State of Fast Pass Return (or replacement)

[New Mouse]

70% of WDW guests are what Disney considers to be first-time Guests. It’s not about lifelong Guests. That’s been their business model for a while.

Correct and those guests do have a maximum price they are willing to spend.

Only focusing on wdw leads to my bigger point as well. Those guests will not become lifelong Disney customers, not WDW. Theres a reason Disney + is successful, its the synergy that comes with exposure in the parks. The same can be said about merchandise. If you arent hooking guests, all your divisions will feel it.

 

[jpbothwell]

70% of WDW guests are what Disney considers to be first-time Guests. It’s not about lifelong Guests. That’s been their business model for a while.

It may be there business model but the experience has to be a good one or word will quickly get out that the experience is a rip off. Selling a product at a premium price point that over delivers will always be successful. Selling a product at a premium price point that disappoints is a recipe for failure.

 

[NickC]

We liked the previous system. We knew about the refresh method, but rarely used it. 3 were enough for us. Between RD, FP+, standby and some creative planning we always did everything that we wanted to do, without too much wait. If it was a paid system, there are very few rides that we would feel the need to actually pay for. We are in the 'wait and see' camp.

 

[123SA]

The wait times at DHS right now, one hour after opening, are unacceptable. I wasn’t necessarily on board with bringing back Fp a month ago. It seemed manageable without. But it’s crossed the line now. It either needs to come back or they need the parks to be open a whole lot longer to spread out the crowd.

 

[cakebaker]

t either needs to come back or they need the parks to be open a whole lot longer to spread out the crowd

Agreed. If they don’t want to bring back FP+ because of wanting to start a new program, extend park hours.

And I don’t want to hear about staffing- stop increasing capacity and opening more resorts that require more staff. They can open what they want to open.

I think it’s probably too late to accomplish much by not increasing capacity any further though. From what I read, they’ve already jumped it high enough that it’s already to the point of what an average day would be. $$$$$ is the over riding concern now, not guest satisfaction.

 

[New Mouse]

The wait times at DHS right now, one hour after opening, are unacceptable. I wasn’t necessarily on board with bringing back Fp a month ago. It seemed manageable without. But it’s crossed the line now. It either needs to come back or they need the parks to be open a whole lot longer to spread out the crowd.

Because there are literally 6 rides in DHS worth doing!

 

[cakebaker]

Because there are literally 6 rides in DHS worth doing!

Except wait times are unacceptable at every park. Over 2 hrs at FOP has become the norm- SDMT, Splash, Space, BTMRR- all hit over the hour mark. It’s not lack of rides, it’s lack of FP and attractions like shows and parades causing the problem.

 

[finedice]

Because there are literally 6 rides in DHS worth doing!

Well, 7, but you can only line up for 6 of them Oops! Actually 8, but can line up for 7 - doh!

 

[Future_WorldPhonencian]

DHS relies so heavily on those shows to eat crowds, they need to get those up and running ASAP, especially Indy, BatB, Mermaid, and Fantasmic

 

[finedice]

Wait times still get bad at DHS with the shows. Although you can probably do Star Tours as many times as you want.

 

[Spyral]

70% of WDW guests are what Disney considers to be first-time Guests. It’s not about lifelong Guests. That’s been their business model for a while.

I imagine this to be true.

I've been a lifelong fan, but our upcoming trip this September/October will probably be our last. I'm starting to regret our trip from what have read and been hearing. I would cancel, but points have been rented and park tickets and flights have been purchased. It is not going to be up there with our prior trips, even though our costs are not any less to make up for a lesser experience. Will we have fun? Yes, though I was hoping more would have been announced for the 50th celebration. I think there will be this nagging feeling in back of my mind about how this trip is worse compared to prior trips, and that will diminish the experience even more. I'll try not to fall into that trap.

I liked to tell people how wonderful our vacations were at WDW. Now I tell them how wonderful it used to be. I don't tell people not to go, but I am sure by the way I talk, I discourage them from going. I think this is where Disney is making a mistake by taking stuff away, charging for experiences that used to be included, or just flat out charging more. Yes, they seem to cater to the first time customers, but not everyone goes blindly in because it is Disney World and a must do it for their kids. Anecdotally from what I have seen, a lot of first time customers get information from word of mouth from family and friends. Especially when spending as much as it costs to go to WDW. What are they going to start hearing now?

