Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[Runnsally]

Now that WDW can use the Park Pass system to track crowds and optimize staffing, etc, a same day system like Maxpass makes a lot of sense from a revenue perspective. Unlike a paid Fastpass system that has a ceiling (could only sell a finite number of Flight of Passage FPs per day for instance), literally everyone in the park could sign up for Maxpass. Also can yield the price based on time of year. Perhaps the delay in new AP sales is due to the inclusion of a pass level that has Maxpass built in. WDW certainly keeps things interesting!

 

[yaya74]

Now that WDW can use the Park Pass system to track crowds and optimize staffing, etc, a same day system like Maxpass makes a lot of sense from a revenue perspective. Unlike a paid Fastpass system that has a ceiling (could only sell a finite number of Flight of Passage FPs per day for instance), literally everyone in the park could sign up for Maxpass. Also can yield the price based on time of year. Perhaps the delay in new AP sales is due to the inclusion of a pass level that has Maxpass built in. WDW certainly keeps things interesting!

How do you explain the AP that UK residents can purchase today? Nothing was mentioned about it... No Maxpass for UK AP holders?

 

[MickeyWaffles]

How do you explain the AP that UK residents can purchase today? Nothing was mentioned about it... No Maxpass for UK AP holders?

They could easily just make it an add-on option once it’s announced.

 

[jpeterson]

How do you explain the AP that UK residents can purchase today? Nothing was mentioned about it... No Maxpass for UK AP holders?

Were they actually able to? Last I heard, while the option to buy showed up the transaction couldn't be completed. So nobody knew if it was supposed to be available or not.

 

[yaya74]

Were they actually able to? Last I heard, while the option to buy showed up the transaction couldn't be completed. So nobody knew if it was supposed to be available or not.

Read confirmations on FB that UK folks could successfully buy AP while US folks trying to put their orders through too but wasn't able to do so.

 

[jpeterson]

Interesting.

 

[Runnsally]

How do you explain the AP that UK residents can purchase today? Nothing was mentioned about it... No Maxpass for UK AP holders?

Could always be offered as an add-on for the relatively small number of existing APs, but would be easier for WDW if it was part of the pass de novo.

I currently have an as-yet unused AP voucher so would be in the same boat!

 

[mamaofsix]

I'm not very familiar with maxpass, but was there any sort of perk to it for onsite DLR guests? I'm thinking not, because there aren't that many Disney owned hotels for DL. However, I feel like there will have to be some sort of advantage for the hotel guests at WDW.

As an offsite guest, I'd be all for a level playing field, but have a feeling I won't be so lucky when this rolls out.

 

[Runnsally]

I'm not very familiar with maxpass, but was there any sort of perk to it for onsite DLR guests? I'm thinking not, because there aren't that many Disney owned hotels for DL. However, I feel like there will have to be some sort of advantage for the hotel guests at WDW.

As an offsite guest, I'd be all for a level playing field, but have a feeling I won't be so lucky when this rolls out.

No on-site perk that I can recall. I feel like it would be hard to do so given that everyone would be paying for the same service. I suppose WDW could bundle Maxpass into a resort package and/or offer it as part of an on-site promotion. You could bend the Maxpass rules for on-site guests and allow them to book multiple at the same time, etc., but that’s dicey.

 

[CastAStone]

I'm not very familiar with maxpass, but was there any sort of perk to it for onsite DLR guests? I'm thinking not, because there aren't that many Disney owned hotels for DL. However, I feel like there will have to be some sort of advantage for the hotel guests at WDW.

As an offsite guest, I'd be all for a level playing field, but have a feeling I won't be so lucky when this rolls out.

No, but for a variety of reasons, MaxPass is not directly portable from DLR to WDW, it would need to be modified. So hotel benefits (if any) being added in wouldn’t be a stretch.

DLR doesn’t need any incentives to sell out their 3 hotels, so incentives are minimal.

 

[JakeAZ]

If a new system is announced with no on-site benefits, my family will never see the inside of a Disney hotel again. That's just us. I know others feel differently.

That being said, I think there is no chance there won't be some benefits solely for on-site.

 

[Runnsally]

A few more musings on WDW Maxpass...

For me, the biggest concern for WDW would be a higher percentage of guests opting in to a Maxpass type program compared to DLR (lots of local APs who do not want/need it) and in turn diluting the benefits. I suppose you could test out price elasticity, but that won’t help fill on-site rooms. Maybe free or significantly discounted for resort guests.

And park hopping? I guess you’d need to actually scan into a given park before you have access to Maxpass selections.

Curious what other tweaks folks think would be needed.

 

[preemiemama]

A few more musings on WDW Maxpass...

