FP+ Window reduced to 30 days for non-resort guests

[ArwenMarie]

I'm not being critical of you, but of Disney when I say that this is largely semantic. I agree that it will not be marketed as a perk, just the way the 180+10 vs. 180 for ADRs is not marketed that way. But in the end, if you give one sub-set "a lot of time to make their picks", it is a perk. If we assume that popular rides (like 7DMT) would get wiped out on Days 60-50 once all people came on line (and we don't really know that for certain, it is just an assumption), then it would seem that those rides will NOT get wiped out durng Days 60-31 under the new approach, but may very well during Days 30-20. If that proves true, then the people who get shut out will be disproportionaltely off site guests (without opining as to whether this is "right" or "just"). If the people getting shut out are disproportionately off site guests, then it is hard to make the argument that the on-site guests have not received a perk. In the end, I am a planner. I am diligent. And I stay either on site or at the Swan/Dolphin (not sure if they will be counted as on or off site here). Either way, I don't expect to be impacted. Especially if the "throwaway room" remains a viable option.

I think we are saying the same thing. Is the throwaway room still an option? That will be interesting to see if they close that option now.

 

[JimmyV]

Ok I guess I'm going to repeat this post and see if it gets deleted again? Apparently? And if it does, I will be taking this up with the mod of the forum and possibly leaving Disboards, because I don't see anything wrong with the opinion I posted which is the following:

"I hate to nitpick, but why should I, who paid $600 for his ticket, have a smaller booking window for fp+ than someone who books 2 nights at the All-Stars and buys a 2 day ticket?"

There is nothing wrong with your opinion. But rest assured that not everyone will agree with you. While All-Star Resorts come cheap, they are still putting a little profit into Disney's pocket. As will the food that guests consume at the food court, and the soda mugs, etc. Disney values that incremental income enough to provide guests of that resort with a slight advantage. Not everyone agrees. I don't see a right or wrong answer on this one.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Ok I guess I'm going to repeat this post and see if it gets deleted again? Apparently? And if it does, I will be taking this up with the mod of the forum and possibly leaving Disboards, because I don't see anything wrong with the opinion I posted which is the following:

"I hate to nitpick, but why should I, who paid $600 for his ticket, have a smaller booking window for fp+ than someone who books 2 nights at the All-Stars and buys a 2 day ticket?"

I think that's a good point. I think from Disney's perspective, this shows that they see APs as less valuable than onsite in terms of profit. I think if I could get in Disney's brain they would say they value your business, but would value it more if you would book onsite as well.

 

[faneuil]

Ok I guess I'm going to repeat this post and see if it gets deleted again? Apparently? And if it does, I will be taking this up with the mod of the forum and possibly leaving Disboards, because I don't see anything wrong with the opinion I posted which is the following:

"I hate to nitpick, but why should I, who paid $600 for his ticket, have a smaller booking window for fp+ than someone who books 2 nights at the All-Stars and buys a 2 day ticket?"

Because that person just spent $600 for 2 days. (without addons) You spent $600 for 365.
$300/day vs. $1.64/day

I'm not saying I agree, I just think Disney sees an on-site, couple day guest as a bigger profit. They're also more likely to eat onsite, and buy more stuff.

As a local, I can say I rarely eat in the parks. I have breakfast at home, maybe a snack on the park, and then eat dinner at home. They don't make much money off of me.

 

[JimmyV]

Because that person just spent $600 for 2 days. You spent $600 for 365.
$300/day vs. $1.64/day

Only if you look at single occupancy. Compare a family of 4 staying at an All-Star Resort with 2 Day Passes (2 Adults, 2 Children) to a family of 4 all of whom have APs.

 

[freediverdude]

Well arguably I have spent more overall with my ticket and even just a couple days in the parks with my ticket with meals (although just two days would be a waste of purchasing my ticket), than the hotel stay I described, so, yep don't understand Disney's reasoning here.

 

[Jennasis]

Actually it would lead to an increase of ghost reservations as they would be allowed the 60+10.

I disagree. People just want to prebook and 30 days is plenty.

 

[Iowajes]

The title of this thread seems misleading to me (unless I missed something).
Shouldn't it be "FP+ window opened to 30 days for non-resort guests".
I mean, up till now- couldn't non-resort guests not pre-book at all? So nothing was reduced for them, and something new has been added.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

Doesn't bother me as I have been able to book even headliners at much less than 60 days out.

Baha, less than 60 days?

Hell, we booked during our WALK from Space Mountain to Splash Mountain and got straight on the ride.

 

[morethananyonex]

Baha, less than 60 days? Hell, we booked during our WALK from Space Mountain to Splash Mountain and got straight on the ride.

In 2013?

 

[JimmyV]

I am even more convinced that onsite will be getting extra FPs now as well and I think the possibility of extra FPs by resort level is more likely now.

I think at most we will see this as a seasonal promotion in an effort to fill up space in Moderates and Deluxes. During Free Dining, people book the Value Resorts solid, but they leave the Deluxes alone. $60 a day of Disney Food is not worth the cost of a Deluxe Room at rack rate. So usually they will run a 30% off promotion to fill those rooms (and still fail). Perhaps we will see a 10%-15% promotion with some extra FPs thrown in. But I can't see how they could make this offer during busy times when the system could not support more FPs, nor do I see why they would want to make that offer during times when the resorts are pretty full. Save the benefit for times when they need it.

