[Chat] What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

[Coolspike9]

In Al Lutz's post, he mentioned the idea of a Showpass for the upcoming show World of Color, to help manage crowds. This is one of Disney's newest ideas. So what is your opinion? Tell us what you think! If you didn't see the post about Showpass, here is some info from Al's post...

The current plan is to make World of Color the first ticketed nighttime spectacular in Disney theme park history. Using standard Fastpass technology, DCA managers are fine tuning the idea of a new concept called Showpass; a ticket that would be required to get into the viewing amphitheater...... This area would be christened the Showpass Distribution Center, and World of Color Showpasses would be automatically distributed here each day beginning at park opening. Using the barcode on your ticket or Annual Pass, you could get one dated Showpass per person that would allow you entrance that evening into the World of Color viewing amphitheater. Once all of the Showpasses were distributed for the day, if you arrived at the park too late you will be watching World of Color from the sidelines, or the shows backside on the Paradise Pier side of the lagoon.

[napamaninsocal]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

I think just like fastpass, some people will not know about it and be very disappointed that they were not able to get a good spot for the show. You will also still have those people who wait for hours for the best spot and they will have to be lined up in probably areas that will make it hard for traffic to flow during the day. Then eventually like at WDW's F!, they'll tie it to an expensive dinner pakage.

[aashee]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

It's going to be a busy mess for a while no matter what.

[royaldisneyfan]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

I really don't know. I would say that I'm on the fence with Showpass. It can be good to control crowds better, but like Al mentioned, you would still have people around the perimeter of the show.

[Fantasmanatic]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

I hope the showpass would help with those people who show up at the last second and expect their yougins to get a great view. On the other hand I doubt it would. It would most likely promote this type of behavior and all that will do is anger everyone. All this will really do is cause a huge crowd to form early in the morning and then most likely cause a huge line to form. If you do the math its a nightmare! If they have 10 machines and each person takes 5 seconds to get their ticket and there are 9000 tickets avaliable then you have a 1.25 hour wait per machine. Doesn't sound like too good of an idea anymore. The system also wouldn't help keep people in the park all day for the show they will get their tickets and head to Disneyland and not come back till later. While they would otherwise wait for the show all day for the first few months.

[rollrcostrfrk807]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

i don't like this idea because if you show up later in the day. (i.e. after work or school) and the showpasses are all gone. then you will not be allowed to view the show from the viewing area. while like for fantasmic, you can show up an hour early and still get a good spot.

[COOOOLkid]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

They should follow TDL's lottery system for the center castle viewing area. That way, it's fair for everyone.

http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/tdr/english/resort25/final_area.html

[WDITrent]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

I like it. The only downsides I can think of are

a) People not aware of showpass
b) To get into the show, you must be at the park early. Kind of inconvenient if AP's decide to go just for the show.

[imagineerthat]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

It sounds like a good idea, if they find a way to balance people who arrive throughout the day, no matter how many signs and show guides they make some people still have no idea what's going on. If it does work I hope they find a way to apply it to Fantasmic and the fireworks. I wonder if Disney resort guest will have special access to the showpasses since in all reality the show is being made to attract people to the park and APers will already try to figure out how to "beat the system"

[WDITrent]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

You know, I would love it, but I think in general it's not such a great idea for the rest of the crowds.

[dland_lover]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

No. I don't like it. Why the heck are DL execs trying to copy the flawed ways of the OLC (Tokyo Disney Resort), and then making it worse by changing it from a section, to the dang viewing area? Ugh. :bang:


BTW, I would just like to say that while I love the quality of attractions built, and the level of maintenance that is kept up around those parks, I do not like several of Tokyo's policies. Whenever I hear about a new one, too, these feelings only gets worse for me, usually. :/

But I DO still want to go! :0)

[stevo505]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

What the heck? You have to get a ticket to see a show now? It's free, right? If not... wow.

[tikicub]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

b) To get into the show, you must be at the park early. Kind of inconvenient if AP's decide to go just for the show.

This is the beauty of it. Truly it is.

[Legacy]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

This seems like a way to tone down the problems with people showing up last-minute and getting upset because they can't find a spot. These people lose out because they weren't aware that people line up hours ahead of time just to see the show. Showpass will eliminate that problem, but only if everyone is equally aware of the system.

It shouldn't be too hard for Disney to emphasize the necessity of Showpass. If people want to see World of Color, they have to know what time it starts. Therefore, add a little note about Showpass in the times guides and anywhere else applicable.

