Ultimate goal of Fastpass+

[Laketravis]

I still say they hold back (hypothetically) 300 FP on busy days for each of the top rides. You are wondering the park being monitored by your band and it is 1:15 and you get a text : For $20 your family of four can ride Space from 2-3..press yes to accept or no to decline. You have 5 minutes to respond. This goes out to 25 people. They see who bites and the remainders go to the next group. They do this several hours throughout the day and make $1500 per ride give or take. Seems easy to do and it is the luck of the draw if you get them or not. Maybe it is based on you are spending a lot...or not enough and they want more from your pocket. Who knows. I just think it will happen.

Let's increase your hypothetical to 3,000 per day for $60,000 in new revenue per day.

Even at that number I don't think the return (around $10M a year) justifies the effort, negative pr, and impact on customer service for the rest of the guests for Disney to consider doing that.

If it applies at all parks, it's $40M a year. Double it to 6,000 per park and we get $80M a year. And that is assuming that 24,000 people a day will pay extra.

$80M to Disney is less than the cost to produce one bad movie.

Disney simply doesn't have the capacity to sell enough FP's to justify the return.

They'd have to sell most of what they have each day, leaving the rest of the guests with too small of a pool to pick from. While it's not the entire consideration, there is a remnant of egalitarian nature that Disney continues to apply to any potential change. They aren't going to risk alienating a considerable percentage of park guests.

 

[Susiequsie60]

And the separation of society by money continues.

So very sad . . . yet so very true.

 

[MickeyOCD]

What gets me is that Disney already charges more for their tix than the other parks (not single day but they don't sell a lot of those, the longer ticket pkg. are significantly more than other parks). I saw it as "even" since we didn't pay extra fir Express or FOTL passes. So it kind of evened out. AND I didn't feel like I was taken advantage of (like the other parks). So, if we are already paying a Premium price to get in the park I will NOT feel all warm & fuzzy if they want to charge me for add'l FP's. They have already reduced the value of their tix by this whole mess of a FP+ system, if they start charging like other parks do, then their value will go even lower. I do NOT pay for FOTL or Express Pass & WILL NOT pay for it at Disney when I'm already paying a higher ticket price.

 

[Robbi]

I am sure that the powers that be will ban me after this post. Here is the truth...FastPass+ is a failure. A 2 billion dollar failure. HOWEVER..this is not the final goal of Disney. MARK MY WORDS...and the lords who rule this site will ban this soon, so read quickly...Disney's ultimate goal is to sell access to rides JUST LIKE SIX FLAGS. Six Flags (I went to the one Over Georgia) sells different tiers of access. You can buy the ultimate package (more than the daily ticket) that allows you to go to the front of the line AND repeat the attraction. Disney will being doing this soon. Mark my words. I got banned from a similar site when I said 3 years ago that folks who stay at the high end resorts should get benefits. Now we are seeing the same damn thing. I am an annual ticket holder, but staying off property for the first time..and I cannot use FastPass+. Staying at Windsor Hills for 8 nights is $762..for a 3 br/2bath. I have stayed at Bay Lake Towers for 8 nights and it cost me...$14,000. I stayed at Grand Floridian last June. The balcony was covered in black mold, the fridge didn't work, and the smokers congregated below our window. NOT WORTH $600 A NIGHT. Disney is making a monkey out of people.

Many of us have expressed your feelings here-it's fine. Since you're staying offsite and saving a ton of money, I would suggest a VIP tour. That's what I plan to do in the future if I get rid of DVC which I probably will do because of the FP+ ridiculousness .We did this one holiday season when it was nearly impossible even with rope drop to experience very many attractions. We went to each of the 4 parks and she and her friends were able to ride their favorites.

 

[DizFanSLD]

My point wasn't that Disney should aspire to be Six Flags, but that there are times where Six Flags is near capacity and still is able to sell express pass. I am just saying that I don't buy the capacity issue as a reason to why they won't sell them. They can figure out a way to eek out a few hundred to sell per headliner a day to sell, giving them a potential profit of $1500 per headliner a day on busy days. WDW may be the only big park that doesn't sell this feature in some form, I just think this switch over was to make a system where people felt like they didn't have enough and be so upset that when they charge for more people are actually relieved to have the opportunity to get more even if it is by paying for them.