 

[DJJimmy9]

Not to mention it’s MUCH more than $400 per person per day lol. VIP tours range from $425-$800 per hour with a 7 hour minimum. So the range is $3000-$5600. For a family of four that is $750-$1400 per person for 1 day of VIP “FastPasses” via touring.

I will admit that we did the VIP tour once. It was awesome in so many ways. The “unlimited fast passes” we’re just apart of it. It is park touring in the most efficient way possible in every way. We did three parks and skipped security and entered each park backstage. Our tour guide knew the fastest routes (think driving backstage to get from Frozen to Soarin’).

Notice though, that despite being awesome, I only did it once. I’m well-off, but have limits. The only time we did it was when our family of 5 had an overlapping trip with our good friends - also a family of 5. So it was 10 people making it as cost efficient as possible.

But you are right. It still is too expensive for most. Paid FP would be within reach for a broader audience. Perhaps people like me who financially are in the middle (below super rich and above upper middle) would never do a VIP again if paid FP was an option. But I think most people who regularly do VIP will continue to do so. Meaning I doubt paid FP would cannibalize VIP tours dramatically.

 

[cakebaker]

Wait times still get bad at DHS with the shows. Although you can probably do Star Tours as many times as you want.

Don’t count on it. I’ve seen times climb for it as well.

 

[finedice]

Don’t count on it. I’ve seen times climb for it as well.

Well sure - at certain times of day / year, but can usually find a 5 minute wait on there several times a day (in normal circumstances).

 

[Launchpad_Mcquack]

70% of WDW guests are what Disney considers to be first-time Guests. It’s not about lifelong Guests. That’s been their business model for a while.

Which adds fuels to the fire that big changes are coming to AP alongside FP. Chapek has quite literally stated on several earnings calls that they are taking this once in a lifetime opportunity(Covid) to completely overhaul everything.

Iger merely adopted the parks; Chapek was born it, Moulded by it

This is Chapeks baby now and all his pent up aggression for maximizing profits is finally coming to fruition. I bet he has binders of ideas on how to increase profits that Iger just scoffed at and went back to looking at what IP to acquire next.

We are finally in the end game boys and girls.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Except wait times are unacceptable at every park. Over 2 hrs at FOP has become the norm- SDMT, Splash, Space, BTMRR- all hit over the hour mark. It’s not lack of rides, it’s lack of FP and attractions like shows and parades causing the problem.

Well, you can always buy a VIP tour.

 

[cakebaker]

Well, you can always buy a VIP tour.

True, but I don’t like just moving from ride to ride. We’re not power riders. We like to enjoy the parks and I don’t need a vip tour for that. I’d love to buy a ride package that we could do at our own pace.
Neither of those options brings back the shows and parades we love though.

 

[ChipnDale79]

True, but I don’t like just moving from ride to ride. We’re not power riders. We like to enjoy the parks and I don’t need a vip tour for that. I’d love to buy a ride package that we could do at our own pace.
Neither of those options brings back the shows and parades we love though.

Such a shame.

It's just mid boggling to me how people will just toss money at disney, instead of holding disney accountable for their actions.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

Such a shame.

It's just mid boggling to me how people will just toss money at disney, instead of holding disney accountable for their actions.

I didn't toss the money at Disney. I politely handed it over.

I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to go with my DW, DD and DS. My family has a lot to be thankful for and our trip was a great celebration of all that.

 

[luv2cheer92]

I didn't toss the money at Disney. I politely handed it over.

I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to go with my DW, DD and DS. My family has a lot to be thankful for and our trip was a great celebration of all that.

This. And I will continue to politely hand it over. The value is very, very much still there for me. I couldn't be more excited for my future trips. And it seems that almost every new announcement builds that excitement even more. I'm even starting to very, very seriously consider buying into DVC. Just because the value isn't there for you (general you), doesn't mean it isn't there for others. It's getting tiring seeing some of the same people continue to be so negative, and even getting to the point of belittling those who continue to find that value.