Are there people that would prefer no fastpasses?

[rufio]

I ask because I just saw a post in another thread that stated "Fastpasses, for the most part, did not exist" as a good thing about an earlier decade in WDW. I had never even considered that people did not like fastpass.

I personally never visited WDW before the addition of the fastpass, so I'm not sure what it was like before. However, I have been there in the middle of July on a day when fastpasses ran out by 11 and had to stand in three hour lines. Is this preferable? Are there people that would rather it be this way?

Thanks!

 

[Ginzuishou]

The regular line is called "Stand By", which ultimately means that the Fast Pass line is the Main Line for each attraction. All other lines are just "fill in" if needed. WHAT??????????? I know, crazy.

Basically, they want you to use Fast Pass, and if you don't, you get punished, in a way

I have never used the Fast Pass system, so I can't really say which I prefer. What I have done is visit Disney World when attendance is the lowest. This negates the need to use the Fast Pass system. When you want to go on a ride, you go on the ride, with minimal wait.

During the summer and other peak attendance times, I can see Fast Pass as being very very useful; however. I do see it as adding some stress, as you have to plan your time accordingly.

 

[G00fyDad]

Fast Passes should have always been around.

It means the difference between this:

and this:

Which line would you rather have??

 

[LuLaSue]

The only ride we have ever had to fast pass was Toy Story Mania. The time of year you attend the parks may dictate if fast pass if vital to your trip.

Have a great day!

 

[Weather_Lady]

While our upcoming visit is planned for this fall, every other time I've been to WDW it has been over Easter break, when crowds are at their peak. Before FP, we arrived at rope drop, sprinted to as many headliner attractions as we could, and then spent the rest of the day doing less-popular attractions as the lines grew and grew.

After FP came along, we were able to relax a little in the morning, still showing up early but sending someone for FPs for the more far-flung popular attractions, and touring the parks in a more leisurely and orderly way. While our fundamental strategy didn't change that much, the Fastpass system injected some much-appreciated breathing room into our day. Not only did we not find it very stressful to return within the 1-hour windows (we were sticklers for return time enforcement before the parks ever were, LOL!), but whatever minor stress or lack-of-spontaneity it added far outweighed the stress of worrying that a favorite attraction's standby line might be so long that we'd either have to forgo the attraction altogether, or make seeing it a 1-2 hour commitment.

I'll be interested to see whether and how often we'll need them on our upcoming trip, but I can say that during peak crowds, Fastpasses were my family's "golden ticket" to a low-stress experience.

 

[Master Yoda]

There are people who think things were better before fastpasses, but I am not one of them. I have been going to Disney since the mid 70's and I remember days in the 80's during peak season where you were thrilled that the wait for Space Mountain was only 2 hours. I would never want to return to a time before fastpass.

 

[sgtmgd]

Not sure Disney would survive a "no fast pass system" in todays economy. Fast passes ensure you can get to most of the named rides while at your park. Imagine if thousands of families couldnt see most teh attractions due to waiting in line..15 years ago maybe no big deal...but with todays dollar harder to come by the fast pass system while not perfect at least gives families the ability to have asystem that allows you to get into those attractions without waiting 3 hours in line for one ride (something I did for many rides back in the day...space mountain in particular)

Universal has a system like the fast pass but it is not valid for Harry Potter..which was insane.. I went in January and less than one hour after it opened the entile "harry potter world was closed" people were given tickets to come back hours latter to just get in...then had to wait in lines for the 3 attractions...the main one with a 3-4 hour wait. They did have a single rider line..1 hour wait..but still...It was the most disorginized mess I had ever seen. European guests in particular were demanding park officials do something as it was ruining thier day. Not sure if they have fixed it yet..but Im glad WDW doesnt have limitations like that.

 

[The Mom]

There are people who think things were better before fastpasses, but I am not one of them. I have been going to Disney since the mid 70's and I remember days in the 80's during peak season where you were thrilled that the wait for Space Mountain was only 2 hours. I would never want to return to a time before fastpass.

Been there, done that, and am happy that I don't have to do it again. I remember going back to our favorites, hoping that the lines had gotten shorter, only to discover that the wait was even longer. Repeat until you finally decide to just wait for 2 hours, or that you'll be skipping some favorites this trip. At least with FP you have a chance to get more than one favorite in per trip. And you don't waste as much time walking back to check on lines.

