Wanna buy a Fastpass? It will cost ya $50

[whiporee]

Have you compared Disney price increases with competitors’? With other luxury, leisure items? Time series data for one company doesn’t provide enough info to analyze.

Take this for what it's worth. A night in Breckenridge with snow is about $1000 for ski-in properties. Vail, Beaver Creek even more, and I don't even want to mention Aspen. Lift tickets are $140 each, and the lifts are open 9-4. Ski lessons were $900 a day for three kids, not including lift tickets. They had lunch on the mountain -- $87 for four personal pizzas, soda and fries.

A week for a family of 5 -- with discounts -- and Beaches Turks&Caicos is 16K, not including flights.

I don't think WDW is cheap, but its in line with other vacations.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Yes. This goes back to the FP- arguments, and is human nature. Everyone is fine with systems that benefit one group more than another as long as you're in the group benefitting.

FP-, you could get more FPs by being faster or more prepared. People who got more called it fair because anyone could try to be "rich" by copying those who were able to do it. Skip ahead to today. You can get more FPs by paying for Deluxe accommodations and an extra fee. It is great for those that will do so. But if you won't, you are now one of the people you would have been racing by while they stood in line before.

Give an advantage to someone else that doesn't play to one's natural strength and it's unfair. If they had said something like "more Fast Passes will be awarded to those who sign up for a special promotion" the Dis would be cheering because we'd be the most educated and our small subset of guests would detail it out to the tee and we'd all score it. We would not be thinking it's unfair, we'd be delighted to be passing others in line one more time. The unfairness would not be spoken of.

In reference to the bolded above...I won't speak for anyone else, but for me, it's a question of "can't" not a question of "won't." In no way, shape or form can I afford to stay at Deluxe resorts, plus the extra fee. Bully for those who can, and will now get an advantage over me.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I haven't read all 16 pages of comments, but I wouldn't be surprised if they're just grasping at ways to make Concierge Level worth the ridiculous prices they charge. In our (brief) experience staying concierge, there was nothing about the level of service received that was special enough to warrant the price difference between club level and a regular room. The lounge food was good but if you were to compare the service to a hotel at a similar luxury price tier, like a Four Seasons, it doesn't come close. I did a better job securing my own ADRs then the concierge staff could, for example. Mousekeeping was slow or skipped us some days. Bell Services wanted to take over an hour to deliver a bag so I went down and fetched it myself.

This option would tempt me to consider staying concierge again, especially when the new Star Wars Land opens. We take short trips and are always at a FP+ and ADR disadvantage compared to folks who stay 10+ days at the Value resorts. It's a bargain compared to getting a VIP tour. My DH loves FOP and would want to go to AK several times just for that.

 

[wgeo]

I understand why Disney is doing this, any way of making more money without really adding in something on there end is good for the company. However, I'm concerned about the effect this has on AP holders. AP holders are still only allowed to book FP at 30 days, which makes it incredibly hard to get FP for certain rides. With more people given the ability to book earlier and to book more FP that means the headliners and popular rides will have less availability for those of use relegated to 30 days status. I know that right now this is being limited to a small group of guests, but I imagine that is just as a test and that it won't be long before any onsite guest, or maybe any onsite guest at a deluxe resort will be given this option.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Perhaps I am the proverbial frog in the pot of water as it boils. I've been going to WDW since 1972 and never really considered it to be a luxury vacation. We paid $49 per night for a room at the Contemporary when a typical roadside Howard Johnson's was $25. Yes, the Contemporary was an "upgrade". But not a leap to luxury. WDW was filled with middle America (and I don't mean that in any negative way whatsoever.) If you asked the average guy walking down Main Street in 1978 if he thought he was taking a luxury vacation, the answer would be be an easy "no". But I guess that stems from the fact that there was only the MK back then and a trip to WDW was a two or three day diversion (at most--for many it was a day visit with a one night hotel stay out by Xanadu: Home of the Future) with park food and not an 8 day vacation replete with Signature Dining. So I think we need to be mindful of the notion that WDW can't be tracked over time as a luxury vacation. It wasn't always such. Somewhere along the line it became one. It was just six years ago that I booked a park view tower room in the Contemporary for $240 per night. Still not "luxury" in my book. Now, it is almost impossible to find that same room for less than $550 and in most cases, $700 which certainly counts as luxury for me now.

One might have said the same thing about decent concert tickets or football game seats. Have you priced the latter recently?

