FastPass+ Most Certainly Not Coming Back As It Was

[marni1971]

View attachment 569811

Could they have picked a more sneering look to announce yet another way to get money out of you when you visit a park?

Better?

 

[Chip Chipperson]

Everything he does is for the hope of making the company look better in the next financial quarter. Mega businesses like Disney cannot be run that way or there will be major issues decades from now.

I believe that's what a-holes like to call "the next guy's problem." He'll be on a beach somewhere laughing about where the stock price is vs. where it was when he sold it on his way out.

 

[drizgirl]

Isn't that how uni does Hagrid now?

Hagrids has only gone to a virtual queue a few times since Spring Break. Mostly there isn't one.

 

[mattpeto]

I haven't even used my DVC points since buying them resale, but this might be enough to cause me to sell them already. I have no interest in this type of vacation whatsoever.

I think we need more details.

The old FP+ system had it's pros, but overall it killed the Standby lines. Especially with the amount of distribution of those (3 per day, per guest).

This replacement system should make Standby more manageable and bump you to more of an "entertaining wait" through a VQ system then standing in line: grab a snack, relax, maybe catch something else not VQ based, all while you're waiting in the VQ for your ride.

If you really want 10-15 minute waits on a few attractions, it's just going to cost you now.

 

[nickys]

And what happens when Disney decides that that line is closed for the rest of the day? What happens when they decide that 50% of their attractions are closed for the rest of the day?

If this was just paid FP, again it would be fine. In fact, it would make the standby line go faster.

This is not that and it has the potential to suck.

Oh I agree this has the potential,to suck. In fact it is very likely to suck, big time.

Instead of planning in advance, you’ll have to be planning on the day, all the time. “What’s available? We can get a return time for HM and buy our way onto Splash”.

Personally I’d rather do it in advance. But like everything else, we have no control over it and have to learn the new system, I guess.

 

[themarchhare]

It's OK if something works for our style and not yours. lol

But the problem is that you're accepting a lesser product for more money and because you and others do, Disney continues to get away with shady tactics. So it IS affecting my standby experience for people praising something that will potentially suck.

Oh I agree this has the potential,to suck. In fact it is very likely to suck, big time.

Instead of planning in advance, you’ll have to be planning on the day, all the time. “What’s available? We can get a return time for HM and buy our way onto Splash”.

Personally I’d rather do it in advance. But like everything else, we have no control over it and have to learn the new system, I guess.

Okay, I appreciate that you're more realistic about this.

I'm glad I'm spending more money at Universal than Disney in October, tbh. Hope others consider doing the same.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I think we need more details.

The old FP+ system had it's pros, but overall it killed the Standby lines. Especially with the amount of distribution of those (3 per day, per guest).

This replacement system should make Standby more manageable and bump you to more of an "entertaining wait" through a VQ system then standing in line: grab a snack, relax, maybe catch something else not VQ based, all while you're waiting in the VQ for your ride.

If you really want 10-15 minute waits on a few attractions, it's just going to cost you now.

I never waited in a single standby line for more than 15 minutes. Ever (unless something broke down while we were already in line). And we rode every attraction on every trip. 8 night trip gives us 9 park days, which amounts to 27 pre-booked FastPasses, at least 9 more same-day FastPasses, plus 8 rope drops. That's over 40 rides I was able to do with zero wait, and since there aren't 40 rides at WDW that ever have a meaningful wait to begin with, it means I never waited for anything.

I understand that not everyone tours the same way that my family does, but the old system was exceptional for us and this one sucks hard.

 

[havoc315]

Worth pointing out after waiting in the virtual line, you will then be permitted to wait in a physical line.

It won’t be a way to minimise physically queuing as original FP was touted.

Here is the key question — when the “standby pass” is “full”, does that mean nobody else can get in “line” for the day?

Or do they let you continue to “get in line” right up to park closing time, even if it’s a 2 hour wait?

