Club34
Well-Known Member
If the key is to be flexible, why am I reserving a rollercoaster 6 mos out? This reeks of absurdity. I'm sorry. The original FP was by no means perfect, but most people seemed to like it. If ain't too broke, ya know?
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Next generation FASTPASS system to begin guest testing this week
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
If the key is to be flexible, why am I reserving a rollercoaster 6 mos out? This reeks of absurdity. I'm sorry. The original FP was by no means perfect, but most people seemed to like it. If ain't too broke, ya know?
BigThunderMatt
Well-Known Member
Well, after all, it IS a theme park that requires some degree of planning to visit. Why on earth are you going with children that young if it's that much of a hassle, especially when 2 or possibly even all of them won't remember it anyway? I didn't go for the first time until I was 9 and was much better off for it.
If and when I have kids, I don't plan on taking them until they're old enough to walk all or most of the day without a stroller. The last thing I want to be doing at a theme park is toting around half of my house just to make sure the kids don't get too tired, cranky, or dirty, and so that they can keep up as well as remember it.
ncstate7991
Member
I agree with this. If TDO/WDW/whomever you want to point the finger at would just build a few more E ticket rides across the entire property, not only would it bring more people into the parks, but it would spread them out better too.
We have heard Disney brass say they wish that guests would book their trips earlier so they would know what type and how much human resources they would needs each day etc. To me, Disney seems focused on ways to get people to plan their vacations sooner and tell them where they will be. That is part of the goal/plan of XPass.
PamelaNiebergal
New Member
I think BigThunderMatt you might change your mind on that when you actually do have kids. I thought the same thing pre-baby but having has completely changed my mind. Despite the "hassle" I love bringing my babies to WDW and couldn't imagine waiting until they're "old enough" and can remember it. We mainly go for me and my DH. Becoming parents has made us love Disney even more - why would we stay home? They might not remember it but we always will.
As for the my feelings on the x-pass I kind of feel I have no option but to use it. The argument "if you don't like it don't use it" doesn't wash because I suspect those who don't use the new system because they can't (staying offsite) or chose not to will be punished with longer standby lines. I can't imagine this whole thing playing out without punishing those who prefer spontaneity and that sucks.
As for the my feelings on the x-pass I kind of feel I have no option but to use it. The argument "if you don't like it don't use it" doesn't wash because I suspect those who don't use the new system because they can't (staying offsite) or chose not to will be punished with longer standby lines. I can't imagine this whole thing playing out without punishing those who prefer spontaneity and that sucks.
So far, no time frame has been given as to when you can book Xpass. For all we know it will be day before.
PamelaNiebergal
New Member
I also think that the only way to truly reduce wait times for everyone would be to increase the number of attractions and therefor theme park capacity. The money could be so much better utilized building a few e-tickets to spread out the crowds. :brick:
In all likely hood, the only difference Xpass will have on the parks is the number fastpasses available at the fast pass machines in the parks. The wait in the standby lines will be the same as it is now.I think BigThunderMatt you might change your mind on that when you actually do have kids. I thought the same thing pre-baby but having has completely changed my mind. Despite the "hassle" I love bringing my babies to WDW and couldn't imagine waiting until they're "old enough" and can remember it. We mainly go for me and my DH. Becoming parents has made us love Disney even more - why would we stay home? They might not remember it but we always will.
As for the my feelings on the x-pass I kind of feel I have no option but to use it. The argument "if you don't like it don't use it" doesn't wash because I suspect those who don't use the new system because they can't (staying offsite) or chose not to will be punished with longer standby lines. I can't imagine this whole thing playing out without punishing those who prefer spontaneity and that sucks.
GrumpyFan
Well-Known Member
I don't know that this is as much about shrinking the line as it is with improving the guest experience. Too many complaints are filed where guests weren't able to ride their favorite attraction due to long lines. This would all but guarantee a time, unless there was a breakdown.
I agree they need to invest more with other attractions, but it still wont solve the issue of long lines during peak season and guests being turned away due to this. Actually, they're not turned away, they're just turned off at the idea of standing in a long line. This helps solve part of that problem, for some of the more popular attractions. Mind you, I don't think they intend for every guest to be able to plan every attraction in advance, just a few of them at their choice.
mickeyminiemom
New Member
So will we be able to make these reservations for rides prior to arriving for a trip for the entire stay or will we have to make them the day before we plan to use it? Also will there be a way to tell how many are on our your reservation so people do not take advantage of the system and how many times can you schedule a ride per day? Sorry for all the questions but trying to start planning an early 2013 trip and know little information about this new xpass thing or whatever it is called. TIA
devoy1701
Well-Known Member
wear a bright neon yellow this with big black bold letters that say "PICK ME FOR XPASS TESTING!" That might help... :lookaroun
GrumpyFan
Well-Known Member
Unknown. This is just a test. Not something that is being advertised by Disney as even being in existence at this time. All the details like these remain to be seen.
Based on patents and other rumored information, it is assumed that we will be able to make advance FP reservations from any internet capable device (pc, phone, tv, etc).
Keep in mind that while in testing, it can be in operation one day, then down or even gone the next. Also, what they do while in test may not necessarily be what they go live with.
Well, of course not. The question is whether you pay for it as part of your park ticket or as part of your hotel bill. By and large, Disney has done not differentiated the in-park experience between on-site and off-site guests, EMH being the main departure. If xpass is only availble to on-site people, that will be a very big change in the way Disney has historically dealt with these things.