My point is that I don’t expect leisure spending items to track inflation. You’d have to look at more than just Disney prices to analyze what has gone on with pricing — you’d have to look at an industry as well. You need those comparables to draw meaningful conclusions of any sort.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

IMO, vacation itself is a luxury & was back then too. It’s not that WDW is/was a luxury vacation. There are many families that cannot or could not afford to vacation anywhere. No one is entitled to a vacation. I went to WDW once as a kid, but it with an aunt/uncle & cousin. My dad couldn’t afford to take us or to take off of work to take us. We were not impoverished by any means, but that was a luxury he couldn’t afford. I think it is still largely middle income ppl who visit. There are now just a large variety in the levels of things available. So you can make luxury if you want, but you don’t have to.

Same here. Went once at 14 and it was a stretch for our family. Vacations are a luxury in that sense — in the sense of not being a necessity — they are fully leisure spending. WDW vacations have just gotten “more luxurious”.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I agree completely with this. But somehow there is a tangent on this thread that assumes as fact that a trip to WDW is by definition a luxury.

Nomenclature. It’s a luxury as compared to a necessity. Perhaps just “leisure spending” is more apt, with the ability to make it more of a true luxury.

It WAS a “luxury” for my family to go to Disneyland just once growing up, back in 1988. Everything is relative.

I still maintain that you cannot look at Disney price increases vs inflation in a vacuum to say anything meangful. You have to look at an industry over time. How have other vacation prices fared? Other big leisure spending? Direct competitors like universal?

I haven’t done the analysis (and won’t, honestly), but you’d really need that to draw meaningful conclusions. That’s really my point.

 

[amylevan]

I might have been the first person in the thread to use the word luxury; and I meant it in the sense as "not a necessity". Vacation is a luxury item - not necessarily luxurious. So, as a luxury, not a necessity like food or gas, ticket prices do not have to follow inflation. They can be priced whatever the market can bear.

The company is not required to make WDW affordable to anyone. It's only requirement is to its shareholders - to make money and stay in business.

 

[TeresaWen]

All resorts have different classes of service available for a price. Some may not be as obvious.

We are going to Mexico in June. We choose to pay for the most exclusive of three buildings. We get access to a roof top pool and bar with better top shelf Liquor. Priority seating at dinner, a butler, and other small perks. Is if fair? Other guests of the resort look up at the pool and wonder why they get turned away at the elevator. Of course its fair. Everyone had the ability to book this tower. Some did and some did not.

Disney is absolutely fair. Everyone who makes the choice to spend their vacation there prioritized it over other destinations. And once that choice is made, All options are available if they choose to prioritize that cost over something else.

I was mad I did not end up getting a 60 day fast pass window with my deeply discounted Disney springs one bedroom suite. Then I resized it was completely my choice and in my control. I chose to spend less on my room and deal with the one fast pass that will be hard for me.

 

[focusondisney]

I might have been the first person in the thread to use the word luxury; and I meant it in the sense as "not a necessity". Vacation is a luxury item - not necessarily luxurious. So, as a luxury, not a necessity like food or gas, ticket prices do not have to follow inflation. They can be priced whatever the market can bear.

The company is not required to make WDW affordable to anyone. It's only requirement is to its shareholders - to make money and stay in business.

I get what you mean by luxury & agree with you. No one's health or welfare is endangered by NOT having a Disney vacation.

 

[TeresaWen]

I remember bring at a customer service seminar hosted by Disney. I was in the credit card industry at the time. The instructor started the session with this question: " who is Disney's competitor?" folks threw out the obvious answers like sea world and six flags.

The answer was EVERYONE

Disney is fighting for our discretionary dollars. We can choose another destination. We can choose a new refrigerator.

Clearly they are trying to lure people who spend a lot on a relaxing vacation back to Disney.

 

[Eastern]

Remember the ill-fated cabanas in MK?

What happened to those? I missed it.

 

[Magic_Man]

I might have been the first person in the thread to use the word luxury; and I meant it in the sense as "not a necessity". Vacation is a luxury item - not necessarily luxurious.

