Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[SaharanTea]

That ship sailed a long time ago. Maybe it never even existed. Going back to opening, money got you on better rides and more rides.

Today money gets you extended park hours, exclusive parades and fireworks shows, exclusive party experiences, lower crowds, extra FP, earlier access to FP, and if you consider a VIP tour guide money gets you a much different experience than a regular guest.

Paid FP+ feels like an extension of what we’ve become accustomed to in the parks as of late.

Paid FP+ wouldn't be an extension of those things because paying for FP+ would be a fundamental change to the current system. Right now, you pay for FP+ with admission. You'll still be paying that price (and likely more), but then they'll ask you to pay for FP+ on top of it.

Those other upcharges are on the fringes of the core park experience. They nibble at the edges of park space and park hours, but they don't do much to the core parts. They inject small bits into the ride lines, but there aren't enough people using them that they are noticed much. The changes people are talking about is flipping all of it over and making an entirely new way of doing things.

 

[Doug M]

Except for the state fair is only $5 to get in.

Yes and Disney is going to charge you 130 to get in and then big bucks per ride.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Paid FP+ wouldn't be an extension of those things because paying for FP+ would be a fundamental change to the current system. Right now, you pay for FP+ with admission. You'll still be paying that price (and likely more), but then they'll ask you to pay for FP+ on top of it.

Those other upcharges are on the fringes of the core park experience. They nibble at the edges of park space and park hours, but they don't do much to the core parts. They inject small bits into the ride lines, but there aren't enough people using them that they are noticed much. The changes people are talking about is flipping all of it over and making an entirely new way of doing things.

I mean I get what you’re saying and don’t entirely disagree with it, but I think I could make similar arguments surrounding all the parties, the morning events, and the late night events. It’s why I see paid FP+ as an extension, just another thing Disney chooses to charge for because they can.

I think the prevalence of those things has fundamentally changed what you could get without extra charge in the parks. In the months with Halloween and Christmas parties for example, they run those parties what 3-4 night’s a week? That’s taking away a ton from regular ticket guests, especially when you consider it prevents them from seeing the evening shows. The morning events impact rope drop. EMH are much less than they used to be.

Paid FP+ is that same concept on a larger scale, IMO. I think the difference is we have become accustomed to all those paid events and view them as normal. The boiling frog thing. The inability or unwillingness to pay for those does impact touring, especially considering timing of trips.

 

[Doug M]

I'm not saying you are wrong, but if your reasoning is correct, why doesn't everyone enter the park twice and get 6 pre-booked FP a day?

A 7-day ticket is (as low as) $61/day. If you value park entry as $0 (which is appropriate given it would be used for a second entry), right now that means a pre-booked FP is "worth" $20 (on a 7-day ticket).

So if they charge more than $20 for additional FP, it would be smarter to just buy two sets of tickets and enter the parks twice.

You only use 1 day of tickets on 1 day. You don't use a 2nd day for the same park, you can reenter the same park 100 times that day if you want. You also can't use a 2nd day at a 2nd park. You either get park hopper addon or you are denied entry.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I assume if they are offering paid FP's for headliners, the amount given for free is greatly reduced. So if you are paying, you are guaranteed the FP. If you don't, you are not. So it won't be something you can get for free anymore.

I think so too.

There’s no way I see this playing out so that free FP users come out ahead in the long run. I think it’ll be either paying for earlier booking, or paying for specific rides with capacity set aside for paying guests (possibly 100% if it).

 

[anomamatt]

You only use 1 day of tickets on 1 day. You don't use a 2nd day for the same park, you can reenter the same park 100 times that day if you want. You also can't use a 2nd day at a 2nd park. You either get park hopper addon or you are denied entry.

Yes, I understand how tickets work.

I'm talking about using two different multi-day tickets on the same day (enter the park using ticket #1, leave, enter the park using ticket #2). People have done this and it works fine. (you do need two MDE profiles to do it - and obviously two sets of bands or cards).

 

[SaharanTea]

I mean I get what you’re saying and don’t entirely disagree with it, but I think I could make similar arguments surrounding all the parties, the morning events, and the late night events. It’s why I see paid FP+ as an extension, just another thing Disney chooses to charge for because they can.

I think the prevalence of those things has fundamentally changed what you could get without extra charge in the parks. In the months with Halloween and Christmas parties for example, they run those parties what 3-4 night’s a week? That’s taking away a ton from regular ticket guests, especially when you consider it prevents them from seeing the evening shows. The morning events impact rope drop. EMH are much less than they used to be.

