Any chance Disney will add FastPass during October

[Ariel620]

At the 60 day mark, I was not able to get some ADR so we are back waiting and watching.....Wondering once again, is it worth it. Do we just wait?

Just curious, which ones were you not able to get? Also, does touring plans still have the reservation finder, that worked great pre-covid to find just about any ADR I wanted (it took some time, but always got what I wanted)

 

[nkereina]

At Universal, they flip the standby queues to "virtual queues" when the standby lines grow too long to properly socially distance. A virtual queue requires a user to go on the app and obtain a return time, similar to the way FP+ was at Disney. I know when the closures first happened, some people reported they noticed WDW app/web site upgrades that alluded to the possibility of VQs at WDW, but I don't think anything came of that. Has anyone heard? If they intend to keep FP+ offline for a while, it would behoove them to implement something like a virtual queue. If park attendance continues to increase and capacity limits are raised, they will need a better way to limit the people in standby queues for social distancing purposes.

 

[Turk February]

Unpopular opinion:
Disney should use this chance to bring paid day of fastpass, like max pass, to the parks.

universal is still successfully using their express pass system at this time. I foresee Disneyland opening with maxpass in play as it’s part of many AP’s and is connected to photo pass.

would gladly play for a similar in Disney world. We love maxpass at Disneyland. Day of for the park you are in.

I firmly believe that the pandemic has provided Disney with the perfect opportunity to flip the switch from free to paid FP+, which you know was bound to happen anyway but now will face less public backlash since they'll be "reintroducing" FP+ in the "new" world instead of changing something from free to paid from one day to another.

Plenty of people would pay for that privilege and happily accept it. I'm honestly shocked it has remained free for so long since parks like Universal and Six Flags have been charging for years.

 

[Ariel620]

I'm honestly shocked it has remained free for so long since parks like Universal and Six Flags have been charging for years.

And even Disney too (Disneyland had paid max pass).

I would happily pay for a system like max pass in disney world.

 

[Krystal659]

Just curious, which ones were you not able to get? Also, does touring plans still have the reservation finder, that worked great pre-covid to find just about any ADR I wanted (it took some time, but always got what I wanted)

I completely forgot about the Touring Plans site (I pay for it every year, but with all the delayed trips I forgot about it). Thanks for the reminder

I was up and on the site at 6:00 CST for my 60 day ADR. However, I am in MK for Thanksgiving day and lunch my ONLY option showing was Skipper Canteen (my teen is not going to eat anything from there), but I reserved it out of fear. My family is not a fan of searching for open tables at QS once they waited too long due to the "ride just one more ride" before lunch mentality.

Wednesday, I am in HS and I was only able to get Hollywood Brown Derby for lunch and dinner. While I am excited to eat there, I most certainly do not need it twice in one day.

I am hopeful that they will increase restaurant capacity with phase 3.

 

[Krystal659]

At Universal, they flip the standby queues to "virtual queues" when the standby lines grow too long to properly socially distance. A virtual queue requires a user to go on the app and obtain a return time, similar to the way FP+ was at Disney. I know when the closures first happened, some people reported they noticed WDW app/web site upgrades that alluded to the possibility of VQs at WDW, but I don't think anything came of that. Has anyone heard? If they intend to keep FP+ offline for a while, it would behoove them to implement something like a virtual queue. If park attendance continues to increase and capacity limits are raised, they will need a better way to limit the people in standby queues for social distancing purposes.

I went to Universal for the first time this summer and I really enjoyed the "virtual queues". I also had express pass because my hotel was onsite. So, it was rare that I stood in a long line, but the virtual queues seemed to do the job nicely.

 

[ellbell]

I firmly believe that the pandemic has provided Disney with the perfect opportunity to flip the switch from free to paid FP+, which you know was bound to happen anyway but now will face less public backlash since they'll be "reintroducing" FP+ in the "new" world instead of changing something from free to paid from one day to another.

Plenty of people would pay for that privilege and happily accept it. I'm honestly shocked it has remained free for so long since parks like Universal and Six Flags have been charging for years.

This☝ every other theme park has paid skip the line options. Including Disneyland. The fact that Disney World provided it for free was great but it would definitely not be surprising at all if it came back as a paid option. It will just be something that people will need to budget into their trips if it's important. It might mean one less table service meal or an all star resort instead of a moderate or even one less day at the parks. If it's important people will find a way. Lots of people don't even know about the fastpass system and are in standby lines all day as it is.

 

[katyringo]

This☝ every other theme park has paid skip the line options. Including Disneyland. The fact that Disney World provided it for free was great but it would definitely not be surprising at all if it came back as a paid option. It will just be something that people will need to budget into their trips if it's important. It might mean one less table service meal or an all star resort instead of a moderate or even one less day at the parks. If it's important people will find a way. Lots of people don't even know about the fastpass system and are in standby lines all day as it is.

I often tell folks who are the “app refreshed” folks at Disneyworld that They would love maxpass. Disneyland sells tickets with maxpass attached.. we just budget it in. And at WDW when your paying $170 for photo pass... and maxpass comes with it... to me it’s a no brainer.

 

[Blondie58]

We love the FP system of old and hope it returns.

 

[Empress of the Universe]

If not fast pass - more virtual queues for the "big" rides? No fats passes would be tolerable if you could still secure a "spot" in line instead of spending an hour+ in line. Suggestion - two virtual queues per park?

