Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Until I see the options and cost, not able to say if I will/will not pay for FP's. Too many unknowns at this time to made a definitive decision.

Waiting to find out options....

Not just options and costs, but also the situation if you don't buy in.

 

[jade1]

No one mentioned any specific prices they'd be willing to pay yet?

I think the answer is hard to give, mostly because we are all at different points in our WDW lives, and not enough info yet.

It's easy for some to just walk away, after years of going. But new guests might/will want it all if possible.

We are lucky to go a lot (by working a ton), so the attractions have become secondary. Mostly prefer the weather escape, DVC resorts, DSprings, area events/beaches/fishing etc, meandering around the parks and shows/night shows.

For us its mostly only "newer" attractions we would pay for. But even then it's mostly just 7DMT, SDD and FoP. Soon to be the 2 at SWGE, Guardians, RAT and Tron.

The budget with multiple trips is pretty low, DVC is really just staying on yearly dues for us, DVC AP (last week went into MK just for HEA twice and that was it for the day) is pretty low "per day", and airfare is crazy cheap-usually $29 to $49 each way.

So the budget is there (for us) if they implement.

But like I say, it would be just these newer ones we will care about, and probably once each per trip.

So I guess with 8 candidates, $400 total ($50 ea) on the straight up purchase, but only if available.

As for the other options, if they don't want my $50 ea oh well.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Same here! I purchase zero upcharges, which also includes park hoppers. I consider the price to stay "in the bubble" the max I am willing to pay. As the system is now, with planning, you can have a fabulous time and enjoy all the rides you want, with minimal wait. Not sure that will be possible if some of the changes that have been tossed around here are implemented.

We are the opposite in that we (typically) don’t see the value in staying “in the bubble” so if we can do some sort of add on and guarantee the few attractions ruins we can’t get FP for at 30 days (and thus have to rope drop and still save money vs staying on site we would consider it

 

[Mac30188]

I am open to the option of paying a similar or slightly lower cost for FP as Universal, however the devil is in the details on whether the value supports the cost. At Universal, while I was not thrilled with cost, I definitely felt like I got value for my money. I suspect I would have the same feeling about Disney in it definitely has a nice return on the cost. That being said, it still is an overall cost increase to the total Disney experience so it would likely decrease my frequency / liklihood of choosing Disney as my vacation destination.

 

[sponica]

@jade1 I'm somewhere in the middle. If this retooling of FP makes it similar to the olden paper days, I might be ok with it. I had more paper FP visits than new fangled FP+ visits and miss those good old paper FP days (although I think it probably has more to do with the trips being post 9/11 and during/after the great recession than the FP being paper). I don't like being tied to my phone, and I'm willing to wait in standby lines to a point. The only add on I considered was the FEA dessert party, but it didn't work with our schedule this trip. As the trips have become more frequent, I feel less compelled to cram everything in. While we were considering making the jump to deluxe next year the overall increases might keep us at a moderate level for now.

I just hope whatever change is coming gets announced before or with the 2020 package releases, so I can brief my family on what these changes mean.

 

[billlaurie]

We are the opposite in that we (typically) don’t see the value in staying “in the bubble” so if we can do some sort of add on and guarantee the few attractions ruins we can’t get FP for at 30 days (and thus have to rope drop and still save money vs staying on site we would consider it

Your point is valid and may force people who have stayed onsite to offsite locations to maintain the bottom line. For me, Disney would have to duplicate a system like UO where you get FP as a perk with certain resorts, otherwise I would consider staying offsite on future trips. My June trip, we are staying onsite in WDW, then moving to RPR with EP, then, to putz around more in FL, moving to a house that we rented in Clermont for barely over $100 a night, for EVERYBODY. I seriously would look at that as my WDW housing option with add ons and fewer park days if you have to start paying for FP.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Your point is valid and may force people who have stayed onsite to offsite locations to maintain the bottom line. For me, Disney would have to duplicate a system like UO where you get FP as a perk with certain resorts, otherwise I would consider staying offsite on future trips. My June trip, we are staying onsite in WDW, then moving to RPR with EP, then, to putz around more in FL, moving to a house that we rented in Clermont for barely over $100 a night, for EVERYBODY. I seriously would look at that as my WDW housing option with add ons and fewer park days if you have to start paying for FP.

