Is Park Hopper+ in our future?

[MrsSilvaStrat]

In reading all the posts about the issues with FP+, and going through some of them myself, I can't help but wonder how Disney will make changes to this system. I expect that they will make changes that not only make it easier for the consumer, but also are revenue friendly. So my thought is, is the Park Hopper + option what is in our future? Do you think Disney will be offering Park Hopper + which will give you the ability to FP+ at more than one park? Instead of raising the price of the general park hopper, will they give us the option between regular PH as we know it and a higher priced version that allows additional fast pass options. Or, alternatively, is it more likely that they will offer purchase of additional fast passes at individual prices? Or a combination of both? Would more options be helpful to win over the guests that are unhappy with FP+ system in place, and is this where we expect Disney to go?

Love to hear what others think is coming our way

 

[Robo]

In reading all the posts about the issues with FP+, and going through some of them myself, I can't help but wonder how Disney will make changes to this system. I expect that they will make changes that not only make it easier for the consumer, but also are revenue friendly. So my thought is, is the Park Hopper + option what is in our future? Do you think Disney will be offering Park Hopper + which will give you the ability to FP+ at more than one park? Instead of raising the price of the general park hopper, will they give us the option between regular PH as we know it and a higher priced version that allows additional fast pass options. Or, alternatively, is it more likely that they will offer purchase of additional fast passes at individual prices? Or a combination of both? Would more options be helpful to win over the guests that are unhappy with FP+ system in place, and is this where we expect Disney to go?

Love to hear what others think is coming our way

Maybe.

But, with the REASON that they have to implement the limit of 3 FP+ and "tiering" of popular attractions
in the first place (limit of actual availability per day,)
it is less likely that they would actually be able to offer very many "extras" for sale.

 

[ArwenMarie]

There was that thread on the Rumors and News board that said that extra FPs will be sold $9.99 to $14.99...per ride. So that's interesting to think about.

I personally don't think they will ever sell them outright because I think that their priority will be to use whatever extras they have as incentives to stay onsite and at the higher levels of resort.

I fully expect tiering by resort at some point.

 

[nugov2]

I agree we don't know, but I would be shocked if it didn't go to some kind of pay for more system. I think this is just WDW way of easing us from an all free system into a part free part paid system. I never thought of a PH+ option, but that is a good idea. I think there will probably be multiple options. More for deluxe, FP that are sent to you on the spot available to purchase. $5 per fp/per ride doesn't seem like a lot when you are in massive crowds and your child really wants on pp. You get an alert PP FP 5:45-6:45 for $5 per person. You have 10 minutes to confirm reservation or the option disappears and moves on to someone else. You have been in 105 degree heat and waiting in huge lines...you think hey $20 seems like a bargain to get onto another ride without a wait right now. Plus just the simple purchase more from each tier. $5 lowest tier $15 for the highest tier.

 

[morethananyonex]

My guess (and it's a complete guess) is in order to book in a second park you will have to be physically present in that park in order to minimize waste assuming people can book in multiple parks just incase they decide to go there if they didn't have to be in the park.

 

[MrsSilvaStrat]

Maybe.

But, with the REASON that they have to implement the limit of 3 FP+ and "tiering" of popular attractions
in the first place (limit of actual availability per day,)
it is less likely that they would actually be able to offer very many "extras" for sale.

Well, do we believe the "reason", or do we think this is just the foundation to be able to sell extras?

 

[MrsSilvaStrat]

There was that thread on the Rumors and News board that extra FPs will be sold $9.99 to $14.99...per ride. So that's interesting to think about.

I personally don't think they will ever sell them outright because I think that their priority will be to use whatever extras they have as incentives to stay onsite and at the higher levels of resort.

I fully expect tiering by resort at some point.

This is an interesting concept. I might rather have the "extras" price rolled into the resort cost, then feel like I am being nickle'd and dime'd.

 

[JimmyV]

Maybe.

But, with the REASON that they have to implement the limit of 3 FP+ and "tiering" of popular attractions
in the first place (limit of actual availability per day,)
it is less likely that they would actually be able to offer very many "extras" for sale.

