Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[SaharanTea]

I think they drop it to an extent, push less headliners to be released to free but if it is absolutely necessary to entice people from a land that is an issue they probably will and the average user won't even second guess it. The refresh trick isn't much a trick but a deliberate design of the system so the parks are operated at "peak" efficiency by controlling crowds.

I agree with you. Calling it a trick at all doesn't make sense. It's how every web-based system works where data is constantly updated by the provider. Weather radars, opening of any sales items like tickets or announced merchandise releases, and any other timed web announcement all work this way.

When you log in to grab your ADRs, do you log back off and give up when they don't show available at 6:00 a.m. 180 days out? Heck no, you refresh the page because your computer's time isn't exactly synced with Disney's servers.

This constant reference to the "refresh method" as some obscure hack is really weird. Literally everyone can do it, and it works the same for any dynamic data system that we use every single day.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

I agree with you. Calling it a trick at all doesn't make sense. It's how every web-based system works where data is constantly updated by the provider. Weather radars, opening of any sales items like tickets or announced merchandise releases, and any other timed web announcement all work this way.

When you log in to grab your ADRs, do you log back off and give up when they don't show available at 6:00 a.m. 180 days out? Heck no, you refresh the page because your computer's time isn't exactly synced with Disney's servers.

This constant reference to the "refresh method" as some obscure hack is really weird. Literally everyone can do it, and it works the same for any dynamic data system that we use every single day.

THIS!!!

You hit the nail right on the head. I think what it comes down to is a lot of people just don't think about it in the way you said. How often do you refresh your window on your desktop because something is taking too long, or you you're on a forum and want to see new messages a bit quicker, or you're waiting to buy that Penatatonix ticket that doesn't go on sale til exactly 11am EST. I guess because some of us do it so much without thinking about it, you hear about a GREAT way to pick up same day FPs or another FP for FoP by "refreshing", you get excited because it "sounds" new. First off, why in the world would I keep closing out the app to open it up to check to see if something changed? Or close out my Internet browser and open the page again to see what happened? That, in itself could very well "cost you" that FEA or SDD FP to the person who just swiped their screen again or hit the time again.

Make sense?

 

[jhoannam]

Man I really hope this doesn’t get implemented until late fall, I really want one last FP refresh trip. That was awesome last trip, not that the crowds were there but it was nice the couple time we needed it.

 

[JK World]

I would guess that DH and I would take advantage of paid FP if the advantage was given to those staying onsite. We feel like the current FP system takes more planning than we both had to do for our masters thesis!

As a professional event planner, I actually love the detailed planning aspect of WDW! I realize I'm an anomaly, but it is great to know that I can almost guarantee a good, efficient day with research and planning. I already have 3 different plans (complete with parks, custom touring plans and restaurants chosen) for our November 2019 trip, lol.

Whatever changes they do, if it is something that takes away the planning aspect and leaves me racing around a park with a preschooler, I would likely find a new vacation destination. Although I grew up in Anaheim, I only visit WDW as an adult due in large part to FP+!

 

[Cluelyss]

THIS!!!

You hit the nail right on the head. I think what it comes down to is a lot of people just don't think about it in the way you said. How often do you refresh your window on your desktop because something is taking too long, or you you're on a forum and want to see new messages a bit quicker, or you're waiting to buy that Penatatonix ticket that doesn't go on sale til exactly 11am EST. I guess because some of us do it so much without thinking about it, you hear about a GREAT way to pick up same day FPs or another FP for FoP by "refreshing", you get excited because it "sounds" new. First off, why in the world would I keep closing out the app to open it up to check to see if something changed? Or close out my Internet browser and open the page again to see what happened? That, in itself could very well "cost you" that FEA or SDD FP to the person who just swiped their screen again or hit the time again.

Make sense?

While I don’t disagree with any of this, I will say that the first time I logged in at 180 days to do my ADRs and couldn’t get a reservation I wanted, I assumed it was full and I was out of luck. It wasn’t until a Disney vet let me in on the ability / need to constantly check back that I would have even considered doing it. So for first timers, are they really refreshing the way the vets are? Do they know to? Or do they see that FOP is fully distributed for the day and assume that it really is?

