Alex S.
07-03-2002, 02:59 PM
Changing Lines: Paying to skip the queues at theme parks (http://slate.msn.com/?id=2067672) -- Slate, 7/3/02
QuikQuote: Few things are quite as galling as someone breaking in line ahead of you, and it's often aggravating out of all proportion to the extra wait it requires. At a theme park, where no one really needs to break in, it's the principle of the thing. Unfortunately for those who can't afford the perks, the emerging principle in theme parks is that those who pay more are those who play more.
Nigel2
07-03-2002, 11:58 PM
Ah, just read that about 1/2 an hour ago. They promoted this on Travel Chanel. But I could imaginge that it gets heated when they come waltzing in with no wait. Speaking of that, did anyone see the world record for most rollercoasters ridden in 24 hrs? The ones closer to No. Cal had a bunch of rude guests while the So. Cal ones cheered them on as they went through the exits.:D
coronamouseman
07-05-2002, 05:24 PM
A couple of observations:
(1) Comment about impact of Universal No-Wait system having minimal impact is interesting - it did seem when I was there last year that not that many hotel people were jetting through the queues. On the other hand, the one day of the two I was there that the Universal Express system was working was great if you got to computers early - you could get up to three atrraction return times at any station and when you used them up you could get others (the other day I was there the computers broke down so attendants simply handed out as many of the return passes as you could present tickets for, even if you came back a couple of minutes later ........)
(2) Good comment about the fact that FastPass and Universal Express still only provide a minimal respite from the chore of standing in line
(3) Obviously, Disney could probably not offer No-Wait access for all of their WDW hotel guests because they have so many hotels.
But is it not only a matter of time before they might offer a "premium" version of Fast Pass to their "premium" hotel guests who buy their deluxe resort packages? And the beauty of a system based upon Fast Pass is that none of the other guests is really the wiser as they too can get a Fast Pass (although maybe not in the same number or with a more immediate return as a "premium" guest may get). As parks search out ways to extract more revenue, this sure seems like a potential gold mine.
MammaSilva
07-05-2002, 05:35 PM
Disney Travel already does this to a very small degree, if you book thru Disney travel you get a 'free' fastpass per person that is good at anytime on anyride....but they only give one per person per booking
mousey_girl
07-05-2002, 07:58 PM
And if you have a super cute little boy wearing a grin from ear-to-ear an "it's my b-day" button, the CM's may just give you some more!!
coronamouseman
07-06-2002, 08:33 AM
ms: Is the Disney Travel "Free Fastpass" advertised or is it just a "perk" thrown in when you check in?
Just curious ...........
MammaSilva
07-06-2002, 09:18 AM
It's a part of the "Disney Vacation Magic"
the following is off the official Disney site where you can get quotes or book a package thru Disney Travel.....the list of perks is funny, priority seating at Blast, Muppets or Tough to be a Bug...um yeah....and a "DISNEYLAND storytelling experience, um that would be either the Aladdin/Jazmine or the princess story hour ....but for a first timer that stuff makes it look like Disney Travel is going all out for them....
"EXCLUSIVE! One preissued Disney's FASTPASSŪ ticket (one per person per package
I know from experience that the fastpass is good for any ride with fastpass and it's good at anytime....so in a way they are already doing "priority" fastpass...on a limited basis (so far)