The good news is … We’re probably going to see far fewer FastPass machines in the Disney theme parks in the future.
The bad news is … Disney’s virtual queuing system isn’t going anywhere. It’s just going to mutate from being something that day visitors to the parks can take advantage of to more of an exclusive perk. Something that’s only available to people who are staying at the pricier resorts on property.
Don’t believe me? Then check out this patent application that the Walt Disney Company filed back on March 17th of this year. Which is (admittedly) pretty dry reading. Until you get down the mid-200s portion of the “Related Applications” section of this document. Where things start to get real interesting.
“How so?,” you ask. Well, take a look at this rather interesting excerpt:
[0246] Different hierarchical models can be established for the ability and right to obtain and use the Fastpass according to different priorities.
[0247] 1. Guest
[0248] a. Spending per guest at hotels can determine different hierarchies of access to Fastpass. Thus, the more that is spent by a patron, the higher the priority can be for Fastpass.
[0249] b. Hotel accommodation in related resorts and environments associated with the entertainment center are allocated different priorities. Where a patron is in a related hotel, a higher priority can be given.
[0250] c. Different levels and hierarchies can be applicable at different hotels. Thus, more luxurious hotels can have higher priorities.
“What does that mean exactly?,” you query. Well, if you’re staying on the “Concierge” level at the Grand Floridian, under the new version of the FastPass allocation system that Disney’s Parks & Resorts division is thinking about bringing on line … You’re virtually guaranteed that — all day long — you’ll be able to walk right on to every single Disney theme park ride, show or attraction that you wish to experience.
Whereas a guest who’s staying over at any of the All Stars and/or the Pop Century resort will be lucky if they’re able to book a single FastPass in advance for themselves & anyone else who’s staying in their hotel room.
Make no mistake, folks. Disney really does plan on playing up the whole “If you book a package at one of our pricier resorts, we’ll be glad to give you better access to our virtual queuing system” aspect of this revised version of the FastPass system. Otherwise, why would language like this be included as part of Disney’s patent application?
[0237] … the marketing and sales department … (will communicate) that a special Fastpass privilege is available to resort guests.
As to how this revised version of the FastPass system will actually operate, the Walt Disney Company has applied for additional patents which will eventually allow guests to use the Internet, their cell phones as well as the digital TV in their hotel room in order to gain access the theme parks’ virtual queuing system in advance.
“But how exactly would I go about using this new version of FastPass?,” you ask. Well, let’s take another look at that patent application and see how a Disney resort guest could possibly use the digital television (DTV) in their hotel room to book in advance ride time on some of their favorite Disneyland and/or WDW attractions:
[0239] …. The guest is directed to use the DTV in their room of occupancy. This availability to use Fastpass can be provided on the night before or the day of the park visit. If the guest has already made a schedule, then the guest is asked whether or not they want to start over and add to their schedule. The guest can then be asked a series of questions related to Fastpass.
[0240] If the guest does not have a schedule, then the guest is asked a series of different questions. These can relate to which park is being attended and what time they intend to arrive at the park. The guest then chooses the appropriate Fastpass tickets that are desired. Having effected that, the return time window is displayed based on a distribution algorithm around the attendance and historical demand profiles.
[0241] The guest can be given a time slot to use the Fastpass and different rules can be applied to Fastpass allocation as required. If the guest is satisfied with the return time, the guest is given the option of choosing whether the attraction is for all guests or for selected guests in the party. The Fastpass ticket would then be stored in the system and can later be activated by each guest’s KTTW (“Key To The World” card or pass is a trademark of Disney Enterprises, Inc).
[0242] The guest can be asked whether another Fastpass is required at the current park on the same day for other attractions and different numbers of tickets can be issued.
[0243] The guest can be provided with on-screen confirmation for each member of the party. Return time windows and height restrictions can be made available to the guest so that the guest has full information necessary to enable them to be informed and make appropriate decisions on whether or not to accept this schedule.
[0244] Ultimately, the guest can receive a final on-screen confirmation and be directed to any Fastpass location in the park to receive the multiple Fastpasses.
Sounds pretty snazzy, don’t you think? Particularly if you’re willing to spend top dollar on a Disney vacation package to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge or Wilderness Lodge. Which would then allow you virtually unlimited access to the virtual queue system.
But what about that family on a budget? Who had to scrimp & save for months just to be able to stay at the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds during their WDW vacation? Well, I’m afraid it’s the slow-moving stand-by line for those folks. As both the Disneyland & the Walt Disney World resorts become more & more Vegas-like. Where special perks like not-having-to-wait-in-line will only be available to those who are willing to pay for those perks.
Mind you, we’re still a number of years from this new version of FastPass actually being brought on line. After all, the folks in charge of the Parks & Resorts division understand what a PR nightmare they’d have on their hands were the Walt Disney Company to suddenly shift from the free-for-everyone virtual queuing system that they currently have in place at their theme parks in favor this new proposed “Pay for Play” system.
But — that said — that still doesn’t mean that that the Disney corporation hasn’t already started moving in this direction. By — say — removing a significant number of the FastPass machines from the theme parks over the last six months. Slowly cutting back on the public’s access to Disneyland & Walt Disney World’s virtual queuing system. Which will (in theory) eventually create a pent-up demand among theme park patrons to get their hands on FastPasses.
So I say: Don’t be all that surprised to see the “Pay for Play” version of Disney’s FastPass system quietly come on-line at WDW’s high end hotels sometime in 2007. With only the resort’s high roller initially gaining access to this next generation of Disney’s virtual queue.
Should this perk prove to be popular (and — more importantly — profitable), look for the Mouse to slowly make this new version of FastPass more accessible to guests who are staying on property. While — at the same time — look for the Mouse to significantly cut back day guests’ access to the theme parks’ virtual queue system.
So what are your thoughts, folks? Is this “Pay for Play” plan the sort of thing that you’d really like to see the Walt Disney Company getting into? Or would you prefer it if the Mouse were to get rid of the FastPass virtual queuing system entirely?
Your thoughts?