Suddenly trying to remember how FP+ works, tiers, priorities, timing...

[Heather07438]

I do really wish FP+ was back. We'll be at WDW in 19 days and I'm not liking what I'm seeing right now for wait times. I also loathe the idea of being forced back into being rope droppers so we can hit the uber popular rides with short waits.

Dan

Yeah why did they bring back the old miserable rope drop? Didn’t seem necessary.

They way they’ve been doing it the past year is far superior than being herded like cattle. Does anybody enjoy that experience

 

[Disneychick75]

K, so from what I'm understanding from this thread, no advance ride/attraction FPs, are available ahead of time even if a guest stays on site?

It's been 3 years since my last trip and I'm confuzzled.

 

[Heather07438]

K, so from what I'm understanding from this thread, no advance ride/attraction FPs, are available ahead of time even if a guest stays on site?

It's been 3 years since my last trip and I'm confuzzled.

The past year since reopening FP has not been used. Everything is standby now except for the virtual queue RotR (new StarWars ride).
No word from WDW yet as to when FP will return or if there will be changes to the system.

 

[Disneychick75]

The past year since reopening FP has not been used. Everything is standby now except for the virtual queue RotR (new StarWars ride).
No word from WDW yet as to when FP will return or if there will be changes to the system.

Thank-you!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

This has been confirmed for DLP but not announced for WDW. Just because something is happening at DLP does not mean it will happen (or happen in the same way or structure) at WDW, especially because they are two very different parks. I wouldn't be surprised to see some paid component to FP but it's too early to say that it's coming soon to WDW.

THIS. Exactly this. Here is the breakdown of FastPass systems at Disney parks around the world. Note that no two properties have exactly the same system.

California = FastPass (paper) and MaxPass (digital). A predominantly local audience. 20 attractions available. Two parks at the resort. A free option and a low cost digital option. Both allow same day access to passes.

Tokyo = FastPass (Digital and paper) and Standby Virtual Queues. 18 attractions available. A predominately local audience. Two parks at the resort. Resort guests can get a set number of paper “anytime, any attraction” passes as part of booking a package. Both allow same day access to passes. Standby virtual queue works in the same way as Rise of the Resistance boarding passes. A virtual queue that uses a lottery system. Not all guests that want to access can, but it is random chance.

Shanghai = Disney Premier Access, in place since Mar 2017. 8 attractions available. A local and tourist audience. One park at the resort. A single pass is 120 Chinese Yuan or about $18 USD. A pass set of 8 for 660 Chinese Yuan or about $100 USD. Allows only same day access.

Hong Kong = FastPass (paper). A local and tourist audience. 3 attractions available. One park at the resort. Scan your ticket at kiosks at the attractions and obtain a paper FastPass. Free to access. Same day access only.

Paris = Disney Premier Access and Standby Virtual Queues. 10 attractions available. A local and tourist audience. Two parks at the resort. Passes will now cost between 8-15 euro ($9.50 - 18 USD) per attraction. Free standby virtual queues will be available as well.

Florida = Unsure. Previously FastPass+ (Digital). A predominantly tourist audience. 65 attractions available. Four parks at the resort. Resort guests could book 60 days in advance. Annual passholders and day guests could book 30 days in advance.

Looking at those options: WDW is an entirely different resort than any of the other properties worldwide. And no two properties use the same system. Not even Shanghai and Paris, as DPA is different at each park.

 

[tinkerhon]

THIS. Exactly this. Here is the breakdown of FastPass systems at Disney parks around the world. Note that no two parks have exactly the same system.

California = FastPass (paper) and MaxPass (digital). A predominantly local audience. 20 attractions available. Two parks at the resort. A free option and a low cost digital option. Both allow same day access to passes.

Tokyo = FastPass (Digital and paper) and Standby Virtual Queues. 18 attractions available. A predominately local audience. Two parks at the resort. Resort guests can get a set number of paper “anytime, any attraction” passes as part of booking a package. Both allow same day access to passes. Standby virtual queue works in the same way as Rise of the Resistance boarding passes. A virtual queue that uses a lottery system. Not all guests that want to access can, but it is random chance.

Shanghai = Disney Premier Access, in place since Mar 2017. 8 attractions available. A local and tourist audience. One park at the resort. A single pass is 120 Chinese Yuan or about $18 USD. A pass set of 8 for 660 Chinese Yuan or about $100 USD. Allows only same day access.

Hong Kong = FastPass (paper). A local and tourist audience. 3 attractions available. One park at the resort. Scan your ticket at kiosks at the attractions and obtain a paper FastPass. Free to access. Same day access only.

