FastPass is the dumbest thing Disney ever did.

[Buried20KLeague]

I don't mean to be argumentative, but I had pretty much figured out how to maximize the benifits of FP on just my first or second day using it.

Then again, I'm a lifelong, hardcore, open-to-close type of parkie, who is always subconsciously looking for ways to get on more rides. (such as the classic of if it's 30 minutes before closing, and you want to ride a coaster with a 60 minute queue, I won't get in the queue then because it becomes your last ride of the night! I prefer to do a few walk-ons on short-cycle rides first, like spinners or FL dark rides, and THEN get in the coaster queue right before it closes. You use all your time this way, get on more rides, and are waiting for the coaster on the park's time, not yours!)

So maybe because figuring out strategies like this for maximizing rides and park time is "in my blood", and has been second nature to me since childhood, maybe I was "ahead of the curve" of the average guest, as far as figuring out how to maximize the benefits of Fastpass.

I'd bet you probably are. Don't forget, a great many guests even get attractions mixed up between Disney and Uni... Many many many people spend the 4 or 5 days wandering with very little direction because they just don't know what they're doing.

EDIT TO ADD: A perfect example is a girl that works for me. She's Russian. She asked me all kinds of questions before going on her family's first trip. I even helped her with a "bare bones" itinerary, just so she wouldn't miss the night time shows basically, and to dodge the busy parks. She came back and the first thing she told me was that she wished she could afford "that fast thing" for the lines, because they spent so much time waiting in lines. She had no idea it was free. There was a language barrier there. I'm not saying it wasn't her fault, but sometimes it's not just about a guest not being smart enough to simply look around them... There may be language barriers that slow them down in figuring out what they're doing, etc...

 

[David S.]

Yes, I remember there was a thread on here about people at WDW asking where the Harry Potter ride was!

 

[Flower'sChild]

The fastpass saves me time. For example let us say that I am at the Magic Kingdom. It's about 1 pm and I get a fastpass for Peter Pan with the return time from 6:35 pm to 7:35 pm. I go and do some other fun things in the Magic Kingdom like having photopass photos taken and riding stuff like the wedway peoplemover. Then after that I enjoy a nice boat ride back to the Disney Resort that I am staying at called the Wilderness Lodge. I enjoy swimming for a couple of hours and maybe get something to eat. Then I enjoy another nice boat ride back to the Magic Kingdom. When I get back to the Magic Kingdom I enjoy having some more photopass photos taken and then I walk over to Peter Pan at about 6:40 pm and use my fast pass to get right on at 6:48 pm.

Sure I could have just got on Peter Pan at 1pm and wanted an hour to get on and be on at 2 pm instead of 6:48 pm. But I wanted to get a fast pass so I could get on later and before I get on Peter Pan ride I wanted to go and enjoy many other things like going for a swim at the Wilderness Lodge and so on. Also I don't just think I saved time. I really did save time. I saved time because I used all the time from 1 pm to 6:40 pm to enjoy the boat rides to and from Wilderness Lodge and other fun stuff. So I really did save time.

 

[AndyMagic]

While the rides may be identical, the crowds are not.

Huh? Disneyland Park brings in more guests and from what I have seen has longer lines than Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom and is on par with Magic Kingdom.

1 Magic Kingdom
Orlando, Florida, United States 17.0m

2 Disneyland
Anaheim, California, United States 14.7m

6 Epcot
Orlando, Florida, United States 10.9m

7 Disney's Hollywood Studios
Orlando, Florida, United States 9.6m

8 Disney's Animal Kingdom
Orlando, Florida, United States 9.54m

 

[wm49rs]

Huh? Disneyland Park brings in more guests and from what I have seen has longer lines than Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom and is on par with Magic Kingdom.

1 Magic Kingdom
Orlando, Florida, United States 17.0m

2 Disneyland
Anaheim, California, United States 14.7m

6 Epcot
Orlando, Florida, United States 10.9m

7 Disney's Hollywood Studios
Orlando, Florida, United States 9.6m

8 Disney's Animal Kingdom
Orlando, Florida, United States 9.54m

And they're all enjoying the FP system. Isn't that just a .....

 

[Mansion Butler]

Talk to any CM who has been in the company for awhile, and they will tell you that these absurdly long lines started right around when FP started.

