Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[TheFloatingBear]

If FP+ is currently being underutilized by some guests because they aren't sure of how it works or that its currently free, how would putting a sign up monetizing it at any price encourage more guests to buy them?

I can't imagine Disney wants WDW to become less pre-planned. Making CL FP 90+ days actually pushes the window out more. Disney loves it's data to predict park trends for capacity and staffing. I assume whatever FP+ monetization occurs will be cheaper if you buy/add it prior to arrival multiple days/weeks out to get even more data and lock people in.

I wonder if the FP packages however they are marketed will have static or dynamic prices like flights and hotels. Closer to arrival date, paid FP’s go up up up.

This is one of my concerns...they do seem to be using their data for staffing and such - the whole "there is no slow time!" seems to be at least in part artificially controlled by Disney. I'm no expert, but I've done two January trips and several spring break trips the last few years, including Easter on some of them. January may have seemed to have less people around, but with shorter hours and seemingly less ride capacity, in my experience our spring break trips have been much easier to get more done. So if they have dynamic pricing, of course during holidays, school breaks and such one would expect higher prices, but if they are creating the higher demand/longer waits, that will be annoying.

ETA: I'm not saying I think Disney should be running at long hours and full staffing every day of the year - Christmas week is not the same as a Wednesday in September - just that I would be wary of how dynamic pricing would work based on my experiences.

 

[Mac30188]

The more I think about the "boil the frog" type plan of slowly increasing the heat, the more brilliant this sounds. They can market this price hike as actually a perk and make people happy about the ability to pay more without realizing it is a price hike. My guess is May may be a very subtle change of adding a fast pass or package to allow users buy fast passes for a couple high demand attractions without any other publicized changes. Everyone still gets their three fast passes, nothing to be alarmed about...business as normal. Behind the scenes, pull out those pay ones from the free ones pot. Hard core users may recognize how much more difficult it is to find the fast passes you want, but for most people, everything else stays the same. It is marketed as just a new service offering you don't have to take advantage of. Over time slowly add new pay fast pass options and slowly reduce the free pot until people have been conditioned that to buy them is the only really good way to ensure you get your FP. Eventually once people see virtually no value in the free fast pass service, kill it entirely. No one will care any more because the value has long since been drained out of the system. The entire process is so subtle and behind the scenes there never is a point for the consumer to truly get angry. Before they know it, we are happily paying for our Fastpasses and the frog is successfully boiled.

 

[Sarah1024]

People have to be realistic and realize once Star Wars Land is open, Disney is not going to want to let people with AP's and people staying value resorts, first dibs at a rides that are in such high demand. Also, I think Disney knows most guests that are regulars know how to use the system to their advantage and get on more rides then most who are new or coming for a once in a lifetime. Those people probably don't get on as many rides as the "educated" guests.

If it's pay to play for everyone though, it won't matter if you're an AP or where you're staying, if anyone can buy extra FP's. And you would think Disney would care about keeping that specific clientele happier than guests staying off site.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Interesting..but as we planned to go over Easter a crazy busy time and I decided to book EMM for TSL and MK besides having a breakfast included isn’t that in essence what I’m paying for ? Reduced crowds increased rides ? For what $79 and there’s 3 rides..
I wonder if EMM will be gone as well

Highly doubtful. It's easy money. I have both of them booked for July, so I'm a testament to it!

 

[TheFloatingBear]

The more I think about the "boil the frog" type plan of slowly increasing the heat, the more brilliant this sounds. They can market this price hike as actually a perk and make people happy about the ability to pay more without realizing it is a price hike. My guess is May may be a very subtle change of adding a fast pass or package to allow users buy fast passes for a couple high demand attractions without any other publicized changes. Everyone still gets their three fast passes, nothing to be alarmed about...business as normal. Behind the scenes, pull out those pay ones from the free ones pot. Hard core users may recognize how much more difficult it is to find the fast passes you want, but for most people, everything else stays the same. It is marketed as just a new service offering you don't have to take advantage of. Over time slowly add new pay fast pass options and slowly reduce the free pot until people have been conditioned that to buy them is the only really good way to ensure you get your FP. Eventually once people see virtually no value in the free fast pass service, kill it entirely. No one will care any more because the value has long since been drained out of the system. The entire process is so subtle and behind the scenes there never is a point for the consumer to truly get angry. Before they know it, we are happily paying for our Fastpasses and the frog is successfully boiled.

