Disney's test of centralized FastPass distribution at Animal Kingdom

[Victoria]

This as it is an extremely bad idea with no benefit, which typically means with Disney it's the first step in a larger more evil plan, here it's the always-going-to-happen cashing in and sectarian split of Fastpass plan I presume.

This was more or less my immediate thought when I heard about this test. I have seen how paid fast pass type programs work in other theme parks and it isn't pretty.

Or possibly Disney is smart enough not to do something so stupid and they will be put in places like the largely unused swan boat dock in MK and the old leave a legacy location at Epcot.

I also have faith that Disney is capable of placing the machines in a reasonable location should this become permanent. The current location at AK is ok for now since it is only temporary. There are definite crowd control problems in that area though. If it were to be expanded on a larger scale I pray that they would move it to the old boat docks or somewhere else with less directions of traffic.

Over-the-top paranoia nothwithstanding...

Provided the full information of what stand-by times currently are and what time-frames are currently being issued for each ride, it's an improvement. Without all that information readily available, it'll be disastrous.

Precisely. If it were to become permanent and they do it the 'right' way (ie- up to date listings of return time AND stand by wait times) I will be happy with the improvement. Otherwise, I fear for the future of the FP program. :lol:

 

[DisneyWorldDork]

Well i think this idea could work, here is my idea of how it could work. If you keep the fastpass machines where they are but have a place in the front of each park with one machine for each ride with FP. Like in Epcot, use the area that used to be for buying a Leave the Legacy thing and have a machine for Soarin', Test Track, Mission Space, and Malestrome but still have the machines at the ride.

Realize this is just my idea.

 

[EPCOTPluto]

I'm always serious.

:lookaroun

I do know for a fact that Fastpass has always had this "Phase 2" involving Resorts, planned vacations, Pay-to-Play Fastpasses, and all sorts of radical changes. This sounds like they're finally starting to make it happen, or at least dipping their toes in the water.

I recall one where resort guests can somehow acquire Fastpasses from their room(s) an hour or two before arriving at the park, so that they can go on the attraction without any wait. All via TV screens. Sounds cool, but how they'll pull it off is another question...

 

[WDWFREAK53]

I think that Resort guests should get a higher priority time than non-resort guests as sort of a "perk" but it should all be done in front of that attraction's entrance.

Think of the first-timers.

*Gets to the FP booth in the front of the park*
*Oh, Everest...I heard that's a good ride*
*Goes over to Everest...*

I'M NOT RIDING THAT THING!

*FastPass stays in pocket*

 

[Walter Yensid]

I am not saying I do not believe that the existing system could not use a little work or improvement in some ways...

But, I honestly do not get why they need to do this. Some time back, there was nothing called FastPass. When you arrived at a ride, you could choose to wait, or if the wait was too long for you, you went to another one and came back. That was how it was.

The current FP certainly makes the park experience a better one as you can avoid waiting in a long line, but still come back to it. I mean, how much better does it have to be compared to what is was before there was FP? Plus, I think Disney has done a much better job incorporating the distribution stations into the design of the rides and out of the way of traffic since FP proved to be a permanent thing.

Believe me, I am not some 'stay in the past' type guy, but come on. What's next? It will be like the movie WALL-E and people will be transported to rides on hovercrafts and watch the ride on the screen? This could be a case of trying to make something even simpler and better for the guest, but making it much more complicated. KISS...Keep It Simple, Stupid.

 

[WishIwasThere]

It is either we loose it to fastpass machines or I burn it to the ground so I never have to hear the word Merf again.:lol:

Merf...Merf....Merf...

Just kidding Master Yoda...

Kevin Yee over at that other site had an interesting article regarding FP's and their possible future. Now I know the article was fiction but it was also very plausible. Maybe this certralized FP is the first step in that direction.

 

[CBOMB]

I'm always serious.

I do know for a fact that Fastpass has always had this "Phase 2" involving Resorts, planned vacations, Pay-to-Play Fastpasses, and all sorts of radical changes. This sounds like they're finally starting to make it happen, or at least dipping their toes in the water.

I agree, and I don't think the change is going to be for the better.

 

[Sassagoula]

Count me in with the "this is a terrible idea" crowd. Fastpass could be better, but this sure ain't the way to do it.

Or possibly Disney is smart enough not to do something so stupid and they will be put in places like the largely unused swan boat dock in MK and the old leave a legacy location at Epcot.

Where is the swan boat dock, anyway? I don't think I've ever seen it.

 

[Master Yoda]

Count me in with the "this is a terrible idea" crowd. Fastpass could be better, but this sure ain't the way to do it.