Paid FP+ is that same concept on a larger scale, IMO. I think the difference is we have become accustomed to all those paid events and view them as normal. The boiling frog thing. The inability or unwillingness to pay for those does impact touring, especially considering timing of trips.

True, all those nibbles start to look like pretty big bites after a few years. But even then, you can still avoid them (though I agree it is getting harder to do so).

But making the whole of the FP+ system an additional cost will affect every visitor at all times.

 

[SaharanTea]

I think so too.

There’s no way I see this playing out so that free FP users come out ahead in the long run. I think it’ll be either paying for earlier booking, or paying for specific rides with capacity set aside for paying guests (possibly 100% if it).

If 100% of the FP for a ride is paid, do you get a discount for accepting a less desirable time slot for your advance FP reservation? Not everyone can have the 11:00am-12:00pm block. And if not, you're going to be right back where you started with people being unhappy that they can't pay to have their ride at their time.

Full circle, but now you're unavoidably paying more.

 

[LSUmiss]

Their loyal fan base keeps paying though.

They also are still building more resorts/rooms.

I know we are guilty of this for sure. Even taking away what used to be free, I would be willing to pay for a good number say like 8-10 (maybe even as low as 5-6) a day that can be prescheduled like the 3 free are now without any tier restrictions. I’m currently a 4th plus FP refresher, but it’s time consuming & I find the refresh option has less availability lately than on our previous trips.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

If 100% of the FP for a ride is paid, do you get a discount for accepting a less desirable time slot for your advance FP reservation? Not everyone can have the 11:00am-12:00pm block. And if not, you're going to be right back where you started with people being unhappy that they can't pay to have their ride at their time.

Full circle, but now you're unavoidably paying more.

Yeah, if I’m paying I’m a lot pickier about times. I’m pickier about a lot of it (wait times, delays, breakdowns) but I think we already did that.

Of course, over time it will become the norm, if this is how the system becomes, and people won’t bat an eye at being stuck with the less desirable times. Then we’ll all be reminiscing about the good ol’ days when Disney first started charging and how good a deal it was then.

 

[JETSDAD]

Because those 3 FP's are special. They are untiered and can be scheduled in addition to your normal 3. So you are getting 6 FP's in advance. And you can make them for more than one park.

Which is merely convenience....aside from the convenience of having them all chosen in advance you're not getting anything that can't be done day of.

 

[LSUmiss]

You’re so right about this. I saw some blatant abuse last weekend at MK. Lots of issues at the FP taps. It was absurd.

Or ppl who don’t have FPs for their whole party or argue the CM down until they give up & let them through.

 

[LSUmiss]

I was upset about this at first....but if they allow me to keep the initial 3 then I'll pay for more to a point...depends on what that cost is. I truly don't mind standing in line when it gets too hot or we need to rest. I hope when I visit in June I'll get the opportunity to refresh for more...but I'll guess we will soon see.

I would actually like to see it stay the same & you only pay if you want to prebook more than 3. So you get 3 free & can still add 1 at a time for free like now. But, if you pay, you can prebook a certain amount above the free 3 at 60 days out...and either no tier restrictions or you can have 2 or in certain tiers or something like that.

 

[crostorfer]

But right now, they give three to everyone. Capacity is an issue and is always going to be an issue, but by only giving "free" fastpasses to onsite guests, you are reducing the number of people receiving free fast passes by a significant number. Maybe they won't offer the ability to buy additional until you use your original three, who knows. There has to be something that separates staying onsite vs offsite. Making offsite guests pay for FP+ would be one way to do that.

This is kind of what Universal does, correct?

That’s why I think they will go to FP packages, like they do in Paris, China and Japan. Disney is still going to want to attempt to control crowds, it was the point of FP+ to begin with. A basic package with one headliner and 3 Disney selected minor rides, a deluxe with 2 headliners and 3-4 minor rides, and an ultimate with 3 headliners and 5 minors. That would be per park, I don’t know if you could buy more than one package or park per day.

Their only answers to their massive capacity problem are to make EPCOT a year round seasonal festival, and to use FP to attempt to make you go where they want you to. FP+ was never about guest satisfaction, it was always about crowd control, and it doesn’t work.

