Fastpass Issues

[Slipknot]

I swear that some guests can grow a pair of sharp bull horns while waiting to get in. I feel like sometimes I'm going to be beaten to a pulp, especially during summer. Yes it is frustrating? Some guests will treat us like garbage if forced to wait more than 5 minutes. I have had it happen to me. Others (the veterans) have the patience of sheep. I don't like having people give me nasty glances, it truly stinks.

I know EXACTLY how you feel my friend. I have the same problems over at Stitch's (not so) Great Escape and Buzz's Space Ranger Spin *shudders*

 

[Master Yoda]

And you wonder why waits were never that long prior to FP. As i said in the above post, FP creates these situtations, and it is the only way to get out of them.

The lines were long before. I can remember in the late 80's when a 2 hour wait to get on Space Mountain was normal. Fastpass does give an advantage to some of us, the ones that plan ahead. With only a minor amount of planning you can ride more rides per day then you could before the system was in place. If you are spending thousands of dollars on a vacation and in this age of the internet you don't do any research or planning on where you are going then you have no reason to complain. I could see a problem if fastpasses were available only to resort guests or AP holders but that is not the case.

 

[bgraham34]

I like fastpass. It allows me to hit 1-4 rides in the time i have to wait to get on a ride I really want. Especially PP.

 

[25and7]

i have to disagree, fastpasses work great.

I agree. As long as you know how to properly use (and in some cases abuse) the system you will LOVE the Fastpass system!

Basically, in order to truly take full advantage of the system my goal is to ALWAYS have a FP in my posession. Therefore, you will be using your time more wisely and not wasting your time in 50 minute long lines.

 

[KaliSplash]

I don't see that big an advantage for early risers for FP.

We used to get three biggies out of the way quickly just by being in the park at opening. We still do, and I suppose we get one extra biggie by acquiring a FP for something, which we now do.

And yes, I suppose for those who are on vacation and like to sleep in and get to the parks at 11 a.m. and find all the FPs gone, it is a bear. But for those of use who are going to get to the park first thing in the morning anyway, it's just one or perhaps two shorter waits for rides. (Since you can essentially only have one FP at a time.)

As early morning theme park commandos we used to pride ourselves on not using FP, because we had long since developed a system that got us on the biggies first thing in the morning and we were on the way back to the hotel right after lunch.

As we were plotting our attack a few years ago and were trying to juggle where to go first, etc., I finally realized there was no way to hit all the biggies at Disney MGM first thing. And so I said to by sons, I suppose, I suppose we could, just could, use the ....

and my youngest son yelled, DAD! And I responded that I didn't mean to upset him. He replied that he wasn't upset, he was ashamed (That I would consider using FP)

We rolled on the floor laughing, and then made plans to get FP so our approach would continue to work.

And so we do.

 

[basas]

I've seen wait times at parks that didn't have a system like FP in place come close to those times. I'll use Cedar Point as an example. Before they tried out a system similar to FP, I waited in lines close to 3 hours on normal days, and Cedar Point has a lot more attractions than Epcot. The fact is when a park fills to capacity, your going to get lines like that, FP or not. The people who would have gotten fastpass, would be in that line at some point during the day, so while the line may not be as long as with the current system in place, I wouldn't expect it to be a lot shorter, maybe 30 minutes.

As have I. For the most part though, these parks are/were not designed to move as many people as Disney ones. Of course, this is just in my experiences, but i have seen many rides have waits this long because of a lack of cars on the track, poor staffing, and low capacity.

 

[basas]

Test Track had 5 hour waits prior to FP.

Test Track has 5 hour waits with FP.

What changed?

Test Track has not only a low capacity, but has always been bad for breaking down, and prior to FP was Epcot's main 'thrill' attraction (when Mission:Space and Soarin' didn't exsist). I'm not saying lines weren't long prior to the installation of the FP system, but in my experiences (and many others), generally, lines are longer than they used to be because of the system (especially on lighter/moderate days where the lines should be no-more than 25-40mins and FP is not really needed, but the system creates lines well over an hour).

 

[HauntedPirate]

FP was designed to get people to ride other rides, or to get them to spend money in shops or on food. I think, in both regards, it's a success.

While I use FP, I don't agree with the rumored mandate that it had to be on a minimum of 5 attractions per park. Use it where it makes sense. If the FP window is in 30 minutes, I may get one and ride twice. Other times I may not get one at all, like with Living With The Land recently. A CM was telling us the queue time was 40 minutes, not the 20 min posted, and we should get a FP. Well, it took us less than 15 to get thru the queue. I still scratch my head at that one....

And, IMHO, the problem with Soarin' and it's huge wait times has more to do with capacity, not FP.

 

[basas]

The lines were long before. I can remember in the late 80's when a 2 hour wait to get on Space Mountain was normal. Fastpass does give an advantage to some of us, the ones that plan ahead. With only a minor amount of planning you can ride more rides per day then you could before the system was in place. If you are spending thousands of dollars on a vacation and in this age of the internet you don't do any research or planning on where you are going then you have no reason to complain. I could see a problem if fastpasses were available only to resort guests or AP holders but that is not the case.

