Update from Disney Investor Conference on future projects/Reserving ride times - Page 4 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I can't say I am a fan of this idea. I am a planner and do enjoy researching and deciding where I want to eat six months in advance of our trip, but......... picking out ride times? That seems a bit much to me.
We are a family that enjoys the spontaneity of our trips. ADRs are one thing, but I don't think our trips would go very well if I had to tell DD or DH "No, you can't do this, because we have to go ride that".
Like everyone else has said, I am not sure how I feel about this either. I can't imagine scheduling what time I would ride certain things, but I have a brother-in-law who would probably be all over it! Our family is much more relaxed about planning, other than ADR's, but when I mentioned to my DBIL that we make "loose plans" for each day we are at WDW he looked at me and said, "what exactly are loose plans?"
Please, don't jump to conclusions based on a short web site blurb (it's hardly even an article). This all goes back to a long report by Parks and Resorts chairman Tom Staggs. He never said (or hinted) that it would be an extra-charge service. Nowhere was it suggested that you could ONLY get a FASTPASS if you reserved ahead of time, or that you couldn't visit the parks unless you used this system, or any number of other conclusions folks seem to have jumped to.
The best I can see, it's just going to be one more way to obtain a FASTPASS (and to obtain FASTPASSes for things you can't get one for today). Nobody makes you get a FASTPASS today, and nobody is likely to force you to book your FASTPASSes in advance tomorrow. It'll be there if you want to use it, and Disney will most likely design it so that plenty of folks will like the idea of using it. (Another way to say this is, "If you hate the idea, than that's probably not the way Disney's actually going to do it.")
Considering the number of people who do make detailed touring plans, I can't imagine Disney requiring the other 99.9999% to start making detailed touring plans. BUT, for those who do make detailed touring plans, this should be pretty cool. For those who already know how to make the most of the FASTPASS system, this looks like another way they can make use of the system.
I saw no indication in Tom Staggs' comments that this would be a paid system. In fact, in order for the company to use the system to optimize crowd control and park utilization as he described, it almost definitely has to be available to far, far more people than would ever want to pay for it. My bet is on a free system that will give people incentives to plan ahead. Only then is it likely to be popular enough for it to have a significant impact on park operations.
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I can't say I am a fan of this idea. I am a planner and do enjoy researching and deciding where I want to eat six months in advance of our trip, but......... picking out ride times? That seems a bit much to me.
We are a family that enjoys the spontaneity of our trips. ADRs are one thing, but I don't think our trips would go very well if I had to tell DD or DH "No, you can't do this, because we have to go ride that".
Same here!!!
If this did become a thing of the future, I wouldn't be one to use it, dining is one thing you can always figure out when you know you might want to eat, but picking ride times, and then saying to the kids sorry but we can't its not our time yet, doesn't seem like it would go well.
Lots of these options have been pointed out as having been included in the original patent for FastPass. Up until now, Disney has not implemented any of them.
And, it's my opinion, that if they do, it will be less a requirement for the "pantsers (who fly by the seat of theirs...) and more of an enhancement for the plotters (who have everything in color-coded spreadsheets)...
Like, they will offer 20 places per hour for "reserved" FPs, and the rest of the FPs for that hour will operate as they have since the system was put in place.
I can just see it, some kid having a screaming fit (maybe mine!) and the parents not willing to give it up and head out of the park for a nap because they've planned to ride Peter Pan or something.
This wouldn't work for our family, because we don't like to plan to that degree. I'll be curious what comes of it and how it affects crowd levels and lines if they do implement it.
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15 total family trips with stays at the Poly, AKL, Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, Swan, Dolphin, POFQ, Pop Century, All Star Music, Movies & Sports, and Coronado Springs.
I agree with others that I am not fond of this idea at all. I like being able to go ride what I want when I want and not have to constantly be looking at my watch saying oh i cant ride this we have to go ride that,. that would not be fun to do on a vacation to constantly be checking your watch every minute of the day. I mean getting my keys at home would be cool but not the ride time thing. its not a good idea at all. I hope my beloved Disney does not do this.
It's all very interesting. I was probably more interested in what they had to say about the expansion plans for Hong Kong Disneyland, as I want to go back when those are complete. I just hope they don't end up being too similar to other parks - the fact that their Toy Story Land is being compared to Disneyland Paris didn't enthuse me. I like it when there are unique attractions and lands at each park.
Good to hear that the Japanese market is showing a lot of interest in Aulani - perhaps that will persuade the Disney Vacation Club to one day introduce a resort at Tokyo Disney?