 

[cpep42]

As for paying for FP....NO. While i'm there for four months on property and go to the parks every day, I would really be broke by the time i got home.

 

[Tormania]

As for paying for FP....NO. While i'm there for four months on property and go to the parks every day, I would really be broke by the time i got home.

To be fair, paid FP would not be marketed to folks that visit like you do and literally have MONTHS to visit and do everything a hundred times. It's for those guests that either don't like to wait or for folks with much shorter timeframes to visit so paying money to save time becomes an easy decision. We visit once ever 3 or 4 years for a week at a time. Considering the total cost of a trip to WDW, any potential cost for FP would be almost a non-issue for us in the grand scheme of things. Of course I don't want to spend extra money if I don't have to, but if saving money was my goal a trip to WDW would not happen, lol!!!

 

[yulilin3]

Paid fp had been rumored for quiet a while, and the rumor took stronger routes with the advent of Genie which is supposed to be rolled out soon. Spo it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest

 

[Grasshopper2016]

Without fastpasses, as the crowds keep growing, everyone has to wait 40+ minutes for just about every ride --- and double that or more for the most desirable rides. That means that you spend the vast majority of your day standing in line. With fastpasses, you were guaranteed three rides with significantly shorter waits. And regular guests who mastered the refresh method could ride a dozen or more rides with only short waits. I can't imagine paying top dollar for a Disney World vacation if there would be no way for me to ride Pirates and Haunted Mansion and the like without waiting nearly an hour, and no way to ride FOP and Slinky Dog Dash and the like without waiting close to two hours (or more). Every day would be Spring Break or New Years. And the busiest days would be brutal. I think that Disney has to provide some option for avoiding that in the post-pandemic world, or they will lose many of their regular guests. It will cost serious money, I suspect---no more using refresh to take free advantage of most people's unfamiliarity with the system. But if it works, and it is reasonably affordable, many of us would do it. Without an option like that, we would likely stop visiting.

 

[yulilin3]

Without fastpasses, as the crowds keep growing, everyone has to wait 40+ minutes for just about every ride --- and double that or more for the most desirable rides. That means that you spend the vast majority of your day standing in line. With fastpasses, you were guaranteed three rides with significantly shorter waits. And regular guests who mastered the refresh method could ride a dozen or more rides with only short waits. I can't imagine paying top dollar for a Disney World vacation if there would be no way for me to ride Pirates and Haunted Mansion and the like without waiting nearly an hour, and no way to ride FOP and Slinky Dog Dash and the like without waiting close to two hours (or more). Every day would be Spring Break or New Years. And the busiest days would be brutal. I think that Disney has to provide some option for avoiding that in the post-pandemic world, or they will lose many of their regular guests. It will cost serious money, I suspect---no more using refresh to take free advantage of most people's unfamiliarity with the system. But if it works, and it is reasonably affordable, many of us would do it. Without an option like that, we would likely stop visiting.

Fp won't work until ride capacity is at 100%
Imagine they offered it now
First there would be less fp to go around so they would be extremely hard to get leaving a lot of people angry
Then the standby would balloon upwards of 30 to 40 minutes what it is now as they allow fp guests to enter leaving a lot of people angry

 

[JETSDAD]

Well it's no secret that I love FP so I hope it comes back just as it was before. The sooner the better.

 

[heapmaster]

I think to avoid chaos they'll announce it far ahead of when they are rolled out so they can be utilized. Waking up one day and finding out you missed out on FP for that day doesn't sound ideal. Regardless, it'll be difficult to manage the lines with distancing with the proximity to normal queue lines.

Based on how they announced things in the past (no announcement at all), my bet is one day it will just show up and who ever finds it gets it. Plus all they have to do is add more dividers like they have been in the other queue lines lately.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I think they have to do something soon. The wait times have gotten out of hand the past few weeks. I'm hoping they will bring back FP, and I think it is a possibility since they are now showing signs of increasing capacity on the rides (adding more shields between ride vehicles, etc). Universal already increased their capacity on the rides a few weeks ago (ie. loading every row of hulk coaster), and now that this past weekend the governor announced phase 3, I hope disney can safely increase ride capacity too... which would lead to the return of fastpass (or maybe a replacement like virtual que) (or even a charged version like max pass or express pass). I am hoping for any of the above options sooner than later, because these last two weeks had very high wait times.

And the lines are mostly outside in the heat and/or rain. 70-80 minutes is a long time. Multiply that by 3 and add a couple of 45 minutes waits. Now add shorter park hours into the mix. Guests are spending over half their day waiting In line For 5 attractions...not counting the actual ride time. Food lines were also lengthy at times during F&W. We skipped some favorites...tired of standing in line all day. At least with FP you could spend some of that time dining or shopping.

 

[NicolaUK]

Fast passes and hopping are already active if you’re a member of Club 33 or a guest of theirs. Personally I think putting that info up on YouTube will result in some backlash for the guy that’s done so. Talk about rubbing people’s nose in it.

 

[RangerPooh]

We'll be there Oct 11 for a week and doubt that FP will make a return. Of course, I'd jump for joy if the old-fashioned paper ticket FP returned. Less micromanaging my trip needed. While I love FP, I don't care for FP+. Having to plan so far in advance and by ride tier is frustrating, especially when your party decides to change plans closer to trip dates.