Paid FP options coming soon to WDW?

[DisneyRobin]

I've been at some of the busiest times of the year (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years) the last couple years and have had no trouble getting FPs for any ride, before hand and extra ones while I'm there. Including for my upcoming trip during W&D.

You are very lucky!! We don’t have that kind of luck. We only visit during the busy times and I try refreshing over and over to get more fastpasses but the headliners never seem to pop up (and we don’t like to wait in those very long lines).

Last time we were there in feb during presidents week, we were happy that they offered the early morning toy story package and the early morning mk package.

I just wish they’d offer something that we could purchase for our November trip so we don’t have to waste our vacation time in lines! As I mentioned, we don’t want to walk around with a tour guide to get in fp lines - we just want the passes so we can do it ourselves.

 

[EmJ]

This might be slightly off topic, but can anyone help me understand why the hard FastPass/paid electronic MaxPass system can’t or won’t work at WDW as it does at DL? Is it just volume of people?

 

[mom2rtk]

This might be slightly off topic, but can anyone help me understand why the hard FastPass/paid electronic MaxPass system can’t or won’t work at WDW as it does at DL? Is it just volume of people?

Nobody says it can't work. But they are so heavily invested in the current system, I think it's "too big to fail".

Additionally, Disney pulls in vast amounts of data from the current system that they would likely never want to give up.

 

[EmJ]

Nobody says it can't work. But they are so heavily invested in the current system, I think it's "too big to fail".

Additionally, Disney pulls in vast amounts of data from the current system that they would likely never want to give up.

Ah yes. The data

 

[Sarah1024]

I would love to buy some extra fast passes!!

Same lol

 

[Sarah1024]

I've been at some of the busiest times of the year (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years) the last couple years and have had no trouble getting FPs for any ride, before hand and extra ones while I'm there. Including for my upcoming trip during W&D.

Are you traveling alone? Or with only one person? Because with a group of four, it is much harder. I also have difficulty getting the FP's I want the day of. I went last March and it was INSANE and hardly got any day of FP's (besides at MK, and it wasn't any headliners). I went this past month when Dorian "struck" and it was a completely different story. We're going this December 10 to 18 and I definitely paid for a CL room with CL FP's, not only because of the tiering, but because it's going to be so busy. There is virtually no availability at the hotels. With two small children, we just aren't going to wait in 60 minute lines.

 

[disneygirlsng]

Are you traveling alone? Or with only one person? Because with a group of four, it is much harder. I also have difficulty getting the FP's I want the day of. I went last March and it was INSANE and hardly got any day of FP's (besides at MK, and it wasn't any headliners). I went this past month when Dorian "struck" and it was a completely different story. We're going this December 10 to 18 and I definitely paid for a CL room with CL FP's, not only because of the tiering, but because it's going to be so busy. There is virtually no availability at the hotels. With two small children, we just aren't going to wait in 60 minute lines.

Usually between 2-4, occasionally solo. I don't usually count the times that I'm solo as I know that it makes it much easier.

 

[TDSAXX]

We are generally a party of 3; but I’ve travelled with as many as 7and I’ve never had any trouble getting plenty of free FPs even during the busiest times of the year. I don’t need nor do I want paid FPs.

 

[ChimCher-ee]

I'm going to be very unhappy when the FP I pay for gets cancelled due to weather, and I'm issued one of those use-anywhere FPs that renders all the other rides still open at, say AK or DHS, unbearable. Or vice versa, when my FP window gets swamped for the same reason. Not sure I want to pay for FPs.

 

[NickC]

I feel like we are already paying for FP+. They've invested a lot of money in the current system, and part of our ticket prices go towards covering that. The way I see it is, if they want another price increase, they can either raise the ticket prices, or start charging for FP+. It's just a matter of deciding what has better (less-worse) PR.

 

[Jake]

Current system of FastPass is not that great as it is. You stay at there hotel. Buy tickets, you can pick FastPass 60 days before the trip and still can not get what you want. You can only get TT or soaring. If you had to pay for FP There has to be a better system. Plus hotel guest will have an harder time getting good FP.

 

[fla4fun]

I will never pay for FP. I didn’t use paper FP because of all the extra backtracking, so if it goes to paid FP I will go back to standby. I won’t be nickel and dimed.

Fortunately I do not like thrill rides, so that helps.

 

[Alynw]

I will never pay for FP. I didn’t use paper FP because of all the extra backtracking, so if it goes to paid FP I will go back to standby. I won’t be nickel and dimed.

Fortunately I do not like thrill rides, so that helps.

Yep, I agree. I also will never pay for fastpass now that Disney has increased the cost of every single thing possible. If the overall cost was still somewhat reasonable and they just added a small fee to ensure u get the premium rides fastpass, I'd probably entertain the option. But now that they have increased the cost of everything so high, I will not pay for fastpass or anything else outside the norm for that matter.

