From what I've seen in the past and I'm not an expert by any means...it very much depends on when you visit. We've had many rides as walk ons with just short standby lines, and we've seen crazy long standby's with short ep lines. And regarding "necessary"...imho that is very much in the eyes of the beholder. For us...we wouldn't "park" at U without it so for us it is necessary.
I am not concerned with paying extra for additional FP in theory, but in practice this may become problematic for a lot of people. Right now Disney is "testing" the waters, IMO, and looking at more than how CL guests respond to this. They have expanded the pool of guests who are able to book FP 60 days in advance, and I believe that this is a response to the number of complaints that folks are making if they cannot get onto the new attractions in DAK> so the good neighbors are not included in the 60 day window. How do they respond when resort guests cannto get FP onto the new attractions in DHS when they are open? They begin to address that issue now, and by the time the new lands open, there will be a 90 day window open for resort guest willing to pay the price for their 3 FP, the special viewing areas wil no longer be available. I honestly think that there will still be hard to get FP, no matter that by then we will all be willing to pay for play, and folks who have waited to have their trip when the new lands open are going to be socked with an additional bill they will gladly pay. We have a trip planned in December with a first time visitor. I bet by then, if we need to buy those FP privileges I will, and that shocks me. You see, I think that Disney is not just looking to make money, they are looking to make money as they try to accomodate the number of guests they cannot accomodate if they do not make changes.
Is it that Disney is charging $50 for extra fast passes that makes this hard for people to swallow or gets people really upset? What if they only charged $20 instead? Or would people be ok with this if Disney said all Club Level Guests are allowed these 3 extra fast passes??? What if Disney came out and said Club level guests get 3 extra fast passes, Deluxe get 2 extra fast pass, moderate and Value continues as has always been. Would there still be outrage or would this be considered fair? i still can't understand how this add on will ruin anyone's vacation no matter how they book it, where they stay, etc but change happens all the time at every theme park, store, business IMO Disney is testing this process of course to see how it goes and to make $$$ but could have easily charged less or made it a perk of club level which would have maybe had more of an affect on fast pass rides for everyone else but they didn't. They found a price that the hardcore would pay for and approve and the skeptical would shout no way! Too Expensive! Don't want to recycle this thread so I guess I'm throwing different scenarios out to see what people think or if they have any idea's, opinions, of what Disney would, could, should, do besides make it fair for everyone. If you have read through all 24 pages then you know I am ok with add on's, up charges, etc
I am okay with add ons as well. Dessert parties? Go for it. Early morning magic? Why not? VIP tours, special meal events, etc, all are fine with me. If I thought that purchasing extra FP was simply going to be an add on that would not eventually affect my touring experiences, (and I never bother with more FP than I precook at 60 days) I would be fine with this. I don't think that this is going to be the end of it. I honestly believe that this is Disney's way of managing their very popular attractions and a guest's ability to secure a ride on one. I doubt that Disney will stop at CL guests, and will be adding this "perk" as a "gift" for all those who feel left out of the pool of happy campers who are allowed to make this purchase. I am really concerned that there is going to be a time when you must purchase these FP if you want your family to have a chance to expereince the new attractions.
It seems as if some don’t like the idea that this offer is being limited just to CL guests and others don’t like the idea that some day it will be expanded to include everyone. If the day comes when the free 60 and 30 day windows still exist but can be “unlocked” at 90 days for a fee, and that opportunity is available to all, doesn’t the “inequity” complaint go away with this option merely being yet another “add-on” that one either chooses to purchase or not? And if one feels “forced” into buying the add-on in order to have a fulfilling vacation, then this becomes simply a complaint over the total cost of a WDW vacation. But that complaint has existed for decades already. It just inches forward and always will. Again, airlines have shown us the way. They have created extra legroom seats or otherwise “preferred” seats that can be purchased in advance. But once you are inside 24 hours of your flight, all seats become available to all passengers. You can try to get one of those seats on the day of your flight or you can lock one in by paying money in advance. There is no inequity. Only added cost. Unlocking FPs at 90 days would be exactly the same thing.
I'm staying CL in May. I do not plan to buy the FPs. I would like to go on FoP again but if I don't get a FP, oh well. I like Disney and think it's a nice vacation, but honestly, I don't think any of the rides are *that great*. Even FoP. I mean it's good, but I wouldn't pay $17 pp to get on it quickly. And I wouldn't wait 2 hours for it either. My (older) kids went to Disney in December and couldn't get a FP for FoP (last minute) so they just skipped it (didn't want to wait 2 hours). Good for them that they had a great time anyway.
We've never stayed CL, and even with this new offering, don't plan to. But, if this ever expands to the rest of the resorts, I would take advantage of it. I wouldn't do it for my family of 4 for every.single.day of a 10 day stay. A couple of days at new Lands opening up, definitely. This would have been useful for us on opening weekend of Pandora when we only had a FP+ for NRJ, and rode FOP twice, in the 3 HR long standby lines. And without a doubt, when Star Wars Land opens up, we would gladly pay for it.
