Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

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.

I think the way the article worded it was onsite guests could be given included wishes as a perk. I think it said possibly 1 for value, possibly 3 for deluxe and moderate seemed like a toss up. I’m ONLY on board for a system like this if onsite guests receive some some wishes as perks instead of being asked to pony up on top of hotel and park tickets.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

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!

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Keep in mind Holiday/summer (4th of July being Sunday for example). EP has always been more expensive in certain parts of the summer and around holidays and if in high demand higher in price (this is like MP only they stop selling MP at a certain point, here Universal just makes it less enticing due to price). Chapek would have been excited years ago in this situation. I wouldn't look too in-depth at their pricing for a correlation to what Disney can/could do with theirs because Universal has been operating this way for years.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Those are ridiculously high prices, wonder why no one complains about Universal doing that?

People do complain about EP being high, people complain about EP costing something to begin with. If you pay attention to reviews enough you'll see it and it's been this way for years. Way back in 2015 (when I joined this site) when I started planning for our 2017 trip I scoured the internet (looked at a lot of reviews, blogs, this site, etc). It's all there and been there. Actually one of the most common things on this Board was comparing the cost of EP with one of the 3 resorts that qualified for EP being included and seeing if it was worth it (normally was but every now and then wasn't). Also purchasing an AP for Universal for the AP rates and discounts. But WDW and USO do operate differently and for WDW one of their main advertising for years was that FP was included in your park ticket. Universal gave no illusion to that. Then again with Harry Potter people will spend the money just to see those parts (and if you want all you need Park-to-Park especially if you want to ride Hogwarts Express).

Also keep in mind EP and FP are NOT the same thing. They don't function the same way. EP is more like what other amusement and theme parks have. You have rides included in it and you're free to enter the line when you want if you purchase EP. FP is not like that. Also you can purchase Unlimited EP which means you can re-ride rides all you want, no limitation. FP is limited to what's available. You can't just exit the ride and get right back on. With EP you can.

 

[luv2cheer92]

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!

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About a month ago I had been looking to go to Universal for next weekend. The one day park to park EP was over $325 per person. That was far from last minute. The summer prices for that have been regularly over $200-250+, and definitely not just last minute purchases.

 

[Lewisc]

Universal limits the number of Express Passes. Peak days, and as the number of available passes decreases the price $$$.

Universal pulses between the 2 lines. The stated goal is for the Express Line to be half the wait of the regular line. When the regular line is 90 minutes the Express Line should be 45 minutes. I think the Express line might be a little less then half.

People who don't have Express Pass can still enjoy their day.

 

[Heather07438]

About a month ago I had been looking to go to Universal for next weekend. The one day park to park EP was over $325 per person. That was far from last minute. The summer prices for that have been regularly over $200-250+, and definitely not just last minute purchases.

2 summers ago DH’s best friend, wife and 3 teens spent $2000 in one day at UO. They bought park-to-park for all 5 and EP just for the kids, plus food & wands, etc.

They had a week stay in inexpensive VRBO house and reasoned they knocked everything out in 1 day at UO which not only gave them more time doing other stuff in FL, but saved $1k because a few days package at UO would’ve cost them $3000.

I was kinda shocked until he explained their reasoning.

 

[Wandering Oaken]

Just announce something Disney! We need to get on to arguing about how horrifying your decision is! Because we all know that whatever decision you come out with that is not the latest FP+ (Pre-COVID) it's going to make the average guest really mad. (me included). Not that there's anything we can do about it. We can either choose to suck it up and deal with it or just not go to Disney. I just want them to make a decision!

 

[Heather07438]

Just announce something Disney!

Yes! I just wish they would at least offer a timeline so we have a better idea what to expect for our trip.

FP or not FP? That is the question.

Will anything roll out before fall? Or should I just plan on dealing with the standby lines.

 

[luv2cheer92]

2 summers ago DH’s best friend, wife and 3 teens spent $2000 in one day at UO. They bought park-to-park for all 5 and EP just for the kids, plus food & wands, etc.

They had a week stay in inexpensive VRBO house and reasoned they knocked everything out in 1 day at UO which not only gave them more time doing other stuff in FL, but saved $1k because a few days package at UO would’ve cost them $3000.

