Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[cakebaker]

From what I have heard is there is a few options being talked about it. One would be limited free ones and pay for any extra ones. Another option is no free ones at all and you pay for each one. It probably be priced similar to Shanghai's at $20 a ride.

What I read is it runs about $8 per ride or you can buy packages with up to 8 running around $62. 8 is more than we would need the way we tour- just need them for the very top tier rides so it's a price I could certainly live with- especially if it weeds people out making the lines even shorter. Time will tell, I just want them back in some form.

 

[cakebaker]

Because at a certain point, you price yourself out of 99.99% of your market. It simply doesn’t make business sense.

When I see people clamoring for the chance to pay $200 for 3 hrs of a vastly reduced experience for Halloween, I'm fairly confident WDW is nowhere near pricing out their market. Most theme parks have a pay to play system.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Most other parks do it and none of them have an issue with attendance. Just cause it costs money doesn't mean you have to buy it.

I for one welcome a paid FP system. The less people that have FP the better FP works.

And usually they price it not per ride but per day with specific rides it is good at.

At my local amusement park there are different tiers to Fast Lane. Basic is 13 rides Plus is 19 rides and it's unlimited use for that day.

I don't know that WDW would price themselves out enough to make a big enough issue but I question your last comment. Given how things end up panning out in the beginning it may be low enough people taking advantage of a paid system, but that number grows and grows and you start to see less benefit. People have said the same thing about FP+ comparing how it was with refreshing later on in the day and how it kept getting harder and harder. So I guess IMO I wouldn't assume a paid system=less people using a FP system. It's also not known if Disney would just scrap FP in a free form or do a hybrid like DL has with MP where MP enables you a different pool and more instantaneous FPs but still enables someone to utilize FP for free.

 

[mercuryvenus]

When I see people clamoring for the chance to pay $200 for 3 hrs of a vastly reduced experience for Halloween, I'm fairly confident WDW is nowhere near pricing out their market. Most theme parks have a pay to play system.

If Disney starts charging the prices people are throwing around here (in some cases $20/ride) and they have the same number of people using FP as they did when it was free, I’ll be the first to say you were right. I just seriously doubt that will happen.

 

[Jrb1979]

If Disney starts charging the prices people are throwing around here (in some cases $20/ride) and they have the same number of people using FP as they did when it was free, I’ll be the first to say you were right. I just seriously doubt that will happen.

That's the point. You price it high enough that most won't buy it. You want FP to be 20 minutes or less.

 

[mercuryvenus]

That's the point. You price it high enough that most won't buy it. You want FP to be 20 minutes or less.

They would be contending with a PR disaster for doing that.

 

[oktxregulators2020]

I don't see how Disney can' bring back a Free FP system with the amount of money they lost and almost a good majority of the people working in the park are all from the U.S. hence the reason why several eating/shopping/attractions are not open yet which is making the lines look longer in the park. The big question is the price and how many FP's do you get? I think most people would not mind paying for FP as long as it's around $100 or so. I also don't believe it will be unlimited FP. I think it will come with a number and possibly a tiered system. I don't see how people are going to be able to pay for FP and ride 7DMT over and over and over all day in the FP line. If that is the case then then if you thought the standby line was slow with FP it will come to a dead stop for most of the day with the unlimited FP if that ever comes about.

 

[Loro]

I don't see how Disney can' bring back a Free FP system with the amount of money they lost

I am taking just this one part of your post to make a point.

Disney will make all that money back and more even if they don't monetize FP. This line of thinking works for the mom and pop shops in your local neighborhood that barely survived during the pandemic. They're the ones who need to make back the lost money and quick. Disney is an enormous corporation that could have absorbed the losses of maintaining everyone at full payroll through the entirety of the pandemic if they chose to do so and still have plenty to spare. Stock price > People. The only reason they're going to monetize it is because they can and want to make even more money as fast as possible in the short-term. More money made means higher stock price, which means higher corp bonuses. There is no other rationality to any decision they make when it comes to money. Long-term they are better off keeping free FP+ as a guest perk for the positive sentiment, and/or as an on-site perk. By monetizing as many things as they can and taking away many of the little things they are doing a ton of harm to future customer sentiment, and they will lose a lot of repeat customers if they have a less than magical experience.

People really need to stop excusing the greed of Disney.

 

[Jrb1979]

I am taking just this one part of your post to make a point.

