VIP/Golden FastPass Rumor???

[Pete W.]

DVC members do currently get a discount on premium APs, but that's it.

Actually we (DVC members) get discounts on both regular and premium APs ($100 and $125 respectively, for adult APs).

 

[BurkeTribe]

FP = reward for the impatient

In truth, the opposite seems true. I've seen it many times before: the impatient, ignorant or/and foolish (the "this ride, NOW" crowd) will hop impatiently in the long line, rather than wisely and calmly getting the Fastpass and going somewhere else to enjoy other things until the Fastpass' designated time. And, in that funny way the Known Universe has of torturing the impatient, often (at the times when we go in October/September, anyway) the FP user will be on the ride BEFORE the person who hopped right in the line at about the same time the FP person got his FP....

Not that I want to encourage more folks to use the FPs ,even though 99.99% of the people here understand them already, soooooo...

Fastpasses stink, don't use them, they are a waste of time, yeah, they're useless, yep, just junk

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Okay I don't see the problem if the benefit is limited to concierge guests. Heck, give them golden length of stay park hoppers with fastpass included in the room price. You could even let one person get as many tickets as they'd be entitled to per the room capacity. That way the concierge guest could participate in the year of dreams by giving away their extra ticket.

Don't celebrities get special treatment? Isn't that where FP's came from in the first place?

The parks aren't a place where all people are treated equally regardless of money. If all you can afford is park admission all you will get is the opportunity to ride the rides, see the shows and drink all the water you can hold from public water fountains. Giving FP's to concierge guests wont alter the landscape at all...as long as the number of concierge rooms remains relatively the same.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

But, aren't there already "castes" of guests in the parks? Have you ever experienced someone being turned away from an attraction during evening EMH? I have seen more than one CM getting their rear-end chewed by a guest who insists, "I paid good money to be in this park, and now you're telling me I cannot ride this ride because I haven't forked over BIG BUCKS to stay at one of your fancy hotels?"

Seriously, I understand that many of you would be upset over a differentiation of resort guests based on the price of their room, but how is that fundamentally different from differentiating between on-site and off-site guests. There are many people who feel that they are being "less valued" because they need to stay at an off-site $39 per night room. They are already saying that WDW should not be a place where how much money you have to spend determines your wait times at the rides....but no one who posts here seems to have a problem with EMH for WDW guests.

Why is differentiating between WDW resort guests different from differentiating IN THE PARKS between those who stay on and off site? Everyone spent the same to be in the parks at that time. It seems there is a bit of a "double standard" going on.

Non-resort guests are not denied entrance to parks, for the non-resort guest turned away from an attraction during EHM the park for him is technicly closed. EMH do not take away from any guests experience during normal hours, yes on EMH days that park may be a little more crowed but that effects everyone. If golden-fastpasses were purchaseable then guests who did not purchase them would have to wait considerably longer. Currently FP's are limited to blocks of time and do not effect the normal lines, if tons of golden FP's were sold it would also make the fastpass line considerably longer thus possibly ruining the whole concept of FP.

Guests at the value resorts are hardly paying "BIG BUCKS" and get the same benifits during EMH. No one is "less valued" because they stay off-site. If someone wants to stay in a value comparied to staying in a $39 motel offsite the extra money you pay is basicly what you would save on not getting a rental car, or else I think only a few extra hundred dollars to stay at an all-star resort comparied to the motel 6 is not that much comparied to whole amount a vaction costs. Guests off site spend the same on park tickets, the same if not less on food eating out side of the parks, airfare is the same, souviners cost the same.

I do see your point about what you call a "double-standard" but you are making an incorrect comparission between attraction lines during regular park hours and EMH.

normal park hours + tons of guests with golden FP's = Long lines for every one

normal park hours + the current fast pass system = the opportunity for all guests who wish to take advantage of FP to get on headliners quickly

EMH - non WDW resort guests = non WDW guest not missing anything they paid for

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

The offsite guest is now getting fewer park hours for the ticket they paid the same amount for as the onsite guest. The "normal" park day appears to be shorter in order to accomodate EMH. This seems a bigger slam on the daytripper than a golden fastpass would ever be.