As a CM, it depends on the attraction.

FastPass is better than no FP, though there are certainly ways it could be better constructed. Most of the problems with FP are simply people not putting in the effort to understand how it works. It can be rough dealing with that as a CM (believe me, I worked at Peter Pan for part of my life), but I have been more efficient with my days and enjoyed the parks more in the FastPass world than I did before. Because I know how to use it. And if people read the explanation in their park maps, they'd know how to use it well enough, too.

 

[Hakunamatata]

I was going to WDW long before some of you were born. There have always been long lines at certain attractions. Back in the day, you went and stood in a line, rode the attraction, went to a gift shop, rinse, spit, repeat.

Now you go get a FP, go to a gift shop, ride an attraction, ride an attraction, get another FP, blah, blah, blah.

The point being, you get to experience more attractions in a shorter period of waiting in line time.

To me the math is simple. Before I waited 6 hours in line to ride 8 attractions. Now I wait 4 hours in line to ride 8 attractions. Based on my math, my hours waiting vs attractions rode is a lot less under the FP system.

 

[wm49rs]

I was going to WDW long before some of you were born. There have always been long lines at certain attractions. Back in the day, you went and stood in a line, rode the attraction, went to a gift shop, rinse, spit, repeat.

Now you go get a FP, go to a gift shop, ride an attraction, ride an attraction, get another FP, blah, blah, blah.

The point being, you get to experience more attractions in a shorter period of waiting in line time.

To me the math is simple. Before I waited 6 hours in line to ride 8 attractions. Now I wait 4 hours in line to ride 8 attractions. Based on my math, my hours waiting vs attractions rode is a lot less under the FP system.

Yeah, but you're just part of the vast conspiracy to keep those less knowledgeable down......

 

[Mansion Butler]

It takes MUCH more than that, either in experience, homework, creative ideas, or some combination of those.

On a scale of 1-10, I would say they're using the system at a 4. Maybe even less. Compared to us, who are using the system at a 10.

I'm not debating whether it's good or bad... But to say people are on a level playing field simply by looking at a park map is just silly.

Sorry for responding to the first post when apparently this is a giant thread. I've been gone for a while.

Anyway, if I could ask one thing from other Cast Members, I don't know what I'd decide on, but one possibility would be: please become more proactive in explaining how FP works to anyone who gives you an opportunity to do so.

You're right, even reading the park map things won't work out for them as well as they do for us (though I contend it will still avoid most of the problems that we hear complaints about). A quick conversation with a CM will resolve it most of the way, though, I'd say getting them to at least 8/10 on your scale.

This is somewhat on guests who don't bother to ask, but it's more on CMs who don't think about it or don't want to bother. It doesn't take long to explain to someone the basics, like how often you can get them, what the times mean and that it's essentially like standing in line, but you can do other things while you do. People understand very quickly because most of it just makes sense once you hear it.

I can't tell you how many times I heard, when I was at Peter Pan, things like "the FastPass wouldn't be good for three hours, the line is only an hour, let's get in it and save a couple hours." For me, that was an opportunity to go over and explain to them the line is no fun to stand in, and if you get a FP you won't ride for another three hours but you can do other things while you wait.

There is no denying FP is an amazing headache for CMs, though. I don't blame anyone who works a FP attraction for hating its very existence.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Yeah, but you're just part of the vast conspiracy to keep those less knowledgeable down......

Shhhhhhh.:drevil:

 

[AndyMagic]

And they're all enjoying the FP system. Isn't that just a .....

What's a real is people who are so set in their ways and in their minds that sound arguments get ignored and useless posts like this one appear. I'll say it again, Disneyland intentionally opened Nemo WITHOUT fastpass. Here are Disneyland's fastpass attractions:

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Indiana Jones Adventure
Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain

A grand total of 6 still remain. The park removed it from several attractions and now they only have it installed at locations with sufficient capacity so the standby lines don't become ridiculous. The Matterhorn at Disneyland doesn't even have fastpass. Many have speculated that this trend will trickle down to Disney World as so many other Disney Corp. initiatives have in the past. I now await a one-line response which has no meaning and contributes nothing to the discussion.