Disney will make all that money back and more even if they don't monetize FP. This line of thinking works for the mom and pop shops in your local neighborhood that barely survived during the pandemic. They're the ones who need to make back the lost money and quick. Disney is an enormous corporation that could have absorbed the losses of maintaining everyone at full payroll through the entirety of the pandemic if they chose to do so and still have plenty to spare. Stock price > People. The only reason they're going to monetize it is because they can and want to make even more money as fast as possible in the short-term. More money made means higher stock price, which means higher corp bonuses. There is no other rationality to any decision they make when it comes to money. Long-term they are better off keeping free FP+ as a guest perk for the positive sentiment, and/or as an on-site perk. By monetizing as many things as they can and taking away many of the little things they are doing a ton of harm to future customer sentiment, and they will lose a lot of repeat customers if they have a less than magical experience.

People really need to stop excusing the greed of Disney.

You said it they do it cause they can. While people will complain they will still hand over their wallet to Disney. Look no further then Boo Bash. It's selling out on many days already. It tells me people are ok paying for whatever Disney offers. I guarantee it will be the same for FP.

 

[cakebaker]

You said it they do it cause they can. While people will complain they will still hand over their wallet to Disney. Look no further then Boo Bash. It's selling out on many days already. It tells me people are ok paying for whatever Disney offers. I guarantee it will be the same for FP.

While I don’t believe we’ll see pay per ride and a price tag of $20, I absolutely agree with this. Chapek has said as much. The pandemic has given them a chance, under the umbrella of safety, to test the waters and see just how much, or rather how little, guests are willing to settle for. Guests are showing them everyday that they can offer less, charge more and people will still pay.

Fewer guests isn’t a price they’ll pay, it’s a goal- Fewer guests, more spending per guest.

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

I think most people would not mind paying for FP as long as it's around $100 or so.

I think most families staying a week+ would most definitely mind this. If $100 pp per day is what you’re suggesting that is an extra $400 a day for my family. That would be an extra $4000 for our upcoming 10 night stay which is roughly a 50% increase of our total trip cost. At that point it’s clear that I’m not the target demographic - maybe they are shooting for more people paying by the day, or coming for shorter stays and upcharging them out the wazoo. And I suppose it’s right to do business however it makes sense for them and their profitability, but it’s also my right to vacation elsewhere. I’ve always been under the impression that a lot of their profit comes from hotel stays though so I would be surprised if they didn’t keep FP in some form as an on-site perk.

 

[Juventus]

If it's a flat rate per day, I personally wouldn't see equal value between MK and AK/EP: just not enough rides at the latter two.

Now, if you could park hop...that would be great!

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

I think most families staying a week+ would most definitely mind this. If $100 pp per day is what you’re suggesting that is an extra $400 a day for my family. That would be an extra $4000 for our upcoming 10 night stay which is roughly a 50% increase of our total trip cost. At that point it’s clear that I’m not the target demographic - maybe they are shooting for more people paying by the day, or coming for shorter stays and upcharging them out the wazoo. And I suppose it’s right to do business however it makes sense for them and their profitability, but it’s also my right to vacation elsewhere. I’ve always been under the impression that a lot of their profit comes from hotel stays though so I would be surprised if they didn’t keep FP in some form as an on-site perk.

This I agree on the more I have given it thought. I also posted earlier in this thread that maybe they should give a certain amount per day or in general based off where you are staying. I also agree regardless of where you stay you get 3 a day. I often wonder why max pass never made its way to the east coast but something like that or express pass would be better.

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

This I agree on the more I have given it thought. I also posted earlier in this thread that maybe they should give a certain amount per day or in general based off where you are staying. I also agree regardless of where you stay you get 3 a day. I often wonder why max pass never made its way to the east coast but something like that or express pass would be better.

I’ve never been to DL so I’m far from a Maxpass expert but to my knowledge DL is typically a shorter trip for most people. WDW is so large that it really lends itself to longer trips, which is why an extra charge on top of a park ticket could be prohibitive for lots of people. I’m not sure that Disney cares if they’re pricing people out as long as they still are filling their parks and hotels - they are a business after all. But if they went to a model like this I could only imagine that the average WDW length of stay is going to shorten significantly in order to accommodate the new upcharges. I have no idea which of those two options would yield the largest profits for Disney but you can bet they already know which model will benefit them the most.

I do agree with you that 3 a day for on-site guests regardless of hotel tier, seems fair. I am someone who always stays deluxe but I just don’t think it’s right to discriminate that way.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

I’ve never been to DL so I’m far from a Maxpass expert but to my knowledge DL is typically a shorter trip for most people. WDW is so large that it really lends itself to longer trips, which is why an extra charge on top of a park ticket could be prohibitive for lots of people. I’m not sure that Disney cares if they’re pricing people out as long as they still are filling their parks and hotels - they are a business after all. But if they went to a model like this I could only imagine that the average WDW length of stay is going to shorten significantly in order to accommodate the new upcharges. I have no idea which of those two options would yield the largest profits for Disney but you can bet they already know which model will benefit them the most.

