XPass

[skier_pete]

Originally Posted by nytimez

Agreed.

As for RFID, I haven't heard too much -- but I think you launch a trial like that on a limited and off-the-beaten path location (back gate as Epcot has the lowest foot traffic of any park entrance) knowing there will be problems, bugs and other kinks... then you tweak/change the system based on how it operates in that real-world test.

Kind of off the main topic - but I wanted to comment on the RFID test at Epcot, since we got to participate in it. #1 is was NOT at the back gate, but at the main gate. #2 when we were there anyways (11/16) it did NOT go smooth. There were about 10 people in front of us and it took about 5 minutes to get through the gate. When you are there early in the morning, you really don't want to spend your time standing at the gate...so I was getting annoyed. Then we got up, and the sensor worked for 2 of our party, but not for the other 2. So, unless they eventually got it working better, the trial should not be considered a "success".

I am not thrilled with the idea of having a pay-for-premium xpass/FP, but as long as they limit the # that are available each day in each park, and they keep the availability of a free FP then I am OK. The whole idea of having to pay extra so that I can wait in shorter lines just pisses me off a LOT, and I am not one to complain about the changes Disney implements. (One reason I've been in no hurry at all to go back to Universal.) Part of why I don't understand constant whining about FP is that there is no extra cost to it and it is a system that is been in place for a while. Either use it or don't use it. If they charge me to extra to use it, you better believe I'll be *****ing.

[mcd2745]

Originally Posted by Azrael

Whn I'm on vacation, I don't want to have to plan when to eat, where to eat, which park to be in on any given day, etc. I don't understand why Disney execs feel that this is something that people want.
Vacation should be just that-VACATION.

Originally Posted by anthony2k7

i think you're in the minority on this one. generally people on here seem to love planning every detail. plus, I know in park surveys have asked how much people plan as well.

Here on the DIS, there is little doubt that a vast majority like to plan every detail - right down to their bathroom breaks it seems. Is that the majority overall for all WDW guests? Probably not. It does seem to me however, that for whatever reason, that the ultra-planners as a group seem to have Disney's "ear" more than anyone else. Why else would there be a 180-day window to make ADRs?

[doconeill]

Originally Posted by mcd2745

Here on the DIS, there is little doubt that a vast majority like to plan every detail - right down to their bathroom breaks it seems. Is that the majority overall for all WDW guests? Probably not. It does seem to me however, that for whatever reason, that the ultra-planners as a group seem to have Disney's "ear" more than anyone else. Why else would there be a 180-day window to make ADRs?

Disney basically made getting ADRs a requirement through a whole lot of things, not the least of which was the dining plans (and especially free dining). If you wanted to sit down and be waited on at the restaurant of your choice, you needed to get an ADR, because the restaurant would be full. Didn't really have a lot to do with ultra-planners. It just snowballed.

Disney did cut back the ADR time to 90 days for a while, but went back up to 180 days. I think it was to dilute the callers better as fewer guests would be ready to call right at the 180 mark than the 90 mark.

[DisneyGoerGurl]

meh. kind of takes the fun out of trying to get the best spot... and it kind of makes disney seem greedy :/ i understand they're a company and their goal is to make money, which is understandable, but... really? it's a bit too much, imo.

[yitbos96bb]

Originally Posted by DizCaptain

Disney experiences are turning more and more each year into a hierarchy based on, what else, money. Pretty soon they'll charge you to watch fireworks based on what land you're in... I swear. I'm sure there are alot of people who see this as cool, but there's nothing wrong with fast pass other than complaints about new guests "not understanding it." I personally consider it something earned, stampeding to the kiosk in the morning and grabbing the fast pass, and of course, the less who know about it the better this whole booking thing is a disaster waiting to happen imho.

Except what you describe is dangerous with people getting hurt in models like that with idiots pushin their way to a fast pass. Park sizing is probably one of the few reasons we avent seen a real. Tragedy like what has happened at lack Friday sales with people getting trampled to death.

