4 or 5 Pass lines make Early Entry worthless

[mydisneymoney]

So a couple weeks ago I posted a thread asking people thought it was worth spending a $1,000 more to stay onsite just for the EE option. Well, now that they are requring that anyone with 4 or 5 day passes use a special line that by the reports coming in do not move fast, I would say it is not worth it for sure. Guests are reporting that it is taking 20+ minutes sometimes to get through the "special" line and that by then the rides are busy and Fastpasses are gone etc. So, unless they figure out a way to more the line quicker for those of us who are spending more money then then those only going for 1,2 or 3 days, I guess I will not be spending another $1,000 just to stand in some line and watching everyone else get in before me.

 

[sonnyjane]

There ARE no FP's during EMH?? So.... They can't really be gone after 20 minutes?

 

[mydisneymoney]

There ARE no FP's during EMH?? So.... They can't really be gone after 20 minutes?

You are correct, but they are going on the ride and then going and getting in line for the FP for when it opens. What is the point of having EMH if you only get to use 30 minutes of it because you had to stand in a special line while those who only have 1,2 or 3 day passes get right in with minimal wait.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

This is my reply to another post on this topic.

"Not saying I "like" the new line rule for the 4 and 5 day hopper tickets, but it just goes to show you once again that those who abuse the system (ie all the ticket renters and selling of unused days on ebay and other sites) have once again ruined it for the rest of us. I can see why Disneyland has put this policy in place. I'm sorry that you lost part of your early entry time, but its another classic example of you reap what you sew, sadly most of us had noting to do with the "sewing" this time."

I know it sucks that people are losing time in the parks, but with all the fraudulent tickets being sold and rented Disney needed to do something. Hopefully they will figure out something in the near future that works for everyone. I really like the idea of the wrist bands that are being considered.

 

[mydisneymoney]

I know it sucks that people are losing time in the parks, but with all the fraudulent tickets being sold and rented Disney needed to do something. Hopefully they will figure out something in the near future that works for everyone. I really like the idea of the wrist bands that are being considered.

My DS7 will not wear a wrist band and I am sure many other children are not going to like having a wrist band on that you can't take off for 4 or 5 days. Also, if they incorporate FP's into the wrist band system like it sounds like they are considering doing, that means every person in your group has to go get FPs. My DH doesn't like the Tea Cups so when my DS and I go on them, he does and gets FPs for something we all can go on together. Won't be able to do that with a wrist band.

 

[hydrotony]

Also, if they incorporate FP's into the wrist band system like it sounds like they are considering doing, that means every person in your group has to go get FPs. My DH doesn't like the Tea Cups so when my DS and I go on them, he does and gets FPs for something we all can go on together. Won't be able to do that with a wrist band.

This is something I hadn't thought about yet. So, if everyone has to wear a wrist band and the wrist band is needed to get Fast Passes, then there can't be any "runners" anymore! Sounds like all FPs in the future will have to be pre-selected before the park visit using their new next-gen system, whatever it turns out to be.

 

[ValpoCory]

So a couple weeks ago I posted a thread asking people thought it was worth spending a $1,000 more to stay onsite just for the EE option. Well, now that they are requring that anyone with 4 or 5 day passes use a special line that by the reports coming in do not move fast, I would say it is not worth it for sure. Guests are reporting that it is taking 20+ minutes sometimes to get through the "special" line and that by then the rides are busy and Fastpasses are gone etc. So, unless they figure out a way to more the line quicker for those of us who are spending more money then then those only going for 1,2 or 3 days, I guess I will not be spending another $1,000 just to stand in some line and watching everyone else get in before me.

Depending on when you are going, they may indeed have fixed the problem. There have already been reports of Disneyland doubling the number of entrance lines for the 4-5 day pass holders in order to alleviate the long line problem.

As long as you are not going in the next few weeks, odds are the problem will not be as bad as it has been.

 

[indygirl99]

My DH doesn't like the Tea Cups so when my DS and I go on them, he does and gets FPs for something we all can go on together. Won't be able to do that with a wrist band.

Kind of levels out the playing field.

 

[TheZue]

This is my reply to another post on this topic.

"Not saying I "like" the new line rule for the 4 and 5 day hopper tickets, but it just goes to show you once again that those who abuse the system (ie all the ticket renters and selling of unused days on ebay and other sites) have once again ruined it for the rest of us. I can see why Disneyland has put this policy in place. I'm sorry that you lost part of your early entry time, but its another classic example of you reap what you sew, sadly most of us had noting to do with the "sewing" this time."

I know it sucks that people are losing time in the parks, but with all the fraudulent tickets being sold and rented Disney needed to do something. Hopefully they will figure out something in the near future that works for everyone. I really like the idea of the wrist bands that are being considered.

That's fine, but while they are working out the kinks I agree with the OP that spending $1000 to get the early entry by staying at the hotels is pretty much flushing your money down the toilet if it's as bad as everyone is saying.

