FastPass Policy - For Resort Guests Only

[claytonj20]

This may have been said already, but people using Fastpasses can be in the shops spending money or getting food instead of standing in line. From a financial standpoint, they are better off keeping it as is.

Great point!

 

[Mr. Pig]

To those that say these ideas would not cost Disney anything, I disagree. It is an intangible but Fastpass is an asset and value adding device to Disney. If you give more to the resort guests you take something away from the other guests. You take away value from their park ticket while charging them the same. Would they be upset enough not to come back? Maybe not but why take the chance. Maybe if you want to get more people to stay onsite but would getting a couple fastpass be enough for people to make that choice?

Personally I would like to see some of these suggestions come to pass but don't think that Disney is going to give anything away unless it thinks it will help them in return.

 

[Praying Colonel]

No. I believe the fact that every park guest can use FP is more egalitarian, and also frees up more park guests to spend money and have a more enjoyable visit.

As ses said, it works fine like it is.

 

[fall08CP]

For me, it's a double edged sword.

As a guest, I always stay on property. But when I lived in Orlando, I hated perks that were only for resort guests! For AP, locals, and cast members, we sometimes felt cheated for our loyalty.

I don't think the current system is flawed, so why change it?

 

[sunshine girl]

NO, definitely not!

 

[CIA]

For me, it's a double edged sword.

As a guest, I always stay on property. But when I lived in Orlando, I hated perks that were only for resort guests! For AP, locals, and cast members, we sometimes felt cheated for our loyalty.

I don't think the current system is flawed, so why change it?

I would argue that the current system is flawed when TSM fast passes run out in the summer by 11AM. That's a joke!

 

[Always Dream]

Well, part of me says yes, you really don't get enough for the outrageous prices of rooms at Disney hotels, so that added benefit would be nice.

My fear is that if they did that rooms prices would skyrocket - and they're already expensive enough!

And I suppose it wouldn't matter all that much if you are already using FP effectively.

 

[cruisingkat]

If Disney were to make a change that only allowed those staying on Disney property to take advantage of the FastPass system, would you be on board with it?

How would you work that? - If you have an AP, you do not have your park ticket on your room key. If you used your room key to get the fast pass - if your park ticket is separate, only one person from your group has to get there early with the room keys from your group to get the fast passes since you don't need your room key for park admission there would be no way to validate that everyone was in the park.

Since you do use your park ticket to get a fast pass, I would really like to see an extra perk or benefit for AP holders where you can get a second fast pass (for a different attraction) during that blackout time period.

 

[CIA]

How would you work that? - If you have an AP, you do not have your park ticket on your room key. If you used your room key to get the fast pass - if your park ticket is separate, only one person from your group has to get there early with the room keys from your group to get the fast passes since you don't need your room key for park admission there would be no way to validate that everyone was in the park.

Since you do use your park ticket to get a fast pass, I would really like to see an extra perk or benefit for AP holders where you can get a second fast pass (for a different attraction) during that blackout time period.

If the policy was ever instituted, I think an exception would be made for AP holders.

 

[WheelieBigDisFan]

If the policy was ever instituted, I think an exception would be made for AP holders.

I don't see FP going away anytime soon. With that said, I think that if anything changes, it needs to make sure to include resort guests, DVC members (not rentals), and AP's. I think the cost of a general admission ticket should go down slightly, but also offer the option of paying for FP access like US does.
I could see FP working very well a couple ways.
1: When the park opens you can start getting FP's for the day. I don't like the 2 hour wait between FP's b/c if the return for a ride isn't until the evening, you are waiting in lines for those 2 hours with no "perk". I think that since the FP's are marked with a return time, the "blackout" time should be that return window (1 hour?). AKA, you can't have another FP for that time slot. Each ride that has FP access can only issue so many FP's for that hour, so once they are gone, they are gone just like it works now. If you go to a FP machine that is issuing a FP for a time you already have a FP for, it issues a FP for after your current FP. I could even see the "rule" of having to have a 1 hour gap between FP return times (if your FP is for 11-12, the next FP issued will be for 1-2).

2: FP issuance for resort guests, AP's and DVC members of a certain number guaranteed per day. If you go to a FP machine it reads your card and as long as you still have "guaranteed" FP on it, you are issued a FP for return to that attraction. Once those are gone, you can attempt to get FP's just like the general public with assumed wait times and the possibility that the ride you wish to go on doesn't have more FP's for that day. This way you are guaranteed to ride (lets say 4) your (4) rides of choice for that day. Once those are gone FP's are on a first come first served basis.
(Alternatively, FP's could be issued at your resort, or reserved online and printed from your computer for AP's visiting the park on a certain day. Since these would be done in advance, they could be issued for a return time, etc. and have them automatically subtracted from the number of possible FP's issued for that attraction. Again, you would be limited to a certain number of pre released FP's per person per day (we will stick with 4). Once you have chosen your 4 FP's and have a time slot, you just show up at the FP line for that attraction and voilla.)

