FastPass Policy Change

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

if disney sees that i spend a couple of thousand dollars on my vacation to the world, doesnt it make business sense to try and entice my family and myself back to the world by making us feel appreciated by offering more perks to us. you buy into DVC and spend a lot of money, you then buy the discounted AP's and return more then once because you have the pass and spend more money more times. see the thinking here.

am i a better person because i can afford a dvc timeshare then the person who has to stay at ASM, no i am not but i am definitely the type of guest, that disney wants in their parks. if you think that disney doesnt know thow much a guest spends then you are kidding yourselves, especially if you use your room key as a charge card. think about it rationally. what would WDW be like if everyone just spent money on passes and little else. it would be six flags!!!(trying to be funny here so please laugh)

look i am a dvc member and do spend lots of money when we go to WDW. it doesnt make us better then anyone else, just more fortunate to be able to do this every 2 years. if WDW wants to offer me perks like special fastpasses as a perk, free or pay, then you bet i am gonna take it and love it.

I'm not sure why you quoted me and wrote your response as if you disagreed with what I said. I basically said the exact same thing that you just did. Like I said, I think a tiered fast pass system is a good business idea.

 

[asmit4]

I don't care how they do it, and I wouldn't be offended if I wasn't included. We stay at values, and will continue to unless the perks at a deluxe are so extensive that we decide a deluxe is worth the cost.

If they offer DVCers, Deluxers or whoever, and we choose to stay at a value- so be it.

I'm not going to be offended, not feel like a princess, let it ruin my trip, complain, be sad....a perk IS a perk...if we qualify that would be awesome- if not, so be it. I DO recognize that those who spend the big bucks at the deluxes SHOULD get more perks. Those who stay onsite period- SHOULD get more perks.

This is not about 'but what if we can't afford it, but what if this is our only trip and we have saved for years' There are LOADS of things that we can't afford...we live within our means and $$$ makes the world go round- YES, even Disney World. If we can't afford a deluxe and miss out on a dream FP or any other perk- so be it. We will have a great time anyway.

I think often people view DW as a utopia- like DW owes all guests to be treated the same way, DW owes large families affordable accommodations, more affordable TS places etc etc. DW doesn't owe us anything. They are doing so well b/c they offer a great product at a price that people are willing to pay. SURE- they may be 'overpriced' but this is in the eye of the beholder- as you can see 1000s of people happily skip to DW each year to fork over the $$$.

DW will do what is in the best interest of their shareholders, whether that is to give extras to deluxers, onsiters, florida residents- well, that remains to be seen. BUT...trust me- they are giving little thought to the little people. If doing as many of you say 'treating guests unfairly or having a 'caste' system' will make DW more $$$? They WILL do it!

 

[Sleeping Becca]

So what you saying is they could offer the onsite guests a chance to get the Fast Passes at the Resorts within a specifc time period and the offsite guests can still get them at the parks. This way there would be less of a chance of them running out of Fast Passes in the parks.

Right! Like giving on site guests the ability to get one FP per day at the hotel, subject to availabilty. They would limit the availbilty so that non- resort guests can still get the FPs.

They also have a patent for a tiered system according to accomdation level for the # of FP you can get at the resort.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Here we go again....folks getting their feathers ruffled over something that has not happened and probably won't....

Goodness folks!

 

[tomerin]

I'm not sure why you quoted me and wrote your response as if you disagreed with what I said. I basically said the exact same thing that you just did. Like I said, I think a tiered fast pass system is a good business idea.

i should have started my post by stating i agree with with you had said

 

[sbell111]

I kind of like the idea of giving onsite guests the ability to have a shorter wait time before they can get additional fastpasses.

 

[asmit4]

I kind of like the idea of giving onsite guests the ability to have a shorter wait time before they can get additional fastpasses.

I like this idea too. I'm not necessarily advocating some system that gives onsite guests free reign like a FOTL pass-but something extra besides EMH, even something small like an extra FP or less time btwn them would be great.

