NextGen/xPass Making the News Again

[KrazeeK120]

Just choose a random night in December (the 5th):

Wilderness Lodge = 305.00
AKL = 305.00
Themed Family Suite at AoA = 265.00

To me that is not much difference. So they are definitely "NEAR" the cost of a deluxe room (40 dollars difference is certainly near.) My wife and I were actually looking at this the other day - and it would be a real debate between staying at WL or Themed family suite, once you add in XPASS it would be a no brainer for the 40 dollar difference. So I would think they would have to give XPASS to AoA suites - that is IF they went in this direction.

Now a Little Mermaid room = 118.00

That is a "BIG" Difference.

And not all DELUXE rooms are the same rate, so giving it to just Deluxe resorts doesn't make sense, in terms of "fairness". Because I can pay 300 for a deluxe room or I could pay 1000 for a deluxe room per night.

ETA: Rooms range from 95.00 (All Star) to 1965.00 (GF 2 bedroom Club level). And you have all kinds of prices in between.

Good luck Disney. (Of course this is all speculation)

The reason that the AoA suites are close in price to a standard room at a Deluxe resort is because they are SUITES. They include 2 bathrooms and more sleeping area than a regular room. You are paying $40 less for an extra bathroom and a lot more square feet.

The resort itself sounds like it's going to be set up similarly to the existing value resorts.

It is a value resort and I would expect that if Disney implements something based on resort classification, it will qualify for whatever benefits/non-benefits the other value resorts receive.

 

[Balt ravens fan]

You ARE correct. I didn't realize the price was that close. But I still maintain that they are not deluxe and Disney will never consider them anything but value.

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.

 

[Rabid Nick]

Just choose a random night in December (the 5th):

Wilderness Lodge = 305.00
AKL = 305.00
Themed Family Suite at AoA = 265.00

To me that is not much difference. So they are definitely "NEAR" the cost of a deluxe room (40 dollars difference is certainly near.) My wife and I were actually looking at this the other day - and it would be a real debate between staying at WL or Themed family suite, once you add in XPASS it would be a no brainer for the 40 dollar difference. So I would think they would have to give XPASS to AoA suites - that is IF they went in this direction.

Now a Little Mermaid room = 118.00

That is a "BIG" Difference.

And not all DELUXE rooms are the same rate, so giving it to just Deluxe resorts doesn't make sense, in terms of "fairness". Because I can pay 300 for a deluxe room or I could pay 1000 for a deluxe room per night.

ETA: Rooms range from 95.00 (All Star) to 1965.00 (GF 2 bedroom Club level). And you have all kinds of prices in between.

Good luck Disney. (Of course this is all speculation)

Two things to remember here. One, AoA suites are basically like getting two single, side by side rooms, thus the price. Second, the amenities and resort features are the main distinctions between the resort tiers, not just price.

 

[Cyrano]

Combining Xpass threads

 

[Reddog1134]

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.

Whether or not there is a charge for Xpass, Disney will (or has) figured out a way to make money from it.

They don't show buses on the Disney commercials but they spent a lot of money on them and it makes them money. How? If I can take a bus everywhere on Disney property I don't need a car. If I don't have a car, i'm probably not going anywhere that's not Disney.

 

[Q-man]

It will be interesting to see what comes of it. I'd think these would come out the the fast pass allotment. Not sure it changes much in the way of total FPs as the people willing to plan and book ride times ahead are the ones that are already there at rope drop with a plan and immediately start running to grab fast passes.

Whoever said Disney needs fast pass kiosks/stations that allow you to pull a FP from any available ride around the park has an idea I love. Are you listening Disney?

 

[TDC Nala]

It really doesn't matter whether the guest in the AOA (or Allstar Music) family suite thinks it should be deluxe for the price, at least not as far as whether or not they are eligible for "deluxe resort" perks, if there are any. To Disney, it's not a deluxe resort.

Disney's not going to build anything like Harry Potter. Sorry. Unless you count Avatarland.

 

[SaraJayne]

Ahhh the downside of internet message boards. Clearly, the good-natured/joking tone of that post did not come across as intended, unfortunately...despite the use of a smiley.

I'm with you actually...I'm very apprehensive about how this will all play out. I don't want to be attached to my phone all day, especially on vacation, either. Few things are more infuriating that being trapped behind people walking at a snail's pace (wheter it's at WDW, on my way to work or anywhere) because the person is texting, playing Angry Birds, etc on their devices and are oblivious to the rest of the world around them. So, if Disney is adding features that would increase/encourage this behavior....I find it very troubling indeed. I was just specualting as to what they may have in mind with regards to a PP's comment about the article from the OP about ordering food in advance. I never suggested I would be in favor of such things.

