FastPass at "The Land"

[Dr Albert Falls]

Just wondering if anyone's heard the future plans for FastPass at "The Land".

I wouldn't be surprised if "Soarin'" steals the FastPass machines from "Living with the Land". I just can't believe they'd have FastPasses for both attractions.

As you'll recall, when "Living with the Land" received FastPass several years ago, it appeared to be a blatantly profit-making move, designed to drive people to the restaurants. Prior to FastPass, the wait time was usually less than 15 minutes. After FastPass, the Standby wait jumped to 60 minutes, encouraging visitors (who'd already hiked down the stairs into the depths of the building) to kill time at the food court.

With Soarin' (which most certainly deserves FastPass), the apparent financial goal would still be achieved. Plus, I don't think many people would get a ticket for Soarin', wait an hour or two, then get a "Living with the Land" ticket that would require another hour to wait.

It would be much more convenient if the FastPass machines were moved OUTSIDE, to eliminate that long walk in and out of the Land pavillion. However, I bet they will keep the machines INSIDE, if only to force people to walk past the newly-designed food court.

 

[DisneyJill]

As you'll recall, when "Living with the Land" received FastPass several years ago, it appeared to be a blatantly profit-making move, designed to drive people to the restaurants. Prior to FastPass, the wait time was usually less than 15 minutes. After FastPass, the Standby wait jumped to 60 minutes, encouraging visitors (who'd already hiked down the stairs into the depths of the building) to kill time at the food court.

They actually took boats OUT of the attraction to make the standby line longer so people would utilize FP at that location.

 

[marni1971]

They actually took boats OUT of the attraction to make the standby line longer so people would utilize FP at that location.

Surely you jest....

Don`t you?

You don`t?

 

[NIU EE]

It all has to do with crowd management, if people get through lines very very quickly then that attraction is wasted at the park because it doesn't help control the crowds. Theres not much other reason for the smaller attractions to be there....most people i know don't say "I'm going to go to Disney World so I can ride Living with the Land!"

 

[OnWithTheShow]

They actually took boats OUT of the attraction to make the standby line longer so people would utilize FP at that location

I'm sure this was more likey driven by the desire to have less cast members working the location.

In terms of the logic of the situation it would make sense if Soarin were to receive FastPass that they would simply take the machines from Living with the Land. This way they would not have to build more machines (though still have Muppetvision, Millionaire, and soon Haunted Mansions machines laying around). Also while guests were waiting on their return time for Soarin (sure to be quite a while) they could hit Living with the Land and likely still have time to kill.

I don't know about everyone else but I normally eat in the Land anyway when I am looking for a Quick Service meal. I like the variety. Lets hope it stays.

I don't mind the fast pass machines being inside the attraction. From the location where they were for Living with the Land all I had to do was walk inside the doors and I could look down and see the times.

 

[Gucci65]

My 13yr old LOVES this ride (why - I don't know).

Anyway, last December we waited 45 mins to ride it. This after walking on to Test Track AND Mission Space.

Since she still loves this ride, I will get a FP for Soaring and spend my wait time in line for The Land.

 

[Robfasto]

I remember a time back in the days of EPCOT Center when the "Listen to the Land" boat ride almost always had a 90 minute wait. Disney doesn't tend to waste space in an attraction with queue line that is not used.

 

[jesserin]

Theres not much other reason for the smaller attractions to be there....most people i know don't say "I'm going to go to Disney World so I can ride Living with the Land!"

I have to disagree here... My hubby and I love Living with the Land... it's our favorite Epcot ride and a must see on every trip... to some people who are interested in horticulture - Living with the Land is a treat... we also loved the Behind the Seeds Tour, back when it was offerred... it was only $8 a person and really gave you plenty of time to talk to the CM's...

 

[Kwit35]

Ditto, love this ride. If the boats are gone, I will cry. I love floating by the farm house, with the barking dog. I love listening to the distant thunderstorms. I love the warmth of the greenhouses and the smell of the fresh plants. I love the space age technology, with the plants growing in the centrifuge or suspended above the ground. I love seeing all the fish and the eels. I miss that catchy song, 'let's listen to the land'. I think it is worthy of fast-pass, Soarin' or no Soarin'.

 

[Laura]

I was wondering about this too. I actually hope their are fast passes for both. Every time I've been on Living with the Land its been a really long wait. And I bet people coming off Soarin' will head straight for the boat ride, making the lines even longer. I think fast passes for both would work well. Sort of like Test Track/Mission Space, TOT/RNR, Splash/Thunder. You grab one fastpass, ride the first ride, then ride the second ride using the fastpass.