I agree with this. Were they to allow park hopping, then I think they would have to break all attractions into tiers, irrespective of park, and allow only one per day from the most popular tier. The way FP+ is designed to alter traffic patterns, it wouldn't make sense for Disney to allow you to pre-book a FP+ for TSM, and then one for Soarin' and then one for Space Mountain all for the same day. As guest, we might love that. But this defeats the overall objective of what Disney is trying to do, which is to space the crowd out among all attractions as much as possible. So maybe they could permit the hopping option, but you would still be limited to selecting one of the above, as they would all be in the highest tier.

 

[MrsSilvaStrat]

I agree we don't know, but I would be shocked if it didn't go to some kind of pay for more system. I think this is just WDW way of easing us from an all free system into a part free part paid system. I never thought of a PH+ option, but that is a good idea. I think there will probably be multiple options. More for deluxe, FP that are sent to you on the spot available to purchase. $5 per fp/per ride doesn't seem like a lot when you are in massive crowds and your child really wants on pp. You get an alert PP FP 5:45-6:45 for $5 per person. You have 10 minutes to confirm reservation or the option disappears and moves on to someone else. You have been in 105 degree heat and waiting in huge lines...you think hey $20 seems like a bargain to get onto another ride without a wait right now. Plus just the simple purchase more from each tier. $5 lowest tier $15 for the highest tier.

Very true - I can relate to these scenarios. We all spend a good deal of hard earned dough at WDW. I'm sure I'd be suckered into paying even more for these options

 

[Robo]

Well, do we believe the "reason", or do we think this is just the foundation to be able to sell extras?

There are things that logic tells us.
Many of us have weighed the "numbers" in regard to FP/FP+ever since
FP+ was first announced.

They only have FP+ "tiers" at two of the parks (Epcot and DHS.)

If there was a pending "sales of FP+" issue, they could have put tiers in at all four parks
from the beginning.

There is also reason to speculate that when the Seven Dwarf's Mine Train opens at MK, that park may add tiers (and, possibly DAK at that time, too, just to be more "consistent.")

All we can look at is what has happened so far and gauge the reasons
based on the numbers that we can piece together.

 

[MrsSilvaStrat]

My guess (and it's a complete guess) is in order to book in a second park you will have to be physically present in that park in order to minimize waste assuming people can book in multiple parks just incase they decide to go there if they didn't have to be in the park.

I wonder how that is working out now. Are people finding that they can get on popular rides at rope drop, and then "waste" a fast pass for the same ride later, or are they actually taking advantage of being able to make the changes on the MDE app or FP+ kiosk?

I know in our situation, we have FP+ scheduled for our favorites, but if there is no wait in the morning, we probably will be somewhere else in the park, or the kids will be napping, or I will be too busy having Dole Whip time, and we will not come back for the later scheduled FP. I'm not going to want to change the schedule for 9 people on the fly too often, so I do expect to have some wasted FP. In the past, we would have handed our paper FP to other families waiting in standby. I will miss doing that.

 

[JimmyV]

There was that thread on the Rumors and News board that extra FPs will be sold $9.99 to $14.99...per ride. So that's interesting to think about.

I personally don't think they will ever sell them outright because I think that their priority will be to use whatever extras they have as incentives to stay onsite and at the higher levels of resort.

I fully expect tiering by resort at some point.

One of the ways that Disney escapes the complaint of high prices is to hide the prices in packages, Dining Plans and multi-day passes, sort of the way casinos hide the fact that you are spending money by making you use chips. Very little of what Disney sells as entertainment is transparently laid out there in cash. It would really stick out like a sore thumb if Disney started charging a family of 4 $40-$60 dollars per ride for FP access. Instead, I would predict different levels of passes, (as opposed to tiering by resort). In other words, while a 5 Day Park Hopper with 3 FP+ per day currently costs $371, perhaps a 5 Day Park Hopper with 5 FP+ per day will cost $500. Your 10 extra FP+s (2 per day for 5 days) might raise the ticket price by $129, which comes out to $13 per FP. More or less invisible as compared to selling individual FP+s. And once you roll that ticket price into a complete Magic Your Way package with room and Dining Plan, it becomes even less visible. But I don't see this tied to resorts, the way the DxDP is not tied to resorts. Anyone can upgrade to the DxDP, and I would expect anyone to be able to buy a more expensive pass. But in the end, there has to be a limit to the number of FP+ that each guest gets, or else the system will collapse under its own weight/wait.

