Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[Wandering Oaken]

Well the good news is if they can't have a paid FP+ system until Disney IT works out all the bugs in the new platform, we'll have free FP+ for a loooooong time.

Unless they just keep FP+ gone until they get those bugs worked and and start to implement the paid system.

 

[ellbell]

My sources say it will be back this summer and it will be free again.

 

[Jrb1979]

My sources say it will be back this summer and it will be free again.

I will be shocked if it comes back free. There may be a free option thats limited but I think for the most part it's going to be monetized.

 

[Remy is Up]

My best guess is that whatever FP looks like, it’ll be easier/cheaper for resort guests. They have to incentivize people to stay on property in some way and FP is a huge way of doing that.

Also could have an impact on ap holders. If they can entice silver to jump to gold or gold to platinum it would make money IF they bring back aps the same way they were, which isn't guaranteed

 

[Wandering Oaken]

I think it will have a paid feature added to it but I am hoping that will be farther down the road. I hope they just release FP+ for free for right now until things get back to a "normal" and then think about changing it to a paid service if they are going to do that.

 

[Remy is Up]

My sources say it will be back this summer and it will be free again.

Quite possible for late summer and quite possible free if they haven't sorted out whatever new system they want on the platform. But I wouldn't count on it remaining free. Once they get the platform sorted and introduce aps again, there will likely be a cost associated with a fp system. Again, whether a hybrid or fully paid system, they won't leave money on the table. This is all about getting it to work without crashing the rest of the platform

 

[Remy is Up]

I’m not so naive to think that it’s just going to back as it was, so my hope is that the included fastpasses remain an on-site perk, with extras being a paid option and fastpass in general being a paid option for offsite guests. That feels like the best possible circumstance, kind of a happy medium between the scenario I actually want (fastpass+ resumes unchanged) and what Disney would want in terms of profitability.

That would be the hybrid system and I'd be fine with it. Just curious how they would incentivize the paid portion or what the cost would be

 

[Miffy]

I am constantly amazed at how so many people on the DIS are practically begging WDW to charge for FP+. Perhaps you don't already spend enough money at WDW, but I kinda do. And I like to go more than once every decade.

 

[Remy is Up]

i wonder when they will tell us. Surly can’t be long now

Everytime they test and it creates havoc on the test platform, delays testing on the live system. But the old fp+ has been tested on the live system without incident,, which is leading me to believe if they roll it out before they want due to increased capacity, it could be the old fp+ until they can get the new version to test on live without incident. Also would allow them to introduce it with new AP tiers, prices, TIW, and meal plans.

 

[Wandering Oaken]

I am constantly amazed at how so many people on the DIS are practically begging WDW to charge for FP+. Perhaps you don't already spend enough money at WDW, but I kinda do. And I like to go more than once every decade.

Actually they don't seem to be begging for this but have accepted the rumors that a couple of vloggers have posted that may or may not be accurate. There are a few that hope for a paid FP system only because they (for some silly reason) think that the FP system inflates their standby line time from 15 minutes to 16 minutes.

 

[Grasshopper2016]

Capacity was just increased again. July park pass availability is now green (all four parks available) every day.

I really think they need to do something now, even if it is just reinstating the old free FP+ system temporarily until the new Genie / paid system can be put into place. Many people had a good experience with no FP+ during the pandemic, since the standby lines moved much faster. But that was with significantly decreased capacity, and thus fewer people in line. It's true that ride capacity must be increasing, as Disney begins to fill all seats and all rows again. But I'm very concerned that it is not increasing as fast as park capacity. Shows, parades, characters are still mostly gone, and many restaurants remain closed. Plus, staffing is struggling to catch up with the crowds.

If we are forced to stand in the scorching Florida sun for 45-60 minutes to ride the regular rides, and 90+ minutes to ride the headliners, for our July trip --- with no opportunity to skip the lines --- I'm going to be so disappointed.

 

[Miffy]

Actually they don't seem to be begging for this but have accepted the rumors that a couple of vloggers have posted that may or may not be accurate. There are a few that hope for a paid FP system only because they (for some silly reason) think that the FP system inflates their standby line time from 15 minutes to 16 minutes.

I see, @Wandering Oaken. I haven't accepted it since it hasn't happened yet. Right now, though, I wouldn't be surprised if WDW started charging for everything.

Want to ride a resort-to-park bus? Buy this nifty little length-of-stay ticket! It's only $50/person!
Want to download MDE? That's a mere $20.
Door-unlock fee: $5.00 each time you enter your room, conveniently charged to your credit card.
Soap in your room: $3/bar.
Watch TV in your room: $5/every 3-hour period
Fee for use of refrigerator: $10/day
Towels: $2 each

Maybe these prices are too low. I'll talk with Chapek and get back to you.

