Will New "Elite Special People Passes" Soon Be Coming To DL Too?

[sixwoofys]

Many people predicted that "Fastpasses" and the "Fastpass System" could easily lend itself to many unethical policies. The ethics of this new policy is certainly in question by this MC TS.

What's next? What other types of discrimination are in the works? And what other special "Classes" of people could they be developing behind the scenes?

Everyone pays the same price to get in last time I checked.

hoop://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-fastpass1008apr10,0,6553939.story (change the hoop to http)

Thoughts?

[stitchon]

I think that the system the currently have works best. If they're a security risk, just backdoor them, and everyone's happy.

[fo'c's'le swab]

I hope a plan like this is adopted to recognize the superior clientele. I am sure to receive one. Let the class war begin, says I--thin the herd a bit. If I were not to be scheduled to receive one, my thoughts are these:

There is already quite a few instances of artificial barriers instituted by DIS further dividing the 'haves' from the 'have-nots', why make more? Seems like more headaches for the CMs, as well. The entitlement issues at DL are enormous enough as it is, IMO.

[RumRunner31]

DL already has these, and I see no problem with them. High profile guests who pose a risk to security and safety get escorted through the "backdoor". In the case of a celebrity, this is to avoid a mob scene. In the case of a government official, it is for security reasons. Imagine, if you will, you're standing in line for the Jungle Cruise with your 4 year old. 4 people ahead of you is Johnny Depp. People behind you realize who it is and start pushing past you to get to him. Your 4 year old is pushed down and kicked, and Johnny is surrounded by screaming teenagers and eventually backs away from them right into the amazon river. Now not only Johnny, but your 4 year old are both injured, all in the name of "he shouldn't get special treatment just cause he's high profile!"

Also, like it or not, it's a business. Disney has people they need to wine and dine and this is how they do it. On an average day, there are MAYBE 3 of these passes in the park, so you can't argue that it's effecting the fastpass queues. In the end, it's a privilege that all of us would like but not everyone can get, which means those of us who don't will have the inclination to feel bitter. But we can be realistic and say "That's life" and enjoy our day in the parks, or we can let it stew and complain about its' existence and it still won't change.

[aznshrek88]

Blasphemy, does that make the rest of us NIP?

[steamboatpete]

That's one way to look at it. Do strangers change their behavior when they see the rest of us?

[Druggas]

"We find that our very high-profile guests travel with a large group -- many times with a security detail -- that have the potential to disrupt the experience of our other guests; these passes help alleviate that," she explained. "We also have heard from security teams traveling with these high-profile guests that they would prefer they not be in the midst of large crowds or in any one place for an extended period of time."


That's just what I want to do, stand in the midst of a large crowd, while watching an entourage get escorted ahead of me. An entourage that didn't have to pay to get in either!

[dland_lover]

DL already has these, and I see no problem with them. High profile guests who pose a risk to security and safety get escorted through the "backdoor". In the case of a celebrity, this is to avoid a mob scene. In the case of a government official, it is for security reasons. Imagine, if you will, you're standing in line for the Jungle Cruise with your 4 year old. 4 people ahead of you is Johnny Depp. People behind you realize who it is and start pushing past you to get to him. Your 4 year old is pushed down and kicked, and Johnny is surrounded by screaming teenagers and eventually backs away from them right into the amazon river. Now not only Johnny, but your 4 year old are both injured, all in the name of "he shouldn't get special treatment just cause he's high profile!"

Also, like it or not, it's a business. Disney has people they need to wine and dine and this is how they do it. On an average day, there are MAYBE 3 of these passes in the park, so you can't argue that it's effecting the fastpass queues. In the end, it's a privilege that all of us would like but not everyone can get, which means those of us who don't will have the inclination to feel bitter. But we can be realistic and say "That's life" and enjoy our day in the parks, or we can let it stew and complain about its' existence and it still won't change.

I couldn't agree more! I don't see what the big deal is with these things, or why some people see them "unethical". Let's keep everyone safe, please. Even at the expense of having to wait 20 seconds more, before I get on the ride!

[techskip]

For those claiming this is an elitist thing... enjoy

Universal Orlando once had its own FastPass system, which it called an "Express Pass," but in 2006 the company stopped offering it for free. Now, visitors to Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure can buy "Universal Express" passes to get into shorter, express lines throughout the parks -- at prices ranging from $19.99 to $50.99.

Remind me again how much extra does a Guest pay for a standard Fastpass? This new pass actually isn't all that new, it's just an old practice that is finally getting an official pass. Prior to this high profiles got a VIP escort with a green Priority pass. They just decided to give the pass to the individual so you don't have an escort drawing attention to the group. In most cases they were taken backstage as much as possibly anyways.

[disneytim]

This has been a topic of discussion in the News forum. It's pretty much a non-story if you ask me.

http://micechat.com/forums/showthrea...ise-94303.html

[SCUBAbe]

it's not a big deal.

[sixwoofys]

Imagine, if you will, you're standing in line for the Jungle Cruise with your 4 year old. 4 people ahead of you is Johnny Depp. People behind you realize who it is and start pushing past you to get to him. Your 4 year old is pushed down and kicked, and Johnny is surrounded by screaming teenagers and eventually backs away from them right into the amazon river. Now not only Johnny, but your 4 year old are both injured, all in the name of "he shouldn't get special treatment just cause he's high profile!"

I don't believe this applies to Johnny Depp. One thing I noticed is that the article mentions "politicians" more than anyone else.

