Next generation FASTPASS system to begin guest testing this week

[Crush Dude!]

No comment.....

 

[ToTBellHop]

No comment.....

I assume they will come up with more attraction-specific scanners once this officially rolls out (the same way the Fastpass machines are attraction-specific).

 

[spaceghost]

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....

Well, the point being that if you are presented with the ability ahead of time to opt into reserving a window to experience an attraction and you choose to do so AND on the day of your reservation you choose to actually stick to your reservation, I am thinking that you are the type of person who would be willing to make a plan to be able to find where your reservation is at. If you are the type of person who just wants to wander and not make a plan, odds are that you will either not use XPass or will choose not to actually use your reservation on the day of. Either way, you are not going to have the problem of not being able to find your way to the attraction.

The other point I'll make is that I think part of this program is to combat what you described. Disney will be providing an opportunity for people to educate themselves ahead of time and to possibly alter touring patterns. They want to stop people from wandering aimlessly and getting frustrated because they didn't get to see what they wanted to see.

 

[spaceghost]

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?

Your logic is flawed. Ride capacity is ride capacity. If an XPass/FastPass is not used, then someone in the standby line is able to experience the attraction sooner. You've never not used a FastPass? How many FastPasses go unused on an average day now, especially with the new return policy? This isn't a moral conundrum and nobody's trip is going to be ruined by it.

As far as the rest of your argument, FastPasses are not going away. (OK, we don't know this for sure, but I'm 99% positive that it won't happen.) There won't be any reason that you could not go to another park if you felt like it and get a FP there. Outside delays come into play now with FastPasses and I'm sure that the avenue of pleading your case to the CM will still be there. Lastly, this is (based on current speculation anyway) a free service, just like FP. I'm guessing the majority of the public will not be freaked out because they missed an XPass reservation after they had a flat tire.

 

[JimboJones123]

You decided to share that in this thread, why?

You decided to reply, why?

 

[JimboJones123]

No comment.....

I cannot remember when I have waited more than 25 minutes for HM. Even during the holidays. Seems like unnecessary to drag out stand by lines by 30-50%

 

[menamechris]

The other point I'll make is that I think part of this program is to combat what you described. Disney will be providing an opportunity for people to educate themselves ahead of time and to possibly alter touring patterns. They want to stop people from wandering aimlessly and getting frustrated because they didn't get to see what they wanted to see.

Interesting theory. Could be true. And if it is, I appreciate their concern, but I can't help but think they should be focused on other more glaring problems. After all, it's usually when people are wandering that they make impulse purchases and wander through shops, get snacks, etc.

This has to be one of the first programs that Disney has rolled out that I do not understand where they are going with it; nor where the guest benefit and satisfaction will be. Personally, I think they were given this insane budget to develop NextGen technology and have no idea what to do with it...just my two cents...

 

[wolf359]

I cannot remember when I have waited more than 25 minutes for HM. Even during the holidays. Seems like unnecessary to drag out stand by lines by 30-50%

I saw it at 45 minutes several times on my trip last June, so I don't think 20+ is completely unheard of, even if it is rare.

I think adding X-Pass at attractions that typically don't need Fastpass is to help distribute the X-Pass crowds. Just because everyone is going to want to X-Pass an attraction like Splash Mountain or Space Mountain doesn't mean they'll be able to get it. The system needs to have second (or third, or fourth) choices available to help distribute crowds and still offer an X-pass for something...

 

[spaceghost]

Interesting theory. Could be true. And if it is, I appreciate their concern, but I can't help but think they should be focused on other more glaring problems. After all, it's usually when people are wandering that they make impulse purchases and wander through shops, get snacks, etc.

This has to be one of the first programs that Disney has rolled out that I do not understand where they are going with it; nor where the guest benefit and satisfaction will be. Personally, I think they were given this insane budget to develop NextGen technology and have no idea what to do with it...just my two cents...

It's not just a theory. This is the same thing others have talked about up topic. Disney has this formula they have arrived at: More Rides per Guest = Improved Guest Satisfaction = Looser Pockets and More Return Trips. They are deploying this system to try to get more people to plan their time and use it efficiently. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that they are doing this out of some altruistic effort to just make people happy. It's still about the $$.

I am neither for nor against XPass at this point, I just think that the negativity directed at it is a bit irrational and illogical, at least this early in the process. I am curious to see how the service actually shakes out and how it affects touring. Will it really be that big of a deal? Will many people even use it? How much will standby waits go up? How will regular FastPasses be affected? It should be interesting, to say the least...