This is something I hadn't thought about yet. So, if everyone has to wear a wrist band and the wrist band is needed to get Fast Passes, then there can't be any "runners" anymore! Sounds like all FPs in the future will have to be pre-selected before the park visit using their new next-gen system, whatever it turns out to be.

This would be an absolute freaking nightmare with kids. The under five crowd pretty much is unpredictible as heck in terms of when they've had enough. The amount of times I had to take our four year old to a different area or to pee or to the hotel for a nap or what ever was insane. He decided at the last minute that World Of Colour was going to be scary and refused to go. Having ride scheduled on top of that would have been horrific. Seriously. Like I want to figure out what I want to ride on a given day weeks out anyways. I barely tolerate figuring out reservations for food that far out. Totally takes the fun out imo.

 

[cari12]

So a couple weeks ago I posted a thread asking people thought it was worth spending a $1,000 more to stay onsite just for the EE option. Well, now that they are requring that anyone with 4 or 5 day passes use a special line that by the reports coming in do not move fast, I would say it is not worth it for sure. Guests are reporting that it is taking 20+ minutes sometimes to get through the "special" line and that by then the rides are busy and Fastpasses are gone etc. So, unless they figure out a way to more the line quicker for those of us who are spending more money then then those only going for 1,2 or 3 days, I guess I will not be spending another $1,000 just to stand in some line and watching everyone else get in before me.

Wow, that does suck. Sure glad this wasn't happening when we were there. As an onsite guest, you are paying more for the hotel directly to Disney and those with longer PH's have paid more for their passes and due to the duration of their stay will invariably spend more money in their restaurants etc. and then to miss the whole benefit of EE by spending it in a long,slow line? Not good customer service. On days where we were at security by 6:30am for a 7:00am EMH, I would have been really disappointed in Disney if this happened!

 

[pixiewings71]

Well, maybe consider getting a 3 day hopper and then upgrading? But doing that then you lose any discount so that's probably not a very good solution either.

 

[sonnyjane]

Well, maybe consider getting a 3 day hopper and then upgrading? But doing that then you lose any discount so that's probably not a very good solution either.

They don't currently offer the discounts for buying online so losing the discount isn't a downside right now.

 

[Disneyanajc]

here at disneyland right now...it took all of 2 minutes to get in the gate for EE this morning. fast past line for racers was fast once it opened at 8:00 took 5 min to get fastpass and got a second pf 40 min later. Did racers 2 times this morning one without fs once with fs and did it within an hour. IT IS SO WORTH STAYING ONSITE. we have the 4 day hoppers and it is fast and easy!..Don't Panic! it is so doable! Love Cars Land

 

[Mary09]

Kind of levels out the playing field.

How is it unlevel now? Parties without one person willing to be a FP runner are stuck all going up to FP machines en masse, so they're at a disadvantage? I've been there alone with a child and not being able to just run alone to grab a FP while she rested was a hassle but I didn't feel like bigger parties were somehow unfairly beating me at some game?

 

[ttig34]

here at disneyland right now...it took all of 2 minutes to get in the gate for EE this morning. fast past line for racers was fast once it opened at 8:00 took 5 min to get fastpass and got a second pf 40 min later. Did racers 2 times this morning one without fs once with fs and did it within an hour. IT IS SO WORTH STAYING ONSITE. we have the 4 day hoppers and it is fast and easy!..Don't Panic! it is so doable! Love Cars Land

Wonder if it is quicker at DCA because only people from the DIS hotels are allowed early entry? At Disneyland itself, anyone with a 4 day or longer hopper
can use the early entry once. But glad to hear DCA EMH worked out well for you.

 

[danlkrim]

Thanks for the update. We visit in February and I am hopeful this process will be worked out by the time we arrive. I will be reading these forums to gather all the info I can. We are planning to stay off property so any delay at the entrance would be a real bummer. The main benefit I see of staying onsite is the early entry. I love the idea of staying on property but I have a hard time paying at least an extra $1000 for it.

 

[OnTheRoadAgain]

I guess the ticket rental agencies are going to have to start buying 3 day PHs and adjust their pricing. Hopefully it won't be worth it and they will go away.

 

[bumbershoot]

FWIW, many of us never felt that 1K more just for EMH was anywhere near worth it. As I've said before, just flip when you go to the park with early entrance, get there early enough that you are at the front of whatever line you are in (making sure that that line is going to open, LOL) and you're fine.

 

[danlkrim]

We went to WDW last February during Presidents week and stayed offsite (private house with heated pool 10 minutes away). A member of our party graciously used his connections as a former cast member to get us tickets so we weren't always able to get in as early as we would have liked and we did not have EMH. It still worked out ok. We did pretty good at getting on rides quickly and getting FP. With all the information everyone shares on these boards it will help us have a great trip.

 

[momtotwolittleones]

I've actually never realized a great benefit from MM. We always get there early, but end up a ways back in line and still wait 20 minutes for Peter Pan.