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Fastpass- yes or no?
- Thread starter Blake
- Start date
Expo_Seeker40
Well-Known Member
Using Fast Pass will need serious planning before you even go on your trip to WDW. The Magic Kingdom is a Fast Pass "Heaven". I'm going to give a senerio and please tell me your opinion. First of all I think Disney is vague in how they describe Fast Pass so it is much better to hear from people who have used it, rather than just reading it out of a brochure.
We arrive at WDW shortly before it opens up. We are at the MK, and it is a moderate day and time of the year for reasonable crowds. The gates open. BAM! We decide to look at the MK like a wheel. We know that we can go back to Main Street U.S.A. the front gates, monorail, castle etc when we are done with the rest of the park. So we start to go to the castle, then we take a left toward adventure land. If Pirates is open we make a dash to there without using fast pass. Probably wait a little and maybe make 2 times on the ride. Reasonable. Then we head on over to the jungle cruise and tiki room which aren't that packed yet. Do those just once, look around a bit at the shops and architecture and then head on over to F L.
We try to see which ride is more packed SM or BTMR. Which ever one is more packed we put in the fast pass and head on over and wait normally for the other ride. We can enjoy the architecture, etc. After that we wait for our window of opp which will soon be coming we can take that time to browse around FL look at the architecture restaurants shops etc. Our time comes we board the other ride, we don't have to run we have within an hour to do this ride and we are already n the que line. We do the ride finish FL and head on over to Liberty Square. We put in our Fast Pass for the Hall of Presidents cause the lines are picking up. waiting for that window of time we can do the call of nature, eat, and relax and enjoy the people watching that can only be done at liberty square
We do the hall of pres, finish Liberty Square, the parade will be starting soon I guess, and we head on over to Fantasy Land. This is an older party not little kids. Fantasy Land would be packed by now because you have people like us who started from AL and worked our way to FL, and you got people from TL working their way over to FL. Plus the people who just walk straight into FL from the entrance.
Could someone confirm if It's A Small World uses fast pass or not? I hear that ride gets packed by afternoon. So we can wait for IASW if we have to. We can listen to the song over and over and enjoy the funky pastel colors in the que line. We board do the ride... done. We do the call of nature one more time after listening to that beautiful world's fair song over and over...
Since we are older we don't need to go into the other pavilions and rides. We have all ready eaten, etc. Maybe go to PhilarMagic, but that's it. We can take our time and enjoy the architecture of fantasyland. We'll skip Toontown. Its to kiddie and too packed, plus we have already done that last time we were at WDW. We head on over to TL. This is probably late afternoon possibly. We work our way over to Space Mountain punch in fast pass, we can walk around and enjoy the half 1971 architecure of tomorrowland and the other 1995 architecture of tomorrowland. Two in One!
While we wait for SM. We can browse the restaurant and shops, do some more people watching, and then become a people mover on the TTA which is never a long line. A nice pleasent sit down ride will do us good, and will be great for getting pics and video of tomorrowland. After that our time should be coming up and we head on over to SM. Walk down the que at a reasonable pace since we have an hour to get on the ride. Do that...done. Head on over to CoP. Enjoy some world's fair nastalgia. Maybe go to the time keeper after if we feel like it. We then exit tomorrowland toward the castle. Stop and rest in that little park. Go inside the castle etc. Go see the chrystal palace, go back through Main Street U.S.A. do what can be done there, and some window shopping of if necessary. Then take the monorail or train to take it all in. The train for MK, the monorail for the almost the whole resort. It's a nice way to end your day. Then exit the park through the MK entrance.
We didn't mention seing the parade and we probably wouldn't. Welve been to many parades and don't necessarily need to any more. Plus we will be out of there before the park crams for the fireworks which we have seen before.
Sound good?
We arrive at WDW shortly before it opens up. We are at the MK, and it is a moderate day and time of the year for reasonable crowds. The gates open. BAM! We decide to look at the MK like a wheel. We know that we can go back to Main Street U.S.A. the front gates, monorail, castle etc when we are done with the rest of the park. So we start to go to the castle, then we take a left toward adventure land. If Pirates is open we make a dash to there without using fast pass. Probably wait a little and maybe make 2 times on the ride. Reasonable. Then we head on over to the jungle cruise and tiki room which aren't that packed yet. Do those just once, look around a bit at the shops and architecture and then head on over to F L.
