State of Fast Pass Return (or replacement)

[vincep]

Now let's say you have a family of six and you have to pay for each fast pass for each person for each ride. That sound's crazy. Unless you just pay one fee per person per day. Isn't this how Universal does it? And you would have to pay for it way in advance before that day's allotment sells out. Fascinating but troubling.

 

[Zurezo]

I also don't think that we see ANYTHING when it comes to FP until after the 50th

There just has to be some FP perks to staying on site, especially after removing DME. I mean we love staying on site but if they go to paid FP only then we’ll find the cheapest off-site or use points off-site and just load up paid FP with the difference. I really think they’re taking for granted that those thousands of value rooms really only fill up at all because of the on site perks.

The perk will be you can come into the park early or stay in the park later, but you will have to Pay for the new FP+. They dont need to give it away when the people they want coming to the park all make more than $100,000/yr +.

It would make no business sense to give it away to stay onsite, when people will stay onsite with no perks at all (example being right now).

 

[Zurezo]

Now let's say you have a family of six and you have to pay for each fast pass for each person for each ride. That sound's crazy. Unless you just pay one fee per person per day. Isn't this how Universal does it? And you would have to pay for it way in advance before that day's allotment sells out. Fascinating but troubling.

I think it will be something you can add on to you ticket, like park hopping and you can still have the option to do it if you come on a day ticket.

Fun to talk about, but I get sad when I see people talking like free FP+ is coming back or that Disney is going to give them away to stay onsite. What would make you think that is anything this company has done in past 3+ years?

 

[whiporee]

Hi All, I have an FP update, courtesy of the Disney Dish with Jim Hill and Len Testa. Each has a slightly different take depending on how you listen. Len is clearly in the we will hear earlier in time for the 50th anniversary. Although its not clear if it will be implemented in time for the 50th. Jim Hill (Less reliable IMO) Thinks they will hold off on it as long as possible until middle of 2022. Both seem to think Disney will slide this news out as quietly as possible. Friday afternoon press release bundled in with something very positive in the hopes of avoiding backlash. Both are saying it will be paid not free. They did not discuss anything about onsite vs. offsite, it being partially free, or a temporary return of legacy FP or FP plus.

More guesses. Might be right, might be wrong, but nothing beyond a guess or two. That's why the ideas are so different.

I think there are a lot of people who are going to be genuinely disappointed when it comes back as it was, or maybe improved. Or an attempt at improvement, and FPs don't just turn into the money grub so many are so sure it will be.

 

[rainyvegandisney]

Now let's say you have a family of six and you have to pay for each fast pass for each person for each ride. That sound's crazy. Unless you just pay one fee per person per day. Isn't this how Universal does it? And you would have to pay for it way in advance before that day's allotment sells out. Fascinating but troubling.

Unless you're going on a very crowded day, like Christmas week, you can bet it won't sell out. It's recommended to not buy it before you get there, so you can gauge how crowded the park is before you buy it (again, unless you're going like Christmas week, 4th of July...).

 

[Narcoossee11]

Unless you're going on a very crowded day, like Christmas week, you can bet it won't sell out. It's recommended to not buy it before you get there, so you can gauge how crowded the park is before you buy it (again, unless you're going like Christmas week, 4th of July...).

I think the idea is kind of like UBER. The more popular /high demand rides will be more $, think of the E ticket rides.
Plus more $ when it us more busy. I-4 here in ORL is going to have lanes of traffic that will be that way.

 

[justdoip]

I think it will be something you can add on to you ticket, like park hopping and you can still have the option to do it if you come on a day ticket.

Fun to talk about, but I get sad when I see people talking like free FP+ is coming back or that Disney is going to give them away to stay onsite. What would make you think that is anything this company has done in past 3+ years?

I'll be thrilled if WDW doesn't give them away to onsite guests, or give some other meaningful incentive for staying onsite. That will mean I can cancel my outrageously expensive reservations and save a ton of money by staying offsite.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

I'll be thrilled if WDW doesn't give them away to onsite guests, or give some other meaningful incentive for staying onsite. That will mean I can cancel my outrageously expensive reservations and save a ton of money by staying offsite.

Not to ask the obvious: but if you feel it’s so outrageously expensive/a potentially poor value for the money, why aren’t you just booking something offsite now?

 

[justdoip]

Not to ask the obvious: but if you feel it’s so outrageously expensive/a potentially poor value for the money, why aren’t you just booking something offsite now?

Waiting to see what the situation is. If some type of FP comes back and is tied to staying onsite, then there's about a 95% chance I'll choose that route, even if the room does cost me twice as much.

 

[whiporee]

It is almost a guarantee that Disney will start charging for this service. The only questions are "How much?" and "When will it start?".

What do you base that on? Seriously? What past behavior of Disney suggests that they have ever taken a perk that was free and decided to charge for it? They've cut some things back and they've reduced some services. But I can't think of a single thing that used to be free that they then charge for.

I take that back. Resort parking. I think there's a big difference between that and something as integral as Fast Passes.

But beyond that, I've got nothing. They've added parties, but they haven't gotten rid of nights -- and it's not like they were open until midnight every night, all the time. They've created viewing areas for fireworks, but they don't require everyone else to wear blinders. Even with DME -- they may end up discontinuing the service, but as far as I can see they haven't started offering the service for a fee. So what is creating this near certainty in your mind?