 

[jrsharp21]

on another board, I was discussing that I think that the ability to book FP+ in advance is going to be an onsite perk or an additional add on to your tickets if you are staying offsite. I was thinking just like now they charge an additional fee to add park hopping to your base tickets, they will then offer the ability to book FP+ in advanced for additional fee. If you choose not to add it, you will only be able to book FP+ the day you enter the park. But if you stay onsite, booking FP+ is included in your package.

No background or rumors to this, just me thinking out loud.

 

[MrsSilvaStrat]

Robo - interesting point. Why no tiers in MK? It would seem that park would be in most need of it if their reasons hold true.

I feel like I need to depose a Disney exec for answers! lol

 

[MrsSilvaStrat]

No background or rumors to this, just me thinking out loud.

 

[Robo]

on another board, I was discussing that I think that the ability to book FP+ in advance is going to be an onsite perk or an additional add on to your tickets if you are staying offsite. I was thinking just like now they charge an additional fee to add park hopping to your base tickets, they will then offer the ability to book FP+ in advanced for additional fee. If you choose not to add it, you will only be able to book FP+ the day you enter the park. But if you stay onsite, booking FP+ is included in your package.

No background or rumors to this, just me thinking out loud.

It might help to know that the idea of 'charging extra' for park hopping actually comes from the institution of the "Magic Your Way" ticketing.

In previous times, all guests -those who "park hopped" and those who didn't-
had to pay full price for tickets that allowed the hopping.

After MYW, guests who choose to not "park hop" don't have to pay a fee for something they did not need.

It's a fine distinction, but it can affect your theory.

 

[MrsSilvaStrat]

It would really stick out like a sore thumb if Disney started charging a family of 4 $40-$60 dollars per ride for FP access. .

True story. That sounds bad! It would have to work out to an amount that sounds more friendlier to guests. Or, you are right, "hidden" to the guests.

 

[johde]

Robo - interesting point. Why no tiers in MK? It would seem that park would be in most need of it if their reasons hold true.

I feel like I need to depose a Disney exec for answers! lol

As far as one possible reason for no tiers yet at MK is that there have been enough attractions guest find "worthy" of FP+'s to keep the system in check between: SM, SplM, BTMRR, ETWB, PP, all the various M&G that can get long lines. Limiting people to just 3 is "tiering" enough for right now.

 

[ArwenMarie]

One of the ways that Disney escapes the complaint of high prices is to hide the prices in packages, Dining Plans and multi-day passes, sort of the way casinos hide the fact that you are spending money by making you use chips. Very little of what Disney sells as entertainment is transparently laid out there in cash. It would really stick out like a sore thumb if Disney started charging a family of 4 $40-$60 dollars per ride for FP access. Instead, I would predict different levels of passes, (as opposed to tiering by resort). In other words, while a 5 Day Park Hopper with 3 FP+ per day currently costs $371, perhaps a 5 Day Park Hopper with 5 FP+ per day will cost $500. Your 10 extra FP+s (2 per day for 5 days) might raise the ticket price by $129, which comes out to $13 per FP. More or less invisible as compared to selling individual FP+s. And once you roll that ticket price into a complete Magic Your Way package with room and Dining Plan, it becomes even less visible. But I don't see this tied to resorts, the way the DxDP is not tied to resorts. Anyone can upgrade to the DxDP, and I would expect anyone to be able to buy a more expensive pass. But in the end, there has to be a limit to the number of FP+ that each guest gets, or else the system will collapse under its own weight/wait.

That's an interesting concept, I could see that too. Tiering by resort would do the same thing...hide the price in a sense. I still think their main goal is to increase occupancy and preferably at their most expensive hotels, so I'm betting on tiering that way, but I could see this too. They certainly already do that with tickets.

 

[ArwenMarie]

As far as one possible reason for no tiers yet at MK is that there have been enough attractions guest find "worthy" of FP+'s to keep the system in check between: SM, SplM, BTMRR, ETWB, PP, all the various M&G that can get long lines. Limiting people to just 3 is "tiering" enough for right now.

Yep. They did have that fourth FP back in the summer for MK, but that went away.

The most interesting part of this will be to see what happens when 7DMT opens.