Next generation FASTPASS system to begin guest testing this week

[menamechris]

First, first time visitors will be lost if they have to plan their trip and try to plan out their rides in advance. There is a point where it is too complicated to even try. Never been to WDW??? Nope. Simple all you have to do to figure out what park you want to go to every day, where you want to eat and when exactly you want to do these things. Good luck..... Add people who aren't use to the heat and it should make for some fun filled summer vacations. LOL.

This is worth repeating. Simply because WDW justifies most everything lately with "well, we really have to cater to the once in a lifetime guest" or "most of our guests only come once every few years." This has been an excuse for lack of additions, themed overlays and the like. But NOW they think it's a good idea to have people booking rides - when their familiarity with the attractions and parks is little at best. I think this whole thing could be quite an assumption on Disney's part. If someone is not a regular visitor - and they have a 10am Fastpass for Jungle Cruise. It may take them till 10:30 to find the ride. And of course, late arrivals are no longer permitted....

 

[spaceghost]

This is worth repeating. Simply because WDW justifies most everything lately with "well, we really have to cater to the once in a lifetime guest" or "most of our guests only come once every few years." This has been an excuse for lack of additions, themed overlays and the like. But NOW they think it's a good idea to have people booking rides - when their familiarity with the attractions and parks is little at best. I think this whole thing could be quite an assumption on Disney's part. If someone is not a regular visitor - and they have a 10am Fastpass for Jungle Cruise. It may take them till 10:30 to find the ride. And of course, late arrivals are no longer permitted....

I don't disagree that newbs to WDW will misuse XPass, but how is that different than how they tour the parks now, exactly??? That said, I think you are giving the average visitor too little credit. Are you saying that a normal human being, of average intelligence, couldn't find The Jungle Cruise on a park map and walk there within the hour FastPass/xPass window? Given that argument, I'm not sure how any of the restaurants see any business as everyone who made reservations ahead of time but didn't know where the restaurants were wouldn't be able to find them. I'm surprised that we don't have massive numbers of guests keeling over every day because they forgot how to breathe...

 

[menamechris]

I don't disagree that newbs to WDW will misuse XPass, but how is that different than how they tour the parks now, exactly??? That said, I think you are giving the average visitor too little credit. Are you saying that a normal human being, of average intelligence, couldn't find The Jungle Cruise on a park map and walk there within the hour FastPass/xPass window? Given that argument, I'm not sure how any of the restaurants see any business as everyone who made reservations ahead of time but didn't know where the restaurants were wouldn't be able to find them. I'm surprised that we don't have massive numbers of guests keeling over every day because they forgot how to breathe...

I am sure it meets somewhere in the middle of being completely incapable of reaching an attraction for a schedule time - and breathing. Just sayin...

Point being - I think those of us who are extremely familiar with the parks have trouble fathoming that the majority of guests aren't familiar at all. Wandering or touring are appropriate terms for what most people do. They experience rides and attractions as they come upon them - not racing towards them. I don't think it has anything to do with normacy or intelligence....

 

[TalkingHead]

As of right now, you don't get to choose a specific return window (such as '6:25 - 7:25').

That said, it's a very cool little system, to say the least. Some guests are gonna be confused as hell, though. Most people have trouble understanding that they need to come back at the time their fastpass says to come back. I can only imagine how it will work when your fastpass doesn't say when to come back...

I'm trying to understand how the "reservation" aspect of this works. Are you given a list of attractions and you experience them sequentially, according to how they are listed?

Or does an XPass holder have the chance to experience, say, one ride on Space Mountain whenever s/he chooses?

Reason I ask is because you mention this being like a FP that doesn't say when to come back.

 

[the-reason14]

I'm trying to understand how the "reservation" aspect of this works. Are you given a list of attractions and you experience them sequentially, according to how they are listed?

Or does an XPass holder have the chance to experience, say, one ride on Space Mountain whenever s/he chooses?

