Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[KrzyKtty101]

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.

Until covid happened and everything changed, we were going to do club level just to buy the extra fast passes. However we definitely fall into the financial group you listed above anyway. Now, even if they do bring back the system as it was, we're considering doing the VIP tour instead.

 

[Loro]

So I tend to trust the sources and people I know and post nothing that would compromise them or my relationships with them. Therefore, you can take what I'm saying with a grain of salt or you can ignore it. Reality there is a ton I don't post and skim by because responding wouldn't be appropriate. And there are a few other posters here who do the same thing.

Yep. Only way to do it.

 

[mshanson3121]

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!

Same! I mean our trip isn't until next June, but I find the unknowns stressful as I don't know what to expect, what to budget, what to book (how many nights where) etc... If FP+ comes back as it was, great. But if it doesn't, and it's a paid option, well then, how many days we do will depend on 1) reports of how bad standby is without FP and/or 2) the cost of FP+.

And yes, we were planning to do park hoppers this time. We booked 3 day hoppers, planning to rope drop then save our FP+ for the afternoon park. But now... oie. I'm thinking I'd rather do 4 day base passes. But whether we do or not will boil down to the FP+ situation. If we can't afford FP+, and the standby is bad without it, then we'll probably just use our free 1 day comp tickets, and call it good.

Just tell us already Disney!

 

[Moliphino]

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+

But Maxpass really wasn't a paid fastpass system, it was just an upcharge to be able to access the free fastpass system on your phone and avoid having to go to kiosks.

 

[Remy is Up]

But Maxpass really wasn't a paid fastpass system, it was just an upcharge to be able to access the free fastpass system on your phone and avoid having to go to kiosks.

It was. But that program could be modified and then integrated into the new platform as a hybrid alternative to fp+. The technology is there. Making something like that integrate on the new platform would be the question. Something other than fp+ is being tested in the test environment and now live environment. So it wouldn't make sense that it is another free system when fp+ has already been integrated successfully in live environment and just needs park testing. That's not saying which one will roll out or when. Just that there is always another option.

 

[Aprilshack]

It was. But that program could be modified and then integrated into the new platform as a hybrid alternative to fp+. The technology is there. Making something like that integrate on the new platform would be the question. Something other than fp+ is being tested in the test environment and now live environment. So it wouldn't make sense that it is another free system when fp+ has already been integrated successfully in live environment and just needs park testing. That's not saying which one will roll out or when. Just that there is always another option.

Its going to cost me money isn't it? Whatever the new thing is. :/

 

[ChipnDale79]

Its going to cost me money isn't it? Whatever the new thing is. :/

It's disney. Chapek wants to charge you for everything you do now. What used to be included is now an upcharge.

 

[Remy is Up]

Its going to cost me money isn't it? Whatever the new thing is. :/

I believe it is a hybrid because a fully paid system should be easy to integrate just like fp+ has been. But I also am leaning more to a rollout of the old fp+ system first since it has been tested and integrated successfully on the new platform. It would be a stop gap as they increase capacity and eventually have the hybrid system integrated. I can't see them going from fully free to fully paid. That's a pr disaster. It also could be getting the hybrid tied into new ap tiers/benefits as well as working with dining plans, tiw, and other programs it would interact with. Just my thoughts based on piecing reliable info together from IT and finance.

 

[Jrb1979]

I believe it is a hybrid because a fully paid system should be easy to integrate just like fp+ has been. But I also am leaning more to a rollout of the old fp+ system first since it has been tested and integrated successfully on the new platform. It would be a stop gap as they increase capacity and eventually have the hybrid system integrated. I can't see them going from fully free to fully paid. That's a pr disaster. It also could be getting the hybrid tied into new ap tiers/benefits as well as working with dining plans, tiw, and other programs it would interact with. Just my thoughts based on piecing reliable info together from IT and finance.

My hope is the hybrid is that you only get 3 free ones and pay for any on top of that. That advanced bookings is a thing of the past.

 

[ChipnDale79]

My hope is the hybrid is that you only get 3 free ones and pay for any on top of that. That advanced bookings is a thing of the past.

i think that sucks, if you pay the premium to stay onsite, you should get as many as you can get, like before.

 

[Jrb1979]

i think that sucks, if you pay the premium to stay onsite, you should get as many as you can get, like before.

Why give them perks. People have shown they don't need perks anymore.

