Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[SleighBelle]

While I agree they will most likely move to some type of tiered system to incentivize on-site stays, I don't believe they'd prioritize AP over Deluxe / Club Level / GV on-site guests.

Unfortunately, WDW knows people that have AP will come regardless. The incentive for them is to use the pass they bought before it expires.

EDIT: Maybe they'd do something similar to Universal where the highest AP gets some type of expedited access after a certain time (4pm)?

Very good AP point. I hope the changes are isomething good!

 

[ford91exploder]

The whole point of FP+ was monetizing it, The first way it was monetized was in staff planning so WDW could field the minimum number of CM's to service the expected load. The second way is actually charging for FP and I figured that was coming soon because as I recall from 2016 or thereabouts TSMM went FP only for a couple of weeks at that time I figured that FP was going to be chargeable soon enough

 

[Runnsally]

Thinking more about it, I’d be surprised if WDW abandons the FP+ infrastructure and goes with a modified version of Maxpass. My current bet is on access to FP becoming a ticket upcharge (like park hopping) and the on-site advantage is just an earlier booking window. Could also muck around with how many FPs each bucket of guests can pre-book.

 

[ThistleMae]

Nothing will stop them until a recession hits and people stop paying. People keep paying for add ons and what not so why should disney stop monetizing everything?

Exactly, people will still pay to go. The new generation of families, who haven't had long term experiences to compare, just see it as the expense of a vacation. Those of us who realize how much less we get for the price, seem to be trying to figure out how to still afford to go. Staying off site, staying less days, not buying hoppers etc. As long as they are making a profit, this trend will continue. Very sad for those of us on a fixed income. Folks with money to spare, don't care.

 

[MyHappyPlace17]

I'm waiting and hoping for Disney to drop the need to schedule them. I will be fine with paying a reasonable price if I can do the Disney parks like we do Universal. Their system is so effortless. Tour the parks at your leisure and hop in the Express line for each ride as you come to it. Disney needs to wise up that having to schedule every minute of the day at their parks is actually an impediment to doing more shopping, etc.

 

[StuckInKS]

For people who are spending quite a bit of money on a trip, most are not going to get let a $25pp barrier be the "bridge too far". They will find other ways to save / cut.

The people who decide to just not go because of a Max Pass like system are not factored into my comment. No offense, but if Disney did do something like this, the goal would be to make some families choose not to come.

As a previous poster said, they want the "one and done" trips. Spare no expense.

If Disney did this it would make our 10-day tickets cost over $7000 with PH Considering our trip last week cost $12,000 staying at a value with no PH and doing mostly QS (plus leaving one teen home), the extra $2,000 for Maxpass would probably be a no-go for us. I hope they don't do this, but if they do then we would probably try to go during the holidays instead and use that $2,000 to get another two days at the MK on party nights, which might have shorter lines, too. I hope that if they charge for FP it has some flexibility and cheaper options than one flat rate per day. I think the CL test was like that, correct?

 

[yaya74]

If Disney did this it would make our 10-day tickets cost over $7000 with PH Considering our trip last week cost $12,000 staying at a value with no PH and doing mostly QS (plus leaving one teen home), the extra $2,000 for Maxpass would probably be a no-go for us. I hope they don't do this, but if they do then we would probably try to go during the holidays instead and use that $2,000 to get another two days at the MK on party nights, which might have shorter lines, too. I hope that if they charge for FP it has some flexibility and cheaper options than one flat rate per day. I think the CL test was like that, correct?

CL FP program was $50 per person per day for a minimum of 3 days. It gave you three additional FP, no restriction on tiers and bookable at 90 days. Initially reserved area for nighttime spectaculars were included but later (I don't remember when) nighttime spectaculars were removed. IPO, $50 without nighttime reserved spots was way over priced....

 

[Elephantay]

I guess the biggest perk now would be transportation.

I never understand when people mention this- isn't EVERYONE allowed on Disney transportation? People can just hop on monorails, boats and buses already...?

 

[ThistleMae]

I never understand when people mention this- isn't EVERYONE allowed on Disney transportation? People can just hop on monorails, boats and buses already...?

Yes, I don't get it either. And now, Magical Express will be no more, just another expense and hassle at the airport. I'm sure it will take some time to get enough optional transport providers to get things underway. There is always a huge line at the airport for ME.

 

[McKelly]

Thinking more about it, I’d be surprised if WDW abandons the FP+ infrastructure and goes with a modified version of Maxpass. My current bet is on access to FP becoming a ticket upcharge (like park hopping) and the on-site advantage is just an earlier booking window. Could also muck around with how many FPs each bucket of guests can pre-book.

I think this would be the easiest to implement and cause the least amount of backlash, and give staying on-site an incentive again.

 

[Runnsally]

I never understand when people mention this- isn't EVERYONE allowed on Disney transportation? People can just hop on monorails, boats and buses already...?

Pretty simple...on-site hotels have much better transportation to and from the parks than non-site hotels. Sure, EVERYONE can get on an 8am bus from Animal Kingdom to Epcot, but of course 99.9% of those people are staying at Animal Kingdom.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

(meant to quote @Elephantay here)

Well yes, but people can’t park at the resorts to get to the parks in the morning using that transportation.

Being able to wake up in the morning, walk to the dock, bus stop, or monorail platform is very convenient.

Not having to go through the TTC in the morning or during the rush at the end of the night is convenient.

Being able to hop on the monorail to go back to your resort for a quick afternoon nap or pool break? So convenient.

