More FastPass+ Testing Coming This Month

[jade1]

You know, if people have fastpass plus, they WILL choose 2 from that first category of second tier options. It's not like they're just going to decline. So what we might see happen is that as people start using FP for Small World and Philharmagic and the sort........... the slow times there might not be as slow and the standby line might not be quite as short.

I think in general people will indeed pick all four (2 of each) just to get 2 good ones. Most of the time the 2 lower tier will be trashed (or not necessary because of short lines anyway) IMO. Exactly like when we used to get the "bonus FP' for Shrunk the audience with a TT FP-just rolled our eyes at that one.

 

[feathersmcgraw]

I am visiting WDW in October and I am staying offsite.
If this Pass Plus thing is implemented by the time I get there, we're not going to be able to get on anything, are we? It's not like I knew anything about it when I booked

 

[KellyNY]

Duh. But in WDW, it rubs me the wrong way. Once inside the parks, I don't want to think about junk like that--it is an escapist experience for me.

I do not think it is junk. I actually believe that money approach is the most fair. Think of it this way. There is a family who has runner who can go get FPs and there is a single person with a kid in a stroller, guess who will get more FPs or get to FP machine faster. So first come first serve will leave someone out. Now money approach, and notice I am not rich girl in case you wonder, for someone to pay that much is very easy, for someone it will take more time to save, but at the end, everyone can do it and therefore it is more fair.

 

[jade1]

I can already picture people getting up early 180 days out to reserve TSM. Planners will love this and those who hate to plan won't. .

Rather get up at 180 days out when I'm up for work anyway, than up early and in that stampede when I'm supposed to be relaxing on vacation.

 

[TLSnell1981]

This idea about this being available mostly for onsite guests is interesting. I see people comment that Disney wants their guests to have more time to shop and dine and so on. Offsite visitors could also spend more money on shopping and dining. I've never seen Disney turn their noses up at money from any source.

It's funny, the orignal FP was to free up time for guest to shop and dine. A big wrinkly hit with the FP change. I don't know, if some do not dine TS enough to realize, often "reservations conflict" and things don't go smoothly.

We had a choice FP or dining...we cut dining. I attempted to do both, just one more time. Bright and early, I rang up guest dining and booked my DGD's favorite restaurant..it was her birthday. Sure, enough went to pull a FP and it was for the EXACT time as our ADR. It was a sign.

Bing to the "O".

But hey, look at how many people really like micromanaging every aspect of their "relaxing" vacation!

Structure relieves stress and makes our vacations more relaxing. We don't plan every minute, but rather have an "outline". I'm more relaxed, knowing our "must dos" are in place. We flesh out the details, once we are in the park.

**I should have used "past tense" because our WDW vacations and touring style have completely changed. We relied heavily on FP, EMH and TS... **

 

[larryz]

Rather get up at 180 days out when I'm up for work anyway, than up early and in that stampede when I'm supposed to be relaxing on vacation.

Heck, I'd be taking vacation time to check in at midnight* on my 180th day!

*or as early as possible...

 

[UNCFanatik]

I understand your point, but in my mind it brings more of a class system into the parks--an idea that rubs me the wrong way. Onsite guests get extra hours, and by my thinking that's enough. It also makes some sense since onsite guests are closer and can get to and from the resorts more easily than offsite guests.

It is interesting to note that you seemingly had little qualms about a class system when it came to classes of people that knew about the ins and outs of how Disney operates and those that didnt. One class that knew how to play the FP system and knew that there was an open return window and one class that thought you had to return within the written return time on the ticket because Disney did not WIDELY advertise otherwise. So you had a class system of those that were able to maximize the FP system and ride attractions multiple times while another class of guests did not know they could do the same.

I guess it all depends on which class you are in.