 

[spaceghost]

I saw it at 45 minutes several times on my trip last June, so I don't think 20+ is completely unheard of, even if it is rare.

I think adding X-Pass at attractions that typically don't need Fastpass is to help distribute the X-Pass crowds. Just because everyone is going to want to X-Pass an attraction like Splash Mountain or Space Mountain doesn't mean they'll be able to get it. The system needs to have second (or third, or fourth) choices available to help distribute crowds and still offer an X-pass for something...

I mentioned this in another post, but my 2 longest waits on my trip 2 weeks ago were both Haunted Mansion at 15-20 minutes, which was odd. That said, I agree with your comment - there will be way more attractions getting XPass/FastPass than have it currently. This to me just mitigates the effect of the program on those in Standby. In theory, it should spread attendance out more...but we shall see.

 

[Snow White 610]

I'm wondering how baby swap will fit in with the pass, will we have the opportunity to schedule those ahead of time and how easy will it be to add on in case of a last minute need for the "chicken" exit.

 

[PamelaNiebergal]

No comment.....

This is what worries me. It doesn't seem like they're just swapping out fastpass for x-pass (or whatever they're going to call it). They're adding x-pass to attractions that just don't need it. It sounds like the whole park from attractions, to shows ,to parades is eventually going to be added to the new system. I know my opinion isn't necessarily popular but I've never really been a fan of fastpass in general and the way this is headed seems to be my worst nightmare. I imagine overinflated, barely-moving standby lines for everything. I guess I'll reserve final judgement until the new system is implemented - I really do hope it plays out okay. Part of the reason I love Disneyland so much is because there are fewer fastpass attractions - only the rides that really need it, have it, which makes the whole system work much better.

 

[menamechris]

It's not just a theory. This is the same thing others have talked about up topic. Disney has this formula they have arrived at: More Rides per Guest = Improved Guest Satisfaction = Looser Pockets and More Return Trips. They are deploying this system to try to get more people to plan their time and use it efficiently. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that they are doing this out of some altruistic effort to just make people happy. It's still about the $$

Theory = PR response. Given that I know you acknowledge that altrusim isn't the sole purpose for the new system - but I would venture to say - It isn't the reason AT ALL. What you have suggested (Happier guests, more rides, etc.) is nothing more (in my opinion) than a PR spin on whatever their true motive is. The problem being - we don't even know what the point of XPass is. It will be curious to see if they do - other than they have this insane budget, new technology, and a department that wants to keep their jobs, so they are trying to figure out how to implement it and pitch it to the public.

Quite frankly, if Disney was truly concerned about guests loosening their wallets and planning more return trips - they wouldn't be charging around a 100% markup on just about everything. People who spend more reasonbly on items are given the impression that they have spent less than they actually have, leading to more impulse purchasing. Instead, most guests are arriving at WDW already acknowledging insane prices and the need to remain within a budget while in vacation. No amount of rides ridden is going to make them forget that they don't want to go broke on one trip to WDW. Just sayin...

 

[ibaw]

Theory = PR response. Given that I know you acknowledge that altrusim isn't the sole purpose for the new system - but I would venture to say - It isn't the reason AT ALL. What you have suggested (Happier guests, more rides, etc.) is nothing more (in my opinion) than a PR spin on whatever their true motive is. The problem being - we don't even know what the point of XPass is. It will be curious to see if they do - other than they have this insane budget, new technology, and a department that wants to keep their jobs, so they are trying to figure out how to implement it and pitch it to the public.

Quite frankly, if Disney was truly concerned about guests loosening their wallets and planning more return trips - they wouldn't be charging around a 100% markup on just about everything. People who spend more reasonbly on items are given the impression that they have spent less than they actually have, leading to more impulse purchasing. Instead, most guests are arriving at WDW already acknowledging insane prices and the need to remain within a budget while in vacation. No amount of rides ridden is going to make them forget that they don't want to go broke on one trip to WDW. Just sayin...

I find it quite amusing that many people on these threads believe that the company does not know what it is doing with the next gen initiative or believe that it is the responsibility of the company to provide full details as to their purpose behind the initiative as if to prove its worth/benefit. I also believe that we forget that the information which has been released to us, the general public, is very limited and therefore it would be illogical to make an assumption about the company's knowledge of their motives when we know a very limited amount about the new product or process.

