Simply not true...
if FP was taken away the stand-by lines would be so much shorter.
This is simply not true.
Stand-by lines actually got shorter after FP was introduced.
This was because before FP you had no choice, either wait in a 60-90 minute line, or never ride it at all (like PeterPan had 90% of the day, unless you rode it before 10am).
Now with the option to ride these rides without waiting, by simply getting a FP, people no longer (have to) tolerate such long lines/waits. So once a line gets just so long, people now skip it (or get a FP for it and do something else). People no longer tolerate the long waits (for everything) that used to exist before FP.
So, thanks to FP, anyone can see many of the attractions they want without the waits, and those who just have to desperately see them don't have to wait as long in line as everyone use to.
FP works well for all the attractions it serves, all you have to do is manage your FP use intelligently.
Anyone who doesn't want FP doesn't understand FP or how to use them (or works for the competition).
If you are stupid enough to wait in a long line when you could have gotten a FP, (being stupid) doesn't make you more deserving to ride than the FPers who (smartly) walk right by you, because...
FP represents the holding of a virtual 'place in line'. Everyone who walks past you with a FP was there BEFORE YOU, and instead of waiting in line (like stupid 'ol you), they claimed their place in line and then went and did something else productive with their time (enjoying another attraction, a parade, a meet and greet, a meal, a shopping spree). And it's not like you don't know about 'my' spot in front of you...the wait time in the standby line clearly represents and includes all the virtual spots being held by FP holders. Simply put, FP holders were there first.
If I had my way, FP would be removed from all attractions.
It takes a real 'special' person to defend and fight for 'standing doing nothing' at Disney World where you paid over $70 a day to visit (not including meals), and a real 'thoughtful' person to then insist that everyone also 'stand doing nothing', just because they 'like' doing it or are too lazy or stupid to take advantage of this ingenious theme park device.
Imagine how insane it would be if they got rid of Priority Seating at the restaurants??? You'd spend half your day at Epcot waiting in a long line to get into Alfredos or all your morning waiting for a spot in Cinderella's castle.
Even when I was young, I was amazed by how stupid lines were (and those who insisted on waiting in them), and what a insipid waste of time and money they were for both the guest and the park owner. FS saves you a place in line and allows you enjoy more (good for you) and spend more (good for Disney). Fast Pass also eases some of the stress and frustration you face while on vacation in addition to increasing the enjoyment you can experience. You now can enjoy a unrushed meal with your family knowing you have Fast Passes for the 'Big attraction' when you are finished, instead of yelling at little Jimmy to hurry up and eat his fries. You can now stop and enjoy one of the many street shows at WDW, instead of rushing...to get in another line. You can now take the time to enjoy a lesser attraction that you have never had the time to see. You also get to enjoy the attraction without enduring the boredom, frustration and tiring wait in line, putting you in a much better mood to fully enjoy the attraction. Most of all, it allows you to really enjoy yourself and your family, which is what Disney is about.
Fast Pass was the most intellegent and significant Disney innovation (or attraction) ever introduced at WDW. With enough time you can enjoy the dozen or so favorite attractions at WDW each with a no-wait Fast Pass, or you can wait 45-75 minutes for each for a grand total of 720 wasted minutes (30 hours) standing.:brick:
I still cringe when I see people waiting in line (for a show) when they simply should be allowed to go in and sit down. They started doing this for the 1st Flower Power concert show of the day. Why??? Now instead of the early people being able to calmly pick out a seat when they get there and relax, they now have to wait standing in a hot line and race to get their seat when the mob is released at 'the time'. So these concerts are no longer a reason to go to Epcot for the Flower and Garden Festival.
Fast Pass hints...
You should always be 'holding' a fastpass...
You should always get a new fastpass,
before you use the fastpass you're holding...or as early as your fastpass allows.
While holding a fastpass enjoy one of the many attractions that doesn't normally have (much of) a line, or enjoy an
unrushed meal with your family, or relax with an ice cream.
Fast Pass or not, you still should get to a park early (10am or earlier).
Beware of the most popular rides (Test Track and Soarin'), if you can't get on it early or get an early FP, your FP might end up hours away, locking you out of other FPs during that time...plan with this in mind.
One little note: if your fastpass is for 1pm and it says you can get another fastpass at 1:05pm, it really is 1pm...they only say that so you won't get there early (12:58pm FPtime, but 1pm according to your watch) and complain when you can't get a fastpass. (try to set your watch to 'Disney time' to avoid this).
There are some FP attractions whose lines vary wildly (Star Tours, Safari, Malstrom, Mission:Space), so check the standby time first and if it is 10 minutes or less, then there is probably
no line inside and get a fastpass for something else.
Never trust the standby time for Soarin' in the morning, I've seen it report a 45-60 minute wait when there was
NO line inside at all (I've seen the FP line longer than the SBline!!!). Luckily, with Soarin', you can walk in and
see the size of the line and walk back out if it is too long (the entry is right around the corner of the 'room' with the giant screens).
And a good thing to know is that if you miss your fastpass window, they
will let you in
after your fastpass time, so don't kill yourself (and your family) rushing to get there. But don't plan on this, because if everyone did this on purpose, the system could collapse, and we wouldn't want that.
