FastPass Changes?

[Carrousel.Lover]

Any word on when they will be finalized? We saw a HUGE difference in the utilization of fastpass this trip. There appeared to be a lot of time studies going on when we were there. At MK my husband was asked to hold a timer. At the opening we were walked to BTMRR from Adventureland - and there was another group ahead of us - we've never experienced that before. At MGM the standby lines appears to move faster than the fastpass. Also at Epcot the time to use another fastpass appears to be a longer wait. My sister asked a castmember and was told that many people were abusing fastpass so they are trying to come up with a better system.

Also the posted wait time never appears correct. On Buzz the wait time showed 20 minutes and we went right on and 15 min when the line was outside the door toward the back. It was vey strange. We went back to touring the way we used to pre-fastpass.

 

[PeterPan1031]

My sister asked a castmember and was told that many people were abusing fastpass so they are trying to come up with a better system.

I dont understand how were they abusing fast pass?

 

[Carrousel.Lover]

I dont understand how were they abusing fast pass?

People figured out how to hold multiple ride fastpasses which I guess is not how Disney wants the system to be utilized. They subsequently appear to extend the time between fastpass utilization. I recall reading an article about the changes to fastpass potentially. I think this is in the experimental phase.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

People figured out how to hold multiple ride fastpasses which I guess is not how Disney wants the system to be utilized. They subsequently appear to extend the time between fastpass utilization.

Its called getting fast passes for everyone in your party even though they wont all ride. Or it could be that given the lack of prtoper attractions the few that are operating are inundated with FPs and return times stretch beyond two hours, letting the pass holder get another FP. Shocking abuse.

 

[PhotoDave219]

The testing over at Epcot that allowed you to have 2 fastpasses (for diff attractions) ended about a week or 2 ago.

 

[Thrawn]

The card you were given to hold is a FLIK card, and only times the amount of time you are standing in standby, so the wait sign outside the ride can be somewhat correct. It is not related to any fastpass changes.

As far as what the cast member said: remember, they are not kept up to date on everything. The CM might have just made it up. There are a couple ways to get extra fastpasses (say two people in your group want to ride, but there are 6 people in your group, you get 6 fastpasses) and of course, pressing the button to generate a new fastpass without a ticket, but other than that there isn't much you can do. Remember, as soon as the FP becomes valid, you can get another one. None of these things warrant a "change" in the system.


As far as

Also at Epcot the time to use another fastpass appears to be a longer wait.

Uhm, thats the way its supposed to work. You get the FP, go do other things, then come back when it is valid ...

edit: Forgot about the testing photodave mentioned, thats part of it too.

 

[Carrousel.Lover]

the few that are operating are inundated with FPs and return times stretch beyond two hours, letting the pass holder get another FP. Shocking abuse.

I think it is actually people getting fastpass for their party and then watching the time and getting fastpass at another attraction before you've experienced the first fastpass. I recall many conversations on how to hold multiple fastpasses. I think that is the issue more than having a fastpass for your whole party and not everyone using them. I think holding multiple fastpasses for multiple rides vs. multiple fastpasses for a single ride is what they are controlling. They seemed to be trying different things at different parks because it was inconsistent. I'm curious what Len Testa reports.

 

[Thrawn]

I think it is actually people getting fastpass for their party and then watching the time and getting fastpass at another attraction before you've experienced the first fastpass. I recall many conversations on how to hold multiple fastpasses. I think that is the issue more than having a fastpass for your whole party and not everyone using them. I think holding multiple fastpasses for multiple rides vs. multiple fastpasses for a single ride is what they are controlling. They seemed to be trying different things at different parks because it was inconsistent. I'm curious what Len Testa reports.

Did you read the rest of the thread?

1) Yes, its different at Epcot. They were doing testing.
2) Yes, you can get a new fastpass once the first one becomes valid. This is not an abuse of the system.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I think it is actually people getting fastpass for their party and then watching the time and getting fastpass at another attraction before you've experienced the first fastpass. I recall many conversations on how to hold multiple fastpasses. .

I think you will find that is called maximising the benefits of fast pass, rather than being the sort of dobber who gets a FP then sits at the FP entrance till the time comes around. As far as Im aware thats why there is a rerturn time window so you can experience other things rather than just hang around unproductively.

 

[Carrousel.Lover]

The card you were given to hold is a FLIK card, and only times the amount of time you are standing in standby, so the wait sign outside the ride can be somewhat correct. It is not related to any fastpass changes.

