xPass or Premium FASTPASS? Yes, I'm Starting ANOTHER FP Forum

[andyman8]

The premium pass works for DLP and Universal, because there are very few hotels associated with the pass. It may have worked 20 years ago at WDW, but now, there are so many hotels and resorts, that the large number of on property guest would dilute the effectiveness of the pass.

Yeah, but the rumor floating around is that this would be a benefit for ONLY deluxe resort hotel guests (and Deluxe Villa, I would presume). I agree 10 resorts is a lot, but if you cut down the # of FPs distributed, enforce end times, and limit each guest to skipping the line once, it could probably be done. Although I like this idea better than xPass, I just don't know how they would logistically do it.

 

[jujube]

Huh, interesting. I did not know there were two levels of VIP touring. I have only seen one level.

Has anyone here experienced this premium VIP touring program? Must have been amazing.

We did a few years ago and yes, it was amazing.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Actually I don't mind a seperate tier for high rollers. I don't understand why every thing needs to be "equal". Almost every vacation spot I know except for maybe federal parks (GC, yosemite) has a program catering to their high rollers.
Better believe if you go to vegas, on a cruise, fly first class, you get perks. kick out the cash at the Belligio and you darn near get the keys to the city.

So why not disney?

I would love a fp system that I could pay extra and get fotl access at every park. I have no problem with folks who kick out the extra money getting the extra perks.

If you can afford first class, go for it
If you can afford concierge, yeah I think you should get your own special floor, lounge, elevator heck I wouldn't mind if they had their own pool.

As long as they don't get rid of the old fp system andmake this in addition to it, as a bonus. Bring it on. then it is up to the consumer to decide whether it is worth the extra money or not.

I see what you are saying here, totally. But, and no flames at all, when a high roller is staying in his luxury suite with a view at the top of the tower in Vegas, his perks aren't infringing on my ability to enjoy my value room on the second floor with no view. The types of perks that these high rollers receive do not affect me at all in negative fashion. However, depending on how Disney decides to run this new program, it could have a very negative affect on many people's vacations. We use the current fastpass system no matter where we stay, on or off property, just like everybody else. If a high roller is the only one who has access to said FP's and the rest of us are standing in a stand by line of an hour wait....different story. Like I said, it all depends on how Disney decides to work the system. If they limit regular FP's but still have them available, then I don't mind getting there early to do the big ticket rides in the AM and then others later...if I even get that kind of option...kwim?

 

[luvthemouse71]

Actually I don't mind a seperate tier for high rollers. I don't understand why every thing needs to be "equal". Almost every vacation spot I know except for maybe federal parks (GC, yosemite) has a program catering to their high rollers.
Better believe if you go to vegas, on a cruise, fly first class, you get perks. kick out the cash at the Belligio and you darn near get the keys to the city.

So why not disney?

I would love a fp system that I could pay extra and get fotl access at every park. I have no problem with folks who kick out the extra money getting the extra perks.

If you can afford first class, go for it
If you can afford concierge, yeah I think you should get your own special floor, lounge, elevator heck I wouldn't mind if they had their own pool.

As long as they don't get rid of the old fp system andmake this in addition to it, as a bonus. Bring it on. then it is up to the consumer to decide whether it is worth the extra money or not.

I agree. Disney is a business after all. Businesses run on money. Plus, people can complain all they want about it here but if Disney has decided to go with this system, really not much you can do except not go.

 

[torinsmom]

I would be really sad if Disney chose to do this. Most people will never be able to afford to stay in Disney Deluxe hotel, and therefore, Fastpass would only be for the people who are affluent. I don't mind the EMH perk, or even giving onsite guests a headstart on making ADRs, but I think even Walt would be disappointed to see what boils down to class warfare at his theme parks.

I can't say I wouldn't go back to WDW if this system was instituted, but I probably wouldn't go as often, and I don't think the experience would be as great as it is now. I'm sure a lot of people would go for their first trip and be disappointed and then not return or talk it up to their friends. I imagine WDW wants to continue to have people who come back year and year, so I just don't think this will happen if this system is adopted.