 

[Mansion Butler]

By the way, having not yet gotten to read through the whole thread, has Kevin Yee come by yet to tell us FP is bad because it makes all guests feel too entitled?

 

[wm49rs]

What's a real is people who are so set in their ways and in their minds that sound arguments get ignored and useless posts like this one appear. I'll say it again, Disneyland intentionally opened Nemo WITHOUT fastpass. Here are Disneyland's fastpass attractions:

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Indiana Jones Adventure
Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain

The park removed it from several attractions and now they only have it installed at locations with sufficient capacity so the standby lines don't become ridiculous. The Matterhorn at Disneyland doesn't even have fastpass. Many have speculated that this trend will trickle down to Disney World as so many other Disney Corp. initiatives have in the past.

Two words: So what? As you said, "Many have speculated," including you. There is no absolute right and wrong here. You want to continue believing the FP system will go the way of the dodo because it is opressive, ineficient and unfair, so be it. But you can't prove beyond any empirical doubt that it is completely inefficient any more than someone else can prove that it is the opposite. I know that fact may be upsetting or disturbing (especially for those who desire to deal only in absolutes), but that, in a nutshell, is life.....

 

[wm49rs]

By the way, having not yet gotten to read through the whole thread, has Kevin Yee come by yet to tell us FP is bad because it makes all guests feel too entitled?

I'm actually waiting to see if it's part of his (in)famous "Declining by Degrees" series.....:hammer:

 

[AndyMagic]

Two words: So what? As you said, "Many have speculated," including you. There is no absolute right and wrong here. You want to continue believing the FP system will go the way of the dodo because it is opressive, ineficient and unfair, so be it. But you can't prove beyond any empirical doubt that it is completely inefficient any more than someone else can prove that it is the opposite. I know that fact may be upsetting or disturbing (especially for those who desire to deal only in absolutes), but that, in a nutshell, is life.....

I actually agree with you on this. I most certainly can't prove that it is inefficient in such a way that everyone would agree. Those that like it will continue to like it. I was just trying to provide reasons for why I believe what I believe and also show that there is in fact a trend within Disney to re-think the ubiquity of fastpass. If discussions and arguments only came up when there was absolute 100% PROOF that one's opinion was "correct" then no one would ever bother discussing anything. The fact that I can't prove something beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury doesn't mean that I shouldn't respond to something or someone that I believe is being illogical.

 

[imagineergurl]

FastPass is rediculas. Allow me to explain.

I work at BTM. First and foremost, FP is a headache for EVERYONEinvolved. The guest goes and gets a FP at Splash, then goes and gets one at BTM. It won't give then a valid FP. They and moan to us. The guest is mad. We are annoyed with 300 people a day complaining about how unfair the whole system.

Second. Talk to any CM who has been in the company for awhile, and they will tell you that these absurdly long lines started right around when FP started. BTM never had a wait time over 30. On the busiest days, you MIGHT see 45. But then FP starts, and you have 60, 70, and higher.

Anyone agree/disagree?

Clearly you haven't worked at Thunder or in attractions very long. I think you were the one that posted about going to Fro land so didnt you just start training a few days ago?

The whole Splash FP thing is gonna happen anywhere. The majority of guests are cool about it when you explain it but there will always be those 5% of guests that are gonna complain about anything, you just need to learn how to handle the situation and then have a good laugh once they walk away. Don't give them the opportunity to " and moan". Take control of the situation, give them a smile, and move on.

Also who are these CMs that have been there a while? The majority of the thunder cast is fairly new. Splash has some great guys that have been there a while but they choose to chill there.

I'm not a fan of one CM coming in and speaking for everyone as a whole. I disagree with this entire post completely.

 

[miles1]

Second. Talk to any CM who has been in the company for awhile, and they will tell you that these absurdly long lines started right around when FP started. BTM never had a wait time over 30. On the busiest days, you MIGHT see 45. But then FP starts, and you have 60, 70, and higher.

Anyone agree/disagree?

Sorry, but I have to disagree with this point. (However I do sympathize with CM's that have to deal with guests that can't understand the fastpass system, don't like it, or try to beat it.)