Let' see... Give special treatment to CERTAIN politicians, and what will the politicians give in return? Voting a CERTAIN way that gives preference to Disney? Duh. Special Preferences to Corporate Disney in the U.S. Senate? (Senators were SPECIFICALLY named). Shameful. It is so obvious it's not even funny.

What if this was used for other classes? Tour groups, POLITICAL GROUPS, Races, Religions? No one will say "It's not a big deal" when that happens. What's the difference? A Preferred group is a preferred group period. Giving preference to a special GROUP of people is shameful and unethical.

BTW, I believe that "pushing down and kicking a 4 year old" is against the law. I'm not sure but I think DL security and/or Anaheim police have policies (and batons) to deal with criminals like these.

In all my 45 years of going to DL I have NEVER seen ANYTHING like this.

Great imagination though.

[RumRunner31]

BTW, I believe that "pushing down and kicking a 4 year old" is against the law. I'm not sure but I think DL security and/or Anaheim police have policies (and batons) to deal with criminals like these.

In all my 45 years of going to DL I have NEVER seen ANYTHING like this.

Great imagination though.

As a VIP tour guide, I can say that it's not my imagination. And yes, park security & APD have policies to deal with these people, but they are policies for how to deal with the offender AFTER it happens. My point was that this is a way to PREVENT it from happening in the first place. And if you don't think Arnold Swarzenhowever-its-spelled gets as much attention as Johnny Depp, I'm not the only one with a "great imagination."

I'll be the first to admit that were I in charge of the things, I don't know that everyone who currently gets one would still get one, but I just don't see it as being the completely offensive boss Tweed thing some seem to. Disney's a business, they make special arrangements for business partners. Walt had a "private dining room" built so he could wine and dine VIPs, business partners, and POLITICIANS. No one freaks out about Walt's unethical creation of Club 33. It's just business, and as it was said earlier, it adds about another 20 seconds to your wait times, if anything. To me, it's just not something that's worth getting offended by.

[techskip]

I don't believe this applies to Johnny Depp. One thing I noticed is that the article mentions "politicians" more than anyone else.

Let' see... Give special treatment to CERTAIN politicians, and what will the politicians give in return? Voting a CERTAIN way that gives preference to Disney? Duh. Special Preferences to Corporate Disney in the U.S. Senate? (Senators were SPECIFICALLY named). Shameful. It is so obvious it's not even funny.

What if this was used for other classes? Tour groups, POLITICAL GROUPS, Races, Religions? No one will say "It's not a big deal" when that happens. What's the difference? A Preferred group is a preferred group period. Giving preference to a special GROUP of people is shameful and unethical.

This policy has been in effect for a while, the only difference is that instead of having a VIP escort they are simply given a pass. When was the last time you ran into the Kennedy clan at the park? Oh that's right they were with a VIP host and quickly moved offstage. What about the last time you walked around with Cheney's daughter... oh that's right she was with a VIP host too. Wait no she was with undercover Disney Security (fox) because a VIP host would have attracted unneeded attention (as if 20 secret service agents weren't already doing that). What about Arnold, I'm sure being that Disneyland is in CA that someone MUST have seen Arnold when he has visited... oh yeah I forgot he was with a VIP host backstage. There are probably countless politicians who would love to have this pass but it is meant specifically for security of high profile individuals, not just politicians. Individuals who have a security detail... Oprah is a great example, so's most of Hollywood, Saudi Royal Family, or any Royal Family for that matter. As to Disney creating an elitist mentality, my question of why Fastpass is free has still gone unanswered.

BTW, I believe that "pushing down and kicking a 4 year old" is against the law. I'm not sure but I think DL security and/or Anaheim police have policies (and batons) to deal with criminals like these.

In all my 45 years of going to DL I have NEVER seen ANYTHING like this.

Great imagination though.

So I take it you weren't on the Jungle dock when the drummer from Korn boarded the boat. He boarded in the exit, and the girls in the line caused a mob scene that smashed several individuals against the rails, including three small children.

I take it you were not in Indy's exit on any number of occasions when a VIP caused a mob scene. This pass is for high profile individuals, be it politicians, movie stars, royals, anyone who poses a security risk. The reason the news picked up on it is the ethical implications to politicians but they are not the sole beneficiaries of this pass. As far as voting I think they would likely vote for whichever business puts the most money in their campaign coffers... which Disney, along with every BIG business, does on a regular basis!

We could talk about when Paul McCartney visited, thats when Adults caused problems and not the kids.

I will not say who, but one specific politician caused a major scene on Thunder a few years back. Adults wanted to meet them, adults acting like teenagers, and all this person was trying to do was go up the exit and ride. I hate to think what could have happened had they been in line. The way you posted sounded as if all you need to do to get the pass is get elected... not so... this is specifically for publicly recognized figures who Disney and their own security team deem a risk. As I said the only "shift" in policy is that a VIP escot is no longer automatically assigned.

If you feel so strongly against it then write your politicians expresses your disapproval and willingness to vote them out of office if they accept such a pass. Chances are unless they are a well known individual they will likely not be offered one, but it never hurts to express your feelings.

[themarquisde]

Not only are we protecting park guests and their four year olds with these special access privileges, but our high profile guest's four year olds.

I have hosted tours where guests in the park aren't phased by the crying, thoroughly freaked out children of Celebrity X.
They're going to get him to sign their kid's princess autograph book, come hell or high water.

How would you feel if you came to the park to enjoy some time out of your crazy schedule, to relax and spend time with
your kids and park guests are shoving them out of the way to get to you?

That's why we do this.