Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[Brocktoon]

Hopefully it isn't. I remember doing fourth year quantum chemistry and thinking this is kinda hard. But at the end of the day I did complete that course in a shorter amount of time than it took to understand FP+....

Even if it isn't too complicated, I could see the rumored genie system just being a another conduit for maximizing addons. Like others have speculated, it would be a sound business/profit move for Disney to NOT allow customizations for attraction selection. For example ...

Say you're hitting Hollywood Studios and wanted to ride RotR, Slinky Dog, and MMRR. I could see Disney not allowing you to pick just those three ... but instead you would need to purchase 3 separate packs as your 3 wishes:

1. Galaxy's Edge Pack (For Rise)
2. Toy Story Pack (Includes Slinky)
3. Classic Ride Pack (Includes MMRR)

Same junk folks are used to with collectibles like trading cards where you'd get once decent rare card stuffed with a bunch of 'commons'. Disney knows what people want, and I could easily see them bunding the sought after experiences with the common stuff they need to push for crowd control

 

[Jrb1979]

If that’s the case I might wind up liking this. I get that people who usually stay value/moderate might not like this but deluxe resort guests wind up getting some wishes included, then for me personally, it seems like a bit of an improvement.

For me if they do go the root of getting rid of advanced booking I know I would like it. I hate all the planning involved.

 

[NuJoy]

Without the ability to reserve advance fast passes, sounds like Genie system puts guest right back to traveling back and forth all over the park getting to rides. FP+ was originally promoted as eliminating this very thing. With FP+ I am able to plan an entire park visit getting on rides in a specific touring order that is efficient, more predictable, and less tiring.

 

[cakebaker]

According to Martin at WDWMAGIC It's looking like the days of 60 and 30 day planning are close to being done.

At this point, I don't care. Just put something in place. But before everyone gets all happy, remember this may well not be free. If they were implementing FP+ as it use to be, seems to me making it day of only would be something they could've done already. The fact that they haven't tells me they're waiting to get the new system working and we're looking at a paid system.

And again, I don't care. Just give me an option to shorten the lines.

 

[cakebaker]

Without the ability to reserve advance fast passes, sounds like Genie system puts guest right back to traveling back and forth all over the park getting to rides. FP+ was originally promoted as eliminating this very thing. With FP+ I am able to plan an entire park visit getting on rides in a specific touring order that is efficient, more predictable, and less tiring.

No different than what we did when we had FP+ scheduled in advance. I never skipped getting a headliner just because it wasn't close to a headliner I had already chosen. It's WDW. I expect to walk. What I didn't like was having to walk all over the park just to get the FP, then walk to whatever ride I was doing next and at some point hiking back to the FP I had made. Day of does eliminate the assurance we had that we'd get a FP for everything we wanted, but it's possible we could still keep our touring style of park hopping intact, depending on exactly how the system works.

Sucks for us though. If they're not going with the old system, there's little chance this will be up and running for our trip next month.

 

[cakebaker]

For me if they do go the root of getting rid of advanced booking I know I would like it. I hate all the planning involved.

Unfortunately, with the reservation system, you still have to plan. I don't mind planning at all. The more prepared we are, the better our trips are. At home or on vacation, flying by the seat of my pants is something I despise. It tends to lead to wasted time trying to get everyone on the same page and I'd rather waste that time at home, where it's free.

 

[Jrb1979]

Unfortunately, with the reservation system, you still have to plan. I don't mind planning at all. The more prepared we are, the better our trips are. At home or on vacation, flying by the seat of my pants is something I despise. It tends to lead to wasted time trying to get everyone on the same page and I'd rather waste that time at home, where it's free.

I don't mind the reservation system. My home park is doing it so it's not a big deal. I don't mind planning some things on vacation. As far as rides go I am more of being spontaneous with it. I would be more then happy if it becomes day off.

 

[cakebaker]

I don't mind the reservation system. My home park is doing it so it's not a big deal. I don't mind planning some things on vacation. As far as rides go I am more of being spontaneous with it. I would be more then happy if it becomes day off.

It's not something I can't live with, I just prefer knowing in advance we'll get the hard to get FP's. But we managed through the old system for many years and figured out ways to make it work. I think making it a pay to play will reduce the demand as well. I doubt it's going to be dirt cheap and a lot of people just won't pay.

The up side of it is, should weather prevent us from doing things where weather matters- like a water park- we lose much less by switching parks on a rainy day because we won't have booked valuable FP's. That's a huge plus. Just book the hard to get parks, change to one with less demand if we need to.

