NextGen/xPass Making the News Again

[smitch425]

Perhaps the title of the thread should be changed since it is not accurate information. Or perhaps deleted altogether???

 

[buzzCMlightyear]

From what I have learned from people implementing this system, it will not be paid.

 

[FairydustyPrincesses]

I wouldn't trust what the news outlets say anyway. When they reported the fp time enforcement they said it was a paid service. Perhaps the emphasis on FREE here was a correction for their first story error - assuming xpass too would be free

 

[minnie mum]

I think that until Disney actually comes out with some hard facts and numbers on the new XPass system, the only thing that can come from all this speculating is a rise in everybody's blood pressure. Better to just wait and see what is actually going to happern. And THEN get upset about it.

 

[aubriee]

Yep, that is basically what I said too . We used to be commandos when we first started going to Disney, but now that we are DVC members and go once, if not twice a year for extended periods of time, we like to meander around the parks and do whatever we want with no specific plans. The only planning we really do for a Disney vacation these days are which parks we are going to on which days and making ADRs because we like to eat at some of top priority restaurants. Don't get me wrong, the concept sounds great and very futuristic but I too think in the end it will be a huge headache to those trying to plan a vacation.

As an AP holder I go 4-6 times a year. Other than making ADRs at 180 days out, I seldom ever make plans anymore. Other than keeping my ADRs I don't even plan what park I'm going to. I never even look at EMHs anymore. I usually get up early every morning to make rope drop, just piddle around whatever park I decided to go to that morning, go back to the resort to relax in the afternoon, then go to my dinner ADR that night in whatever park the ADR happens to be in (or whichever park is closest to the resort the ADR is at).


[/QUOTE]Actually, I hope that the booking window for FPs (assuming it is even how we are speculating it will work) will only be a couple of weeks in advance and is not 6 months like ADRs. I've said it many times...180 days is ludicrous for ADRs - and would be even worse for FPs.[/QUOTE]

Personally I like the 180 days for ADRs. I always have several vacations in the planning mode and have no trouble keeping up with the dates I need to make my ADRs. I just have the dates marked on the calender that sits just above my computer. I currently have ADRs booked for both my May and Sept trips and as of April 31st will have ADRs booked for my Oct/Nov trip too. I already have a list of places I want to eat for that trip.

Won't this make it more stressful? We need to be over here so we can't stop to enjoy what we happen to bump into?

I agree! The new system will not allow for anytime to stop and smell the roses. I can see myself telling my 3 y/o GS that he can't stop to play in the fountain or the playground or can't ride Carpets of Alladin again, because we have to get to a certain ride by a certain time.

all i know is we did our first ever Universal Studios trip a couple weeks ago and had the unlimited xpress pass. all i can say is i would gladly pay for a fastpass option like Universal's xpress pass to be available at WDW/DLCA. it makes the day completely care free. i have to say i'd pretty much be willing to pay whatever they charge, it was that good IMHO

While I agree with you, that's never going to happen. It would not be feasible for WDW. Universal has only three resorts while WDW has what 19 resorts (plus Swan/Dolphin)? On any given day WDW has thousands more people than Universal. Like us most people would be willing to pay for the front of the line pass that Universal offers to their guests. I know for our Oct/Nov trip we are staying either one or two nights over at Universal solely for that front of the line priviledge they offer onsite guests.

 

[aubriee]

Hopefully, the food ordering part will just be something you can do from an iPad or smart phone. Near the front of the line for Splash (or using your FP that you reserved 6 months ago )? You can enter your Pecos Bill order on your device, and when you get there in 15 minutes or whatever, it's ready.

Actually, I hope that the booking window for FPs (assuming it is even how we are speculating it will work) will only be a couple of weeks in advance and is not 6 months like ADRs. I've said it many times...180 days is ludicrous for ADRs - and would be even worse for FPs.

Those neanderthals would just have to do it the ol-fashioned way.

I'm not a Neanderthal. I just don't like to carry my smart phone into the parks. I'm on vacation and like to get away from the real world. I use my phone to check in with my family every morning and every night, but otherwise my cell phone stays in the room safe. I like to travel as light as possible and again do not want to be connected to the real world. I may or may not have a small camera in my pocket and the only other thing that I carry into the park is a small divider thingy that easily fits into a pocket. It holds my AP, TiW card, a cc, a little cash, and my room key. I always go hands free and bags free. Why should I have to a carry a phone if I don't want to? I hate to see people walking around the parks with their cell phones glued to their ears. For God's sake you're on vacation, leave the cell phones in the room.

I'm glad I'm not the only one not liking this idea.

I don't see how anyone could possible like this idea. It takes the spontaniety out of a vacation.

 

[kaligal]

The more I hear about this, the less I like it.

Appointments to eat, appointments to ride stuff. We're going to need day-timers for our vacations. No, kids! Can't ride Buzz again! We have to be at Splash Mtn in ten minutes!

FP enforcement is bad enough. This is ridiculous.

I also am not impressed that people will call me by name, the way clerks do after they read it on your credit card. Is there anyone so pathetic that they feel better when someone reads their name to them?

And I do not like wristbands.

 

[stargazertechie]

foxnews had an article on it today saying it would be free as posted in another thread

"Visitors planning their trip would go on the xPASS website and use the free service which allows you to reserve experiences, including ride times, exclusive meet-and-greets with Disney characters, even viewing spots for the nightly fireworks. The xPASS system would also help to avoid lines at restaurants by ordering food in advance."

