Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[BridgetBordeaux]

I agree...I am a caseworker at the state assistance office and people on my caseload go to Disney pretty often.

omg.....but not a total surprise

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

I’m a social worker & have seen the same. But the pp is right...I didn’t think about credit. We don’t ever charge our vacations so I didn’t think about that being a way for many to go who otherwise couldn’t. Disney also essentially lets you put the vacation on layaway by letting you book it with a minimal deposit & pay it off by a certain point.

see my above response.

 

[umichigan10]

So from reading this thread, I understand that WDW seems to be the only park worldwide that’s doesn't make you pay for FP. So, if that’s the case, paid FP was probably inevitable. The only thing that probably took them so long is making sure there would be a market for it & figuring out the logistics.

Disneyland only charges for maxpass from what I’ve gathered, but that’s just so you can do the old school fast pass stuff on your phone.

I get what Disney’s thinking, but as had been discussed ad naseum here, the optics of taking a service that’s been free for almost 20 years and monetizing it is awful. But then again, they seem to be doing this more and more with the after hours stuff instead of EMH, and people are scarfing that nonsense up

 

[Doberge]

This has probably come up already but there are too many people at Disney and it's only about to worsen. If charging more so fewer people are able to go as often, that's not a bad thing for the overall park experience. People crave smaller crowds and it's why early morning magic and after hours events are so popular. It's unfortunate to see accessibility decrease but when choices are overcrowded parks at cheaper prices or less crowded parks at more expensive prices, I'm okay paying more and going less often.

 

[Planogirl]

This has probably come up already but there are too many people at Disney and it's only about to worsen. If charging more so fewer people are able to go as often, that's not a bad thing for the overall park experience. People crave smaller crowds and it's why early morning magic and after hours events are so popular. It's unfortunate to see accessibility decrease but when choices are overcrowded parks at cheaper prices or less crowded parks at more expensive prices, I'm okay paying more and going less often.

And that's understandable unless you are one of those who get priced out. Limits vary but just about everyone has them.

 

[SaintsManiac]

This has probably come up already but there are too many people at Disney and it's only about to worsen. If charging more so fewer people are able to go as often, that's not a bad thing for the overall park experience. People crave smaller crowds and it's why early morning magic and after hours events are so popular. It's unfortunate to see accessibility decrease but when choices are overcrowded parks at cheaper prices or less crowded parks at more expensive prices, I'm okay paying more and going less often.

And I am not ok with that. I don’t want to pay more AND go less often. That’s a lose lose situation.

 

[mshanson3121]

.

 

[umichigan10]

And I am not ok with that. I don’t want to pay more AND go less often. That’s a lose lose situation.

For real. I can understand some of their price gauging, and even can grudgingly deal with ticket prices increasing. But don’t charge through the roof and then squeeze the hours down that said ticket goes to

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

For real. I can understand some of their price gauging, and even can grudgingly deal with ticket prices increasing. But don’t charge through the roof and then squeeze the hours down that said ticket goes to

Yes. If they were really increasing prices to deal with the crowd situation then they would not be simultaneously having rides like Dinosaur open and close inside of park hours, otherwise reduce capacity, and have shorter than historical general ticket hours. It can't be both ways if reducing the crowds is truly the reason for price increases and upcharge events.

 

[Shughart]

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.

In our area it is definitely considered a conspicuous and flashy vacation and a way to flaunt your money. For me, I grew up on Disney, so there's a deep love for it. I'm known as Disney obsessed, for planning a second trip. People here don't go yearly. They vacation, and might even vacation regularly other places. But not Disney. I honestly just have stopped talking about it unless I am close with them, or else it's just annoying.

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.

I keep seeing how hard it is to get FP for PPF and honestly it's making me feel pretty good about the fact that I was able to get them for our 2016 trip!

 

[Shughart]

I've made no secret that I would embrace paid FP and I would shell out the $$ for it. I just wish they'd make an announcement. We're offsite and I was already prepared to spend the money to get my son in SWGE and on the rides for his birthday in December, whether it's a hard ticket event, or a tour. Our 180 days is in June. I need to know if I need to book a Star Wars tour (or at least call and see what kind of perks it's going to offer once SWGE opens). Can tours be cancelled? Maybe I can book the tour, but cancel once I have secured my necessary fast passes. The tour just sounds like a long day...sorry just brainstorming out loud

 

[SaintsManiac]

I've made no secret that I would embrace paid FP and I would shell out the $$ for it. I just wish they'd make an announcement. We're offsite and I was already prepared to spend the money to get my son in SWGE and on the rides for his birthday in December, whether it's a hard ticket event, or a tour. Our 180 days is in June. I need to know if I need to book a Star Wars tour (or at least call and see what kind of perks it's going to offer once SWGE opens). Can tours be cancelled? Maybe I can book the tour, but cancel once I have secured my necessary fast passes. The tour just sounds like a long day...sorry just brainstorming out loud

I go Thanksgiving week and it’s incredibly frustrating to be in the dark about all things GE, mainly ROtR. I have a day set aside for the land, but I hate not knowing what will be offered.