Paris = Disney Premier Access and Standby Virtual Queues. 10 attractions available. A local and tourist audience. Two parks at the resort. Passes will now cost between 8-15 euro ($9.50 - 18 USD) per attraction. Free standby virtual queues will be available as well.

Florida = Unsure. Previously FastPass+ (Digital). A predominantly tourist audience. 65 attractions available. Four parks at the resort. Resort guests could book 60 days in advance. Annual passholders and day guests could book 30 days in advance.

Looking at those options: WDW is an entirely different resort than any of the other properties worldwide. And no two properties use the same system. Not even Shanghai and Paris, as DPA is different at each park.

Great post !! Thanks for taking the time !!

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

I wouldn't waste my time trying to figure it out. The odds that the fastpass system that returns is exactly the same as the one that was there prior to closure are not great. At the very least, there will be some changes and I'm expecting some sort of hybrid situation that includes both a free component that isn't as "good" as what was previously available and a paid component that is better but $$$.

 

[Heather07438]

I wouldn't waste my time trying to figure it out. The odds that the fastpass system that returns is exactly the same as the one that was there prior to closure are not great. At the very least, there will be some changes and I'm expecting some sort of hybrid situation that includes both a free component that isn't as "good" as what was previously available and a paid component that is better but $$$.

I’ve been thinking the same.

But now it’s possible WDW is cornered by 2 things, the need to protect guest experience as capacity increases and having the new system not ready to roll yet. They might decide to bring back FP+ in its old form out of sheer necessity.
I’d love to know what a hybrid looks like. For our Sept trip should we be rooting for FP+, new hybrid, or it still being nothing at all? Lol

 

[jerry557]

Unfortunately it seems that the days of free FP+ are over . I would expect that the Premier Access Pass system that was just announced for Disneyland Paris is coming soon to both WDW and DL . Bob "Paycheck"...I mean Chapek continues to monetize everything he can and destroy everything he can that made Disney different and special . May as well be Universal or Six Flags...other than the IP's there won't be much difference by the time Mr. Paycheck is done with his changes

This will keep happening until people have had enough and stop going. That's the reality. Money will be the only thing that changes things.

It sucks, but it's basic capitalism. If they keep raising prices and charging for every perk and benefit and people continue to book trips like crazy and max out the credit cards, it will never change. Disney continues to raise praises and people keep pouring in. So why lower it? Why be concerned about whether it's "affordable?" If it becomes a resort for only the rich, what do executives care? They don't.

 

[coolbrook]

Hello again everybody!
Thank you for all your responses. I love thinking about my upcoming trips, what I will ride, where we will eat, what entertainment we might enjoy. Its all fun for me. So thinking about what I will do if they do bring back FP+ temporarily isn't a waste of time, its a fun "what if" puzzle. Sometimes I even plan imaginary trips that I know I can never take just for the fun of it. I'm weird that way. Anyway, I just wanted to have in mind which rides I would want to try to get FP+ for if it came back for our August or November trips.

Am I remembering correctly that MFSR never had FP+? It seems like most of the tier 2 things at HS aren't even open right now. I remember liking FP+ the most at MK and then for one or two rides at the other parks. I like to wake up early and love the rope drop time of day for lots of reasons including the weather, the excitement of the morning, and lower waits at many rides, but I walk very slowly with a rollator so those crowd crushing rushes to the big rides like FOP, Mine Train, and Test Track aren't really feasible for me any more. I hope we will have something, at least for our November trip, to help with the waits for a few of those.

 

[Heather07438]

Am I remembering correctly that MFSR never had FP+?

MFSR was added to FP around Jan 2020 but it was only a couple months before closure. MMRR opened March 4 and offered FP from the start. HS finally had a great selection of FPs and then boom! World changed.

I’m definitely pleased with how HS turned out. It was a rough few years after April 2016 when so much got removed to make way for SW and TS Lands. The only rides that really needed FP were all in Tier 1 for a while, which kinda made it a 1 FP park. HS is so much fun now! Makes suffering thru 2017-2019 worth it. Now Epcot is in that awkward stage of transition.

 

[coolbrook]

MFSR was added to FP around Jan 2020 but it was only a couple months before closure. MMRR opened March 4 and offered FP from the start. HS finally had a great selection of FPs and then boom! World changed.

I’m definitely pleased with how HS turned out. It was a rough few years after April 2016 when so much got removed to make way for SW and TS Lands. The only rides that really needed FP were all in Tier 1 for a while, which kinda made it a 1 FP park. HS is so much fun now! Makes suffering thru 2017-2019 worth it. Now Epcot is in that awkward stage of transition.

