Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[Sarah1024]

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).

You can modify your non-CL FP's easily on your app. You have to call to modify your CL FP's the day of, but it can be done.

 

[anomamatt]

You have to call to modify your CL FP's the day of, but it can be done.

Right, but you are then subject to availability for the CLFP, which isn't great day-of.

I have never seen a compelling way to use CLFP + refresh. At least not with "hardcore" refresh usage.

 

[Sarah1024]

Right, but you are then subject to availability for the CLFP, which isn't great day-of.

I have never seen a compelling way to use CLFP + refresh. At least not with "hardcore" refresh usage.

The CL FP's come from the same pool as the regular FP's though, it isn't a separate pool. I'm not trying to sell you on it, I just prefer to have 6 rides I definitely know I will be able to ride as opposed to perhaps being able to get them by refreshing. Maybe we go during busy times, but last March I could not get anything good refreshing.

 

[PollyannaMom]

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.

Yes, this. I couldn't really articulate why it felt different to me before, but I think it's in the fact that those other "nibbles" are more out-of-the-way while paid FP would be more in-your-face.

For instance, I think I've maybe seen a VIP tour guide once in all my trips, and the average 5-year-old whose parents don't spring for EMM never knows what he's missing...but with paid FP, it will clearly be a case of the haves and the have-nots all the time.

(And I get that "that's life" and all, but Disney World isn't supposed to feel like real life; it's supposed to feel like a fairy tale.)

I'm not saying I'm never going again, or anything that dramatic. I'm just not excited about the potential change.

 

[anomamatt]

The CL FP's come from the same pool as the regular FP's though, it isn't a separate pool.

I'm basing my comments on the CLFP strategies thread here on TPAS. There are many reports of limited availability. It seems to be a different pool of FP, but it's not an unlimited pool of FP by any means. Otherwise, you would be best to pre-schedule none of them and just call when you want ride XYZ.

Maybe we go during busy times, but last March I could not get anything good refreshing.

Aside from no drops, I have never had a problem over the busiest of times, including Christmas week. It does take practice. And I'm not trying to sell you on refreshing (which might not be long for the world, anyhow). But I think it's fair to point out that compared to what you can do by refreshing, CLFP is very restrictive.

In all honesty, if CLFP were free for staying CL, I would decline them. Well, maybe I would pre-schedule 1 of them per day only. At park open for a Tier-1 (or 7DMT).

 

[LSUmiss]

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.

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.

So are there any tier restrictions or is it any 6?

 

[SaharanTea]

Yes, this. I couldn't really articulate why it felt different to me before, but I think it's in the fact that those other "nibbles" are more out-of-the-way while paid FP would be more in-your-face.

For instance, I think I've maybe seen a VIP tour guide once in all my trips, and the average 5-year-old whose parents don't spring for EMM never knows what he's missing...but with paid FP, it will clearly be a case of the haves and the have-nots all the time.

(And I get that "that's life" and all, but Disney World isn't supposed to feel like real life; it's supposed to feel like a fairy tale.)

I'm not saying I'm never going again, or anything that dramatic. I'm just not excited about the potential change.

This has the potential to be the most "haves" vs. "have nots" change they've made. That's why the insiders have talked about this being a toxic change.

Disney seemed surprised at the negative reaction to the resort parking fee. I wonder if they're prepared for the reaction should they take away included FPs?

 

[firefly_ris]

This has the potential to be the most "haves" vs. "have nots" change they've made. That's why the insiders have talked about this being a toxic change.

Disney seemed surprised at the negative reaction to the resort parking fee. I wonder if they're prepared for the reaction should they take away included FPs?

If they are surprised, not to worry, they'll have plenty of dollar bills to wipe their tears away with.

 

[SaharanTea]

I'm basing my comments on the CLFP strategies thread here on TPAS. There are many reports of limited availability. It seems to be a different pool of FP, but it's not an unlimited pool of FP by any means. Otherwise, you would be best to pre-schedule none of them and just call when you want ride XYZ.



Aside from no drops, I have never had a problem over the busiest of times, including Christmas week. It does take practice. And I'm not trying to sell you on refreshing (which might not be long for the world, anyhow). But I think it's fair to point out that compared to what you can do by refreshing, CLFP is very restrictive.

In all honesty, if CLFP were free for staying CL, I would decline them. Well, maybe I would pre-schedule 1 of them per day only. At park open for a Tier-1 (or 7DMT).

With a good touring plan, you can still get a whole ton of stuff done without heavy use of 4th and beyond FPs. For me, Epcot barely has need of it. Hollywood gets some late afternoon into early evening use. I can make use of it at Animal Kingdom. Really, Magic Kingdom is the one park where it really shines. More rides, more availability.

Honestly, the other three parks need to have more attractions and in the reverse order I listed them (save for MK). Animal really probably needs them the most (since there are so many things coming on line at DHS). DHS is still in need of more after they are done. Epcot, with the World Showcase, while it needs a lot of tweeks at the least, probably has the least need of attractions (though the quality of the current attractions is in need of addressing).

