Rumor: Huge FastPass Change (Both Parks Linked Starting April 6)

[Jedi Mouse]

Or they could just start capping attendance at a reasonable number.

It won't happen because turning people away at the gate is a PR nightmare and therefore only done for safety reasons.

The only real way Disney can lower attendance is by raising ticket prices.

 

[Xenorye]

Or they could just start capping attendance at a reasonable number.

Which is a worse customer service nightmare for Disney? Dealing with people who feel like there are too many people in the park, or dealing with people who aren't being allowed in?

That's just silly. They're going to let in exactly as many people as the fire marshal will let them.

 

[DLgal]

Which is a worse customer service nightmare for Disney? Dealing with people who feel like there are too many people in the park, or dealing with people who aren't being allowed in?

That's just silly. They're going to let in exactly as many people as the fire marshal will let them.

I know it will never happen. But the fire marshall doesn't make changes when many rides or areas of the park are down for refurbishment, leading to more clogged walkways and everything else. I was at the park Monday and we could barely walk around there were so many people. That path by big thunder being down is a huge problem with traffic flow. The popularity of Star Tours and Hyperspace Mountain make Tomorrowland impassable at times.

I really do think they let too many people in the park. It will be a huge PR nightmare if something happens that makes people panic and start running. People will be trampled. That's the reality. They are being greedy and the experience of the guests is suffering and they don't care. They could stop selling tickets at the gate and require everyone to buy in advance for specific days. They can block APs at different crowd levels based on which AP you have (like how they do phased closures). It's possible but it cuts into their profit and we can't have that...

 

[DLgal]

It won't happen because turning people away at the gate is a PR nightmare and therefore only done for safety reasons.

The only real way Disney can lower attendance is by raising ticket prices.

Or, you know, STOP the stupid promos for So Cal residents. Seriously! The 3 day ticket offer they have now was NOT necessary to boost attendance. Why did they offer it? They raise prices, to "control crowds" and then they release discount promos to raise crowds? Makes no sense.

 

[DisBabe94]

Or, you know, STOP the stupid promos for So Cal residents. Seriously! The 3 day ticket offer they have now was NOT necessary to boost attendance. Why did they offer it? They raise prices, to "control crowds" and then they release discount promos to raise crowds? Makes no sense.

Ugh I thought this same thing. And those tickets expire in May so basically they are just amplifying the already crowded Spring Break season!

 

[DisBabe94]

It won't happen because turning people away at the gate is a PR nightmare and therefore only done for safety reasons.

The only real way Disney can lower attendance is by raising ticket prices.

But you know they've already raised the prices a ton. They raised the APs by like a few hundred last year or the year before. The park is as crowded as ever, especially given the closures for SWL construction and Guardians of the galaxy. The demand for Disneyland is just incredibly high and I don't see it decreasing, even with price raising. They need to further increase supply to help with the crowding. SWL may help - after the initial mania wears off, but I really think that long term they desperately need a third gate.

Edit: Ooh I had a thought, not exactly a price raise but one thing I see mentioned frequently that I do think would help with the crowding would be eliminating AP monthly payments.

 

[DLgal]

Ugh I thought this same thing. And those tickets expire in May so basically they are just amplifying the already crowded Spring Break season!

And the blackout dates don't align with a lot of school districts. My kids are out this week. But those darn tickets are valid this week. Ugh!!!

 

[Jedi Mouse]

But you know they've already raised the prices a ton. They raised the APs by like a few hundred last year or the year before. The park is as crowded as ever, especially given the closures for SWL construction and Guardians of the galaxy. The demand for Disneyland is just incredibly high and I don't see it decreasing, even with price raising. They need to further increase supply to help with the crowding. SWL may help - after the initial mania wears off, but I really think that long term they desperately need a third gate.

Edit: Ooh I had a thought, not exactly a price raise but one thing I see mentioned frequently that I do think would help with the crowding would be eliminating AP monthly payments.

I think you're right in that SWL (and the reopening of other attractions affected by it's construction) will help...eventually. As will the eventual construction of a Marvel land in DCA. Right now there are certainly some growing pains.

And you're probably right about AP payments. We bought AP's this year to cover our annual trips for 2016 and 2017 and as a bonus we've been going once every month or two for quick weekend trips we would have normally never taken and the payment plan is a big part of that for us. I also used the So-Cal discount to pick up a 3 day ticket for my sons friend when he went with us. So those things are definitely leading to us being in the park more.

