Answers about Fastpass Fate

[DLR29]

Is that really a possibility?

I think it is more of a possibility for WDW. I think since many people who visit DLR are 1 day trippers from So. Cal (and thus, many do not stay at the hotels), they would have a lot of angry people.

Iam sure they will start charging for them, only those with an extra 100$ a day or more will have them.
don't some other parks like universal Charge? What is that park in Georgia called that micechat did an article on? They have different levels of passes.

Yep, Disney has the only theme/amusement parks with a free "line cutting" (if you will) option. I've used one at Six Flags (in Illinois) and it was useful, but having to fork over more money after paying a hefty fee to get in was not my favorite thing.

 

[nunzia]

Rumors, I am not sure I would consider anon CM with having much fact. I can understand why they would do that and it certainly would sway my decision about attending at certain times. I can remember when there were no fastpasses.

Jack

Heck..I can remember when there were ticket books!
I like Fast Pass, but if they did away with it, it wouldn't bother me too much. I am thinking they might try the paid fast pass kind of thing like at other parks. Kevin Yee had a great article on Mice Age about this...That would really kind of bother me more..that whole 'classes' of guests thing..OK so onsite guests get more early entry and things like that, but the paid fast pass puts it all in a whole different realm..

 

[snickerboo]

I like FP for the busy busy rides (Soarin', Splash Mountain, RockNRoller Coaster at WDW, etc) but for some they seem pointless and there never does seem to be a need for them. Can you imagine the s[rint for Soarin' in the morning at WDW if there were no FPs? If everyone had to get in line or there was a chance of missing it, it would be far worse than it is now. Honestly, if Disney has a challenge to work through for the parks it is that first thing crowd control because the 'stay behind the CMs' thing is not enough.

I would hate to see the 'pay extra for FP'; just phase it out of the rides that don't really need it.

 

[daneenm]

Go ahead and remove it from Autopia. I won't cry, I promise!

You are right, what a waste...but I never ride it, it kills my knees.

Hahaha... I totally agree. As someone who regularly works Autopia, its more of a pain then anything else. I am guessing Autopia will be one of the first attractions to loose it.

Ahh, spoken like people who are NOT parents of an 8 year old boy who thinks Autopia is the best DL has to offer! Last time we were in DL we rode at least 4 times. That FP comes in handy as the day progresses and that line gets so long and SLOW!

 

[caligirl stuck in va]

Having experienced the horrifically long lines (2 hrs+) for the opening summer
of Star Tours in the 80s when there was no FP, and knowing that parks are significantly busy NOW, I don't understand how lines will be shorter if you take away fast pass.

And did the CM say that wait times in DCA @ TSMM have never been longer than 45 minutes? I know many here on this board that have reported much longer wait times. Not sure where he got his info.

 

[DLR29]

Having experienced the horrifically long lines (2 hrs+) for the opening summer
of Star Tours in the 80s when there was no FP, and knowing that parks are significantly busy NOW, I don't understand how lines will be shorter if you take away fast pass.

And did the CM say that wait times in DCA @ TSMM have never been longer than 45 minutes? I know many here on this board that have reported much longer wait times. Not sure where he got his info.

Actually TSMM did see very very long lines during its first summer (even up to 4 hours I think). But since then, the line has died down and stayed at a consistent 30-45 min almost all day every day.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Heck..I can remember when there were ticket books!
I like Fast Pass, but if they did away with it, it wouldn't bother me too much. I am thinking they might try the paid fast pass kind of thing like at other parks. Kevin Yee had a great article on Mice Age about this...That would really kind of bother me more..that whole 'classes' of guests thing..OK so onsite guests get more early entry and things like that, but the paid fast pass puts it all in a whole different realm..

I did read that article. When we do USH it is always August on a Sat and very busy and HOT. We always get the FOTL passes, it makes the day more enjoyable. People save for many special things while they are at the parks and I think there are already classes of people based on the $$$ they want to spend, ie GCH concierge, Fantasmic PS, top of the line to avoid some of the hassles. IMHO.

Jack

 

[PinkBudgie]

Actually TSMM did see very very long lines during its first summer (even up to 4 hours I think). But since then, the line has died down and stayed at a consistent 30-45 min almost all day every day.

We saw it longer than that this summer in June. This was the few days before the last Socal blockout. After that, we found the line shorter in the 30-45 min range and even 20-25 min in the afternoon. But for a CM to say it is never longer than 45 min just isn't right. I would say it depends on the DLR calender.

 

[DisneyFanSince71]

Having experienced the horrifically long lines (2 hrs+) for the opening summer
of Star Tours in the 80s when there was no FP, and knowing that parks are significantly busy NOW, I don't understand how lines will be shorter if you take away fast pass.