 

[NJlauren]

That’s why I think they will go to FP packages, like they do in Paris, China and Japan. Disney is still going to want to attempt to control crowds, it was the point of FP+ to begin with. A basic package with one headliner and 3 Disney selected minor rides, a deluxe with 2 headliners and 3-4 minor rides, and an ultimate with 3 headliners and 5 minors. That would be per park, I don’t know if you could buy more than one package or park per day.

Their only answers to their massive capacity problem are to make EPCOT a year round seasonal festival, and to use FP to attempt to make you go where they want you to. FP+ was never about guest satisfaction, it was always about crowd control, and it doesn’t work.

But I’m pretty sure I’m the other when you buy the package the rides are slowed by time correct?

So you get 3 headlines 4 minor rides and can do them when ever you want...

 

[Grumpy6264]

That’s why I think they will go to FP packages, like they do in Paris, China and Japan. Disney is still going to want to attempt to control crowds, it was the point of FP+ to begin with. A basic package with one headliner and 3 Disney selected minor rides, a deluxe with 2 headliners and 3-4 minor rides, and an ultimate with 3 headliners and 5 minors. That would be per park, I don’t know if you could buy more than one package or park per day.

Their only answers to their massive capacity problem are to make EPCOT a year round seasonal festival, and to use FP to attempt to make you go where they want you to. FP+ was never about guest satisfaction, it was always about crowd control, and it doesn’t work.

It may end up looking like that. The sticking point with me is that if I am paying big bucks to stay onsite, there has to be a benefit. Maybe better packages for onsite guests, but something.

Like I said, it is going to be interesting what comes out of this.

 

[LSUmiss]

This is what ive been saying to all of this. Disney adds EMM, people go nuts and buy into it. Disney adds paid spots for watching something in the sky, people go nuts and buy into it. They add paid FP to two of their resorts, people buy into it. Until customers teach them differently they will push the envelope. It is going to take a recession to even begin peeling this all back, and I don't wish for a recession for some stupid reason to visit a theme park. My kids have visited twice, that is 2 more than most. We can vacation elsewhere and have a great time.

But ppl are also desperate to mitigate the ridiculous crowds too. So, we are ppl that pay for as many of these experiences as we can afford b/c otherwise there is no way around the crowd.

 

[LSUmiss]

I think it's a great idea. Right now the FP+ lines are sorta fast but not really. We purchase the CL FP+ which does make the stand by line for others a longer wait. The more in the FP+ line, the slower the standby line. But, we use our extra FP+ for what some consider silly or a waste of a FP+. I always book Barnstormer for my little one and Dumbo at MK. I even use one for Figment at EP. But, if Disney does this right, say they let you purchase a FP+ package. They could include the 3 like they do now and still let you book at 60+ length of stay. But instead of the CL FP+ they could have packages available to all guest. Maybe a 3 FP+ for $50, a 5 FP+ for $75 and a 8 FP+ for $100. That would actually make for less FP+ being used since people would no longer be able to use refresh to get 12-14 FP+ after their initial 3. This way Disney would not be taking anything away from anyone and at the same time offering some thing to everyone. I think it could work.

For the CL FPs you can buy now, can you prebook with your others at 60 days plus?

 

[Sarah1024]

Which is merely convenience....aside from the convenience of having them all chosen in advance you're not getting anything that can't be done day of.

I beg to differ. I have not been able to get many headliners by refreshing. With the CL FP's, I can schedule Soarin, TT, FEA, FOP, Navi River Journey, and EE all in one day. For everyone in my party.

For the CL FPs you can buy now, can you prebook with your others at 60 days plus?

You book your 6 FP's at 90 days only on the days that you have purchased the CL FP's for - not all of your days.

 

[anomamatt]

Because those 3 FP's are special. They are untiered and can be scheduled in addition to your normal 3. So you are getting 6 FP's in advance. And you can make them for more than one park.

But there are also major limitations: you cannot overlap them, you cannot modify them. You are locked into 6 FP over 6 hours. In 6 hours, I can currently do well over 12 FP with the current system (and that includes Tier-1 rides as "4th" FPs).

When we stay CL, we decline to get CLFP because they are too inflexible and we end up paying more for an inferior experience. (We missed out on the period where nighttime viewings were included with CLFP - that would have probably changed things for us).

And it's also worth mentioning that CLFP cause a MDE glitch and prevent full booking of FP on APs.