Fastpass Issues

[Thrawn]

Thanks for your advice, but I’ve already stated that i would indeed like to wait standby if the waits weren't so unbearable (because of FP). You may see FP as a good thing, i don't. And i am not alone. I know many other regulars (especially DL fans who have seen the benefits of removing FP off many attractions) who do not like the system, and would prefer to go back to the old methods of everybody waiting their turn in a fast-moving, well themed queue. I'm not saying either opinion is right or wrong, or that it makes the experience better or worse for everyone, but please stop trying to tell me that i am crazy for not liking FP, and preferred the parks and atmosphere before its installation.

You misunderstand the point of Fastpass though. It wasn't to speed up lines, even though that is what it is sold as. It was simply to let people spend money on food and souvenirs and everything else instead of standing in line. It works for that. A two hour line with Fastpass has less people in it then a two hour line without Fastpass. Therefore, there are more people elsewhere in the park, generating income for TWDC.

 

[goofyfan13]

Well I’m sure it didn't help that they lowered LWTL's capacity when they added FP to try and entice people to get a FP, and eat at the food court. Let's face it, LWTL never got 50-60 minute waits before they put FP on it. Maybe on the rare occasion it did, but i rarely saw it above 15-20 mins. Now it’s not unusual at all for it to be near an hours wait.

LWTL doesn't give out that many fastpasses because people go for TT and Soarin right away(at that time is was only TT), which is why the FP time we got was so close to the wait time. The day we were there was VERY busy, so the 45 minute wait was understandable. I can't remember the wait times for the ride before the FP era, so I can't really compare, but I do remember having to wait a while with my dad to go on it, back when I didn't appreciate rides like that.

 

[MissM]

Fastpass rocks. You still wait the same amount of time (and often times more for your return time on a busy day) but you just get to do it somewhere other then stationary in line.

Get a fastpass, go get some food.

Get a fastpass, go shopping.

Get a fastpass, hit a lower attendence ride like CoP.

It's brilliant. And it's genius on the part of Disney because it frees that otherwise wasted time you'd spend in the queue.

I also totally disagree that it's set up for early-morning only attendees. I've never seen the park open. Ever. Most of the time (esp when we have ap's) we get there at noon or even 1pm. And we still are able to use the fastpass system without problem.

It provides you more flexibility in where you spend your wait time. And it frees you to do other things while you're waiting for your return. On almost every FP ride, it works well. Yes, there are a few that haven't worked out the kinks yet - Test Track, Pooh, Peter Pan - but, they are the exception rather then the rule.

FP is a super useful tool for managing your day and brilliant marketing by Disney.
-m

 

[basas]

You misunderstand the point of Fastpass though. It wasn't to speed up lines, even though that is what it is sold as. It was simply to let people spend money on food and souvenirs and everything else instead of standing in line. It works for that. A two hour line with Fastpass has less people in it then a two hour line without Fastpass. Therefore, there are more people elsewhere in the park, generating income for TWDC.

What does that have to do with anything? I think your point proves mine. You're right- it doesn't speed up lines and help you see more in one day. It's a psychological thing. Saying that however, I don’t think it has exactly worked for Disney like they thought it would. Instead of shopping while waiting for their FP, most people simply hop in another standby line. (and the time they save is immediately wasted). FP may look good on paper, but does not play out well in reality.

 

[Thrawn]

What does that have to do with anything? I think your point proves mine. You're right- it doesn't speed up lines and help you see more in one day. It's a psychological thing. Saying that however, I don’t think it has exactly worked for Disney like they thought it would. Instead of shopping while waiting for their FP, most people simply hop in another standby line. (and the time they save is immediately wasted). FP may look good on paper, but does not play out well in reality.

If people get in a standby line for another attraction while they have an active fastpass ... then they are benefitting. Isn't that the point? That the guest can do anything else except stand in line for that attraction, and then come back to that attraction?

And, it has worked out for Disney. Guests are up. Profits are up. They are patenting ways to enhance and expand Fastpass. They add it to the new big attractions. Yes, its working.

 

[basas]

If people get in a standby line for another attraction while they have an active fastpass ... then they are benefitting. Isn't that the point? That the guest can do anything else except stand in line for that attraction, and then come back to that attraction?

And, it has worked out for Disney. Guests are up. Profits are up. They are patenting ways to enhance and expand Fastpass. They add it to the new big attractions. Yes, its working.

Not if the standby line for attraction "x" is longer than it would have been if it wouldn't have had FP.

And the second part of your post is misleading. Some of the highest attendance occured in the mid-late 90's when FP didn't exsist. 2001 had a large impact on attendance and it is only starting to come back. So yes, of course attendance is up. Do you really think guests make up their mind whether to visit or not based on if there is a FP system? Many guests don't even know it exsists!