Well selfishly, I wouldn’t be all that upset if they were throwing more FP+ at deluxe guests, because that means me. I don’t like this purchasing FP+, I don’t even like FP+ but if they’re going to change things to work to my advantage I’m all for it. It’s the same as the change to FP+ in the first place. No system will make things more fair. I totally disagree with those people who were praising FP+ because of fairness. Every method gives an advantage to different groups, the original pay per ride gave advantages to people willing to pay, everyone in stand by gave advantages to those familiar with the parks and touring strategies, FP gave advantages to early birds and those in the know, FP+ gives advantages to advance planners, on site guests, and those with the knowledge to utilize them properly, and now we may be headed to a WDW where FP+ gives an advantage to those who spend more. Those who claim a method is most fair tend to belong to the group it benefits, IMO. I personally don’t like the direction we appear to be moving to of charging for FP+ at all, whether they’re $5 a ride or $17 (or whatever the number breaks down to). I don’t like the direction in recent years of all the extra events they’ve been adding to the parks while cutting back things like EMH. Its existence won’t make a noticeable impact on my vacation (this version at least, it remains to be seen what this program looks like in the future), if we qualified I actually would strongly consider it instead of paying similar $$$ for the after hours event, but I still don’t like where this looks to be going.
I agree with this, and a pilot is research. Sometimes the only way to find out how something is going to work is to try it and see how it goes.
$50 per person. Per day. For our 8 day visit next November, that would be $1,600 dollars for our family of 4. And we would have to upgrade to a club level room. Or, I could get my lazy backside out of bed early and make rope drop.
Exactly. The original FP rewarded sweat. FP+ rewards staying on site (which is a variation of rewarding cash outlay to some extent). This new program unabashedly rewards financial success. The reason why I always preferred the original FP system was because everyone could take advantage of sweat. Do some research. Arrive early. And walk as fast as you can to the TSMM machines! Anyone could do it. It was simply a matter of choice as to whether you elected to actually do it. And to some extent, the same is true for FP+. When Value resort guests are treated the same as Deluxe Guests, then there is no real reason why everyone cannot partake. I get it that some folks prefer to stay off site. But the pricing of Value resorts makes staying on site within range of everyone who can otherwise go to WDW. (Note that I did not say that they are within range of everyone, period.) In the end, the ability to pre-plan and get more FP+s on the fly during the day is a better system than FP-, so I have welcomed my new overlord. (When FP+ was simply "three and done", I was an opponent.) But this new program, as currently implemented, rewards a level of financial success that not every guest can or will achieve. On the one hand, that is a major change in FP philosophy. On the other hand, as noted above, it comports with most other travel opportunities. I'd love to rent a ski-in, ski-out chalet on Aspen Mountain. Ain't gonna happen. Instead I have to take a bus from the 'burbs.
Yes. I think so. We don't ride too much as it is so it's not a huge deal to me. But I'm sure for many people it is. And I can tell you @ 30 out, it's difficult to find FP's sometimes for certain rides.
that pretty much sms it up for me. rope drop the early park each day and spend some time in the park at night during shows and you get everything in you want easy in a week trip with multiple times and rides that one like. at least we have for years now. we have taken first time trippers with us and they also at the end of their trips to all their surprise said they did everything and saw everything they wanted. and we don't plan like crazy. i do my adr's 180 days out. fast passes 6 0days out based on easy morning hours and that's it. it's not really hard. the key is rope drop and a few nights in the parks. we leave the park daily by 12-1 the latest and don't come back in till after dinner. i have very very rarely even used the 4th and 5th fast passes even. rope drop. it's all about rope drop. i never believed it either till i started doing it with my family after i had kids. jim
Rope drop is definitely the value play and there will always be enough people who just won't get out of bed to make it worthwhile.
Just another POV/situation to consider... when we do our race weekends in WDW, we "get our backsides out of bed" before 4am, 3 days in a row. After the races, back to the hotel, shower, change, then out to the parks. Having 6 FPs on those days instead of 3 would make quite a difference to us.
Cool! So you book them over then phone and can see them in MDE -- but you have to call to modify them, correct? Is there anything that distinguishes your regular from paid FPs in MDE? Is it just that you can't modify them if you try? ETA: This seems to answer my question... https://www.disboards.com/threads/c...rchase-logistics.3657573/page-2#post-58680966
I can't book my regular 60 day out fast passes yet because it's too early so I don't know how they'll be different in my Disney experience. But that is correct that I can't change them unless I call back to Disney Signature services there is tax on it it came to 218 a day for 4 people.
Personally I love this addition. I am definitely thinking about booking a club level room at Wilderness Lodge in November. I would much rather pay an additional $50 a day for 3 FP and having priority seating for shows. Plus if I read it correctly you can also book fast passes in multiple parks per day and the tiers don't apply but you can't book more then one ride on the same ride. I also get access to the lounge with food and dessert. Much rather do this then a dessert package.
