NextGen/xPass Making the News Again

[Ramsfan28]

Since this is all speculation, it seems to me that Disney is trying to create this Xpass system to make it more desirable to stay on property for its guests. I would be surprised if people staying on property are not awarded more perks with this system, but really who knows and who knows how something like that would work.

The article was correct in that Disney wants your $$, they are a business and will do whatever they can to make you want to stay in the park longer and perhaps spend less time waiting to go on a ride.

If you aren't in line, you can be buying food and shopping.

 

[mom2rtk]

I agree. I don't think they are going to have a majority of on-site guests making advance reservations for all their attractions. The logistics of doing that and making it run smoothly are unwieldy at best.

I'm sure someone brainstormed that it would be great if everyone could just show up at their predetermined time for a ride and there wouldn't be a line anymore. Until I see that actually happen, I won't believe it's possible across all attractions and all the parks.

On the other hand, I can see a lot of people reserving one headliner ride time per day. That way you don't need to have a rigid schedule ride after ride, but are guaranteed your spot on the one ride with little waiting.

And the spots for TSMM would be gone each day in .... what..... 60 seconds?

This is gonna be fascinating to see unfold. I expect some bumps along the way.

 

[Balt ravens fan]

And the spots for TSMM would be gone each day in .... what..... 60 seconds?

This is gonna be fascinating to see unfold. I expect some bumps along the way.

How about building another good family ride in DHS? What a novel idea

That will help the lines more than anything else.

Just go to Disneyland/California adventure and see how having a lot of rides/attractions helps the lines.

I don't understand why they keep adding cool stuff out there and WDW gets the shaft.

 

[Robo]

Could it be that this whole "X-Pass" thing is just a PR promotion?

A catchy high-tech-sounding name (like X-Box) but it's really just another "Year of a Million Dreams" kind of situation with a "Dream FastPass" arrangement for "selected guests?"

That would be so much easier to accomplish.
Resort parties and other guests would "hope that they'd get picked" to do all of these pre-arranged option choices.


I doubt it, but it would answer so many questions and solve so many problems.

 

[mom2rtk]

How about building another good family ride in DHS? What a novel idea

Well, now you're just talking crazy.

They certainly put a lot of love into Fantasyland, and I can't wait to see it. But when it's all said and done it's only a net of what.... one new ride? I'm sure that will absorb a lot of people, but it's still just one additional ride.

 

[Robo]

And, while we're at it.

Is/was there an overwhelming PROBLEM with riding attractions at WDW?

Is Xbox (I mean Xpass) designed to "solve" this big PROBLEM of guests getting to ride attractions?

Now, I can hear everyone screaming "Toy Story Mania" and "Soarin'" and "Space Mountain," and "Safari," and a few more.

But, guess what... if riding THOSE attractions are the problems we want to solve,
Xcalibur (I mean Xpass) can't fix it.
There are not enough
ride positions to steal from current FP (and some standby) to make sure
everyone, every day who wants to, can reserve a ride on those headliners.

So, won't Xcel (I mean Xpass) actually stir up MORE problems
(or make them more noticeable) for average guests?
I mean, "Hey we TRIED EVERY DAY FOR WEEKS to get everyone in our family a pass to ride
TSM and we couldn't do it!"

They have already stirred up a mess o' bad feelings with their core fans by
dropping the very handy for CM's and guests, alike, "after-window same-day FP use"
which appeared to operate without major down-side
for over a decade at both WDW and DLR.

Xpedia (I mean Xpass) looks like it could fester up into a classic case of
the "unintended consequences" of making arbitrary changes.


.

 

[mjp12831]

Here's the big problem. Easy and free means that everyone will use it.

Ever dine at WDW during a busy time? They overbook tables for no shows, which when people do show up means that your 5pm dinner is a 6:30 dinner.

If this next gen idea is what people think - what stops me from reserving rides on TSM, but then on the fly deciding I don't want to go to HS that day??

I'm sure that the actual next gen idea will be something spactacular that I can't imagine, however, I am afraid. Mostly because they just took a system that worked very well for everyone and tossed it out.

