State of Fast Pass Return (or replacement)

[mshanson3121]

"I hope everyone here realizes that there is going to be an entire generation of children that grow up who's only exposure to the parks is through youtube vloggers." --> that is pearl-clutching. .

1. Hotels in major cities and tourist destinations around the world charge for parking - so Disney was simply adopting an industry standard. Also, the parking at Universal Orlando: $18 at Cabana Bay, $28 for self and $37 for valet at Portifino Bay, Royal Pacific, $30 self and $42 valet at Hard Rock….
2. Dining Plan offered numerous options for different budgets and styles, adjusted from an original “one size fits all” approach
3. Disneyland’s AP program had gotten totally out of hand. Lots of articles on how they had been oversold. This was a problem that needed a solution long before Covid rolled around.
4. Given the entire purpose of this thread is to discuss rumours around FP we can’t say anything definitive about WDW’s program. Paid FP options have existed for many years at Shanghai, Disneyland and DLP. This is not a post-pandemic change around the world.
5. Magical Express could also have been killed because Mears is launching a new offering in Jan 2022. Plus, DME only came into existence in 2005….Somehow for the previous 34 years that WDW existed people managed to get from the airport to the property.
6.THIS is absolutely untrue and downright disgusting. Parking, Dining, Passes, Transportation, a form of paid FastPass at locations around the world - ALL of these things changed prior to the pandemic.
7. Guests that pay more, get more. This is not a new concept.

1. Disney used to pride itself on NOT following industry standards. So that argument is bogus.

2. The dining plan hasn't been on size fits all for a long time, and has had it's price increased and it's value decreased substantially, no matter what level you get.

5. Mears is only offering the new program BECAUSE Disney dropped MDE.

 

[mshanson3121]

Meanwhile, several more days...and crickets from Disney on probably the most important issue...

 

[cakebaker]

Meanwhile, several more days...and crickets from Disney on probably the most important issue...

I’m convinced at this point they’ve made the choice to just ride out the negative reactions until they can get their money maker up and running. It just another month before the summer crowds start to thin out, no big deal, right? Meanwhile, wait times increase on a daily basis. FOP hit 2 hrs 20 minutes yesterday.

Someone remind me again about how much Disney cares about the guest experience.

 

[jhglassman]

Ok...so now that youve literally put it out there that the moves were meant to benefit the shareholders, do you believe it?

Aren’t all moves supposed to benefit the shareholders in the long run at least?

 

[cakebaker]

Aren’t all moves supposed to benefit the shareholders in the long run at least?

Not to the detriment of paying guests. It should be a balance between profit and quality. It’s not right now. In the short term, it’s great for shareholders though.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Aren’t all moves supposed to benefit the shareholders in the long run at least?

Not long run, it’s all about the next quarter.

 

[Brocktoon]

I’m convinced at this point they’ve made the choice to just ride out the negative reactions until they can get their money maker up and running. It just another month before the summer crowds start to thin out, no big deal, right? Meanwhile, wait times increase on a daily basis. FOP hit 2 hrs 20 minutes yesterday.

Someone remind me again about how much Disney cares about the guest experience.

I agree with you ... but I also don't think there is a lot of negative reactions other than online stuff which tends to be an echo chamber. I talked with some non-Disney friends who just got back from WDW and they were just happy to go on vacation.

As long as Chapek can keep some sort of staffing in the parks, Disney lucked out a bit to where they can charge whatever they want probably well into 2022, and the demand will most likely drown out any negative views. He'll keep the shareholders happy, but I don't see this as any genius leadership ... just that currently people are lining up to throw their $$$ at Disney for any excuse to vacation.

 

[mom2rtk]

Unfortunately pent up travel demand will see Disney through whatever they want to do. I mean, look at all the trips being planned right now in spite of all this. They're semi-unaccountable right now.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I agree with you ... but I also don't think there is a lot of negative reactions other than online stuff which tends to be an echo chamber. I talked with some non-Disney friends who just got back from WDW and they were just happy to go on vacation.

As long as Chapek can keep some sort of staffing in the parks, Disney lucked out a bit to where they can charge whatever they want probably well into 2022, and the demand will most likely drown out any negative views. He'll keep the shareholders happy, but I don't see this as any genius leadership ... just that currently people are lining up to throw their $$$ at Disney for any excuse to vacation.

See, i'm not sure i 100% agree here. I follow a lot of different Disney groups on Social Media, and have for a very long time. I've never seen the blow back disney is getting right now on a lot of those. I dont think its an echo chamber, however i will agree there are people that are just happy to go on vacation right now. Especially as we are coming out of a pandemic and people have money to burn.

Disney isnt the only place that people are tossing money at right now, lots of travel destinations are also. I mean, National Parks are exploding right now. People just want to get out of the house. This is temporary though.

