VIP fast passes for DVC members?

[kristytru]

There's a thread about this on the rumors board...anyone have any info?

 

[Chuck S]

I doubt this will come to pass, unless it is extended to all WDW guests at deluxe resorts. The fastpass system has always had the capability to offer different perks/passes based on resorts/ onsite off-site, etc. but it has never been utilized.

It would of course, mean using your room key for the passes rather than strictly your park entry pass, as many DVCers have APs or keep their ticket media separate from their room keys.

 

[Brian Noble]

I would expect it to be rolled out to cash guests before DVC. Disney already has the Member's money---they're coming back next year either way. The cash guest has to be sold over and over every year.

 

[gkrykewy]

Now THERE's something I can really get behind. Dare to dream!

 

[hellerjw]

How about something like AFRs (Advanced Fastpass Reservations) for deluxe & DVC owners! Another major perk, another selling point to prospects.

You could reserve times at whatever attraction you want (with certain limits per day) online or over the phone, show up at the park with pre-booked FastPasses in hand and enjoy your day until the FastPass time comes around. They could require you to be in the park something like 60 minutes ahead of your scheduled time or drop you (to keep you from just booking a bunch of stuff and never showing) and release the "no shows" back to the general public. They could even require you to book these at least 48 hours (or more) in advance, giving them some way to gauge future activity at an attraction.

It may be wishful thinking but that's what Disney is all about, right?

 

[sean-1966]

I heard this rumour a while ago. DVC and deluxe resorts would have some Fastpass privileges like shorter wait time. Kinds of goes against Walts dream I think.

 

[Chuck S]

Personally, I think it would be easier, and possibly cheaper for Disney, to simply issue something like the the dream fastpasses (one per park per person) when you check-in at the desk. A maximum of one dream fast pass per park if your stay is 4 nights or more, and if your stay is less than 4 nights, then just passes for 3 parks, 2 parks, etc. They wouldn't need to use fairly expensive cardboard and lanyard type, just an inexpensive booklet of coupons.

 

[Califgirl]

I've heard this rumor myself, and this is why I think some form of it has credence: AAA packages no longer offer the 'unlimited fastpass'. It seems that each program (i.e. unlimited fastpasses) can only be offered by one entity, and when AAA's fastpass contract was up, Disney did not let them renew it. I have HEARD (from my guide), that they are hoping that DVC will be able to snag that amenity for DVC members. If so .. woo hoo!

So, I do think there is hope. However, I have no idea what form it will take ... every DVC villa gets it added to their room key? You get it from taking a preview, or from adding on??? who knows.

 

[mrsR123]

How about something like AFRs (Advanced Fastpass Reservations) for deluxe & DVC owners! Another major perk, another selling point to prospects.

You could reserve times at whatever attraction you want (with certain limits per day) online or over the phone, show up at the park with pre-booked FastPasses in hand and enjoy your day until the FastPass time comes around. They could require you to be in the park something like 60 minutes ahead of your scheduled time or drop you (to keep you from just booking a bunch of stuff and never showing) and release the "no shows" back to the general public. They could even require you to book these at least 48 hours (or more) in advance, giving them some way to gauge future activity at an attraction.

It may be wishful thinking but that's what Disney is all about, right?

Yikes! Be careful what you wish for!! I have a hard enough time deciding where to eat and which park to visit without going all-commando-mode; I cannot imagine having to figure out what I want to ride, too!!

 

[disney junky]

I think some of the guides or ASA's give out something like this as incentive to tour.

 

[keishashadow]

this idea received a patent a few years ago (as reported here)

system of obtaining FPs electronically in room based upon $ level/category of onsite guests

while i'm sure the imagineers are sitting on a mt of ideas, this one is intriguing and would be an incentive for guests who are spoiled by the FOTL perc @ Universal onsite hotels

Simpsons ride is nigh, new coaster is coming & HP is right around the corner...they have to keep it fresh

 

[Disneyhappy]

Personally, I think it would be easier, and possibly cheaper for Disney, to simply issue something like the the dream fastpasses (one per park per person) when you check-in at the desk. A maximum of one dream fast pass per park if your stay is 4 nights or more, and if your stay is less than 4 nights, then just passes for 3 parks, 2 parks, etc. They wouldn't need to use fairly expensive cardboard and lanyard type, just an inexpensive booklet of coupons.

OMG! I LOVE this idea!!!!!

 

[doconeill]

I've heard this rumor myself, and this is why I think some form of it has credence: AAA packages no longer offer the 'unlimited fastpass'. It seems that each program (i.e. unlimited fastpasses) can only be offered by one entity, and when AAA's fastpass contract was up, Disney did not let them renew it. I have HEARD (from my guide), that they are hoping that DVC will be able to snag that amenity for DVC members. If so .. woo hoo!