 

[raidermatt]

Actually we (DVC members) get discounts on both regular and premium APs ($100 and $125 respectively, for adult APs).

You are, of course, correct.

The offsite guest is now getting fewer park hours for the ticket they paid the same amount for as the onsite guest. The "normal" park day appears to be shorter in order to accomodate EMH. This seems a bigger slam on the daytripper than a golden fastpass would ever be.

That's a valid arguement. Whether it proves correct would be determined by how widely the "golden FPs" were used by Concierge guests (or whoever). The point is, however, they are both slamming off-site guests, who paid the same price to get in the park. Anything for concierge only slams off-site and all other on-site guests.

The parks aren't a place where all people are treated equally regardless of money. If all you can afford is park admission all you will get is the opportunity to ride the rides, see the shows and drink all the water you can hold from public water fountains.

That sounds pretty equal to me. There's use of the facilities and common areas, which are also equal to all. There's also the use of FP, which is currently equal as well.

So yeah, it is pretty equal.

EMH throws that off, as you point out. I suppose package delivery to Disney resorts does as well, in an extremely small way, but thats a practical matter as much as anything. "Premium" FPs would only serve to throw things further off.

I understand the desire to fill hotel rooms, but there are other ways to do this without alienating a group of park guests (off-site, non-concierge) who are critical to your success. Its a dangerous game to play.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

The offsite guest is now getting fewer park hours for the ticket they paid the same amount for as the onsite guest. The "normal" park day appears to be shorter in order to accomodate EMH. This seems a bigger slam on the daytripper than a golden fastpass would ever be.

How so? EMH is not every night or day at every park. This week at Epcot for example every day Future World is open from 9 am - 7 pm with only EMHM on tues and EMHE on Friday, WDW resort guests only get 4 more hours then other guests at Epcot. I don't see how normal park hours are shortened.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

EPCOT's a bad example because its hours have been consistent due to the number of restaurants there. As an off season traveler I've noticed the hours at MK have gotten shorter...for example in January or early Feb. MK and WS used to have comparable hours with MGM and AK closing earlier during the softer seasons. In recent years MK has closed earlier than the WS during those times. Just my observation. Is that due to EMH? I think EMH is a way of mitigating the shortened hours for resort guests.

 

[raidermatt]

How so?

The resources used for EMH could be used for longer regular hours.

Hours have been shortened in general over the last 7 years or so, so its hard to tie it to EMH. But from a resource allocation pov, its pretty clear that its a choice.

Whether its the right choice is the question, of course.

 

[Dsnyfam]

Today you can do something similar to what you are talking about at Universal Studios Florida. Not at Disney.

Do you mean you can actually buy the pass, without having to stay at one of their Loews hotels? I thought it was only available to guests staying on property (at least that's what the cm's told me when I called to reserve our room)! Dang it---I hate when this happens! So, we can actually stay at WDW and visit US/IOA using the pass we buy? Where and how can we get one, and how much are they?

On the subject of getting turned away from EMH for guests not staying on-property:
We were waiting in line in AK, (long-long line), when the group of about 15 people in front of us (Katrina people--we chatted with them while we waited) were turned away. They were extremely upset--and tried to reason with the CM's. There was no budging. These CM's (there were three in this line) were not interested in the reasons, etc. They asked them to leave the park as it was now closed to the general public. They just kept repeating it, and told them at one point to "step aside" (so they could give us our wrist bands which was horribly uncomfortable).