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/04/18/whole-new-world-for-whole-new-disney/

I have a feeling it will be FREE... For guests of certain WDW resorts... Just like ME and EMH are free

 

[mesaboy2]

I have a feeling it will be FREE... For guests of certain WDW resorts... Just like ME and EMH are free

I have a hope it will be free...for all...just like FastPass and resort transportation are free.

If it has to come, then that's what I want.

 

[icc2515]

I am sure it will start out free. I am also equally sure it will turn paid. Disney is not investing close to a billion not to make back some money. Maybe value get 2 reservation times per day, moderate 3, and deluxe 4. It happens now with free dining. Then later on maybe you can only get the reservations on a certain package like adding dining just check the box would you like to add Xpass to you reservation. Park hoppers and no expire tickets used to be free also.

Also transportation is not free. They used to make everybody buy a transportation ticket then they rolled it into the resort price.

 

[igk]

The more I hear about this, the less I like it.

Appointments to eat, appointments to ride stuff. We're going to need day-timers for our vacations. No, kids! Can't ride Buzz again! We have to be at Splash Mtn in ten minutes!

FP enforcement is bad enough. This is ridiculous.

I also am not impressed that people will call me by name, the way clerks do after they read it on your credit card. Is there anyone so pathetic that they feel better when someone reads their name to them?

And I do not like wristbands.

Agreed. Hopefully someone in the Disney decision-making process reads these threads and takes note of the opinions posted. Best form of market research IMO.

 

[SaraJayne]

Those neanderthals would just have to do it the ol-fashioned way.

Why the eye roll? I was pointing out a very logical obvious flaw in the idea.

There are so many logical obvious things wrong with NextGen, I thought the disney suits might need some help.

 

[mom2rtk]

Agreed. Hopefully someone in the Disney decision-making process reads these threads and takes note of the opinions posted. Best form of market research IMO.

I think if they read these threads there might have been some advance notice given for the TT refurb.

 

[Robo]

Also transportation is not free. They used to make everybody buy a transportation ticket then they rolled it into the resort price.

I've been around a long time.
I don't remember buying a WDW monorail ticket.

 

[AlohaLily]

"Free" as in if you stay at a Disney resort you will have access to the pass? Or "free" as in if you buy a park ticket you will have access to the pass.

Fastpass is not technically free because you are paying for your park ticket and you can only get a fastpass with the park ticket. So I suppose we are referring to everyone having access to this pass if you buy a park ticket?

 

[Robo]

"Free" as in if you stay at a Disney resort you will have access to the pass? Or "free" as in if you buy a park ticket you will have access to the pass.

Fastpass is not technically free because you are paying for your park ticket and you can only get a fastpass with the park ticket. So I suppose we are referring to everyone having access to this pass if you buy a park ticket?

Nobody knows.

Although, I don't think that I can agree with you that FastPass is technically "not free" because you have to buy a park ticket to get them issued
There would be no point in getting FP's if you couldn't go into a park to use them.

You may be asking if you must FIRST buy (and have in your possession) a valid park ticket
BEFORE you can access X-pass.

Again, nobody knows.

.

 

[icc2515]

I've been around a long time.
I don't remember buying a WDW monorail ticket.

Maybe ticket was the wrong term, but there was a definite fee added to every pass. I remember having to show the pass/ticket to get on the monorail.

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id99.htm

(the part you are looking for is about a quarter of the way down talking about the 2 day pass.)

Here's an Adult Two-Day Passport from 1981. It came with a string so you could wear it as a ticket fashion statement. The price was $20.00. According to the back of the ticket, "Walt Disney World Co. collects a $3.00 transportation charge for this ticket as agent for WED Transportation Services, Inc."

 

[WillAustin]

Why the eye roll? I was pointing out a very logical obvious flaw in the idea.

There are so many logical obvious things wrong with NextGen, I thought the disney suits might need some help.

While there have been plenty of bad ideas thrown around so far, access via smartphones and tablets isn't necessarily one of them. I would say needing one to access certain parts of the X-Pass feature set shouldn't be seen as ultimately somehow unfair to those who don't have smartphones. They could easily set up touchscreen kiosks in the parks that allow those who don't have a smartphone to have some access. You'd probably have to wait in a line to use one though.

Let's just hope they aren't using the team that built the WDW website to do the X-Pass stuff.

 

[Robo]

Maybe ticket was the wrong term, but there was a definite fee added to every pass. I remember having to show the pass/ticket to get on the monorail.

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id99.htm

(the part you are looking for is about a quarter of the way down talking about the 2 day pass.)

Here's an Adult Two-Day Passport from 1981. It came with a string so you could wear it as a ticket fashion statement. The price was $20.00. According to the back of the ticket, "Walt Disney World Co. collects a $3.00 transportation charge for this ticket as agent for WED Transportation Services, Inc."

As I said, I never had to buy a ticket (or pass) to ride the monorail.

I really doesn't matter much if they told you the "transportation fee" was built-into to the cost of a ticket, or not.
I couldn't NOT buy the transportation part of the ticket.

All hidden "free services" costs are built-into the many very visible charges paid by guests.

For instance, the printing the "free" park maps and Times Guides costs Disney tens of thousands of dollars.
That cost is factored in as the "cost of doing business" at the parks, and yes, all guests pay for that in some regard, too.

Likewise, the cost of hiring the CM's, and the electricity bill, and the fireworks pyro charges, and the you-name-it, is also paid for by guests buying tickets and staying at the resorts, and purchasing food, and buying gifts, and etc. at WDW.

 

[rgf207]

this should be on the rumors board