Did not use fast pass +

[Nohal]

We were included in the program for fast pass + that went on last week. I picked 4 different rides but never used the fast passes. We got there when the park opened and did most of the rides including the ones on fast pass +(splash mtn, thunder mtn, winnie the pooh, and jungle cruise). Since it started raining after lunch we decided to go back to the room to rest so we missed our times. Anyone else not use theirs?

 

[ses1230]

Did you get to pick the FP+ return times or are they assigned?

 

[WedgieSock]

We were included in the program for fast pass + that went on last week. I picked 4 different rides but never used the fast passes. We got there when the park opened and did most of the rides including the ones on fast pass +(splash mtn, thunder mtn, winnie the pooh, and jungle cruise). Since it started raining after lunch we decided to go back to the room to rest so we missed our times. Anyone else not use theirs?

I am actually excited about the new FP+ not so much for rides but for fireworks and parades.

Sorry you didn't get to use yours.

 

[Nohal]

You can pick your fast pass times. I thought I picked good times but it is hard to figure out where you will be a certain times of the day.

 

[Waddler]

Interesting. I could see that happening, especially during lower attendance periods.

Morning fastpass slots are unnecessary since most rides have short waits (or at least the line has backed up to the fastpass merge point).

Most experienced visitors will want to make appointments for midday or afternoon, but by then you've done everything and you're ready to move on.

I wish they'd adjust the fastpass/standby merge points a little bit so fastpass users only had to wait a minute or two max. In my experience, even with a fastpass, you still have a 5-15 minute wait past the merge point for TSM, ToT, and Space Mountain, to name a few. It'd be easy to change.

Morning fastpasses would be more useful if they allowed riders to walk-on as quickly as possible.

 

[PrincessP]

We were there last week, but we didn't have Fast Pass +. What day were you at MK? Tuesday?? We were there Tues and missed using regular fast passes for both Winnie the Pooh and Dumbo b/c the rain/storm shut Dumbo down. We stayed in Tomorrowland during the bulk of the rain so we didn't make it back to ride Winnie the Pooh in time.

We were so excited when we went to get Dumbo fast passes, and we got bonus Pooh ones at the same time. However, we never got to use either.

It is hard to estimate when you will be at certain rides....you don't know how long lines will be on other rides....and there is always the unpredictable weather.

I'm glad you got to ride them when waits were short or non-existent, though. We missed Jungle Cruise this go 'round, but our children enjoyed riding Splash for the 1st time (and 2nd, 3rd, etc). lol

 

[mom2rtk]

Interesting. I could see that happening, especially during lower attendance periods.

Morning fastpass slots are unnecessary since most rides have short waits (or at least the line has backed up to the fastpass merge point).

Most experienced visitors will want to make appointments for midday or afternoon, but by then you've done everything and you're ready to move on.

I wish they'd adjust the fastpass/standby merge points a little bit so fastpass users only had to wait a minute or two max. In my experience, even with a fastpass, you still have a 5-15 minute wait past the merge point for TSM, ToT, and Space Mountain, to name a few. It'd be easy to change.

Morning fastpasses would be more useful if they allowed riders to walk-on as quickly as possible.

I think the 5-15 minute FP waits are here to stay. From everything reported here since 3/7 it appears that they increased the number of FPs distributed, presumably in anticipation of this very system. They will need to have slots for FP+ and slots for same day distrubution so there's no alternative.

 

[madelyn]

My 2 sisters and son used Fastpass plus on Saturday, Sept 22. The first two Fastpasses were meet and greets for Minnie and Mickey and the Princesses started around 10:15a. They had a lunch reservation at the castle so afterwards used their Fastpass plus reservations for Jungle Cruise and Splash Mountain. I helped my sister pick the times and attractions she wanted on-line. No more slots for fireworks or parades were available. It was a bit cumbersome the way you had to choose and then re-arrange your reservation times. And it didn't account for dining reservations you already had so you had to remember to work around them. I would say unless you had dining reservations for that day, Fastpass plus would be way too much planning and we generally like to be a bit more flexible. But I guess if you are able to get them for first thing in the morning and get them out of the way, you are then free to do as you please.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

The new system sounds incredible annoying for how we spend our days in the parks. Unless it's our first or last day, when we have specific things we want to do, all other days are fairly go with the flow. If we want to get to the parks late, we do. If we want to sit down by 11am for an hour, and just people watch, we do. I'd hate to have to make sure I was on one side of the park at a certain hour and have to book it months in advance! It's bad enough with meals but rides?

 

[Irishlisa]

We were included in the program for fast pass + that went on last week. I picked 4 different rides but never used the fast passes. We got there when the park opened and did most of the rides including the ones on fast pass +(splash mtn, thunder mtn, winnie the pooh, and jungle cruise). Since it started raining after lunch we decided to go back to the room to rest so we missed our times. Anyone else not use theirs?

We were picked also to use the program last week. I picked afternoon times for the 4 rides last Thursday 9/20 and we never used them either. We did the same as you, rode those rides when we got to the park so we were done by the time our Fast Pass+ times were picked. We ended up heading over to Epcot for the afternoon/evening.