 

[Tara922c]

I would like it because I always stay on property, but I think it would be a horrible business decision. Disney needs way more people in the parks than are actually staying on property. While I think more people may stay on property, even more may choose not to go back to disney if they are waiting in long lines all day long just because they are not staying on property. I think I would like the idea that univeral uses. If staying on property you can enter the fast pass line at no cost, but you can only do each ride once per day in that line. If you are staying off property, you can pay for that service. Being said, I don't think Disney will change it's policy any time soon.

 

[Cinders Mum]

nope fastpass should remain a facility for all.
the only consideration would be perhaps similar to club level dlp guests get VIP Fastpasses. I have experienced that fastpass through work and it was kinda cute, but whether it would cause too much congestion given the larger numbers we are talking about, may make that prohibitive.

 

[bicker]

If Disney were to make a change that only allowed those staying on Disney property to take advantage of the FastPass system, would you be on board with it?

Nah, that's too draconian. As I mentioned in another thread this morning:

There are simpler ways to provide similar advantages. I've mentioned in other threads the idea of installing kiosks in each hotel lobby: Slip your room key in, slip your admission ticket in, select up to three specific FastPasses, including the specific time you want them for (subject to remaining availability). So by the time you get to the park, you already have three "perfect" FastPasses in hand.

 

[CIA]

Nah, that's too draconian. As I mentioned in another thread this morning:

​

Okay but they need to reduce the amount of passes distributed in the parks then by the number given to resort guests that morning. Otherwise, the end result will simply be a longer FP queue.

 

[bicker]

Yup, it would simply be a means by which resort guests to draw from the regular, normal FP allocations remotely and in advance.

 

[Aliceacc]

It would benefit my family, but I don't think it's fair.

Some families are simply too large for Disney resorts. Once you get past a family of 4, it's a lot less affordable. And once you outgrow the Family Suites, I'm guessing that renting a house is the way to go for quite a few guests.

And then there are all those people who live somewhere near Orlando, who don't stay at a resort at all.

Why would Disney risk alienating all those people?

 

[seashoreCM]

I would argue that the current system is flawed when TSM fast passes run out in the summer by 11AM. That's a joke!

Pull the ring on the back of Chatty Cathy (tm) and she says,
"Tell me a story."
(Take me on a journey into my imagination.)

Write me a narrative explaining how fastpasses would be given out under an ideal system in your opinion. Include details that can be used as choreography so I can visualize in my mind where people go and what maneuvers and dexterity they would use under your system. Any guest who has admission to that park should be able to execute the same steps and obtain the same results. You don't have to invent or construct the machine(s) that can actually make this possible.

I estimate that, by the time the Toy Story Mania fastpasses run out, ten thousand people have gone there. And the ride can take about fifteen thousand people over the entire day. The last fastpasses issued are for the 8 to 9 PM time frame (if the park is open that late). If you got in the standby line ca 1 PM you will get to ride mid-afternoon, long before many of the fastpass holders, who got there before you did, can use their fastpasses.

 

[gkrykewy]

OP's idea will never happen, but it seems inevitable that *something* is coming to give resort guests a bit of an extra perk with regard to fastpasses. Where there's smoke (patents, surveys, etc.), there's fire.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think having fast pases for resort guests only would just encourage people to book rooms on property, and not use them. There are enough people who do that now to get dining perks, we don't need to add to that.

Also, to the poster who said we don't get enough for the outragious prices Disney charges for the resorts, I think you are wrong. To start with, I don't think paying under $100 a night for a room is outragious. You can easily stay on property and not spend a fortune. It just depends on what resort you choose.

Secondly, you get quite a few perks now staying on property. Magical Express is a huge perk, as are EMHs and the Dining Plan. As is package delivery to your resort, and the ability to charge everything to your room key. You get quite a few perks by staying at a Disney resort. I don't see where they need to add anything more.

 

[bicker]

I think having fast pases for resort guests only would just encourage people to book rooms on property, and not use them. There are enough people who do that now to get dining perks, we don't need to add to that.

I cannot imagine that people pay for rooms that they don't use, very often, but even if that does happen a lot, I see no down-side for Disney, or other resort guests. If anything, it leads to less noise, and less wear-and-tear.

Also, to the poster who said we don't get enough for the outragious prices Disney charges for the resorts, I think you are wrong.

I don't disagree, but nothing is set in concrete. The reality is that someday it might be 'right' to enhance the value of the Disney resort offerings by offering more affinity benefits. Disney continually needs to trade-off this-for-that, and this is a parameter they can use, if it ever becomes worthwhile for them to do so.