Reason I ask is because you mention this being like a FP that doesn't say when to come back.

I didn't think about it like that, but that actually would be better. What if it's like you have a total of 15 rides per day that you can pick fastpasses for. Say I wanna use 13 for space mt, 1 for splash and 1 for thunder. Say you could ride any of them any time you want? That would actually be ok for me, but I can see why it wouldn't work in general. Also on top of that being able to get smaller doses of fastpasses from the machines like usual. Now I know that wouldn't work.

 

[John]

My observations of this whole conversation,

1) For those chastizeing us for even discussing Xpass is a little rediculus. It's a WDW "chat" forum. Thats what we do.

2) Yes, we dont know what the actual system will consist of. But make no mistake, It is going to happen. Disney is sinking a huge amount of dollars in this to not have it happen.

3) Just because Disney is sinking a Kazillion dollars in the system dosnt take into account the human element. Therefore there is absolutely no garuntee that it will work.

4) No matter how you slice or dice it, it is Disney wanting you to micromanage your vacation so they can figure out better ways to get in your pocket.

5) Regaurdless of your park experience it makes planning your vacation more difficult. For the novice it makes the process expedentially harder.

6) For the TA's of the world we have to be rejoiceing for this new development. Your going to have to hire someone who really knows the system to help you plan a WDW trip. ADR's....Ride AFPRs etc.

 

[draybook]

Fastpasses aren't given out in the first hour? That's news to us after 5 trips there. We're never had trouble getting FP's then.

 

[Master Yoda]

Fastpasses aren't given out in the first hour? That's news to us after 5 trips there. We're never had trouble getting FP's then.

They are given out in the first hour but if I am not mistaken the return time will typically start 1 hour after the park opens.

 

[Mimi]

A lot of people, myself included, are really on the fence about this; I like spontaneity. Instead of boycotting the system altogether I will probably make out my list and get my fancy new Fastpass. Then when the big day arrives I'm sure there will be a lot of deviation from the "plan." So I have two questions:

(1) Can I still get a traditional Fastpass for a ride or do I lose that option?

(2) I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one doing this so there will probably be a large number of passes unused (more than with the traditional system). How will Disney make up for this? Since they are reducing the number of Fastpasses issued will they issue more Xpasses to begin with or is this how they can assure people that the standby lines will not be affected?

My apologies if these questions have already been answered; I confess I have not read the entire thread.

I have to add that I am actually liking that I can get a Fastpass for Toy Story Mania in advance. We've actually missed that ride on a couple trips because the Fastpass returns are often late in the day by the time we get to the Kiosk - which is usually quite early in the morning. I personally find it difficult to spend an entire day at the studios so we would have to come back to that park just to use the Fastpass for that one ride. An advanced Xpass would solve this problem for us.

 

[Master Yoda]

A lot of people, myself included, are really on the fence about this; I like spontaneity. Instead of boycotting the system altogether I will probably make out my list and get my fancy new Fastpass. Then when the big day arrives I'm sure there will be a lot of deviation from the "plan." So I have two questions:

(1) Can I still get a traditional Fastpass for a ride or do I lose that option?

(2) I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one doing this so there will probably be a large number of passes unused (more than with the traditional system). How will Disney make up for this? Since they are reducing the number of Fastpasses issued will they issue more Xpasses to begin with or is this how they can assure people that the standby lines will not be affected?

My apologies if these questions have already been answered; I confess I have not read the entire thread.

1. We don't know. You will most likely be able to get traditional fastpasses during the testing but if and when it is implemented we could see faspasses replaced by Xpass or they could have both.
2. We don't know. Disney releases a certain number of fastpasses per hour. Allegedly, this number is based on a certain percentage of the attractions hourly capacity. It is safe to assume that they have no shows accounted for either by releasing more fastpasses to offset it or simply ignoring it and allowing the standby line to move a bit quicker. Based on every bit of info we have none of that is changing. The only thing that will be changing is how we get those fastpasses. There is no reason, or evidence to support the hypothesis that standby waits will get longer. This change is no different than a theater selling tickets both online and at the box office. The capacity of the theater does not change, just the way you get the tickets.