I'd love to see a third gate, but I'm afraid that's a long way off as it appears Disney is intent on using every square inch of it's current footprint.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

But an appointment made the day of is A LOT different...grizzly river run and splash on an unexpected hot day? Mood changes, surprised by a kid who is scared of something? Etc. I love planning, but that just seems over the top.

Plus, you're forgetting the most crucial thing and that is that DL is much more visited by locals who DONT plan their trips months in advance. Locals and APers deserve the ability to pull fast passes day of.

The unpredictability of kids is the top issue for me. I've taken a kid who used to ride everything, had a scary experience on Space Mountain, and only wanted tame rides the rest of the trip. I've also taken a kid who is terrified of heights and then started wanting to ride everything. I have one child who occasionally suffers from motion sickness and another who has sensory issues that may change from trip to trip. If I'm spending multiple days at each park, it's easy to adjust which FP that I collect. I can even change park days, so the motion sickness kid gets to experience her favorite ride, Soarin, when she's feeling good. Not so much if I have to book FP 30-60 days out.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

As for FP from each park no longer being disconnected, I don't really mind. It will just help me make the decision not to get hoppers, and will probably make for a more relaxing trip. The changes that would most bother me are: (1) allowing prebooking or any booking when you are not in the parks; (2) adding FP to absolutely everything, thereby making the standby lines longer and making it harder to enjoy the parks in a more relaxed way.

 

[WonkaKid]

At DL now. A CM just confirmed this rumor. Begins tomorrow.

 

[DLgal]

At DL now. A CM just confirmed this rumor. Begins tomorrow.

Any word on when Max Pass will start?

 

[Winnowill]

At DL now. A CM just confirmed this rumor. Begins tomorrow.

That SUCKS.

 

[DisBabe94]

At DL now. A CM just confirmed this rumor. Begins tomorrow.

There goes all hope of getting to ride Space Mountain and Radiator Springs Racers on the same day

 

[DisBabe94]

I mean, not really. You could probably still work it out. rope Drop FP for RSR first then go get Space when your new FP window opens. but I'm still mad k

 

[lcp9]

It won't happen because turning people away at the gate is a PR nightmare and therefore only done for safety reasons.

The only real way Disney can lower attendance is by raising ticket prices.

^^I kind of wish they would, honestly. although, who knows if that would even help? At $100/day, I feel like that already prices out families who are not solidly upper middle class - but yet thousands of people manage to do it. Every time we go I am struck by the number of people who paid ticket prices.

 

[Jedi Mouse]

^^I kind of wish they would, honestly. although, who knows if that would even help? At $100/day, I feel like that already prices out families who are not solidly upper middle class - but yet thousands of people manage to do it. Every time we go I am struck by the number of people who paid ticket prices.

I've had that thought as well and like you, I'm not sure how much raising the price even up to 50% more would reduce crowds.

Prior to having AP's, Disneyland ran us roughly $1000/day, maybe a little less on longer trips and to be honest we would still go for the same number of days/year if that was $1200 or even $1500.

 

[dshimel]

As an AP holder for most of the last decade I completely disagree with you! Often times we stay onsite, but even if we didn't, except for the cost of the ticket, we spend just as much as a family on park hoppers. However, since we go down multiple times in a year, I'm willing to bet over the course of a year, we spend way more than said park hopper family. You have to remember that many passholders are not locals and treat each trip like a vacation, just like anybody else.

I live in Phoenix, so I'm well aware that not all AP holders are local. I have had an AP like 11 years of the last 15.

SoCal APs should definitely get crushed on the FP pulls.

Current AP I got in December. I have been 14 days. Even at $850 I am already at $60 a day. 4 more days already planned for May and July, with at least 7 or 10 more days to follow before the AP expires. Heck, I am already over $200 just in the free parking.

 

[dshimel]

The only real way Disney can lower attendance is by raising ticket prices.

I got a Premium AP for $320 in 2002. Now the equivalent pass is $850. Back then, a single day ticket was like $45, now $120. (Inflation would be $430ish and $60ish, so prices have averaged.... let's do he math. 850/(430-320) = 7x the rate of inflation for top AP and 120 / (60-45) = 8x inflation for 1 day-1 park. )

Maybe it is time to go back to cruddy parks, with nothing new, and "hip and edgy" DCA without characters or other Disney Magic.

 

[abuck75]

It won't happen because turning people away at the gate is a PR nightmare and therefore only done for safety reasons.

The only real way Disney can lower attendance is by raising ticket prices.

And raising ticket prices to lower attendance does make the most business sense for an enjoyable day at the parks, but obviously the brand doesn't want to price out many who consume their other forms of media and merchandise.