 

[New Mouse]

See, i'm not sure i 100% agree here. I follow a lot of different Disney groups on Social Media, and have for a very long time. I've never seen the blow back disney is getting right now on a lot of those. I dont think its an echo chamber, however i will agree there are people that are just happy to go on vacation right now. Especially as we are coming out of a pandemic and people have money to burn.

Disney isnt the only place that people are tossing money at right now, lots of travel destinations are also. I mean, National Parks are exploding right now. People just want to get out of the house. This is temporary though.

Thats what makes the online world the echo chamber. Disney will not truly feel the blowback til several quarters down the line, well after the changes were made. At this point the people just handing over excess tax money because they can wilp outweigh the loss of that die hard customer.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Thats what makes the online world the echo chamber. Disney will not truly feel the blowback til several quarters down the line, well after the changes were made. At this point the people just handing over excess tax money because they can wilp outweigh the loss of that die hard customer.

Yeah, i dont disagree with that. Not only that, but if others are like me, I start to plan vacations a year out, so it wouldnt effect me for another year.

I mean, we've already started planning our family vacation for next summer. I'm a disney nerd, ive been planning disney vacations for years, so those are easy for me, this one isnt disney next year, and boy I'm lost, but i'm determined to keep going and not let that be the reason i slip back into easy disney mode.

 

[cakebaker]

I agree with you ... but I also don't think there is a lot of negative reactions other than online stuff which tends to be an echo chamber. I talked with some non-Disney friends who just got back from WDW and they were just happy to go on vacation.

As long as Chapek can keep some sort of staffing in the parks, Disney lucked out a bit to where they can charge whatever they want probably well into 2022, and the demand will most likely drown out any negative views. He'll keep the shareholders happy, but I don't see this as any genius leadership ... just that currently people are lining up to throw their $$$ at Disney for any excuse to vacation.

I don't disagree. People who visit WDW a lot forget, that despite all the changes, it's still an amazing place to those who have never been. WDW isn't catering to long term guests. They're going after the one and only visitors. So even those who go for the first time and are disappointed aren't going to be returning anyway. Disney got their money, whether they loved it or hated it. For those that love it. despite the issues, they'll be back. It's a win-win for Disney.

 

[jhglassman]

Not to the detriment of paying guests. It should be a balance between profit and quality. It’s not right now. In the short term, it’s great for shareholders though.

But ultimately the purpose of the quality from the company’s perspective is to create a valuable brand that ensures/increases future profitability and thus maximizes shareholder value.

 

[cakebaker]

But ultimately the purpose of the quality from the company’s perspective is to create a valuable brand that ensures/increases future profitability and thus maximizes shareholder value.

Of course. I've never had any illusions as to why they would want their guests to be satisfied. It's not because they love us, they just love our money. The issue is, they've discovered that at least in the short term, they can get those profits with little regard for guest satisfaction.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I don't disagree. People who visit WDW a lot forget, that despite all the changes, it's still an amazing place to those who have never been. WDW isn't catering to long term guests. They're going after the one and only visitors. So even those who go for the first time and are disappointed aren't going to be returning anyway. Disney got their money, whether they loved it or hated it. For those that love it. despite the issues, they'll be back. It's a win-win for Disney.

The only thing i'll point out, is that disney has tried to cater to the long term guests with DVC, or maybe they're more counting on locking them in long term.

 

[Karin1984]

The only thing i'll point out, is that disney has tried to cater to the long term guests with DVC, or maybe they're more counting on locking them in long term.

I don't know a lot about DVC, but this also aimed at the higher tier customers, not?

 

[ChipnDale79]

I don't know a lot about DVC, but this also aimed at the higher tier customers, not?

ehhh thats debatable. i'm not sure that's really the case, but i could be wrong on that one.

I know people that are not well off, but own DVC. For us, it just didnt make sense.

 

[Dis Dragon]

With DVC they have the money they're after up front, the yearly dues are just to cover upkeep costs and staffing. They're just taking your future lodging money now.

We never bought into DVC because we would simply need way too many points to vacation the way we want to.

 

[ChipnDale79]

With DVC they have the money they're after up front, the yearly dues are just to cover upkeep costs and staffing. They're just taking your future lodging money now.

We never bought into DVC because we would simply need way too many points to vacation the way we want to.

they're also banking on the member to keep coming back to disney every year as well. More tickets, food, and souvenirs....it "locks them in", or locks in that room for next year 50 years or so.

 

[Cygnus 2112]

Overall my family and I (as well as a friend of mine who is in a similar position) are disappointed with some of the recent changes WDW has implemented. We are both DVC/AP families and we usually go 2 times a year. We think Disney should acknowledge "frequent fliers" like us (of course we're biased lol) but sadly the approach seems to be to get the most $$ out of guests with little concern on whether these people will become repeat visitors. I understand the business side of things and I own shares in the company but they cannot lose focus on the overall experience of visiting. This is what brought Disney's parks to prominence in the first place.