 

[NuJoy]

I depend on the pre-planning to maximize my confidence in balancing optimum value and enjoyment. I’m afraid I’m the ideal prospect for being tempted to compromise value for assured enjoyment

 

[Hamptonite]

Look at these prices (spontaneous day of - its 99-139$ pp if you buy before hand) Family of 4? Might as well book a Deluxe Stay!!!

Tell me this doesn't get Chapek excited!

 

[dato63]

Look at these prices (spontaneous day of - its 99-139$ pp if you buy before hand) Family of 4? Might as well book a Deluxe Stay!!!

Tell me this doesn't get Chapek excited!

View attachment 586559

ouch.

We are going to Universal for the first time. Originally I considered just driving from Disney for a day. But at Christmas, it saved us money to book two days at a universal resort that included the express passes.

 

[amdphenom]

Look at these prices (spontaneous day of - its 99-139$ pp if you buy before hand) Family of 4? Might as well book a Deluxe Stay!!!

Tell me this doesn't get Chapek excited!

If that's the case, then please just keep it as is with no Fastpass and standby only. If you are in a resort without them provided with your stay and/or in a tier where your only option is to buy well, G G.

 

[Heather07438]

so is the thinking that the “wishes” would be used on the fly, spontaneously?

And what if they threw free wishes?

Like they did with year of a million dreams
https://www.wdwinfo.com/Million-Dreams.htm
That is very fondly remembered. I can definitely see them trying to work something like that into the Genie system.

Maybe every ticket gets a free wish every day, there are 3 packs to buy or whatever they do with paid element, plus there’s a chance at Genie giving your family a Wish.

 

[cakebaker]

Might as well book a Deluxe Stay!!!

I think that's pretty much their intent if they go with a system like that. Those are ridiculously high prices, wonder why no one complains about Universal doing that?

 

[New Mouse]

Even if it isn't too complicated, I could see the rumored genie system just being a another conduit for maximizing addons. Like others have speculated, it would be a sound business/profit move for Disney to NOT allow customizations for attraction selection. For example ...

Say you're hitting Hollywood Studios and wanted to ride RotR, Slinky Dog, and MMRR. I could see Disney not allowing you to pick just those three ... but instead you would need to purchase 3 separate packs as your 3 wishes:

1. Galaxy's Edge Pack (For Rise)
2. Toy Story Pack (Includes Slinky)
3. Classic Ride Pack (Includes MMRR)

Same junk folks are used to with collectibles like trading cards where you'd get once decent rare card stuffed with a bunch of 'commons'. Disney knows what people want, and I could easily see them bunding the sought after experiences with the common stuff they need to push for crowd control

Putting an upcharge to guarantee access to Rise would be the end of Disney parks as we know it.

Pay $120 for a day, but you cant ride our best attractions unless you pay $50 more!

 

[cakebaker]

And what if they threw free wishes?

Like they did with year of a million dreams
https://www.wdwinfo.com/Million-Dreams.htm
That is very fondly remembered. I can definitely see them trying to work something like that into the Genie system.

Maybe every ticket gets a free wish every day, there are 3 packs to buy or whatever they do with paid element, plus there’s a chance at Genie giving your family a Wish.

That was the best promotion Disney ever did. We got a couple of things, but the best part was trying to spot the suits.

 

[Heather07438]

Might be totally unrelated but DVC is having an unprecedented 2 day ‘Down for Maintenance’ July 17 starting 10pm and will not reopen until July 20th. That system has many issues to be addressed but geez, that’s a long time. Could they also be setting up the ability to work better with Genie?

 

[Hamptonite]

Might be totally unrelated but DVC is having an unprecedented 2 day ‘Down for Maintenance’ July 17 starting 10pm and will not reopen until July 20th. That system has many issues to be addressed but geez, that’s a long time. Could they also be setting up the ability to work better with Genie?

Yeah - this could be system overhaul to merge the systems.

 

[Heather07438]

That was the best promotion Disney ever did. We got a couple of things, but the best part was trying to spot the suits.

Sounds awesome! Love to see something like that return.

 

[mshanson3121]

I have really mixed feelings on this. I like the idea of everyone getting 1 free FP+, and then if we can use our wishes for the extras, I guess that's fine - as long as they're not bundled by attraction type - that is absolutely useless to us. I do really like the idea of being able to use wishes for fireworks viewing or character meets.

I also like the idea of being able to mix and match, so do 1 FP+, a fireworks viewing and 1 character meet. But the big question is - how much will wishes cost?

https://www.piratesandprincesses.net/is-a-new-fastpass-system-on-the-way-through-disneys-genie-app/