 

[2Tiggies]

I predict throwaway rooms are about to become very popular

We stay onsite but like to meet up with local and offsite friends when we go. Planning to actually do stuff in the park together is posing a challenge to say the least.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think at most we will see this as a seasonal promotion in an effort to fill up space in Moderates and Deluxes. During Free Dining, people book the Value Resorts solid, but they leave the Deluxes alone. $60 a day of Disney Food is not worth the cost of a Deluxe Room at rack rate. So usually they will run a 30% off promotion to fill those rooms (and still fail). Perhaps we will see a 10%-15% promotion with some extra FPs thrown in. But I can't see how they could make this offer during busy times when the system could not support more FPs, nor do I see why they would want to make that offer during times when the resorts are pretty full. Save the benefit for times when they need it.

I think if they want to do this, they will just take them away from the offsite FP pool and this 60/30 day difference will help do that. At 30 days, what's left is left. We'll see, just speculating.

 

[ArwenMarie]

The title of this thread seems misleading to me (unless I missed something).
Shouldn't it be "FP+ window opened to 30 days for non-resort guests".
I mean, up till now- couldn't non-resort guests not pre-book at all? So nothing was reduced for them, and something new has been added.

So all offsite customers (whether AP or not) can prebook now?

 

[morethananyonex]

I predict throwaway rooms are about to become very popular We stay onsite but like to meet up with local and offsite friends when we go. Planning to actually do stuff in the park together is posing a challenge to say the least.

Why? 30 days in advance has not proven to be an issue yet. Even night before has been okay for most things.

There's less incentive to get a throwaway room now for an AP holder.

I do wonder how this is going to work for AP holders who already unlocked the 60 day window with a previous onsite stay. Is their window going to be reduced to 30?

 

[faneuil]

Only if you look at single occupancy. Compare a family of 4 staying at an All-Star Resort with 2 Day Passes (2 Adults, 2 Children) to a family of 4 all of whom have APs.

Very true. The way he worded it was why I did what I did.

The other way comes to (1812/2/4) 226.50 per person per day. (or 906 per day)
Versus, ($2400/365/4) 1.64 per person, per day. (or 6.575 per day)

So the family staying two days is still a bigger quick revenue in Disney's eyes.

I just used Disney's web site, and got the cheapest room I could for next weekend to do this. I did zero add ons to the 2 day stay.
Since the poster said he/she paid $600, I used premium annual passes.

Even if you have an annual pass and only go 20 times a year, that's still only $30 day.

Again, I'm not saying I agree with Disney's reasoning, I'm just speculating as to where they're coming from with this.

 

[JimmyV]

Why? 30 days in advance has not proven to be an issue yet. Even night before has been okay for most things.

We are all guessing here, (ain't this fun??), but I would tend to agree with this. The "strategists" who would consider booking a throwaway room are probably the same people who will hit "click" at midnight on the 30th Day out, and I predict that those people will get everything they want. Now, if this proves to be untrue and the Mine Train is gone before the 30th Day, then I will retract this and deny I ever posted it!

 

[mm1971]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/mymag...reduced-to-30-days-for-annual-passholders.htm

The FastPass+ reservation window has been reduced to 30 days for Annual Passholders not staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel.

Thoughts? This is huge. Resort guests now get first access (by 30 days) to booking the primo rides. Or is this old news?

I know I'll get a lot of heat for this opinion and the "fair" fairy is not cooperating, but I don't understand why you think staying off property should include the same benefits as those that choose to stay on. WDW is a business. If they didn't provide added benefits, no one would stay on property.

I understand you are an annual pass holder, but the benefit of that is given to you, not necessarily Disney. You buy a discounted ticket to go whenever you want. They make less $$ than those that buy tickets for the duration of the stay.

You still get the 30 day benefit, so that is better than non pass holders. I guess I just don't understand why everyone cannot make the logical conclusion that Disney wants every guest to stay on property in a perfect world. The world is not perfect, so they need to have some way of providing added value to those willing to pay the extra $$ to stay on property.

OK, let it fly. I'm ready for everyone to tell me that they are now staying away and not going anymore and they should be ashamed of themselves. That everyone should have the same benefits. I guess I just don't agree that buying a ticket is the same as booking a vacation.

 

[mom2rtk]

Ok I guess I'm going to repeat this post and see if it gets deleted again? Apparently? And if it does, I will be taking this up with the mod of the forum and possibly leaving Disboards, because I don't see anything wrong with the opinion I posted which is the following:

"I hate to nitpick, but why should I, who paid $600 for his ticket, have a smaller booking window for fp+ than someone who books 2 nights at the All-Stars and buys a 2 day ticket?"

But how much are you spending per FP slot (over the life of the ticket) compared to that person on a 2 day ticket?

 

[JeremyGNJ]

OK i'm confused here. If you're an AP holder, or not staying at the resorts....

How do they know when you will be at the parks?