 

[BigThunderMatt]

Are you saying that a normal human being, of average intelligence, couldn't find The Jungle Cruise on a park map

Considering the plethora of idiotic questions I receive on a daily basis? Yes. Most people seem challenged to bother OPENING their map, let alone read it. Despite the fact that they grab 50 at the start of the day and leave all of them lying on the ground throughout the park.

No not really I think the idea is to get the most people out of line at a time so they can spend more in shops and on food.

Trust me, the number of attractions a guest can experience per day is Disney's main drive on efficiency anymore. I have sat through meetings and training where this has been pounded into my head beyond belief. All they care about is getting them in and out and onto the next attraction so that they'll theoretically be happier and theoretically spend more money and theoretically be more likely to return.

 

[awhit066]

Since I (or most people without insider info) don't know the exact details of the system it's hard for me to form an opinion. However after reading through the thread I have a few thoughts.

1. X-pass could be convenient if they gave you a larger window. Ex. if you plan to be in MK in the am, you could book a 9am-12pm x-pass for Space Mountain, and a 12pm-4pm x-pass for BTMR. ADR at Epcot for dinner? a 4pm-9pm Soarin' could be booked. This would allow guest to pre-plan while still allowing for some spontaneity. While I understand this could mess with the length of the lines (everyone one might show up at the same time) it would take some of the rigidity out of the system.

2. It might be interesting to have an x-pass that gave a choice of more than one similarly popular attraction on it. E.g. an x-pass for 3:30-4:30 could be used at either Space Mountain or Splash. That way you could choose which attraction was most convenient depending on which side of the park you're on at the time window. (Again, not a perfect fix, but another option).

3. I find it hard to complain about the system when Disney is trying something new. We can come up with a list of pros and cons for the system itself, but it's a HUGE pro that they are even trying something new. As the world evolves it's important that the parks attempt to as well. X-pass and the new waitfree queue at Dumbo may be the thing that makes us wonder why we weren't always doing thinks this way.

 

[Witchy Chick]

• This is where it gets interesting. XPass will probably cut into the number of FastPasses available, causing them to run out earlier in the day. On the flip side, if you bite the bullet and use XPass, you can save yourself running around the park getting the FastPasses. I am of the belief, even in relatively busy times of the year, that you really only need FastPass for a handful of attractions anyway. You know you are going to ride those rides ahead of time, so why not use XPass? As for the people who complain about spontaneity, how is getting a FastPass for 8 hours later at Toy Story or Soarin' in any way spontaneous? You are still planning your day around riding a ride at a specific time, you're just doing it that day and not ahead of time.

I think the “lack of spontaneity” argument is a valid one. In planning our upcoming (Jan 2013) trip, I need to make our ADRs mid-July 2012. For convenience’s sake, I would LOVE to make ADRs – specifically dinner ADRs – in a park that I know will be having the EMH that night (so I don’t have to “run back and forth” from one park for dinner to another one for EMH).

Trying to schedule ADRs to coincide with EMHs is difficult enough. Throw in “scheduling” rides (when I’m not even sure at six months out which park we will be in), two little ones (4.5 years and almost 3 years old when we visit the World) and their “schedules” (nap, eating, etc) – well this is making my head hurt. :dazzle:

I do like the idea of scheduling my “must-do” rides in advance – but not scheduling them six months out like the ADRs. I don’t know how WDW implements the rides/shows scheduling – but I sincerely hope it is not with a six month lead-time. That is my biggest concern/worry.


Witchy

 

[COProgressFan]

Trust me, the number of attractions a guest can experience per day is Disney's main drive on efficiency anymore. I have sat through meetings and training where this has been pounded into my head beyond belief. All they care about is getting them in and out and onto the next attraction so that they'll theoretically be happier and theoretically spend more money and theoretically be more likely to return.

