Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[DVCcurious]

Next prediction?

I have one, but I haven't posted it because I didn't want to go through the effort just to have it taken down. But I'll go write it now.

It's HOT.

 

[lluv3971]

I feel like the proposed/planned "Genie" app is going to play a role in all of this. I'm wondering if the "free" FP option is going to be a "bundled" experience, based on availability, that makes it SEEM like you are getting a lot of "bang of your buck" in terms of experiences. It will be pushed out to First Time guests as an amazing experience, and but seasoned vets would know better.

For example...

The "Genie" may have a special "Princess Bundle" that is geared toward a certain age/family group.

It might include FP-style queing to something like:

Enchanted Tales with Belle, The Carrousel, and a Meet & Greet at PFTH. They may even include "priority" (reserved space in the back corner) at Pinocchio Village House during a specific time, but the cost of the meal is not included.

Depending on when you booked your "Genie" Bundle, your times would vary, and eventually "sell out" when there are no more combinations of times/those specific rides available. It's a way for Disney to control the majority of your park experience, down to the minute, and make the unknowing guest feel like they are getting a unique experience without all of the planning.

These are just my random thoughts . I'm not sure if anything new has come out about the "Genie," but this was just my vague understanding/personal idea of what that "service" would offer.

The ability to choose your own FPs would cost extra .

 

[Bete]

Moving pass the current Covid 19 virus restrictions, how will rides work in the next few years?

I'm being positive and hoping to take a Disney World trip with 4 generations in the next two years. I'm probably leaning towards Nov. 2021 or Nov. 2022. Maybe, December would be another alternative.

With Disney taking and facing such great losses for their parks I'm starting to think if the tide turns for the better Disney will want to go to paid fastpasses. Obviously, that could be considered pouring salt on the wound; so, maybe, they won't do it.

Does anyone have an inside track, here? Was Disney going in a certain direction before the virus hit?

 

[Eric Smith]

Moving pass the current Covid 19 virus restrictions, how will rides work in the next few years?

I'm being positive and hoping to take a Disney World trip with 4 generations in the next two years. I'm probably leaning towards Nov. 2021 or Nov. 2022. Maybe, December would be another alternative.

With Disney taking and facing such great losses for their parks I'm starting to think if the tide turns for the better Disney will want to go to paid fastpasses. Obviously, that could be considered pouring salt on the wound; so, maybe, they won't do it.

Does anyone have an inside track, here? Was Disney going in a certain direction before the virus hit?

I don't believe anyone here knows whether this is going to happen or not. This has been speculation for many years. It's possible, but all of what is in this thread is pure speculation.

 

[Bearval]

its been rumored for some time that WDW will add a paid FP option.

According to Martin at WDWmagic later this year this will go into place.

You will get 1-2 “free” FPs and anything more will be paid add ons. There will be different levels of additional FPs but you can’t get an unlimited FP.

I don't see them getting rid of the three"free" fast passes for staying onsite, this would defeat the purpose of staying onsite for alot of guests. I do see them charging for fast passes for staying off site since this would create a higher demand for onsite resorts and in turn drive up the nightly room rate. I do also see them offering to sell addition "club level" passes to anyone staying onsite.

 

[CastAStone]

I don't believe anyone here knows whether this is going to happen or not. This has been speculation for many years. It's possible, but all of what is in this thread is pure speculation.

Indeed. Paid FPs have been a rumor for years and insiders have been saying they are close since last summer. Plans are ever changing. Fewer free FPs make the on site hotels and DVC less valuable. They won't implement anything until they are certain they have dealt with that in a manner that won't hurt TWDC.

 

[mattpeto]

Indeed. Paid FPs have been a rumor for years and insiders have been saying they are close since last summer. Plans are ever changing. Fewer free FPs make the on site hotels and DVC less valuable. They won't implement anything until they are certain they have dealt with that in a manner that won't hurt TWDC.

Yep. When push comes to shove, "the bubble" benefits will be protected.

 

[Brianstl]

Looking at MDE, it is going to be a while before most sane people will feel the need to purchase fast passes.

 

[Eric Smith]

Looking at MDE, it is going to be a while before most sane people will fell the need to purchase a fast passes.

Yep, and the economic impact on people isn't really being felt yet.

 

[jpolak]

Think a paid system would be terrible. We went to DL and loved the old FP system. Yes I paid the couple of dollars so I can make FP on my phone but it was like $5 a ticket. Personally I think FP should only be for on site guests

 

[J-BOY]

Think a paid system would be terrible. We went to DL and loved the old FP system. Yes I paid the couple of dollars so I can make FP on my phone but it was like $5 a ticket. Personally I think FP should only be for on site guests

It was never “like $5.” It started out at $10 per ticket per day, and is now $20.

 

[Bete]

I can see preferential treatment for onsite guests but to say no fastpasses for offsite guests would not work. For one you have locals that commute back and forth to the parks without staying at a resort. Many locals buy annual passes. They provide additional revenue to Disney by buying meals and souvenirs at the parks. I don't think you want to offend this group. Next, there's competition with other non-Disney parks to consider. Offsite guests just may spend less time at Disney if you start excluding them from FP.

