Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest-ID-79464.asp" target="_blank"><b>Latest: Jim Hill on What the 70 xPASS "Experiences" Will Be</b></a> <p>Jim Hill details the what he calls the definitive list of what attractions and other experiences will be a part of xPASS (the system which allows resort guests to prebook FastPass) when it launches.</p>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros While it's good to see a list of the proposed 'experiences' that will be included, I still just don't understand the supposed need for this system. I've heard opinions from folks ranging from random guest, to internet folks, to people who are supposed to figure out how to make the system actually work, and none of them really see a need for this type of system. While it may be a draw for a few occasional visitors, the overall reduction in park capacity (since guests will spend more time walking between attractions, the walkways will become more crowded, making less room for additional bodies in the park) will surely outweigh it. With all the money that's being poured into this in recent and upcoming years, it better be one heck of a great system that works to benefit all park-goers. Sadly, I just don't see that being the case. And why the heck are they proposing XPass for Illuminations? One of the best things about the show is that you can get a front-row spot in virtually any location just moments before the show. They will likely have a reserved viewing area, but the obvious choice (Showcase Plaza, between the 2 gift shops at the junction to Future World) is actually a pretty crummy view, if that's possible. It seems like they're just including all of the major spectacles (parades, fireworks, etc) at each of the parks, but this one just seems too odd.
Originally Posted By hopemax As I posted in a different thread, my Dad's theory is that this system is more about managing international tour groups. We all know what happens when 100 Brazilians descend on a particular area. If you want to increase the number of these groups in the parks, you better have some way of controlling them. Sell them a reservation, and then you know exactly where they will be, when. Run them through a separate line, make sure they have a parade spot instead of trying to force themselves in last minute, etc. I wasn't sure what I thought about it, but then the President had his "expand the visa waiver" program speech in front of the Castle. So who knows. Disney may be thinking their best chance for growth is going to come in the form of South American tour groups.
Originally Posted By oc_dean Management seems to have abandoned the concept .. that a day in a theme park, should be mostly a Spontaneous adventure for the day. That's the fun in going to a theme park. You don't know quite what you'll do next. Making a bunch of reservations for rides, shows, etc .... is as fun as joining the military .. and given a strict list of things to do - Commando style! They are taking an element of fun out of a place ... that's suppose to be all about Fun!
Originally Posted By oc_dean Question ... How will this impact the visitors who don't want to overly plan a thing? Are they going to get screwed? With even longer waits? Or not get in at all?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>...my Dad's theory is that this system is more about managing international tour groups.<< That's fine and dandy. They can use this system for them. They've been ushering people in the back door of attractions for 57 years now, so I have no problem with them changing their policy to accomodate those groups (who still make up a small minority of the total number of guests in a park on any given day). I just don't see the reason that it is being implemented on such a wide scale.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 Isn't the whole idea of this is for guests who purchase deluxe packages? I expect this is going to be an expensive add on. Not sure that tour groups will be a part of that equation.
Originally Posted By CDF2 Sometimes you just have to call a spade a spade - this whole program is simply a means to generate add-on sales to Resort Packages. You can offer as many explanations as your Marketing Department can think of but it still comes down to just being something else to sell to customers.
Originally Posted By HMButler79 ""Are they going to get screwed? With even longer waits? Or not get in at all?"" That's TDO's insidious plan. So that Xpass will create a demand for....MORE Xpass=forcing guests to stay on property=forcing you to buy Xpass to bypass 90min waits at Pirates and Mansion in the middle of Sept. Who's missing Eisner yet...????????????
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Miss Mr. Eisner? Surely you jest! It was he who brought about the first phase of taking the magic out of going to Disney theme parks by putting someone like Paul Pressler in charge. Now his former 'Yes Man', Mr. Iger, is merely continuing the bad judgment by putting even MORE incompetents in charge. It would seem that the carefree days of simply visiting the Disney theme parks without being forced to have a Stepford wife mentality are over. All we have left are our good memories of better days gone by...
Originally Posted By CDF2 "It would seem that the carefree days of simply visiting the Disney theme parks without being forced to have a Stepford wife mentality are over. All we have left are our good memories of better days gone by..." Who would have thought that the most eloquent and insightful comment on this topic so far would come from one of the frequent posters who always finds a humorous or positive angle on every topic? Well done ....
Originally Posted By sjhym333 As a local I feel Disney has all but wiped its hands of us. Because of the dining plan, the better restaurants are booked months in advance which means we can no longer just pop over to Disney for a good meal. With Xpass it will mean that the already miserable FP/Standby line situation will get worse. Glad we are giving up our AP's this year.
Originally Posted By CDF2 Given all the information that will now be at a given Disney park's disposal about the status of reservations for different attractions before the park gates even open, will those parks make such information available by the central attraction wait time board and/or will they expand the availability of that information by putting up more boards throughout the park to help those without such advance reservations "flow" to those attractions where the standby lines are shorter or FPs are available? Seems the attraction boards would need to post standby times and next available FP times should guests want FP's - and this latter part would suggest having one or more FP locations where those could be distributed thus saving guests without advance reservations from having to trek all the way over to the attraction to get an FP and then come back later to avoid the wait. One can see how this whole reservation system beginas to involve so much more than just some wealthy guests booking FPs willy-nilly prior to a park visit and paying a hefty premium to do so.
