The introduction of Fastpass

[beautybutafunnygirl]

Hi everyone, looking at all the threads about the MagicBand system, I was wondering if anyone remembers the introduction of Fastpasses to Disney parks in 1999. I was going to Disney parks at the time, but I was three years old so I can't say I remember it. I was just wondering if there was similar confusion as there is now, of any backlash. Thanks for any info.

 

[Mukta]

I can only speak to the DL side as I wasn't as involved with WDW in those years.

There was a decent amount of backlash. People thought it was something you had to pay for, non-FP users were resentful and accused people using FP of jumping the line or being rich enough to pay for cutting the line.

Others thought it was a terrible idea that made the stand by line longer for the masses. I heard many complaints and confusion in the first few years.

 

[Polydweller]

I can only speak to the DL side as I wasn't as involved with WDW in those years.

There was a decent amount of backlash. People thought it was something you had to pay for, non-FP users were resentful and accused people using FP of jumping the line or being rich enough to pay for cutting the line.

Others thought it was a terrible idea that made the stand by line longer for the masses. I heard many complaints and confusion in the first few years.

Very similar at WDW, especially comments of line jumping, a lot of negative comments. Many people couldn't figure out what FP was and why it was useful. There were also issues about how many fastpasses there should be per hour and it did take a while to get the balance right. But yes, like all changes, it was disruptive because people had their favorite ways to tour the parks and those didn't work as well until you learned how to properly use FP.

Obviously the issues were somewhat different but whenever there is major change it feels unusual to people and it did cause unhappiness and some backlash. People are generally creatures of habit and dislike change and try to cling to the ways to which they are accustomed initially seeing almost everything about the old system as better. But eventually, they learn the new system and become accustomed to that and come to see the benefits but it takes a long time.

 

[gsimpson]

There were a lot of complaints about it changing the whole experience of going to a theme park. Unlike the many folks who would rather break into a rousing game of "what would Walt do" I waited until I used it a couple of times to decide and I have decided I like it. I liked having the option to get a fast pass, and then 'enjoy' another line or a meal whilst waiting for my fast pass to come due. So far I have no issues with MM+ but until I have used it more I won't know.

 

[Bairstow]

I remember the rollout, and I remember there being a lot of backlash and confusion, at least within my own family.

I wonder if there are some archives online of old message boards and/or usenet so we could read what the comments on the 'net were like back then.

 

[RandomPrincess]

My grandmother hated FP she felt they were "undemocratic". Of course a few years go by and she was using them just fine.

 

[Sped2424]

So I guess its just going to take some time, shame though the amount of money spent for this all at once. I definitely feel there should be more than 3 fastpass plus items per day. Make it so you can only reserve it one every other hour, and not being able to reserve one more than 2 days in advance.