Paying for fastpass in 2006?????

[dbm20th]

This is tough to say. I think it makes good sense to give it free to those staying at a WDW resort. It keeps the hardcores happy and adds insentive to stay on property. If not, certainly Deluxe and DVC should not pay for this service.

Having said that, they have made a real push for this service and turning around and charging for it seems like a risky PR move. Are FP lines getting too big? If so, they really don't have a choice.

 

[susie2]

hi, would the swan and dolphin be included as well they are deluxe hotels, but not owned by disney!! susie2

 

[Planogirl]

Also, what about Downtown Disney?

I think that the system can still be worked as it was prior to FP days. We tested the old touring plans a bit and they're still pretty good. I doubt that would change much even with a new FP system so staying offsite would just require getting up early.

I will say that I would stay offsite before staying in a moderate or value if guests of these resorts have to pay for FP. I see no sense in paying extra just for a smelly bus.

 

[DemoBri1]

I wouldn't pay too much attention to some of the ramblings in Birnbaum's. I mean they actually had in their 2005 guide that the popular Beaches and Cream shop at YC/BC had been closed down.

This may be Disney's way of floating an idea to see what reaction it would get without publicly making a statement on their own.

 

[MsMoneyPenny]

I do think this is a good idea but a bit hard on those staying in values and moderates who also have paid good money to stay onsite. Also, what about the scenario of people who pay the rack rate for a moderate against someone who has paid a heavily discounted rate at a deluxe, thus the person who is staying at a moderate has actually paid more for their room/package than the person who is staying in the discounted room/package at the deluxe. If this is the case perhaps it should be the full rack rate deluxe guest who can take advantage of the 'new' FP system.

 

[bicker]

what about the scenario of people who pay the rack rate for a moderate against someone who has paid a heavily discounted rate at a deluxe

That's not a quandary. It is well-established throughout the travel and hospitality industry that the amenities are associated with the grade of the service, not with the price paid. For example, elite frequent fliers who upgrade to First Class seats on an airplane using their elite status get the same meals and the same attention as folks who paid for those seats. Similarly, folks who pay top-dollar for a top-notch hotel room get the same benefits and service as those who are staying on a discounted rate. Also, restaurants provide the same quality food and service, regardless of whether the patron is using a discount card, such as Entertainment or DDE.

 

[MsMoneyPenny]

Another option of course would be like others have said to return to the pre fast pass days, then again maybe not, especially when I think back to going Easter one year and standing in line for over 90 minutes

 

[ksmith1960]

I think that in the very near future only guest staying at the world will be allowed fastpasses. That way Disney gets extra money from the increased occupancy rate at its hotels.

 

[jade1]

I do think this is a good idea but a bit hard on those staying in values and moderates who also have paid good money to stay onsite. Also, what about the scenario of people who pay the rack rate for a moderate against someone who has paid a heavily discounted rate at a deluxe, thus the person who is staying at a moderate has actually paid more for their room/package than the person who is staying in the discounted room/package at the deluxe. If this is the case perhaps it should be the full rack rate deluxe guest who can take advantage of the 'new' FP system.

They would not pay anything either. They would just get "fewer" selections. Maybe 2 for Value and 3 for moderate at "NO CHARGE", Deluxe would get 4. Simple.

 

[Planogirl]

If they allow the onsite hotel guests too many FastPasses and don't allow the offsite guests any, it could end up being a nightmare for the offsite guests; both those staying in hotels and locals. I don't agree with this elitist policy and won't be forced to stay onsite at any price just to be able to ride attractions in a timely way. That's just me but maybe others will feel this way too?

 

[bicker]

There is no question that any policies such as those we're discussing in this thread would have impact on both those who benefit and those who don't. They'll also have corresponding impact on the purchasing decisions of those folks. The best answer would be the policy for which the positive impact on the purchasing decisions of those who benefit most out-weighs the negative impact on the purchasing decisions of those who don't benefit. With respect, this isn't "elitism," but rather capitalism.

 

[jade1]

If they allow the onsite hotel guests too many FastPasses and don't allow the offsite guests any, it could end up being a nightmare for the offsite guests; both those staying in hotels and locals. I don't agree with this elitist policy and won't be forced to stay onsite at any price just to be able to ride attractions in a timely way. That's just me but maybe others will feel this way too?

For sure many folks feel that way. This summer we are going to WDW and are going over to US for 1 day. We are not staying at a US hotel and we DO NOT get FOTL at all as they do-is this a nightmare for me? No, I will either rent a room for one day and not use it at all (like we did last year) or just wait like everyone else-its my "choice".

Secondly the computer system will not allow all the FP for each ride to be prebooked. Maybe its 1/2 leaving the standby lines the same as they are currently and the "live" fp's will dispense at a faster rate but many on site guests will not be in those lines since they are pre set up.

At the very least this could be pre tested by starting with 1 on site hotel for a month for example and add one each month if it is going well. If they picked a slow season and a hotel that historically is not sold out that month it would certainly show if there is any interest in this plan and how full that hotel was compared to the rest.

