Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[LSUmiss]

They're not charging more to thin the crowds. People think that because they want to believe that. They're charging more because they can. They intend to squeeze every last body they can into those parks. If they can do it while charging more per person, they will.



And there's the first hint they aren't after lower crowds. They're condensing them.

I agree. But as they continue to squeeze more & more ppl into the parks, they create a market for things like DAH, EMM, & FPs (including paid eventually as the crowds keep increasing). It’s brilliant really even if I don’t like it. And, while I’m not naive to the manipulation, we still enjoy going. So it’s either pay for things to mitigate the crowds, not go, or suck up the crowds. We’ll choose the first until it’s cost prohibitive. We have been doing things like that for years anyway like staying in Epcot or MK resorts, DAH, etc. We have been “refreshers”, but I’ve noticed on more recent trips availability has been more limited. So they are creating a market for ppl to WANT to buy FPs even though it used to be free. And, admittedly, I have gotten to the point that I would be ok with paying for extra ones if availability & flexibility were better. However, with the rising cost of all of it, it does mean that we will go less. What I don’t understand is the average not “in-the-know” person may not know how crowded it is now & may skip out of the extras & have a terrible time b/c of the crowds so then they never go back. That seems like a bad strategy.

 

[Nancyg56]

And there's the first hint they aren't after lower crowds. They're condensing them.

Exactly. No slow periods? Of course not because those walk on days are gone now that Disney has figured out how to staff to projected capacity. And the biggest concern I have with that practice is that when the parks get crowded and they finally open up the extra trains, etc, the attraction goes down. Look at the attraction in the MK alone that were down a lot last week. When the ride finally goes full capacity the issues that may be underlying break out, and there was no way to determine if it could handle the use prior. It was not running at full capacity.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Right now, there are only a very few rides at each of the parks that are hard-to-get FP+s: FoP at DAK, 2DMT and PPF at MK, SDD at DHS, and perhaps both Soarin' and TT at Epcot. When SWGE opens, that will be another 1 or 2 very hard-to-get FP+s. Do these few rides make it somehow inevitable that there'll be paid FP+s in the future? Seriously? Because surely no one is going to pay for FP+s for Country Bears or even SE. Is WDW going to create lines and crowds at attractions in order to force people to buy FP+s for them? They kinda did with FP+--create lines, I mean. SE had forever been a walk-on. Only with FP+ did it become a necessity to get a FP+ for it. So maybe they have this strategy in mind. I dunno. But I personally won't be paying for a FP+ to see Figment or be tortured by the never-ending song in iasm, for example.

This post was difficult to get through. I still don't know what all the abbreviations are.

Can someone please tell me what SE is?

 

[mom2rtk]

This post was difficult to get through. I still don't know what all the abbreviations are.

Can someone please tell me what SE is?

Spaceship Earth?

 

[MemphisVanessa]

This post was difficult to get through. I still don't know what all the abbreviations are.

Can someone please tell me what SE is?

That was a LOT of abbreviations all in one post. SE is Spaceship Earth

 

[MemphisVanessa]

This post was difficult to get through. I still don't know what all the abbreviations are.

Can someone please tell me what SE is?

I decoded it for you.

"Right now, there are only a very few rides at each of the parks that are hard-to-get FastPassPlus: Flight of Passage at Disney's Animal Kingdom, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Peter Pan's Flight at Magic Kingdom, Slinky Dog Dash at Hollywood Studios, and perhaps both Soarin' and Test Track at Epcot. When Star Wars Galaxy's Edge opens, that will be another 1 or 2 very hard-to-get FastPassPlus. Do these few rides make it somehow inevitable that there'll be paid FastPassPlus in the future? Seriously? Because surely no one is going to pay for FastPassPlus for Country Bears or even Spaceship Earth. Is Walt Disney World going to create lines and crowds at attractions in order to force people to buy FastPassPlus for them? They kinda did with FastPassPlus--create lines, I mean. Spaceship Earth had forever been a walk-on. Only with FastPassPlus did it become a necessity to get a FastPassPlus for it. So maybe they have this strategy in mind. I dunno. But I personally won't be paying for a FastPassPlus to see Figment or be tortured by the never-ending song in It's A Small World, for example."

 

[lugnut33]

Family of four here, I wouldn't buy fast passes at the prices people have been throwing around.

$100-$150 for three intermediate rides? No.

You may not, but plenty of people will. Look at how the paid Extra Magic Hours have been embraced by practically all. It's now a "must do" if you're going to do Disney right. For a family of 4, people are more than willing to spend $516 on something that used to be a free perk.

 

[SaintsManiac]

You may not, but plenty of people will. Look at how the paid Extra Magic Hours have been embraced by practically all. It's now a "must do" if you're going to do Disney right. For a family of 4, people are more than willing to spend $516 on something that used to be a free perk.

I'm always confused when people say you're paying for what used to be free. There was free breakfast? Free snacks? 0-5 minute waits?

 

[The Pho]

I'm always confused when people say you're paying for what used to be free. There was free breakfast? Free snacks? 0-5 minute waits?

Magic Hours and even late normal hours used to very much have 0-5 minute waits. For no added cost, so “free”. Now to get that you pretty much have to pay for an After Hours, so no longer free.

 

[Chavaleh]

Look at how the paid Extra Magic Hours have been embraced by practically all. It's now a "must do" if you're going to do Disney right.

There's not a "right" way to do Disney. There are lots of "wrong" ways but right is entirely dependent on the needs of your specific situation. I can't think of a scenario where a paid event is a "must do" unless you're dealing with people who have crowd anxiety and even then I'd still classify them as a luxury. Are they fun for certain groups in certain situations, sure... but "must do"?