I do agree with you that 3 a day for on-site guests regardless of hotel tier, seems fair. I am someone who always stays deluxe but I just don’t think it’s right to discriminate that way.

i am not as well versed in max pass but a lot of people I know who have been to both coasts prefer that and it does make sense once you sit me down and explain it(it hasnt been explained to me since before the pandemic so I do need a refresh). We are staying on property at Universal on our upcoming trip and once I can compare I will definitely have a better thought of which I think is better.

And yes regardless of hotel tier 3 a day is absolutely fair and is something I heard rumor of returning.

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

Y It tells me people are ok paying for whatever Disney offers.

I think you’re right, but only to a degree. Right now there is extra high demand as the pandemic is beginning to slow down, so there’s that. But in the long run, if they truly start to monetize everything and keep raising prices, they’re going to legitimately price out their biggest customer demographic (which is to say nothing of those who are just turned off by the negative optics of those changes). I don’t think Disney can keep on raising prices and upcharging indefinitely. Their biggest fans/loyal customers are *not* the ultra rich, and there will come a time when the rest of us reach a breaking point.

 

[Kelly014]

I think most families staying a week+ would most definitely mind this. If $100 pp per day is what you’re suggesting that is an extra $400 a day for my family. That would be an extra $4000 for our upcoming 10 night stay which is roughly a 50% increase of our total trip cost. At that point it’s clear that I’m not the target demographic - maybe they are shooting for more people paying by the day, or coming for shorter stays and upcharging them out the wazoo. And I suppose it’s right to do business however it makes sense for them and their profitability, but it’s also my right to vacation elsewhere. I’ve always been under the impression that a lot of their profit comes from hotel stays though so I would be surprised if they didn’t keep FP in some form as an on-site perk.

Agreed. We are spending nearly 10k to do a 10 day trip to Disney and Universal. I have no issue giving Disney a whole lot of my money. But we are a family of four, and rides are super important to us. A FP system like this is not something we’ll pay for, and I really think we’d move Disney to every other year or every 3 years as my kids get a bit older and go elsewhere.

Everyone has a personal line where it just becomes too much of a money grab and as much as I love going to Disney I think this would cross my line if they do a pay to play system like this without keeping an free/included option. I agree with other posters - the way people vacation at Disney World is not comparable to Universal, other theme parks, or even Disneyland. They need to offer some sort of included FP with as large and busy as DW is or people’s experiences are going to suffer. At least in the past people could say, well, it’s crazy busy and some of the lines were too long, but I did get to ride my top three rides each day so that was awesome. Take that away/only allow it for families willing to tack on thousands of dollars to their already expensive trip and people are going to feel a lot differently.

 

[Jrb1979]

I think you’re right, but only to a degree. Right now there is extra high demand as the pandemic is beginning to slow down, so there’s that. But in the long run, if they truly start to monetize everything and keep raising prices, they’re going to legitimately price out their biggest customer demographic (which is to say nothing of those who are just turned off by the negative optics of those changes). I don’t think Disney can keep on raising prices and upcharging indefinitely. Their biggest fans/loyal customers are *not* the ultra rich, and there will come a time when the rest of us reach a breaking point.

It may come to that. The thing is people have been saying that for years and people keep going. Til people vote with their wallet they will continue doing what they are doing.

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

It may come to that. The thing is people have been saying that for years and people keep going. Til people vote with their wallet they will continue doing what they are doing.

I just know that if FP+ goes completely paid, that is my personal line in the sand. I can deal with a hybrid but completely paid is an absolute no go for me.

At least in the past people could say, well, it’s crazy busy and some of the lines were too long, but I did get to ride my top three rides each day so that was awesome.

this exactly. FP+ has always been an insurance policy that with all the money being spent and the time spent on travel, that my family would absolutely be able to get on our favorite attractions. I’m not spending that kind of money to just get down to WDW and cross our fingers that we can get on the rides. FP made Disney an enjoyable vacation for my family which includes two small children. Waiting in long lines with little kids is not enjoyable and I’m not spending thousands to not enjoy my vacation just because it’s Disney.

 

[ellbell]

I have 2 types of preferred vacations. Cruising and Disney World. If fastpasses are going to end up being pay to play I'll stop going. If I'm paying 4000 dollars (or more depending on length of stay)extra on a trip that is already costing more than any other vacation I'll just take another week long cruise with that money instead