My reference to Six Flags was not directed at your comments, but at the OP's premise that WDW would move to a pay for pass system like Six Flags. But I still don't think that WDW will EVER have a system allowing people to pay for more access - other than the current VIP tour option, which has been in place for years. I think that, if anything, they will tier by resort. BUT, I am still of the opinion that the 3 FP+ is not a number written in stone either. I think they picked a reasonable number (from their data and perspective - I realize many her DON'T see it as a reasonable number) to make available during the rollout. I think that once they have decent data on usage and guest feedback over a decent breadth of time, capacity, etc., that they may tweak that number, or perhaps offer additional "same day" selections to resort guests, etc. Not sure what it will look like, but I am one who actually believes that the word TEST actually means that they are still TESTING the system, and have not finalized things. Heck, they tweaked FP- numerous times through the years!

 

[ArwenMarie]

They already have a program to buy unlimited Fastpass...the VIP Tour. $1800 bucks for six hours for ten people...so $180 for per person per day (well, not quite a day, half-a-day)

 

[Momtomouselover]

Several years ago Iger said the goal is to get more people to stay in the mods and deluxes by offering them more fastpasses. I remember discussing this about 2 or 3 years ago after he said it.

This fits with the new commercials focusing on deluxe and moderate resorts. More advertising, additional perks (now that they created demand) = more bookings.

Also, I don't think they are totally losing site of the day visitor. Isn't the 3-day pass at a good discount for Florida residents new? I could be wrong here but I don't recall seeing it.

 

[bruhl1j]

Everything is tiered/packaged in our commercial society.

Go buy a car, a meal, etc. Just about everything comes with an option or two. Why would Disney be any different?

I do not believe they will charge for a FP but may include it and an option like a hopper pass, etc. They will raise the price a few bucks and market it as a benefit.

Remember, along with the technology, the system has to be programmed to handle any change that is done. The good thing about the system is it will change and grow as time goes by.

Personally, I like all the advances. My family has been twice without any issues. The FP+/MB is easy, flexible, and collects the data Disney can use to make future trips fun.

I do not get all the big bad wolf talk.
JB

 

[vital]

I hope they have a "pay extra to skip lines" option. I would certainly be happy to give them my money to skip ahead of the masses.

I'm right there with you. There comes a point in life when time means more than money.....and I've reached that point. I can understand how others will be disappointed, though. If my family consisted of more than DS14 and me, I wouldn't be so quick to say I'd pay more for FOTL access.

 

[xie]

I'm right there with you. There comes a point in life when time means more than money.....and I've reached that point. I can understand how others will be disappointed, though. If my family consisted of more than DS14 and me, I wouldn't be so quick to say I'd pay more for FOTL access.

You, and everyone else - which is precisely why Disney will never offer an unlimited FOTL fast pass. They do not have the ride capacity to support the number of people who would want to buy it.

 

[vital]

And the separation of society by money continues.

That's ridiculous! I'm sick of hearing people complain because I live in a house I can afford, drive a car that I can afford and save money each month so I can splurge on a much needed vacation each year. Is it my fault I chose a career path that pays well?

Before you jump to conclusions about me, I was poor growing up and decided that I wanted more for myself and my future family. I am now a single mother and choose where to put my money. If you can't afford the things you want to do then go back to school and become a nurse. It pays well.

 

[ajfd]

They already have a program to buy unlimited Fastpass...the VIP Tour. $1800 bucks for six hours for ten people...so $180 for per person per day (well, not quite a day, half-a-day)

Similarly, 3 additional FP+ are valued at anywhere between $35 and $100 per person per day. One could simply buy an additional park ticket and use it for FP+. The value varies based on visit length ($100 for 1 day, $35 for 10).

 

[3happydancers]

Several years ago Iger said the goal is to get more people to stay in the mods and deluxes by offering them more fastpasses. I remember discussing this about 2 or 3 years ago after he said it.

Yeah, but then this does not coincide with the new FP+ system because we are now very limited.

 

[larryz]

Similarly, 3 additional FP+ are valued at anywhere between $35 and $100 per person per day. One could simply buy an additional park ticket and use it for FP+. The value varies based on visit length ($100 for 1 day, $35 for 10).

You just have to remember which band you used last time -- left or right.

 

[Planogirl]

I fully expect Disney to offer some pay to play features at some point in the future. I don't think that it will be soon but it will come.

I don't like it because I'm so used to what they've had for years. However I'd rather have the option to buy than no option at all.

 

[cbsnyber1]

Okay well, what all the others said about banning.

(I have come to realize that the much larger crowds the last couple of years at WDW were really due to the HP-WW expansion at Universal luring them to Orlando. Disney hasn't done anything differently since 2011, that they weren't doing in the years before that, to suddenly and so drastically overcrowd their parks. After HP opened is when we began noticing the huge change in crowds.)

