Originally Posted By Disney and beyond Jason Garcia of The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that Disney is testing a Centralized FP system at AK this week. All Fastpasses will be available from the Tough to be a Bug FP Machines. The Fastpass MAchines near the rides will also be working. I think this is just dumb. Can you imagine the chaos if you got all Fastpasses from one area?
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones It's only dumb if the area they chose for central FP doesn't have enough machines to handle the load. You can still get Fastpasses from the regular machines I take it, so what's the problem? If the central FP area is too crowded for you, then go to the actual attraction like old times.
Originally Posted By Disney and beyond I got the impression that if the go with the Central FP System permanently, they will get ride of the ones near rides. I may be wrong though.
Originally Posted By sjhym33 The first Universal Orlando FP system used this and it was wonderful. It asked which attraction you wanted a pass for then asked you which time window. It gave you a couple of choices of times. Very nice system.
Originally Posted By SuperDry Unfortunately, the Universal system morphed from that into a "pay to play" system. I fear that the evolution of Disney's FP is going down the same route, where certain guests, based on where they're staying, what package or type of ticket they have, or simply by paying for an extra entitlement, will have different levels of access to FP. If they ever create ways to get FPs from outside of the park, that will be a dramatic change from the way things currently are.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 If eventually you can get FP's for any ride at most machines that would be gret - it wold stop people from running all the way back to Kilamanjaro Safaries or Kali 1st thing in the AM and then running back up front. The key is - as long as the cirrent rulkes about not having multiples holds true - this shouldn't matter
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Unfortunately, the Universal system morphed from that into a "pay to play" system. I fear that the evolution of Disney's FP is going down the same route, where certain guests, based on where they're staying, what package or type of ticket they have, or simply by paying for an extra entitlement, will have different levels of access to FP. If they ever create ways to get FPs from outside of the park, that will be a dramatic change from the way things currently are. << It is my opinion that is exactly where WDW is going with this. Get ready for pay to play Fast Pass. If you think FP is bad right now, stand-by. You ain't seen nothin' yet.
Originally Posted By samrutster Sad but probably true about the changes coming to fast pass. I have heard everything from, you get 3 free by internet/cast memebers, to they will be issued according to what resort you are staying at, ie. value gets so many, moderate so many, and so on. Which would really be bad! I would rather see a pay to play system than a attitude of you are less valued if at value resort!
Originally Posted By MPierce ^^^ He's already hooked on Bay Lake Towers. That would probably be enough to reel him in.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys >It is my opinion that is exactly where WDW is going with this. Get ready for pay to play Fast Pass. If you think FP is bad right now, stand-by. You ain't seen nothin' yet.< I disagree. Disney seems more intent on leveling the playing field for people that are in a less fortunate position than others with the food plan, free nights, park admission offers, etc. The last thing they want to do is create a situation where they are going to make the very people they are catering to pay up for the FP. If they really want to level the playing field, they should eliminate the FP and let people that are visiting a "theme" park enjoy the walk through the lines like they used to. Of course, this will never happen
Originally Posted By sjhym33 I think you may see a phasing in of a paid FP system. Kind of what Universal did. I think this is especially true since the Disney system is one of the few remaining free systems. Universal offers free ExpressPasses for their hotel guests and day guests can pay for the priviledge. Disney may follow suit a couple of years down the road. It wouldn't surprise me.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I disagree. Disney seems more intent on leveling the playing field for people that are in a less fortunate position than others with the food plan, free nights, park admission offers, etc. The last thing they want to do is create a situation where they are going to make the very people they are catering to pay up for the FP. << You may very well be correct. You still have to ask yourself though, why are they experimenting with pay for Fast Pass overseas?
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys >You may very well be correct. You still have to ask yourself though, why are they experimenting with pay for Fast Pass overseas?< Good question, but I just don't think one has to do with another. I'd be more concerned if Disney picked a park like the MK and started offering pay FP's there on an experimental basis. I think most Americans, and more specifically the vacationer that Disney appears to be catering to (as mentioned in my earlier post) wouldn't tolerate it, since it would almost defeat the purpose of the special offers.
Originally Posted By MPierce ^^^ I have also discoved that Disney will push the extreme limits of what they think their guest will accept. Case in point the DDP. They dropped the the price point by one dollar, while eliminating the appetizer, and the tip. There certainly wasn't any outcry from the masses back then. Most people just continued to rant, and rave about what a good deal the DDP was. Even though they had just got snookered out of a bunch of money. I think TWDC has learned they can get away with practically anything when it comes to WDW. Only time will tell.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys ^^ My wife's family just got to WDW today and are on the Dining Plan and I only heard minor rumblings about the changes from them. I've never (and never will)use it so I can't comment from personal experience, but even with the takeaways, it still seems like a pretty good deal...especially if you get it for free as part of a package. On FP, yup, only time will tell.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad I don't get it. Centralization of fast pass seems to go against the whole purpose of fast pass which is to distribute the crowd and hopefully channel it to less crowded areas. Walking from place to place helps do that. I don't like walking either but I understand the reason for designing the system the way it is. Making it more convenient will lessen its effectiveness. I hope they don't start charging for FP but I think that is what they are considering here. I'm sure they wil spin it somehow to say that that is what the guests really wanted.
