Wanna buy a Fastpass? It will cost ya $50

[epcotty]

Please research the history of e-tickets and ride ticket books at Disneyland to understand how tickets were sold during Walt's lifetime. There was no "fair" ride system. You paid an admission fee and then paid per-ride ON TOP of that. The more popular the ride, the more expensive the ticket. For instance an "e-ride" (the most popular rides) ticket was more than 8 times the cost of an "a-ticket" ride. In todays terms, we could say that if it cost you $1 per ticket to go on Triceratop Spin, it would cost you $8.50 to get one ride on FoP. And you could buy as many ride tickets as you would like. So, the number of rides you rode was completely dependent on how much money you shelled out to buy ride coupons. And if you were a member of the Magic Kingdom Club, you had access to discounted tickets. Monetizing FP+ is far more in line with the original Disneyland ticketing system which existed when Walt was alive.

It was far, far less egalitarian than it is today. Unlimited use tickets (like we have today), weren't introduced until the 70's (after Walt's death) due to competition from other theme parks that had introduced the concept in direct competition with Disney. So, Walt never "wanted" an unlimited use ticket system. It was pay as you go and pay, pay, pay for more, more, more. I find it humorous that people on this board attribute these mythical, charitable qualities to Walt Disney. He was a business man and wasn't giving anything away for free!

Plug any old prices (including the ticket books) or even any prices pre-2006 into an inflation calculator and you'll see how more recent prices have far outpaced inflation. Walt always wanted the park in general and the rides to be generally affordable and in line with inflation, under Iger they've far outpaced inflation much more than any time in their past.

 

[anomamatt]

Thanks. I assume you didn't get any more details?

Nope. They very quickly said to call back Friday (tomorrow now) and that was it.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I'm sure anyone that has read through this sees that I'm intrigued and interested in this new offer coming tomorrow but I will tell you this........

We are staying club level on our upcoming trip for 10 nights with 6 day park pass.....if I'm told I have to purchase for all 6 park days then I will politely decline. While I'm seeing most of the benefits for a 3 day minimum, I begin to see a whole other vacation at having to purchase 6 days lol ....... Time will tell!!!!

I’d be interested to know this as well... are they bought in bundles of 3 nights? Can I spread those across my 10 nights as I see fit? Maybe I missed these answers somewhere already.

Please report back!

 

[ckelly14]

Nope. They very quickly said to call back Friday (tomorrow now) and that was it.

I'm pretty locked in for my February trip already, so unless there is improved availability for FOP and better than average preferred viewing, I would probably pass this go-around. 90 day window would be awesome in the future. Devil is in the details.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I think the pros of the villa outweigh this con and there is always the chance that this test could end before our stay. Unfortunately the club level suites do not offer us the main amenities that work for our family (mainly laundry and kitchen).

 

[CarolynU]

This is simply not true. Concierge guests on DCL get far, far more privileges than regular stateroom guests. Early access to all dining, spa and excursion reservations including cabanas which, because of privileges, are virtually impossible to get unless you are concierge or platinum CC members. Private dining tables, easy access to concierge staff to make dining reservations and other adjustments to itineraries. Easy access to meet and greet tickets and character dining. In-room amenities, free wi-fi packages, special receptions with character meets, alcohol and specialty coffees free in the CL lounge. When we sailed DCL concierge in Europe, they also took care of passport control for us in Iceland and Scotland (didn't have to wait in the lines in the theater). Easy boarding and disembarkation, priority tendering, etc. etc. etc. If you think, as a regular stateroom guest, you are being treated the same as a concierge guest, you are quite mistaken. In fact, concierge guests on DCL get far more privileges than CL guests at WDW. The new FP+ offering for WDW CL guests is very much aligned with how DCL treats their concierge guests, but it still doesn't go as far as DCL.

Well I always assumed that being concierge was a specific category of stateroom. Obviously I was wrong. I knew that this group had additional privileges.

 

[anomamatt]

I'm pretty locked in for my February trip already, so unless there is improved availability for FOP and better than average preferred viewing, I would probably pass this go-around. 90 day window would be awesome in the future. Devil is in the details.

I hear you, I'm actually trying to find out about next week. Haha. I think there will not be enough reason for me to book the add-on so late (well within 90 days), but hard to know without all the details.

 

[LSUmiss]

Plug any old prices (including the ticket books) or even any prices pre-2006 into an inflation calculator and you'll see how more recent prices have far outpaced inflation. Walt always wanted the park in general and the rides to be generally affordable and in line with inflation, under Iger they've far outpaced inflation much more than any time in their past.

Ppl have different levels of disposable income depending on other life choices. Doesn’t make them “rich”.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Walt always wanted the park in general and the rides to be generally affordable and in line with inflation

Source please? I’ve just never heard this.

Wrt inflation, how have other leisure pursuits fared? Concert tickets? Major sporting events? Other vacations? A Disney vacation isn’t a necessity. Pricing may easily outpace inflation and I see no reason to assume it should track it. Many other forces come into play on luxury goods/services.

 

[amylevan]

Plug any old prices (including the ticket books) or even any prices pre-2006 into an inflation calculator and you'll see how more recent prices have far outpaced inflation. Walt always wanted the park in general and the rides to be generally affordable and in line with inflation, under Iger they've far outpaced inflation much more than any time in their past.

Except inflation doesn't really matter for luxury items. It's all dependent on what the market can bear. And as busy as WDW is lately, I would venture a guess there is room for those prices to climb.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

With kids, without kids, whatever! It'll work well and be affordable to some and not others, as with any offering. Sounds perfect for you, and we might try it, too on a short trip. I just always find it strange when some attempt to turn something subjective (value) into an objective fact/truth (usually in the form of it would be stupid for anyone to pay that for this). Never makes sense to try.