exactly - I know a lot of people that do that, and then with jut a portion of the savings, pay for an extra morning hard ticket event or whatever .... that is what I am definitely thinking of doing for Galaxy's Edge if they offer something that gives you access to the land with reduced crowds

Does seem like the rumors point to their still being some advantage provided to those that stay on property - so will have to see the details around it to see what the trade off is

 

[Carrie Ellis]

So your $500 base ticket will allow you in the park for 7-8 days to just walk around? Maybe shop and spend more money....maybe buy some outrageous priced food.....see a parade? If I pay $500 to just walk around the parks for a week....what is the point? I know a lot of people who have not been to Disney and when I tell them the price of a ticket their mouth drops. But, I have always argued on Disney's side what you get for that price. I think I should be able to go to an amusement park, pay ticket price and expect to wait in line for a reasonable amount of time to ride a ride. Now if I choose not to wait the reasonable amount of time and purchase a front of the line pass then that is my prerogative but it should not be required past a reasonable amount of time. I am not waiting over an hour to ride a ride. If that is the case then I am not going. I don't know the solution but if the prices don't slow the heck down...we will not go every other year. That is for sure. Some might still go such as the singles, couples, well off families, etc... But, it can not be moderate average size families. My husband and I both work and do well but there is taxes, kids, college, insurance, cars, etc.. We can't be the minority. The first trip I made with my own family was in 2005. We pulled our RV from Virginia and camped at Fort Wilderness. They allowed us a military discount of 40% and our campsite was $29/night. Fast forward to this year, my mom and dad's site (December 2019) averages $175/night.

 

[Katrina Y]

I won't list an amount I would pay. Not giving Disney any ideas.

Exactly, if Disney’s people are reading our boards(which they most likely are) we are giving them a lot of encouragement to do this. Some people are posting so positively about this, Disney is probably feeling happy. The prices that are being thrown out are ridiculous for an average income family. Once they start charging for FP, there will be no going back......it will become more and more expensive over time.

 

[sherlockmiles]

I'm still reeling over the inability to edit photos or add borders, etc...........

this is just making me spin out of control........................

 

[KTR]

I am so fed up with these changes coming after a trip is already booked. I understand they had every right to open Galaxy Edge whenever they want to. But I did book under the assumption of late fall. Then they spring that open just a week before our trip. We were adjusting to the new dynamic of our planned family trip, starting to see how it could be a positive. Talking how we would strategize our FPs to make it work and then this rumor drops. I don't want to deal with more changes after we booked so far in advance, and I am sure many others feel the same way. The idea we might have to pay for FPs in addition to dealing with significantly higher crowds really upsets me and has completely taken the wind out of my sails for this upcoming trip. I know I am far from alone in feeling that our trip is being diminished in value.

 

[PrincessV]

Iv'e seen a lot of comparisons to and mentions of Universal's Express Pass (EP) in this discussion and just want to say that, in my personal experience, it's apples and oranges. I've never used EP at Uni, and haven't ever felt a need to. I used to be a Uni AP holder for several years and visited frequently, but never waited more than 30-45 mins for the most popular rides, excepting Gringott's when it first opened - I did wait 3 hours for that one, once, but never needed to wait more than an hour (and usually only around 40 mins) for it after that. I don't know if it's a matter of EP not holding up the standby lines as much at Uni as FP+ does at WDW, or overall fewer people trying to ride things at Uni, or a combination of both, but it's a really different experience.

 

[Remy is Up]

Companies use metrics to define the sweet spot between how much they can eliminate of the crowd and increase prices on the rest to the other end of the spectrum. I have felt for the longest time Disney is aiming to "thin the herd" so to speak. Not even Walt was under the misguided impression Disney is for "everyone" and should be priced as such. Then it comes to personal priorities and preferences. For my group, we chose to keep APs. We take trips elsewhere as well but manage to keep our 6 or so trips to Orlando yearly in place and do it by making sacrifices in other ways on our budget when we are not on a vacay. If they go to paid FPs then the reality is our group will decide if its worth it or not once the facts of the plan come out.