 

[anomamatt]

While I don’t disagree with any of this, I will say that the first time I logged in at 180 days to do my ADRs and couldn’t get a reservation I wanted, I assumed it was full and I was out of luck. It wasn’t until a Disney vet let me in on the ability / need to constantly check back that I would have even considered doing it. So for first timers, are they really refreshing the way the vets are? Do they know to? Or do they see that FOP is fully distributed for the day and assume that it really is?

I agree. It's obvious once you have done it, but when MDE says "FP+ distribution is finished for the day" for a park, who in their right mind would keep refreshing? (besides us crazy people). The dynamic nature of FP+ isn't made clear by any means, so first timers would absolutely see no 7DMT left and think they are all gone for the day...

 

[TheMaxRebo]

As a professional event planner, I actually love the detailed planning aspect of WDW! I realize I'm an anomaly, but it is great to know that I can almost guarantee a good, efficient day with research and planning. I already have 3 different plans (complete with parks, custom touring plans and restaurants chosen) for our November 2019 trip, lol.

Whatever changes they do, if it is something that takes away the planning aspect and leaves me racing around a park with a preschooler, I would likely find a new vacation destination. Although I grew up in Anaheim, I only visit WDW as an adult due in large part to FP+!

You are not alone - I love the planning aspect! I don’t plan the days out to the minute but love being able to know ahead of time what headliners we were able to get FPs for and what time s and work the days around those.

We adjust on the fly as need be but I love getting my spreadsheets ready ahead of time and mapping out a good and optimized game plan

 

[Remy is Up]

I agree with you. Calling it a trick at all doesn't make sense. It's how every web-based system works where data is constantly updated by the provider. Weather radars, opening of any sales items like tickets or announced merchandise releases, and any other timed web announcement all work this way.

When you log in to grab your ADRs, do you log back off and give up when they don't show available at 6:00 a.m. 180 days out? Heck no, you refresh the page because your computer's time isn't exactly synced with Disney's servers.

This constant reference to the "refresh method" as some obscure hack is really weird. Literally everyone can do it, and it works the same for any dynamic data system that we use every single day.

You are correct but on any given day maybe 25% of the total guests have a clue how to use fps, must less refresh. It's not a trick as you said. It's just knowing how to do it.
Like I said I'll wait to see how they frame this itll make refresh easier and better or it will basically eliminate it.

 

[Bing Showei]

Well I personally don't equate sweatshops with offering paid extras available to theme park guests. As a shareholder if you do, maybe its time to sell and keep your kids away from anything Disney related.

I'm not sure if you didn't understand my post or if you're just straw manning me, but in case it's the former, a paid FP and 6-year-old-Chinese-laboring-hands equivalence was never drawn.

My point was that there are logical reasons why chasing that bottom line just because Disney can, may not be the best move in the long term, financially.

Over the course of the last couple of years alone, we've seen reduced park staffing during slower times, increased upcharge events, replacing CM photographers with camera boxes, parking fees, and recently a failed point reallocation on the DVC side that would've benefited Disney over the membership disproportionately.

On it's own, this potential FP upcharge would've been an outrage-of-the-hour, but when looking at this potential change in context of other choices we've seen Disney make, I do worry about the company's brand image and how it is providing fodder for the corporate greed argument.

With record profits within the parks division nearing $5B (pent up demand after the last recession unwinding aside), Disney itself is furthering the perception that the push for bigger and bigger profits are a priority and being made, at the expense of some of the most devoted families, in order to support the company's media endeavors. True or not, optics matter.

And that's a reality that any investor should be watching carefully; it doesn't take the discovery of a sweatshop in Cinderella's basement to hurt Disney's image.

 

[charmed59]

As much as I dislike the constraints of timed windows, I hope they keep them. We visited a smaller amusement park with an Express Pass-type option. The standby line would come to a stop for 10-15 minutes when rushes of people showed up in the Express line. It was incredibly frustrating when the line completely stopped. I came home from that park and started planning my next Disney trip.

The last time I was at AK that’s exactly how every standby line worked. Though The Dino ride claimed to have a 20 minute standby we waited 45 minutes for the first pre show. I don’t know if a ride went down and there were a ton of anytime FPS floating around or if all the DAS people in the park simultaneously wanted to ride that ride but there was a constant stream of people in the FP line.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

I just hope they roll this rumored program before Christmas. Whatever it is, I would bet they have tons of research behind it and it will be for the better.

