RFID Scanners installed around MK

[ftballfan7]

I expect that when RFID is fianally rolled out, it will impact many facets of our vacationing experience. This thread deals mostly with fastpass related impacts and my guess is that in that regard there will be a system which will reward those who stay onsite more than those who stay offsite, and those who stay onsite in more expensive accomodations even more. There is no question that cheaper and better accomodations can be found off-site and that is why this is a money maker for Disney. EMH just doesn't come close to having the impact as Universal's Epress pass when it comes to drawing it's visitors to stay onsite. We are planning a week at Universal this summer in addition to time at Disney and are ponying up to stay onsite at significantly more in order to get this perk.

By having a tiered sytem including possibly more fastpasses with more flexibility for those staying onsite and increasing both in numbers and flexibility by accomadation type, Disney will not only draw more guests to their resorts, but also upsell to better, more expensive resorts. This could then result in them having to offer fewer "deals" like free-dining or deep discounts. This is a big money maker. I doubt that offsite guests would be cut out completely though. I wouldn't be completely surprised if this even carried over into DVC by extending the benefit to those who purchased directly, but not those those who purchased resale (or at least tiering the benefit in some manner). This is all speculation however, who knows what the mouse will do? We will just have to stay tuned to the next episode of "As the Disney world Turns".

 

[MartyM]

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 meant in addition to any currently offered benfit, like EMH.

 

[Planogirl]

I think that Disney needs to be careful if they decide to offer fastpass freebies to onsite guests only. I'm sure that they do make a lot of money from offsite guests and locals particularly in dining and passes and I doubt that they want to affect park enjoyment for those people to a large degree. We do stay offsite if the budget or some other interest makes it convenient and I can't see myself spending the kind of money I normally spend at WDW while watching slews of visitors bypass us while we wait in endless lines.

I can't see that happening but only time will tell.

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

What exactly are these RFID scanners for?

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I have not read through all of these pages so please forgive me it someone has already stated this, but there is always the chance Disney is going to do what Universal does.. give the FOTL free to "onsite guests" and then sell it to "off site guests".... therefore making it a "perk" for their onsite hotel guests, but still offering it (for a fee) to everyone. Personally, I would never pay to utilize that system. I have never done it @ Universal, and never plan on it. If Disney does go with a system such as this, I will never pay there either. They get more than enough of my money already. I am an annual pass-holder and normally go for long weekends approx every 4-6 weeks. Every break that school is closed, I am up there. If that isn't enough money for them, well then tuff petudies... I will not pay extra for a shorter wait, I will just use my "free" time wisely.. as I have been doing @ Universal..

 

[mom2rtk]

I have not read through all of these pages so please forgive me it someone has already stated this, but there is always the chance Disney is going to do what Universal does.. give the FOTL free to "onsite guests" and then sell it to "off site guests".... therefore making it a "perk" for their onsite hotel guests, but still offering it (for a fee) to everyone. Personally, I would never pay to utilize that system. I have never done it @ Universal, and never plan on it. If Disney does go with a system such as this, I will never pay there either. They get more than enough of my money already. I am an annual pass-holder and normally go for long weekends approx every 4-6 weeks. Every break that school is closed, I am up there. If that isn't enough money for them, well then tuff petudies... I will not pay extra for a shorter wait, I will just use my "free" time wisely.. as I have been doing @ Universal..

They can't do that. Too many on-site hotels compared to Universal. US has 3. Disney has what.....20 something? I think that would be a disaster.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

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.

I totally agree! Vacation is to get away from scheduling every minute and worrying about being on time for whatever is next on the calendar. We will have to wait and see what really happens but I am not to excited about the possibility here.

 

[jjsdad]

And so it begins...

Disney to start testing this system May 1 in the MK running until May 15.


http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_c...pass-plus-at-the-magic-kingdom-this-week.aspx

 

[A Mickeyfan]

They can't do that. Too many on-site hotels compared to Universal. US has 3. Disney has what.....20 something? I think that would be a disaster.

they can if they want too... you may feel it will be a disaster, and I agree it might be, but if they want to do that, they most certainly can. They can sell a limited number to offsite guests.... Maybe they would do a tier system for their onsite guests, value resort gets so many free, then after that, they get a discount, moderate the same thing but more free than the value..and the deluxe and home-away-from-home get all free... You cannot say never just because you feel it will be a disaster... again, I agree with you that it can possibly be (if not done correctly), but since when has anything stopped Disney from doing what they wanted to. There are ways they can do it...

Either way you look at it, they are free now, and with all that are using them, it has not turned into a complete mess. If there was a fee, you bet your bibibidy boppity boop there won't be as many using them. All that are staying onsite now are using them, aren't they?

by the way, if you noticed, I did not say "unlimited" attractions.. I said "so many" and "all". Universal's fee based Express Pass doesn't give you unlimited. Onsite does (or at least it did last time I stayed onsite).

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

However, this is an opinion board, and we can express an opinion, for good or ill.

Uh, yeah. And I expressed mine, too. I'll go ahead and assume that's not a problem. Most of the rest we'll just disagree on - vive la difference!

 

[WillAustin]

And so it begins...

Disney to start testing this system May 1 in the MK running until May 15.


http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_c...pass-plus-at-the-magic-kingdom-this-week.aspx

I'd love for this to be at least partially implemented when we go in June.

Edit: I think I'd be on pretty solid ground believing the FP window enforcement was done mostly, if not entirely, to enable this.

 

[Mister Skellington]

And so it begins...

Disney to start testing this system May 1 in the MK running until May 15.


http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_c...pass-plus-at-the-magic-kingdom-this-week.aspx

Wow, that was sooner than I expected! It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Future vacations are being determined in these changes.

 

[LSUDis]

Okay, this is what I found on another thread-

"Supposedly, the test will run for two weeks and involve Walt Disney Travel Company guests being randomly selected via email to choose prefered times to ride popular attractions at Magic Kingdom Park. Guests will, then, be given a special bracelet or ticket with an RFID chip, dubbed FASTPASS+, that they will use to enter the FASTPASS queues at the selected time for the particular attraction.

Disney is said to be strictly enforcing these reservation times, in that guests must visit the attractions on their itinerary in the specified order at the specified times. . . . Earlier this year, Disney tested the concept of prefered viewing spots for parades. Prefered viewing for parades is considered to be another feature of FASTPASS+. "

--credit goes to Andy at disneyplanning


You've GOT to be kidding me....

 

[g-dad66]

See this thread for discussion of May 1-15 testing period.

Hope someone on the DIS gets to try it out!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2918426

 

[andyman8]

I just posted an article with information from Epcyclopedia, Disney Projects, Stitch Kingdom, and Jim Hill (not very reliable?) on my blog (still under construction). Check it out and please COMMENT. Spread the word!

http://disneyplanning.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/14568150-fastpass-to-begin-testing-tuesday

 

[WelovMickey!]

It will be a new revenue stream for Disney where you pay them to reserve a time to visit a ride...just like reserving your TS meals 6 months in advance.

PAY? For a time slot to ride a ride.

 

[raidermatt]

Which one will bring in a revenue stream?

Both contribute to revenue generation.

 

[mom2rtk]

PAY? For a time slot to ride a ride.

I guess under this scenario they'd be hoping you forgot you already paid $90 to walk in the gate........

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I guess under this scenario they'd be hoping you forgot you already paid $90 to walk in the gate........

And from everything we think we know so far, you're not being deprived of any privilege you paid for when you walked in either.

 

[Mister Skellington]

And from everything we think we know so far, you're not being deprived of any privilege you paid for when you walked in either.

So far.........stay tuned!