Here is the article from Jim Hill!


Do you want to be sure that you can score some FASTPASSES for your favorite Disney theme park attractions the next time you visit Anaheim or Orlando? Well, if that's really the case, then you'd best make reservations now for one of Disney's high end hotels.

Why For? Well, according to information that's buried down deep in a patent application that the Walt Disney Company filed on August 30th:

"Spending per guest at hotels can (be used to determine) different hierarchies (for) access to Fastpass. Thus, the more that is spent by a patron, the higher the priority (they will receive) for Fastpass."
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Different levels and hierarchies can (then) be applicable at different hotels. Thus, (guests who stay at Disney's) more luxurious hotels can have higher priorities (to the resort's virtual queuing system)."

This is just one of the FASTPASS-related bombshells that you'll discover as you read through United States Patent Application 20070203763. Which goes into great detail about an application to manage the " ... flow of persons and advertisement distribution via wireless media" that Mickey is looking to patent.

Among the ideas that the Imagineers are allegedly looking to field-test in a theme park near you very soon is a paperless, booked-24-hours-in-advance FASTPASS.

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As described in Patent Application 2007020376, Disney resort guests -- after they've checked in to their respective hotels -- would be directed to turn on the digital televisions (DTVs) that they'll find in their rooms. For these interactive units will soon be directly tied into the resort's own master computer system. Which will then give these guests advance access to the FASTPASS system.

This DTV-based reservation system will allow Disney resort guests to book their FASTPASSES the night before and/or the day of their visit to the theme park. What's more, all of this virtual queuing-based information can then be downloaded directly onto that guests' cell phone.

And then ... Well, Mickey plans on use all this hi-tech stuff to take all of the drudgery (Or should I say independent thought?) out of your next visit to a Disney theme park?

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How so? Well, how would you like it if your cell phone rang 15 minutes prior to the time that you were due to get in line for that FASTPASS attraction that you'd booked in advance? Just as a reminder that it was now time to start making your way over to the entrance of that ride or show.

Or -- better yet -- what if your cell phone were to suddenly start ringing as you were walking through the park? And -- as you answered that call -- you got a message that told you that the attraction that you'd booked FASTPASSES for later in the day had just broken down. And -- because of that -- Disney's main computer was now offering you the opportunity to put yourself in the virtual queue for another attraction in that theme park. Wouldn't that be a cool new feature of Disney's FASTPASS system?

Best of all, when it finally comes time to actually get in that FASTPASS line, you won't need a really-for-real ticket any longer. You just show the cast member who'll be watching over the entrance of this attraction the virtual FASTPASS that you'll have on display on the screen of your cell phone and -- BAM ! -- you're in.

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Mind you, not all of the changes that are proposed to Disney's FASTPASS system are going to be embraced with enthusiasm by the public. Particularly those day visitors to the parks, who are sure to be upset when they learn that ...

" ... those visitors staying in a (Disney) resort hotel planning a visit for the next day may be granted a higher priority than those patrons (who are just) visiting the park for the day."

Translation: Disney really is planning on cutting back on the number of FASTPASSES that they'll be distributing daily inside the parks. In the future, look for the Mouse to increasingly reserve this perk for those guests who are willing pay big bucks to stay in Disney's on-property and/or partner resorts.

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Another possible aspect of this new application that's sure to be controversial will be Disney's ability (once a guest has used their cell phone to tap into the FASTPASS system) to then track this individual's movements around the resort through their handheld device. Quoting now from the patent application:

Other examples include the ability to have a patron's or user's cellular telephone or wireless device be tracked as that person moves around the facility, or defined area. For instance, this provides for locating guests or patrons and for the central facility computer to track the location of guests and patrons, and make recommendations as necessary to those persons. In an entertainment environment, when a particular attraction is non-functional for instance as a priority system or at all, the recommendations can suggest alternative attractions or activities to the patrons.

Which -- admittedly -- sounds like a fairly innocent application of this technology. Though I'd imagine that rabid right-to-privacy types will have a very different reaction once they learn that the Mouse may soon have technology that will then allow them to track tourists' movements around the Magic Kingdom through their cell phones.

I don't like this. They are starting to copy Universal Orlando's stuff and that don't bother me. What bothers me is if your a family that saved up money for years just to get there and have to stay in a lower class hotel then you get nothing and basicly you have to wait hours in line for a ride which is ridicolus since you can't geta fast pass for free anymore. This is truely a way that disney is showing it's true colors. Oh well, atleast it's not $60 for a person like at Universal Orlando.

I also heard an idea like this at another park, not sure if it was Universal, but they had these little hand held divices that you would go through the list of all the rides and then when you see the ride you want to go on you reserve a spot on it.

I heard of this too. However, I dont agree with it. I agree with Fancy, families shouldn't have to pay for the fast passes. I normally spend around 1,000 to 3,000 dollars by MYSELF. And that's for food and the items I like. But come on! Paying for the fast passes? Phssssss..

Yea I think that's at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Sea World Adventure Park Orlando. I know Universal Orlando offers something similar only it's not hand held, it's a fast pass sort of speak good for all rides and all day long, you never loose it till the day is over.

If they only give the option to people staying at a deluxe resort, power to them! If they offer it to every single guest visiting the park, boo!

I'm willing to pay double park admission to get an infinite fast pass for that day, if that's the case.