For me, the biggest concern for WDW would be a higher percentage of guests opting in to a Maxpass type program compared to DLR (lots of local APs who do want/need it) and in turn diluting the benefits. I suppose you could test out price elasticity, but that won’t help fill on-site rooms. Maybe free or significantly discounted for resort guests.

And park hopping? I guess you’d need to actually scan into a given park before you have access to Maxpass selections.

Curious what other tweaks folks think would be needed.

I think if they don't want people flocking to off-site (less expensive) hotels, they need to give on-site some sort of incentive. Especially since we've not seen the on-site resorts filling up to the point that they are opening everything that is closed yet. Be interesting if they followed Universal on their version in that on-site would get it (a certain level or number anyway?) free.

Parkhopping could be dealt with by tying it to your park pass. Only use it in the park you have the pass for that day. FP was limited that way when you made them in advance- and the day-of ones were typically limited to non-headliners.

One tweak I'd love to see- take it OFF of rides like IASW or Pirates. End of night Pirates used to be an easy wait, but FP killed the wait times on that ride!

 

[jessiegirl1982]

So I've been saying Disney would bring over Maxpass to WDW for years, and was torn apart by the DIS. Disney figured out at DL that people would pay for it, the only issue was how to bring it over to WDW when the free FP+ system was in place. They now have the perfect opportunity to do so. I honestly think they will just bring the same Maxpass program over to WDW with minimal changes from the system that was in place at DL. Less cost that way. Disney is all about maximizing profits and minimizing costs. ...That brand new system that WDW is introducing that allows you to use your phone instead of a magic band as your ticket, yeah, DL has had that for years. DL and WDW has had differing systems for years, and it always baffled me abut how differently things were run on either coast. It does seem like they are trying to centralize it now.

 

[Runnsally]

So I've been saying Disney would bring over Maxpass to WDW for years, and was torn apart by the DIS. Disney figured out at DL that people would pay for it, the only issue was how to bring it over to WDW when the free FP+ system was in place. They now have the perfect opportunity to do so. I honestly think they will just bring the same Maxpass program over to WDW with minimal changes from the system that was in place at DL. Less cost that way. Disney is all about maximizing profits and minimizing costs. ...That brand new system that WDW is introducing that allows you to use your phone instead of a magic band as your ticket, yeah, DL has had that for years. DL and WDW has had differing systems for years, and it always baffled me abut how differently things were run on either coast. It does seem like they are trying to centralize it now.

Torn apart? This isn’t WDWMAGIC!

 

[JakeAZ]

I, for one, do not want to see Max Pass at WDW. If they did, whatever they charge for it, will just be seen as a mandatory add on. Nobody is going to balk at an additional $20/$25 per person when you've already dropped $$$$ on the trip. So then everyone will have it and there will be nothing special about it.

Kinda reminds me of the FP+ program. Except now you'd be paying for the privilege of getting to the same playing field as everyone.

If you're gonna charge, make it special. Make it worth it.

 

[Eric Smith]

I'm not very familiar with maxpass, but was there any sort of perk to it for onsite DLR guests? I'm thinking not, because there aren't that many Disney owned hotels for DL. However, I feel like there will have to be some sort of advantage for the hotel guests at WDW.

As an offsite guest, I'd be all for a level playing field, but have a feeling I won't be so lucky when this rolls out.

There were not perks for on site guests at Disneyland.

 

[jessiegirl1982]

There were not perks for on site guests at Disneyland.

They did have EMH in the AM's that rotated between either park, I believe.

 

[Marionnette]

I, for one, do not want to see Max Pass at WDW. If they did, whatever they charge for it, will just be seen as a mandatory add on. Nobody is going to balk at an additional $20/$25 per person when you've already dropped $$$$ on the trip. So then everyone will have it and there will be nothing special about it.

Kinda reminds me of the FP+ program. Except now you'd be paying for the privilege of getting to the same playing field as everyone.

If you're gonna charge, make it special. Make it worth it.

I disagree. A family of 4 @$25 per person would drop an additional $100 per day. Plenty of people will balk at that price.

 

[mshanson3121]

I, for one, do not want to see Max Pass at WDW. If they did, whatever they charge for it, will just be seen as a mandatory add on. Nobody is going to balk at an additional $20/$25 per person when you've already dropped $$$$ on the trip. So then everyone will have it and there will be nothing special about it.

Speak for yourself! I will absolutely balk at an additional $20/25 per person. Multiply that by 4 people by four days and add the Canadian exchange rate and you're talking an extra $500, which to our budget is a VERY big deal.

Paid FP+ is probably a deal breaker for us. With 3 out of 4 members having health issues, one with Autism, even with DAS, without FP+, Disney just will not be a good experience. So, if that's what it comes to other people will get our Disney money.