RFID Scanners installed around MK

[tjevans]

I don't understand everyone worrying about something when the details about that something aren't even known yet. Yes, Disney has announced "x-pass" or whatever it will be called, but they haven't said what it is. In passing, they said one idea they looked at was reserving ride times. Well, that's what fastpass is now.

I have enough things to worry about in my everyday life to not worry about this until the details are known.

 

[heyitsmejosh]

how come people keep thinking its going to be a pay services.. there have been a few articles that have said it was going to be a free service.

 

[daemom]

Definitely an interesting thread to watch. Hopefully they'll let the public in on the info soon, so that we can stop guessing and worrying over something that may not be.

 

[Reddy]

1) I'll hold my hands up and say I had no idea you could make ADR's staying offsite. To my knowledge, that has never been pointed out on any thread I visited on this forum, and that is where I get my info from (just never thought to do a google.) That point can be ignored then, and I will edit the post.

2) The dining plan thing was to point out that the free dining plan offer gives you a free dining plan appropriate to your resort, so QS for mods and normal for deluxe, and I think that will most likely be the approach here, so IF there is a free xpass offer, it will probably be for deluxe, not for mods or value. I highly doubt you would get xpass included in a value, at least. They are investing a lot here, they need some return, and a few bucks more spent at shops won't cover it all as fast as they'd like.

3) We can't afford to stay in disney property. Full stop, it just isn't possible. I understand you might be fortunate enough, but we just couldnt afford too, and I know they can't cater for me exlusively, but I don't think its too much to ask that we be given the chance to get equal access to rides, even if they charge more for off site than on site guests for this option it would still be better than not having it at all. I could cope with not eating onsite, not staying onsite or not doing all the special events, but the one thing that I really don't think should be changed is the equal access to rides.

Like I say, I have a rather unique view on this compared to most. You are free not to agree!

But you are right, this is all speculation, and probably wrong. I just am not liking the look of this update. I will reserve my final decisions on whether I will ever go again till we get more news, but like I said, I just don't like the look of it. No final decisions, but I'm concerned atm. Plenty of unanswered questions, and its human nature to want to fill in the gaps, guess I just cant help myself! I just wish Disney would hurry up and quash all the rumours... patience is a virtue I guess!

can't stay on-site?? your siggy list you, sis & parents - to me that is 4 people - 4 people can fit in just about any room on-site - if you don't want to share a bed with your dad or sis then I think a roll-away bed can be brought in into a room -- you really don't have to have seprate bedrooms for everyone but that seems to be your choice by staying away

 

[WillAustin]

how come people keep thinking its going to be a pay services.. there have been a few articles that have said it was going to be a free service.

I think when some people do the math on potential availability if it's accessible to everyone for free, they realize it could be likely inconvenient and potentially useless for most people. If the number of guests with access was limited somehow by an added cost or restrictions to certain customers, it's easier to see the allure as far as desirability goes.

 

[bluejasmine]

Ok I'll admit I just skimmed this thread but I really do hope xpass doesn't cost extra just simply b/c the cost is so high as it is! Now as far as xpass being for Wdw resort guests just reminds me of universals take on this and I'm a bit sad! Wonder if xpass will help the lines or cause longer ones in the end? Idk.

 

[reiella]

Ok I'll admit I just skimmed this thread but I really do hope xpass doesn't cost extra just simply b/c the cost is so high as it is! Now as far as xpass being for Wdw resort guests just reminds me of universals take on this and I'm a bit sad! Wonder if xpass will help the lines or cause longer ones in the end? Idk.

Possibly, that depends a bit on how they deploy them.

I'm more concerned about CMs having to deal with "I missed my reservation at XXX because of Derpiderp!"

 

[Squidgyness]

can't stay on-site?? your siggy list you, sis & parents - to me that is 4 people - 4 people can fit in just about any room on-site - if you don't want to share a bed with your dad or sis then I think a roll-away bed can be brought in into a room -- you really don't have to have seprate bedrooms for everyone but that seems to be your choice by staying away

We couldn't afford to stay even in one room at a moderate. Value would be pushing it too. As international travellers with a 9 hour flight each way and jet lag, 7 days just isnt enough time to make the expense worthwhile, so 10 or 14 days really is a must. For that, the only way we could afford to stay would be offsite, in a hotel or villa. Most of my english friends who go to WDW do the same. The increases in flight costs have squeezed out our margins.

But this is getting OT. I guess we just have to wait for more news. I just think that this vacuum of info is damaging, gives people opportunity to jump to conclusions or ponder over unanswered questions, Disney would be wise to clarify this system sooner rather than later. Hopefully this upcoming announcement will do so.