As far as what the cast member said: remember, they are not kept up to date on everything. The CM might have just made it up. There are a couple ways to get extra fastpasses (say two people in your group want to ride, but there are 6 people in your group, you get 6 fastpasses) and of course, pressing the button to generate a new fastpass without a ticket, but other than that there isn't much you can do. Remember, as soon as the FP becomes valid, you can get another one. None of these things warrant a "change" in the system.


As far as


Uhm, thats the way its supposed to work. You get the FP, go do other things, then come back when it is valid ...

edit: Forgot about the testing photodave mentioned, thats part of it too.

Thanks for the info on the FLIK card. Yes, I understand how FP works in response to your "Uhm, thats the way its supposed to work. You get the FP, go do other things, then come back when it is valid ..."
My comment was just that the wait time to get another FP was longer than we have experienced not that there was a wait. So I wondered whether that was in response to multiple ride, multiple fastpass scenerio.

 

[Carrousel.Lover]

Did you read the rest of the thread?

1) Yes, its different at Epcot. They were doing testing.
2) Yes, you can get a new fastpass once the first one becomes valid. This is not an abuse of the system.

Gee Thrawn I started this thread of course I've read it - I was typing and posting my response when you were posting yours - geez.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

return times vary dependant on the number of FPs issued, is that not just what you experienced

 

[Carrousel.Lover]

I think you will find that is called maximising the benefits of fast pass, rather than being the sort of dobber who gets a FP then sits at the FP entrance till the time comes around. As far as Im aware thats why there is a rerturn time window so you can experience other things rather than just hang around unproductively.

I am not disagreeing we go twice a year. I simply noticed a diffference in FP at all of the parks for the first time. I did not say it was an abuse the CM did. I was asking (please read my original thread) whether changes were still in progress.

 

[1disneydood]

I don't see anything wrong with holding fastpasses for multiple attractions. What's the big deal? I mean if I don't feel like waiting in long lines and they have fastpasses that make me not wait, then why take that away? I've been to WDW many times. Save the long lines for noobs who haven't seen the awesome theming. Let us regulars have our little perks.

 

[Thrawn]

Gee Thrawn I started this thread of course I've read it - I was typing and posting my response when you were posting yours - geez.

If you've read it, why do you insist on things we've already answered?

The system wasn't being abused, just used correctly.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Disney has been experimenting with different systems for the past few weeks. I'm not sure if they are going to permanently change anything though.

 

[AndyP]

Everyone can get a FASTPASS every 2 hours, no matter what the wait time. It used to be you could only get one after the first one was used up but that seriously disadvantaged people who arrive late at a park, have a long wait for their first FP ' time slot' and so could not get another one, and advantaged those who got a fastpass early and then were able to get many in the one day. With it being every two hours, its possible to hold 2, 3 probably even 4 if there is no further restriction, unlikely to happen though. Having only 2 riders from a large group is the only way to abuse the system as such. The EPCOT test increased the number of FP available as mentioned above. I'm not sure what you were told, and I may be wrong, but I'm not quite sure what you are getting at. The 'timer' has been operating a long time, and is just for the standby entrance time. (They swipe your timer at the start and end of your queue). Anyway, thats the system as far as I'm aware.

 

[WeLComeHomE OKW]

So are they fixing the amount of fastpasses distributed at the parks so that there are more given out? And what are some possible improvements they could make on the fastpass that would have it be more efficient? I dont think they can avoid people using other peoples passes to have multiple fastpasses. Its almost impossible. So I think the only thing they can fix about fast pass is the number they hand out for each time slot. And maybe lengthen the time a bit. Im also very glad they are trying to improve the amount of time it takes to wait in line. But on top of that I also must say that sometimes seeing that its a 20 minute wait and you walk right in is a nice little surprise.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Okay, let me try and clear up some confusion:

Disney made tests at Epcot to the length of time that elapses before you can get another one. This test has now ended and is back to the way things were.

Disney has always used the FLIK cards to measure the wait time in lines, for the past several years. This is nothing new.

No changes have been implimented to the current fastpass system. There has always been a finite amount of FPs given out for a certain time period - thats how the system works.

 

[Woody13]

At WDW they may do the "Unlimited Fastpass" as they now have in Disneyland. If you book your vacation with either AAA or the Walt Disney Travel Company and you stay at one of the resort hotels and buy a park hopper ticket, you will be able to obtain unlimited fastpasses at any time for any attractions. They've had a similar program in Disneyland for awhile.