I don't agree. Sure, sometimes the value of an offer is subjective, as you say, but other times it isn't - at least the way I post.

When I say something isn't worth buying, I usually mean it in the sense of "that doesn't make financial sense." For example, long ago there was time when it didn't make financial sense to buy a WDW vacation package. The cost of the components (room, tickets, food) as a "package" cost quite a bit more than buying those components - still through Disney- as a non-package.

This was BEFORE the advent of the Disney dining Plan, but not before the DIS. (I've been here that long!)

It wasn't even a matter of it being easier to buy the package.

It just didn't make sense to buy the package, unless you were too lazy to do the math, or if you REALLY liked the NAME of the package. There was no booking advantage or anything. Just a higher price.

 

[Magic_Man]

Plug any old prices (including the ticket books) or even any prices pre-2006 into an inflation calculator and you'll see how more recent prices have far outpaced inflation. Walt always wanted the park in general and the rides to be generally affordable and in line with inflation, under Iger they've far outpaced inflation much more than any time in their past.

When ticket books were sunsetted around 1980, the price of an E Ticket was $0.90 (same as opening day), and the price of an A Ticket was a dime. Just in case anyone wants to do an inflation study.

 

[Ronferr80]

I hear you, I'm actually trying to find out about next week. Haha. I think there will not be enough reason for me to book the add-on so late (well within 90 days), but hard to know without all the details.

I'm wondering if this is a sign for my upcoming trip!!! Tomorrow (Friday) will be 91 days until my upcoming trip!!!! lol Was this offer made for me!!! hahaha j/k but I'm curious to get all the details considering Saturday will be 90 days out for me.....tic tock tic tock

 

[epcotty]

Source please? I’ve just never heard this.

Wrt inflation, how have other leisure pursuits fared? Concert tickets? Major sporting events? Other vacations? A Disney vacation isn’t a necessity. Pricing may easily outpace inflation and I see no reason to assume it should track it. Many other forces come into play on luxury goods/services.

It's what I've always heard and previous prices are the evidence of it. I'm sure there must be findable sources online, I'll look when I get the time

 

[CarolynU]

So you are the second highest tier for booking (concierge is highest)! That makes a huge difference and is based on how much $$$ you have spent with DCL. Imagine if WDW instituted a policy where those who have the most visits get the best FPs... there would be a riot. DCL is an extreme example of $$$ getting you privilege.



Next time you sail, look to see what is available at 75 days (when the lowest tier gets to pick their excursions). We had friends go that couldn't get ANY tickets to see the princesses or anna/elsa! And they had to settle for their 3rd choice excursion in Nassau (of all ports!).



There are something like 700 club level rooms and 30,500 non-CL rooms on WDW property. Unless this expands outside of club level, no one will ever notice the difference from this either.

As I said prior to being Platinum I must have just been lucky because I never had any problems getting any excursions, port arrival times etc etc
This could be possibly because I was cruising in less popular times or not requiring any meet and greets, so at 75 days out I got everything that I wanted. That was for every cruise I took.
Had I felt that I was missing out and my experience had lessened as a result who knows I may never have sailed frequently enough to have reached the Platinum level.
In fact DCL has removed some Platinum advantages and continue to do so, but I wasn't impacted before reaching Platinum and I'm not impacted greatly now so I will continue to sail with DCL rather than visit WDW purely because I find it a more relaxing experience. That's the greatest advantage to me. Plus obviously the ability to visit different places.

 

[epcotty]

Except inflation doesn't really matter for luxury items. It's all dependent on what the market can bear. And as busy as WDW is lately, I would venture a guess there is room for those prices to climb.

As for the parks in general becoming more popular despite this (although this might've tapered off a bit recently), I think it's because the price increases have lit a fire under a lot of people's butts to go while they still can or still feel it's worth it. When it was always more in line with inflation then there wasn't the pressure there has been more recently.
However this is probably temporary and those guests will probably eventually go away

 

[epcotty]

This favors people with deep pockets, over the rest of us, and will reduce availability. I don't see why more of you are not upset by this. Let me spell it out: this is BAD for anyone who can't afford to shell out for the extra FPs!

It's because most on this board are more well off. In the general population you'll find many more who would be offended by the offer and what it means to regular park-goers

 

[Magic_Man]

Except inflation doesn't really matter for luxury items.

Just so we are clear here, what is the "luxury item" that is under consideration in this discussion? A trip to WDW generally? A stay in a Club Level room? Or a chance to ride Flight of Passage and Frozen? It is only the latter that is being tethered to the $50 per day price tag. The prices of the Disney vacation generally and the Club Level room have not changed as a result of this new initiative. I am struggling to place a two minute whirl on an amusement park ride in the "luxury item" category.

 

[Magic_Man]

In the general population you'll find many more who would be offended by the offer and what it means to regular park-goers

There is a poll at the end of this article. http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/theme...in-guests-to-purchase-additional-fastpass.htm

 

[bashuck]

I was once 'yelled at' for suggesting the CRT should raise it prices and called "Richie Rich". I figure any restaurant that sells out 180 days in advance with pre-paying customers should charge more. Obviously I'm ok with them selling extra FPs. I also believe they should charge more for these extra FP during Christmas week vs a week in mid February. Like the toll roads I saw recently on a trip to Dallas, sometimes the toll was .15 cents and other times $1.25 based on congestion. If I ultimately don't find value in it I won't go back or would decline the premium service.