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)

 

[Mystic]

I think that FastPass is great, provided the CM's running the load flow treat both lines equally. I've had some great times with FP and some bad times as well. The one that sticks out in my mind is when I was waiting for Splash Mountain one time on my last trip. It was near the end of the night and we were in the standby line that had a posted 20 minute wait which turned into a 45 minute wait because the CM running the merge point never held up the FP line, only letting standby people through when no FP people were there and the minute people with fastpasses showed up they immediately let them on. Whereas I've seen other CMs working the merge point who let through approximately 10 people with fastpasses and 10 standby, 10 with fastpasses, 10 with standby, so that the standby line is actually moving at the speed it should for the posted wait time.

I use fastpass only if I think it's worthwhile but then I go when crowds are fairly manageable and the average wait time ranges from 5 -35 minutes.

 

[Rotel1026]

As have I. For the most part though, these parks are/were not designed to move as many people as Disney ones. Of course, this is just in my experiences, but i have seen many rides have waits this long because of a lack of cars on the track, poor staffing, and low capacity.

That is most definitely true for Six Flags parks but Cedar Point is the one other park that can do as good of a job of moving people thru their lines as Disney does. If I hear about long lines at CP, I know it's got to be crowded.

 

[KumbaRider]

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)

If this makes you so mad then wait Stand-by. FASTPASS is a successful system that has made many guest experiences much simpler. It increases one's ride potential, and acts as an incentive to purchase merchandise or food while waiting. There are many more experiences that a guest would miss if they waited standby. By implementing and using FASTPASS, intelligent guests can now relax more and enjoy the atmosphere of the park setting. This is the intention of a theme PARK; to RELAX.

 

[shari71]

I personally love FP. It is not unfair since it is available to anyone. They even give several instructions on Resort TV and the maps on how to use it. It has save some very long wait times with young children. I was easily able to take them on short wait time rides then come back with my FP. I absolutely love it and don't know what I would do without it...probably not ride as much as I wanted to nor would I stand in long lines.

 

[goofyfan13]

If this makes you so mad then wait Stand-by. FASTPASS is a successful system that has made many guest experiences much simpler. It increases one's ride potential, and acts as an incentive to purchase merchandise or food while waiting. There are many more experiences that a guest would miss if they waited standby. By implementing and using FASTPASS, intelligent guests can now relax more and enjoy the atmosphere of the park setting. This is the intention of a theme PARK; to RELAX.

Exactly, a couple years back when my friends and I were at Epcot for our Band Trip, we decided to do LWTL. Well the wait was about 45 minutes, and the fastpass return time was about 50 minutes from the time we would have gotten in line. So we decided to do fastpass, go to the sunshine seasons food court and get a snack and something to drink. We sat down and rested for a while waiting for our FP time. I love the system, without it, we would never have been able to do something like that.

 

[MSTINKHERBELL01]

I havent had any issues with FP. If you get them early for popular attractions like Soarin' it's great! Sorry for those that don't like the system. :wave:

 

[wannab@dis]

By implementing and using FASTPASS, intelligent guests can now relax more and enjoy the atmosphere of the park setting.

The problem is right there... you left out the majority of guests. :zipit:

:lol:

 

[mousermerf]

Test Track has not only a low capacity, but has always been bad for breaking down, and prior to FP was Epcot's main 'thrill' attraction (when Mission:Space and Soarin' didn't exsist). I'm not saying lines weren't long prior to the installation of the FP system, but in my experiences (and many others), generally, lines are longer than they used to be because of the system (especially on lighter/moderate days where the lines should be no-more than 25-40mins and FP is not really needed, but the system creates lines well over an hour).

The same number of people are riding Test Track though - and the only thing that decreased Test Track's wait was the opening of Soarin'.

Test Track was, to my knowledge, the last E-ticket to open prior to Fastpass going into wide usage.

If you want the closest thing to apples/apples comparison, Test Track is it.

 

[basas]

If this makes you so mad then wait Stand-by. FASTPASS is a successful system that has made many guest experiences much simpler. It increases one's ride potential, and acts as an incentive to purchase merchandise or food while waiting. There are many more experiences that a guest would miss if they waited standby. By implementing and using FASTPASS, intelligent guests can now relax more and enjoy the atmosphere of the park setting. This is the intention of a theme PARK; to RELAX.

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.

 

[basas]

Exactly, a couple years back when my friends and I were at Epcot for our Band Trip, we decided to do LWTL. Well the wait was about 45 minutes, and the fastpass return time was about 50 minutes from the time we would have gotten in line. So we decided to do fastpass, go to the sunshine seasons food court and get a snack and something to drink. We sat down and rested for a while waiting for our FP time. I love the system, without it, we would never have been able to do something like that.

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.

 

[basas]

The same number of people are riding Test Track though - and the only thing that decreased Test Track's wait was the opening of Soarin'.

Test Track was, to my knowledge, the last E-ticket to open prior to Fastpass going into wide usage.

If you want the closest thing to apples/apples comparison, Test Track is it.

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?