Disneyland's Star Wars land might charge an initial extra admission fee, and charge for FastPasses

[Travisma 1,317]

Remember it's just a rumor, but who knows.....

 

 

As Disney prepares for next year’s opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Anaheim and Orlando we’re starting to get some of the first indications of how the company plans to deal with the massive crowds expected for the long-awaited Star Wars lands. 

The Hollywood Studios version of the land will open a few months after the Disneyland version, meaning the crowds in California are expected to be worse than here. 

To help deal with this influx, rumors now point to FastPasses not being available to guests in Star Wars land for the foreseeable future. In Disneyland, what is known as "legacy FastPass" is still being used. This system requires guests to visit a kiosk near the ride earlier in the day to receive a pay FastPass that they use to access the shorter line later on. A system similar to Orlando’s FastPass+ was rolled out at the Disneyland Resort last year. This system, known as MaxPass, allows guests to use an app to reserve same day FastPasses with more becoming available as the guest uses their previously reserved ones. Along with FastPass+ like ride reservations, MaxPass also includes unlimited Disney PhotoPass photo downloads. Unlike FastPass and FastPass+, MaxPass does cost extra. Current rates range from $10 for a one-day MaxPass, to $75 for a year-long pass for Annual Passholders. Rates are expected to be dramatically increased ahead of the Star Wars land opening. 

If Star Wars Land does open with MaxPass, instead of FastPass, it would be the first time a U.S.-based Disney park has featured a paid option only for skip-the-line privileges. Other parks, like Universal and SeaWorld, offer paid options almost exclusively, with SeaWorld testing a skip the line program for regular park guests on Kraken Unleashed last year, though that program is currently not available to guests. 

Disney has experimented with various versions of free FastPass programs, and recently introduced a program for certain guests staying at its most expensive Orlando hotels the option to buy additional FastPasses ahead of their visit. Touring Plans has done extensive research into the FastPass+ program at Walt Disney World with the conclusion that the system does make the wait time in the regular line longer though it is minimum (it should be noted that the research did show a slight decrease in wait times for some headliner attractions). With this increase in mind, some are speculating that there might not be any FastPasses available here either for the first few months the new land is open. 

There are still conflicting reports on if Disney plans to introduce FastPass lines to the California version of the land after the initial MaxPass only time period. 

There have also been rumors that Disney might be planning to offer preview days for the new land where a set amount of upcharge tickets to the land are sold. All major theme parks typically open their newest rides and lands well before the announced grand opening. These soft openings can cause large crowds to gather near the entrance area to the new land. At Universal Orlando soft opening crowds became an internet phenomenon, with dozens of guests live tweeting and streaming from the site every day open to close. 

Disneyland might be looking to lessen these soft opening crowds with the use of paid only admission. The Star Wars land exclusive admission tickets would require regular park admission too. 

The Disneyland version of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is expected to open in late spring 2019 with the Orlando version opening a few months later. 
 

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

From the day it was announced, I thought Star Wars Land was a bad idea for Disneyland. They're going to have to do something to alleviate crowding. Charging extra for Fastpass access is a win/win for Disney.  And a lose/lose for guests, especially passholders.  Just like Disney wants it.

I'm hoping that the existing tiered FP system in WDW will work at DHS, but if they get away with charging extra in California, you have to think they'll take a run at it here.

TCD 

[DaveInTN 3,247]

25 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

I'm hoping that the existing tiered FP system in WDW will work at DHS, but if they get away with charging extra in California, you have to think they'll take a run at it here.

And if it works or SW Land, how long until they expand it to the other parks?

[Travisma 1,317]

It would be interesting to see how many they sell of the  purchased passes at Universal and the Sea World/Busch Gardens parks.

Personally, I don't know anyone that has paid for a front of line ticket... but we did get one for free at Sea World Orlando once.

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

Just for future reference can you include a link to the source or at least mention where the rumor comes from? There are some sources that will throw anything they can think of at the wall looking for something to stick and for click bait. 

[keith_h 420]

4 hours ago, DaveInTN said:

And if it works or SW Land, how long until they expand it to the other parks?

I could see it expanded for Flight of Passage. I wouldn't have an issue with a second paid tier for FPs and probably would have used it on our last trip with a couple of the rides we wanted being fully booked with long standby lines.

[Travisma 1,317]

1 hour ago, Katman1356...Jason said:

Just for future reference can you include a link to the source or at least mention where the rumor comes from? There are some sources that will throw anything they can think of at the wall looking for something to stick and for click bait. 

I think that was from Orlando weekly

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

1 minute ago, Travisma said:

I think that was from Orlando weekly

Thanks!

[slices 16]

2 hours ago, Travisma said:

It would be interesting to see how many they sell of the  purchased passes at Universal and the Sea World/Busch Gardens parks.

Personally, I don't know anyone that has paid for a front of line ticket... but we did get one for free at Sea World Orlando once.

I know people who stay in the better Universal hotels just to get free express passes. We get the the AAP(Universal's equivalent of a DAS pass) for my son so not something I've had to make a decision on.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

1 hour ago, Katman1356...Jason said:

Just for future reference can you include a link to the source or at least mention where the rumor comes from? There are some sources that will throw anything they can think of at the wall looking for something to stick and for click bait. 

Also some sources will make a stink if they aren't credited.