My understanding of Disney creating FP was to make it a paying proposition for Disney. It was never meant to be free. FP started free to work out the bugs, to get guests use to it and like it and then charge them. This includes onsite and offsite guests.

 

[Eric Smith]

I can see preferential treatment for onsite guests but to say no fastpasses for offsite guests would not work. For one you have locals that commute back and forth to the parks without staying at a resort. Many locals buy annual passes. They provide additional revenue to Disney by buying meals and souvenirs at the parks. I don't think you want to offend this group. Next, there's competition with other non-Disney parks to consider. Offsite guests just may spend less time at Disney if you start excluding them from FP.

My understanding of Disney creating FP was to make it a paying proposition for Disney. It was never meant to be free. FP started free to work out the bugs, to get guests use to it and like it and then charge them. This includes onsite and offsite guests.

I don't believe that is correct. FP was created to better manage crowds in the parks. If that was the case, you would think that they would have started charging before the system reached drinking age.

 

[Jrb1979]

I don't believe that is correct. FP was created to better manage crowds in the parks. If that was the case, you would think that they would have started charging before the system reached drinking age.

Now that it's been taken away they can bring it back as a paid version. Its been talked about making a version similar to Shanghai. Where you pay for a bundle of rides. Its like $100 for 5 rides. I'm guessing they would offer resort guests a cheaper deal for staying on site.

 

[CastAStone]

Now that it's been taken away they can bring it back as a paid version. Its been talked about making a version similar to Shanghai. Where you pay for a bundle of rides. Its like $100 for 5 rides. I'm guessing they would offer resort guests a cheaper deal for staying on site.

Its 180 CNY for 3 rides, or 330 for 6, or 440 for 8. That's about $25, $47, and $62, respectively.

Admission there is only about $55 most days so the Premier Access add on makes your day about the price of a WDW ticket.

 

[Eric Smith]

Now that it's been taken away they can bring it back as a paid version. Its been talked about making a version similar to Shanghai. Where you pay for a bundle of rides. Its like $100 for 5 rides. I'm guessing they would offer resort guests a cheaper deal for staying on site.

We know that, you’ve said it plenty of times. I was replying to someone saying that fast pass was created to be a paid option.

 

[Bete]

I don't believe that is correct. FP was created to better manage crowds in the parks. If that was the case, you would think that they would have started charging before the system reached drinking age.

Managing crowds with the use of fastpass is certainly a great benefit of FP.

You have to go way back but you will find support from others even on Dis Boards about FP being created to bring in additional revenue. At the time Universal already had a paying option for quicker access to rides at their parks. This is why Disney wanted in on this concept.

I do believe FP in it's current state may be the reason why park tickets and Disney resorts costs are much higher now. Disney may have indirectly charged us in that way for now.

 

[Eric Smith]

Managing crowds with the use of fastpass is certainly a great benefit of FP.

You have to go way back but you will find support from others even on Dis Boards about FP being created to bring in additional revenue. At the time Universal already had a paying option for quicker access to rides at their parks. This is why Disney wanted in on this concept.

I do believe FP in it's current state may be the reason why park tickets and Disney resorts costs are much higher now. Disney may have indirectly charged us in that way for now.

If Disney wanted in on that concept, why haven't they charge for it up to this point at WDW?

Also, Universal Studios tickets cost more than Disney tickets, so your statement about FP causing Disney's tickets to cost more doesn't hold water.

 

[Brianstl]

If Disney wanted in on that concept, why haven't they charge for it up to this point at WDW?

Also, Universal Studios tickets cost more than Disney tickets, so your statement about FP causing Disney's tickets to cost more doesn't hold water.

People don’t realize Disney is already in on the concept. Disney charged their partner hotels for the right to have 60 day access and were able to raise their own hotel prices at higher rate than other hotels because of the 60 day booking window. Disney in fact already charged guests for FP+ through indirect means. In the future if Disney was to decide to move away from the previous FP+ set up the would have to charge a premium to cover their lost revenue from those streams and other streams that limited access to popular rides drove consumers to (like hard ticketed extra hours events, club level rooms, VIP tours, longer onsite stays, etc).

 

[CastAStone]

People don’t realize Disney is already in on the concept. Disney charged their partner hotels for the right to have 60 day access and were able to raise their own hotel prices at higher rate than other hotels because of the 60 day booking window. Disney in fact already charged guests for FP+ through indirect means. In the future if Disney was to decide to move away from the previous FP+ set up the would have to charge a premium to cover their lost revenue from those streams and other streams that limited access to popular rides drove consumers to (like hard ticketed extra hours events, club level rooms, VIP tours, longer onsite stays, etc).

Yeah I can't recall if it was the official word or something we learned through backchannels but the reason given for giving the DS hotels 60 day FP was that they had all 4 moderates under construction at once, with 2 of them ripped to pieces, and they were looking for inventory at that price point.

But that's been over for a while and yet they renewed the benefit for 2020. I.e. they are making too much money on it to stop it.