 

[WillAustin]

There are not enough ride positions to steal from current FP (and some standby) to make sure everyone, every day who wants to, can reserve a ride on those headliners.

So, won't Xcel (I mean Xpass) actually stir up MORE problems
(or make them more noticeable) for average guests?
I mean, "Hey we TRIED EVERY DAY FOR WEEKS to get everyone in our family a pass to ride TSM and we couldn't do it!"

I see that happening. You'll probably be able to reserve as a group, but, in a system available to all on-site resort guests, there won't be enough spots for everyone.

 

[Reddog1134]

If this next gen idea is what people think - what stops me from reserving rides on TSM, but then on the fly deciding I don't want to go to HS that day??

It would have the same effect as pulling a Fastpass and then not using it. Everyone in the standby line would just move up one slot.

You can't compare dining reservations to standing in line for an attraction. They are 2 different animals.

 

[mom2rtk]

And, while we're at it.

Is/was there an overwhelming PROBLEM with riding attractions at WDW?

Is Xbox (I mean Xpass) designed to "solve" this big PROBLEM of guests getting to ride attractions?

Now, I can hear everyone screaming "Toy Story Mania" and "Soarin'" and "Space Mountain," and "Safari," and a few more.

But, guess what... if riding THOSE attractions are the problems we want to solve,
Xcalibur (I mean Xpass) can't fix it.
There are not enough
ride positions to steal from current FP (and some standby) to make sure
everyone, every day who wants to, can reserve a ride on those headliners.

So, won't Xcel (I mean Xpass) actually stir up MORE problems
(or make them more noticeable) for average guests?
I mean, "Hey we TRIED EVERY DAY FOR WEEKS to get everyone in our family a pass to ride
TSM and we couldn't do it!"

They have already stirred up a mess o' bad feelings with their core fans by
dropping the very handy for CM's and guests, alike, "after-window same-day FP use"
which appeared to operate without major down-side
for over a decade at both WDW and DLR.

Xpedia (I mean Xpass) looks like it could fester up into a classic case of
the "unintended consequences" of making arbitrary changes.


.

Well...... it would be NEW.....

And it DOES have "X" in the name........

So it HAS to be better......... right?

FWIW..... I'm one who marvels at how many people think "change" always assumes it's for the better.

No matter what you call it.... or how you dress it up..... ride capacity is "X". And that "X" is a constant in this equation. The problem is that Disney wants to expand the universe of people chasing that constant. I'm just not seeing how technology will help that.

"X"...... is still "X".

Fingers crossed for a classic "new coke" sort of experience here.

 

[Reddog1134]

Fingers crossed for a classic "new coke" sort of experience here.

Isn't that an oxymoron?

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

~I can't wait for xPass, it's going to be fabulous!

 

[mom2rtk]

Isn't that an oxymoron?

Yep. And pretty fitting I'd say.

 

[mesaboy2]

Here's the big problem. Easy and free means that everyone will use it.

I don't know about that. Is FastPass that difficult? Yet how many people do we run into in the parks who either don't know about it, or don't realize it's free?

And it DOES have "X" in the name........

So it HAS to be better......... right?

I'm gonna start a petition to call it "FastPass 2.0".

 

[doconeill]

I don't know about that. Is FastPass that difficult? Yet how many people do we run into in the parks who either don't know about it, or don't realize it's free?



I'm gonna start a petition to call it "FastPass 2.0".

For that matter, how many go to WDW without any dining reservations at all, and get upset that they can't eat at any table service location they choose?

Of course, that has reportedly gotten better after the new cancellation rules took effect.

Wait a sec! We can solve some of the problems! Don't show up for an xPASS time? $5 fee, auto-charged to your room.

 

[Reddog1134]

The only thing I know for sure about Xpass, is that Wolverine will appear on every cover.

(Little joke for my fellow comic nerds on the boards)

 

[mbrittb00]

Disney might not consider them anything but value AND you might not consider them anything but value, BUT I guarantee the person who paid 265 dollars a night will consider them Deluxe. And some will make a stink, or decide NOT to stay in them if they don't get XPASS.