As whether it "punishes" off-site people, or "rewards" on-site people, I'd suspect both, if you compare it to to pre-xpass (again, presuming it's only available to those staying on-property). While I have argued that it is theoretically possible to benefit xpass users without harming xpass non-users, in comparison to where things are today, it is certianly far more likely that xpass users will benefit and non-xpass users will get hurt (less fastpass and/or longer standby lines) -- on average still an improved guest experience but with some winners and some losers. That doesn't bother me at all if everybody has the option of using xpass. If you only get xpass by paying more to stay on-site, it annoys me the same way Six Flags' FlashPass annoys me -- those who pay get shorter waits at the expense of longer wait for those who don't pay extra.
Sure, as long as Disney makes it known that this is the way it works, off-site people will be knowingly choosing not to pay for xpass -- but that doesn't make it any less annoying to have your experience made worse in order to make somebody else's better.
It is amazingly humorous for me to see all these posts praising or hating a system that hasn't even been tested or even announced yet. There is a two week test coming up that we know NOTHING about...then we'll likely go months without hearing anything as the concept and system evolves. Has anyone used their RFID card to get into Epcot recently?
I should go back to posts on rec.arts.disney.parks (who's with me?) in 1998 when they were testing FastPass at Space Mountain. The tests consisted of a folding table in front of Space Mountain with CMs handing out pre-printed tickets. People would then return and go up the secondary line (followed by screaming matches from people in the other line that thought people were cutting). I'm sure there are tons of posts about how inefficient it is to have CMs passing out printed tickets and how we're headed to a future of line violence because people won't get FastPass.
Give it some time people. When we know facts about the actual implementation...then feel free to complain!
I should go back to posts on rec.arts.disney.parks (who's with me?) in 1998 when they were testing FastPass at Space Mountain. The tests consisted of a folding table in front of Space Mountain with CMs handing out pre-printed tickets. People would then return and go up the secondary line (followed by screaming matches from people in the other line that thought people were cutting). I'm sure there are tons of posts about how inefficient it is to have CMs passing out printed tickets and how we're headed to a future of line violence because people won't get FastPass.
Give it some time people. When we know facts about the actual implementation...then feel free to complain!
GrumpyFan
Well-Known Member
:sohappy: Thank you! Well said.
Unfortunately, sane comments like this tend to get buried quickly due to the hysteria of those who see something new and go into panic mode.
mickeyminiemom
New Member
I am kind of not understanding why so many feel that Disney resort guest should not be given special little perks. I know everyone has their preference of whether they stay on or off site and this may be the extra that has those teetering back and forth make a permanent move to on site. I know for our family we would not stay any other place than on site because my husband enjoys parking the car and not having to worry about parking or driving for the duration of our trip and if this xpass thing comes to fruition we would never even consider staying off site. How neat to be able to schedule you big ticket rides before you ever arrive and not have to bust butt to make rope drop to ride or get fast passes for them. It seems that this would make your trip a lot less stressful because you know you are going to get to ride without all the hassle.
baymenxpac
Well-Known Member
reserving judgement until i see how it rolls out, but let me echo a point that i've made in the past where it makes a lot of sense:
my family is the type to do parks in the morning, then break for pool to beat the heat, then go back for an ADR and maybe some park stuff at night.
so say i have an ADR at le cellier at 6:00. it's peak season, and there's no way i'm getting on soarin' with less than a 60 minute stand by. fast passes have probably sold out. but i really would love to do a ride or two while i'm at epcot before or after my ADR. i book a ride on soarin' for my party at 5:20, then head right to le cellier.
seems like it makes sense from that respect. it's not planning every second of your vaca, but it is ensuring that when you go to a park at any time of the day, you can assure yourself of doing a particular attraction.
my family is the type to do parks in the morning, then break for pool to beat the heat, then go back for an ADR and maybe some park stuff at night.
so say i have an ADR at le cellier at 6:00. it's peak season, and there's no way i'm getting on soarin' with less than a 60 minute stand by. fast passes have probably sold out. but i really would love to do a ride or two while i'm at epcot before or after my ADR. i book a ride on soarin' for my party at 5:20, then head right to le cellier.
seems like it makes sense from that respect. it's not planning every second of your vaca, but it is ensuring that when you go to a park at any time of the day, you can assure yourself of doing a particular attraction.
ShookieJones
We need time for things to happen.
Agree 100% with everything you've said here. Probably because we do the parks exactly the same way - minus going during any kind of peak season....None the less, I'm going to wait and see how this plays out.
Let's not forget this is a test. The reasons for the test is to see how it works...it something needs to be tweaked etc. etc.
Also as others have mentioned I think if this works properly it would be a great perk for anyone staying onsite! Something which Universal already offers to their resort guests - all day long all the time, and is something I think would be a plus to existing benefits such as EMH.
WDWFREAK53
Well-Known Member
LOL...
By the way it sounds, people won't need FastPasses because a lot of people are just going to stop going.
Hehe.
I'm excited about this...while I don't like every little detail planned out...I think it would be good just to get the "must-do's" "booked up."
By the way it sounds, people won't need FastPasses because a lot of people are just going to stop going.
Hehe.
I'm excited about this...while I don't like every little detail planned out...I think it would be good just to get the "must-do's" "booked up."