FastPass Policy - For Resort Guests Only

[maxiesmom]

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.

No down-side for Disney, but a down-side for the people who would actually book and use the rooms. I've seen enough posts on the Dis asking if booking a room just for the perks is ok to know that it does happen. To what extent, I have no idea. But I don't think we need to make that sort of thing even more attractive.

 

[doconeill]

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.

There was a very massive thread some time back about this very thing. It IS happening.

The immediate downside is that it actually means less guests for Disney. The ones staying offsite but still booking a room would presumably be going anyways, and are doing it just for extra advantages, preventing the people who wanted the rooms/camp sites from getting them and therefore not being able to go. Then there is the possibility that Disney staffed based on the expected occupation levels, etc.

 

[spel]

What I'd like to see, would be for each quest staying at a Disney Resort, to receive a free FP in their check-in package. Just one per quest, it wouldn't cost Disney anything, but would be a nice perk for staying at Disney.

I never stay on property and I don't see that changing as we prefer our chosen off-site hotels and we utilize FP extensively especially because we visit during Spring Break so I would be furious if they limited the FP to only onsite guests. But I wouldn't be opposed to the idea above. I think its a great idea actually.

 

[larryz]

Anyone remember the YOAMD Special Fastpass? One fastpass per FP attraction, broken off the central card? Call 'em "SuperFP"s.

I'd like to see those given out on a per person basis on a package stay. After all, you're paying extra (a LOT extra) to stay on property, and the cost to Disney would be minimal -- just crank up the presses and spin out the cards. If they didn't want to do that, have them code the KTTW or ticket media to spit out an instant FP, once, to each qualifying ticket holder.

I'd give the Value guests SuperFPs to the MK, Mod guests SuperFPs to the MK and one other (their choice) and Deluxe guests SuperFPs to all four parks.

Yes it would skew the FP statistics, but Disney has the computing power and programming talent to work in the additional ride load without bunging up the whole system.

Having the freedom and flexibility this system would provide would really help make a resort stay at WDW a relaxing, fun experience with a real advantage for staying on site.

As far as EMH being a real advantage... if that's true, why do so many people avoid them?

Just my opinion...

 

[bicker]

No down-side for Disney, but a down-side for the people who would actually book and use the rooms.

Sure but a corresponding up-side for those who use the benefit the rooms offer. That's a wash - one guest for another.

I've seen enough posts on the Dis asking if booking a room just for the perks is ok to know that it does happen. To what extent, I have no idea. But I don't think we need to make that sort of thing even more attractive.

Anecdotes relayed online doesn't constitute significance of any metric.

There was a very massive thread some time back about this very thing. It IS happening.

I didn't say it wasn't happening. I said I doubt it happens "a lot", meaning as a significant (to Disney) percentage of all rooms booked.

The immediate downside is that it actually means less guests for Disney.

There is no reason to believe that. While Disney runs a pretty high load-level, the number of days per year that they're totally sold out is limited, and even when they are, there is no indication that guests will simply not visit WDW if they cannot get a room on-site at late notice. Generally, the folks who are rabidly devoted to staying only on-site are the ones that book early, before the rooms sell-out. Regardless of all that, Disney has far better metrics on what affects their bottom line, and far of a vested interest in accurately and evenly viewing those metrics. I'll trust their actions are based on better knowledge and experience than your opinion or mine would project.

Then there is the possibility that Disney staffed based on the expected occupation levels, etc.

Even if that were true, it would mean overall better service for the guests who stay, since there would be more staff than the smaller amount that cost-consciousness would dictate.

It is enough to say that you personally don't like the prospect. That I could understand and respect. Perhaps you feel that your family's enjoyment of your vacation, specifically, is undercut by the prospect. I can see how that could be the case. However, bringing this back to the point of this thread: Other families differ from yours, and there are other stakeholders in the system, including investors, who have as much right to have their objectives respected.

 

[doconeill]

Sure but a corresponding up-side for those who use the benefit the rooms offer. That's a wash - one guest for another.

Anecdotes relayed online doesn't constitute significance of any metric.

I didn't say it wasn't happening. I said I doubt it happens "a lot", meaning as a significant (to Disney) percentage of all rooms booked.