We try to see which ride is more packed SM or BTMR. Which ever one is more packed we put in the fast pass and head on over and wait normally for the other ride. We can enjoy the architecture, etc. After that we wait for our window of opp which will soon be coming we can take that time to browse around FL look at the architecture restaurants shops etc. Our time comes we board the other ride, we don't have to run we have within an hour to do this ride and we are already n the que line. We do the ride finish FL and head on over to Liberty Square. We put in our Fast Pass for the Hall of Presidents cause the lines are picking up. waiting for that window of time we can do the call of nature, eat, and relax and enjoy the people watching that can only be done at liberty square
We do the hall of pres, finish Liberty Square, the parade will be starting soon I guess, and we head on over to Fantasy Land. This is an older party not little kids. Fantasy Land would be packed by now because you have people like us who started from AL and worked our way to FL, and you got people from TL working their way over to FL. Plus the people who just walk straight into FL from the entrance.
Could someone confirm if It's A Small World uses fast pass or not? I hear that ride gets packed by afternoon. So we can wait for IASW if we have to. We can listen to the song over and over and enjoy the funky pastel colors in the que line. We board do the ride... done. We do the call of nature one more time after listening to that beautiful world's fair song over and over...
Since we are older we don't need to go into the other pavilions and rides. We have all ready eaten, etc. Maybe go to PhilarMagic, but that's it. We can take our time and enjoy the architecture of fantasyland. We'll skip Toontown. Its to kiddie and too packed, plus we have already done that last time we were at WDW. We head on over to TL. This is probably late afternoon possibly. We work our way over to Space Mountain punch in fast pass, we can walk around and enjoy the half 1971 architecure of tomorrowland and the other 1995 architecture of tomorrowland. Two in One!
While we wait for SM. We can browse the restaurant and shops, do some more people watching, and then become a people mover on the TTA which is never a long line. A nice pleasent sit down ride will do us good, and will be great for getting pics and video of tomorrowland. After that our time should be coming up and we head on over to SM. Walk down the que at a reasonable pace since we have an hour to get on the ride. Do that...done. Head on over to CoP. Enjoy some world's fair nastalgia. Maybe go to the time keeper after if we feel like it. We then exit tomorrowland toward the castle. Stop and rest in that little park. Go inside the castle etc. Go see the chrystal palace, go back through Main Street U.S.A. do what can be done there, and some window shopping of if necessary. Then take the monorail or train to take it all in. The train for MK, the monorail for the almost the whole resort. It's a nice way to end your day. Then exit the park through the MK entrance.We didn't mention seing the parade and we probably wouldn't. Welve been to many parades and don't necessarily need to any more. Plus we will be out of there before the park crams for the fireworks which we have seen before.
Sound good?
NemoRocks78
Seized
Very nicely said Blake. I agree with your opinion 100%. I am not at all in favor of FastPass. The most crowded days have FPs sold out in a short amount of time, resulting in monstrous lines. I arrived at Epcot shortly after 12 PM on Thanksgiving Day, RAN straight to M:S because the Info Board said it had a 90 minute wait, just to see my luck had run out because the FastPass stations were already covered. Sometimes FP can be good though, but mostly on moderately crowded-barely crowded days. Like this-I was at MK on December 11th. Fairly crowded day, but lines were no longer than 25-30 minutes (this was only in Fantasyland, as we walked on Buzz, Splash, Pirates, HM, etc.). We walked into Frontierland to ride Splash Mountain. It was walk-on that day, but then again it was about 50 degrees outside so I wasn't surprised. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad had a 20 minute wait, and we didn't feel like waiting. We picked up a FP for BTMR which would be good in 20 minutes, so we rode Splash twice. Right after our second ride it was already time for BTMR. So we got to enjoy two awesome rides in 20 minutes, and one of those were done twice. At another of one of my monthly visits during the Columbus Day holidays when Peter Pan was 100 minutes and Splash was an hour, The Haunted Mansion was at 25 minutes, and we didn't feel like waiting. We picked up a FP which was good in 20 minutes, so we wasted that time away by visiting The Hall of Presidents. I doubt that they'd remove FP though, because they've spent a lot of money with marketing and built all those FP Stations. Sometimes its good, sometimes its bad. I still don't like FastPass, never have and never will.