I agree! It does make this frog better appreciate Universal showing me the pot of boiling water before I jump in! But it is not unlike how WDW has subtly changed other products - like the parties and after hour events. Starts out great, they get people hooked, then slowly de-value it by increasing the numbers and the price.

 

[Sarah1024]

The more I think about the "boil the frog" type plan of slowly increasing the heat, the more brilliant this sounds. They can market this price hike as actually a perk and make people happy about the ability to pay more without realizing it is a price hike. My guess is May may be a very subtle change of adding a fast pass or package to allow users buy fast passes for a couple high demand attractions without any other publicized changes. Everyone still gets their three fast passes, nothing to be alarmed about...business as normal. Behind the scenes, pull out those pay ones from the free ones pot. Hard core users may recognize how much more difficult it is to find the fast passes you want, but for most people, everything else stays the same. It is marketed as just a new service offering you don't have to take advantage of. Over time slowly add new pay fast pass options and slowly reduce the free pot until people have been conditioned that to buy them is the only really good way to ensure you get your FP. Eventually once people see virtually no value in the free fast pass service, kill it entirely. No one will care any more because the value has long since been drained out of the system. The entire process is so subtle and behind the scenes there never is a point for the consumer to truly get angry. Before they know it, we are happily paying for our Fastpasses and the frog is successfully boiled.

I can't imagine them eliminating free FP+ completely. Paying for headliners, people may swallow. But paying for IASW or TTA? No way. Plus, those free ones help distribute crowds as they are offered dynamically throughout the day.

 

[firefly_ris]

If it would be between paying hundreds extra (5 people) to ride headliners one time, or to totally eliminate booking anything ahead of time and have app based FP booking in park only, I would take the second option. To me then the ticket value isn't diminished and achieve the 'level playing field', plus get rid of this 'I hate having to plan my days so far ahead' stigma that has happened with planning WDW trips. But I figure they aren't going to do that.

 

[Sarah1024]

I asked on the WDW Magic thread if there would be paid FP's for SWGE as a test and Martin responded "Testing is already happening. I can't say any more." To me, that seems like you will be able to pay for access from the beginning????

 

[umichigan10]

I think that's a distinct possibility. I'm not a numbers person, but I've been a WDW regular since the early 90s, so I've seen high crowds, low crowds, no FP, OG FP, FP+, recessions, and economic booms. To me, the most noticeable change after FP+ was
instituted was how many more people there have been milling about in open spaces in the parks, regardless of total attendance in the park. Not in ride queues, not in shops or restaurants, just hanging around, waiting for he next FP, I assume. It's completely changed the flow of traffic, and in many spots, eliminated flow altogether. Anecdotally, I feel like FP/FP+ engineered a desire to only hit the rides that use FP, leaving some of the "people eaters" emptier than they used to be. I think this is an unintended psychological phenomenon that makes parks feel more "crowded" than they actually are. Can changes to FP+ change that? I'm not so sure, TBH.