Yes, they add it to the new big attractions. They have also taken it away from many attractions. IMO, it isn't working.

 

[GenerationX]

We love FastPass. We are able to get FastPasses for an attraction we all love, such as Splash Mountain, and have a relaxing lunch while we wait for the return time. On other occasions, we'll get FastPasses for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, then spend the time waiting by riding non-FastPass, walk-on attractions like "it's a small world" or the TTA.

I am certain that we've been able to experience more as a direct result of FastPass. Also, thanks to FastPass, there is a way to get on an E-ticket without having to wait 45 minutes or arrive at park open.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I cant be arsed reading through this drivel, Fatpasses work for me, and as a selfish git I couldnt care less if you havent the nouse to figure out how to use them for your benefit. I have so na na na nana na :kiss:

Just dont get cross as i breeze past in the FP line as you stand motionless hot and sweaty in the regular Q.

Best of all get in early and ride and fats pass, not only does this double your ride experience it also uses up the fast passess for those who stay in bed too long.

 

[Master Yoda]

Do you really think guests make up their mind whether to visit or not based on if there is a FP system?

Yes they do. We rarely go to Universal anymore because of their resort guest unlimited fastpass. Our experience has been if you don't stay at a Universal resort it is really not worth it.

 

[mousermerf]

Why is it just Test Track that can make the comparison? Most of the rides on FP survived for many years without it. Let's face it, when we have to put signs stating that a standby line may move as slow as one party per every five minutes...there's a problem.

But then again, if FP wasn't installed, we might have to *gasp* wait 25 minutes to ride. Let's remember Disney parks survived 45 years without FP, and now you're saying the park experience was so bad without it?

It might be 25mins for an ancient coster that most everyone has ridden like Space Mountain, but not Test Track. It was the last e-ticket before the system and thus is the best guage of how an e-ticket preformed in lines both before and after.

Also, the same number of people ride it each day as before... What's changed? Merely who waits longer - and if you cant' reward people for planning, then what do you do? Life's not fair and if someone can't be bothered to read a park map about FP then that's their own fault.

 

[Laura]

Fastpass is a godsend for parents of young children who have to switch off on rides. It's way more tolerable for the parent who is waiting to only have to wait 15 minutes instead of over an hour! If there was no fastpass, I probably wouldn't be able to ride any of the thrill rides until my kids were old enough to ride with me.

 

[Laura]

Yes they do. We rarely go to Universal anymore because of their resort guest unlimited fastpass. Our experience has been if you don't stay at a Universal resort it is really not worth it.

I agree. Our last experience with Universal Studios was an absolute nightmare. We paid all that money for tickets and what we got for it was...

Standing in line 2.5 hours with 2 toddlers to see Shrek (stupid).
Standing in line for an hour with 2 toddlers for the earthquake ride (stupid).
Using the ONLY express pass we were able to get that day to see Twister (stupid).

We didn't get to do any good rides as they had 3 hour wait times and no express passes to be able to ride them (all the express passes were pretty much gone by 10 a.m.). We felt like crap having our then 1 and 2 year olds waiting in line for 2.5 hours for Shrek in the 100 degree heat (my son was the world's biggest Shrek fan at the time), so there was no way we were going to do a 3 hour line.

My parents are taking us back to Universal Studios this January. If I have another similar experience to last time I will never go back again.

 

[Master Yoda]

My parents are taking us back to Universal Studios this January. If I have another similar experience to last time I will never go back again.

The only way I have really found to enjoy Universal is to stay at one of their three resorts that are grossly overpriced even by Disney standards.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

The only way I have really found to enjoy Universal is to stay at one of their three resorts that are grossly overpriced even by Disney standards.

We do it every year thanks to discounts

 

[HauntedPirate]

When I rode ToT last time (10 days ago ), I had a FP. When I entered the FP line, some teenager yelled "FP is for losers! This line moves fast!" When our respective lines split, I never saw him again.

 

[Mecha Figment]

all i know is that disneys fast passes are far supperior to the Six Flags version. You have to pay and aditional 20 bucks for that ability.

 

[basas]

Yes they do. We rarely go to Universal anymore because of their resort guest unlimited fastpass. Our experience has been if you don't stay at a Universal resort it is really not worth it.

Um...drawing my own conclusions, you avoid Universal because of the FP system, not because it doesn't exsist. Univeral Express is even worse than FP in many respects (and we can hope and pray that Disney doesn't follow these methods of buisness), but your decision for not visiting is not based on the fact that there is no FP system, but that the FP system is unfair and takes enjoyment out of your day. I agree.