Where is the swan boat dock, anyway? I don't think I've ever seen it.

It is to the right of the castle.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Walt+Disney+World+Resort,&sll=28.419018,-81.58086&sspn=0.001378,0.003862&ie=UTF8&radius=0.12&rq=1&t=h&ll=28.419035,-81.580211&spn=0.001378,0.00284&z=19

 

[krankenstein]

Aren't they currently testing the word of charging for FP in Hong Kong and Paris?

 

[luckyeye13]

They should have more than 1 centralized station in the park, maybe a couple of places to put them. Just like how they have certain smoking places.

If they have more than one location, then it would no longer be centralized.

 

[Sassagoula]

It is to the right of the castle.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...8.419035,-81.580211&spn=0.001378,0.00284&z=19

Ohhh, so that's what that is! I always thought that building was strange. Thanks.

 

[drossjr]

i agree with a central location, but i think it may lead to a log jam of people

also i think fastpasses should only be issued to resort guests and florida residents. Make it one of the perks of staying at a Disney hotel. By doing this it would lead to more opportunities to hit the key attractions for Disney resort guests

 

[WDWRLD]

I remember reading something a number of years ago that they were working on a system that would work off the tvs that would allow you the night before to check off of a list of attractions that you wanted to do in the park the following day and the following day you would get a printout of all your selected attractions and times throughout the day in which you would do the said ride.

 

[Figment632]

I remember reading something a number of years ago that they were working on a system that would work off the tvs that would allow you the night before to check off of a list of attractions that you wanted to do in the park the following day and the following day you would get a printout of all your selected attractions and times throughout the day in which you would do the said ride.

This would never work there are way too many people in WDW during peak times for a system like this to work.

 

[chwilson88]

i agree with a central location, but i think it may lead to a log jam of people

also i think fastpasses should only be issued to resort guests and florida residents. Make it one of the perks of staying at a Disney hotel. By doing this it would lead to more opportunities to hit the key attractions for Disney resort guests

Fully agree with this and others, more perks need to be given to the bigger spenders at WDW, including resort guests, DVC members, and yes I don't have a problem throwing FL residents in there too . The parks should not become such "mechanized" experiences..you should be able to flow throughout the theme parks and decide on rides as you see fit, not have to plan it out so robotically at a central location...takes away from the experience I think.

 

[musketeer]

A couple of years ago (2005 i think), my wife and I went to Disneyland. It was the only time we've been there. They had a deal that if you booked through AAA, you got this special fastpass perk where you could get fastpasses for all attractions at the same time. So what we did was in the morning, go around to all the attractions, get fast passes for all of them, and them use them as their times came up (or after). They still had the rule of not getting multiple fastpasses for the same ride until the window came or the two hours passed, but that didn't really bother us at all.

It was a really great idea, almost as good as the Universal deal for their resort guests.

I don't think they do it anymore, but I wonder if something like that could be a perk for resort guests. Maybe not unlimited, but something like being able to get more than one at a time.

All in all, I still don't get all the debate over fastpasses. How some people complain so much about them is beyond me. I'm only able to go to Disney during the really crowded times, in fact our last visit was over Christmas last year, and even with the huge crowds, the fastpasses made it just fine.

I dont understand why some people have such contempt for it.

 

[Thrill Seeker]

If this trend is going to continue, I'd like to see FP areas around the wait time boards in the parks. That way, before walking over to an attraction, you can grab a FP if the wait is too long. Hopefully we'll also see signage that indicates what times are being distributed soon as well...

 

[ClemsonTigger]

This past Thursday I experienced the centralized FP distribution. It is a good idea but it definitely needs work. Traffic control is a big issue and the lack of a posted return time is annoying.

I also spoke with a CM friend of mine to gain some perspective. She pointed out something I that never occurred to me. Since it is impossible to tell from the central FP location what the standby times are, everyone just gets a FP. Few people are actually walking to each attraction and seeing the standby line is short and just doing standby instead of getting a FP. The FP line is going to be very overloaded and standby lines will be much shorter than normal. Not really a 'problem' per say (if you don't mind the standby line) but it kind of defeats the purpose of FP. :shrug:

Don't think it will affect FP lines as quantities of FP issued would be the same. Locations would just be split.

I would love to have a separate location for Toy Story Mania FP! That bottleneck is he%$!

 

[Pete C]

Who needs a fastpass for Dinosaur? I think people don't even know the ride exists with how it is tucked away in its completely boring show building. I never have a long wait on that ride. I guess it's good to have that out front though...people can waste their fastpass on that to free up some slots on the others.