colliera
Member
FP expiration question
I'm aware the enforcement of the FP start time is strick down to the minute, hence the authority of a clock mounted nearby the FP entrance rather than arguments about whose watch is on time. But isn't the enforcement of "expired" FPs more forgiving? I can think of a couple of times when a family has rushed up to the FP entrance a few minutes past their printed end of the window and the CM will still wave them through.
Now I'm not saying you can show up three hours late but if you got caught in the wrong land and had just made a best effort to get there wouldn't it be easier to just pass a latecomer through rather than deny someone that just tore across the park, (and deal with the dissapointment/anger/bad show/missed recovery)? I'm thinking somewhere in the 30ish minutes late would be acceptable.
Is there a policy on expiration times official or unofficial? Maybe some that though they were just out of luck because they were 10 minutes late really weren't. Or, is this just an individual CM call?
I'm aware the enforcement of the FP start time is strick down to the minute, hence the authority of a clock mounted nearby the FP entrance rather than arguments about whose watch is on time. But isn't the enforcement of "expired" FPs more forgiving? I can think of a couple of times when a family has rushed up to the FP entrance a few minutes past their printed end of the window and the CM will still wave them through.
Now I'm not saying you can show up three hours late but if you got caught in the wrong land and had just made a best effort to get there wouldn't it be easier to just pass a latecomer through rather than deny someone that just tore across the park, (and deal with the dissapointment/anger/bad show/missed recovery)? I'm thinking somewhere in the 30ish minutes late would be acceptable.
Is there a policy on expiration times official or unofficial? Maybe some that though they were just out of luck because they were 10 minutes late really weren't. Or, is this just an individual CM call?
Rcoaster809
Member
I have only been to WDW twice since FastPasses have been installed. The first time was when they were brand new back in 1999. I was running around with my ticket feeding it to any machine that would take it, and I let FastPass control my vacation.
I was just at WDW over Thanksgiving this year, and I had a great time. If wanted a FastPass, and it fit into MY schedule, I got one. If i got one, then got caught up in something else, I didnt worry about it.
There is one time that I love FassPasses, and two times I hate them. I love em when I got one! I hate em when I dont. But more then just that, can someone tell me why they have FastPasses for shows like Millionaire and Indy? I waited in the stand-by line for Millionaire THREE times, and never got to see it once. I was so mad:fork: Any other times, i am really indifferent about them.
About the experation time on the passes, I know that the day I was at MGM, one of ToTs shafts broke for a little while making the FastPass line 40 minutes long. The CMs told us we could us our passes at any time b/c the wait was so long. We did, and about 5 hours later, we walked on.
In conclusion, I think guests at WDW have a much different experience at WDW b/c of the FastPasses. Some have good ones, others dont.
Nathan
I was just at WDW over Thanksgiving this year, and I had a great time. If wanted a FastPass, and it fit into MY schedule, I got one. If i got one, then got caught up in something else, I didnt worry about it.
There is one time that I love FassPasses, and two times I hate them. I love em when I got one! I hate em when I dont. But more then just that, can someone tell me why they have FastPasses for shows like Millionaire and Indy? I waited in the stand-by line for Millionaire THREE times, and never got to see it once. I was so mad:fork: Any other times, i am really indifferent about them.
About the experation time on the passes, I know that the day I was at MGM, one of ToTs shafts broke for a little while making the FastPass line 40 minutes long. The CMs told us we could us our passes at any time b/c the wait was so long. We did, and about 5 hours later, we walked on.
In conclusion, I think guests at WDW have a much different experience at WDW b/c of the FastPasses. Some have good ones, others dont.
Nathan
Michael72688
New Member
I love Fastpass! I could care less about the theming of the lines, just get me on the ride!!!
Maybe you don't like it- but the queues (or they did) are the ones that use to tell the story and set you into the atmosphere. Example: Indy at DL, ToT at WDW, etc.