 

[EnjoyingLife]

As I understand it the standby pass will not operate like the virtual queue. They are two different systems both in programming and implementation. The standby pass shouldn’t just “run out” for the rest of the day a minute after becoming available.

But theoretically with increased demand for a standby pass, it is possible they could run out of free passes for the day and only have the paid option remaining. Correct?

 

[dreday3]

We also have the added layer of hopping - will you be able to do this at more than one park a day?

 

[havoc315]

I never waited in a single standby line for more than 15 minutes. Ever (unless something broke down while we were already in line). And we rode every attraction on every trip. 8 night trip gives us 9 park days, which amounts to 27 pre-booked FastPasses, at least 9 more same-day FastPasses, plus 8 rope drops. That's over 40 rides I was able to do with zero wait, and since there aren't 40 rides at WDW that ever have a meaningful wait to begin with, it means I never waited for anything.

I understand that not everyone tours the same way that my family does, but the old system was exceptional for us and this one sucks hard.

I used to be able to 40 rides with little or no wait in 2-3 days, not 8.

 

[marni1971]

But theoretically with increased demand for a standby pass, it is possible they could run out of free passes for the day and only have the paid option remaining. Correct?

Correct. It may run out an hour before closing.

Which obviously is a worse guest experience than it is now when you can get into FoP at 2 minutes to closing.

 

[dreday3]

It would be nice if at least resort guests could get a jump on getting in virtual queues before the rest of guests. Say before I arrive, I can just join up virtual queues for whatever day I have park reservations made.

So, I'd like to get in line for Ratatouille now for my arrival day in October.

 

[SteamboatJoe]

This absurdity is so on brand for current management. I got some flack in another thread about my gripe with the Deluxe Resort access perk but if this comes to WDW, it is even more proof that Disney does not want middle class income families to be regular park guests anymore. I know they have always been in the business of subtly separating me from my money, but they now have no issue blatantly doing it in such an aggressive manner....

 

[Lil Copter Cap]

If implemented, it'll be interesting to see how they handle line abandonment and temporarily closed attractions (due to weather/ride issues).

 

[CJR]

Really, they just need to leave almost all queues open right up until park close, like they do now. Keep the attraction open however long it takes to get them through.

 

[marni1971]

Trying to see something positive this could mean you can jump on a Tron standby pass when you enter town square and not have to run to get in the standby line first thing.

You’ll just have to rope drop the park to be told to go to the ride at 11am for your hour long queue.

 

[dreday3]

Trying to see something positive this could mean you can jump on a Tron standby pass when you enter town square and not have to run to get in the standby line first thing.

You’ll just have to rope drop the park to be told to go to the ride at 11am for your hour long queue.

I actually think this part is a positive. I don't mind getting a standby pass for Slinky Dog for later morning or early afternoon if it means I can ride other rides while waiting.

I mean if I was going to stand in a 90 minute line anyways, I'd rather go ride rides with shorter waits while waiting. Although, I suppose everyone will have the same idea and all the lines will be long.

 

[themarchhare]

Trying to see something positive this could mean you can jump on a Tron standby pass when you enter town square and not have to run to get in the standby line first thing.

You’ll just have to rope drop the park to be told to go to the ride at 11am for your hour long queue.

Remember when you used to be able to rope drop a new e-ticket and then get a Fastpass for later to go on it a second time later in the day?

 

[matt9112]

But your boarding wasn't delayed. What that is failing to take into account is that Disney knew there were going to be additional people coming in the fast pass lane. Again, the stated wait is what it is. Now, I could buy the argument if the actual wait time was consistently 20+ mins more than stated. That I would consider "cutting". But normally your wait is shorter than the listed wait.

So Disney posts wait times? That doesn't change whats going on? Fp+s biggest issues isn't the idea its how its implemented....COP for example comes to mind. Disney added it to things never built for it. Heck even peter pan that is arguably very popular (and has awful capacity) shouldn't have fp. For some rides i think its a net negative. For others its a wash.