 

[fla4fun]

I do want to point out that you do not have to be staying onsite to make ADRs. Anyone can make an ADR for any restaurant.The perk is that on property guests get 180+10 to make ADR's and off property guests only get 180. It may not seem like much but if you are trying to get one of the most popular restaurants, it's a definite perk.

You also say that family size prevents you from staying onsite. Disney has accommodations for families of all sizes, and are further catering to larger families with the opening of AoA, which is an affordable alternative to the deluxe resorts. It's not just the size of the accommodation but the cost that has to be considered. Sure AoA will hold six people, but a family can get an off property villa for a week for what two or three nights would cost in an AoA suite. Even a party of four adults, once you add on the extra adult charges, can find a much better price staying off property than on. Although Disney has a wide range of room prices, not everyone can afford even the lowest price value room.

There are a lot of perks that on property guests receive that off property guests don't. I really don't think Disney wants to lose any more of the off property guests to the competing parks, so I can't imagine they would put anything in place that would make it difficult for an off property guest to visit. I think it may end up as a perk for the on property guest, in a tiered fashion, and it will be rolled into the cost of the room, which will rise accordingly.

 

[spel]

There are a lot of perks that on property guests receive that off property guests don't. I really don't think Disney wants to lose any more of the off property guests to the competing parks, so I can't imagine they would put anything in place that would make it difficult for an off property guest to visit. I think it may end up as a perk for the on property guest, in a tiered fashion, and it will be rolled into the cost of the room, which will rise accordingly.

Oh, I certainly hope this is not the case. We really really prefer staying off-site for all of the space that a villa gives us, it's a great value for us- could never afford to stay on-site in a villa and really don't want to cramp us all into a single room. If this is an on-site only perk, Disney may succeed in pushing us to an on-site resort unfortunately. In fact, I am going to wait to book Bonnet Creek for next April- hoping that some more info about this comes out before I need to pull the trigger. I'm sure other off-site guests are in the same predicament.

 

[MartyM]

As we only stay on property, and most often deluxe, I would definitely pay more for and appreciate perks for onsite guests only. The value of any perk goes down when it's offered to people staying offsite, IMO.

I'd also appreciate any program which scales perks in the manner of free dining with the largest perks going to those who pay the most.

 

[larryz]

I'm more concerned about CMs having to deal with "I missed my reservation at XXX because of Derpiderp!"

I LOVE Derpiderp! I use it all the time -- keeps me feeling fresh and clean, even on the hottest, stickiest Florida summer days!

 

[BGK]

as a florida resident i would HATE this if it turned into ADR's for rides. i plan my disney trips on a week or two notice at the most, i usually stay a day or two and see what i want to see.. that type of visting style already makes it a royal pain to do a lot of the things people book 6 months in advance, i can only imagine how much worse it would be with the rides. there is no way i want to plan what ride i want to ride and what time in january for a trip in june that would just be plain silly. if they do advance bookings for rides it should be the day before or a couple days before tops.

Florida residents really only count in the WDW calculus when occupancy and attendance are down, either for seasonal or economic reasons. They're hell-bent to eliminate the former, and unless we double-dip I think the latter is less and less of a factor.

It's pretty clear that, much like the tourism business in my area, they'd really prefer the higher-end visitor who visits less frequently but spends more on high-margin items like deluxe hotels and "magical gatherings." Frequent short-stay visitors have a lower cost of acquisition, but lower margin.

I think the only reason Florida residents aren't actively discouraged is that they really don't displace the more profitable guests. We also tend to avoid the busier, premium-priced times of year anyway.

 

[popsynic]

as a florida resident i would HATE this if it turned into ADR's for rides. i plan my disney trips on a week or two notice at the most, i usually stay a day or two and see what i want to see.. that type of visting style already makes it a royal pain to do a lot of the things people book 6 months in advance, i can only imagine how much worse it would be with the rides. there is no way i want to plan what ride i want to ride and what time in january for a trip in june that would just be plain silly. if they do advance bookings for rides it should be the day before or a couple days before tops.

Not yet heard anyone who is looking forward to the idea of 'ADRs' for attractions. Me included.

But clearly Disney have to fend off the competition. Universal have a major expansion due (rumored to be harry potter phase 2. Disney will need to do whatever it can even if that includes offering more reasons to stay on property. If that means offering fast pass perks to resort guests, then I'm sure they will do it. Universal already does.

Not supporting it - just saying....

 

[BGK]

Which would make it no different than a trip to a Harrah's Casino. Disney is actually catching up in the area of customizing a guest experience based upon the specifics of how he/she tours (rather than using glorified demographic info). Lots of articles in business journals and the like out there on what Harrah's and others have done with their customer databases - for years now. Only sinister if you consider marketing sinister.

I work in the marketing biz, and having seen it up close, it's not really sinister. It's rather more amoral than immoral. K.W. Jeter's "turd in a can" is real, but I don't take it personally.

