Fastpass

[STITCHGEFAN]

Ahead of our trip next week joyfull we've gone through the whole FP+ system for the first time. Today we've all been discussing FP and whether it is necessary. Would a WDW with general queues and no FP work, and without it what would be different?

Father argues that wait times would go down across the park. I think it would make little difference, and everyone would miss the luxury of a queue jump, as such.

Thoughts? (Sorry if this has been brought up previously)

 

[EmmieSue]

If you are going next week then yes, I think it would make a huge difference. If you go when the crowds are lower then no, it really isn't that bad to go without using fastpass. I would NEVER even consider not using fastpass this time of year. You won't get nearly as much in as you would without fastpass and waiting in some of those longer lines that don't have AC would not be fun. It can be done of course, but...fastpass would make it a lot more comfortable and easier to do things you want.

You could always go into it thinking "I have this fastpass if I need it, but it's not going to hurt anything if I skip it."

 

[RonAnnArbor]

It completely depends on what your needs are. Off peek you can make fastpasses on the bus on your phone into the park you head to that day...if you visit to try to do everything you possibly can in one day, then fastpass is the only way to really do that...If you are a season passholder or DVC member and maybe head to a park for an hour to do one or two specific things, again fastpasses are helpful...but lots of times repeat visitors have nothing they "have" to do, and then wandering around without fastpasses is no detriment at all...

NOW, that being said -- even off peak there are thousands of people in the parks. If you don't want a 40 minute wait for 7Dwarfs Mine Train, make a fastpass reservation. Same with Soarin', Test Track, and Toy Story Midway Mania.

My past trip a few weeks ago, I stood in front of Jungle Cruise and the wait was posted at 30 minutes. I made a fastpass STANDING THERE and went in immediately without that 30 minute wait. It had fastpass slots available for the exact same time.

 

[invader]

I think I read your question a bit differently than some others. I think you were asking how much different a Disney World without a fast pass system would be, and if you were I would have to side with what your father said. You can even see examples of what he claims put in place by the new FastPass+, rides that previously had five minute waits now have a FastPass available and false demand is created, allowing for longer wait times. Without FastPass I do believe most of the rides would have extremely low waits compared to what they are now - except for those few that have low capacity. It's a system that can both harm and help in many situations but I think we would be better off without it.

 

[EOD K9]

I went to DL/DCA two years ago where TSMM didn't have it. The wait times seemed to always be 45 minutes and the lines always moved. Many years ago (98) I think, we waited on the Jaws ride for well over an hour, but the line moved the whole time. I think a moving line makes a difference in the perception of how long you wait.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

I think anyone who thinks that the park would work better without Fastpass does NOT remember what it was like at MK without fastpass....

On a typical day, 120 minute wait for the skyride...120 minute wait for Space Mountain...140 minute wait for 20K LEagues under the sea...one hour wait for any of the dark rides...30-45 minute wait for the train...60 - 90 minutes for Dumbo...Seriously...there was NOTHING magical about a day at the MK without fastpass

 

[danheaton]

I think anyone who thinks that the park would work better without Fastpass does NOT remember what it was like at MK without fastpass....

On a typical day, 120 minute wait for the skyride...120 minute wait for Space Mountain...140 minute wait for 20K LEagues under the sea...one hour wait for any of the dark rides...30-45 minute wait for the train...60 - 90 minutes for Dumbo...Seriously...there was NOTHING magical about a day at the MK without fastpass

My memory is very different, and I'm not talking 30 years ago. Back in 1998, we went in the last week of May and there was no Fastpass. Yes, we waited 45 minutes for Space Mountain and a few others, but most of the wait times were shorter.

And here's the big difference: The lines moved! There's nothing more frustrating than being in a Standby line today and watching as scores of guests walk by while you wait.

Now there is a caveat: Disney World attendance has gone up, and ride capacity at both EPCOT and the Hollywood Studios has gone down. There also are headliners at EPCOT and DHS that weren't there in 1998. There also is no going back now that FastPass exists. I was fine with waiting 45 minutes for a really cool ride when we'd never experienced FastPass. Guests today are used to being able to walk onto headliners. It would be a rude awakening.