How do you think the crowds will be in the Land Pavillion? I've always thought it was pretty darn crowded in there, and now with a major attraction added I'm imagining that it's going to be a mad house. Does anyone know if they are doing anything to the inside of the building to keep it from being overcrowded?

 

[Kwit35]

I am probably wrong about this, but, I think they got rid of the eating area. Which means there won't be as many people just lingering. Just a theory.

 

[brkgnews]

How do you think the crowds will be in the Land Pavillion? I've always thought it was pretty darn crowded in there, and now with a major attraction added I'm imagining that it's going to be a mad house. Does anyone know if they are doing anything to the inside of the building to keep it from being overcrowded?

I imagine that this will be one of those attractions with a redonkulously long queue line. That would allow for almost all of the crowd to be contained "inside" the attraction even if crowds were at the max. It would keep crowds out of the foyer. If I remember correctly, they were taking up the entire Food Rocks theatre to hold part of the queue line.

 

[ToTBellHop]

wouldn't it make more sense to have Soarin's Fastpass Kiosks outside of the land, where the newly widened walkways can better handle massive crowds and allow people to quickly disperse with their Fastpass to Imagination, Living Seas, or hell...American Adventure if it's a really busy day It just seems a lot more logical to me than having the kiosks on the basement floor so that people walk down through the masses of people, get their ticket, walk back up to the ground floor and leave. That sounds like a fire hazard to me...

And if I remember correctly, Food Rocks is largely being utilized for a post-show and obligatory gift shop area.

 

[Robfasto]

In California the queue for Soarin' is nearly all indoors, taking that into account in Florida with the added queue from the Food Rocks area (which could be a preshow) I don't think the crowds will be to out of hand.

 

[Matchieu]

I am probably wrong about this, but, I think they got rid of the eating area. Which means there won't be as many people just lingering. Just a theory.

They will be opening another food area there themed by the seasons.

This spring, Guests can celebrate the seasons at the new Sunshine Seasons, a fast-paced, fast-casual restaurant at The Land at Epcot. Fast-casual dining is a hybrid concept offering the convenience of a quick-service establishment with unique menu offerings and ingredients historically associated with more “casual” table-service operations. Chefs will cook the restaurant’s food in an open, onstage kitchen so Guests can see their selections being prepared.

 

[Kwit35]

Ohhhh?!? Sounds like fun. I live for food, so any new place to is exciting to me. I did like the old Food Fair though.

 

[Gepettotrevor]

It would be much more convenient if the FastPass machines were moved OUTSIDE, to eliminate that long walk in and out of the Land pavillion.

Great Idea! you get rep. points!

 

[DarkMeasures]

They will be opening another food area there themed by the seasons.

This spring, Guests can celebrate the seasons at the new Sunshine Seasons, a fast-paced, fast-casual restaurant at The Land at Epcot. Fast-casual dining is a hybrid concept offering the convenience of a quick-service establishment with unique menu offerings and ingredients historically associated with more “casual” table-service operations. Chefs will cook the restaurant’s food in an open, onstage kitchen so Guests can see their selections being prepared.

Holy crap. That's awsome. I mean, if it is actually what it says, the Land is going to be awsome. I mean everybody was nitpicking about everything going wrong but then now it seems that The Land will be better than it ever was.

Also, I love Living with the Land but I feel the fastpasses are useless. I only get them when I am going to eat there anyway which serves the purpose. Otherwise I usually wait. Great ride though. I think the reason why it is so good though is because it's real.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I think that sounds great. This is actually a great synergy since the old Sunshine Seasons fell short in story. If they switch the menu to reflect the seasons, that will be even better (which sounds like it might be the trend). This could also tie into both Living with the Land and Soarin' (eventually). I think Disney World's food offerings are on the way up. They are developing better stories than some of the attractions. Hopefully the rest of the pavilion will bode a similarly strong story and update.

 

[raven]

As much as I love The Land pavillion, I've always disliked the traffic patterns in the building. Coming in the front doors then being led toward the rear of the building just to go down the sometimes-working escillator and then being let off into a crowded food court area with strollers blocking every path isn't my idea of a guest-friendly building. I'd go all the way in there to get a fast pass then have to go all the way back through that mess to get out of the building. The only time I would actually stay is when I was hungry because there was nothing else to see that was exciting. So I agree that the fast pass distibution kiosks would work better outside of the building. It's kind of funny to see lines of people go down one escillator, grab a FP then head back up the other one.