 

[ChrisM]

I'll buck the trend: I would absolutely pay for Fastpass. Especially one that was instantly redeemable. In fact, I'm extremely disappointed it's not offered now.

In the meantime, my dreams of being able to casually tour theme parks at my own pace can only be realized at Universal.

 

[Alynw]

I'll buck the trend: I would absolutely pay for Fastpass. Especially one that was instantly redeemable. In fact, I'm extremely disappointed it's not offered now.

In the meantime, my dreams of being able to casually tour theme parks at my own pace can only be realized at Universal.

Well, according to some u might very well get ur wish. This is just my opinion but I do not believe we will see this any time soon. The way things are starting to shape with lower than normal attendance, moving forward I think Disney will be really careful with anymore price increases or paid privileges. Its really to early to know if the sudden drop in attendance is from possible hurricane season and the last big scare with Dorian or if its truly because people now can't afford it or just refuse to pay such high prices. Because of this I don't think we will see paid fp.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I'll buck the trend: I would absolutely pay for Fastpass. Especially one that was instantly redeemable. In fact, I'm extremely disappointed it's not offered now.

In the meantime, my dreams of being able to casually tour theme parks at my own pace can only be realized at Universal.

It kind of does exist, the VIP tour guides. I wouldn’t expect Disney places the value of an instant, anytime Fastpass much lower than that, probably a little higher if you broke it down paying by FP or number of FP instead of by the hour.

If Disney sold this it would have to be cost prohibitive to limit use (like the VIP guides), if not it would either sell out ultra fast assuming a limited number or be virtually useless as it would majorly bog down already busy lines. I can’t see how Disney could implement what Universal has.

 

[ChrisM]

It kind of does exist, the VIP tour guides. I wouldn’t expect Disney places the value of an instant, anytime Fastpass much lower than that, probably a little higher if you broke it down paying by FP or number of FP instead of by the hour.

If Disney sold this it would have to be cost prohibitive to limit use (like the VIP guides), if not it would either sell out ultra fast assuming a limited number or be virtually useless as it would majorly bog down already busy lines. I can’t see how Disney could implement what Universal has.

In no way do I think an instant use FP would be cheap, but I believe a market exists for such a thing, even at very high prices, that wouldn't encroach on the VIP Tour business.

The pricing doesn't discourage me, but I have no real interest in a VIP Tour because I don't need or want to be shuttled around backstage at the parks or be escorted around by a handler. But more than that, I'm convinced that a core feature of the "Disney Genie" app will be paid FP options which will not only cater to the type of patron I'm describing, but also the impulse buyer/instant gratification hook. It will be expensive, yes, but Disney knows that on a crowded, hot day with two kids crying about waiting an hour for Splash Mountain, John Doe might think the $260 for 4 instant use Fastpasses might feel like the best money he ever spent.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

In no way do I think an instant use FP would be cheap, but I believe a market exists for such a thing, even at very high prices, that wouldn't encroach on the VIP Tour business.

The pricing doesn't discourage me, but I have no real interest in a VIP Tour because I don't need or want to be shuttled around backstage at the parks or be escorted around by a handler. But more than that, I'm convinced that a core feature of the "Disney Genie" app will be paid FP options which will not only cater to the type of patron I'm describing, but also the impulse buyer/instant gratification hook. It will be expensive, yes, but Disney knows that on a crowded, hot day with two kids crying about waiting an hour for Splash Mountain, John Doe might think the $260 for 4 instant use Fastpasses might feel like the best money he ever spent.

Oh I’m sure a market exists just like for the VIP tour. If nothing else, Disney is fantastic at parting people with their money. Give people a mediocre dessert with that $260 to ride splash and it’s a big seller .

I just don’t think Disney can have a program similar to Universal’s express pass without major issues. I brought up the tour guides because I think we can look to things like that to get a ballpark for what Disney would charge if paid no strings attached FP are a thing.

 

[ChrisM]

Oh I’m sure a market exists just like for the VIP tour. If nothing else, Disney is fantastic at parting people with their money. Give people a mediocre dessert with that $260 to ride splash and it’s a big seller .

I just don’t think Disney can have a program similar to Universal’s express pass without major issues. I brought up the tour guides because I think we can look to things like that to get a ballpark for what Disney would charge if paid no strings attached FP are a thing.

Completely agreed. As things currently stand, I don't see how Disney could implement something like Universal's Express Pass.

I am super interested to see how Disney decides to roll out paid FP and what the pricing looks like. It will be painful but also fascinating.

 

[Tessaf]

Paid FastPass already exists in the trial program for club level guests. I always suspected it was a trial to gauge how receptive people would be to actually paying for FP.