Disney testing centralized FASTPASS at AK

[safetymom]

http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/07/27/disney-testing-centralized-fastpass-at-animal-kingdom/

 

[FireDancer]

I think it is a good idea as long as they leave some machines at the attraction also. I wonder if the lack of signage and info on the map is because it is a test and they didn't feel like printing up a bunch of temporary maps.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Although I like the idea and think it'll make getting FP easier, I thinktot will cause the wait times to be much longer. Please let us know if you hear how this goes.

 

[LMO429]

I like the idea of one centralization location for fastpasses this would be convenient if you want to ride ee but want to get a safari fastpass it would be more convenient that having to walk around the park.... but I think it would be even better if you could get multiple fastpasses at ONCE in the same location and then enjoy your day...I can dream right ?!

 

[auroralark]

This sounds good in theory - I'm curious to see if it works well or not. I'll be very interested to see if this ends up working out.

 

[MarkerMouse]

Not really sure I like this idea, but I'll be interested in hearing how it plays out. For me, the decision to get a fast pass is quite often based on the length of the standby time. If they were to remove the fast pass machines that are near the attraction, you would not be able to make that comparison. And, while it would seem convenient to have one central location near the front of the park, I can see that becoming a serious bottleneck with everyone flocking there when they first enter making it almost unusable first thing in the morning. Also, if I think of the times when I've grabbed a fast pass and then gotten in line for standby so I could use the fast pass for a second ride, I think this set up would alter that plan.

It will be really interesting to see what happens.

 

[ckdsnynt]

Might work better if the tip board posting how long the stand by wait was for each ride was placed beside the new centrally located FP machines. That way, you could decide if you wanted to get your only FP or get in the stand by line of your ride and get a different FP.

 

[AnneR]

Not sure my thoughts either. It could help with the stampedes in the morning. I am not sure I would want to plan my day around going back to the central point to get a fast pass. It is nice to get them as you are traveling from place to place.

 

[dpuck1998]

This doesn't make sense to me. What would make more since is if I could get a fastpass for any ride at any machine. That would save me a lot of running around the park. Unless I can get more than one, now I'd have to run to the central location every time I was up for another fast pass. Seems silly.

 

[FireDancer]

It wouldn't be to hard to replicate the wait time on a board near the centralized location. Ok, it shouldn't be hard, Disney has a problem sometime implementing otherwise mundane I.T. solutions.

I think the idea works better if you allow multiple fastpasses. It would require a little more logic in the distribution. For example, if you get a FP at rope drop for Soarin' and TT it could give you the first available time for the first ride and then the first available time for the second if that time is at least 1 hour after the window closes on the first ride, if not then it advances the time accordingly.

There are ways to make the fastpasses work better without making the system easier to game. I do like Don's idea about a single machine that gives out all the fast passes. A simple touch screen that gives you all the choices and you just touch the one you want. This would keep everyone from lining up at the same machine for EE or Soarin' and ignoring the other machines.

It has potential, just needs the details tweaked.

 

[dpuck1998]

Frank, they should be consulting us before they do this stuff!! Keep the machines are the attractions or in each land and all us to pick from a screen for the ride we want! Universal did this for a while and had several rides to choose from at one machine.

 

[georgemoe]

This doesn't make sense to me. What would make more since is if I could get a fastpass for any ride at any machine. That would save me a lot of running around the park. Unless I can get more than one, now I'd have to run to the central location every time I was up for another fast pass. Seems silly.

It wouldn't be to hard to replicate the wait time on a board near the centralized location. Ok, it shouldn't be hard, Disney has a problem sometime implementing otherwise mundane I.T. solutions.

I think the idea works better if you allow multiple fastpasses. It would require a little more logic in the distribution. For example, if you get a FP at rope drop for Soarin' and TT it could give you the first available time for the first ride and then the first available time for the second if that time is at least 1 hour after the window closes on the first ride, if not then it advances the time accordingly.

There are ways to make the fastpasses work better without making the system easier to game. I do like Don's idea about a single machine that gives out all the fast passes. A simple touch screen that gives you all the choices and you just touch the one you want. This would keep everyone from lining up at the same machine for EE or Soarin' and ignoring the other machines.

It has potential, just needs the details tweaked.

Frank, they should be consulting us before they do this stuff!! Keep the machines are the attractions or in each land and all us to pick from a screen for the ride we want! Universal did this for a while and had several rides to choose from at one machine.

I think the central location idea is poor. Don brings up a good point. It just creates more walking and wasted time for the people heading back to a central location. Especially at AK and DHS.

I think the current machines are fine. I'm not crazy about the multiple screen idea though. Just more buttons for folks to push and mess up. Ever get behind someone who takes forever fumbling with an ATM? Screens also involve more cost for Disney as now they have to bring in new machines.

My idea is just re-configure a couple machines at each bank of machines for other attractions. At Soarin', have seperate machines, WELL MARKED, for Test Track, and Mission Space. Do they same thing with the machines at TT and MS. Set up the other parks the same way.

 

[SamSam]

Might work better if the tip board posting how long the stand by wait was for each ride was placed beside the new centrally located FP machines. That way, you could decide if you wanted to get your only FP or get in the stand by line of your ride and get a different FP.

This would work if they would keep the wait times accurate. A fews years ago the wait times were almost always accurate, the last couple of years we have found that the wait times are often way off.

 

[FireDancer]

Frank, they should be consulting us before they do this stuff!!

I keep waiting for the email. I'm sure we'll get them at the same time.

 

[kbelle8995]

The centralized location for fast pass is fine. But if it's only location in the park, I can definetely see this as being a problem with congestion. I would like them maintain fastpasses distribution at the rides as well so that guests can get them there if they wish to do so.

However I see the same problem with people trying to getting all the fast passes early such as in the case of Soarin, Winnie the Pooh and Test tract.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

One thought I had about this is if there are only 2 FASTPASS machines for EE, what is the FASTPASS line going to be like for EE (or any other ride) first thing in the morning?