"So, do you think that the lines would be short on the most crowded days without FastPass?"
No, they would be shorter. If Peter Pan stand-by is 100 minutes. WIthout Fastpass it would probably be only around 50 minutes. *much more managable*. So if Pooh and Pan are at 100. you might wait 100 for Pan and get right on Pooh, whereas on a no-fastpass day, you would wait 50 for each. (same waiting time)
Michael72688
New Member
or you just get a fastpass and dont wait in the lines
DisneyFan 2000
Well-Known Member
That's why now I feel lucky now, that fast passes ran out and I had to wait 40 minutes and look at the detailed queue of ToT (I'm dead serious)!!!
Heyyall
New Member
Fastpass is a great thing! It's not supposed to be something that "controls" your vacation. If you reach Space Mountain, and the line is long, you get a fastpass. Simple as that. Don't worry about rusghing to the other side of the park and taking full advantage of the service. Just use it to free up time. This doesn't need to be stressful, its supposed to make waiting on lines LESS stressful. And if you don't like rushing around, then just dont use the service. And those who complained about fastpasses being sold out, then get there earlier. Those are the benefits, shorter lines, and fastpasses being available. People who sacrifice getting up that earlier get the benefits, but don't get the extra relaxation and sleep. It depends whats important to you.
The lines might be more manageable without the service, but Michael72688 is right, get a fastpass and enjoy that ride without a wait. Even if it comes out to be the same time, when you have a fastpass, you have an hour to eat and relax instead of waiting hour after hour for a every ride.
I do agree with Blake that the fastpass queues should be the ones that don't have all the details that those who wait on line should be able to see. But when I went, Tot's fastpass line was the one that didn't have the details...maybe it changed.
Overall, I think fastpass is great, because even though the times may be equal, you don't have to wait in tons of hour long rides. You get a break. ANd if you want fastpasses, get there earlier
:xmas:
The lines might be more manageable without the service, but Michael72688 is right, get a fastpass and enjoy that ride without a wait. Even if it comes out to be the same time, when you have a fastpass, you have an hour to eat and relax instead of waiting hour after hour for a every ride.
I do agree with Blake that the fastpass queues should be the ones that don't have all the details that those who wait on line should be able to see. But when I went, Tot's fastpass line was the one that didn't have the details...maybe it changed.
Overall, I think fastpass is great, because even though the times may be equal, you don't have to wait in tons of hour long rides. You get a break. ANd if you want fastpasses, get there earlier
:xmas:
Djali999
Active Member
my main problem is that FP is shoved into attractions not designed to accomidate it. so while Cast Members hold up the Stand-By line to let the Fast Passers through, the Stand-By line piles up. in my mind, the ONLY truly effective way to eliminate this would be to build a seperate quere and loading area for Fast Pass on each attraction.
I also think it's indicative of the "mine, right now" mentality that I hate. people don't use the things to time-manage as they should. nobody stops to ask the question: "do I wait 20 minutes now or come back in three hours with no wait at all?" it's the dangling carrt of "no wait at all" that blinds people to the fact. I think waiting 20 minutes is perfectly reasonable.
although I, too, have limits of endurance for queres, I think FP multiplies the problem. honestly, who wants to wait 80 minutes to get on Peter Pan?? the ride's 4 minutes long!!
my best example is the Haunted Mansion, which has a "two quere" system with the expanding galleries acting as a sort of 'flood gate'. you used to be able to walk almost up to under the awning on a good day, and then clear through the loading area. now it's so congested you're lucky to be able to walk clear through the front gates.
sadly, it isn't gonna end. I still say it should be a free service to WDW hotel guests and annual passholders only. that's reasonable and it draws more guests onto the property.