 

[Shughart]

I go Thanksgiving week and it’s incredibly frustrating to be in the dark about all things GE, mainly ROtR. I have a day set aside for the land, but I hate not knowing what will be offered.

Agreed!

 

[LSUmiss]

And I am not ok with that. I don’t want to pay more AND go less often. That’s a lose lose situation.

No, but I have gotten to the point that I’m ok with paying for experiences that mitigate the crowd. Unfortunately, since I’ve gotten spoiled with doing those things, we end up going less often b/c we would rather go not at all than without those things we have been accustomed to. We use to pay for DAH type events, but with DS now we can’t stay out that late. So, I would pay for FP if certain things were included...like flexibility & no tiers. We haven’t done the CL thing b/c I just can’t justify the cost of it since we eat in the parks so much.

 

[LSUmiss]

Agreed!

This may have been said in the thread already. I don’t recall. But, I think that’s how they’ll roll out the first of the paid FP “packages” related to SWGE. It’s already been said that there will be no FPS for the land at first. I think they may no free FPs.

 

[Shughart]

This may have been said in the thread already. I don’t recall. But, I think that’s how they’ll roll out the first of the paid FP “packages” related to SWGE. It’s already been said that there will be no FPS for the land at first. I think they may no free FPs.

Yeah, I'm 99% likely to be willing to pay for a package, but nervous about having to wait till very close to get the details. I am hoping that by December, the FP packages would be available, but I would like to have been able to plan a bit for them ahead of time, ya know?

 

[Nancyg56]

This has probably come up already but there are too many people at Disney and it's only about to worsen. If charging more so fewer people are able to go as often, that's not a bad thing for the overall park experience. People crave smaller crowds and it's why early morning magic and after hours events are so popular. It's unfortunate to see accessibility decrease but when choices are overcrowded parks at cheaper prices or less crowded parks at more expensive prices, I'm okay paying more and going less often.

And this is where they lose me. I think it is already a pricy vacation desitination, and I think that Disney has already made adjustments to how they handle attracitons which tend to backfire. Running at 1/2 capacity may seem like a good ay to keep staffing costs down, but how long can a wait be before it becomes an issue?

Inflating costs to enjoy a park in order to keep crowds down might work today, but the economy is going to turn and who is going to be the buffer? Teh once and down folks who paid a fortune for GE or those who feel a WDW vacation is a right of passage and then move on to anywhere else? No. It's the diehards like me and you who were appalled at the greed. I have no problem with upcharge special experiences. Go for it. But to inflate the costs in addition to park entrance? Nope. This is the reason I avoid a lot pf places. I hate being nickel dimed to death.

And that's understandable unless you are one of those who get priced out. Limits vary but just about everyone has them.

Indeed.

 

[umichigan10]

This may have been said in the thread already. I don’t recall. But, I think that’s how they’ll roll out the first of the paid FP “packages” related to SWGE. It’s already been said that there will be no FPS for the land at first. I think they may no free FPs.

And I can see that being a lucrative business. But how in the heck can the justify charging for fast passes for things that are already free? If I can’t get my thunder mountain and tower of terror ones like I’ve always been able to, why am I gonna bother?

The higher ups don’t get that if people cant experience their rides that they love, then there’s very little incentive to go. I love theming and taking in he scenery, but frankly, I can go to my local park for free if I just wanna enjoy a nice vibe. It’s just more proof as I’ve said before, that the suits have never actually gone to their parks as a fan or get why people go

 

[LSUmiss]

And I can see that being a lucrative business. But how in the heck can the justify charging for fast passes for things that are already free? If I can’t get my thunder mountain and tower of terror ones like I’ve always been able to, why am I gonna bother?

The higher ups don’t get that if people cant experience their rides that they love, then there’s very little incentive to go. I love theming and taking in he scenery, but frankly, I can go to my local park for free if I just wanna enjoy a nice vibe. It’s just more proof as I’ve said before, that the suits have never actually gone to their parks as a fan or get why people go

I think it’s like ppl have said. They’re banking on the first timer & the ppl who have no clue if they were free last trip. I think ppl who know the ropes are a small percentage of the population who visits being that it’s a world destination. And even then there are certain percentage of ppl who do know but are still willing to pay if it helps them get the edge.

 

[mom2rtk]

This has probably come up already but there are too many people at Disney and it's only about to worsen. If charging more so fewer people are able to go as often, that's not a bad thing for the overall park experience. People crave smaller crowds and it's why early morning magic and after hours events are so popular. It's unfortunate to see accessibility decrease but when choices are overcrowded parks at cheaper prices or less crowded parks at more expensive prices, I'm okay paying more and going less often.

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 this is where they lose me. I think it is already a pricy vacation desitination, and I think that Disney has already made adjustments to how they handle attracitons which tend to backfire. Running at 1/2 capacity may seem like a good ay to keep staffing costs down, but how long can a wait be before it becomes an issue?

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