Does Anyone Remember Disney Before Fast Pass Existed?

[KilroyWasHere]

I certainly do. My parents took the entire family to Disney World just about every year from 1986 – 2001. As you can tell by the years noted, many of those trips were made prior to the introduction of the Fast Pass system. We got up early to go to the parks, walked a lot, and waited a lot. I can remember waiting 2.5 hours in line for Splash Mountain like it was yesterday. In fact many of the main rides were at least 90 minute waits or more. Today, I am 36 years old and staring my own family, who I intend to bring to Disney World as often as possible. In fact our second family trip is scheduled for this May.

The thing that stands out most to me is how my love for Disney started, and continued to grow, while waiting in long lines for just about every ride. For me, my Disney experience (no pun intended) has never, and will never, be defined by how many Fast Passes I am allotted or what new systems are put in place. Instead, it is defined by the happiness it brought to me and my family over the years; past, present, and future. I understand that everyone is different. Judging by the content I have been reading in most threads, there are many Fast Pass fans that go to Disney World (let that comment sink in for a second). To each their own, I guess.

For me, especially as a kid, waiting in line was part of the process. The wait would build anticipation and excitement for the ride. I’d pay attention to everything around me, watch other people, listen to people talking around me about what was in their plans for the rest of the day, and think about what ride we were headed to next. Sure, I got cranky and annoyed at times; however, for the most part, I was just happy to be in such happy place. If Disney removed the entire Fast Pass system today I would feel the same way!

Please feel free to post any fond memories you may have of past Disney experiences that you may have loved. I’m hoping to get some positive responses from those of you who share the same sentiments as I do. Quite frankly, all of the negativity going around has brought me down. So please, please, please share your POSITIVE thoughts, opinions, memories about Disney and let me know that there is someone else out there that is willing to wait in lines and do so with a smile!

 

[JRawkSteady]

Yes I do. And this is why I get so flabbergasted at people who don't want to visit b/c they don't like FP+. Just pretend it's 1998 or earlier and then don't use it!

Just have a good touring plan, go during a slower time, and you'll be fine without Fastpasses.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I do! My first trip was in 1992 and there was no such thing as Fast Pass. We lived for the mid-afternoon rain shower because that would help to clear out the park and get us some slower wait times.

 

[KilroyWasHere]

Ahhh, yes. The quick rain shower. We used that as well. Most people headed for the exit and we just found cover close by.

 

[daisy_77]

I remember DL without FP. I also remember standing in REALLY long lines because FP didn't exist lol. I don't remember WDW without it though. My first trip there was in 2005.

 

[MatoMany]

Ive been to Disneyland starting really young (mid 80s) until we left the west coast (2007). I never used fast pass. I didn't even realize it exsisted until I went to Disney World in 2006 and my FIL asked for my ticket so he can get everyone fast passes. My husband had to explain what they were.

Personally I rarely use fastpass, even on short trips. If the lines are longer than I want I don't go on the ride/attraction. It doesn't bother me, even when I know it will be years before Im back. I won't let something little like that ruin my enjoyment of my vacation.

 

[Funfire240]

My parents took us in 1986 - I remember our second day at MK my mom, sister and I running to space mountain at rope drop so that we could ride it and not waste time in the long line because my dad had to wait with our little brother.
That's one memory that stands out clear in my mind from that trip!

 

[mulan1123]

Even though I just recently went on my first WDW visit this past November, I was wondering the same thing as the OP.

I remember going to DL once back in the early 1990's when I was 13, and there was NO fastpasses. I remember waiting a good 30-45 mins for Indiana Jones, the Jungle cruise, and Pirates. I had so much fun on Indiana Jones and Pirates that we waited another 15-20 to ride them again (and this was during the parade)! But Disney made waiting in line fun with all the interactive things that people may not noticed while in line.

And going to Canada's Wonderland on high school trips and waiting 30-45 mins for almost every ride with no complaints.

I asked this question about what everyone did before fastpasses on a different thread about someone complaining about FP+ and no one did actually answered my question directly. But I guess everyone is so used to FP.

 

[KilroyWasHere]

Even though I just recently went on my first WDW visit this past November, I was wondering the same thing as the OP.

I remember going to DL once back in the early 1990's when I was 13, and there was NO fastpasses. I remember waiting a good 30-45 mins for Indiana Jones, the Jungle cruise, and Pirates. I had so much fun on Indiana Jones and Pirates that we waited another 15-20 to ride them again (and this was during the parade)! But Disney made waiting in line fun with all the interactive things that people may not noticed while in line.

And going to Canada's Wonderland on high school trips and waiting 30-45 mins for almost every ride with no complaints.

I asked this question about what everyone did before fastpasses on a different thread about someone complaining about FP+ and no one did actually answered my question directly. But I guess everyone is so used to FP.