 

[JakeAZ]

If Disney did this it would make our 10-day tickets cost over $7000 with PH Considering our trip last week cost $12,000 staying at a value with no PH and doing mostly QS (plus leaving one teen home), the extra $2,000 for Maxpass would probably be a no-go for us. I hope they don't do this, but if they do then we would probably try to go during the holidays instead and use that $2,000 to get another two days at the MK on party nights, which might have shorter lines, too. I hope that if they charge for FP it has some flexibility and cheaper options than one flat rate per day. I think the CL test was like that, correct?

I do see the the problem you'd face if they implemented a system like this. I know I originally posted this example, but I still don't believe they will do something like Max Pass. I believe it will be something like Universal EP, where the price is much higher and NOT included for on-site. You might get a better price by staying on-site though (depending on level of accommodations).

In your example, I assume you had 8 people for 10 days? While, yes that would add quite a bit to the overall cost, a trip of that many people for that length of time is probably not the norm.

IDK, but if I'm there for 5 days with my family of 4 and the added cost is $25pp / per day, to be in the best position to experience the rides, I'd bite the bullet and buy it. I wouldn't be happy about it, but I'd do it because the alternative would be to be at a disadvantage after spending all that other money to make the trip happen. A fee like that like would also make us re-think future trips though.

I firmly believe pricing it "low" enough to make everyone consider buying it will, in the end, just make it a WDW tax or a per person resort fee, not a benefit.

To quote a poster on another site:

"If everyone has FP, then nobody has FP."

 

[Jrb1979]

I do see the the problem you'd face if they implemented a system like this. I know I originally posted this example, but I still don't believe they will do something like Max Pass. I believe it will be something like Universal EP, where the price is much higher and NOT included for on-site. You might get a better price by staying on-site though (depending on level of accommodations).

In your example, I assume you had 8 people for 10 days? While, yes that would add quite a bit to the overall cost, a trip of that many people for that length of time is probably not the norm.

IDK, but if I'm there for 5 days with my family of 4 and the added cost is $25pp / per day, to be in the best position to experience the rides, I'd bite the bullet and buy it. I wouldn't be happy about it, but I'd do it because the alternative would be to be at a disadvantage after spending all that other money to make the trip happen. A fee like that like would also make us re-think future trips though.

I firmly believe pricing it "low" enough to make everyone consider buying it will, in the end, just make it a WDW tax or a per person resort fee, not a benefit.

To quote a poster on another site:

"If everyone has FP, then nobody has FP."

I never saw the point of making FP available to everyone. To me it's no point in having it. IMO the point of a fast pass system is to be limited so few people have it.

 

[Runnsally]

I never saw the point of making FP available to everyone. To me it's no point in having it. IMO the point of a fast pass system is to be limited so few people have it.

I think the problem with that logic is that you are looking at the utility of fast pass from the standpoint of the individual guest (which is of course a totally reasonable thing for an individual guest to do), but WDW looks at it from the standpoint of global park operations.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

It just becomes very hard to justify paying for something, that has been free. That is just accepting more Disney penny pinching. To many people go to Disney to not offer it for free. These little things make Disney special and different. Even though they slowly are taking away the nice things we always had, as they continue to make more money off of us, and people continue to pay for a weakened and diminished experience right now. Shows them Disney fans will take whatever they do, and will just keep coming.

I do use universal express pass. I don't mind paying for it because I only go for a day tops when visiting. And that is the only reason I justify it. It is super expensive. I think its around 110 on top of admission depending one the time of year. Family of 4? Forget it

There is no way they would make them free for everyone who is at a deluxe resort IMO. Lets say they did. Well there lets add another 50-75 per night to the room rate to justify it. You know they would

I also wouldn't pay for a fast pass 7 days in a row for a vacation. Price would be insane

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

(meant to quote @Elephantay here)

Well yes, but people can’t park at the resorts to get to the parks in the morning using that transportation.

Being able to wake up in the morning, walk to the dock, bus stop, or monorail platform is very convenient.

Not having to go through the TTC in the morning or during the rush at the end of the night is convenient.

Being able to hop on the monorail to go back to your resort for a quick afternoon nap or pool break? So convenient.

Don't all the off site hotels pretty much have free shuttle buses to the parks as well? The monorail, skyliner and boats are unique to disney hotels, but buses aren't.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Don't all the off site hotels pretty much have free shuttle buses to the parks as well? The monorail, skyliner and boats are unique to disney hotels, but buses aren't.

Yes many do, but my understanding is that they are not as frequent as Disney transportation, which is constantly deploying buses. Maybe others who stay off site and use those hotel shuttles can weigh in on the frequency of drop offs and pickups, though (we always are on site.)

 

[Eric Smith]

Yes many do, but my understanding is that they are not as frequent as Disney transportation, which is constantly deploying buses. Maybe others who stay off site and use those hotel shuttles can weigh in on the frequency of drop offs and pickups, though (we always are on site.)

Also for Magic Kingdom the off site shuttles will drop off at the TTC.

 

[Heather07438]

I think WDW will still include some token of FP/VQ for every ticket holder, to continue giving that goodwill perception of something valuable with the most expensive theme park ticket on Earth. That’s golden and it’d be too hard totally removing after a decade of marketing. Upgrading I expect to be a paid option.

$25day/person upgrade seems possible (tho I think they may roll it out cheaper then quickly increase). That price point is where some will rationalize purchase is not necessary because their tickets already come with some basic ride line planning. And they won’t feel bad declining. Just like Maxpass, on the surface it won’t appear to be a major disadvantage not to have it. Nice to have but not necessary.

On the flip side, $25 is not too much to ask from guests who’ve grown accustomed to paying a premium for holiday parties, special hours events, and firework dessert parties. $500 for a family of 4 to do an evening of MNSSHP and they regularly sell out. $500 for EMM or MK dessert, or they could get 5 days of FP upgrade to enjoy all week. Very likely an upgrade will need to be purchased for length of ticket.