do fastpass lines really help anything??

[WDWhumanmap]

blake and a few others make a good point there has got to be some time period when they work or something that makes them work well but i would say imho that they don't work and should be shut down in off season b/c i been there 2 times from when the fastpasses were in use and they are useless

 

[GenerationX]

I think the FastPass system is great. Back in 2000 when we were determining where we wanted to go on vacation in 2001, WDW was one of several options (and not the leading contender).

Our reluctance to commit to a WDW vacation was based on having three young, active sons (2, 4, and 6 in 2001) with limited attention spans. We knew lines over 20 minutes would be impossible. Then, a friend explained the FastPass system.

We could now see Peter Pan's Flight, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, and Kilimanjaro Safaris without having to wait in a loooooong line or get up way early. That clinched it; we were off to WDW.

 

[chrisjoi]

Wow, what a lively topic. I say keep the fastpasses and share the love!

 

[Erika]

FastPass definitely works for me. Keep it.

 

[Tramp]

Originally posted by Erika
FastPass definitely works for me. Keep it.

I'm with you, Erika! Thumbs UP! Keep them! If you know how to use the fastpass system efficiently, life in the parks is a whole lot easier. You need to know the rules and use them to your advantage.

Don't expect the fastpass system to work wonders for you if you arrive late afternoon on a busy day. Either the fastpasses will be gone completely or the return time will be several hours away. You're essentially condemned to wait in the standby lines.

Since the system is available to anyone with a valid pass, there's no reason to feel any guilt walking by those who have chosen to wait in the standby line.

 

[surfsupdon]

I am a strong condoner of Fastpass. How else can one vacation during peak times and get on all the rides of their choosing multiple times. From 12/26--1/3 the longest me and my fmaily waited for a ride was 41 minutes for Peter Pan. We know how to efficiently work the FastPass system and when to leave the parks and return later. And we go on our favorite rides soooo many times throughout the vacation. It's excellent!!

 

[Fievel]

Griz, we actually had this happen to us last time we were at Epcot. We were sitting on a bench enjoying an ice cream, and a couple came up to us and asked us if we would like a fast pass for Mission:Space. We said yes, thinking we'd have to wait awhile, but the timeframe had already taken effect.


Whether they decided the ride wasn't for them, and just gave them away or just felt generous is probably a good discussion, the fact remains that they helped to spread a little magic that day!

And I think Roy WOULD approve....it's the Disney spirit.

 

[General Grizz]

Originally posted by Fievel
Whether they decided the ride wasn't for them, and just gave them away or just felt generous is probably a good discussion, the fact remains that they helped to spread a little magic that day!

And I think Roy WOULD approve....it's the Disney spirit.

That's excellent, Fievel. On the Undiscovered Future World Tour, we were given VIP passes to Test Track by an elderly couple who couldn't ride. There were three of us on the tour - and so now we have five passes (each member was given one). Well, since we couldn't use them, we handed them to a mom and her child of about eight outside of the attraction. And we rode Test Track with them.

It's funny how contagious it can be. No matter how small an act can be, it's these qualities which really pack the punch of a Disney vacation -- it's not the attractions that keeps the guests coming back, per se.

 

[strobe]

Originally posted by grizzlyhall
It would involve hopping the line, which could be hazardous, I know, so don't SUE me or give me any legal business. .. but they cannot board the ride without a Fast Pass - and as this would be done near the entrance, hopefully, there would be no harm in exiting.

I know - far-fetched - but it would REALLY brighten someone's day. Just like filling in a spare few quarters into a Coke machine at the parks.

We did exactly this.. When I was on a trip to WDW in October, we visited MGM studios. I went with my wife and parents, and since my wife was pregnant, her and my mom decided wait while my dad and I rode RNRC. Since we had four tickets, we got four fast passes and rode the ride.

After we exited, we still had two passes left and caught another couple just as they were getting to go into the standby line. Their faces really lit up, and they were caught off guard by the gesture of a 'free pass'. It felt nice to give someone else a bit more of the Magic, even if it was just a tiny gesture.