That is what I mean when I say I think there are a lot of Fast Pass fans that go to Disney World. The fact that the change in Disney's Fast Pass system can cause so much animosity is just bizarre to me. If you are a fan of Disney World, why does this new system undo everything else that should be loved? IDK

 

[ktlm]

I definitely remember WDW before FP as a kid...and what I remember most about WDW is standing in line for a hour for about every ride sweating. I remember when FP was new and how wonderful it was on that first FP trip and how WDW became so much more magical. We went more often too because of it- my parents definitely enjoyed the trips much more after FP. I am very unhappy that things are swinging back towards those long hot sweaty line days.

 

[jon18uk]

Yes! I completly agree with this post! Have people just become more impatient generally that they won't wait in a line longer than 1 hour?

 

[KilroyWasHere]

I definitely remember WDW before FP as a kid...and what I remember most about WDW is standing in line for a hour for about every ride sweating. I remember when FP was new and how wonderful it was on that first FP trip and how WDW became so much more magical. We went more often too because of it- my parents definitely enjoyed the trips much more after FP. I am very unhappy that things are swinging back towards those long hot sweaty line days.

Like I said - I've heard from all of you and do not discount your opinion. Just looking to see if there are opinions to the contrary.

I'm sorry you don't like long, hot, sweaty days in Florida. I hope things change with the FP+ system for those of you who feel betrayed. This is an honest statement because I couldn't care less what kind of FP system is in place. Again, looking for similar feelings.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Count me in as one of those who journeyed to WDW as a kid before the dawn of FastPass.

I always assume that's why I don't mind a 30-60 minute wait these days, because of the 2 hours I used to spend in the August heat with my family to ride Space Mountain!

I've seen Disney change so much over the 4 decades I've been visiting, and even though I was angry at the loss of Horizons and Mr. Toad, I've still been able to make every trip as magical as the last, and never once considered vacationing elsewhere.

We had our first experience with FP+ 2 weeks ago, and the changes were nothing more than a blip on our total vacation. We traveled as a group of 8, and every single person still got to do "their" ride, and we rode every single ride we wanted to, saw every show we wanted to, and had a wonderful time.

Of course, according to other threads on the subject I'm some sort of sucker who enjoys being slapped around by the Disney execs because I'm not outraged about FP+. But, even with FP+, the CM's were still friendly, Mickey still made time to enjoy our company, the resort was top quality, the restaurants were as accommodating as always, the shopping great, and the Haunted Mansion was still making room for 1 more!

 

[stampingoddess]

I've been going to Disney since the days of the ticket books, so yes I certainly remember pre FP days. In addition, hubby has always hated the running back and forth, etc associated with the old FP and would say he wished they just eliminated all together. We've now made 2 trips with FP+ and for our style of touring FP+ is a big improvement over FP-

 

[tfc3rid]

I remember those days... The lines were long BUT they were constantly moving... Unlike today's standby lines which only take a small number of people at a time compared to the amount of FP folks...

 

[Jennasis]

Of course I do. First trip was in 1977.

I also remember no cell phones, no anti lock brakes, no computers etc.

A wise man once said "The good old days weren't all that good and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems".

Sure we all survived (and had fun) but was it better? DISNEY created its own monster with FP. It's not that we've become intolerant of waiting on our own. Disney made us this way.

 

[DisneyMim]

Yes I remember also. We've been going to WDW forever and I never remember being annoyed waiting in line. I agree that it was part of the experience and anticipation. It did not matter how many timed we rode a tide, but I will say I remember going to MK when they had late nights that you paid for and my kids going on Space Mountain over and over. I miss those days. I also remember the characters just walking around. Nobody attacked them. It was just more peaceful overall. Yes there are way more people today, but also I feel that people are more aggressive and way more impatient.

 

[smbowtie]

I remember buying a ticket book and having to decide which rides to use them on.
We just returned from the World a couple of days ago and I have to say we had a great time. Did we get to go on all of our favorites multiple times? No, but we found it a lot easier going not having to run at rope drop to get our FPs. It was nice knowing that we had FP+ for TT, SORIN, TOT and others no matter what time we showed up. Of course TT and SORIN had to be different days. That was a little frustrating. Standby time for them were 120 to 140 min. most of the day.

After all the negative things that have been written about FP+ I have to say that we still had a great time and looking forward to going back again.

 

[agavegirl1]

I do remember that trip before FP. It was the end of February, we arrived at RD and most of the rides were a walk on most of the day. I followed a touring plan and my family was in awe that we "ran through the cattle gates" as they called it. There really did used to be low crowd times once. Over time, FP became a necessary touring tool to use in conjunction with picking time of year and which park which day. If I had waited in the lines some PPs mentioned, I would have never gone back. When I can no longer tour efficiently, I won't return.

 

[dwheaton]

I remember going as late as 1998 as a 22-year-old. We went in May, and it was decently crowded but not crazy. We did everything and rarely waited longer than 30 minutes. I rarely minded the wait in line. You'd get to see the queues, listen to the attraction music, and just hang out with the family. It felt less hectic.

That said, if it went away, it might be different today. Disney World didn't attract the international crowds it did today, and I'm guessing the attendance numbers are higher. It also cost a lot less, so the expectations were different. It would be an interesting experiment for sure.