This is an interesting theory. My observation is that a lot of people still (wrongly) consider Universal as a one or two day visit at most, so might as well drop in on one of the other parks in the area, so I see where XIE is coming from.

The magic bands are giving Disney unparalleled capability to control most everything that one can do in the parks. What we now see is just the beginning of total control of your visit - what you are willing to pay for. This is gonna be an interesting ride . . .

 

[nugov2]

Let's increase your hypothetical to 3,000 per day for $60,000 in new revenue per day.

Even at that number I don't think the return (around $10M a year) justifies the effort, negative pr, and impact on customer service for the rest of the guests for Disney to consider doing that.

If it applies at all parks, it's $40M a year. Double it to 6,000 per park and we get $80M a year. And that is assuming that 24,000 people a day will pay extra.

$80M to Disney is less than the cost to produce one bad movie.

Disney simply doesn't have the capacity to sell enough FP's to justify the return.

They'd have to sell most of what they have each day, leaving the rest of the guests with too small of a pool to pick from. While it's not the entire consideration, there is a remnant of egalitarian nature that Disney continues to apply to any potential change. They aren't going to risk alienating a considerable percentage of park guests.

PR and Customer Service cuts both ways on this feature just like the MB and FP+ in general. Some will love it some will hate it. I personally would love it and it would get me in the park. SB lines wouldn't grow anymore b/c they would be pulling from the current pool of FP allotted for the day anyway not adding more. This may not be exactly how they do it, but I'd be shocked if a pay for FP system isn't put in place in the next couple of years.

I truly believe they see the cash cow the FP can be and part of the reason they revamped. You can't take something that was free away without having backlash, so they introduce it in a much more limited way...get people to like it, but wish they had more and then poof....now you can buy more. They are following Mary Poppins advice and giving the crowds a spoon full of sugar to help the medicine go down

It may come down to it that once off site has access(which I think they will) that half of FP will be prebooked and half we be by purchase. Like I said, it will be a few years down the road, but I just don't see it going any other way. Most won't spend 1800 for their family of 4 to do the VIP, but they will spend $100 for 4 or 5 extra FP.

If they sell 6,000 FP a day per ride(so MK has currently about 16 rides that offer FP) so 96,000 FP would be $480,000 to be made at MK alone in one day in FP revenue. I doubt VIP tours bring in that kind of money. I have no idea how many FP are distributed a day for each ride so these number could be way too low or high, but I still think it is the ultimate goal.

 

[Laketravis]

PR and Customer Service cuts both ways on this feature just like the MB and FP+ in general. Some will love it some will hate it. I personally would love it and it would get me in the park. SB lines wouldn't grow anymore b/c they would be pulling from the current pool of FP allotted for the day anyway not adding more. This may not be exactly how they do it, but I'd be shocked if a pay for FP system isn't put in place in the next couple of years.

I truly believe they see the cash cow the FP can be and part of the reason they revamped. You can't take something that was free away without having backlash, so they introduce it in a much more limited way...get people to like it, but wish they had more and then poof....now you can buy more. They are following Mary Poppins advice and giving the crowds a spoon full of sugar to help the medicine go down

It may come down to it that once off site has access(which I think they will) that half of FP will be prebooked and half we be by purchase. Like I said, it will be a few years down the road, but I just don't see it going any other way. Most won't spend 1800 for their family of 4 to do the VIP, but they will spend $100 for 4 or 5 extra FP.

If they sell 6,000 FP a day per ride(so MK has currently about 16 rides that offer FP) so 96,000 FP would be $480,000 to be made at MK alone in one day in FP revenue. I doubt VIP tours bring in that kind of money. I have no idea how many FP are distributed a day for each ride so these number could be way too low or high, but I still think it is the ultimate goal.

I do agree with you they will use FP's as a "reward" for other things like what level resort you are staying at, how many times you've been to Disney, how many points you've built up on your Disney card, let your imagination run wild.... I just don't think it will be as transparent as pay $X for another. More as a "Guest Experience Management System" tool as the patent implies.

 

[LucyBC80]

What's the problem with buying Fastpass? I see absolutely no problem with that and yes, I would buy extra FP+, as long as they were not tiered.

 

[jade1]

What's the problem with buying Fastpass? I see absolutely no problem with that and yes, I would buy extra FP+, as long as they were not tiered.

I agree, and as with the thread I just started, build new headliners and allow SB or pay for FP+ to pay for the construction.

Pick 3 "old" attractions, buy as many new ones as you want for $2.99 or $4.99-maybe some $9.99 if incredible. After they are paid off-they fall into the "free" selections, but now you can pick 4, and eventually 5, 6 or 7.