Kings Island Gold Lane

[TylerRider]

No...he's talking about my reply to your post:

http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?...st&p=350861

Ok It sounds very similar the the post I made.

[The Interpreter]

Uh, you need to read the link...it is in reply to the post you made...and points out that Kings Island is not and has never been a pay one price only park...

[DeLorean Rider]

...It is for this reason that Fastpass at Disney will always be free. It's considerably more difficult to argue and dislike a system when its available to everyone.

(emphasis added)

a. Charging has been tested at Disneyland Paris, I seem to recall.

b. Management changes, philosophies change, times change.

c. Virtually nothing is forever. And that includes a free Fastpass system.

d. I seriously believe that Fastpass at Disney will NOT always be free. In fact, I think it far more likely that at some point, perhaps next year, perhaps 10 years from now, but at some point, Fastpass will not be free. Indeed, for public relations purposes, the replacement-not free-system may be renamed. I see the free Fastpass system ending. The only question in my mind is when.

Charging was tested and as you'll notice it was decided against.

We'll see. I was in a meeting regarding fastpass and fastpass machines about 3 months ago. We'll see...

How is that any different than Fastpass?

Busch Gardens: $60 admission + $15 QuickQueue

Disney: $85 admission + $0 Fastpass.

So in a sense, Fastpass is only for the wealthy, too, since Disney somewhat includes it in park admission (thereby making the whole park "only for the wealthy"). Certainly some of that $80 ($113 for a one-day with parkhopper) goes towards maintaining those distribution machines, hiring the extra employees to oversee the Fastpass entrance, etc. It's something to think about.

Sorry; I just can not let this go unchallenged. Goodyellowkorn182 please understand this is not meant to single you out as I use you post to dispel comparisons but I always try to make sure members on here and those who read here that an Orlando vacation is more affordable than many think. Yes it does cost some money as every vacation does but many times I read unfair caparisons and worry that some may shy away from a great vacation after reading so many extreme comparisons.

First lets make sure the readers understand that Disney World has four parks and offers those who wish to visit 2-4 parks in the same day a park hopper option which runs $55.83 (including tax) for those who use the Magic Your Way tickets that option is the same price if you buy a one day ticket or a ten day ticket. So if you bought the option with a 10 day ticket it would only cost you an average of $5.83 per day. I think it would be foolish for anyone to buy the Park Hopper option for a one or two day pass. Yet many try to use that example to show how expensive Disney is and Universal tries to use that analogy too, which I think hurts them but that is for another topic.

A one day ticket to one of Disney World runs for $79 but with tax it costs $84.14Busch Gardens runs the same price but they are currently running a special that adults can buy a one day ticket for the Childs price of $64.95 then with $4.55 tax it comes to $69.50.

So using the example above here is the figure I came up with

Busch Gardens $69.50 admission (on special) + $14.95 (or up to $24.95 depending on the season) for Quick Queue = $84.95 depending on the day or season

Disney $84.14 (year round) admission + $0 (year round) for Fast Pass

Comparison depending on the year but we will use Busch parks sale price

$84.95 For Busch Gardens for both admission and Quick Queue (Special Price)

$84.14 for Disney and Fast Pass (year round)

So Disney comes out a $0.81 cheaper than Busch Gardens does with their year round price versus Busch Garden special price.

As I have said before and will say as many times as I need to; when you add it all up the Central Florida parks all cost about the same.

Thank you so much Avatar.

It is for this reason that Fastpass at Disney will always be free. It's considerably more difficult to argue and dislike a system when its available to everyone.

As Terpy said, however, that may not be true- I remember a recent rumor that Disney guests staying at the "nicer" hotels on property may get priority access to the FastPass system soon.

This is not true.

[The Interpreter]

...So that raises the obvious question: Would visitors pay to use the theme park giant’s currently free FastPass system?...

Mice Age reports that surveys inside Disney parks have asked visitors their attitudes toward a paid FastPass system. Competitors like Six Flags and Universal Studios impose a fee for similar front-of-line privileges.

Disneyland officials said there are no plans to change the FastPass system at this time.

(emphasis added)

http://www.chipandco.com/?p=2303

[Avatar]

I would like to point out a couple interesting test Disney World has been doing lately in regards to the subject of will Disney change their FastPass system.

In the past week Animal Kingdom put out some Fastpass kiosks by the Tree Of Life which gave out return tickets for both shows at the same time for Lion King and Nemo. Also in some of the character greets children or welcomed to play at a playground while one of the guardians waits in line. When the guardian reaches a certain point in line a cast member gives them a card and sends them to retrieve their children and they return in their spot in line. Another test which may give a glimpse to how Disney World plans to deal with its new Fantasyland area and to get families out of the lines is by following a test they are using at Hollywood Studios Rock-n-Roller Coaster. They hand out color coded cards and list the return times for each color. This is to prevent guests from standing in a long line and while they wait for their turn they can make use of the restrooms, take pictures, shop or enjoy a snack. Notice if the guest are milling around out side the lines but waiting for their turn for the ride they may be tempted to buy something and that approach may make more money for them because all guests will be subject to that approach and therefore making money from every family and not just those who use the system the way it is now.

Here a link that shows how it works and pictures to go along with it. http://www.attractio...roller-coaster/

In my opinion I do not see Disney charging for a FastPass system but see them modifying it in such a way that it continues to meet guests satisfaction and in a way that helps them to increase sales in a indirect way.