 

[PamelaNiebergal]

Once again, i am not saying there weren't long lines before FP. But i think you can agree FP has inflated the wait times at many attractions (and standing in those lines is even worse than before because they move so slow, and they are generally less themed).

Some folks don't necessarily like to plan their day out knowing they must be at Space Mountain at 3:00, and Jungle Cruise at 4:55....the thing is that for visitors trying to do as many attractions as possible, it will eventually be necessary to wait in a standby line (i doubt you could use FP at all 9 MK FP attractions). So the time you save using FP is many times useless after you count in all your backtracking, waiting to get your FP, waiting in the FP line, and waiting in longer standby lines. (Muppets, ITTBAB, POTC, WtP, Star Tours, HM, IASWHoliday (DL) all had their experiences improved after FP was removed, and they continue to reduce FP scheduling and i even got to experience Space Mtn. without FP before it opened in July...it was wonderful! There are many attractions at WDW that should do the same because they simply do not need it (Philharmagic, HISTA, Star Tours, etc.etc.)

Sorry, but i preferred the days where you went into a line, constantly moved, and got to enjoy the build-up of the well themed queue before embarking on the attraction (now at many once great queues like Indy (DL), and RnRC, you are simply rushed through)...Of course, this is just my opinion, but i would like to see either a reduction of FP attractions, or changing ratios to allow a more 50/50 type standby-fastpass system (this being of course if we can't get rid of the system altogether)

Basas, I have to say that I agree with many of your points and I think the comments some others have made implicating that you are too stupid to figure out the fast pass system is unfair. Although I do enjoy it to an extent it also comes at a cost. The biggest cost is that standby lines have become slower moving while the best queues on some attractions are rushed through (as you pointed out above). Although this was a bigger problem at DL I found it very frustrating for example when I wanted to move slowly through the queue of Indy after I waited an hour in one spot outside (or got admitted through fast pass) and people behind me were pushing or giving me dirty looks. You miss out on what Disney does best - the story of an attraction. Before fast pass I used to tell everyone that Disney parks are so great because, although the lines are sometimes long it doesn't matter because often they are as entertaining as the attraction itself. Sadly that is no longer the case. However, Disney does seem to modifying the problem and new attractions built after fast pass are better equipped to handle it. Although I will continue to use fast pass happily in the future I wanted you to know that I can definately see your point and I hope the future does not bring the end of wonderfully themed queues (at least EE can give us hope).

 

[basas]

Basas, I have to say that I agree with many of your points and I think the comments some others have made implicating that you are too stupid to figure out the fast pass system is unfair. Although I do enjoy it to an extent it also comes at a cost. The biggest cost is that standby lines have become slower moving while the best queues on some attractions are rushed through (as you pointed out above). Although this was a bigger problem at DL I found it very frustrating for example when I wanted to move slowly through the queue of Indy after I waited an hour in one spot outside (or got admitted through fast pass) and people behind me were pushing or giving me dirty looks. You miss out on what Disney does best - the story of an attraction. Before fast pass I used to tell everyone that Disney parks are so great because, although the lines are sometimes long it doesn't matter because often they are as entertaining as the attraction itself. Sadly that is no longer the case. However, Disney does seem to modifying the problem and new attractions built after fast pass are better equipped to handle it. Although I will continue to use fast pass happily in the future I wanted you to know that I can definately see your point and I hope the future does not bring the end of wonderfully themed queues (at least EE can give us hope).

Thanks! I know Disney probably won't be completely removing the FP system anytime soon, but even if we are stuck with the system, there are ways to do it to make it better for everyone. 3-D shows, large capacity shows/rides, rides with VERY small capacities, and rides that never have a wait just DON'T need FP! I too am very glad to see Everest is going to get an awesome queue so it means that all hope for great queues is not yet lost. Don't get me wrong, i would prefer not having a FP system, but i'm not going to stop visiting, or stop enjoy myself because of it- it's just something i don't think is really the best way to deal with the long-line situation. But thanks for seeing me side:wave:

 

[goofyfan13]

Um...drawing my own conclusions, you avoid Universal because of the FP system, not because it doesn't exsist. Univeral Express is even worse than FP in many respects (and we can hope and pray that Disney doesn't follow these methods of buisness), but your decision for not visiting is not based on the fact that there is no FP system, but that the FP system is unfair and takes enjoyment out of your day. I agree.

I agree the Uni's FP system is horrible compared to Disney's. I don't think you'll have to worry about Disney doing the same thing though, because Disney has way too many hotels to give unlimited FP's to resort guests, which in turn would leave the day visitor with virtually nothing. I agree with the above poster that Disney is starting to create queues with FP and their roots in mind, the E:E queue is a perfect example.