Off-topic: What is Disneyland Paris like? My wife is now, most likely, going to be taking quarterly business trips to France about 1.5 hours outside of Paris. DD and myself may tag along one time once she gets a passport and go to Disneyland Paris while she's working.
I would think the Japanese market would be all over Aulani since it's a travel destitation that they go to a lot. The question would be is there enough for them to purchase a more local product because I don't know if the external market is there for a Tokyo Disney DVC property.
All FP issues aside, as the mom of a DS who is a Lightning McQueen fanatic, I can't wait to see this new 12 acre CARS LAND that he talks about. I may never be able to get DS out of there
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PREVIOUS TRIPS: 1997- Off-site, 2002-Contemporary, 2009- POFQ, 2011- Beach Club, 2012- Disney Magic, 2013 Disney Fantasy
My thought on the "vacation long" FP is that of course it would be an extra expense, but maybe it would work like the GADGAD FPs worked? Like, you pay for however many days you are in the parks and it's only for certain rides/shows and it lets you get 3 or so instant FPs for that park for any of those rides for that day...instead of the traditional FPs which tie you to a return time.
If that's the case, I would be willing to pay a little extra for that. It would mean not having to super plan out every minute of your day, but having the bonus of being able to get on the more popular rides multiples times and a little bit faster than someone who hasn't purchased one.
What I would love to see is the parks become wi-fi enabled and have access to true updated wait times, ADRs availability, and even FP tickets. To be in line or at a meal break and be able to sit down and get a FP from my phone or make a dinner ADR without having to cross the park from where I am would be great. It seems no matter how we try to plan we end up crossing the parks many times getting FPs then going to what we want to do next then back to the ride we FPed.
YES! What he said! I'd PAY for that option. Fantastic idea!
As for the whole 'new concept', if you read the entire press release, you'll only find two paragraphs about the new pass reservation system thing, and it is pretty vague. I'll copy/paste it here:
Quote:
We’ve launched a number of initiatives over the years, including
FASTPASS and Magical Express, and they’ve been incredibly popular
with our guests. But we plan to take these kinds of enhancements even
further. Giving our guests faster and better access to the fun is the
centerpieces of our investment in technology. As a result, we are
currently developing an innovative system that will, in essence, create a
version of FASTPASS for their entire Disney vacations. Now we define the
guest experience as beginning from the time a potential guest sits down
at a computer or picks up a phone to make a reservation. Our new tools
will help them better understand all that we have to offer and better plan
their time with us. They’ll be able to create a personalized itinerary that
gives them the exact Disney vacation they want.
Guests will be able to reserve times for their favorite attractions and
character interactions… secure seats at our shows and spectaculars…
make dining reservations… and pre-book many other favorite guest
experiences – all before even leaving their house. We also plan to simplify
the check-in process so that guests will arrive at the resort with room
key in hand. They will be able to go straight to their room or a theme
park – again, allowing them to get to the fun faster.
I also have confidence that it will enhance the experience rather than detract from it. And I can say this even though I'm a person who is annoyed by having to book dining 6 months out. If it makes a trip easier for an informed individual or family, and I am personally an informed individual...well, then I win!
EDIT--webmaster/person in charge of this type of thing...after posting this, i wondered if it was ok for me to copy/paste the actual text into this post. it seems like if it was allowed, it would have been done already--so if i did something wrong by posting it here, i'm terribly sorry! i just wanted people to be able to view it easily, as it is at the end of a several-pages-long attachment. i'm a teacher...i can't help trying to be helpful!
Those quotes are OK under the circumstances. The original document is very long, so these are reasonable excerpts to quote. There is also no practical way to provide links directly to the pertinent sections of the document.
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Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
What came to mind for me as I read the document is that Disney might start providing information similar to that on TouringPlans.com or Tour Guide Mike, allowing families to create customized touring plans based on Disney's information on crowd levels and patterns.
Within that, they might also then allow people to get FPs for a larger window of time (maybe even an entire day). While I'm not fond of the idea of making an ADR for a ride at a specific time 180 days out, I would be open to getting a FP that would be good for an entire day (and eliminating the arguments about whether or not a FP has to be used within the time window on the ticket or if it can be used any time after.)
I also felt that they are really looking at ways of making queues more interactive and more integrated into the attraction. Honestly, I can't wait to see the new Winnie the Pooh line...it sounds as much fun as the ride, maybe even more so! I would love to see them add more of this kind of things to their rides. I guess I'll just wait and see how it all pans out and trust that Disney will make wise decisions.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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I just hope they don't end up being too similar to other parks - the fact that their Toy Story Land is being compared to Disneyland Paris didn't enthuse me. 
I like it when there are unique attractions and lands at each park. 
Michelle - with my step sisters!
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