Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[Heigh-Ho]

No, you reiterated what I thought you said so I don't think that's the case. I think you are missing my point, but I don't think it's really constructive to continue to discuss it.

Okay

 

[ST1TCH]

So you're saying that your source is either a Disney parks board member or one of the "top brass" at Disney parks? They would have to be if you know for a fact that they are testing a FP system that is for sure not FP+. But then I have to wonder why someone that high up would tell anyone else what is actually going on. Not attacking you, I am just trying to determine if this is just another instance of "I know someone that knows what is going on" or if you are giving educated guesses. Either way is fine because we will all find out soon enough. I am just curious is all.

FWIW, it reads like Remy is close to someone who works in IT for Disney and is knowledgeable about the systems integration testing that is currently going on and what is in the pipeline or has been done already. That doesn't require a board member or "top brass".

 

[bmarinari]

I see this as essentially 100% impossible. Per park Per day? No way in heck. Not even for Disney.

I would have agreed with this until I started looking into a day at Universal next month. Their Express Pass is $220 - $250 per ticket per day for a two-park ticket. But if you stay in a deluxe resort, it's thrown in. It seems like some folks say, "Just stay at a deluxe! Then it's free!" But that's not the case for those of us who aren't willing to pay deluxe room rates. But it makes it easier to swallow for some people.

But I don't think there's any way that Disney sees Universal getting those amounts and doesn't go that way themselves.

 

[Remy is Up]

FWIW, it reads like Remy is close to someone who works in IT for Disney and is knowledgeable about the systems integration testing that is currently going on and what is in the pipeline or has been done already. That doesn't require a board member or "top brass".

Half the time board members find out after IT leadership has the team most of the way through implementation. Lol

 

[ST1TCH]

Half the time board members find out after IT leadership has the team most of the way through implementation. Lol

SO true it's not even funny.

 

[Remy is Up]

I've actually learned that IT leadership and Finance know most things well before anyone. Finance has to approve all projects and IT has to implement them. Same way with most companies

 

[Dis Dragon]

People thinking about the cost factor - just wanted to remind everyone that they were charging people 50 dollars per day (per person) for three fast passes with the club level program and they were selling them. The crazy thing is this was already on high priced club level rooms. If they sold a pass similar to universals I can easily see it being 300+, they would want to make it exclusive and price a lot of people out of it or else it wouldn't make sense.

They're really adopting a model that's catering to people that have money to burn.

 

[Runnsally]

At WDW now, waits are awful. Won’t return until they implement something. Happy to pay, but current state is pretty bad.

 

[cakebaker]

People thinking about the cost factor - just wanted to remind everyone that they were charging people 50 dollars per day (per person) for three fast passes with the club level program and they were selling them. The crazy thing is this was already on high priced club level rooms. If they sold a pass similar to universals I can easily see it being 300+, they would want to make it exclusive and price a lot of people out of it or else it wouldn't make sense.

They're really adopting a model that's catering to people that have money to burn.

The thing is, these more expensive options cost you nothing. There are people who have more money to spend than others. It's just a fact of life and Disney would be stupid for not cashing in on that. We certainly don't have money to burn but we do have priorities and enjoying Disney as much as we possibly can is one of them. So we don't do some things so that we can afford to avail ourselves of some of the perks Disney offers.

If Disney was only catering to those with more money, we wouldn't have value resorts. They want both- those who can spend a fortune and those who can't. But just because you can't afford something doesn't mean Disney shouldn't offer it.

 

[Dis Dragon]

That's not what I'm saying, I'm saying people that get enough together to get a value and get tickets, they won't have an extra 2000 for their family to buy these perks. Disney is expensive without the added perks.

Also never said anything about them not offering it. Just not liking how much they're taking to have a "premium" experience.

 

[GoingSince1990]

People thinking about the cost factor - just wanted to remind everyone that they were charging people 50 dollars per day (per person) for three fast passes with the club level program and they were selling them. The crazy thing is this was already on high priced club level rooms. If they sold a pass similar to universals I can easily see it being 300+, they would want to make it exclusive and price a lot of people out of it or else it wouldn't make sense.

They're really adopting a model that's catering to people that have money to burn.

A Disney equivalent of the Universal pass would have to cost at least $500 per person per day, at an absolute minimum, in order for Disney’s VIP tour business not to be destroyed. And that’s the problem; if they charge what they need to charge, the headlines about horrible, greedy, money-grubbing Disney would be an absolute PR disaster for them. Which is why they are unlikely to ever introduce such a pass. Paid-for expedited ride access via tours and things like EMM and DAH allow them to cash in much more subtly.

