Fastpass About This Page:

[TheGoof]

I noticed that in this years Birnbaum guide they have inserted the phrase "At press time Fastpass is free to all guests." I checked and the 2005 guidebook did not have that caveat, so that begs the question, is Fastpass going to become an extra charge item at some point?

[chezp]

Interesting. Let's hope not.

[simbarel]

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Interesting. Let's hope not.

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[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yeahthat.gif[/img] x 1 zillion

[ladyt]

There has been talk of there being different levels of FastPasses, for example if you stay at a deluxe resort you would get more FP's than if you stay at a value - but that is pure speculation at this point. There has also been talk of charging for FP, again, just a rumor.

I would be very shocked if Disney started charging or weighting FP's by resort any time in the near future. I don't think we have anything to worry about.

[Meggera]

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I don't think we have anything to worry about.

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I certainly hope not!

Laura

[LisaJ]

I certainly hope they don't charge for this feature, but I'm afraid that it is something that would make some bucks for WDW.

How many of you would pay a little extra to get to the front of the line???

I think a lot of us would.

[ilovedisney0_0]

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img]! That would be horrible! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] I [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] the perk of Fastpass, and would be mad if I had to pay extra for it! Amy

[mickey0823]

I sure hope that they don't start charging you for a fastpass. That would be terrible! -Jenn-

[DVC_Increda_Man]

The one thing I noticed this last trip (May 30 - June 8) was that the fastpass machines were still open at night.

[disneywithoutkids]

As we all know, the cost to go to WDW goes up a little every year. We all wait for the new prices to be available for the coming year so we can decide what type of vacation we can afford.

It is my feeling that IF Disney were to change who could get fast passes or how the system worked, I would think that this would be done in a way where a normal price increase would include an enhanced fast pass or would allow you to use it, but a lower price option would be offered that would not allow the use or allow restricted use of the system. This type of system would have little or no effect on people like us as we are all accustomed to paying a little more each year, but it would allow Disney to make additional monies from a feature that they have put into the fast pass system.

I don’t think the Disney would just suddenly start charging for past pass as this would cause people to think they were suddenly being charged for something that use to be free.

[TheGoof]

I am certainly not saying that they are going to start charging, but it is very clear that some change is being considered but had not been finalized in time to be included in the guidebook.

That verbiage has been the same in the book for years, and for it to change this time they must have been aware of something.

I posted it here to see if anyone had heard what those changes are likely to be. Sounds like noone has any concrete knowledge at this time. I personally would hate to see Fastpass become a perk or extra that is reserved for resort guests. I would have less problem with giving additional fastpasses based on level I suppose.

Frankly, I have never quite decided that Fastpass was a good idea anyway. Sure it lets you get on a ride sometimes quicker, but I'm not sure it does not actually make the wait times longer in general. I'm sure Disney has done studies on this, so I suppose it works out, but I have never quite been convinced of that.

Of course it is amazing how many people are not aware that it is a free service, and don't use it.

[RobinKay6573]

All I can say is they are going to alienate the locals if they change FP. What about all those AP holders that live in the area that rarely stay at the resorts? Are they SOL?

Maybe they changed the wording because people didn’t realize Fastpass is free. As an adult I have not know WDW w/o Fastpass.

[bradk]

for the record, birnbaum is my absolute least favorite guidebook. it's horribly inaccurate in a lot of places (i think it lists lunch at restaurantosaurus as a character meal), i just remember something weird about it.

[RobDVC]

One rumor I've heard is that Fastpass might become available only to Resort Guests.

[TheGoof]

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for the record, birnbaum is my absolute least favorite guidebook. it's horribly inaccurate in a lot of places (i think it lists lunch at restaurantosaurus as a character meal), i just remember something weird about it.

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Birnbaum's has to be read with a grain of salt, because regardless of what they say about being objective, they still are the Official Guide book, and they want to stay that way.

Having said that, I get it every year anyway, because, sometimes they do have information that others don't. They have archives to the best pictures (although they don't change very often) and they are the official guidebook. I also get my Passporter every year, because, I love the passpockets, and I love the outside look into things, particularly the ratings.

Birnbaum's is published before the end of the year though, and sometimes they get caught unaware on changes. Restaurants in particular change policies with little or know notice, so that does not surprise me in the least.

My least favorite guidebook is "The Unofficial Guide" because I find it to be remarkably negative, almost to the "Why would you possibly want to go to WDW... Well if you must heres what you should do."

But as I am wont to say, that is why they make Chocholate and Vanilla, to each their own.

As for Fastpass, I don't know what to make of it, other then that as I said before, clearly changes are being contemplated. What those changes are, is anybodies guess until an actual announcement is made. Speculating may be useless, but thats what rumors are, speculation based on incomplete facts.

Disney has done some silly things recently, note the Best Rate Plan for AP holders, which was pretty rotten, and has been dumped, so who knows what they think they can get away with. It's their deck, they hold the cards, and make the rules.