ImperfectPixie
Well-Known Member
I despise the FP+ system. We make it work for us, but that doesn't mean I like it.
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Rumor Version of MaxPass coming to WDW in May?
- Thread starter rle4lunch
- Start date
Jon81uk
Well-Known Member
Disney’s system is free to all guests and everyone has similar levels of access.
You can get some advantages (60day booking at WDW for resort guests and MaxPass meaning you don’t need to use FP kiosks at DLR) but the main scheme is free with a lot tickets.
Universal, Six Flags etc don’t offer any free virtual queue, only paying to skip the line. That’s the main reason people prefer Disney FastPass, it’s “free”. Other parks you can ride with a lot shorter waits but you’ll be paying a lot more for it.
DisneyCane
Well-Known Member
I think the reason the original FP didn't work for Disney is that, for some reason, they thought people would shop and eat while in the virtual queue instead of just get on shorter standby lines and wait in two queues at once.
I'm not sure what the FP+ goal was other than maybe to encourage onsite hotel stays with the extra window. Surely there were cheaper ways to promote onsite stays.
The issue with moving to a paid version (from a guest standpoint) is that in order for it to have any value, it has to be ridiculously priced or extremely limited. If it is not limited by price or inventory availability, then it will not be of benefit and will make the standby lines unacceptable.
As we can see with no FP, even with the COVID capacity restrictions the standby lines are not exactly short so just going to no FP of any kind doesn't help the wait time issue.
I'm not sure what the FP+ goal was other than maybe to encourage onsite hotel stays with the extra window. Surely there were cheaper ways to promote onsite stays.
The issue with moving to a paid version (from a guest standpoint) is that in order for it to have any value, it has to be ridiculously priced or extremely limited. If it is not limited by price or inventory availability, then it will not be of benefit and will make the standby lines unacceptable.
As we can see with no FP, even with the COVID capacity restrictions the standby lines are not exactly short so just going to no FP of any kind doesn't help the wait time issue.
ImperfectPixie
Well-Known Member
Compounding the issue is the way the FP and standby lines are handled at the attractions. I've lost count of how many times I've watched a FP line move as if the attraction is a walk-on, while the standby line doesn't move at all.
You nailed it there (kind of) - standby is / was currently longer due to the restrictions. Be it spacing in the queue or loading restrictions.
The big show would be no restrictions and no FP (like for example when Mermaid opened )
LaughingGravy
Well-Known Member
I really liked that it wasn't activated until you were actually in the park, none of this booking rides out months in advance with a mad scramble online at home. Book another ride while you were on the queue for the current one. It was an up-charge of course, but it wasn't the kind of up charge that kicked others out of the park early like Christmas and Halloween events. And it was a nominal charge of $15 per person. There's value in that.
Jrb1979
Well-Known Member
Yes the fact it's free is the only good thing. There is a lot I don't like about it. The first is having to schedule my ride times and the big one for me is it not being easy to re-ride attractions. Last time I was at Universal I was able to ride the Mummy 6 times in one day. That's a big deal for me.
MouseMelly
Well-Known Member
I'm shocked at how many people prefer universal express pass. I found the lines just as long or longer.
They're supposed to take 80 FP guests for every 20 standby guests. Sometimes that even goes to 90/10. It's designed that way.
ImperfectPixie
Well-Known Member
That's not the numbers I've been told by people around here.
Then you weren’t using express, outside of HHN I don’t think I’ve ever waited <15 min in express.
nickys
Premium Member
Hmmm, it’s what I’ve read here.
ImperfectPixie
Well-Known Member
My understanding was that it's supposed to be 75/25, but is often run at 85/15 or 90/10.Hmmm, it’s what I’ve read here.
UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
When I had Express Pass I don't think I ever waited longer than 10 minutes for a ride. Most were walk-ons while the standby times were 60+ minutes.
nickys
Premium Member
The ratio will depend on how much of the ride capacity is / was allocated to FP+ . If 80% of the hourly ride capacity is given to FP+ then that is what will happen at loading.
ImperfectPixie
Well-Known Member
How is it possible to guarantee that the CMs controlling line flow are using those numbers?
MouseMelly
Well-Known Member
It was definitely express. Spent more than the ticket price, lol. I'm happy it works for other people. My experience was around Christmas so maybe it's skewed, but the shortest we waited was 20 minutes. We waited over an hour for RRR. I think it was 45 minutes for mummy. The standby lines were posted over an hour, but we didn't see much benefit for the expense.
MouseMelly
Well-Known Member
We did it around Christmas so maybe everyone paid it thinking the same thing I did
nickys
Premium Member
Eh? Nobody’s guaranteeing anything.
Certain people have said that 80% was allocated to FP+. That’s what they use as a guide at loading. Otherwise over the course of an hour they won’t get through all the FPs.