This is the part that I feel might be a problem. UOR tried this, and for the most part quickly abandoned it. (Technically, they still do it, but very rarely for a few rides.)
I think it would better to just have a complete Standby Return time from the start…BUT, some people might get a “return time” of “now” type thing.
It’s the paying I object to. I hope on-site guests at least get a couple of freebies. They want U.K. guests onsite for 2 weeks - we have to to get their big 50th anniversary offer - but paying for FPs as well for that long is going to add up fast.
Some things I liked about MaxPass were: I could decide on a daily bases if we needed/wanted it; it included Photopass. Once you checked into the MP line you could secure the next pass. So I’d be in que and looking for the next one. I liked that it leveled the playing field.
But it could be tweaked. They could also offer certain guests certain benefits, if they wanted to.
Bundles of FPs are still an option, as at Shanghai (called a “Premier Access Set”.
Buying it in the parks would mean onsite resort guests who use the Early Entry get a head start, on top of rope drop. Personally not a huge fan but I’ll adapt if necessary. On the bright side if we need to get up early and decide to return after a break in the middle of the day, we might save money on our adult beverages. OTOH we might just have them in the park.
You don’t buy until you get to the parks. So it’s not like you’d have to buy it every day. Even if they allowed people to buy it early it would probably still be on the day.
By the way, some images show that “more slots may become available at ……” with different times through the day.
On the one hand, the recent evening hours announcement shows they do want to give some extra perks to Deluxe resort guests. And perhaps fuelled thoughts that they might do the same with “FPs”.
On the other hand, a well known and reliable source is saying he hasn’t heard about any specific benefits for onsite guests. That can be read two ways, as in allonsite guests or anyonsite guests. Plus of course it could be they’re rethinking. One thing that still seems to be a possibility is a “small number of free FPs”. But he does say that both Premier Access and Standby Return fits in with what he’s hearing. But also bundles of FPs, as Shanghai has.