Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[cmwade77]

I am surprised this thread is still open, it has definitely seem to have run its course.

 

[Mome Rath]

The rumor that paid FP options are coming soon is still a very active rumor with updates forthcoming, hence the need for this thread. We absolutely need a place to follow along with the new info that comes out, as it impacts those of us that have upcoming trips already planned. Moderators are participating in the thread, they'll keep an eye on it.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I am surprised this thread is still open, it has definitely seem to have run its course.

Why? This is still a very active rumor.

 

[BuzzyBelle]

I am surprised this thread is still open, it has definitely seem to have run its course.

I know you’re firmly in the camp of this not happening, but the writing on the wall seems to point in a different direction.

@rteetz is on top of it. He must think/feel/know that this is still an active rumor. Hence why the thread is still open. I trust him to close it if it’s found to be unsubstantiated.

 

[jade1]

I't's getting to where I wouldn't be surprised if Disney started billing people for construction costs. Yes, exaggeration but still.

I've said on here for 5 years they should charge for FP on new headliners. Use that revenue stream for expansion.

I just didn't want them to charge for all headliners including existing, that seems excessive.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I've said on here for 5 years they should charge for FP on new headliners. Use that revenue stream for expansion.

I just didn't want them to charge for all headliners including existing, that seems excessive.

I honestly can’t fathom looking at the ever increasing prices of everything in Disney, from tickets, to rooms, to food, to souvenirs, to the addition of extra events for nearly everything, and the huge crowds they still draw despite all that, and thinking they should be charging more specifically for expansion.

 

[LSUmiss]

It's horrible. I try to eat as much as I can outside by the PMAC. My husband doesn't even go to the games until November because "it's too hot" and the food sucks. HA!

Ha! We tailgate all day so I don’t usually eat anything. And the heat...I thought I was gonna die that 2:30 Auburn game 2 years ago.

 

[jade1]

I honestly can’t fathom looking at the ever increasing prices of everything in Disney, from tickets, to rooms, to food, to souvenirs, to the addition of extra events for nearly everything, and the huge crowds they still draw despite all that, and thinking they should be charging more specifically for expansion.

Yea but expansion and using paid FP for just those attractions (otherwise SB) leaves no excuse to not expand further. It would be "directly" tied to the product and actually incentivise it (further expansion).

This would also mean you are not suddenly paying for an attraction that used to be free (no extra charge). Which is why I mentioned hoping it wasn't for existing attractions.

Orlando could have built those roads without "tolls" but they did.

US could have expanded without paid FP (FOTL), but my guess is that revenue stream indeed helped with expansion.

Nothing says they "have" to expand.

If they wanted to expand and simply use existing revenue streams, heck yea I'm all for it. Might still happen even.

 

[LSUmiss]

Comparing the Universal EP and the current WDW FP+ is like comparing apples to oranges for me. The main advantage is that the Uni EP is good for every ride in the park, (with the tiny exception of newly unveiled attractions in the few months after they first open, when no EP is available for anyone). You don't have to pick and choose at Universal, your EP is good for every ride, you aren't stuck trying to choose from what is left in the inventory for any given day. It may be luck of the draw how much time the EP saves you on any given day, depending on crowd level, but you've always got it in your back pocket if you need it. Considering that I can stay at the top tier Universal on-site hotel for less than half of what a rack rate room at WDW deluxe costs me and get the EP included in my stay, that makes Universal a much better value for my money, but I digress....

Back to the topic at hand, the current FP+ system puts people who do shorter stays at a disadvantage. With a 3-4 day stay I have no chance at certain tier 1 FP's, because anyone arriving within a 10 day window before me gets first access. This is what I've been complaining about for 5-6 years now, or however long we've had this system. Regular, old school paper FP gave everyone visiting the same park on the same day equal access. Granted, it was 1st come, 1st served, but equal, regardless of where you were staying or length of stay. Depending on how they would implement this, if I could buy, say, a Flight of Passage FP if one isn't available for free during my window, (it won't be), at least I have a chance to play now.