If they do this, then what is the part of wininng a dreams pass?

well it could be for like a souviner (sorry if i spelt it wrong lol) but we still dont know if you could only do one fastpass at a time yet maybe lol I dont know.

Wow, LOL...While I was down there,not too long ago, I asked my Mom if she would pay to have fast past like an annual pass but how it works would be like the Dream Fast Pass. But anyways What I dont like about this is how people would get the higher up pass. My family loves Riverside and we always stay there. Thats not the highest paying hotel but its not the cheapest. IF this does go through the option of what priority should go for all resort guest.

Wow, LOL...While I was down there,not too long ago, I asked my Mom if she would pay to have fast past like an annual pass but how it works would be like the Dream Fast Pass. But anyways What I dont like about this is how people would get the higher up pass. My family loves Riverside and we always stay there. Thats not the highest paying hotel but its not the cheapest. IF this does go through the option of what priority should go for all resort guest.

Just like extra magic hours? I love the idea of extra magic hours! But this well this isn't the best thing, everyone will be in line for fast pass and us people who can't afford it will be stuck in stand by for 4 hours, I think disney may loose money. The more time we spend in line for a ride the less likely we are to spend more money there.

I remember seeing this before. As I recall it was posted on April 1st 2007.

For those of you that can't read between the lines, It was an April Fools joke.

Wombat

yeah it might have been a joke back then if it ever was posted but this could happen some time soon.

For those of us old enough to remember, Disney has not always had fastpasses. I remember when we had to buy books of coupons, and then spend them to gain admittance to a ride, remember the "E" ticket??? Disney always has been and will always be a business, which is of course about making money. Walt was a dreamer and visionary without a doubt, but with out people to consume the product there is no money to be made. Most would opt to purchase a faster pass if given the option to help avoid lines, but the hotel idea would not be to much of an advantage in Anaheim since there and not as many Disney hotels as Florida.

DR

P.S. I seem to detect a big note of whining around the board, why do we not find and talk about the good things Disney is doing?

i really do not like this, it is inconvenient, and not fair to people who dont stay in an expensive hotel... but, than again it is good business for disney and disney does work hard to provide these high tech devices.. i just dont like the idea. i prefer how it is now..lol

I remember seeing this before. As I recall it was posted on April 1st 2007.

For those of you that can't read between the lines, It was an April Fools joke.

Wombat

I heard of this myself but these ''rumors'' are coming more into a fact more and more.

For those of us old enough to remember, Disney has not always had fastpasses. I remember when we had to buy books of coupons, and then spend them to gain admittance to a ride, remember the "E" ticket??? Disney always has been and will always be a business, which is of course about making money. Walt was a dreamer and visionary without a doubt, but with out people to consume the product there is no money to be made. Most would opt to purchase a faster pass if given the option to help avoid lines, but the hotel idea would not be to much of an advantage in Anaheim since there and not as many Disney hotels as Florida.

DR

P.S. I seem to detect a big note of whining around the board, why do we not find and talk about the good things Disney is doing?

Yes walt was a dreamer and visionary but he also stated: ''I want to keep Disneyland and Disney World cheap and affortable for all familes to enjoy...'' so how is this makeing it cheap and affortable?

Very verrrrry good point FacnyFace! i was thinking about that quote just a few minutes ago.

Well, i personally don't mind. We always stay at the Beach Club, a delux resort. But i also think they should let DVC members have total acsess too. I own DVC and there really arent as many perks as they used to have, I own three other timeshares and I like to save up my points and i switch off resorts. Sometimes if we go on a Quick getaway we stay at Pop Century, or even for a night if the transportation is messed up.

I dont really think Disney would do this anyway. =]

I wouldn't read into Jim's article too much. Yes, a moble FastPass plan was in the works for a couple of years but it may not work the way Jim described.

Jim is usually hit or miss on these things.

I agree with WDW Monorail. But is this something they really want to do?

Yes walt was a dreamer and visionary but he also stated: ''I want to keep Disneyland and Disney World cheap and affortable for all familes to enjoy...'' so how is this makeing it cheap and affortable?

Unfortunately, Walt didn't know prices for things would be as high as they are, and will continue to get higher. Unless you want Disney to go out of business, then I would go along with any money plan they need to save themselves from becoming bankrupt. If they need the money, then they may have to do something like this.

We should also remember that people want the big thrills at theme parks and not the old classics. It is a disappointment that it is like this in the world, but this is another reason as to why Disney is changing rides to be more exciting.

For Disney, this is a great idea, it will obvisously make them more money (if you think about it, that is their main goal, as Disney IS a business and trying to compete to spend our money). I know it will be disapointing for guests but still, with this, you will see prices go up for the hotel which will make it a fair deal.

Disney is a business, money is the number 1 priority, cased close. They do want to make the guest happy, but if it doesn't make them profit, then they will either change it or just take out the whole thing (Disney's California Adventure, Water Country (the old water park at WDW), and many more things are just examples of this.

For Disney, it is good. For the high end guest, it is good. For the middle class average visitor, it is not good BUT Disney doesn't care. Bottom line.

- Zach

Great! Not only did they just raise the price of One-Day, One-Park tickets at Disneyland from 63 to 68, but now we have to pay to get fast passes? What is this world comming to????
Pixie_Jess