Also too, some of us find casinos pretty skeevy and hope Disney might opt for a different paradigm.

And to state the obvious wrt revenue (commented on by some other posters), there does not have to be a direct revenue stream from a new feature for Disney to make more money in the long run by better customizing guest experiences. Disney plays the loooooooong game -- has since inception -- and we are all better off for it.

Now this is laugh-out-loud funny. Disney may take a little longer view than some companies with a comparable market cap, if only because they have large real-estate holdings, and large-scale civil engineering projects which don't turn on a dime. Aside from that, they seem no less quarterly-earnings-myopic than the rest.

I'll never understand why some people (not directed at TheRustyScupper!) get cranky at the idea that Disney is running an efficient, profit-generating operation. That's what a business is. I don't get it.

Every time someone here or elsewhere expresses some chafing that the buckraking gets ever more naked for a less and less premium experience, we get the it's-capitalism-stupid pedantry. We get it. Disney has to maximize shareholder value, heh-indeedy, because shut up, that's why. I also get that Disney doesn't owe me anything, as that's all but spelled out in the annual pass terms and conditions I have here in front of me.

However, this is an opinion board, and we can express an opinion, for good or ill. It's not only reflexive nostalgia. To be all high-falutin' about it, some of us may just be a little sad that a place we used to go for a fun little respite, whose simple pleasures were pretty small-d democratic, is going the way of everything else toward a pay-to-play stratification. Big boffo announcements used to be for a new ride or show. Now it's about paying...to not wait in line. Awesome! That beats that stupid Mr. Toad any day.

WDW and the Disney parks have always been about making money. We really do get that. We still line up to turn over our fistfuls of cash dollars, as we think what we get in exchange is worth it. At some point, it won't be, and I'll stop the trade. The sun will certainly keep rising in the east, and someone will very likely take my place. Doesn't mean I have to like it. But "turd in a can" isn't a sustainable business model, and it will break faster than most anyone expects, and then no one has any fun.

 

[popsynic]

As we only stay on property, and most often deluxe, I would definitely pay more for and appreciate perks for onsite guests only. The value of any perk goes down when it's offered to people staying offsite, IMO.

I'd also appreciate any program which scales perks in the manner of free dining with the largest perks going to those who pay the most.

Disney already do this - and I guess that's what you mean.

Like you say - You get a better 'free' dining plan the more you are prepared to pay for your resort.

If you stay off site (we do) then Disney gives you no perks whatsoever, and no chance to buy those perks. For example, I'd happily pay for the dining plan, and eat all my meals at Disney, but still stay off site. But Disney rightly keep this perk for package guests only, despite the fact they'd make more money if they sold the dining plan to offsite guests too.

With Fastpass though, that's a 'park privilege' and therefore in my opinion should be fairly and equally offered to everyone who pays for a park ticket

We all pay the same for park entry - so there should be no differentation in park perks based on where you stay.

 

[larryz]

We all pay the same for park entry - so there should be no differentation in park perks based on where you stay.

You forgot to mention EMH, which is also free with admission as long as you're staying at a Disney (or on-property paying) resort, which effectively provides differentiation based on where you stay.

 

[Figment43]

I just am not liking the look of this update. I will reserve my final decisions on whether I will ever go again till we get more news, but like I said, I just don't like the look of it. No final decisions, but I'm concerned atm. Plenty of unanswered questions, and its human nature to want to fill in the gaps, guess I just cant help myself! I just wish Disney would hurry up and quash all the rumours... patience is a virtue I guess!

You're not the only one with an uneasy feeling about this update. If it's used in conjunction with FastPass, I think it may be a good thing. However, if it replaces FP and my only choices are to either wait in an ungodly long queue or make reservations 6 months in advance (whether we have to pay for it or not), that is going to severely diminish my love for Disney World.

Personally, I don't like to plan my vacation down to the minute. To me, that wouldn't be a vacation at all. It would be just like normal everyday life where I have to plan everything according to what someone else requires of me. I don't see a difference in having to plan my life around my work and school schedules versus having to plan my vacation around whatever time slot is available on a certain ride and having to check it against whatever time slot is available at a certain restaurant.

I guess we have to wait until Disney announced what the official plans are for the system. But, I can't help but feel like something is off about this whole xPass thing.

 

[popsynic]

You forgot to mention EMH, which is also free with admission as long as you're staying at a Disney (or on-property paying) resort, which effectively provides differentiation based on where you stay.

very true - missed that

 

[LaurenT]

You forgot to mention EMH, which is also free with admission as long as you're staying at a Disney (or on-property paying) resort, which effectively provides differentiation based on where you stay.

I actually appreciate EMH more when I stay offsite. It draws the onsite people away from the park I'm going to.