 

[scrappinginontario]

So your $500 base ticket will allow you in the park for 7-8 days to just walk around? Maybe shop and spend more money....maybe buy some outrageous priced food.....see a parade? If I pay $500 to just walk around the parks for a week....what is the point? I know a lot of people who have not been to Disney and when I tell them the price of a ticket their mouth drops. But, I have always argued on Disney's side what you get for that price. I think I should be able to go to an amusement park, pay ticket price and expect to wait in line for a reasonable amount of time to ride a ride. Now if I choose not to wait the reasonable amount of time and purchase a front of the line pass then that is my prerogative but it should not be required past a reasonable amount of time. I am not waiting over an hour to ride a ride. If that is the case then I am not going. I don't know the solution but if the prices don't slow the heck down...we will not go every other year. That is for sure. Some might still go such as the singles, couples, well off families, etc... But, it can not be moderate average size families. My husband and I both work and do well but there is taxes, kids, college, insurance, cars, etc.. We can't be the minority. The first trip I made with my own family was in 2005. We pulled our RV from Virginia and camped at Fort Wilderness. They allowed us a military discount of 40% and our campsite was $29/night. Fast forward to this year, my mom and dad's site (December 2019) averages $175/night.

While I like the FP system and utilize it daily, we also visit many rides/attractions via the standby line. I do not anticipate the upcoming change to mean that I would no longer be able to ride any rides if I don't pay the possible up-charge for FP.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

While I like the FP system and utilize it daily, we also visit many rides/attractions via the standby line. I do not anticipate the upcoming change to mean that I would no longer be able to ride any rides if I don't pay the possible up-charge for FP.

Just my thoughts.

We have waited in standby also but we are going to WDW to see the new stuff too. When the kids were younger we homeschooled and went at less busy times of the year. Now they are in college and we can still go before public school is let out but it is definitely busier. Most all rides that are newer have crazy waits during the more busy times. I have no desire to ride IASW and what not to avoid standing in line for an hour. I would like to see and ride the new stuff and not stand in line for 2-6 hours and I think my ticket should allow me to at a reasonable amount of time (or at all because avatar was pretty much a no way when we went May 2017 without FPs).

 

[danikoski]

In essence, besides the CL FP, they already charge for another tier 1 FP with the FEA dessert party. They charge $79 for that. I could easily see something similar for SWGE.

I'd be okay with add ons and maybe some extra on site benefits, while keeping the 3 FP system now, and releasing those not sold day of. I don't mind choices. We will see what happens. I'm also concerned with Disney IT handling the load. They barely handle the FP+ system now.

 

[jade1]

If I pay $500 to just walk around the parks for a week....what is the point? .

We do that-often.

Difference is (like I mentioned above) is "everybody is at a different point in our WDW lives".

We did roughly 10 trips last year on a $505 (tax included) AP (hopper). I think it was like $650 this year?

So a 365 day hopper for roughly the same as a 4 day hopper.

And yes, EPCOT is a nice stroll at 80 degrees (many times this winter) when its 30 below actual temp back here.

Also just a drop into MK for HEA is well worth it as well, as is Pandora.

So yes, we walked around a lot for $500, but def more than a week.

 

[Grumpy6264]

I know that we have no real idea of what will happen. But, if the benefit for staying onsite is the 'perk' of being able to pay to make FP+ early, I am going to be less than happy.

 

[Doug M]

Small correction: park hopping just went up. It is now $60 -$80, depending on length of ticket.

I’m also seeing most people respond to you with they won’t pay extra for any of your options. Reminds me of about 3 years ago. Nobody was going to pay extra for Disney After Hours events either. And now, there are DAH at 3 parks with great reviews, attendance increasing & some of them selling out.

So we can’t take what people say now as what they will or won’t do in a few years.

Why are you assuming those saying 0 become paying people after some time. Can't it be that those willing to fork over "any amount" down to some amount be those that are doing the paid extra hour?

 

[jade1]

exactly - I know a lot of people that do that, and then with jut a portion of the savings, pay for an extra morning hard ticket event or whatever .... that is what I am definitely thinking of doing for Galaxy's Edge if they offer something that gives you access to the land with reduced crowds

We are similar as well. No commando at all anymore.

So a few upsells or FP purchases are much more interesting, esp for SWGE.

We just do it mostly from our DVC Resort since it's cheaper than offsite anway. We do mix some in, esp with some work stays though.