable enough to go back again year after year since 1983 and never started to feel upset until Fastpass began and real anger and frustration started in the standby line. Worst thing that Disney ever came up with, in my opinion, was FP. Those that didn't experience pre-fastpass days cannot understand how much quicker, fairer and smoother everything moved along in the everything is equal one line system.

 

[tigger2002]

'
I think people aren't fully embracing how valuable the park reservation system may play out to be for Disney compared to FP+. They can control crowd levels and better staff parks knowing almost exactly how many people will be there on any given day, often well in advance. Having to commit to a park helps spread out crowds to less popular parks like Epcot and provides more value to upsell products like Park Hopper when people can't get into the parks they want. It forces people to commit to a Disney trip well in advance in order to secure the days at the parks they want, and creates an inflated desire for people to get a coveted park and/or upsell products down the road (like party tickets).

'
I think this is true during the pandemic but during the past "normal" times when ALL of the parks were at full capacity most of the time you don't need crowd manipulation.
.

 

[disneypharm]

The good news is without Fastpass, you may stand in line a small amount longer then you would with a pass in hand, but you will see everything you wanted to see in the same amount of time and will end the problem of being stopped for ages in the Standby line. So, you might be giving up for nothing.

If you won't pay for one then many others will feel the same way and it will work like they thought it would to begin with. The idea that maybe 25% of riders were in the fast pass line and 75% in the standby, the Fastpass line would be a little slower, but not by a lot and the standby line would be way faster.

Spoken by someone that spent the first decade or so where no Fastpass existed at all and yet was enjoyable enough to go back again year after year since 1983 and never started to feel upset until Fastpass began and real anger and frustration started in the standby line. Worst thing that Disney ever came up with, in my opinion, was FP. Those that didn't experience pre-fastpass days cannot understand how much quicker, fairer and smoother everything moved along in the everything is equal one line system.

Sorry, I don't agree that pre-Fastpass time theme parks were more fairer and quicker. I never forget the frustration of looking at long lines pre-fastpasses and deciding to skip most of the best rides. I understand not wanting the fastpasses to exist because your are an AP holder or a local and can go anytime you like, so skipping longer lines is not an issue, but for a large portion of Disney visitors (those that come once a year or longer) that come with their families and spend $$$, fastpasses are great!

 

[goofyernmost]

Sorry, I don't agree that pre-Fastpass time theme parks were more fairer and quicker. I never forget the frustration of looking at long lines pre-fastpasses and deciding to skip most of the best rides. I understand not wanting the fastpasses to exist because your are an AP holder or a local and can go anytime you like, so skipping longer lines is not an issue, but for a large portion of Disney visitors (those that come once a year or longer) that come with their families and spend $$$, fastpasses are great!

The key words there are "looking at the long lines". They were long looking but they moved quickly and because you didn't have to plan around yet another window to get too, you could skip over something that was really long (in actuality), not in perception, and come back later when it wasn't as busy, which always happened. I never saw it fail. Now FP creates the never ending slow standby and it is longer in time then in the beginning, but you still saw more and with the proper attitude it was just far and away more fun knowing that when you were next in line you were next in line and no one was going to come running up the other line after sitting on their butts for the past hour and cutting in front of you because they had a pass and it didn't matter how much your feet or back hurt.

 

[jvncnt]

I hope FP returns by our trip in early June, but agree it is unlikely. We are people who only go once a year at most, and if paid or provided, I want them. We stay Deluxe resorts only, and are more than happy to pay for additional passes when available. Nothing worse than coming to WDW and finding out that the wait for a ride is more than 60 minutes and we get no joy from standing in lines.

If paid, they can be optional and you can either take advantage of the option or not. That way, you can make your WDW trip as affordable as you would like and those of us that are willing to pay more can do so too. Not sure of the downside to this.

 

[disneypharm]

The key words there are "looking at the long lines". They were long looking but they moved quickly and because you didn't have to plan around yet another window to get too, you could skip over something that was really long (in actuality), not in perception, and come back later when it wasn't as busy, which always happened. I never saw it fail. Now FP creates the never ending slow standby and it is longer in time then in the beginning, but you still saw more and with the proper attitude it was just far and away more fun knowing that when you were next in line you were next in line and no one was going to come running up the other line after sitting on their butts for the past hour and cutting in front of you because they had a pass and it didn't matter how much your feet or back hurt.

Nope, I still don't agree. We have been to WDW several times using 5-10 Fastpasses each day and never had to wait for more than 30 min for any lines, including standby lines. We don't want to stand in any standby line that MAY look longer than it actually is!! If I am paying $$$, then I would want the option to be able to plan my day before arrival or have the option to get a fastpass so that I don't have to wait in any lines. I know I wouldn't have a good attitude if I go to the park and find out that the rides I want to ride are 60+ minutes! We will probably never go back!

 

[Kelly014]

I hope FP returns by our trip in early June, but agree it is unlikely. We are people who only go once a year at most, and if paid or provided, I want them. We stay Deluxe resorts only, and are more than happy to pay for additional passes when available. Nothing worse than coming to WDW and finding out that the wait for a ride is more than 60 minutes and we get no joy from standing in lines.

If paid, they can be optional and you can either take advantage of the option or not. That way, you can make your WDW trip as affordable as you would like and those of us that are willing to pay more can do so too. Not sure of the downside to this.

The downside to your scenario is that you take away an option that at least guaranteed a few short lines per day and then (chances are they wouldn't be cheap) price most Disney guests out of any fastpass option and make standby longer by reintroducing fastpass in any form. Not to mention it's harder for families with kids because a per person per day costs adds up very quickly. We stay deluxe and would probably spring for a paid fastpass option for our family of four at least some days because we have the disposable income to do so, but it makes me sad for the families who don't to lose any option of a fast pass.