 

[jade1]

The more I think about this (other than super busy weeks), even off site guests should benefit from this. Think about it, this is done at no extra charge to anyone. If the on site guests have 2, 3 or 4 FP's scheduled for the next day, most are not going to kill themselves to get to the park right away because there is no reason to anymore. Therefore the offsite guests (even though the FP times will increment faster) can arrive to much smaller lines and a much more relaxing day-again at no extra charge to them. Also the stanby lines have to be smaller. The onsite guest is not as likely to go stand in line for long with these FP's in their pockets.

If I am a typical onsite guest (maybe I am way off the norm), and I have reserved a 4PM Splash, a 5PM BTM and a 6PM SpaceM, you will not have to deal with me (us) at all except for 3 5 minute intervals at these rides. We would then grab some dinner and wait for Wishes and Spectro. We wont even show up until 2:30 that day-leaving the first 6 hours of the park and the last 4hours to everyone else-weve doen what we want.

 

[raidermatt]

No, the bottom line for offsite guests in your scenario is that there will be fewer FPs available on a sameday basis, which will not benefit off-site guests.

Further, I highly doubt that being able to get a few FPs is going to keep any kind of significant number of guests out of the parks early in the day. Being able to get a FP is not what drives the majority of guests to arrive when they do.

Further, if this actually did keep off-site guests out of the parks, that would probably not be the result Disney was looking for. Certainly they don't want guests lounging at their pool instead of buying churros and turkey legs.

I'm not saying they won't do this. I'm only saying that I don't think the benefits you are looking at are going to be big for that many people.

All that said, however, the only thing the guide hinted at was that all but Deluxe guests may find themselves being charged for FP later this year. Nothing about actually adding benefits for Deluxe guests.

 

[seashoreCM]

Secondly the computer system will not allow all the FP for each ride to be prebooked. Maybe its 1/2 leaving the standby lines the same as they are currently and the "live" fp's will dispense at a faster rate but many on site guests will not be in those lines since they are pre set up. .

Only if guests who prebook fast passes are prohibited from fetching additional fast passes from the machines for some time interval, for example two hours per pre-booked fast pass (five minutes for the Lights Motors fast pass which normally can be fetched about five minutes before or after another fast pass).

After reading other recent accounts of enforcement problems in the fast pass lines, I must say that paying for fast pass can be expected. It costs money to run the fast pass lines, machines, and system. By now Disney has a handle on how much that cost is. A cost per fast pass may be added as a starting point with various discounts to resort guests. Having fast pass brings back all of the costs of collecting separate admissions or coupons for each ride which Disney and most other amusement parks did up until the 1980's time frame.

'Wanna' find out what FOTL (front of the line Universal style for resort guests) would look like at Disney? Just go to any extra magic hour session, preferably in the evening.

 

[macraven]

gee, i didn't read about this in the birbaums book, i read it on line.
it was jim hill media that did the article and talked about the patent disney applied for march 05 i believe.

i had no idea it was in the disney book about the possibility of charge for the fast pass.

maybe someone will post the link here for that article.

 

[raidermatt]

It's not from an article, its from the Birnbaum "Official" WDW guide, published in October. If memory serves, its on page 5, but I don't have my copy with me.

It simply says that FP is currently free, but that may change in 2006 for all but Deluxe resort guests.

Since Birnbaum is the only "official" guide, the statement carries some weight and is more than simply random speculation. But again, all it says is that all but Deluxe resort guests maybe charged.

 

[jade1]

No, the bottom line for offsite guests in your scenario is that there will be fewer FPs available on a sameday basis, which will not benefit off-site guests.

Further, I highly doubt that being able to get a few FPs is going to keep any kind of significant number of guests out of the parks early in the day. Being able to get a FP is not what drives the majority of guests to arrive when they do.

Further, if this actually did keep off-site guests out of the parks, that would probably not be the result Disney was looking for. Certainly they don't want guests lounging at their pool instead of buying churros and turkey legs.

Thanks raidermatt. I guess you could be right, but not for sure. I can only say for sure our situation. If I have 2,3 or 4 FP for a park, we WILL NOT be arriving at all early to that park. We truly arrive early to any park for one reason only-to go on attractions that within an hour or two of opening become 60 to 90 minute waits-PERIOD. Its not to watch other folks, get anything to eat, smell the warm FL morning air or wear ourselves out early for the day. If we can go on one and obtain FP's for others-thats what we do. With these in our pockets we would sleep in (I know thats just us with teens), grab breakfast and take our time (maybe even swim first) and accomplish the exact same result totally refreshed.

 

[bicker]

Hmmm... "that may change" -- I cannot see how such a statement can be anything other than absolutely true. Saying that something may change isn't saying very much at all.

 

[YoHo]

Sure it's significant. If it hasn't at least come up as a significant possibility, then the guide wouldn't say anything at all.