Sorry for misunderstanding you.

 

[SaraJayne]

The bolded conflicts with the rest of your post.

I do not have a problem with on-site/off-site distinctions, since the value tier is affordable for most guests. I do have a problem with additional in-park benefits based on resort tier, as the deluxe tier in particular is not generally affordable by most. Call me sappy, but inside the parks I want everyone treated mostly the same.

 

[Suger Mag]

First off.. I am not a fan of this next gen concept... I like a certain level of spontaneity that sometimes seems to be getting sucked out of WDW...

I also could care less about deluxe vs value... but I had to throw my nitpicky 2 cents in

Just choose a random night in December (the 5th):

Wilderness Lodge = 305.00
AKL = 305.00
Themed Family Suite at AoA = 265.00

To me that is not much difference.

A problem I see with your comparison numbers is that you chose the most expensive room at the AoA resort (suite) to compare with the least expensive room at the deluxe (studio)... not really the same level... a better comparison would be a suite vs suite... but it is more than just the cost of a room, or the size of your balcony... it is all the whistles and bells that make a resort deluxe...

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

The most valuable thing Disney has is data. Data on admissions, data on fast pass usage, data on where people eat, data on just about anything you can imagine. I can guarantee you that they have/are slicing and dicing every bit of that data to determine usage patterns. Given the incredible amount of data they have they'll be able to accurately predict how the new Xpass system will work. Add in the RFID data once Xpass is implemented and they'll be able to tell you how many people go the bathroom at 1:39pm after eating at the San Angel Inn. They don't do anything major like this without doing extensive modeling and data mining.

I'm positive they'll have RFID readers everywhere in park (easy to do). Heck, I bet they'll have an operations center where they'll be able to view real time crowd levels in each park in real time (picture the big NASA TV screens). That way they'll be able to adjust park operations to maximize the experience and profit. Imagine if they could know exactly how many people are using each restroom in the park (easy to do) and when. Some restrooms are used more than others so the maintenance manager can do more with fewer custodians. The heavily used restrooms could be serviced more often and the under used restrooms serviced less often. The end result is the patron experience is virtually the same but the costs are reduced.

This same scenario can be developed for virtually every aspect of park operations. For example, if a particular food cart isn't getting much business - shut it down and send the cast member somewhere else in the park where labor is needed (or send them home). Being able to do this in real time is the key and is where the "extra" profit will come from. I wouldn't be surprised if a later phase of Xpass would do all this automatically by notifying the cast members on some sort of smart device. It's very similar to how Walmart manages their supply chain. It's another way for them to be able to lower their costs by being able to track inventory. Walmart didn't ask their suppliers if they wanted to use RFID technology either - they told them to use it or they'd use someone else. Now if you don't think you'll like Xpass the solution is very simple - don't go to WDW or DL. Problem solved and the need for hand wringing and consternation eliminated.

 

[WillAustin]

Here's my speculation on what I think we might see based on all I've read.

X-Pass advance attraction reservations will be available to all on-site resort guests at no charge. You will be able to attempt making reservations 180/90/60/30? days before your trip. The attractions in each park will be grouped into tiers: headliners, secondary rides, shows, and character meet and greets. Each person in your group will be allowed one reservation in each tier per day.

The real trick will be limited availability of attraction reservations compared to the number of people allowed to make them. If the spots fill up, you are out of luck and will have to take your chances in the park with FPs or ride stand-by.

I feel like this is the most likely scenario that could allow all resort guests to have access to the reservation system.

 

[Robo]

Each person in your group will be allowed one reservation in each tier per day.

We know that can't work.

 

[DizBelle]

Most of AoA is deluxe, Just the little mermaid section is standard rooms. They may not call it deluxe, but the prices are "Deluxe" prices for the suites and I would think if XPASS is tiered for resorts the suites at AoA will get XPASS.

Personally, I think this is all a lot of speculation, nobody knows what Disney we really do with xPass.

That being said, I think it is a huge mistake, it make Disney less special. When I am in the park I don't want to be thinking oh those are upperclass people who can afford the GF or Poly or whatever. It just loses some magic that way. It would only happen in line really, but it would happen.

