Anyone else miss the challenge of the old fast passes?

[BugsDaddy]

Keeping to subject.... No I do not miss the old system and the challenges of maximizing the system. Here is why... I had mentioned that back in the old paper Fast pass days we visited Disney a handful of times and like most Disney Patrons had no idea about how to maximize the number of passes and ride with the ease people are talking about. The people on the Disboards are a rare breed of Disney Patrons and they know the ins and outs and how to maximize the system.

This idea that people had a number of fast passes like a stack of cards and could ride whenever they wanted is crazy to me. We were part of the Majority of patrons who had no knowledge of this ability and would wait on very long lines while "people gaming the system" would ride freely all day long.

I find it comical that some have mentioned they loved spreading the "magic" by offering some fast passes at the end of the day to a family and they would look at them with disbelief and it made them feel so good that there were spreading the magic. I mean really? How wonderful!! At least one person said the liked explaining to someone how to get more fast passes. That was the problem. All day long the majority of people are pulling one pass at a time never knowing people are stockpiling passes.

I can see the people "In the know" missing the olds system and the advantages and "challenge". I just find it upsetting, especially when I see people gloating about it.

I mean Keepsake Aspect! That is crazy to people like me who did not know about this and stood on lines.

Perhaps that is why many people feel Disney has "lost the magic". I know there is more to that, I really do... but many really lost the magic when they could not rule the parks any more or at least not as easily.

I hope you can see how some like myself are very glad those paper fast passes are gone and why it is so hard not to chime in.

This is a very good point. I think there are a portion of people who dislike the new FP program because they had the old one figured out and were "gaming" the system. Not all, but some. That being said, Disney allowed them to work the system to their advantage for a very long time. Those newbies to Disney or people that just never took the time to learn how to work the system were usually the ones with the longer wait times for rides.

 

[BugsDaddy]

I would buy that argument if Disney allocated maybe 10-25% of the ride capacity to FP+. But that's not the case. It's probably closer to 70%, maybe more. Opting to simply pass on using FP+ would relegate you to a small percentage of the attraction capacity in the parks each day, giving the vast majority of the park guests priority in nearly every single line you choose to enter.

You are saying that Disney is allocating 70% of their total ride capacity to FP?? Where are you coming up with that number? My guess would be much lower. Otherwise, standby lines would be 4 hours long instead of 10 to 45 minutes.

 

[Angel Ariel]

You are saying that Disney is allocating 70% of their total ride capacity to FP?? Where are you coming up with that number? My guess would be much lower. Otherwise, standby lines would be 4 hours long instead of 10 to 45 minutes.

I don't remember where it came from, but I do remember a report maybe from last year around this time that had a similar number. A report from a site like TP or easywdw, not just a random post by someone. Like I said, I dont remember where from eexactly or what the whole context of the number was, but I do remember a report discussing an increase in the % of fp+ allotted.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

So you miss the lower crowd days? I would too if I had ever been fortunate enough to visit then.

My family only visited around Easter/Spring Break when I was growing up, so I wouldn't say it was less crowded. We stood in line with everybody else and got to ride about the same amount of rides we do today (which is more than what the average guest rides, we know how to work any system Disney rolls out), and we didn't have to worry about return times, racing to get paper FP, booking FP+, etc.

At least the FP- system was based on actual demand. If an attraction was popular, it had FP. When popularity waned FP was removed. This new system artificially keeps people feeling like their days are full and satisfying. What's the point of building new attractions when you can psychologically manipulate guests to feel a sense accomplishment at gaining "instant access" to attractions like Tiki Birds or Carousel of Progress.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

You are saying that Disney is allocating 70% of their total ride capacity to FP?? Where are you coming up with that number? My guess would be much lower. Otherwise, standby lines would be 4 hours long instead of 10 to 45 minutes.

My father works in attractions and he often complains that the new system has substantially increased sb wait times. More FPs are given out thus increasing the capacity of the FP line during any given return window thus increasing the sb wait time. An attraction that used to have an average 25 minute wait now has an almost constant 45 minute wait unless you hit it right at rd.

 

[BugsDaddy]

I don't remember where it came from, but I do remember a report maybe from last year around this time that had a similar number. A report from a site like TP or easywdw, not just a random post by someone. Like I said, I dont remember where from eexactly or what the whole context of the number was, but I do remember a report discussing an increase in the % of fp+ allotted.

It can see it being a higher percentage for some of the more popular attractions but on some of the less popular attractions, I cannot see them allocating 70% of total capacity for FP. That number seems very high even for the high traffic rides.

