Paid Fastpass?

[mickeyway]

I just read that Disney after hours is sold out for this evening. It is billed as a extra hours in the park and with limited availability. So this is a way for Disney to charge you basically for fastpasses to the best rides in the park. Can't get a Flight of Passage FP ?, then no fear you can buy the $125 After hour ticket and be sure to get on the ride then. Since these events sell out then I would think many would be willing to pay for FPs. Not sure what the number would be Maybe $125 for a day FP ticket for 4-5 of the top rides in the park. Unlimited entry, unlimited rides. I think I would like this better because then at least the park isn't closing early and taking away hours from day ticket holders.

 

[gap2368]

But you also get free popcorn and ice cream you get picture without anyone in them and an empty park

 

[DisDreaming4116]

Kind of...the park would have closed tonight at 9pm anyways, so the After Hours ticket holders aren't taking away much from the regular ticket day guests. There are extra people in the park for the last few hours on the attractions and to watch HEA.
Also, many people LOVE the idea of a down day to swim, shop, rest, DS, etc. and then attend the After Hours event at night.

 

[loves to dive]

I wouldn't pay for a FP but am considering one of the after hours during our next trip. I normally have APs so wouldn't pay extra for one but I don't have one this year. My honey is going for the first time since he was a teenager and performing in the high school band in the park. We are staying in our RV at FW and will have our dog with us. He hates crowds and heat and we will be there in Oct. An after hours event at MK makes sense for him to be able to hit a few rides and see the park without so many crowds. We probably won't do it for AK because he's never been there and wants to see the animals, they aren't out at the after dark events. We will just use the MK one for our day at MK. I'll probably have PHs for me so I can spend the morning in Epcot while he says with the dog in the RV. I don't see him spending more than a hour or two max in any of the parks during our stay.

 

[monkyby87]

The benefit of DAH isn't just riding the rides, it's the low crowds. A rather limited number of tickets are sold, so you have the added benefit of not having many people around you. It's a much more relaxing park experience. I understand the feeling that it's taking away time from other guests, but it's not like the holiday celebrations where there's a rather large time frame gone. I'd rather have a DAH event instead of paid fastpasses.

 

[Tink_83]

Kind of...the park would have closed tonight at 9pm anyways, so the After Hours ticket holders aren't taking away much from the regular ticket day guests. There are extra people in the park for the last few hours on the attractions and to watch HEA.
Also, many people LOVE the idea of a down day to swim, shop, rest, DS, etc. and then attend the After Hours event at night.

Looking over the historical park hours there were definitely years the park remained open past 9 in early March in the middle of the week. So I do think they are taking away from the normal ticket holders.

As for me, I’d rather pay for FP since I do short trips. I’m not staying 10+ days so headliners are harder for me to get good FP for. If I could pay more and get more out of 1 day without having to rely on a preset tour I would. Really I was looking into the private tour option and how cost wise if it reduces enough of your park days it is worth it... my husband also hates Disney so while I’d be willing to camp out at a resort for over a week and relax with laid back park days I’ll never get him to agree to that...

 

[sharonabe]

Maybe $125 for a day FP ticket for 4-5 of the top rides in the park. Unlimited entry, unlimited rides.

So you would pay an extra $125 over your regular ticket price to stand in the FP line with everyone else who has a FP instead of paying the same extra $125 to be in the park for 3 hours with only about 200 other people? I think you have a better value with the DAH then your proposition.

 

[tjmw2727]

OP if you want to purchase FP+ just stay club level.

They already have paid FP+ for club level guests. Stay club level and you have the option to purchase 3 additional FP+ per day at 50.00 per person per day, minimum of 3 days. These FP+ are booked at 90 days from checkout and there are no tiers on the paid FP+.

However I do like the DAH due to the less crowded parks, not having to pre plan and especially when we do this on a resort rest day.

 

[Tink_83]

OP if you want to purchase FP+ just stay club level.

They already have paid FP+ for club level guests. Stay club level and you have the option to purchase 3 additional FP+ per day at 50.00 per person per day, minimum of 3 days. These FP+ are booked at 90 days from checkout and there are no tiers on the paid FP+.

However I do like the DAH due to the less crowded parks, not having to pre plan and especially when we do this on a resort rest day.

I sort of agree except your still forced into a 3 day stay plus you have to pay for club level, which greatly exceeds even the group tours you can purchase... when you figure in the costs over 3 days versus the one tour.

 

[mickeyway]

I sort of agree except your still forced into a 3 day stay plus you have to pay for club level, which greatly exceeds even the group tours you can purchase... when you figure in the costs over 3 days versus the one tour.

I wasn't aware of the club level option. But why buy 3 fastpasses once you used your three you can make more or has that changed?

 

[Tink_83]

I wasn't aware of the club level option. But why buy 3 fastpasses once you used your three you can make more or has that changed?

The club level gets you 6 fast passes you can book at 90 days out so instead of 3 at 60 you basically pay an extra 50 per day per person for 3 extra prebooked rides and you get to book so far out that you get what you want... but you also are staying CL for those nights. So if you don’t normally spend that kind of money on lodging that could be a huge price bump...

 

[Brett Wyman]

If you have the cash EMM and DAH are certainly much more enjoyable ways to visit the parks. I'm not sure why they frustrate people so much since they are typically done pre-opening and post-closing and don't affect anyone with regular tickets (unlike events like MNSSHP and MVMCP). Sure it may be nickel and diming but they sell out for a reason, people enjoy what their money is buying them.

 

[Tink_83]

If you have the cash EMM and DAH are certainly much more enjoyable ways to visit the parks. I'm not sure why they frustrate people so much since they are typically done pre-opening and post-closing and don't affect anyone with regular tickets (unlike events like MNSSHP and MVMCP). Sure it may be nickel and diming but they sell out for a reason, people enjoy what their money is buying them.

I think the issue for some is that historically the park has been often open longer then that 9pm close (not always, times vary, but if I look back at the park hours they often stay open longer)... therefore there is at least the perception that the events are cutting into the park hours... and please note I say perception because I have not analyzed the data to verify this nor have I found an analysis regarding this... it could be a fun way to spend an afternoon though, figuring out if Disney is actually shortening the hours in favor of these events (or not!)

Here is a link to a site that has listings for park hours going back to January 2009...

https://www.wdwmagic.com/calendar.htm

 

[mamapenguin]

The benefit of DAH isn't just riding the rides, it's the low crowds. A rather limited number of tickets are sold, so you have the added benefit of not having many people around you. It's a much more relaxing park experience. I understand the feeling that it's taking away time from other guests, but it's not like the holiday celebrations where there's a rather large time frame gone. I'd rather have a DAH event instead of paid fastpasses.

It’s also lower temperature and zero risk of sunburn.