There's your fix to the crowd problem. Increased capacity and increased interest at each park. But Disney doesn't want to keep spending on that overhead so it won't happen. Gotta keep those quarterly earnings up.

 

[Mac30188]

If they are surprised, not to worry, they'll have plenty of dollar bills to wipe their tears away with.

I honestly think this could be an overestimated impact of this change. It is the same thing Disney has done for years, just another price hike. If there is value, people will buy it. People buy fast pass experiences both at Six Flags and Universal so this is not an unprecedented change. Disney hikes the price on tickets constantly. They hike food prices constantly. They price hike accommodations frequently. Still people continue to buy tickets, continue to buy food, and continue to stay at Disney resorts. If Disney does this, people will just buy the fast pass packages. I think the impact is much longer term than short term. The reason people tolerate this is because of the brand. They have a vision of Disney from their childhood and want to share that magical experience with their children. As Disney continues to decrease the total value versus cost of their product, to a certain degree the magic starts being lost. The next generation likely won't have that blind loyalty to Disney. They will expect the value to be in line with the cost and by that standard the demand will start to plummet. Disney will be frustrated with a shrinking bottom line and wonder what changed? Stock holders will all blame the leaders, but the truth is they will be paying the bill that the current generation of Disney executives are reaping by driving to maximize profits by cutting services and increasing costs to produce record profits.

 

[Disneypro1]

I’ll work all the overtime in the world to pay for our yearly trips to either WDW/DL. It’s just the best vacation there is. No matter what price increase they do. We’ll find a way to negate it. To me. Disney is a great value. Disneyland is becoming our favorite destination. Nothing because of price. We just like DLR better. But both— the magic is better than ever.

 

[lovethesun12]

Count me in the group that would pay for FP+ but it would depend on the details. We have young kids so it could be a huge benefit.

 

[LSUmiss]

Honestly, the only benefit I see to this notion is that it would (likely) make FPs more useful again. With the number of FPs distributed and the frequent refreshing, it seems the FP has lost at least some degree of effectiveness; now everyone has a FP. At some points in my vacations it felt like guests would be better off as a whole just altogether abandoning the FP+ method. So, if Disney were to move forward with a 'pay to play' FP experience it might be an even more, legitimate efficient means of visiting attractions.

I honestly think this is WDWs motivation to scale back the use of FP & making $ doing it doesn’t hurt. I think FP plus isn’t as efficient as they planned, but there is too much $ invested in it now to go back to the old way.

 

[bdiddy]

If WDW handled fastpasses like DL does and decides to charge for it, I would gladly pay for it. We went to DL for the first time summer of 2017 and it was just after Maxpass started and it was amazing! We just had FastPass after FastPass all day and had no problems getting them. And then they offered the $10 add on a person for all of your photopass pics that day. So an extra $40 for all our pics was so worth it! The only thing is I wish is that DL would utilize magic bands with their system. It was a pain to keep pulling out the phone to scan and didn’t work as well as scanning your band.

But if the system ran as smooth as DL and you could book a new one as soon as you used one then I would definitely pay for that. I’d have to think long and hard about it if it would stay the way it is now at WDW. I think I would be more apt to just adjust my day and planning than pay for the system the way it is now.

 

[LSUmiss]

I think dropping from 3 free FP to 1 would have more of an impact than parking. Think of how heavily Disney has promoted pre-booking 3 free FP with mailers, magnets, emails.

Totally agree @SilSprBea ! I'm going to buy a case of Pepto just in case

But still the average park goers still isn’t really keen on all that. I get questions all the time about how it works from ppl who have been before but don’t recall b/c they don’t go that often like us. The average family goes every 5 years or so. That’s long enough that most ppl probably don’t recall if they were free before. Heck, some ppl may be happy that they’re allowed to buy thenm b/c they don’t recall them being free.

 

[Tink_83]

But still the average park goers still isn’t really keen on all that. I get questions all the time about how it works from ppl who have been before but don’t recall b/c they don’t go that often like us. The average family goes every 5 years or so. That’s long enough that most ppl probably don’t recall if they were free before. Heck, some ppl may be happy that they’re allowed to buy thenm b/c they don’t recall them being free.

I have a coworker that loves the Disney cruse line and is deciding to add a day at the MK and asking me all sorts of questions. The first is how much do those FP cost. I think that’s the answer there.

 

[LSUmiss]

I have a coworker that loves the Disney cruse line and is deciding to add a day at the MK and asking me all sorts of questions. The first is how much do those FP cost. I think that’s the answer there.

I’ve be asked that too. Well maybe soon we’ll be able to give them an answer

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

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

You get to book all your FP+ at 90 days from checkout

 

[SaharanTea]

I’ve be asked that too. Well maybe soon we’ll be able to give them an answer

There's already an answer: It's included in your park ticket.

 

[Monicapfan]

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/crown-collection/

New VIP offerings....