 

[Katiebell]

Here we go again....folks getting their feathers ruffled over something that has not happened and probably won't....

Goodness folks!

I think the ruffled feathers aren't so much for the possible proposed changes as the tone of some of the posts that smack of elitism/class separation/privilege. Yes, if you have more money to spend, you can get a lot of perks. That's great for you, no problem, you are very fortunate But comments like, "I deserve more than you" and "I don't really care how you feel" are unkind, unecessary, and don't really further discussion. But I suppose you could say they are honest and reveal the true feelings and true character of the person who wrote them.

Everyone who goes to WDW -- whether they are Concierge Level at AKL or the GF, or staying at a budget hotel off site -- wants to have fun, wants to experience the magic. And they are all enjoying the best vacation their particular family can afford (or putting themselves in debt for that vacation ) So if a family works hard and saves up and is finally able to take a special vacation once every 3 years, and they stay at the Pop during free dining -- and another family has so much money that they are able to fly down to WDW every 3 day weekend, summer, and winter break and stay at a deluxe and eat at signature restaurants every night -- who "deserves" more? If you have more to spend, you are already getting more for your money -- luxurious accommodations, fine dining, more frequent vacations. Yes, you get what you pay for, and you get what you can afford. We are somewhere in between -- but I vividly remember the days of scrimping and saving and doing Disney on a tight budget. I certainly don't deserve more now, but I'm very grateful for what we have.

The Fast Pass system was a stroke of genius and works beautifully. There is no reason to change the way it works now -- if it ain't broke, don't fix it! But if they would like to give additional perks to guests staying at the deluxes, etc. then the unlimited Fast Passes AAA offered with their DL packages were great. We got that perk on two trips to DL, and it was wonderful -- we didn't have to wait the two hour window before getting another pass for another ride, it was ok for the windows to overlap. Or the VIP passes like DLP offers...or offering each hotel guest 3 dream passes per day. That probably wouldn't seriously impact the number of FP's given out in the parks because the holders of the Dream Passes would get fewer FP's at the park machines.

 

[GalDisney]

Why should people staying at Disney resorts be the only guests to use FP? When you stay in a disney resort, you are paying for the room and resort amenities. period. When you purhcase a ticket the the parks you are entitled to use that parks amenities, suuch as FP. I paid for and hold an annual pass and If i were not allowed to use FP I would not be happy.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Why should people staying at Disney resorts be the only guests to use FP? When you stay in a disney resort, you are paying for the room and resort amenities. period. When you purhcase a ticket the the parks you are entitled to use that parks amenities, suuch as FP. I paid for and hold an annual pass and If i were not allowed to use FP I would not be happy.

I don't think anyone in this thread suggested that FP be only for resort guests.

The discussion refers to whether resort guests should get FP perks or extras.

Disney holds patents for this capabilty, the discussion is will they use it and how.

 

[qv09vvp]

Maybe I'm just being a fuddy duddy...but I like fp the way it is.... open to everyone & equal .....to everyone that actually uses it....... I've had to explain it to several folks, so I could only imagine my explanation if they make it a tiered system.. LOL

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Right! Like giving on site guests the ability to get one FP per day at the hotel, subject to availabilty. They would limit the availbilty so that non- resort guests can still get the FPs.

They also have a patent for a tiered system according to accomdation level for the # of FP you can get at the resort.

The way you described it does make sense, however I still don't see it happening because there is nothing wrong with keeping the Fast Pass system the way it is.

Also here is something else to consider. When the parks have AM EMH the onsite guests will already have a head start on the Fast Passes since they can be obtained during that time, so you can they have an unofficial perk when it comes to getting Fast Passes before offsite guests during that specific time.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

But comments like, "I deserve more than you" and "I don't really care how you feel" are unkind, unecessary, and don't really further discussion.