I also think it's indicative of the "mine, right now" mentality that I hate. people don't use the things to time-manage as they should. nobody stops to ask the question: "do I wait 20 minutes now or come back in three hours with no wait at all?" it's the dangling carrt of "no wait at all" that blinds people to the fact. I think waiting 20 minutes is perfectly reasonable.
although I, too, have limits of endurance for queres, I think FP multiplies the problem. honestly, who wants to wait 80 minutes to get on Peter Pan?? the ride's 4 minutes long!!
my best example is the Haunted Mansion, which has a "two quere" system with the expanding galleries acting as a sort of 'flood gate'. you used to be able to walk almost up to under the awning on a good day, and then clear through the loading area. now it's so congested you're lucky to be able to walk clear through the front gates.
sadly, it isn't gonna end. I still say it should be a free service to WDW hotel guests and annual passholders only. that's reasonable and it draws more guests onto the property.
I have just been reading through this thread and was a little puzzled by the waiting 2hours before you get your next fastpass. Can you only get one fastpass at a time at WDW? At Disneyland Resort Paris this changed over a year back and you could get a fast pass for each fastpass enabled ride if you wished to. You can still only get one for each attraction til your first runs out (ie you cant get 2 fast passes for BTM on one ticket) but you can have one for each fast pass enabled ride!
This works fairly well for me, and the only rides that seem to really struggle to get people through at Paris are BTM and Peter Pans Flight which can both get queues of around 90+ minutes at times, but most of the other rides are under 30mins even with FP open.
Colin
This works fairly well for me, and the only rides that seem to really struggle to get people through at Paris are BTM and Peter Pans Flight which can both get queues of around 90+ minutes at times, but most of the other rides are under 30mins even with FP open.
Colin
crazydaveh
Active Member
Fast Passes are GREAT!
I like the FP. They help cut down on waits, and if you plan your day right, you can do the entire park several times, using the fast passes.
Yes, there is a lot of the pre show stuff you miss out on, but who cares. Once you've waited in a line once, you can bypass it later.
I have had experiences without the fastpass, and waited 2 hours for Mission: Space, while all the FP'ers walked right on, but to their credit, they got there early enough to get them!
I say use them if you want, if not, I'll wave to you as your still waiting in line!
I like the FP. They help cut down on waits, and if you plan your day right, you can do the entire park several times, using the fast passes.
Yes, there is a lot of the pre show stuff you miss out on, but who cares. Once you've waited in a line once, you can bypass it later.
I have had experiences without the fastpass, and waited 2 hours for Mission: Space, while all the FP'ers walked right on, but to their credit, they got there early enough to get them!
I say use them if you want, if not, I'll wave to you as your still waiting in line!
mhead
Active Member
I love Fastpass. My entire family loves it. I think it is the best thing to hit the parks in a long time. We never worry about a fastpass expiring. We have gone back to whatever attraction we hold that pass for and never been turned away. As long as the start time has pssed we have always been let right on. As far as an increase in wait times for stand-by - that is all in when you go. If you go during a busy time they will be long - duh.
I've experienced the pre-FP crowds, and much prefer FP.
For instance, when TT first opened, wait times of 60+ mins were common. I would stop there first, see the wait time, and decide to try again later. I would go to other attractions, then stop back to see if things had improved. Often, they were WORSE. I would do this a couple of more times, then sometimes have to leave without ever riding it due to wait times. (And my refusal to willingly wait more than an hour for a ride.)
With FP, I know that if I get to the park early, and stop at my favorite ride first, I'll be guaranteed at least one ride on it, sometimes two, depending on the standby time.
For instance, when TT first opened, wait times of 60+ mins were common. I would stop there first, see the wait time, and decide to try again later. I would go to other attractions, then stop back to see if things had improved. Often, they were WORSE. I would do this a couple of more times, then sometimes have to leave without ever riding it due to wait times. (And my refusal to willingly wait more than an hour for a ride.)
With FP, I know that if I get to the park early, and stop at my favorite ride first, I'll be guaranteed at least one ride on it, sometimes two, depending on the standby time.
Michael72688
New Member
I think it was a great idea and worked very well in the parks, but I will say I do like the Universal Express passes more, they actually allow you to pick a time to come back, unlike Disneys
Plus, i'm not sure what they do- but it seems there are alot less Universal Express passes given out over the same period as Fastpasses. This would be better because it would reduce the chance of 300 Fastpass returns coming at the same time and the cast member having to stop stand-by, therefore allowing all lines to move more smothly! SPiderman line never stops moving! And they have Express there whereas Disneylines are inch by inch.