So, I do think there is hope. However, I have no idea what form it will take ... every DVC villa gets it added to their room key? You get it from taking a preview, or from adding on??? who knows.

The AAA "Enhanced" Fastpass was a feature at DL only, and I believe it was discontinued more than a year ago, although I'm not totally up on DL stuff.

My though on why this would be offered to DVC guests, on the whole "spending money" theory: Yes, they already have my money for the room up front. However, that means that in theory I have more spending money per trip - I don't have to worry about how much I paid to stay where I'm staying. So, if they can keep me moving around, giving more time to explore the shops instead of spending two hours in line at Soarin', I think they'd like that.

 

[Inkmahm]

The AAA "Enhanced" Fastpass was a feature at DL only, and I believe it was discontinued more than a year ago, although I'm not totally up on DL stuff.

No wonder I've never heard of it. How did it work?

 

[ranthony]

I sure would love it, but I doubt it would have anything to do with DVC being concerned about our perks (after all, they already have our money, as others have stated) and much more to do with marketing.

Think of the advertisement this could create!

I'm staying at a CRO hotel in the value or mod. category and every time I turn on my TV I'm prompted to order my "deluxe" fastpasses ahead of time as long as I'm staying in a deluxe or DVC room. Man, you can bet I'd be a bit more enticed to stay deluxe or look into DVC!

I haven't actually crunched the numbers but DVD has got to be making $ hand over fist from DVC. It seems to be growing almost too fast. Going back to the opening of OKW I wonder what % of rooms added on-site were for CRO and what % have been for DVC. I don't know what years which resorts were built, but it sure seems like DVC has been adding more. (Anyone out there have any data on this?)

This would be another way to get those that close their ears to anything "timeshare" to drink the kool-aid.

 

[Maribel]

I would expect it to be rolled out to cash guests before DVC. Disney already has the Member's money---they're coming back next year either way. The cash guest has to be sold over and over every year.

I think most of the perks DVC member get are a way of showing future buyers the nice things they can get when they buy, not necesarily to keep the ones it already has, although a happy customer will always be a good reference anyway.
I'm staying at DL Hotel in Paris this next week and one of the perks we get is a one attraction fast pass per person per night. We get vouchers that we can use at any time for any attraction.
In WDW the implementation has to be different, give the large amount of hotel rooms and guests staying onsite, but something like that would not be a bad idea for DVC to get for its members.

 

[mattfusf]

I think some of the guides or ASA's give out something like this as incentive to tour.

We went on a tour back in December and each received this. It was a card that looked like a park ticket and had 3 "instant" fastpasses each. When we put this card in the FP machine instead of our ticket, the machine would spit out a FP for way ahead of the return time on the signs. (usually within an hour, in one case it was "right now")

This would be a cool perk to get on a DVC trip too!

Matt

 

[salmoneous]

Keep in mind that FP only "works" if you limit the number of people who can get them. You start handing out too many "supplimental" fast passes and pretty soon the FP line is no shorter than the regular one.

 

[FLYNZ4]

I personally believe that fast passes have made it much harder to effectively tour WDW. Don't get me wrong... when we want to... we can be the very best park commandos out there.

Prior to the FP system... it was pretty trivial to understand the queing theory, throughtput, and capacity of the rides... and then using that knowledge to pretty much walk on to rides without ever waiting in any lines. Of course... many people did not understand that at all... so they waited in lots of lines. Now with the fast passes... it throws a big monkey wrench into the mix. Of course we use the FP's optimialy to our advantage... but they do more to harm a park commando than they do good.

Unlimited FPs do change that problem significantly. Even having 1 extra "free FP" per day can make a huge difference. I agree with the previous poster that giving unlimted fast passes to "all of DVC" would probably be a bigger pill than the parks could swallow. OTOH... giving just one extra FP a day to DVC members would be a big advantage... and could probably be absorbed by the system. Another option would be reduced waitimes for subesquent FPs. That would also be a big help.

Having said all of this... FPs are HUGE marketing windfall that Disney has successfully created. The VAST majority of people will look at Fast Passes as something that help them out... so even if it doesnt really help... Disney has created a greater perceived value to the guests.

I also agree with the poster who stated that IF WDW was to offer special FP's to all DVC members... that their motivation would be to build a perceived value for prospective DVC members... rather than a perk because they like exisiting DVC members.

/Jim

 

[d-r]

I heard this rumour a while ago. DVC and deluxe resorts would have some Fastpass privileges like shorter wait time. Kinds of goes against Walts dream I think.

I love Uncle Walt, too, but make no mistake - he was every bit a capitalist, not a socialist.