{snip}

But if they would like to give additional perks to guests staying at the deluxes, etc. then the unlimited Fast Passes AAA offered with their DL packages were great.

I don't see anyone saying these things. It's not a matter of who "deserves" what. It's about who are able and willing to pay for things. Just because I can afford to go to WDW and do and others can't and, therefore, don't doesn't mean that I'm saying I "deserve" to go more than anyone else.

I don't see how your suggestion is any different than what other people have been saying, the idea that you just criticized in the paragraph before. Either way, certain people are getting this perk while others aren't.

Why should people staying at Disney resorts be the only guests to use FP?

I don't see where that is part of the plan. The rumours I have heard, once again, are about a tiered system. That means that both resort guests and non-resort guests have access to FastPasses just differently. Can I ask why people assume that with a new system, non-resort guests wouldn't have access to FPs at all?

 

[Sleeping Becca]

The way you described it does make sense, however I still don't see it happening because there is nothing wrong with keeping the Fast Pass system the way it is.

Also here is something else to consider. When the parks have AM EMH the onsite guests will already have a head start on the Fast Passes since they can be obtained during that time, so you can they have an unofficial perk when it comes to getting Fast Passes before offsite guests during that specific time.

I also agree that FP should remain as it is, it is a brilliant system!

I also like that it is an equal opportunity system, everyone can use it and it is free!

I don't think Disney should mess with it, but they do have the ability to.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

The way you described it does make sense, however I still don't see it happening because there is nothing wrong with keeping the Fast Pass system the way it is.

I would suspect that they would change the system to make more money. Why make a kazillion dollars when you can make a kazillion and one?

 

[sjaakie]

You got me intrigued. So, I did some searching on the internet . . .

I thought I would share some information I found regarding Disneyland Paris. They give out VIP FASTPASSES for people staying in Castle Club Rooms (Similar to Concierge). They work like a regular fastpass only you can use them any time between certain hours (ex: 11 am and 2 hours prior to park closing.) and you don't have to wait to collect another FP. You just hang onto it for your length of stay.

We use This VIP fast passes in Disneyland Paris and they are one of the main reasons we stay at the Castle Club.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

I don't see anyone saying these things. It's not a matter of who "deserves" what. It's about who are able and willing to pay for things. Just because I can afford to go to WDW and do and others can't and, therefore, don't doesn't mean that I'm saying I "deserve" to go more than anyone else.

There are posts in this thread that state "I deserve". I don't want to quote them because I find them to be rude.

 

[sjaakie]

Maybe the whole rumour started with this:





ORLANDO (CBS4) ― Walt Disney World may be creating an electronically available FastPass that could provide visitors the opportunity to skip the long lines at Disney's favorite attractions.

According to the Web site JimHillMedia.com, the Walt Disney company filed a patent on August 30, 2007 that would create an electronic, paperless FastPass system.

Guests would be able to download the line-skipping FastPass through a cell phone text message.

An additional entry in the patent discusses allowing guests to use their television and remote in their hotel room to get a FastPass prior to their visit to a park. Then the FastPass information would be downloaded directly onto that guests' cell phone.

In addition, the technology would allow Disney to give preferential FastPass treatment to those guests who spend the most money at Walt Disney World resorts and restaurants. That part of the plan may not be popular with guests who aren't staying at a Disney property.

The technology is still in the research stage.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

First Pleasure Island, then the changes to Garden Grill and Liberty tree, then the 90days ADR change and now possibly this!

Disney sure is making a lot of changes and fast. I wonder why....

Of course, this is just a rumor, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did mess around with the fastpass system since I've also been hearing the rumors for a while.

 

[DisneyDadof3]

Maybe they could just close down one park each day for resort only guests. Say MK on Monday, DHS on Tuesday, AK on Wednesday, and Epcot on Thursday. Then there could be a tiered fastpass system within that park for the various resort people. Also, if you show that you spend enough money, you will get to meet Walt himself at the end of the day.