 

[doconeill]

Just a reminder that X-Pass IS coming, but we do NOT know the details. The rumors have been generally either free for deluxe guess, or pay-to-play. It could be both, but we are talking a huge number of potential guests either way using it. There are likely limitations to how it can be used but we don't know any of that either.

There are no rumors of a DLP or Express Plus-like system.

As for the name, I don't think the name implies a slip of paper, but rather the ability to "bypass" the line.

And we don't even know if it will have that name when introduced. There doesn't appear to have been a trademark registered on that name.

 

[DisneyDre]

I like things the way they are.

Yes Yes Yes

 

[raidermatt]

As long as they don't get rid of the old fp system andmake this in addition to it, as a bonus. Bring it on. then it is up to the consumer to decide whether it is worth the extra money or not.

As others have mentioned, it can't simply be a bonus. Any FPs distributed (whether electronic or on paper) to certain customers in advance are coming out of the total FP pool that was available to everyone.

I'm sure that to those who still have plenty of discretionary cash leftover after paying for a WDW vacation, this sounds like a great idea. But to those who are already at or near their limit, the idea of having fewer FPs available to them is going to be a bummer.

Just a reminder that X-Pass IS coming, but we do NOT know the details. The rumors have been generally either free for deluxe guess, or pay-to-play. It could be both, but we are talking a huge number of potential guests either way using it. There are likely limitations to how it can be used but we don't know any of that either.

Granted, but I still don't feel comfortable with where it appears to be heading.

 

[d1gitman]

i choose to have faith that Disney will roll out a good, equitable and fair system. i'm sure when FP first started there were naysayers then. Heck there still are as there are many still do not know about or understand FP's.

I'm thinking they will have multiple modes of "FP'ing" utilizing current and proposed systems to provide various options based on each attractions demand.

Think about it, they have multiple ways to get photographs. You can take your own, use photopass photographer, in ride action shots that you can purchase prints and/or digital downloads, in ride action shots that can load on your photopass card, in ride emailable (spaceship earth). None of these photo options are universal to all attractions. So it may be that way with lines for attractions as well.

While many want to criticize Disney for being profiteers, not just mousketeers, i for one do believe that they look for ways to improve the customer experience and efficiency of things...which does help the bottom line.

 

[themouse1928]

1400.00 dollar flight, WDW tickets for 5 days for family of 4 = 850.00 dollars, 600.00 dollars in food for 6 day trip, 800.00 dollars for 5 night stay at moderate resort, disney pins and other stuff 200.00 dollars, and now I have to pay so I'm not stuck in a 90 minute line PRICELESS

 

[larryz]

I think they should limit attendance to resort guests, and give only the Deluxe resort guests any kind of fast pass.

 

[StarGirl11]

The premium pass works for DLP and Universal, because there are very few hotels associated with the pass. It may have worked 20 years ago at WDW, but now, there are so many hotels and resorts, that the large number of on property guest would dilute the effectiveness of the pass.

So why not make the xpass system independent of the hotels (I know that's not what Disney is looking into but it makes more sense)? Have a select number of xpasses available each day and be able to book it for the length of the stay if you choose to. Six Flags (i know I keep going back to them but I am the most experienced with their system versus Universal) has a limited amount of systems available each day (but than again they don't have onsite hotels). Most of the time they still have fast passes available for renting if you show up the day of your visit but you can also reserve them ahead of time. They have a whole center where they show you a video of how the system works for each level of flash pass and then you go pick up the pass. You carry the pass around with you all day and turn it back in (kind of have too since they require you turning in a proof of id to pick up the pass) when you leave. Of course if Disney did it separate of the hotels it would not be able to work like that.

 

[Orsino]

I'll be okay with xPass if it is an either/or choice. In other words, people who have or buy into xPass are locked out of regular Fastpass.

So everyone has access to Fastpass, but if you are special in some way, you have the option of xPass (but not both). xPass would then give some benefits, but nothing game-breaking. If a person is given access to 3-4 xPass pre-reserves, AND is locked out of regular fastpass, then the impact is quite small. The benefit is real though. Imagine reserving TSMM for the evening then not having to step foot into the studios until after dinner. It makes afternoon half-days more viable!
And by locking out of regular fastpass, the impact on other guests is minimal to none.