 

[Planogirl]

Only at WDW does there seem to be this notion that you should get more outside the resort just because of where you stay. Offsite guests pay just as much to walk through those park gates as someone who stays at a resort with Disney in front of the name and often they pay more for dining and also a parking fee. Now some are advocating that they stand quietly in line while only those who stay in deluxe resorts bypass them. I can't see Disney making such a distinction between park guests.

I do realize that this happens at Universal but it's no big deal with so few resorts. At least it hasn't been for us.

 

[gwmort]

Only at WDW does there seem to be this notion that you should get more outside the resort just because of where you stay. Offsite guests pay just as much to walk through those park gates as someone who stays at a resort with Disney in front of the name and often they pay more for dining and also a parking fee. Now some are advocating that they stand quietly in line while only those who stay in deluxe resorts bypass them. I can't see Disney making such a distinction between park guests.

I do realize that this happens at Universal but it's no big deal with so few resorts. At least it hasn't been for us.

really? You appear to be complaining about a double standard by employing a double standard.

No one knows how it will work yet. I doubt it will be strictly tied to the resorts. They will at least need to find a way to accommodate local annual pass holders. Then as mentioned by a PP there are the DVCers to think about (who already can't get free dining).

Looking at what is already in place I think it is more likely to be a premium upgrade on regular magic your way tickets (like park hopping or WPF&M).

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Actually, I'm looking forward to this!! We've never rode TSM because I refuse to get up early in the morning to get trampled on trying to get to a ride. I'd much rather enjoy my morning on the balcony of my resort with a cup of Joe and a croissant from Boardwalk Bakery. After this new system is introduced, hopefully, I'll be able to eat my breakfast on the balcony while getting our fast passes!!

 

[havoc315]

Going back to Walt himself, Disney has always been a capitalist enterprise. The point was never to make all people feel equal. The point was to SELL a magical experience.

If you buy a $40,000 car, you get features not found on a $20,000 car.
If you buy a $700,000 house, you get benefits not found in a $350,000 house.

Vacation destinations, resorts, Disney World are no different.

I've taken a couple cruises in my life -- in a basic inside cabin, as well as in a penthouse suite. The suite cost a lot more, and came with perks including priority seating and boarding, special dining, cocktail party with the Captain, etc.

Selling extra perks is to be expected.

Why pay $500 to stay in a deluxe onsite room instead of $75 offsite ?

Disney has every right -- it's good business -- to give perks.

And as a guest -- if I pay more, I have a right to receive more. This is a consumer product. I can't buy votes or love, etc. But we do buy consumer goods and services, including vacations.

Now, I have no clue if fp+ will be reserved to onsite guests or not. But I know that if I'm willing to spend more, I expect to receive more.
It's simple red, white and blue capitalism.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

And as a guest -- if I pay more, I have a right to receive more. This is a consumer product. I can't buy votes or love, etc. But we do buy consumer goods and services, including vacations.

Now, I have no clue if fp+ will be reserved to onsite guests or not. But I know that if I'm willing to spend more, I expect to receive more.
It's simple red, white and blue capitalism.

Oh, but you CAN buy votes ...... if you live in the great state of Illinois!!!!

(sorry, I couldn't resist, being from Chicago and all)

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

According to Jim Hill...

According to Jim Hill ...
1. Disney Quest is closing at the end of 2005.
2. Disney Quest is closing at the end of 2006.
3. Disney Quest is closing April 2007.
4. Disney Quest is closing at the end of 2007.
5. Disney Quest is closing at the end of 2009.

I'm not quite sure how much weight I'd put in Jim Hill's prognostications.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Oh, but you CAN buy votes ...... if you live in the great state of Illinois!!!!

(sorry, I couldn't resist, being from Chicago and all)

Illinois...where our governors make our license plates.

Also, I don't want to do a lot of speculating since we don't know for sure what the final rollout of X-pass will look like. But, it would be nice to have an additional perk for staying onsite. With the removal of an hour of EMH, X-pass would help (I think) make up that loss.