In my experience, most of the CM's I encounter at attractions have been alive for less time than I've been going to WDW. My memories of visits in the mid to late 1970's and early 1980's were that most E-tickets of that era (SM, 20K leagues, PoC, and later BTMM) routinely had standby waits of 90-120 minutes on summer days. There were often long waits just for the Tiki Room. So the long standby waits we see today are nothing that developed with the advent of fastpass; they're actually a lot better than what they've been in the past, and a lot better than what they'd be if Disney hadn't improved they way it moves people through.

A lot has changed since the early days. First, park attendance has grown tremendously since the early years, while capacity hasn't kept pace. Also, (JMHO), the "D"s and "C"'s of the early years were worth seeing again on a second or third trip. Most of these have given way to marginal attractions like Stitch, MILF, and Tiki Room Under New Management. (OK attractions, but I don't break my neck to see them every visit.) This pushes more people to the E-tickets.

Second, the ticket system is different. In the early years you purchased ticket books that generally allowed a fixed number of "E" ticket rides, "D" ticket rides, etc. The most economical deal included enough tickets for one ride on each "E" ride, each "D" ride, etc. I think this system distributed guests more evenly. The current system allows you to ride any particular attraction as many times as you'd like; naturally people try to ride the E-tickets as many times as possible, while the C's and D's have less of a wait.

So in my opinion, the long standby waits are really nothing that was created by fastpass. And, given the changes in attendance numbers and the ticket system, things could be a LOT worse without fastpass. Overall, I think Disney has learned a lot about crowd control and queueing theory since the early days. Fastpass is a part of that crowd control technique. I don't see it going anywhere.

 

[Mansion Butler]

However I do sympathize with CM's that have to deal with guests that can't understand the fastpass system, don't like it, or try to beat it.

The worst part isn't the guests who try to beat it, it's the guest who screams at and insults you for doing your job. When you have to let through a certain number of FP folks so that that line doesn't get bogged down (which will then stop the other line even more), and someone rips you a knew one, it's pretty painful. And everyone has parts of their jobs that suck and I'm not saying being a CM dealing with angry guests tops everyone else, but it is probably the single worst thing to have to experience on a regular basis.

I'm sure I don't have to tell WDWM this, but CMs are human. And we're also not the ones who make the rules. Screaming at a teenage girl for doing her job when she probably already feels bad about you anyway is so cruel it should come with a penalty.

 

[SoupBone]

LOL, whatever....ok, so you don't double back. I guarantee you that when you *do* ride standby as youre waiting for your FP to mature, you're getting shortchanged.

Let me ask you....do you honor your FP times? Or are you one of those types that take advantage of CM's leniency with return times? Because while you might think you are benefiting yourself by returning with your FP 4 hours later than your FP expiration time, you're short-changing someone else! Even if *you* are that honorable guy who doesn't abuse the times, there are enough people that are doing it to shortchange you....

It's not an efficient system. More over it's a broken system. You might think its all great and wonderful....but that's what makes Disney so wonderful. They make both the good AND the bad look like a fabulous piece of key lime pie.


Regardless, if youve spend enough time in the parks as most of us, over the course of a few years, your time that you think you're "reclaiming" with the use of FP is getting eaten up by the bottlenecks it also creates. It'd be a fantastic experiment, but I'd bet my left nut that over the course of several trips, even the most careful FP planners have their time savings reclaimed by the very same bottlenecks this system creates.....I suspect you're way behind in your 'time savings' calculations while thinking you're way ahead.


However, go ahead thinking happy happy thoughts about FP....we wouldn't want you to pop a blood vessel or something..... As they say, ignorance is bliss, eh?

After reading through several of your posts I'm trying to figure out:

1. Why do you speak in absolutes?

2. Why are you condescending in your posts?

People that speak in absolutes are rarely if ever correct. Simply put there usually isn't only one simple answer and there certainly isn't one with the FP system.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

. She had no idea it was free. There was a language barrier there. I'm not saying it wasn't her fault, but sometimes it's not just about a guest not being smart enough to simply look around them... There may be language barriers that slow them down in figuring out what they're doing, etc...

I already said there are park maps available in more than a dozen foreign languages (Russian should be among them by now as a new Russian upper and middle class evolved in the last years which travels internationally) and the FP-section in the foreigner maps is even larger than the one in the English ones.