There is no reason to believe that. While Disney runs a pretty high load-level, the number of days per year that they're totally sold out is limited, and even when they are, there is no indication that guests will simply not visit WDW if they cannot get a room on-site at late notice. Generally, the folks who are rabidly devoted to staying only on-site are the ones that book early, before the rooms sell-out. Regardless of all that, Disney has far better metrics on what affects their bottom line, and far of a vested interest in accurately and evenly viewing those metrics. I'll trust their actions are based on better knowledge and experience than your opinion or mine would project.

Even if that were true, it would mean overall better service for the guests who stay, since there would be more staff than the smaller amount that cost-consciousness would dictate.

It is enough to say that you personally don't like the prospect. That I could understand and respect. Perhaps you feel that your family's enjoyment of your vacation, specifically, is undercut by the prospect. I can see how that could be the case. However, bringing this back to the point of this thread: Other families differ from yours, and there are other stakeholders in the system, including investors, who have as much right to have their objectives respected.

I'm not sure what you are trying to argue with in that last paragraph. I was simply stating things, not rendering my opinion on it.

But the thread I mentioned, which if I remember correctly was locked after it turned into a massive amount of yelling, insults, etc. pointed out the fact that it was more common than anyone expected. Is it a significant level? I don't know, but there were many opinions before that thread similar to yours that were surprised.

 

[bicker]

I'm not sure what you are trying to argue with in that last paragraph.

Only that people shouldn't feel that their own personal preference isn't enough to justify their posting an objection to a practice.

 

[doconeill]

Only that people shouldn't feel that their own personal preference isn't enough to justify their posting an objection to a practice.

Dude, you've been around the DIS far too long to expect that.

 

[bicker]

One can hope!

 

[jparc]

Although we always stay on site, I like that fastpass is available to everyone who chooses to use it!

 

[jparc]

People may get upset but they will still come to Disney.

EMH is a joke, IMO. Late hours are still incredibly crowded! And morning hours are only 1 extra hour. If they made it 2 extra morning hours, it might be worth something.

I certainly don't find that extra hour in the morning a joke. I get a heck of alot done in that one little hour!

 

[cruisingkat]

Anyone remember the YOAMD Special Fastpass? One fastpass per FP attraction, broken off the central card? Call 'em "SuperFP"s.

I'd like to see those given out on a per person basis on a package stay. After all, you're paying extra (a LOT extra) to stay on property, and the cost to Disney would be minimal -- just crank up the presses and spin out the cards. If they didn't want to do that, have them code the KTTW or ticket media to spit out an instant FP, once, to each qualifying ticket holder.

I'd give the Value guests SuperFPs to the MK, Mod guests SuperFPs to the MK and one other (their choice) and Deluxe guests SuperFPs to all four parks.

Yes it would skew the FP statistics, but Disney has the computing power and programming talent to work in the additional ride load without bunging up the whole system.

Having the freedom and flexibility this system would provide would really help make a resort stay at WDW a relaxing, fun experience with a real advantage for staying on site.

As far as EMH being a real advantage... if that's true, why do so many people avoid them?

Just my opinion...

Like your idea about giving super fast passes to resort guests but why limit it to a specific park - why not just say a super fast pass for one park of their choice for value, 2 parks for moderate, 3 parks for deluxe, and all four parks for club level. During flower and garden, star wars weekends, food & wine fest, etc., some guests only go to that one park that has the event for their entire stay. There are adults who stay at values who may come for a specific event and spend their time at the other parks and not go to MK.

 

[bellebud]

Like your idea about giving super fast passes to resort guests but why limit it to a specific park - why not just say a super fast pass for one park of their choice for value, 2 parks for moderate, 3 parks for deluxe, and all four parks for club level. During flower and garden, star wars weekends, food & wine fest, etc., some guests only go to that one park that has the event for their entire stay. There are adults who stay at values who may come for a specific event and spend their time at the other parks and not go to MK.