 

[yooperfan]

Will this be up and running by January 23rd, 2013? Sorry if this has been answered already.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Will this be up and running by January 23rd, 2013? Sorry if this has been answered already.

Disney probably won't announce the date, until a few days, before it goes into effect. IMO

 

[Planogirl]

really? You appear to be complaining about a double standard by employing a double standard.

No one knows how it will work yet. I doubt it will be strictly tied to the resorts. They will at least need to find a way to accommodate local annual pass holders. Then as mentioned by a PP there are the DVCers to think about (who already can't get free dining).

Looking at what is already in place I think it is more likely to be a premium upgrade on regular magic your way tickets (like park hopping or WPF&M).

I don't see it as a double standard at all. I see it as a possible concern for us because of the huge number of resort guests overwhelming a handful of popular rides. Fewer resort guests doesn't cause as much concern.

I think that a premium upgrade is a logical and more palatable possibility.

 

[Capt_Jack_Sparrow]

I think maybe this will be free for resort guests and a buyable add on for non-resort guests. That could be Disneys best of both worlds solution. Give a perk to resort guests, and make some extra money. Also I could see it being a tiered system for what level resort you are at. I stay at a value becuase to me the price of the more excpensive hotels is just not worth it for what you get. Now if you got more fast passes at a higher level? That might be just the tipping point for me to bump up my ressie to a moderate. And maybe other people would bump theirs up to a deluxe. I could see that working. Im plesantly surprised they don't do something like this already. And I will take advantage of it as long as I can. But, all good things come to an end, and at some point the perks of a moderate may cause me to start using them. And if Disney is smart, they should be trying to get me inot that higher level of resort.

 

[Colleen27]

I think it could make me less likely to purchase park hopper passes though.

For us, I think it would do just the opposite - we'd be far more likely to hop if we were assured of FP for certain headliners. Mornings at AK to take advantage of the cooler part of the day or at MK for the lower crowds/shorter character lines, and then hop to Epcot for Soarin' and dinner or to Studios for TSM before dinner on the Boardwalk. Being able to pre-book FPs for the headliners where they run out early would make us much more likely to visit two parks in a day.

 

[Anal Annie]

I think maybe this will be free for resort guests and a buyable add on for non-resort guests. That could be Disneys best of both worlds solution. Give a perk to resort guests, and make some extra money. Also I could see it being a tiered system for what level resort you are at. I stay at a value becuase to me the price of the more excpensive hotels is just not worth it for what you get. Now if you got more fast passes at a higher level? That might be just the tipping point for me to bump up my ressie to a moderate. And maybe other people would bump theirs up to a deluxe. I could see that working. Im plesantly surprised they don't do something like this already. And I will take advantage of it as long as I can. But, all good things come to an end, and at some point the perks of a moderate may cause me to start using them. And if Disney is smart, they should be trying to get me inot that higher level of resort.

And so where would that put those of us who have actually BOUGHT into Disney with our DVC memberships?? Would that also be tiered by how many points we own or which resort we own at?? Certainly hope not based on those 2 points...but I DO hope they recognize those of us who are obviously serious Disney geeks who were nutso enough to shell out thousands & thousands of dollars for the guarantee of being future repeat guests. DVC members had better not be left out of any perks they may have in mind. Sorry if anybody else out there disagrees but we have made a hefty financial commitment to this mouse and should be recognized as having done so.

Disney - are you reading this?? I DO NOT want to have to schedule every minute of our days any more than what we already have to (ADR's). IF (big IF) I can reserve a time for Splash Mountain for an hour later while I'm in line using my "regular" FP at Space Mountain then cool beans. But I do NOT want a system that says if I want to ride Splash Mountain at 11:00 AM on Wed., 3/27/13 that I have to reserve it as early as 6 months before then they can keep their stooopid Next Gen FP+. Or if I have to pay a lot more than what we already have paid to be there in order to get it then they can keep it. We own DVC and we buy AP's - enough with the nickel & diming already. We have already paid our fair share to see the mouse.