I could be wrong but I am not even sure how or why Disney world release that information unless it is one of those articles where "a source says".

 

[AustinTink]

Keeping to subject.... No I do not miss the old system and the challenges of maximizing the system. Here is why... I had mentioned that back in the old paper Fast pass days we visited Disney a handful of times and like most Disney Patrons had no idea about how to maximize the number of passes and ride with the ease people are talking about. The people on the Disboards are a rare breed of Disney Patrons and they know the ins and outs and how to maximize the system.

This idea that people had a number of fast passes like a stack of cards and could ride whenever they wanted is crazy to me. We were part of the Majority of patrons who had no knowledge of this ability and would wait on very long lines while "people gaming the system" would ride freely all day long.

I find it comical that some have mentioned they loved spreading the "magic" by offering some fast passes at the end of the day to a family and they would look at them with disbelief and it made them feel so good that there were spreading the magic. I mean really? How wonderful!! At least one person said the liked explaining to someone how to get more fast passes. That was the problem. All day long the majority of people are pulling one pass at a time never knowing people are stockpiling passes.

I can see the people "In the know" missing the olds system and the advantages and "challenge". I just find it upsetting, especially when I see people gloating about it.

I mean Keepsake Aspect! That is crazy to people like me who did not know about this and stood on lines.

Perhaps that is why many people feel Disney has "lost the magic". I know there is more to that, I really do... but many really lost the magic when they could not rule the parks any more or at least not as easily.

I hope you can see how some like myself are very glad those paper fast passes are gone and why it is so hard not to chime in.

So because you never took the time to understand what Fastpasses were and how they worked, I somehow cheated your family... I caused you to wait in 2 hour lines. So, because my family took the time to learn about fastpasses, knew how to determine a schedule based on return times and wait for it..... moved our feet to get to the FP machines throughout the park, we were somehow "gaming the system" and cheating you. No, I do not accept responsibility for other people's lack of knowledge or refusal to learn.

Your quote... "majority of people are pulling one pass at a time"... well yeah, so did we. No trickery here. We just knew how to space them and make them work. It really wasn't some amazing feat to make this happen. Everyone who walked through those gates had the same opportunity we did.

 

[bookgirl]

I will get to play with the old system since I'm going to DLR in May. But to be honest I never liked having to run around to get paper fastpasses. I love the ability to pre select my FP digitally. I will probably be happier about not being limited in numbers, since I haven't been to DLR since it was JUST DL and I'm going for just a couple of days but for the most part I don't miss Legacy FP.

 

[AustinTink]

This is a very good point. I think there are a portion of people who dislike the new FP program because they had the old one figured out and were "gaming" the system. Not all, but some. That being said, Disney allowed them to work the system to their advantage for a very long time. Those newbies to Disney or people that just never took the time to learn how to work the system were usually the ones with the longer wait times for rides.

If I can take the time to learn, so can anyone. And, it wasn't learning how to "work the system" it was learning "how the system works". It was a fun game not anything underhanded. When a student gets a "B" on a test, he can't blame the guy who got a "A" for his shortcomings. The "A" student didn't keep him from studying and putting in the effort.

 

[Laketravis]

Your quote... "majority of people are pulling one pass at a time"... well yeah, so did we. No trickery here. We just knew how to space them and make them work. It really wasn't some amazing feat to make this happen. Everyone who walked through those gates had the same opportunity we did.

Often the effectiveness of a system is born out of simplicity. There really wasn't that much of a learning curve with the previous system, initially requiring only four words ("It's Free for Everyone") and then simply using visual cues to decide if you wanted to engage or not.

For example:

1. Standby wait time display shows "30 minutes"
2. FP issue window display shows "1:00p-2:00p"
3. It's currently 11:45am.

The "challenge" was using those three bits of information to make a decision:

1. Ride now and get an FP to ride again later?
2. Don't ride now, get an FP to ride later?
3. Don't do either?

As complicated and tedious as the above might seem, it was probably much more efficient and easier to understand than the current system.


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[Laketravis]

Those newbies to Disney or people that just never took the time to learn how to work the system were usually the ones with the longer wait times for rides.

I don't see how the current system alleviates that at all.


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[MaryKatesMom]

It can see it being a higher percentage for some of the more popular attractions but on some of the less popular attractions, I cannot see them allocating 70% of total capacity for FP. That number seems very high even for the high traffic rides.

I could be wrong but I am not even sure how or why Disney world release that information unless it is one of those articles where "a source says".

It wasn't a vague "a source says" rather either a CM or somewhere pretty solid.