 

[Loro]

Everytime they test and it creates havoc on the test platform, delays testing on the live system. But the old fp+ has been tested on the live system without incident,, which is leading me to believe if they roll it out before they want due to increased capacity, it could be the old fp+ until they can get the new version to test on live without incident. Also would allow them to introduce it with new AP tiers, prices, TIW, and meal plans.

Capacity was just increased again. July park pass availability is now green (all four parks available) every day.

I really think they need to do something now, even if it is just reinstating the old free FP+ system temporarily until the new Genie / paid system can be put into place. Many people had a good experience with no FP+ during the pandemic, since the standby lines moved much faster. But that was with significantly decreased capacity, and thus fewer people in line. It's true that ride capacity must be increasing, as Disney begins to fill all seats and all rows again. But I'm very concerned that it is not increasing as fast as park capacity. Shows, parades, characters are still mostly gone, and many restaurants remain closed. Plus, staffing is struggling to catch up with the crowds.

If we are forced to stand in the scorching Florida sun for 45-60 minutes to ride the regular rides, and 90+ minutes to ride the headliners, for our July trip --- with no opportunity to skip the lines --- I'm going to be so disappointed.

I was just about to say similar in reaction to Remy's post. With the recent huge increase in park pass availability they definitely will need FP+ back sooner than later. They may have to go back to classic FP+ for now.

 

[Wandering Oaken]

Just bring back free FP+ from now throughout the rest of next year.

 

[Loro]

Actually they don't seem to be begging for this but have accepted the rumors that a couple of vloggers have posted that may or may not be accurate. There are a few that hope for a paid FP system only because they (for some silly reason) think that the FP system inflates their standby line time from 15 minutes to 16 minutes.

Having to pay for FP makes it better for the vloggers too, as they can just expense it and have an easier time getting on things themselves. Of course they're fine with it.

Does FP+ inflate wait times? Yes.
Does FP+ help someone who properly plans out their days spend less time in line? Yes.
Does it hurt spur of the moment trips and people who don't plan? Only if you don't do it right or go in blind.

The only time I've ever waited more than an hour in line during the FP+ era has been for FoP. Once. And I wanted to see the queue.

 

[Wandering Oaken]

Having to pay for FP makes it better for the vloggers too, as they can just expense it and have an easier time getting on things themselves. Of course they're fine with it.

I can see that but only a couple have said it and many people have taken it as gospel.

Does FP+ inflate wait times? Yes.

Marginally. Maybe an extra 5 - 10 minutes. Tops.

Does FP+ help someone who properly plans out their days spend less time in line? Yes.

Absolutely. Been going for years and I have never had to wait in a line longer than 30-35 minutes. And that was rare.

Does it hurt spur of the moment trips and people who don't plan? Only if you don't do it right or go in blind.

People need to plan things. Disney Trips cost too much to not plan.

The only time I've ever waited more than an hour in line during the FP+ era has been for FoP. Once. And I wanted to see the queue.

I can see that. I anticipate that I might wait a while to ride Tron if I do not use a FP.

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

I see, @Wandering Oaken. I haven't accepted it since it hasn't happened yet. Right now, though, I wouldn't be surprised if WDW started charging for everything.

Want to ride a resort-to-park bus? Buy this nifty little length-of-stay ticket! It's only $50/person!
Want to download MDE? That's a mere $20.
Door-unlock fee: $5.00 each time you enter your room, conveniently charged to your credit card.
Soap in your room: $3/bar.
Watch TV in your room: $5/every 3-hour period
Fee for use of refrigerator: $10/day
Towels: $2 each

Maybe these prices are too low. I'll talk with Chapek and get back to you.

MASTER OF THE MOUSE

Charge 'em for the lice, extra for the mice
Two percent for looking in the mirror twice
Here a little slice, there a little cut
Three percent for sleeping with the window shut
When it comes to fixing prices
There are a lot of tricks Bob knows
How it all increases, all them bits and pieces
Jiminy Cricket! It's amazing how it grows!

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

My sources say it will be back this summer and it will be free again.

By summer, I hope your source means by next week. Disney doesn't have an excuse anymore ( unless they can't staff it )

I will gladly spend more money while NOT being in line.

 

[mercuryvenus]

By summer, I hope your source means by next week. Disney doesn't have an excuse anymore ( unless they can't staff it )

I will gladly spend more money while NOT being in line.

It’s not that easy to put even the same FP system on top of a system that now includes park reservations. They need time to test it out and make sure it actually works.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

It’s not that easy to put even the same FP system on top of a system that now includes park reservations. They need time to test it out and make sure it actually works.

I've seen the fast pass thing come up numerous times lately and they have obviously been working on it since its after the park reservations tab. I don't see it being that difficult to choose your park reservation day, and add fast passes to those dates. I'm not an IT so maybe it is, but they have had a very long time to figure this out, and they most likely are ready to go and choosing to not add it for their own reasons.