Originally Posted By davewasbaloo First Alton Towers in the UK had fastpass before Disney. Now Legoland has an electronic virtual queing device for £10 or $20 per person. We may be going tomorrow, so we will see what impact it has. I think I can safely say, this is something I think I would not be in hurry for Disney to implement. <a href="http://www.legoland.co.uk/planyourvisit/Q-BOT+VIRTUAL+QUEUING.htm" target="_blank">http://www.legoland.co.uk/plan...UING.htm</a>
Originally Posted By retlawfan Sounds like a paid fast pass. What would make it a better system than the fast pass? Can rides be requested from anywhere? If so, I guess it would save you running all over the park o get the passes. Also, can more than one ride be requested at a time? For fast pass, you must wait for your time window to open before you can get another one. Does this allow multiple "passes" at one time?
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS Six Flags has a similar experience - for a fee you can choose a handful of rides to "fastpass" once each.
Originally Posted By X-san Well, charging a fee could certainly cut down on some of the creative/aggressive use of fastpass by customers with too much time on their hands to plan things out.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I understand from the system you can book timeslots as you go around the park, and find out standby times. I think you can book multiple slots. I am partially tempted to try it today. Disney have been experimenting with a different system. Haunts - the 6flags model is an old one. USO were offering that service in 2000, and DLP hotel suite guests get this service too. This is different in that you can book your slot on any of those rides from anywhere in the park. Personally, I wish all parks would get rid of virtual queing.
Originally Posted By X-san They've always had SOMETHING like that though...whether it be handicapped access or backstage access for VIP's or whathaveyou. It was only a matter of time before they further separated everyone into the haves and the have-nots. I must be honest though, if they got rid of fastpass at this point I would have very little motivation to ever go back to a Disney park. I've seen it all so many, many times, and what brings me back really IS the fastpass granting easy access to the most fun stuff with little hassle and no waiting...the rest is just repetitive at this point, and granted the reason I'm saying this is probably because I've been to Disney all too often.
Originally Posted By CDF1 Personal opinion: (1) "Paid" Priority Access System - not a good idea if it will visibly increase wait times for the "masses" - sure, some Marketing wag will say "look at the extra profits we can grab" but if it detracts from the quality of the visit the rank and file customers will have, then it will actually cost more than it yields. (2) Fastpass dispensers throughout the park that allow you to get your fastpass for any attraction - Why not? Allow guests to plan out their day a bit better and to pick up an FP for a ride across the park as opposed to having to send runners or to "linger" in an area without purpose other than to wait for an FP time to come up. As long as everybody still can only hold one FP reservation at a time then this seems like a fair and reasonable idea - it only seems ludicrous if you allow certain guests to hold multiple FP's at a time.
Originally Posted By JeffG Six Flags uses different systems at their various parks. The system you are describing sounds almost identical to one we used at Six Flags Great America (near Chicago) last year. I thought it worked pretty well as far as this kind of system goes. -Jeff
Originally Posted By DlandDug I recall Islands of Adventure had what amounted to a two tier system at one point. There was a pay-as-you-go system, and a deluxe all day system, both of which were available for an added fee. A friend and I were aggressively pitched to buy the deluxe one Summer morning, then found we had toured the entire park without using it once. When we asked for a refund, we were told that none were given, despite the fact that other guests were complaining they couldn't buy one (the quota for the day had been sold). Incredibly, the Guest Relations clerk basically told us to "scalp" the unused passes (wink wink, nudge nudge). We did (for the same cost we paid) and went on to Uni Studios Florida. I like the way the system is set up in Disneyland, and would not like to see any changes. It's fair. It gives no one (other than those who are willing to make the effort to understand the clearly explained system) an advantage. And it is flexible (they have taken certain attractions off, and some go on the system by the season).
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie >>>Well, charging a fee could certainly cut down on some of the creative/aggressive use of fastpass by customers with too much time on their hands to plan things out.<<< Hey. If there is a loophole, I'm going to find it.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Agreed that I do not like it as an upcharge system. But better yet, I wish they would get rid of fastpass all together.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <Incredibly, the Guest Relations clerk basically told us to "scalp" the unused passes (wink wink, nudge nudge). We did (for the same cost we paid) and went on to Uni Studios Florida.> Nice.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA And I don't mean -- 'What a nice thing' -- I mean -- 'How ridiculous that the guest relations rep would suggest that you scalp your ticket.'
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "Agreed that I do not like it as an upcharge system. But better yet, I wish they would get rid of fastpass all together." Same here. In fact I'd go one step further and bring back the A, B, C, D, and E Tickets
Originally Posted By X-san ***'How ridiculous that the guest relations rep would suggest that you scalp your ticket.'*** I think it's creative. I would assume he had no other choice (as in, no power to deliver a refund). I like it. What would be better, him telling them "tough luck, no refunds" and leave it at that? I'm sure some clerks would do just that, this guy was trying to be more helpful.
Originally Posted By dshyates $5 admission, and pay as you go ticket books. I like that Idea, because it will take some folks away for the "E-Tickets" Now, a lot of people just run to the biggies, skipping the smaller attractions. If it came down to throwing the tickets away or sit thru the Tiki Room, they will chose the Tiki Room. They could adverise the $5 admission, play up "Bringing back the ticket books, and I bet Disney would make even more money, because People will buy more smaller amounts, more often. Many would end up spending more than the single admission media, becoming easier to lose track of how much you have spent. But it can also allow for a much more economical experience for Seniors who wouldn't blast their way through the ticket book. Busch Gardens is this year selling a ticket book like pack of Quick Queue tickets. You get one for each "major", for $25.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains I think you are way off base - you would really price families out of these vacations - with packages or deals to be found out there families with more than a kid or two can afford these parks. By doing what your suggesting you would put people in the position of spending more than they should or have budgeted for. Therefore a complete Disney experience would only be for the Rich who can just throw caution to the wind and do what they want. With the parks set up now with one admission including all the rides and attractions people can plan finacially for the trip and not come away feeling like they missed out on something.
Originally Posted By dshyates Not necessarily. If admission was $5 and you could get 1 ticket book for $20, then you could do an entire day (without food) for $25. You wouldn't have to pony up the $72 up front. It would give you more options on how much you want to spend. now if you bought 3 ticket books plus $5 admission you would be at around what admission media is now. But many people like seniors and those with toddlers could go and enjoy the parks for next to nothing. And as far as overspending, carry cash, and when its gone. Stop.
Originally Posted By EighthDwarf Yeah, but the high admission fee prohibits the park from being overly crowded. For $5 admission, they would have to close the gates every morning. And the folks they let in may not spend as much money as the folks they don't. From a business perspective, it's much better to get your money in advance.