Since you HAVE to pick 3 and in DHS and Epcot you get only 1 headliner FP+ capacity had to go up somewhere which is why POTC and SSE that never had FP+ had their stand by lines go up.

Yes I miss the old system. We would go two days to the waterparks but that was weather dependent. Very little flexibility with choosing your park days since that was done 60 days out.

I don't enjoy having to set my alarm clock to 11:55 60 days out.

 

[Texas Barbie]

Not at all, I love the new system. It works beautifully on arrival day, and we just do rope drop the rest of the days, using our FP+ at peak crowd times. I wouldn't want to go back to the old system.

 

[minniemous]

So because you never took the time to understand what Fastpasses were and how they worked, I somehow cheated your family... I caused you to wait in 2 hour lines. So, because my family took the time to learn about fastpasses, knew how to determine a schedule based on return times and wait for it..... moved our feet to get to the FP machines throughout the park, we were somehow "gaming the system" and cheating you. No, I do not accept responsibility for other people's lack of knowledge or refusal to learn.

Your quote... "majority of people are pulling one pass at a time"... well yeah, so did we. No trickery here. We just knew how to space them and make them work. It really wasn't some amazing feat to make this happen. Everyone who walked through those gates had the same opportunity we did.

Yes, well, it is funny how people who freely admit to this have actually called it a "loophole". I am not saying people like yourself are crooks. I am saying that most people (unlike us here on the disboards) were not aware there was a way to work the system. There were times posted on the tickets and it definitely gave the impression that you had to wait for the time..use it..and then return for another.

You do not need to accept responsibility, why do you feel like you have to?

Disney set up the system so that it worked. I am saying most families were not aware. The question posted by the OP was do you miss those days and my answer is "NO". Because I do not think it was a fair system. Many families did not before the vacation or after walking through the gates as you point out come up with a strategic plan of attack. You are implying that if people who are too unintelligent as to figure it out or lazy or whatever you imply with "no amazing feat" not your fault. Again it is not your fault. It was a poorly designed system that gave an advantage to people unaware.

Just as I do not blame you, I certainly do not blame a person like myself. Most people played by the perceived rules and as a result had a different experience with the old fast pass system. I simply like the new system. Less room for advantage as long as Disney closes the rest of the what ever one wants to call them..Advantages...loopholes..opportunities. They are trying to educate people on the system as well.

I witnessed people being very creative in October of 2013 with using old room key cards. That is a bit off subject to paper fast passes but people certainly did figure that strategic plan out fast and as a result people had to wait a very long to to ride TS and rides of that nature while others rode the ride over and over. I do not really blame the people taking advantage or utilizing the ability as you think I am. I like this system more.

 

[Ellwood970]

It wasn't a challenge for me if I got one, good, if gone for the day good too late night could get on everything.

 

[AustinTink]

. There were times posted on the tickets and it definitely gave the impression that you had to wait for the time..use it..and then return for another. Yes, and there was no loophole around that. You could not pull another FP until your window opened. That time was clearly printed on the ticket.

You do not need to accept responsibility, why do you feel like you have to? I don't.

I am saying most families were not aware. The first time we visited the parks with FP- we were not on the Disboards, we have not read about FP- prior to our trip. We walked up to a FP machine and simply asked someone "what is this?"... It was pretty simple. There is really no reason for people to have not been aware of how the old system could work to it's fullest. All they had to do is ask.

 

[Bullseye]

Are you implying the new one isn't challenging?

It really isn't...check out this link, I used it last summer and it made things much less challenging
FastPass+ Basic Information, Suggested Priorities, And Strategies--Part II

I don't miss old FP because I was always the runner and the guy that had to keep track of them

 

[Angel Ariel]

Yes, well, it is funny how people who freely admit to this have actually called it a "loophole". I am not saying people like yourself are crooks. I am saying that most people (unlike us here on the disboards) were not aware there was a way to work the system. There were times posted on the tickets and it definitely gave the impression that you had to wait for the time..use it..and then return for another.

Legacy fps had two times on them. One was the return window, when the fp could be used. The other was when you could pull another fp. The two were not always the same. You could pull a new fp either when the return window opened, or 2 hrs later. Whichever came first. This was not a loophole, this information was printed on every paper fp.

 

[mom2rtk]

I am not saying people like yourself are crooks.

"I am not a crook."

 

[mom2rtk]

It really isn't...check out this link, I used it last summer and it made things much less challenging
FastPass+ Basic Information, Suggested Priorities, And Strategies--Part II

Well played!


I may not agree..... but well played!