 

[PennyInPink]

PrincessP: We were in the Magic Kingdom on Tuesday last week as well, had the Fast Pass + for Dumbo, spent the time inthe vestibule of the bathrooms at the train station durring the downpour!!! It's funny we were there the same time. We started on the Astro Orbitor, got one reveolution around, then BOOM the thunder hit, and down we went! It was funny. Shortest AstroOrbiter ever!

 

[jade1]

We were included in the program for fast pass + that went on last week. I picked 4 different rides but never used the fast passes. We got there when the park opened and did most of the rides including the ones on fast pass +(splash mtn, thunder mtn, winnie the pooh, and jungle cruise). Since it started raining after lunch we decided to go back to the room to rest so we missed our times. Anyone else not use theirs?

I could see that happen-but not to us. We would sleep in instead, maybe grab some brunch or early lunch then head over to MK. But we are night owls and hate getting up early esp on vacation.

 

[Q-man]

Did anyone who tested FP+ try to draw a regular FP to see what happened?

We are RD people so FP+ sounds kind of ideal for us. Pick a couple of headliners in the afternoon and knock out the other headliners rignht after opening and cruise through the less popular stuff until FP+ times. Pretty much what we do now but with no more running across the park chasing FPs.

 

[mom2rtk]

Did anyone who tested FP+ try to draw a regular FP to see what happened?

We are RD people so FP+ sounds kind of ideal for us. Pick a couple of headliners in the afternoon and knock out the other headliners rignht after opening and cruise through the less popular stuff until FP+ times. Pretty much what we do now but with no more running across the park chasing FPs.

I wouldn't draw any conclusions about how this will work long-term based on how it works during the test phase. Although my hunch is that it won't interfere with regular FP usage.

 

[MadameMim]

We started on the Astro Orbitor, got one reveolution around, then BOOM the thunder hit, and down we went! It was funny. Shortest AstroOrbiter ever!

If all AstroOrbiter rides were that quick I might be able to handle it.

Scariest ride ever!

 

[Waddler]

I think the 5-15 minute FP waits are here to stay. From everything reported here since 3/7 it appears that they increased the number of FPs distributed, presumably in anticipation of this very system. They will need to have slots for FP+ and slots for same day distrubution so there's no alternative.

That's how it works now, but I don't see why it has to be that way.

Take TSM. I've used a fastpass when the standby wait was about 30 minutes (back past Mr. Potatohead) and the FP lane was empty before the merge point. After merging, we were still behind many people who had been waiting in the standby line, and a few that had gone through the FP entrance. It took about 15 minutes to board. Wouldn't they want me to be out shopping for those 15 minutes?

Why not merge the lines closer to the front so I only had to wait in front of those with fastpass, and the corresponding ratio of standby riders?

I follow the reasoning behind increasing the FP distribution rate, but I don't understand why they haven't increased the FP/standby rider ratio to compensate. They're not doing anyone any favors by letting the FP line back up. They can only fit so many people on the ride each day (x number of standby riders, and x number of fastpass riders), and the loading rate is constant.

In my eyes, there is no reason to make FP riders wait in line for more than a couple of minutes.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

It seems a little silly to me for them to be testing FP+ during the lightest crowds of the year, unless this was more of a technology test. Wishful thinking that they do some testing again next month...

 

[KellyNY]

That's how it works now, but I don't see why it has to be that way.

Take TSM. I've used a fastpass when the standby wait was about 30 minutes (back past Mr. Potatohead) and the FP lane was empty before the merge point. After merging, we were still behind many people who had been waiting in the standby line, and a few that had gone through the FP entrance. It took about 15 minutes to board. Wouldn't they want me to be out shopping for those 15 minutes?

Why not merge the lines closer to the front so I only had to wait in front of those with fastpass, and the corresponding ratio of standby riders?

I follow the reasoning behind increasing the FP distribution rate, but I don't understand why they haven't increased the FP/standby rider ratio to compensate. They're not doing anyone any favors by letting the FP line back up. They can only fit so many people on the ride each day (x number of standby riders, and x number of fastpass riders), and the loading rate is constant.

In my eyes, there is no reason to make FP riders wait in line for more than a couple of minutes.

Increase of number of FP is just a rumor and FP wait times 5-15 min with merging points like on TSM is nothing new yet can be easily changed if they decide to do so. They do change SB/FP ratio on some rides when there is a need. I visited during Independence Day week with heavy crowds and on Buzz FP line moved nonstop for good 5-10 min while we were in, SB was 90 min. Considering that they know exactly how many FP should return they can adjust this ratio during the day.

 

[Waddler]

Considering that they know exactly how many FP should return they can adjust this ratio during the day.

Yeah, I see your point. They should usually be able to let the FP line through continuously because they have a good idea of how many people will return during each 5 minute interval.

Even if a large slug of FP riders show up at once, it means that there will be a relative lull in FP returns before or after that point.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

How does FP+ work for parades and fireworks?