Question about Fast Pass

[Miniefan]

I just picked up a 2006 Birnbaum's WDW Guide and I read that the Fast Pass system could be changed to be free only to guests staying at the Deluxe Resorts is this something that has changed and I didn't know about it?? Any info would be great.
Kim

 

[dbm20th]

That is not the case as of now. But many rumors are swirling that FastPass will be a charge sooner or later. IMO, it will be a charge sooner rather than later

 

[Bill From PA]

It hasn't yet, and I haven't heard this one before now, but Disney COULD do anything they want. If this is really, specifically, mentioned as a possibility in Birnbaum's I'd rate this as more than just speculation. My understanding is that WDW and Birnbaum 'co-operate' in the production of their guide, which is a polite way of saying that Birnbaum gets to use copyrighted photos not available to the unofficial guides as well as interviews with Disney personnel. In return, IMHO, Birnbaum tends to be less critical (honest) about some WDW issues. It wouldn't surprise me to see Disney put this out as a trial balloon, and if there's no uproar over it, implement this at some time.

Bill From PA

 

[TikiGoddess]

Let the uproar commence... hee hee...

 

[bicker]

As TikiGoddess alluded to, this has been discussed quite often here, and there are some rather long and contentious discussions about it available if you want to search for them.

From what I've gathered, much of this is based on rumor which was spawned from Disney's recent patent filings. Disney has outlined a whole bunch of ways FastPass could work, in order to protect their intellectual property. That doesn't mean they're going to actually do any of them. The most likely scenario for any FastPass changes would be a matter of giving certain guests the ability to get FastPasses in a different way, while leaving the existing methods available to all without fee.

 

[**pixiedust**]

It would be the biggest shock I have ever had in regards to Disney policy if they did this. And I do know about Universal's policy...but to limit Fastpass to ONLY Deluxe resort guests would be suicide for Disney. I really cannot imagine that happening.

 

[dbm20th]

As I said before, I will be shocked if FastPass was still the way it is now, free to all, in five years time, probably less.

 

[Miniefan]

Thanks for the replies, I hope if they do decide to change the policy and start charging people to use it, then maybe it will be after we travel in April.
Thanks
Kim