So, in their eyes, apparently it doesn't matter if half the effects aren't working, the ride vehicles are in terrible shape, the queue is filthy and the cast is surly? :brick:

"Theoretically", of course, those things matter just as much (if not more) than the number of rides one gets on.

 

[Alektronic]

So, in their eyes, apparently it doesn't matter if half the effects aren't working, the ride vehicles are in terrible shape, the queue is filthy and the cast is surly? :brick:

"Theoretically", of course, those things matter just as much (if not more) than the number of rides one gets on.

Yes. Hourly Ride Counts matter! It depends how fast you can get them on and off. Who cares what the ride looks like, just as along as they ride!

They always have compeitions between attractions to see who can get the higher ride counts.

 

[HMButler79]

So, in their eyes, apparently it doesn't matter if half the effects aren't working, the ride vehicles are in terrible shape, the queue is filthy and the cast is surly? :brick:

"Theoretically", of course, those things matter just as much (if not more) than the number of rides one gets on.

YES. That IS ALL MK management cares about. All they care is that Mansion is getting 2,500 people and hour and if NOT???.........God help the Stretch Room CM. "They" will come in there and make you put 60-100 guests in ONE Stretch Room no matter how awful the conditions are. Blue IDers DO NOT CARE. PERIOD.

 

[HMButler79]

Yes. Hourly Ride Counts matter! It depends how fast you can get them on and off. Who cares what the ride looks like, just as along as they ride!

They always have compeitions between attractions to see who can get the higher ride counts.

Don't remind me! Summer of '07 with Mansion down. It was between Pirates, Buzz, Coaster, and some other attraction. We were putting FIVE guests in a row at Pirates!!! HIGHLY unsafe and uncomfortable for the guest. But as long as Phil sees the high numbers to justify the Pirates rehab right???????????????????????????????? :brick::brick:

 

[RSoxNo1]

So far, no time frame has been given as to when you can book Xpass. For all we know it will be day before.

If they want this to be available to everyone, I would expect this window to be much smaller than the 180 day window. It may be that you can schedule your attractions upon checkin at a hotel or upon arrival in a park for non-hotel guests.

I love the idea of being able to pick your FastPass+ times via your Smart Phone, but I really think the way to do it is only day of, once you're in the park.

Agreed. Disney bases many of its operational decisions purely on the amount of rides a guest can experience in a day. The line of thinking is:

Greater number of rides experienced = Happier guests = More money spent by happier guests on food and beverage/merchandise = Greater intent to return

Fewer number of rides experienced = Unhappy guests = Less money spent on food and beverage/merchandise = Lower intent to return

While I find this theory to be fundamentally flawed in some ways, I would say that if they felt in any way it would lower the potential amount of attractions that the average guest would experience on any given day to an unacceptable level, they would not be giving this system the go-ahead.

The problem is, this new proposal, while intriguing is complicating a system that already confuses some guests. They may find that the learning curve for this is too far out there.

I agree. Also at my age, I need the fewest steps possible. What do I mean. Well, now I can schedule Soarin for 10am and go to Test Track first. I won't have to walk to get a FP at Soarin then walk to Test Track to ride.

I like your "must do's" When I first stated going to Disney in the 90's, I wrote "must do's" on a note pad.

This is the advantage I see. If you know that Soarin' is scheduled you can recognize that your day doesn't need to begin with acquiring a Soarin' Fastpass. The same holds true for Toy Story Mania.

What about the people that like to wing it?!?!

I expecting the people at touringplans.com to be all over this with regards to the change in Fastpass distribution times after Fastpass+ comes out. I would expect that Disney's goal would be to keep these numbers somewhat consistent so that spontaniety can still exist.

Clearing up some things:


You can be staying at a Disney resort and still be ineligible for the test (and I don't mean by being a CM, AP holder, or anything like that). And I'm almost positive that if/when xPass goes fully into effect, it will be available to everyone, for free.