Unfortunately, I doubt this will reach everyone. Doing Fantasmic guest control I run into a lot of people who didn't even know there was a show out on the Rivers of America. You can bet there are going to be a lot of guests, particularly out-of-towners who are going to see everyone lining up for World of Color, then are going to want to know what it is and how they can see it. Thanks to Showpass, they can't. They're too late.

As someone brought up before, what about the annual passholders who just want to come for the evening to see World of Color? Or what if a hundred people get Showpasses then decide to go see the fireworks instead? A "full" show would have a little space left. Do you let latecomers in at that point? How many? People are certainly going to notice if there's room, and they're going to want to fill those spots.

I'm willing to believe the system might work, but it's going to have a lot of kinks that need to be ironed out. Ultimately, Showpass might be too elaborate to be worthwhile, mostly because no matter how much you spread the word, there's always going to be guests who have no idea what it is. We'll see...

[Peace_N_Love]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

I think it's a pretty cool idea. It sounded a bit iffy to me but if it's going to be anything like the way it was described, I think it makes a lot of sense. It's not like others wouldn't be able to see it at all 'cuz you'd still be able to find spots outside the amphitheater. No matter what, it is going to be crazy for a while to start and this seems like one of the best ideas to try and calm things down a bit.
Even better news: There should be a few extra hours available for the CMs who work guest control and could be put near the "ShowPass" machines in order to keep guests from getting crazy in those lines that are sure to form as soon as DCA opens. I REALLY hope they don't forget about that part.
Fast forward to April 24th 2010... Breaking News out of Anaheim, California. A riot broke out in Disney's California Adventure today when a giant over enthusiastic man cut in front of a sweet little 6 yr. old girl while in line for a "ShowPass" for the new World of Color show at the park. Her father did not appreciate it, a scuffle ensued, leading to all out mayhem and trampling as others still tried to get their "ShowPass." Cut to footage of park guest being interviewed... meanwhile DLR excecutive watching the news, "Ohhhh yeeeeah huh??? I knew I was forgetting something." )

[Petchaurus]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

I generally like it. I think it will help control the chaos of the show a little. I understand that APs who want to come for the night will miss out but there are people who go on vacation JUST to go to Disneyland and it will give them the opportunity to see it if educated properly.
I know that I would be frustrated/disappointed if I came for a 3 day vacation and had to spend one whole day camped out for the world of color show. I don't know many people who travelled there for vacation that wouldn't be upset by wasting a day. Its like paying for a day just to see one show.
I trust Disney will figure their stuff out. I am also willing to give it the summer and then go some obscure day next fall to see it.

[GhostHost2]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

I don't like the idea of going into DCA just to get a Showpass and then having to come back several hours later to see the show. If the showpasses were also given out at DL, then they would not be as much of a problem.

[Lukey114]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

I generally like the idea for the purpose that i would rather wait an hour in a line to get a pass for the show than 3 hours in line in order to get a spot to see the show.

I think the system should maybe release tickets at different times. Maybe like 4000 in the from 10-11, and then like 1000 every hour until they're all gone, or something similar to that. That way if someone cant make it there till 2, they still have a shot to get in the show. But that might also lead to people waiting hours in line, so it would probably not work out very good.

Could they track tickets that entered Disneyland and if they havent re-entered DCA by a certain time their ticket gets voided?

Because the major flaw that i see in this whole thing is up to 1000 people might just get the pass cuz they "think" they might want to go to the show. So maybe like 10000 tickets could be given out and 1000 are SOL?

[Coheteboy]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

This idea has a LOT of problems, many of which Al has already addressed. First, people who come early get Showpasses. What if a ton of AP holders get them and decide to go home early instead? Would people be then allowed to slip into the mix?


Also... if you're there early to get a showpass but your party joins you later. Will they be able to see the show with you? Most likely not! This is just mass confusion and grumpiness from all sides.

Even with people having Showpass, this is still going to create major chaos for ticket holders trying to get the best seat in the house. How early are people able to wait? Will the showpass have a designated section that people have to sit in? That would be my suggestion to avoid craziness.

There's talk of this show only playing once a night on occasion. That doesn't sound like a good plan to me. They definitely need to be playing this twice a night EVERY night or else there will be a lot of angry people at the end of the day.


What's great about the fireworks is that you can see them from many vantage points.. basically the ENTIRE park. World of Color? Only visible if you're close enough.

[Disguy1955]

Re: What are your thoughts on "Showpass?"

I really like this Idea. But for people like me who was planning getting to DCA right when it opens and going to save a seat it sort of stinks unless they will let those people stay seating if they have a ticket I hope they do.