A Glimpse of NextGen Technology @ WDW

It happens with all forms of technology. Just when you get used to your turntable, somebody introduces the 8-track. When you finally buy in to the 8-track, along comes the cassette player. And the minute you convert your entire record or tape collection to cassette, you learn about compact discs. Nothing will ever replace these, right? 'Cause they last forever! Ooops...wait...here it comes...the mp3 audio file!

So it is with Disney. To be quite honest, as a novice WDW tourer, I didn't originally buy into the whole FastPass idea when they were first introduced. It seemed unneccessary...complicated even...in the early years. Now I can say without reservation that I am completely and totally on board. In fact, I can't understand why anyone wouldn't use it! It saves so much time and is so simple to use. But now that I'm a master of the system--you guessed it!--the system just might be changing.

At a conference for investors on Thursday, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs gave those attending a glimpse into what FastPass 2.0 might look like--and it's quite a change. In his own words:

We are currently developing an innovative system that will, in essence, create a version of FASTPASS for their entire Disney vacations. Now we define the guest experience as beginning from the time a potential guest sits down at a computer or picks up a phone to make a reservation. Our new tools will help them better understand all that we have to offer and better plan their time with us. They’ll be able to create a personalized itinerary that gives them the exact Disney vacation they want.

Guests will be able to reserve times for their favorite attractions and character interactions… secure seats at our shows and spectaculars… make dining reservations… and pre-book many other favorite guest experiences – all before even leaving their house.”

Wow, this sounds like a game changer to me. Did I misunderstand, or is he saying they will essentially be treating ride reservation much like ADRs? Hmmm...not sure how I feel about that. I'm a planner, but am I willing to give up all spontaneity--to schedule my entire vacation--in order to save time? And will it even actually save time, considering you may have to criss-cross the park in order to meet all your pre-appointed reservation times? And how does one schedule these reservations so precisely that you can go seamlessly from attraction to attraction without significant downtime between? So many questions.

Still, I was skeptical about FastPass, and now I'm a believer! So perhaps all my skepticism is unfounded. No word yet on how soon this sort of technology could be in place.