I think the biggest flaw in their logic was that the people not waiting in lines would buy food/shop more than they usually would. But imo this thinking is flawed logic used by higher ups which don’t actually get why people go to these parks. It’s not to go and get generic merchandise that I can now order from home on an app or get mediocre hot dogs and hamburgers. It’s to experience the parks and the attractions within. So with the MDE now, there are more people about going to a different ride, or slowing down and enjoying the little things, like what I generally do now more than I used to

 

[Sarah1024]

I think the biggest flaw in their logic was that the people not waiting in lines would buy food/shop more than they usually would. But imo this thinking is flawed logic used by higher ups which don’t actually get why people go to these parks. It’s not to go and get generic merchandise that I can now order from home on an app or get mediocre hot dogs and hamburgers. It’s to experience the parks and the attractions within. So with the MDE now, there are more people about going to a different ride, or slowing down and enjoying the little things, like what I generally do now more than I used to

I mean, I go and eat all the Dole Whip, so......

 

[umichigan10]

I asked on the WDW Magic thread if there would be paid FP's for SWGE as a test and Martin responded "Testing is already happening. I can't say any more." To me, that seems like you will be able to pay for access from the beginning????

I would think “testing is already happening” would refer to the CL FP that has been offered for a bit now

 

[Sarah1024]

I would think “testing is already happening” would refer to the CL FP that has been offered for a bit now

Yeah, but why wouldn't he be able to talk about that, especially in terms of MF:SR? And from everything I've heard (as I've booked a CL stay) is that program is going strong and they don't see it stopping.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I asked on the WDW Magic thread if there would be paid FP's for SWGE as a test and Martin responded "Testing is already happening. I can't say any more." To me, that seems like you will be able to pay for access from the beginning????

I’m not entirely sure his answer was directly related to SW (since the land isn’t open yet).
I think he was confirming the original post of the Magic thread (a blogger testing a new program that allows you to ride headliners multiple times by paying).

 

[umichigan10]

Yeah, but why wouldn't he be able to talk about that, especially in terms of MF:SR? And from everything I've heard (as I've booked a CL stay) is that program is going strong and they don't see it stopping.

That’s a valid point. I couldn’t tell ya, but I also haven’t been as hyper active on here as I have been in the past. So I could very well be missing a finer detail that I could have glossed over while playing catch up

 

[TammyLynn33]

Highly doubtful. It's easy money. I have both of them booked for July, so I'm a testament to it!

I get that me too but if you had to pay for all your fast passes what’s the point in this activity ? I’m not sure ppl would be willing to pay for both

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I get that me too but if you had to pay for all your fast passes what’s the point in this activity ? I’m not sure ppl would be willing to pay for both

but it could be to appeal to more people as these EMM don't appeal to everyone (don't want those specific rides, don't want to get up early, etc.) but do to some ... so you can still offer both and some might pay for both but I think more it is more people will pay for one or the other

I feel like this is what WDW is turning into: You have your bare minimum entry to the parks and then a variety of add ons / up charges and while some will still get by with just the regular entry I think many people will start to pick and choose which of the add-ons make the most sense for them

In some ways it is annoying that almost becoming that you *have* to do at least some sort of add on ... but on the other side it is nice to have choice vs just jacking up the main entry cost even more to get to the same total revenue point for Disney

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I get that me too but if you had to pay for all your fast passes what’s the point in this activity ? I’m not sure ppl would be willing to pay for both

Some would pay for one, others would pay for the other. Not everyone can buy a SDD FP, there will still be more people than number of FP sold (or included).

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

In some ways it is annoying that almost becoming that you *have* to do at least some sort of add on ... but on the other side it is nice to have choice vs just jacking up the main entry cost even more to get to the same total revenue point for Disney

Problem is, they are jacking up the main entry cost, in addition to these add ons.

 

[jade1]

In some ways it is annoying that almost becoming that you *have* to do at least some sort of add on ... but on the other side it is nice to have choice vs just jacking up the main entry cost even more to get to the same total revenue point for Disney

Agree completely, although they will probably do both anyway.

eta funny

 

[SaintsManiac]

I get that me too but if you had to pay for all your fast passes what’s the point in this activity ? I’m not sure ppl would be willing to pay for both

Some would and some wouldn't. Since we don't know any REAL details we can't make that judgment yet.