Fastpass About This Page:

[gwugirl03]

I too hope that this is just a rumor. I would hate to see them change the Fastpass system.

[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.

[jimmymac]

Universal has been quite successful with Express Pass / Express Pass Plus and head-of-the-line access for itts guests, so I expect Disney to follow shortly. If they can get away with charging for it, why not?

[redsback]

If they charged for Fastpass, I would think they would have to do something to ensure you actually get a Fastpass for what you want. It's always been my experience that they really popular rides run out of Fastpasses so early in the day that you have to rush to get one as soon as you get in the park that day.

[bradk]

it's really not likely that Disney will charge for the FP altogether. If anything, they'll either restrict it to disney resort guests (the most likely candidate) or they will introduce a tiered level, either restricting the additional level to resort guests, or charging for it, which will be a bad move since people tend to complain for how much disney charges for everything anyway. the additional level would probably offer some additional perk like reduced wait times or the ability to get other fastpasses immediately.

in any case, it's all speculation. until they actually do something, it's not worth talking about.

[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.

[Dave Marx]

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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.

[/ QUOTE ]

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. :::snip:::


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Birnbaum's is produced by Disney Editions, a part of the Disney organization. They have no fear of ever losing their status as "official." However, being on the inside doesn't mean they have as much access to insider information as folks might think. Disney is a very secretive organization, and in my recollection there has been very little advanced-knowlege information that finds its way into that guide. The company is very worried about cast members leaking information. With the long lead-time needed for book production and the number of people who get to see what's in the book prior to publication... few Disney managers would take the risk on giving a "scoop" to Birnbaum's.

I'd say that the editors made this particular change for reasons other than knowing that something would change. More likely, a lawyer somewhere in the organization wanted to keep the company in the clear should that situation change at some point in the future. Disney lawyers and management really don't like guests saying, "It's right here, in your book..." That thinking is a good part of the reason Disney doesn't sell non-Disney guidebooks in the parks - "It says right here, in this book that you sold to me..." One of Disney's managment mantras is, "No unreasonable guest expectations." I suppose someone decided that expecting FASTPASS to be free forever might just constitute an unreasonable expectation. So they hedged their bets.

At least, that's the way I read things. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[TheGoof]

Dave,

Thanks as always for your points.

Trust me when I say, I love my Passporter. You, Jennifer and Allie do a great job! If I had to pick one guidebook it would definitely be Passporter.

[bradk]

i should also note on the tangent, birnbaum's really isn't my least favorite, but i'll spare the details (it's not passporter by any means!). but birnbaum's is down there. horribly inaccurate. you'd expect more from the 'official' line. that's all i'm saying.

[DyanKJ130]

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birnbaum's is down there. horribly inaccurate. you'd expect more from the 'official' line. that's all i'm saying.

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[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yeahthat.gif[/img]

[Grumpygal]

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

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All I have to say is that if this rumor would ever become a fact it could cause all kinds of ticketing problems. With an AP I don't have my park admission on my resort key card. So how would something like that even work?