Also, I would agree that if prices were lower then individuals would probably purchase additional quantities. However, that may not be the strategy of the company. It may be more effective for the company to benefit from higher margins rather than from larger quantities and lower margins. Furthermore, it may also be the belief of the company, which I am sure has been appropriately hypothesized and tested, that a happier guest, i.e. one which participates in additional experiences throughout their vacation, will be more willing to purchase additional quantities of higher margin goods.

Just some general observations using basic economic principals.

 

[beachlover4444]

nextgen

I get that they want people back in their hotels/properties, that's lost revenue with empty rooms there so this is a great perk to refill those rooms. Everyone gets so used to the benefits, using their transportation, not paying parking, extra magic hours, even the food packages. They need something new to do and this goes along with what has been successful at Universal for fast pass. I dont like that it's so tech savvy. I dont have a computer. I dont have an I phone or blackberry. I dont have the money to stay in upper tier properties. I have family in FLA I stay with. My only beef with fastpass since it began is that the other line is SO SLOW now. In Ohio we wait hours for rides at our parks and not in pretty queues. So I dont mind waiting as long as it MOVES. Now with their 80/20 rule (80 fastpass and 20 regular line) you wait forever to move a foot or two. That is not fun in 90 + weather. No matter how pretty the queue is. Keep the line moving and I'm ok with it.:sohappy:

 

[draybook]

I cannot remember when I have waited more than 25 minutes for HM. Even during the holidays. Seems like unnecessary to drag out stand by lines by 30-50%

I remember in March waiting 45+ minutes for HM several times. March 10th-16th. The line started back at the pin trader cart and went up to that wooden building thing, down to the waters edge and back up those steps and then back into the regular line.

 

[HMButler79]

I remember in March waiting 45+ minutes for HM several times. March 10th-16th. The line started back at the pin trader cart and went up to that wooden building thing, down to the waters edge and back up those steps and then back into the regular line.

Now imagine that.....but LOOONGER. Maybe going into Frontierland.

 

[dreamscometrue]

I remember in March waiting 45+ minutes for HM several times. March 10th-16th. The line started back at the pin trader cart and went up to that wooden building thing, down to the waters edge and back up those steps and then back into the regular line.

The stand by queue was 50 minutes at 1:00pm on March 5th. I remember because we just left Columbia Harbor House and couldn't believe the stand by was that long. We'd never seen that. Of course, we walked by that queue with our 'old school' paper FP tickets and were in the stretch room in less than 10 minutes. But, for the people who choose to wait in long queues...it was 50 min.

 

[dreamscometrue]

I get that they want people back in their hotels/properties, that's lost revenue with empty rooms there so this is a great perk to refill those rooms. Everyone gets so used to the benefits, using their transportation, not paying parking, extra magic hours, even the food packages. They need something new to do and this goes along with what has been successful at Universal for fast pass. I dont like that it's so tech savvy. I dont have a computer.I dont have an I phone or blackberry. I dont have the money to stay in upper tier properties. I have family in FLA I stay with. My only beef with fastpass since it began is that the other line is SO SLOW now. In Ohio we wait hours for rides at our parks and not in pretty queues. So I dont mind waiting as long as it MOVES. Now with their 80/20 rule (80 fastpass and 20 regular line) you wait forever to move a foot or two. That is not fun in 90 + weather. No matter how pretty the queue is. Keep the line moving and I'm ok with it.:sohappy:

Three things:

1. How did you post this then? (See first bolded statement above) :lookaroun

2. Even if there is an 80/20 'rule', which has been discussed here more than once, the wait time is posted and takes that into account.

3. You too can get fastpasses. From park opening, until mid afternoon, we always have a fastpass, or two, in our pockets. We travel during peak seasons (Spring Break and Christmas) and have never, ever waited more than 20-25 min. Ever! And we hit a lot of attractions. We aren't interested in getting in a long 'stand by' queue, but we also believe a long wait is completely unnecessary with morning emh and efficient use of FP.

 

[peter11435]

The stand by queue was 50 minutes at 1:00pm on March 5th. I remember because we just left Columbia Harbor House and couldn't believe the stand by was that long. We'd never seen that. Of course, we walked by that queue with our 'old school' paper FP tickets and were in the stretch room in less than 10 minutes. But, for the people who choose to wait in long queues...it was 50 min.

What kind of "'old school' paper FP tickets" did you have for the Haunted Mansion on March 5th. The Haunted Mansion has not offered Fastpass since 2005.