Kind of similar, I was in line for Soarin (fast pass line) right ahead of us, 4 girls who were part of a volleyball team had a GAC card. They were four girls around 17, nothing wrong physically or mentally, and I overheard one of them say to the others - this will get us in front of all the lines all day long - bragging how they basically scammed the system - how they got the card from the mother. Me, I was not happy didn't make a "scene" or really say anything except to my wife, and my wife didn't notice she had no idea, she doesn't come on the boards and doesn't even know what a GAC card is.

Similarly, There will be those people who are in line thinking, you know what, I saved everything I could to buy 1000 dollars worth of tickets for my family, pay 1000 dollars for All-Star Music, and pay 1000 dollars for food, souvieniers, whatever - 3000 dollars total - to Disney, and what do I get, I get to get passed by people who could spend more, lots more. I would be the type to NOT be happy but not really make a scene or anything. My wife though would say don't stress about it, and not even notice these other people until of course I pointed it out

I think Disney is banking on people being a lot more like my wife. They are happy to be in Disney and not thinking about the "justice" of it. "Why do some people get to jump up in line?" People just go to Disney and make choices.

That being said, I just did a lot of speculation about something that we don't even know will exist. So once the "official" word is out, I will figure out how to make the best of it, how to still tour the parks without it (and maybe with it), and love Disney, and my family will not even have all the info about it ... lol

Will I stay at a real expensive resort, maybe if I win the lottery, or get a big bonus at work somehow, but most likely I will just figure out how to enjoy some Disney Magic while saving money

There will always be ways to "work" the system - legally that is

Re: bolded - and, likewise, the person sitting at home that couldn't come up with the money to go to WDW at all is thinking, why do they get to go to WDW and I don't? It's because they can cover the cost.

WDW is not in the business of making everything even for everyone. If you can pay for a trip to WDW, you go. If you can't pay for a trip, you don't. I you can pay for the cost of a deluxe room, you can choose to stay in a deluxe room. If you can only pay for a value, that's what you do. If you can't afford an on-property value, you look off property. And don't expect to get the perks that people staying on property do.

Bottom line, if you can pay for it, you can do it. If you can't or don't want to, you have to figure out something else. Just like everything else in life. You can't pay for a Ford Focus and expect to be given a Lexus.

 

[WillAustin]

We know that can't work.

It can if only a small percentage of reservations compared to capacity are allowed each day. If everyone tries to pick the same general time frame, it would fill up. I'm imagining that the reservations will quickly be filled up during busy times for the headliners. Like the top restaurants, the advance ride spots will be full early. People can still go ride with FPs and stand-by, so it wouldn't necessarily exclude people.

Just because someone is allowed to make the attraction reservation doesn't mean a spot will be open when they try.

 

[Balt ravens fan]

The reason that the AoA suites are close in price to a standard room at a Deluxe resort is because they are SUITES. They include 2 bathrooms and more sleeping area than a regular room. You are paying $40 less for an extra bathroom and a lot more square feet.

The resort itself sounds like it's going to be set up similarly to the existing value resorts.

It is a value resort and I would expect that if Disney implements something based on resort classification, it will qualify for whatever benefits/non-benefits the other value resorts receive.

Then people will not stay there and they will stay at WL.

 

[Robo]

It can if only a small percentage of reservations compared to capacity are allowed each day.

Then this whole idea would be pointless.

 

[Balt ravens fan]

Disney's not going to build anything like Harry Potter. Sorry. Unless you count Avatarland.

Well then they are obviously clueless. Everyone we talk to wants to see Harry Potter at US. Do you hear that kind of buzz for anything at Disney? New Fantasy Land has a little buzz. But Not like Harry Potter.

I don't like US, but it has buzz right now. Friends of mine who have been there say there is nothing like HP, and they are telling their friends, and their friends, etc... word is out there.

Heck we are considering going to US with them the next time we go down.

I am just sayin, Disney is wasting a lot of time with this XPASS stuff. Do something awesome Disney - wow us already!

ETA: I hear more buzz about Legoland right now then Disney

 

[WillAustin]

Then this whole idea would be pointless.

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.

 

[seashoreCM]

You do have the same access. If you are staying at a value, you can choose to get an XPass for Peter Pan just like someone staying at a deluxe. And if you are staying off property, you can get a fastpass form the kiosk on the day you are at the park.

(1) The benefit of staying on property is being able to get them ahead of time.

(2) The benefit of staying at a more deluxe resort is being able to get a few more of them.

(1) Acceptable idea.
(2) Bad idea.