Oh! And park hopping! Parkhopping would actually be useful again.

 

[Mister Skellington]

1400.00 dollar flight, WDW tickets for 5 days for family of 4 = 850.00 dollars, 600.00 dollars in food for 6 day trip, 800.00 dollars for 5 night stay at moderate resort, disney pins and other stuff 200.00 dollars, and now I have to pay so I'm not stuck in a 90 minute line PRICELESS

That is both funny as heck and not funny at all.

It is NOT happening for us though. Not because I cant, because I wont.

 

[Ryansdad0727]

If they want to make more money then they just need to add a $25 per ticket charge to have FP access added to your card. For that price you can get one FP each hour. Just add it to the ticket like a PH. Tickets that don't have it will not give out FP's when they try to get one. It would be much easier than making it an app and trying to have people plan their FP's before the trip. I would pay $25 to have FP added to my ticket. And it would not discriminate between people paying for deluxe or value. Will deluxe still have free dining and the FP's system or will they get to choose. I'm a DVC member so it seems that this is one more thing taken away because we paid up front. Now Disney does not see the need to keep us happy. They already have our money.

 

[dvcdisney]

I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but I can see this as another way that Disney is driving the need to stay onsite. They have so many perks for onsite guests and I can't see why this wouldn't be another thing. They have the 10 day ADRs booking, Magical Express, EMH - all trying to get everyone to stay onsite. So I can see them using a fp system to do the same.

It would only be logical to offer based on resort category. For instance, Deluxe/DVC Deluxe Villas would get it for free, Moderate resort guests can purchase for a nominal price (possibly a discount off the regular fp price), Value resort guests can purchase it for a smaller discount off the regular price; while offsite guest can purchase it at full price unless they have an AP discount or DVC discount or FL resident discount etc.

I can see this scenerio happening since each guest has the option to purchase it. It's the same with anything. If you have a membership (ie. AP) then you can get a discount.

 

[texasteacher35]

I would pay for any premium FP or anything VIP I could get! I don't even care how much it cost (within a range) We always stay DLX, we have AP's and we are DVC and go 3-4x a year! It would be awesome!

 

[texasteacher35]

I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but I can see this as another way that Disney is driving the need to stay onsite. They have so many perks for onsite guests and I can't see why this wouldn't be another thing. They have the 10 day ADRs booking, Magical Express, EMH - all trying to get everyone to stay onsite. So I can see them using a fp system to do the same.

It would only be logical to offer based on resort category. For instance, Deluxe/DVC Deluxe Villas would get it for free, Moderate resort guests can purchase for a nominal price (possibly a discount off the regular fp price), Value resort guests can purchase it for a smaller discount off the regular price; while offsite guest can purchase it at full price unless they have an AP discount or DVC discount or FL resident discount etc.

I can see this scenerio happening since each guest has the option to purchase it. It's the same with anything. If you have a membership (ie. AP) then you can get a discount.

I agree with you, it definitely looks like that could be another thing Disney could do...but I am not trying to get anything for free, or get something else for staying at a WDW resort...I'd be willing to pay for it...it's just nice when it's not available for the whole population (I know that doesn't sound right) because then it defeats the purpose of getting a perk, when everyone is bogging down the FP lines (like now)...it's included with every ticket instead of the old days when it was only available for WDW resort guests.

 

[dvcdisney]

I would pay for any premium FP or anything VIP I could get! I don't even care how much it cost (within a range) We always stay DLX, we have AP's and we are DVC and go 3-4x a year! It would be awesome!

And as any business, Disney should reward customers/guests who put a lot of money into Disney.

As a DVC member and an AP member, we also spend quite a few vacation dollars at Disney. Each year, we spend 28 days in Disney and spending our money there. We have gone for 14 years (10 years of which has been as DVC members). Any business would reward their loyal customers. And for Disney, staying onsite is important to their bottom line.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I guess for me it would depend on what the cost would be. We own DVC and don't stay deluxe anymore.

DVC resorts are "Deluxe" resorts by definition. Just an FYI.