Oh, I didn't realize they both had FP+ just before the closure. Can you tell me what was in tier 2 at HS just before the closure? Thank you!

 

[Heather07438]

Oh, I didn't realize they both had FP+ just before the closure. Can you tell me what was in tier 2 at HS just before the closure? Thank you!

Smugglers Run, Slinky Dog and MMRR were Tier 1.

TSMM, RNRC, ToT we’re in Tier 2 along with everything else like StarTours, Alien Saucers, Muppets and all the other shows.

 

[coolbrook]

Smugglers Run, Slinky Dog and MMRR were Tier 1.

TSMM, RNRC, ToT we’re in Tier 2 along with everything else like StarTours, Alien Saucers, Muppets and all the other shows.

Wow, that sounds pretty good! Thank you! I guess I was remembering tiers from before all those recent Tier 1 rides were opened and it was pretty meager choices in tier 2.

 

[Heather07438]

Wow, that sounds pretty good! Thank you! I guess I was remembering tiers from before all those recent Tier 1 rides were opened and it was pretty meager choices in tier 2.

It was pretty sad for a long time before all the new rides came along.

TSMM RNRC and ToT were Tier 1. But those also were the only rides that really made a big difference with FP. It’s crazy to think how hard TSMM was to ride. That ride was the ropedrop ride like FoP

 

[Davey Jones II]

Agreed - any sort of pay per ride system at WDW would basically destroy it for me and I think destroy what makes Disney different. And of course it will be accompanied by press releases about how much of a benefit it will be to increase the cost per family by $500 per day in the park (which is a fair estimate if this remotely resembles the DP system). The silence on the return of FP to WDW has been deafening in light of how almost everything else has been announced in one way or another. At one point the people who ran Disney understood that at some point monetizing every penny you can was not their goal - it was a place everyone could go to for "magic". The path away from that has been accelerating at a greater pace every year.

$500 per day sounds unlikely. I think it would depend on how copiously you use the new system. You could choose to use it selectively, for certain rides which are high priority for you, while using every trick in the book to get the other rides that you want (and I'm sure that Disboard experts will write that "book").

 

[Davey Jones II]

Agreed - any sort of pay per ride system at WDW would basically destroy it for me and I think destroy what makes Disney different. And of course it will be accompanied by press releases about how much of a benefit it will be to increase the cost per family by $500 per day in the park (which is a fair estimate if this remotely resembles the DP system). The silence on the return of FP to WDW has been deafening in light of how almost everything else has been announced in one way or another. At one point the people who ran Disney understood that at some point monetizing every penny you can was not their goal - it was a place everyone could go to for "magic". The path away from that has been accelerating at a greater pace every year.

I agree, but I don't think that Disney can do anything about it. They are the "victim" of their own success. The Disney parks are so massively popular that they are mobbed all year (pre- and post-COVID) no matter how many price jumps they institute. You mention "it was a place everyone could go for "magic."" Well, that's exactly the problem; it seems that everyone is going!

There's also the outrageous costs involved in building and running these parks. Several years ago, they spent $100 million just to build a D Ticket ride (Little Mermaid). It costs over a billion $ to build a new land ($1.3 billion for Pandora). When a single animatronic can go for $10 million (the Na'vi Shaman), Disney has to monetize everything in sight (and losing billions during the pandemic only accelerates this process).

 

[KrzyKtty101]

Agreed - any sort of pay per ride system at WDW would basically destroy it for me and I think destroy what makes Disney different. And of course it will be accompanied by press releases about how much of a benefit it will be to increase the cost per family by $500 per day in the park (which is a fair estimate if this remotely resembles the DP system). The silence on the return of FP to WDW has been deafening in light of how almost everything else has been announced in one way or another. At one point the people who ran Disney understood that at some point monetizing every penny you can was not their goal - it was a place everyone could go to for "magic". The path away from that has been accelerating at a greater pace every year.

I really do get everything you said in this post, and the concept of having to pay for every fastpass my family uses separately is a bit much. That being said, considering how much money the Disney Corporation lost across all spectrums last year due to COVID, I can't blame them for considering how to quickly start recouping costs. Since the parks are still not at full capacity, nickel and dimeing those that are paying to go is the quickest option for them. Not saying this is "right," but from the concept of a business right now, I get it. Theaters across the world are still not bringing in revenue the same, if at all, so their movie revenue is hurting. The parks are still not bringing in revenue the same.

Not that I think what is going on is all due to COVID. At the end of the day, Disney has been doing these sort of things for a while. However, I do think COVID is playing its part right now in their decisions on what to charge and how.