change in HM wait time

[Sloppy Skunk]

When I first heard about the closing of the fastpass machines at haunted mansion, I didn't think anything of it. There is an occasional long wait for haunted mansion, but for me it typically wasn't that bad.

I have been to WDW three times since the closing of the HM fastpass machines, and I must say that the line has been exponentially worse. Granted, I did visit at relatively busy times of the year, but that is no change from the past. Each time I went to MK, I never saw the wait time drop below 30 minutes, and it was usually much longer.

Do you think that these increased wait times are due to the lack of fastpasses? Or are they attributed to something else entirely? either way, the fastpass machines are just sitting there, and I think they should be opened back up.

 

[WTBAD]

It seems to me that the "Stand-by" line would move faster without Fastpasses. You wouldn't have the fastpass holders going to the head of the line.

 

[MissM]

Haunted Mansion's fastpass was broken. All it did was messily merge two lines into each other. It didn't save any time and you merged so far back in the line anyway that you ended up having to wait most of the standby line anyway.

HM is a ride that's always busier in the day then in the evening. I tend to check it a few times a day since you can easily see a 30 minute wait and then an hour later it's 5 minutes. The good thing about HM's line is that it's never that bad. Even a longer posted standby time isn't as bad as other rides since they take large groups very frequently.

HM definitely is better without the fastpass. The line and logistics just didn't work well on it. (And before anyone says I'm just a FP hater, that couldn't be further from the truth. I think it's hands-down one of the best ideas they've ever come up with.)
-m

 

[Sloppy Skunk]

MissM, your explanation makes alot of sense. Thinking about, the line layout for HM really isn't the best setup for fastpass to be efficient. I guess I have just been really unlucky my past few trips. Anyways, I'd ride HM no matter the wait

 

[nibblesandbits]

The past two times I've been to Disney...once in January right after New Years and once last year in the middle of May, fastpasses were not available and when my fiance and I got in line (twice) we were the only people waiting at the the door. Granted, others came after us...but twice we got there and were alone. The other times we got in line, we only waited five minutes or so.

Now I do know we've gone at night at least one of those times and nighttime really is the best time to go. I don't understand why no one gets in line then. I would think it would be better to go on HM then because it's dark and spooky...but i guess not.

So, I guess I could say no, I've not noticed a change in the wait times at the HM since Fastpasses were taken away.

 

[MansionFan415]

I actually thought the fastpass made the lines longer too, because of merging near the front of the line anyways as said above.

Thing is, before the fastpass lines were put up, SOOOO many people thought that it was a single file line. That was the main problem and why it always looked like such a long line at times, especially viewable from Tom Sawyer's Island.

People always looked at us so stupidly when I'd walk right past them and go straight up to the front. There are three or four turnstiles up there for a reason...dur!:hammer:

Well, I'm glad Fastpass is gone on it, it was never really necessary. As MissM said, the line for Mansion is never really THAT bad.