That's the rumor

It's just a test of the actual system; how it works with the handheld devices and wi-fi and the RFID and such. Two weeks and then you won't see it again for a while. And hopefully when it returns, it'll have all the kinks worked out, because there are definitely some problems already, and it hasn't even been tested with real guests yet.

This is also very logical. I look at it like the Epcot entrance test or the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster queue tests. They were just that. But it seems this project has a lot more legs right now (although I wouldn't be surprised to see the Epcot entrance or RnRC queue change either).

If this works, it won't be used in conjunction with fastpass; it will REPLACE fastpass. It's really still fastpass, just electronic.

As of right now, you don't get to choose a specific return window (such as '6:25 - 7:25').

Could it possibly be that some of the attractions in the test don't currently use fastpass? We'll see...

You can view your list of fastpasses at Guest Relations or at a number of places throughout the Magic Kingdom. Guest Relations is also happy to print it for you.

I think that in time, they need to make your itinerary available on your Smart Phone, otherwise this won't work. I assume that's the plan, and they're just using Guest Relations for this short term test as a proof of concept.

That said, it's a very cool little system, to say the least. Some guests are gonna be confused as hell, though. Most people have trouble understanding that they need to come back at the time their fastpass says to come back. I can only imagine how it will work when your fastpass doesn't say when to come back...

My concern is that it's further alienating people that aren't familiar with the system. Those people that loved the idea of being the Disney expert will still have that, they'll just have to educate the people they're helping on this new system.

Fastpasses aren't given out in the first hour? That's news to us after 5 trips there. We're never had trouble getting FP's then.

They are given out in the first hour but if I am not mistaken the return time will typically start 1 hour after the park opens.

Fastpass intervals tick up every 5 minutes or when the pre-determined # per interval has been distributed. For most attractions the first distribution starts 40 minutes after park opening. To further clarify:

Between 9:00-9:04 guests can get Fastpasses for Attraction A with a return time of 9:40-10:40
Between 9:05-9:09 guests can get Fastpasses for Attraction A with a return time of 9:45-10:45

Say the # of Fastpasses per window at Attraction A is 100. If 100 Fastpasses are distributed by 9:02 then the time will tick up early to a return time of 9:45-10:45.

 

[fosse76]

I am kind of not understanding why so many feel that Disney resort guest should not be given special little perks.

No one thinks that. The issue is whether or not these "perks" adversely affect non-Resort guests. I argue that they do. XPass reduces the number of available FPs for all guests who aren't participating (whether they are making the choice to not participate or ineligible). Though Universal has a system that is free for hotel guests, it is available for purchase by day guests as well. Same with Six Flags. Whether or not someone can afford the upcharge (at Six Flags or Universal) is not relevant - everyone who walks in the gate is eligible to purchase the perk. XPass doesn't have that option. You HAVE to be staying on Disney property to participate AND it reduces the number of FPs available as a result.

Clearly, Disney is at a loss as to how to give its resort guests an in-park perk that Universal gives. They obviously don't want to start charging for FP, and they can't simply offer it to only resort guests without infuriating day visitors. But regardless, I don't think it is at all a great system. I certainly have no clue what park I'm going to be at a day or two before I go, let alone what time I want to ride Space Mountain three months before I arrive. I think once implemented Disney going to have a bigger guest relations nightmare than they do now: how many people who pick these times and attractions do you think will actually make those times, and how many of them will complain when their FP isn't honored.

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.

So you have no problem reserving Toy Story Midway Mania, right now, for Thursday, July 5 at 9:15am? Nothing could possibly happen that would make you decide not to be there on July 5 and go to another park? Or something external to Disney prevents you from getting there in time? You are ok with reserving that time, missing it, thereby preventing someone from having a FP because you decided three months ahead of time that's when you were going to go?

 

[MichWolv]

Clearing up some things:


And I'm almost positive that if/when xPass goes fully into effect, it will be available to everyone, for free.

I hope this is correct.