And did the CM say that wait times in DCA @ TSMM have never been longer than 45 minutes? I know many here on this board that have reported much longer wait times. Not sure where he got his info.

Agree, without fast passes it would make planning MUCH MORE difficult. If you had an ADR at 6, then you might not want to get on a 5pm attraction line because you might miss the ADR. One of the reasons Disney came up with fastpasses is because when everyone is in a line, no one is buying food, gifts, etc. Why have everyone in a line when if you can guarantee approximately when they could get on an attraction then you could have guests milling/buying elsewhere in the park. Seems like a win-win.

And its funny that the CM would cite that his experience at the end of the day when there weren't fast passes as proof that FP don't make lines faster. Psstt at the end of the day is when many people have gone home.

 

[KerTggr]

Hopefully they are taking actual data into account when removing/keeping. The thing I find nice are the ones for HM & JC. They are only open when there is high park attendance. Plus, they are relatively hidden, so they don't take away from the aesthetics

Plus, some queues just weren't built for FP (like Indy - the fact that you cruise through the 2nd half of the queue shows this).

 

[labattblue]

Assuming that the same number of cars are on the track at one time and the cars move at the same speed at both parks, I don't see how FP would cause the number of riders per hour to drop from 1000 to 700? Yes the standby line is a lot longer with FP in effect, but that should have no impact on number of riders per hour.

 

[Mkrop]

Actually TSMM did see very very long lines during its first summer (even up to 4 hours I think). But since then, the line has died down and stayed at a consistent 30-45 min almost all day every day.

Just not true! We were in DL/DCA from June 14-20, and we tried to ride TSMM at different times of day during our stay. The lines were outrageousat the minimum an hour, but the longest we saw it (twice) was 2 hours! We got to ride it once on Friday when we went in at opening, then quickly got FPs for Soarin and headed staright back, we had a 25 minute wait then. when we exitied the ride the CM was changing the wait time to 40 minutes.

We have been to WDW many times and rode TSMM there and could not believe this ride was not a FP at DCA.

 

[ter-moo]

Assuming that the same number of cars are on the track at one time and the cars move at the same speed at both parks, I don't see how FP would cause the number of riders per hour to drop from 1000 to 700? Yes the standby line is a lot longer with FP in effect, but that should have no impact on number of riders per hour.

I thought about this, too, and I think it has to do with several factors:

1. Fewer CM's to actually work loading the ride, because you have to have some dedicated to controlling/manning the FP line.

2. Stopping the Stand-by line to allow FP line to come in and vice versa, and having to collect the FP's themselves is going to slow down the loading process.

3. Fielding questions and problems (about FP, etc.) will also slow down the line.

One inherent problem with FP is the ability to use it anytime after the window of time has passed. I would think this could REALLY slow down lines, as many people figure this out and wait until much later in the day to actually USE their FP's. (I know that's MY strategy!) Rather than space out the riders as it's designed to do, it would then actually INCREASE ridership at the BUSIEST times, thus making stand-by lines even LONGER and slowing down the loading process.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I thought about this, too, and I think it has to do with several factors:

1. Fewer CM's to actually work loading the ride, because you have to have some dedicated to controlling/manning the FP line.

Why would there be fewer CM's. Busy rides get more just to keep things flowing.

2. Stopping the Stand-by line to allow FP line to come in and vice versa, and having to collect the FP's themselves is going to slow down the loading process.
People in wheel chairs slow the line down more than anything else. The most immobile the person the longer it takes, not counting the enterauge.
3. Fielding questions and problems (about FP, etc.) will also slow down the line. There is always a dedicated CM to collect and answer. The people who do not take the time to read about the FP's are the ones that slow the FP's lines down.

One inherent problem with FP is the ability to use it anytime after the window of time has passed. I would think this could REALLY slow down lines, as many people figure this out and wait until much later in the day to actually USE their FP's. (I know that's MY strategy!) Rather than space out the riders as it's designed to do, it would then actually INCREASE ridership at the BUSIEST times, thus making stand-by lines even LONGER and slowing down the loading process.

1. Fewer CM's to actually work loading the ride, because you have to have some dedicated to controlling/manning the FP line.

Why would there be fewer CM's. Busy rides get more just to keep things flowing.

2. Stopping the Stand-by line to allow FP line to come in and vice versa, and having to collect the FP's themselves is going to slow down the loading process.
People in wheel chairs slow the line down more than anything else. The most immobile the person the longer it takes, not counting the enterauge.
3. Fielding questions and problems (about FP, etc.) will also slow down the line. There is always a dedicated CM to collect and answer. The people who do not take the time to read about the FP's are the ones that slow the FP's lines down.

If I want to ride IJ 15 times and nothing else that is going to help out all those other rides move along smoothly and only make a minor time dent in the load times, only as if another visitor bought a ticket and was added to the line.

Jack