Two of the little kids began crying loudly, and asking what was happening? The older CM asked one of the group if he wanted to see "security" (threat)? It was not a good scene--and we said goodbye to them and hurried away (not wanting to see security or the ending to this one). We talked about it all night. For the life of us--we could not see any other way to handle this? The CM's remained calm, and tried to explain the rules--etc. People behind us were growing impatient and complaining rudely out loud (saying, "Go home, Next time stay Disney like the rest of us, or--you have to pay to play"). They were really nice people too. I would not want to be a CM working that detail!

BTW--some of the off-property hotels near DTD are considered "Disney" hotels and offer transportation, etc. Are these hotels included in EMH? There are some expensive hotels located off-property (Peabody and the Gaylord Palms near AKL), where guests may even pay more than the All Stars or other less-expensive Disney hotels. I can definitely see Raidermatt's point on this one. Disney may alienate guests by continuing this practice---especially the gold FP for concierge. This level of hotel stay is limited (in rooms). So even if people wanted to do it--they may not have the opportunity. It will become like breakfast at Cindy's--where you have to call a year in advance to get a table!

 

[daber]

Getting back to the orignial topic....the "Golden Fastpass" was talked about by a "suit" over the PA system at the Pin Event in EPCOT last week when describing the new marketing "Year of Dreams" promo. So it sounds like this may happen. Also heard a rumor that a family would get picked to be grand marshall in each Disney parade in each Disney Park. An 11 park whirlwind vacation (4 FL, 2 CA, 2 Tokyo, 1 HK, 2 DLPR)

 

[DisneyMama27]

We were just there last week (so sad, miss it already) and I saw some of the "Dream FastPasses" around some guests' necks (on lanyards) They appeared to be good for just one park, since the ones I saw said "Animal Kingdom Dream FastPass" and one for MGM as well.

About EMH, I can't understand how people are thrown by this - it seems like they lay it out pretty clearly, but maybe that's just me. We have sometimes used it, sometimes not, since our children are young. We did stay at MK until midnight last week and it was one of our best times! True, less busy time of year, but we had shorter waits, the sun wasn't beating on us and it was just less crowded! IMO if I was there during a busy season I would take advantage of EMH to visit a less-busy park that day!

We joined DVC during our trip, and our helpful CM gave us "instant fast-pass cards." We could slip them in the fast pass machine and get FPs starting that minute! We only got 3 rides/park and it was our last day! As much as we wanted to take advantage of it, we didn't - kids wanted to go back and swim, and who could blame them? We used them at EPCOT but only used 2 rides before deciding to leave. So DH used the 3rd "scan" at Soarin' and gave them to a family entering the Standby line. (don't flame me - just wanted to perform a RASK!) Anyway, I thought it was a nice perk, but I do hope they don't start charging for it (one way or another). I like FP the way it is and have no prob with giving out the "magic/dream/instant/golden" one randomly!

 

[lovemickeyshouse]

i was offened they only pick families for giveaways it was me and my gf and we did not get picked for anything but i did get a cm only pin from one of the cm's so that made my day and i spend lots at disney world been there 4 times in 2 yrs and always shop till i drop

 

[Lewisc]

Universal discontinued free express passes. Universal hotels guests get to use the express line by showing their room key. Other guests can purchase an express pass but the pass you purchase only lets use the entrance once per attraction. The price varies, I think it's around $30. Multiply that by the number of people in your party and then by 2 (assuming you want one for each park) and you're not saving much over staying in one of the Loews hotels.

HHN has three classes of guests. The regular guest who waits on an hour plus line for each haunted house. The guest who pays an extra $30-$50 you gets to wait on the express line. Basically a 10-20 minute wait. Finally the VIP (RIP) line for guests who pay around $100 extra. No wait and a reserved seats for the shows.

Do you mean you can actually buy the pass, without having to stay at one of their Loews hotels? I thought it was only available to guests staying on property (at least that's what the cm's told me when I called to reserve our room)! Dang it---I hate when this happens! So, we can actually stay at WDW and visit US/IOA using the pass we buy? Where and how can we get one, and how much are they?