 

[brockash]

The good news is without Fastpass, you may stand in line a small amount longer then you would with a pass in hand, but you will see everything you wanted to see in the same amount of time and will end the problem of being stopped for ages in the Standby line. So, you might be giving up for nothing.

If you won't pay for one then many others will feel the same way and it will work like they thought it would to begin with. The idea that maybe 25% of riders were in the fast pass line and 75% in the standby, the Fastpass line would be a little slower, but not by a lot and the standby line would be way faster.

Spoken by someone that spent the first decade or so where no Fastpass existed at all and yet was enjoyable enough to go back again year after year since 1983 and never started to feel upset until Fastpass began and real anger and frustration started in the standby line. Worst thing that Disney ever came up with, in my opinion, was FP. Those that didn't experience pre-fastpass days cannot understand how much quicker, fairer and smoother everything moved along in the everything is equal one line system.

This has not been the truth at all in our experience. We've taken 3 post-covid trips and have waited way longer overall and done less than we ever did in the past. This may be true for ppl. who only ever used 3 fastpasses/day and did not rope drop, but this most definitely does not equal out otherwise.

 

[wilkydelts]

This has not been the truth at all in our experience. We've taken 3 post-covid trips and have waited way longer overall and done less than we ever did in the past. This may be true for ppl. who only ever used 3 fastpasses/day and did not rope drop, but this most definitely does not equal out otherwise.

My Covid Disney trips have been the smoothest and best Disney trips I have take in ages. I never felt like we waited too much for anything.

 

[disneypharm]

My Covid Disney trips have been the smoothest and best Disney trips I have take in ages. I never felt like we waited too much for anything.

Just curious. Are you a Florida resident or local? Did you go when they first opened (July-Sep 2020)? Parks were empty in those early months.
An AP holder (so don't care to skip any longer lines or didn't care); went during the week because you have a lot of flexibility? Based on some of the vlogs I have seen about March and Spring breaks, there were a lot of lines during those times, so I assume parks will be more crowded in summer or when more people are vaccinated. Lines will be much longer at that time.

 

[wilkydelts]

I went end of October and Easter Week. Easter Week was sold out in every category.

There is nothing but speculation regarding your comment of "so I assume parks will be more crowded in summer or when more people are vaccinated. Lines will be much longer at that time. "

You can click on my name to view all my detailed trip reports.

 

[disneypharm]

I went end of October and Easter Week. Easter Week was sold out in every category.

There is nothing but speculation regarding your comment of "so I assume parks will be more crowded in summer or when more people are vaccinated. Lines will be much longer at that time. "

You can click on my name to view all my detailed trip reports.

Thanks for responding. Yes, that's why I said "assume" Parks still had lower capacity during Easter week, so "sold out" still means a lot less people than pre-Covid.

 

[DisneyFive]

Keep in mind that standby lines right now cannot be correlated in any way to pre or post Covid WDW. Too many things are different...

Limited park capacity
Social distancing
Limited ride capacity (in some cases)
etc...

Those that are thinking back to pre fastpass days with such nostalgia forget that attendance numbers are higher now. FP and FP+ were put in place by Disney for a reason, to provide a better guest experience, distribute crowds, and to make more money.

I don't ever see Disney going back to no FP's and just relying on standby lines like in this Covid time. Plan, and use the FP system whatever it will looks like after covid. I for one don't think they will do away with a "free" option similar to how it exists today.

Dan

 

[wilkydelts]

Until Disney indicates a capacity change, visitors will experience the same "Sold Out" days and experiences from Spring Break time in the summer except for the heat.

 

[Grasshopper2016]

There is nothing but speculation regarding your comment of "so I assume parks will be more crowded in summer or when more people are vaccinated. Lines will be much longer at that time. "

In fairness, very little in this thread is more than speculation. I think that it is nonetheless perfectly reasonable to speculate that: (1) more people will be willing to travel to Disney this summer, as vaccination rates increase and Covid rates decrease (especially given that it now looks like teens will be able to be vaccinated by then --- so families like mine that have been holding back for that reason will be willing to take the leap); (2) Disney may very well increase capacity caps in the summer, especially (but not necessarily dependent on) if they move to a 3-foot social distancing rule, which is where the CDC seems to be going; and (3) if the first two propositions are true, the lines will be much longer.

No one can say for sure whether any of these things will happen. But I, for one, am inclined to agree with disneypharm that they will.

 

[disneypharm]

I went end of October and Easter Week. Easter Week was sold out in every category.

There is nothing but speculation regarding your comment of "so I assume parks will be more crowded in summer or when more people are vaccinated. Lines will be much longer at that time. "

You can click on my name to view all my detailed trip reports.

Thanks for telling me to check your profile. Someone "Lisann" posted this in one of the threads "Rant coming on: I am so done with Disney (sort of, for now). The parks are more crowded than they’ve ever been. Even pre-pandemic."

 

[JakeAZ]

And no FP forces you to spend all day waiting in standby lines, which os not my idea of vacation. Tom-ay-to, tom-ah-to.

I get it. That's why I suggested to keep some sort of free system. But I'd like to see them combine that with a paid system.

 

[Grasshopper2016]

Disney has announced reopening dates for 4 massive resorts over the next couple of months. Plus, the Swan Reserve is opening in July. And many other resorts may soon follow. I don't see how they can open these resorts and rent these hotel rooms without increasing park capacity. As it stands, most of the parks are sold out well in advance. How can you rent a hotel room to someone without letting them into the parks?