Its going to depend very much on how they decide to roll this out, but I kind of hope its at a price point high enough that not everyone will take advantage. That's the kicker, right there. If anyone can pay $10-$15 per person to get out of waiting in a 3-4 hour line for a ride, that is a no-brainer. Anyone with any sense and a budget that isn't super strict will do that, that's the price of one quick service meal per person. Skip a full lunch, buy the FP instead, and have a snack when you are done. Great value. That would be of no benefit to me, because now the FP line is a long as the normal standby, because everyone has bought into the system. Any foolish person who doesn't pay, and chooses standby, now has an infinitely long wait. If they are going to do this and have it be a benefit, they MUST do it at a price point that not everyone will take advantage of. I'm talking starting at $25 per person and going up from there.

Who knows, maybe they'll do a flat fee per park, per day, everyone gets one ride, like at USO. Or, maybe tier 1 and tier 2 FP's will be a different price points. Maybe they will only give you tier 2 attractions for free, and make you pay for tier 1 FP's. No one knows for sure at this point, all I know is that I will pay, and I won't be mad about it.

Disney wants to make longer stays more economical b/c that keeps ppl from going elsewhere in Orlando. That’s why tix are cheaper the longer you stay. We don’t do uni for this exact reason. We have been but prefer wdw & for $20 more or less we can stay an extra day or 2. If we go to uni during a trip that’s an extra $300 or more.

 

[saskdw]

I am surprised this thread is still open, it has definitely seem to have run its course.

As long as people aren't breaking rules or insulting each other they won't lock this thread.

 

[runwad]

There's always the unsubscribe button.

 

[LSUmiss]

These numbers correlate to $25 and $38 american money if google is correct. That is not nearly expensive enough for EVERYONE not to buy them. Interesting.

Agreed. Some ppl keep talking about wdw pricing out “families” but then they say their family is 6, 7 or 8 ppl. That is not average at all. The average family will of 4 or less will probably definitely buy it at the price.

 

[LSUmiss]

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.

Ppl say it used to not be like that but when I was a kid even getting to go to wdw was unattainable for the average family. The only ppl I knew who went were upper middle class relatives. I think overall it’s much more attainable for the average family now in general. You don’t have to pay for the extras.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Boy are you going to have a big surprise coming your way this year.

This! The fact that my question was never answered several pages back speaks volumes.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

I am surprised this thread is still open, it has definitely seem to have run its course.

And you still come for what reason then? Because according to you, this isn't going to happen. So if that's what you believe, why do you bother returning to a thread where the opposite is believed. To me, it would be a waste of my time and energy to keep coming back to something where more than 95% believe otherwise. I'm sorry, I have better things to do.

 

[SaharanTea]

Agreed. Some ppl keep talking about wdw pricing out “families” but then they say their family is 6, 7 or 8 ppl. That is not average at all. The average family will of 4 or less will probably definitely buy it at the price.

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.

 

[Planogirl]

Agreed. Some ppl keep talking about wdw pricing out “families” but then they say their family is 6, 7 or 8 ppl. That is not average at all. The average family will of 4 or less will probably definitely buy it at the price.

We used to stay at the Polynesian Resort and eat mostly full serve meals and so on and yes, we have been priced out. The extra cost for this may not be much but then when you add it along with so many other new charges, the total price becomes a bit daunting to say the least.

For what it's worth, we were just a family of three.

 

[LSUmiss]

We used to stay at the Polynesian Resort and eat mostly full serve meals and so on and yes, we have been priced out. The extra cost for this may not be much but then when you add it along with so many other new charges, the total price becomes a bit daunting to say the least.

For what it's worth, we were just a family of three.

But priced out of going at all or priced out of Poly? I don’t like the constant increases either & it’s made us change how often we go. But, I think some ppl are being dramatic about being priced out of going at all unless they have very large families which isn’t the norm.

 

[SaharanTea]

But priced out of going at all or priced out of Poly? I don’t like the constant increases either & it’s made us change how often we go. But, I think some ppl are being dramatic about being priced out of going at all unless they have very large families which isn’t the norm.

Very much depends on the exact details, but I'll be glad to let you pay for ours since we're being dramatic.

 

[LSUmiss]

Very much depends on the exact details, but I'll be glad to let you pay for ours since we're being dramatic.

It’s one thing to claim you’re priced out as far as the value you (collective) see vs acting like you’re priced out of going at all. To me, that’s dramatic. I don’t love the price increases either. And, I'm good at refreshing so I don’t want to pay for FP. And, I have no interest in SWGE so the price increase to justify expansion doesn’t do anything for me either.