I can see being frustrated nothing has been announced and I can understand that people think the parks are rough right now. I just don't see why every single thing that happens has to be extrapolated to the worst possible answer with the worst possible motivations.

 

[Eldon32]

They've cut some things back and they've reduced some services. But I can't think of a single thing that used to be free that they then charge for.

I take that back. Resort parking. I think there's a big difference between that and something as integral as Fast Passes.

Magic Bands too!

 

[mercuryvenus]

Magic Bands too!

But you don’t have to use Magic Bands. Also, you can use old ones, so really you’re paying for one every 3 years or so. Doesn’t seem too bad.

 

[Jerkytime]

IF... they do charge for it (which I can see happening with Cheapek being CEO), then I would expect to at least get some kind of express perk like the top tier annual pass at Universal has, or it's just not worth even having a Platinum pass to me anymore. The whole reservation system thing doesn't allow me to go whenever I want. But admittedly, it's easier to get a reservation now than a month ago.

 

[Karin1984]

Now let's say you have a family of six and you have to pay for each fast pass for each person for each ride. That sound's crazy. Unless you just pay one fee per person per day. Isn't this how Universal does it? And you would have to pay for it way in advance before that day's allotment sells out. Fascinating but troubling.

I wouldnt be surprised if there will be some kind of package deals. Disneyland Paris already had a paid version next to the free. There was an option for the coasters only once, and child friendly only once, and all fp rides unlimited.

And yes, they could sell out.

 

[finedice]

Did DHS yestrrday. Ropedrop to close. Took 2 QS meal breaks, and a trip to the car. We were able to ride everything one time and MMRR twice. It took some vet expertise on timing, single rider on both RnRc and MFSR, and jumping in ToT at 7:55. Longest wait was MMRR around 1pm at 70 minutes.

We used to be able to do that much in 4 hours with FP and didn't need single rider lines. Posted wait times were above 100 minutes most of the day for SDD, MFSR, TOT (hit 140 several times).

 

[New Mouse]

But you don’t have to use Magic Bands. Also, you can use old ones, so really you’re paying for one every 3 years or so. Doesn’t seem too bad.

You are paying for it every trip. They raised the rates accordingly when "free" magic bands started.

 

[Wandering Oaken]

What do you base that on? Seriously? What past behavior of Disney suggests that they have ever taken a perk that was free and decided to charge for it? They've cut some things back and they've reduced some services. But I can't think of a single thing that used to be free that they then charge for.

I take that back. Resort parking. I think there's a big difference between that and something as integral as Fast Passes.

But beyond that, I've got nothing. They've added parties, but they haven't gotten rid of nights -- and it's not like they were open until midnight every night, all the time. They've created viewing areas for fireworks, but they don't require everyone else to wear blinders. Even with DME -- they may end up discontinuing the service, but as far as I can see they haven't started offering the service for a fee. So what is creating this near certainty in your mind?

I can see being frustrated nothing has been announced and I can understand that people think the parks are rough right now. I just don't see why every single thing that happens has to be extrapolated to the worst possible answer with the worst possible motivations.

Prime parade and firework viewing spots. That's one. Magic Bands at booking time. That's two. Don't get me wrong. I hate the idea of charging for FP+. I wish they would have just left it alone and brought it back as it was before but greed is a powerful monster.

 

[mercuryvenus]

You are paying for it every trip. They raised the rates accordingly when "free" magic bands started.

I don’t understand. If you’re reusing old Magic Bands, how are you paying for it each trip?

 

[preemiemama]

What do you base that on? Seriously? What past behavior of Disney suggests that they have ever taken a perk that was free and decided to charge for it? They've cut some things back and they've reduced some services. But I can't think of a single thing that used to be free that they then charge for.

I take that back. Resort parking. I think there's a big difference between that and something as integral as Fast Passes.

But beyond that, I've got nothing. They've added parties, but they haven't gotten rid of nights -- and it's not like they were open until midnight every night, all the time. They've created viewing areas for fireworks, but they don't require everyone else to wear blinders. Even with DME -- they may end up discontinuing the service, but as far as I can see they haven't started offering the service for a fee. So what is creating this near certainty in your mind?

I can see being frustrated nothing has been announced and I can understand that people think the parks are rough right now. I just don't see why every single thing that happens has to be extrapolated to the worst possible answer with the worst possible motivations.

Extra Magic Hours- in the PM at least- have been turned into paid Early Morning and After Hours. That has been that way for several years now. And DME is most definitely being replaced with something paid- whether Disney charges or not. Paid FP is coming in some form.

 

[whiporee]

Extra Magic Hours- in the PM at least- have been turned into paid Early Morning and After Hours. That has been that way for several years now. And DME is most definitely being replaced with something paid- whether Disney charges or not. Paid FP is coming in some form.

But that's not exactly true. After Hours was never the same thing as EMH. Nighttime EMH never had the drastically reduced crowds or the exclusivity of After Hours, nor stuff like free snacks. EMM was never the same as morning EMH, and you can make the case that morning EMH has been extended from what it was pre-COVID.

And in those cases -- like with the resort parking -- we're talking about reduced benefits for resort guests. We're not talking about something that has been free to EVERYONE. It would be the equivalent of charging for the monorail. While they do have a history of changing things that could be considered for the worse, they don't have one of just sticking a price tag on something.