I was kinda shocked until he explained their reasoning.

I was trying to plan a 3 day weekend trip there for either a weekend in mid-June or for next weekend. It was probably around early May that I started looking. I had planned on getting a deluxe room, but they were all full. So then figured I could get EP and stay at Cabana Bay, but that was a quick no. So I scrapped the whole trip.

 

[cakebaker]

When the regular line is 90 minutes the Express Line should be 45 minutes.

Paying that kind of money I would not be happy standing in 45 minute lines. There's nothing express about that, it's still a long wait. If I'm going to pay go get on rides quickly, that's what it should be- but this is just hey, you won't wait a horrible long time, but it's not going to be short. But I don't delve into Universal much. We went once to see the HP stuff, but we really aren't fans of their type of rides for the most part. What little we do like doesn't make it worth what it costs to go there.

I'm sure someday my grandson will want to experience it, but I'll just spend a day poolside while they take him.

 

[mom2rtk]

We just got back from a couple days in USO and a day in the MK. Crowds were very high, with at least one of our USO days hitting capacity. EP was a thing of beauty. Waits were always less than half of the stated standby time. Always felt shorter than we were used to with FP at Disney.

 

[ForWhomTheMouseTolls]

We just got back from a couple days in USO and a day in the MK. Crowds were very high, with at least one of our USO days hitting capacity. EP was a thing of beauty. Waits were always less than half of the stated standby time. Always felt shorter than we were used to with FP at Disney.

Are you saying half of the signed time is faster than FP+ was at Disney?

 

[mom2rtk]

Are you saying half of the signed time is faster than FP+ was at Disney?

I'm saying the time we actually waited with EP was shorter than we typically waited with FP+. Many of the attractions were nearly immediate access.

 

[Wandering Oaken]

I'm saying the time we actually waited with EP was shorter than we typically waited with FP+. Many of the attractions were nearly immediate access.

That's because it is Universal.


Relax. Just kidding.

 

[Spyral]

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.

We did similar on our last trip during spring break. Was originally going to do 1 day at Universal, but it was cheaper to stay the night at a deluxe resort with the included express pass rather than purchasing the express pass separately, since we are a family of 5. We then spent 2 days at Universal, which was nice so we could take it at a slower pace.

 

[cakebaker]

That's because it is Universal.


Relax. Just kidding.

In all seriousness, that's the problem. I wish I loved Universal, I tried to. But it's not my kind of park. HP was fun to see, but outside of that, just not my thing. No insult intended for those that like it, but I don't. So no matter how good any system that they have is or isn't, regardless of the pricing, I don't like it. For me it's not like ok, Disney has ticked me off I'm going to Universal instead. They are two completely different experiences. One I adore, the other I intensely dislike.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

In all seriousness, that's the problem. I wish I loved Universal, I tried to. But it's not my kind of park. HP was fun to see, but outside of that, just not my thing. No insult intended for those that like it, but I don't. So no matter how good any system that they have is or isn't, regardless of the pricing, I don't like it. For me it's not like ok, Disney has ticked me off I'm going to Universal instead. They are two completely different experiences. One I adore, the other I intensely dislike.

It's okay to not like Universal. The same is for WDW. And I agree they are completely different experiences. A lot of people find Universal more relaxing than WDW (lack of pre-planning a big part of it) but WDW tends to hold stronger nostalgic ties. I grew up going to both so I have nostalgia for both but I get a different feeling in each. Each park has their things I like and don't like about them. I don't think anyone should feel like they have to like Universal OR WDW but that's my personal opinion.

 

[lovethesun12]

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?

Do you mean complain to universal? I wouldn't bother to complain, I've just always chosen WDW instead.

 

[Heigh-Ho]

Do you mean complain to universal? I wouldn't bother to complain, I've just always chosen WDW instead.

Would you not bother complaining if the issue was WDW and just always choose Universal instead? (pretending you liked Universal and went there instead)

 

[cakebaker]

Do you mean complain to universal? I wouldn't bother to complain, I've just always chosen WDW instead.

My point was people are having fits over the idea of charging for some kind of paid system, yet everyone seems to accept what Universal does- which is charge out the backside for a pass that doesn't even get you through the line quickly if the parks are busy. If they aren't busy, I don't need a FP system.