[yitbos96bb]

Originally Posted by doconeill

Disney basically made getting ADRs a requirement through a whole lot of things, not the least of which was the dining plans (and especially free dining). If you wanted to sit down and be waited on at the restaurant of your choice, you needed to get an ADR, because the restaurant would be full. Didn't really have a lot to do with ultra-planners. It just snowballed.

Disney did cut back the ADR time to 90 days for a while, but went back up to 180 days. I think it was to dilute the callers better as fewer guests would be ready to call right at the 180 mark than the 90 mark.

The new solution of charging for peope who don't show up I think will help this

[I<3theMouse]

I have been lax in keeping up with Disney news since our trip over Thanksgiving (probably since i know it will be at least a year or more like two years before we can return) Imagine my surprise when I caught a blog about Xpass?!
I'm one of those "ultra-planners", though the rest of the family is much more "go with the flow". My hubby was pretty darn impressed with my Disney planning for our recent trip (and especially with the dining reservations I planned out) . He actually acknowledged how much better our vacation went due to all my planning ahead.
Personally, I think it's pretty hard to get the most of a WDW trip without doing your homework.
We don't have the means to really stay deluxe, and the Xpass would probably be out of our price range too. However, if the current Fast Pass system remains in place, in addition to Xpass, I don't see that it will negatively affect my Disney experience.

[Virtucomp]

I would enjoy having RFID to make the park more interactive. I can see a time when you walk up to an attraction and the preshow interacts with people directly by recognizing who is there. I can also see where characters know the child's first name so they can personalize the experience. Kids would love it.

As PP have said, If the current FP systems stays and they add a special fee for people who want to pre-select fast passes then thats fine with me. If I don't want to pay they the park stays the same as now. I would expect that many people would not spend the extra anyway so the number would be limited.

During the Give a Day Get A Day promo we got cards for fast passes. They only added a few extra passes to what we could get under the normal system but I found it a nice extra. If you could pay a little more and get one of the cards it would just make the trip a little better. The passes were limited to three big rides and three smaller ones so no real harm done.

[AuntieSkadoo]

not sure I got all of the info on this...but from what I have seen, it seems as though only guests in the DELUXE resorts will benefit as it will only be offered to them....

meaning everyone else will have to wait in line as the people with more money get to go on ahead bc there will no longer be a fastpass system for the rest of us?

I rly hope I didnt hear all of the story....or at least messed it up...Bc I do not like what Ive heard so far!

[doconeill]

Originally Posted by AuntieSkadoo

not sure I got all of the info on this...but from what I have seen, it seems as though only guests in the DELUXE resorts will benefit as it will only be offered to them....

meaning everyone else will have to wait in line as the people with more money get to go on ahead bc there will no longer be a fastpass system for the rest of us?

I rly hope I didnt hear all of the story....or at least messed it up...Bc I do not like what Ive heard so far!

That it will be limited only to Deluxe resort guests I believe speculation that Jim Hill reported as fact, making it seem if that's the end story.

I can see this being rolled out gradually, FIRST to Deluxe guests and rolling in once they get a handle on it.

And there is no reason right now to believe it is replacing the Fastpass system, but can co-exist with it.

[AuntieSkadoo]

I forget where I read it, but it said it will be replacing the fastpass system...so that there will only be the XPASS

[doconeill]

Originally Posted by AuntieSkadoo

I forget where I read it, but it said it will be replacing the fastpass system...so that there will only be the XPASS

Just so you know, just because you've read it, doesn't make it true.

Disney has said very little about XPass...and I mean VERY little.

[tjkraz]

We also don't know exactly how Disney will charge guests for the option.

Disney's Magical Express is marketed as "free" but every resort guest pays for the service bundled into their room rates. WDW transportation (buses, boats, monorails) is "free" but guests pay for it via their ticket purchases.

Disney has been looking for a way to wean resort guests off of 20-25% discounts and "free dining" since the economy tanked in 2008. I can think of no better way than offering enhanced FASTPASS features for "free" to resort guests, while gradually charging higher rates to those staying in the rooms.

A lot of it may depend upon how much guest usage the FP system can support.

But all pricing discussion--including my own comments above--is purely speculative at this point.