 

[mom2rtk]

Not everything has to be a headliner though. You can do smaller rides that still eat a lot of people. I imagine a third ride in Pandora would have spread crowds better.

You hit the nail squarely on the head. Unfortunately they're not building things to spread crowds. They're in the business lately of condensing crowds (by not having a third attraction in Pandora or SWL and by reducing staffing during lower crowd times). They're building things to create buzz and bring more crowds.

 

[LovePug]

Currently I stay on site for the 60-day FP window and the ease of transportation to the parks. And I like being in the bubble. But if they don't give me an advantage to booking FP's for staying on site, I would think about something else. Especially with a growing family. It would be silly of them to not retain some advantage to on site guests.

This, exactly. I'm new to staying onsite and I specifically do for the 60 day FP window. It will be interesting to see if this rumor pans out and how it will be implemented. Our upcoming trip is the last one for a couple years because we plan on doing Universal in 2020. I'll be following along on the board, to see what happens, though.

 

[wareagle57]

Man I really hope this doesn’t get implemented until late fall, I really want one last FP refresh trip. That was awesome last trip, not that the crowds were there but it was nice the couple time we needed it.

No matter what the new system looks like, I just do not see the ability to refresh going away. They would either have to give the paid perk to all onsite guests, or severely decrease the capacity distributed to FP. Currently, FP is FREE to everyone, and yet 4th and 5th FP availability flows abundantly well into the afternoon. Less people are going to pay for it than are getting it for free. If they simply "don't allow" you to get additional FP past your prebooked ones, then something drastic is going to happen. The paid perk would have to be given to all onsite guests, or it would have to include 10+ FP at a price that tons of people are actually willing to pay for it. I think it's much more likely things will continue to operate as they do now, and we will see something similar to the Club Level offerings extended to everyone, and perhaps they make certain rides unavailable to prebook unless you pay. And when those inevitably don't sell out, they will be put back in the pool day of.

 

[jade1]

I agree. It's obvious once you have done it, but when MDE says "FP+ distribution is finished for the day" for a park, who in their right mind would keep refreshing? (besides us crazy people). The dynamic nature of FP+ isn't made clear by any means, so first timers would absolutely see no 7DMT left and think they are all gone for the day...

"But keep checking back to Purchase any FP+ that may open up".

Have that CC on your account ready though.

 

[jade1]

My nephew and his family are DVC members and I just look at it all in amazement. They don't really seem to care about much. They go very casually, having not ever considered reserving 60 day out fast passes until I starting coming with them three years ago. I would be mortified about the upcoming changes if I were in their shoes. I let my AP expire and don't plan on buying another until I'm actually living down there. When I'm mostly retired and have all the time in the world, I probably won't mind standby lines for a top tier ride. As a vacationing commando, standby isn't doable. Not having unlimited cash for upgrades is an absolute though, so this FP situation could turn out to be horrifying for me in the mean time.

As DVC, we do some 60 day but not many. You would be amazed coming with us as well I think. We will meet you in a park around 4PM at the soonest.

 

[Iowamomof4]

"But keep checking back to Purchase any FP+ that may open up".

Have that CC on your account ready though.

Ooo, you just figured out their sinister plot behind starting mobile order at quick service restaurants! It was a test for mobile FP+ ordering!

 

[snappy]

Coming: alerts from MDE of flash sales for availability of E ride FP’s as you approach the vicinity of the E ride.

 

[mom2rtk]

Coming: alerts from MDE of flash sales for availability of E ride FP’s as you approach the vicinity of the E ride.

If you look back through some of those epic fastpass threads of years gone by, there were lots of predictions of that coming. Looks like Disney finally realized they didn't have the inventory to do that so is considering clawing back some of what they previously "gave away".

 

[jade1]

Ooo, you just figured out their sinister plot behind starting mobile order at quick service restaurants! It was a test for mobile FP+ ordering!

Can't ya see wating all the way through SB and at the last second, the FP for it opens up (assuming its not insanely expensive which it probably will be). I guess if it's a good enough attraction-could go again if you wanted.