 

[Remy is Up]

Keep this in mind. Not defending or saying I have an idea or knowledge of the price structure of its paid. But, even at Disneyland, max pass was very reasonable, even with lots of other parks who charged much more close by. It was also included with platinum aps and gold could add it as an annual perk. Even in hybrid mode, 3 free to everyone and a maxpass type system where you use the app for any beyond the 3 and pay for it, I would think they would adopt something similar if it is indeed the second system they are testing that hasn't passed live platform yet. But until then I'd expect it to be fp+

 

[whiporee]

I don't think they'll do anything like a paid FP. But IF they do, I could seem them making it a "per party up to five" option for, say $800. That would be enough to dissuade most families from doing it, but mostly it would keep the single or two-person parties from monopolizing it. I know with flights or perks, it's a lot easier for my wife and I to fly first class than it is to bring all six of us, os if they priced it at $200, a couple might be willing to do it. But if they have to pay $800, I think that keeps them out of it. Then the big overall price tag keeps most families from doing it, too. I think that big number keeps APs away from it, too. So if family really wanted to splurge on a day, they'd have the option, but it wouldn't flood the system so much that FPs become worthless.

 

[ellbell]

People thinking about the cost factor - just wanted to remind everyone that they were charging people 50 dollars per day (per person) for three fast passes with the club level program and they were selling them. The crazy thing is this was already on high priced club level rooms. If they sold a pass similar to universals I can easily see it being 300+, they would want to make it exclusive and price a lot of people out of it or else it wouldn't make sense.

They're really adopting a model that's catering to people that have money to burn.

People who stay club level aren't your average Disney vacationers. There are very few club level rooms in comparison to other rooms on property and most of them have a higher income than others who go to Disney or are doing a one off trip.

 

[Meglen]

What ever it is JUST ANNOUNCE IT ALREADY!!!!

 

[kc51570]

I would have agreed with this until I started looking into a day at Universal next month. Their Express Pass is $220 - $250 per ticket per day for a two-park ticket. But if you stay in a deluxe resort, it's thrown in. It seems like some folks say, "Just stay at a deluxe! Then it's free!" But that's not the case for those of us who aren't willing to pay deluxe room rates. But it makes it easier to swallow for some people.

But I don't think there's any way that Disney sees Universal getting those amounts and doesn't go that way themselves.

Express pass pricing is dependent on the day. In low seasons it is 59.99. The 220-250 per ticket is for the busiest times and who knows how many they sell separately during peak seasons. I am guessing most people choose to stay in their deluxe hotels which are a lot less expensive than Disney deluxe. Why wouldn’t someone pay $450 a night for a hotel that includes express passes for 4 people vs. up to a $1000 extra for separate express passes on top of a different hotel? I’m just pulling a hotel price out of the air. Right now they are higher than that or sold out, but it looks like the Loews Portofino Bay can go as low as $287 (non-discounted rate) a night in slower seasons which is only a little higher than buying 4 of the cheapest express passes. We stayed at Universal once with the free express passes. We still waited at least an hour for Spiderman and Minions and that was during a slow season. The passes worked well on short lines, but our waits for more popular rides were not drastically reduced with express pass like they would be with FP+. It was also before they offered them for use on Harry Potter rides so maybe that would have helped a little more. But Disney is already priced so much higher than universal when looking at hotels and tickets so I don’t think they will just say Universal charges this much so why shouldn’t we do the same...

 

[annadreamsofdisneyworld]

If they implement a paid only fast pass program at $100-$300 pp per day... then our next trip will probably be the last for a while. I am dying to go back, and we have a trip planned for next year. But past that, if fast passes are insanely expensive, there's no free dining, no free magical express, limited hours, then we will probably limit our disney trips to every few years because it seems like it will be too expensive to have an enjoyable trip. We are considering a cruise for 2023 instead.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

If FP is $100-300 a day per person I’m going to Europe instead.

 

[mshanson3121]

I've been curious as to why so many kiosks are being set up and it occurs to me- If they require you have a park reservation to get a FP, and I assume they will, then no one can reserve a FP in advance for a park they hop to. They'd have to have kiosks to accomodate those who don't want to or can't use their phones and they need enough that lines won't back up too badly at them. Makes more sense to me than a system that doesn't allow you to use the app.

Ugh. I had never thought of that. That messes up my plans to save my FP+ for the park we hop to.

 

[cakebaker]

Ugh. I had never thought of that. That messes up my plans to save my FP+ for the park we hop to.

That's what made me think of it. I was sketching out rough plans for FP's and then it occurred to me. We always have saved our FP's for our evening park we hop to. Been going to WDW for 35 yrs and I feel like I've never been before!