I really like the idea of an automatic fastpass per person on your room key. During one of our trips, we literally couldn't get on TSM the whole trip. Yes, our fault - we didn't get there at rope drop and run. But we did get there at 10am when the park opened at 9am, and the fastpasses were for after 4 or 5pm, and we knew our kids wouldn't make it that long that day. But having stayed deluxe or villa (cash), and spending a lot of money to do that, it would have been really nice to be able to get on that ride just once during our trip. Just one fastpass per person per trip even would be great. Just put it on the room key - easy! Use it at whichever park, whenever during your stay.

 

[Dacky619]

I really like the idea of an automatic fastpass per person on your room key. During one of our trips, we literally couldn't get on TSM the whole trip. Yes, our fault - we didn't get there at rope drop and run. But we did get there at 10am when the park opened at 9am, and the fastpasses were for after 4 or 5pm, and we knew our kids wouldn't make it that long that day. But having stayed deluxe or villa (cash), and spending a lot of money to do that, it would have been really nice to be able to get on that ride just once during our trip. Just one fastpass per person per trip even would be great. Just put it on the room key - easy! Use it at whichever park, whenever during your stay.

I like this idea, but not one pass per trip. Maybe one per each park day or something, otherwise you'd have people make 7 different reservations just so they could get 7 extra FP tickets during their week long stay. I would be all for them adding some FP benefit to those that stay on site, as long as those that are offsite don't lose anything.

 

[Brian Noble]

About half of our trips to Orlando are stays at WDW properties, and about half are offsite. Our onsite stays are through timeshare exchanges into DVC units. Our offsite stays are split between WDW visits and Universal/Sea World.

If Disney went this direction, and did not offer some "reasonably" priced version of it to offsite guests (as Universal does), we'd just move all of our offsite trips to Universal/Sea World. Unlike some folks here, we are not the sort for whom Only Disney Will Do. We enjoy our Universal and Sea World visits as well.

Disney's great, but we don't have the flexibility to travel in the offseason when lines are low, and it's not so great that I'm willing to stand in long lines for the attractions. There are other fun things around to be doing.

 

[Brian Noble]

More broadly, I would be very surprised to ever see this happen. I *do* expect that, eventually, onsite guests will get some preferential access to fastpass (e.g. shorter "next pull" windows, etc.) It might even be restricted to package guests (assuming, as I do, that they are more profitable per stay). But, Disney is sensitive enough to guest opinion that I doubt they'd ever do away with it entirely for the Unwashed Masses.

 

[Berlioz70]

Did a quick search - didn't see this mentioned....

What about the 62,000 Central Florida CMs that visit the parks on their days off? We would throw a fit if FPs were taken away from us and our families.

I do like the idea of one super FP per family in the welcome packet!

 

[raidermatt]

I'm surprised Disney hasn't already gone to some kind of hybrid system, where resort guests get preferential treatment but all are still able to use FP. This has been discussed for years now.

The fact that they haven't done it yet puts into doubt whether they will ever do it. It maybe that they have concluded that the impact to non-resort guests would just be too much.

For me personally, even though we stay on site I would not like to see the change. I like the idea that once in the park a guest is a guest and all have the same rights/priviledges.

 

[doconeill]

I'm surprised Disney hasn't already gone to some kind of hybrid system, where resort guests get preferential treatment but all are still able to use FP. This has been discussed for years now.

The fact that they haven't done it yet puts into doubt whether they will ever do it. It maybe that they have concluded that the impact to non-resort guests would just be too much.

For me personally, even though we stay on site I would not like to see the change. I like the idea that once in the park a guest is a guest and all have the same rights/priviledges.

There already is a preferential system, as a side effect at least. Resort guests can get FPs for most (not all) attractions during morning EMH when non-resort guests cannot. This is obviously a gigantic advantage for TSM.

Disney does have various patents regarding possible changes to FP, including things related to on-site guests. Doesn't mean they will ever implement them - just that if others implement them, they need to license it from Disney. The only thing Disney has ever mentioned is the ADR-like reservations, but we have no idea how that would be implemented yet.

 

[Planogirl]

Why do some people assume that they should receive so many extra perks just because they stay in a Disney hotel? There are other expensive hotels that don't necessarily provide perks of any sort and people seem OK with that. At WDW it's all about location plus as a PP pointed out not all of the onsite hotels are expensive.