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FastPass should be no more
- Thread starter d'Isigny
- Start date
TimeTrip
Well-Known Member
I find that you should get a FP for the ride that draws big crowds and isn't the best with guest turnover. I.E. If you go to EPCOT and aren't there first thing in the morning, you should get a FP for Test Track immediately. If you're at the AK, get a FP for Kilimanjaro immediately. Apply this strategy as you go on. I.E. the next fastpass you should get is for the next biggest draw.
For MK, I'd get a Space FP, then time it so I get the Splash FP during the height of the afternoon (so it will be hot, and getting wet wont be a problem). Depending on crowds and when you get there, you may be able to squeeze in BTMR before that.
Also, if you're in a park on a busy day, get that first Fastpass and you don't think you can get fastpasses for at every single fastpass ride, make sure you get on line for those rides in the morning or late at night. Case in point, We did Buzz at about 8:40am, then got a FP for space at 9:00am for about 10:15. In the time in between, I rode Pooh and saw Philharmagic. All 3 of those are FP attractions, but the lines were short enough that we could squeeze them in during the wait for Space. And this was on the tuesday before easter
.
During mid-day, knock out the rides with moderate lines that don't have FP for (or don't plan on getting) while you wait on your current FP. On that same tuesday, while waiting on a splash FP for around 2:30, we did PoC and HM.
This "declining draw" strategy results in ALOT of park criss-crossing, but has served me well
For MK, I'd get a Space FP, then time it so I get the Splash FP during the height of the afternoon (so it will be hot, and getting wet wont be a problem). Depending on crowds and when you get there, you may be able to squeeze in BTMR before that.
Also, if you're in a park on a busy day, get that first Fastpass and you don't think you can get fastpasses for at every single fastpass ride, make sure you get on line for those rides in the morning or late at night. Case in point, We did Buzz at about 8:40am, then got a FP for space at 9:00am for about 10:15. In the time in between, I rode Pooh and saw Philharmagic. All 3 of those are FP attractions, but the lines were short enough that we could squeeze them in during the wait for Space. And this was on the tuesday before easter
.During mid-day, knock out the rides with moderate lines that don't have FP for (or don't plan on getting) while you wait on your current FP. On that same tuesday, while waiting on a splash FP for around 2:30, we did PoC and HM.
This "declining draw" strategy results in ALOT of park criss-crossing, but has served me well
Nansafan
Active Member
Big Fan of FP. What I miss though are the queues. Some of the magic of many attractions are in the details. The line for Jungle Cruise is a great example. I remember waiting 60 min.+ for JC but the "radio program" playing while in line was great. The whole line is just great to walk through and look at. Everytime we rode, someone found another thing to see. Also, many hidden Mickey's can be found while waiting in line. Another great line is for Kali River Rapids. Looking at the "travel" office and other artifacts was fun. With FP you miss some of those details. The Indiana Jones ride at DL is another awesome line. When the ride opened, you were given a card with the translation for the hierogliphics (sp?) that were on the wall. It was a fun diversion translating the writings on the wall while you weaved your way through the line.
DisneyJill
Well-Known Member
I don't believe that Easter is busier than the 4th of July. Ever been to WDW on the 4th of July? MADNESS. Yes, this Easter was busy. 4th of July will be 10x as bad. 
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
I remember getting hacked off because alton Towers had a fast pass type system but when we went to WDW they didnt, standing in long lines became very frustrating.
If you use your brain (assuming you have one) the fast pass system can be used very effectively. Its even better when the parks are not too crowded because some think "ah the lines not too long Ill join the q" so you can get on even quicker with an FP. I find those who moan about fast pass just havnt taken the time to figure out how best to use it.
If you use your brain (assuming you have one) the fast pass system can be used very effectively. Its even better when the parks are not too crowded because some think "ah the lines not too long Ill join the q" so you can get on even quicker with an FP. I find those who moan about fast pass just havnt taken the time to figure out how best to use it.
Last time we visited I remeber using FPs on RnR. The FP queue was held near the back of the regular queue (separated of course), and we were let through in groups - walking down our empty queue aisle past all these non FP holderes looking at us in envy.... and FPs were still available. If these people were too thick to figure out you DON`T HAVE TO QUEUE that long to ride, let `em stand in line for 80 minutes....
AndyP
Active Member
FastPass is great if you use it on every ride its used on. However, I agree, that if you have to wait in a standby line then the parks were better without Fastpass. The trouble is, Fastpass is convienient, and it rewards, technically, those who don't wait in line. However, what the best situation is take advantage of both Fastpass and single riders. At EPCOT, when we go this year, we will get a fastpass for M:S so we can ride together (4 of us) and then single ride TT while we wait (since we'd have to share out TT car with others anyway and ride in 2 lines of 2). This way you get to ride two great rides! However, when the parks get hugely busy and you aren't able to get one for a ride, waiting in a standby line can make you miss 2-3 other rides because they move so slowly! Oh, and unless you really want to see it without waiting maybe 10 minutes, you usually don't need to get a FP for things such as Honey! I Shrunk the Audience, since they have high capacities, so you don't need to waste one there and can get a FP for TT if you want to ride together! Hope that made sense, my view on FastPass!
Dizzknee
New Member
The problem with the fastpass is the ratio of people they let in.
I was just there a month ago and I waited in line at Space Mountain because the only fast pass time I could get was during SpectroMagic.
Anyway, we were so close to getting there but yet we would stand still for 15-20 minutes at a time. A person behind us asked the attendant working the cut off gate why we were taking so long and they replied with
"we work a 70 to 10 person ratio"
meaning, they let 70 fast pass holders in then 10 standy patrons. I am all for the fast pass but there is no need for that! Fast passes were gone before we could even get to some of them it seemed. I wasn't happy with that. I was with a person in a wheelchair (my mom) and it's not as easy for us to bomb around the park getting fast passes before they are gone!!!