So we have the "macro", (vacations, generally, are a luxury); and we have the "micro", (luxury items don't track inflation). But the way I look at this, the micro is more important and more accurate. Going to a KOA campground, spending your day fishing at a lake is a vacation. So is skiing at Aspen, staying at the Little Nell. The cost of the former probably tracks inflation pretty solidly. (Price of the camper. Price to stay at the campground. Camping supplies. Fishing gear. Bait. Beer.) The cost of the latter probably does not track inflation. (Cost of the room. Ski equipment. Lift ticket prices. Wine.) I actually think that when it comes to tracking inflation, WDW is much closer to the former as long as you don't look at the price of a single day admission ticket and instead look at the "per day" cost of a 5 day pass. A few posts earlier, bryanb said that a $49 room at the Contemporary in 1972 equates to $290 now. The majority of rooms at WDW can be had for less than $290 per night. Sure. In order to stay apace with inflation I have to move out of the Contemporary and into, say, Port Orleans French Quarter. But a 5 day stay at POFQ coupled with a 5 day pass along with a mix of QS and TS meals is probably right on par with inflation over the past 30+ years. I am not an economist so I am guessing here. But no doubt someone will do the math.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

But no doubt someone will do the math.

I could, but I’m all “mathed out” from work.

Right now, I’m just waiting to hear from anyone who gets more details on or books this today — the day they said to call back.

 

[MrInfinity]

Here's the details.
* You have to be within 90 days from your check-out day to book this. It's not something you add now. So anyone rushing to get ahold of MS, don't worry you have lots of time unless your trip is in 60-90 days, then you'd want to be doing it now. If your check-out date is greater than 90 days from today they will not sell it to you, so don't bother calling unless you just have questions.
* You have to buy at least 3 days worth.
* You do not have to get it for everyone in your party. You can pick select people or thrillseekers.
* You do not have to get it for the entire stay. You can pick and choose days, even disconnected ones.
* They must all be made for a day on which you are staying CL that night.
* Since you're booking it w/in 90 days of your departure, they'll pick the FPs with you on the phone when you add it.
That's about it. Pretty simple.

 

[Magic_Man]

Since you're booking it w/in 90 days of your departure, they'll pick the FPs with you on the phone when you add it.

Thanks for the update. The quoted feature seems like one that is destined to change. Seems so "analog" in a techno environment. Any idea if the extra FPs will show up in your MDE app, and if they can be moved around once booked?

 

[Ronferr80]

OK so here is information I got after getting off the phone with DSS....

After being put a brief hold, they DSS Member, who sounded very uncertain, stated the following:

1) 3 fast passes (no tiers) 50pp per day
2)reserved viewing for nighttime shows (wouldn't tell me or didn't know where it will be just said that it will be roped off and cast members will assist me upon my arrival
3) everything has to be done thru DSS its not done on your MDE app and it has to be done on phone
4) does not have to be your whole stay!! min 3 days
5) could not book for me today!! told me it has to be done tomorrow on my 90th day because everything needs to be done at once, pay for experience, book fastpasses, select shows

anything I'm forgetting please ask or let me know and I can always call back but think I will be calling up tomorrow and booking

 

[MrInfinity]

Thanks for the update. The quoted feature seems like one that is destined to change. Seems so "analog" in a techno environment. Any idea if the extra FPs will show up in your MDE app, and if they can be moved around once booked?

Yeah it's a little old-school, but this will be an agent manually adding the FPs to your account. She did say they would make sure everything is available, so the intent here is really you get whatever you want for the high price. Wouldn't surprise me if the put these on your account as any-time FPs for the 3 rides you choose. It really sounds like you just call them up, pay the fee, and they'll hook you up with whatever you can imagine for 3 FPs in a day.

Oh... one more thing. They are no longer allowed to give out freebies. That's a good thing. That alone will mean that more FP's are recovered into the pool than will be bought via this. I think most CL guests used to go and beg for freebies and CMs gave them. With those gone, I think the worries about being disadvantaged for not buying this should be relaxed.

 

[Ronferr80]

I forgot to mention so if you book these three Xtra fast passes in afternoon and your original three (60 days in the morning) you can still book another after those first three are used... these Xtra three will have nothing to do with your normal way of doing fast pass

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Here's the details.
* You have to be within 90 days from your check-out day to book this. It's not something you add now. So anyone rushing to get ahold of MS now, don't worry you have lots of time unless your trip is in 60-90 days, then you'd want to be doing it now. If your check-out date is greater than 90 days from today they will not sell it to you, so don't bother calling unless you just have questions.
* You have to buy at least 3 days worth.
* You do not have to get it for everyone in your party. You can pick select people or thrillseekers.
* You do not have to get it for the entire stay. You can pick and choose days, even disconnected ones.
* They must all be made for a day on which you are staying CL that night.
* Since you're booking it w/in 90 days of your departure, they'll pick the FPs with you on the phone when you add it.
That's about it. Pretty simple.

This all sounds good except booking on the phone — that won’t stand.