 

[rufio]

The regular line is called "Stand By", which ultimately means that the Fast Pass line is the Main Line for each attraction. All other lines are just "fill in" if needed. WHAT??????????? I know, crazy.

Basically, they want you to use Fast Pass, and if you don't, you get punished, in a way

I have never used the Fast Pass system, so I can't really say which I prefer. What I have done is visit Disney World when attendance is the lowest. This negates the need to use the Fast Pass system. When you want to go on a ride, you go on the ride, with minimal wait.

During the summer and other peak attendance times, I can see Fast Pass as being very very useful; however. I do see it as adding some stress, as you have to plan your time accordingly.

They are definitely useful during peak times! Ive been to WDW in July, over spring break, and in November. The November trip was wonderful! We literally walked onto every ride with no wait (the exception being Peter Pan's Flight with a 45 minute wait). The summer trip and my most recent trip during spring break would have been a nightmare without fastpass! we bypassed multiple lines with waits of 2 hours or longer. My very inpatient fiance would not have enjoyed the trip nearly as much without fastpass.

 

[lebeau]

Fast Passes should have always been around.

It means the difference between this:

and this:

Which line would you rather have??

I'm sure the difference in the two pictures can solely be attributed to FP and not the puddles all over the ground in the second picture...

Cause everyone knows there are no long lines in the FP era...

Hold on! Your long line picture is dated 2007!?!?!

 

[Uncle Lupe]

With a continuous load ride it makes the stand-by line grind to a halt.

 

[luv]

I like FP. I like pay-for-it FP. I don't even mind FOTL, like they have at Uni. I love that at Uni, lol.

What I don't like AT ALL is the idea of all these appointments, like another poster mentioned in another thread. And I despise the enforcement of the return window, which isn't taken into account in the poll, making it hard to answer.

When I'm on vacation, I don't want to worry about appointments to eat and appointments to ride...and how to schedule all these appointments so they won't conflict with each other...

The thing about Uni's system is that it makes everything MORE fun. Easier. More enjoyable.

The appointments make it LESS fun.

Seriously. Enough is enough.

 

[ddbowdoin]

losing FP would be a major blow for us... I mean, would we still go? Of course. But with FP it just frees our day up to be able to enjoy the smaller nuances of each park, and of course... spend more money in the shops. More people in attraction lines = less people in gift shop lines = less money

 

[flynnibus]

if anyone needs to think about this.. all they need to do is look at how big the queue structures are in WDW and go 'why do they need all these switchbacks?? they never use them!'

Well back in the 80s.. they did have to use them

 

[CP_alum08]

if anyone needs to think about this.. all they need to do is look at how big the queue structures are in WDW and go 'why do they need all these switchbacks?? they never use them!'

Well back in the 80s.. they did have to use them

Took the words out of my mouth! Or fingers, as it were.

I will say though, that FP has spoiled us. We can barely stand to wait 30 minutes for an attraction anymore. Even at 30 minutes I have to weigh the option of getting a FP and coming back later. Rides like TSMM and Soarin' would almost certainly never be ridden by us if it weren't for FP.

 

[JIMINYCR]

We utilize FP as often as we can. We target the prime ride as soon as we get to the park and systematically follow through the day. Makes life at the parks soooo much easier once you get to know how to use it. Blessings on those who first thought up the concept of the FP and helped it come off the drawing board and give it life.

 

[olinecoach61]

Love the fastpass

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Fast Passes should have always been around.

It means the difference between this:

and this:

Which line would you rather have??

I know something is wrong with me............but what attraction is that?

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Love the fastpass. Also love the digital wait times at the start of every line. That way you can utilize your time much better. Look, Peter Pan is busy from the word "go" until the end of the day. Even after Spectromagic I have seen it lined up 45 minutes. That's nuts. Fastpass clears that up. As do the digitial wait times.

Now, I do remember the days before that, not just as Disney but other theme parks. I mean, we survived and such, you just waited and sometimes were misled by the lines. But this is an invention that has saved time, not spent it

 

[draybook]

I know something is wrong with me............but what attraction is that?

Haunted Mansion.