Some people will be oblivious, but some will not.

Just sayin.

(Of course this is all based on speculation - which we have NO IDEA how, if or when they wouldn implement XPASS.)

I would also like to say could they please STOP spending money on XPASS and start spending money on some new attractions that will make Disney more money than anything - Just ask the executives over at Universal who built Harry Potter, they are having trouble counting all the money they are raking in.

XPASS will NOT, I repeat NOT attract new guests. Something like Harry Potter will.

Have you ever seen a FASTPASS machine on a commercial for Disney? The dumbo ride - yes - fireworks - yes - a Princess, Mickey Mouse, the Castle - yes yes yes. A Fast Pass machine or Ticket - never. Correct me if I am wrong.

What your not considering is that the Value Suites are designed to sleep 6 people (we can debate this practicality of this fact another time). Thus to get the same sleeping capacity at a Deluxe resort you would have to get two rooms, so you would need to double the price of the Deluxe Resort to make an accurate comparison.

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

No matter what you call it.... or how you dress it up..... ride capacity is "X". And that "X" is a constant in this equation. The problem is that Disney wants to expand the universe of people chasing that constant. I'm just not seeing how technology will help that.

"X"...... is still "X".

The flaw in your thinking is that ride capacity is not constant for all rides. Some rides can increase or decrease their capacity as needed. The way Xpass could help that (or at least help Disney) is to be able to more accurately predict when the capacity of those rides needs to be increased or decreased. Running a ride at a higher capacity than needed would result in more wear and tear which, in turn, requires more maintenance and upkeep which is costlier. The reverse is also true in that the quicker that Disney can get people on and off a ride the quicker the patron is able to get back to buying things (you can't buy anything standing in a line). The overall impact of Xpass will be cumulative from a Disney perspective and all the little improvements and efficiencies will add up to increased profits. If the estimated costs for Xpass are $1 billion as stated then Disney is probably projecting $2-4 billion in additional profits depending on how they structure their business cases. You don't do this type of project just to break even on it.

 

[doconeill]

What your not considering is that the Value Suites are designed to sleep 6 people (we can debate this practicality of this fact another time). Thus to get the same sleeping capacity at a Deluxe resort you would have to get two rooms, so you would need to double the price of the Deluxe Resort to make an accurate comparison.

Or look at the villas...but they will run a LOT more. To fit six, it's a 2BR unit, and they run around $800/night. But you get a kitchen, and it will actually sleep 8 (or 9 at some).

Suites at the deluxes seem to all be in club level, so you're paying even more, but a "deluxe room - club level" which sleeps 6 at WL is $655.

So saying there's not much difference between an AoA suite that sleeps 6 at $240, and a deluxe room that sleeps 6 at $600+, is a wee bit off...

 

[doconeill]

The flaw in your thinking is that ride capacity is not constant for all rides. Some rides can increase or decrease their capacity as needed. The way Xpass could help that (or at least help Disney) is to be able to more accurately predict when the capacity of those rides needs to be increased or decreased. Running a ride at a higher capacity than needed would result in more wear and tear which, in turn, requires more maintenance and upkeep which is costlier. The reverse is also true in that the quicker that Disney can get people on and off a ride the quicker the patron is able to get back to buying things (you can't buy anything standing in a line). The overall impact of Xpass will be cumulative from a Disney perspective and all the little improvements and efficiencies will add up to increased profits. If the estimated costs for Xpass are $1 billion as stated then Disney is probably projecting $2-4 billion in additional profits depending on how they structure their business cases. You don't do this type of project just to break even on it.

But there is a maximum capacity that cannot be exceeded, and the peak days you would expect to be running it at full tilt. And I have doubts that the frontrunners like Soarin' and TSM ever operate at less than full capacity except for very rare times.

Then, if they base Fastpass/xPASS issue on expected capacity needs, and they are wrong, what happens?

And as far as not spending while in lines - well, that was the argument for Fastpass as well...and reportedly that didn't have the desired effect either.