 

[cakebaker]

Why give them perks. People have shown they don't need perks anymore.

Bingo.

 

[monstermash23]

Why give them perks. People have shown they don't need perks anymore.

Covid trends are more then likely not permanent and will more then likely be unreliable indicators of consumer behavior once the pent up demand is gone, imo. But also, no one "needs" Disney either so not "needing" perks is not really the best way to look at that. But as a former resort guest and now DVC owner, I want perks. And I def want the old FP perk back, without question. I plan these trips too much to not have the ability to also plan fastpasses at this point.

 

[cakebaker]

Covid trends are more then likely not permanent and will more then likely be unreliable indicators of consumer behavior once the pent up demand is gone, imo. But also, no one "needs" Disney either so not "needing" perks is not really the best way to look at that. But as a former resort guest and now DVC owner, I want perks. And I def want the old FP perk back, without question. I plan these trips too much to not have the ability to also plan fastpasses at this point.

But will you sell your DVC and not go back if they don’t give perks? That’s the key.

 

[Roxyfire]

I believe it is a hybrid because a fully paid system should be easy to integrate just like fp+ has been. But I also am leaning more to a rollout of the old fp+ system first since it has been tested and integrated successfully on the new platform. It would be a stop gap as they increase capacity and eventually have the hybrid system integrated. I can't see them going from fully free to fully paid. That's a pr disaster. It also could be getting the hybrid tied into new ap tiers/benefits as well as working with dining plans, tiw, and other programs it would interact with. Just my thoughts based on piecing reliable info together from IT and finance.

This is sort of what I am anticipating as well. I could see them maybe trying to use the mobile order platform as a baseline to code some FP purchase type things. If they really wanted to make some cash, add some dynamic pricing. Not that it would work with the dismal IT situation but there's a lot of opportunitie$ out there.

 

[monstermash23]

But will you sell your DVC and not go back if they don’t give perks? That’s the key.

I can't answer that now because Disney isn't back to normal yet and I bought into DVC a bit before Covid started, when things were normal. I will wait until the dust settles and then re-evaluate. But all options are on the table. I've been going for 30+ years but Disney isn't an addiction for us as some people make it out to be for themselves. We will cut ties with Disney if we feel it isn't worth it anymore. But speculation like this "I will purchase X if Z is given, or I will not purchase Y because there is no Z" will not help me make that decision because of how fluid this entire situation is at the moment.. But actually seeing what Disney offers going forward and then seeing how it impacts us will be how that decision gets made. But my point was I don't care what covid trends exist or people think they see, as a prior resort guest I want that perk back. Plain and simple. And I'm willing to bet I'm not the only one. And if that isn't honored, then that will play into my decisions down the road, along with everything else Disney does going forward. But those are my expectations.

 

[ST1TCH]

Ugh....for the love of all that is holy.....just tell us SOMETHING. I spend too much time of my day refreshing this site and checking all the latest posts in the FP threads

Even if it's "FP+ will be back by the start of the 50th anniversary"....at least it's something and we can stop freaking ourselves out with unfounded theories and speculation. People throw out numbers like $300 a day and then I see other posters stating that as "fact" like it's confirmed that's a number Disney is considering....sheesh.

 

[Jrb1979]

This is sort of what I am anticipating as well. I could see them maybe trying to use the mobile order platform as a baseline to code some FP purchase type things. If they really wanted to make some cash, add some dynamic pricing. Not that it would work with the dismal IT situation but there's a lot of opportunitie$ out there.

My hope is they limit the amount of free ones available. The less people that have FP the better it works.

 

[erin1715]

Ugh....for the love of all that is holy.....just tell us SOMETHING. I spend too much time of my day refreshing this site and checking all the latest posts in the FP threads

Even if it's "FP+ will be back by the start of the 50th anniversary"....at least it's something and we can stop freaking ourselves out with unfounded theories and speculation. People throw out numbers like $300 a day and then I see other posters stating that as "fact" like it's confirmed that's a number Disney is considering....sheesh.

I feel the same way! Tomorrow is July 1st - can we hear something please!!

 

[ChipnDale79]

Why give them perks. People have shown they don't need perks anymore.

Not a DVC owner, but go every year prior to last year. we arent booking a vacation at WDW for 2022, one of the major reasons is the lack of perks and changes that have taken place in the past few years.