 

[Tramp]

Originally posted by strobe
Their faces really lit up, and they were caught off guard by the gesture of a 'free pass'. It felt nice to give someone else a bit more of the Magic, even if it was just a tiny gesture.

If I have enuf extra fastpasses, I'll look for a family struggling with with small children. You're right about their faces lighting up and that makes it all worthwhile for me.... An act of kindness toward a complete stranger whose path you'll probably never cross again....part of the Disney magic and an admirable character trait to boot.

 

[MouseMadness]

Originally posted by Tramp
If I have enuf extra fastpasses, I'll look for a family struggling with with small children.

*has a new reason to love Tramp* :lol:

Fastpasses are a godsend if you have small children!

 

[musketeer]

Greetings

I fail to understand some of the reasoning behind some of the comments on this discussion. I honestly do not think that it is rocket science to determine that it is much much better to wait in a virtual line as opposed to a real line. Even if I have to wait for ½ hour longer in the virtual line than the real line, I’d still have to wait in the real line for 1 hour. I’d much rather wait in a virtual line for 1 ½ hours than wait in a real one for 1 hour. Also, it doesn’t take much to figure out how to use the system efficiently. I was there with my wife the summer for 2002, and although it was very busy, I had not a problem at all because we learned how to effectively use the system. In fact, during our vacation we were able to do so much more than we had before because we weren’t rushing from one spot to the next and just waiting in line over and over and over. I also just recently visited Universal Orlando where you can use your hotel room as a permanent fastpass. I admit I did not like this as much because we ran out of stuff to do very quickly. The way the Disney system works, with the required 2 hour spacing, has a built in “pace setter”, even though it probably wasn’t originally intended to work as such.

I think some people have to realize that most visitors do not live 15 minutes away, and when we travel hundreds or even thousands of miles, we’d like to limit our times just standing in line, and that’s exactly what the system does.

Thank You

 

[rosie.ca]

i like them fast passes ... we did one for splash mountain... then we waited in line anyways cuz the pass ended up being for almost closing time then after we went to pirates and shopped and stuff i think we even did jungle cruise if i recall and by that time the fast pass was ready so we went back to splash mountain anyways i always end up going on a couple rides in between the time i get the fast pass and when it is ready for use.

 

[BwanaBob]

musketeer,

the sad truth to all of this is just that some people don't like to have to "plan" their vaca.
(if you call return times "planning"):veryconfu

"and when you are as big as Disney is, any line is one wait too many."


If you search, you will see TONS of "heated debates" on this issue.

I have learned to stay out of them as much as possible. Just ends up being a long rant on opinions.

"WORKS GREAT!...Less filling!"

...I'm out!

 

[BwanaBob]

...by the way...

WELCOME to the boards! :sohappy:

 

[Heyyall]

Originally posted by musketeer
Greetings

I fail to understand some of the reasoning behind some of the comments on this discussion. I honestly do not think that it is rocket science to determine that it is much much better to wait in a virtual line as opposed to a real line. Even if I have to wait for ½ hour longer in the virtual line than the real line, I’d still have to wait in the real line for 1 hour. I’d much rather wait in a virtual line for 1 ½ hours than wait in a real one for 1 hour. Also, it doesn’t take much to figure out how to use the system efficiently. I was there with my wife the summer for 2002, and although it was very busy, I had not a problem at all because we learned how to effectively use the system. In fact, during our vacation we were able to do so much more than we had before because we weren’t rushing from one spot to the next and just waiting in line over and over and over. I also just recently visited Universal Orlando where you can use your hotel room as a permanent fastpass. I admit I did not like this as much because we ran out of stuff to do very quickly. The way the Disney system works, with the required 2 hour spacing, has a built in “pace setter”, even though it probably wasn’t originally intended to work as such.

I think some people have to realize that most visitors do not live 15 minutes away, and when we travel hundreds or even thousands of miles, we’d like to limit our times just standing in line, and that’s exactly what the system does.

Thank You

I agree!

My family learned very quickly how to use the systme right, and we never wait a long time on any ride. If you know the right time to go on rides in the stand-by lines, and when to get a fastpass, then you won't have a problem. FASTPASS was a great invention that Disney made, and I'm glad that it's worked out.