 

[SaintsManiac]

Magic Hours and even late normal hours used to very much have 0-5 minute waits. For no added cost, so “free”. Now to get that you pretty much have to pay for an After Hours, so no longer free.

And these events aren't happening every morning or night or even in every park. But they are "events." It's not the same as EMH.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I'm always confused when people say you're paying for what used to be free. There was free breakfast? Free snacks? 0-5 minute waits?

PM EMH used to be glorious. It was 3 hours, frequently ended at 2 or 3 in the AM (a couple times per week). Rides definitely went to walk on status, especially the last 2 hours.

But they have gradually chiseled away (first the length, then the frequency and now coupled with early park closing in peak season). People clamored to “bring back e ticket night!!!! I’ll pay for those short lines again.” Voila! DAH was born.

 

[SaintsManiac]

PM EMH used to be glorious. It was 3 hours, frequently ended at 2 or 3 in the AM (a couple times per week). Rides definitely went to walk on status, especially the last 2 hours.

But they have gradually chiseled away (first the length, then the frequency and now coupled with early park closing in peak season). People clamored to “bring back e ticket night!!!! I’ll pay for those short lines again.” Voila! DAH was born.

I experienced late EMH during spring break in 2009 and it was definitely nice but I don't remember everything being walk on except for the teacups.

 

[The Pho]

And these events aren't happening every morning or night or even in every park. But they are "events." It's not the same as EMH.

They may not be exactly the same, but After Hours provide a closer experience to what Magic Hours used to be compared to what they’ve become. If you want that experience now you have to pay. Neither have been every day. And right now they’ve completely stopped evening magic hours at Animal or Studios unless you pay for After Hours you’ll be getting nothing.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I experienced late EMH during spring break in 2009 and it was definitely nice but I don't remember everything being walk on except for the teacups.

How late? Because we went every June from 2009-2013 and we could ride BRMRR, as an example, 4 or 5 times in a row. Peter Pan for less than 5 minutes (especially after 1am).

 

[SaintsManiac]

They may not be exactly the same, but After Hours provide a closer experience to what Magic Hours used to be compared to what they’ve become. If you want that experience now you have to pay. Neither have been every day. And right now they’ve completely stopped evening magic hours at Animal or Studios unless you pay for After Hours you’ll be getting nothing.

It just feels like a really, really dead horse at this point. The events aren't stopping any time soon. I have a feeling there will be paid events instead of EMH right out the gate for GE and people will just stay angry.

How late? Because we went every June from 2009-2013 and we could ride BRMRR, as an example, 4 or 5 times in a row. Peter Pan for less than 5 minutes (especially after 1am).

I can't remember. I think we were there until 1am. It was a really busy week, though.

 

[lugnut33]

How late? Because we went every June from 2009-2013 and we could ride BRMRR, as an example, 4 or 5 times in a row. Peter Pan for less than 5 minutes (especially after 1am).

And those extra hours actually added to the value of a vacation at Disney. (not to mention the longer park hours to begin with)

If you don't believe these paid events are now a must do, go look at the theme park page and you'll see that there are probably 7 to 10 threads dedicated to events.

 

[sponica]

I think it already is. In some circles. Ten years ago my boss had no qualms about telling everyone that he stayed at GF and Poly. This week my office mate was talking about her 'crazy Aunt' who spends a ridiculous amount of money to stay at AKL. I avoid telling people where we're staying unless asked. I avoid telling people we've been going yearly. I work in an environment with people who tend to be more practical then probably the general population. Yes there are people who like fine/fashionable things but generally aren't conspicuous about it at work. I get a lot of side eye about Disney which is why I avoid telling people. The conversation invariably turns to how expensive it is. I honestly got less side eye telling people we were going to Jamaica last year. And most of the people I work with can afford Disney.

I think it's developing a reputation for being a more conspicuously flashy vacation. A way to flaunt that you have money, not the old brand image of being a really family friendly place. Is that 'damage' or what Disney wants? I don't know. But it feels different. And it's a little crazy for a theme park based on a cartoon mouse to seem to be going for an elitist brand identity but whatever works for Disney I guess.

We had a modest 5 night trip last year and people were gobsmacked we went...all I got from friends was "it's so expensive".

 

[Doug M]

How late? Because we went every June from 2009-2013 and we could ride BRMRR, as an example, 4 or 5 times in a row. Peter Pan for less than 5 minutes (especially after 1am).

Yes most rides were walk ons for us after about the 1st hour of an EMH about 10 years ago. By the 3rd hour even the top rides were 5 min or less generally.

 

[Iowamomof4]

It just feels like a really, really dead horse at this point. The events aren't stopping any time soon. I have a feeling there will be paid events instead of EMH right out the gate for GE and people will just stay angry.


I can't remember. I think we were there until 1am. It was a really busy week, though.

Yes! People keep talking about how wonderful it used to be. That's great that they got to experience that, but how long has it been? 5 years? 10 years? The # of people visiting wdw every year has risen seemingly exponentially in the last few years. I don't like that Disney cut evening emh at DHS. We were able to experience that in 2015 and 2016. That's the one CUT I've seen since our first trip in 2015. Everything else people are talking about Disney cutting must have happened before Sept 2015, because I've never seen it. Like pm emh until 2 or 3 AM on a regular basis? Never saw that myself. Regular MK closings at midnight? Never saw that either. My point is, based on the limited experience I have with wdw, these after hours events are a welcome addition! They're the only way we've been able to experience this unicorn people keep telling me was a regular occurrence sometime in the past, that being empty parks and walk-on rides.