I was just there a month ago and I waited in line at Space Mountain because the only fast pass time I could get was during SpectroMagic.
Anyway, we were so close to getting there but yet we would stand still for 15-20 minutes at a time. A person behind us asked the attendant working the cut off gate why we were taking so long and they replied with
"we work a 70 to 10 person ratio"
meaning, they let 70 fast pass holders in then 10 standy patrons. I am all for the fast pass but there is no need for that! Fast passes were gone before we could even get to some of them it seemed. I wasn't happy with that. I was with a person in a wheelchair (my mom) and it's not as easy for us to bomb around the park getting fast passes before they are gone!!!
Yes, I have fastpassed it but thought that one can only do so every 45 minutes or something.
What if everyone Fastpassed it...
it would be chaos!
Note: Poster does post tongue -in-cheek at times and is mostly in good humor. Loves Disney and doesn't really mind standing in line.
Except for those time when the line doesn't move at all for 15-20 minutes....
Then he must jump the next FPer available, render him/her unconscience and take their FP.
What if everyone Fastpassed it...
it would be chaos!
Note: Poster does post tongue -in-cheek at times and is mostly in good humor. Loves Disney and doesn't really mind standing in line.
Except for those time when the line doesn't move at all for 15-20 minutes....
Then he must jump the next FPer available, render him/her unconscience and take their FP.
WDWEric
New Member
are you sure it was 70 FP and 10 Standby. Also Does anybody know the percentage of fastpasses handed out per hour. for example at Cedar Point they call their's Freeway and the give out 10% of the rides capacity per hour so if the rides capacity is for example 10,000 then there would be 1000 freeway per hour. I am pretty sure the Disney has a similar formula. Also if I remember right you can only get one fastpass at a time meaning that if you have one for 1:00-2:00 then you can't get another untill after 2:00. Doesn't disney have certain handicap rules, for example like at Cedar Point, you get a paper with all the rides that the handicap person car ride on and the you go to that ride get a "fastpass" types stamp on it (according to the standby wait time) and then you come back then.
Just an Idea, What if Disney took all the rides that have 2 rides in one (ie Star Tours,ToT,Primevil Whirl) and have one side for fastpasses and one for standby, that way everybody could get a fastpass for one or wait for the other I don't know how well it would work, just a thought!
DVC_Couple_PA
Member
I have to say that FP is a good thing given the way the Disney parks operate today. Lets face it, the parks aren't open as late as they were back in the 80's and early 90's.
Back in the days when the MK was open 'til midnight on your average summer day, we had a great system where we would see everything we wanted to see and never wait more than 20, maybe 30 minutes at the most. All without FP.
Now with the MK closing, on the average, at 10pm during the summer, you couldn't do the same without FP.
Back in the days when the MK was open 'til midnight on your average summer day, we had a great system where we would see everything we wanted to see and never wait more than 20, maybe 30 minutes at the most. All without FP.
Now with the MK closing, on the average, at 10pm during the summer, you couldn't do the same without FP.
Dizzknee
New Member
I am 100% sure it was 70 to 10.
Another thing was for some reason I was able to get a fast pass to every attraction and I was able to get them before the previous one expired. Basically, I had to wait 5 minutes to get another fast pass!
Maybe it was something screwey that day but guess what....it happened at all the parks (minus epcot). By the time I got to epcot (1:30pm) Mission space fast pass was already closed.
Without fast pass it would be chaos but they shouldn't allow fast passes for all attractions like that. That is why all the times were so late, cuz everyone was running around getting all the passes, meanwhile the people in wheelchairs miss out on the fun because the have to stand in line.
They do have handicap rules for the most part but because she's unable to do the rides and the fast passes were done the way they were, it ended up being a disaster...
Another thing was for some reason I was able to get a fast pass to every attraction and I was able to get them before the previous one expired. Basically, I had to wait 5 minutes to get another fast pass!
Maybe it was something screwey that day but guess what....it happened at all the parks (minus epcot). By the time I got to epcot (1:30pm) Mission space fast pass was already closed.
Without fast pass it would be chaos but they shouldn't allow fast passes for all attractions like that. That is why all the times were so late, cuz everyone was running around getting all the passes, meanwhile the people in wheelchairs miss out on the fun because the have to stand in line.
They do have handicap rules for the most part but because she's unable to do the rides and the fast passes were done the way they were, it ended up being a disaster...
Disney2002
New Member
I have never seen a 70 to 10 ratio. I actually counted an RnRC and it was exactly 50-50!
Dizzknee
New Member
maybe it was just space mountain.
Space mountain and Mission Space actually...They are the only two rides I waited for and I remember after the person asked the attendant I sat there and watched and counted and person after person on the fast pass flocked through. Finally we moved and it happened all over again. Same went for mission space. If I recall correctly mission space was something to the ratio or 50 or 60-10ish. Only the Mission space line moved alot faster.
Space mountain and Mission Space actually...They are the only two rides I waited for and I remember after the person asked the attendant I sat there and watched and counted and person after person on the fast pass flocked through. Finally we moved and it happened all over again. Same went for mission space. If I recall correctly mission space was something to the ratio or 50 or 60-10ish. Only the Mission space line moved alot faster.
CAPTAIN HOOK
Well-Known Member
Thank heavens for FP - we've previously attended during the Easter Break - yes its busy, but we make the most of FP and we, like everyone else also stand in line, watching FP go ahead of us in the final line.
We don't complain - we're just thankful that we're at Disney and having a good time. If FP went it would be miserable.
We don't complain - we're just thankful that we're at Disney and having a good time. If FP went it would be miserable.