Does standby still exist?

[Lorelai]

Planning our first trip since 2012. Feeling like FP+ is confusing. I used to be a planning pro, now I'm a planning disgrace. I can not figure out if there are any rides that we absolutely have to have FP+ for. Have any rides literally taken away their standby line? Someone explained to me that a few of the rides do not operate standby lines any longer...I was floored. Any truth to that? Thanks.

 

[mom2rtk]

Standby is still alive and well in WDW. They did a test a while back for standby only on some attractions but so far no word on whether they will test again or implement at any attractions.

 

[Alfalfa]

Not only does standby still exist, they've made it longer on some attractions so that you have more time to enjoy the interactive elements of the queue.

 

[minnie mum]

Not only does standby still exist, they've made it longer on some attractions so that you have more time to enjoy the interactive elements of the queue.

Well that's certainly a unique way of looking at it.

OP, FP+ has caused a radical shift in park planning for many people. While standby lines for the super headliners (that used to have legacy fast pass) have marginally shortened, they have gotten longer in many of the others (partly due to the addition of FP+ to these attractions). Figuring out which rides to get your 3 FPs for and what time of day to get can be confusing.

Mesaboy has created an extremely helpful thread to help us sort it a!l out. Here's a link:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/fa...ed-priorities-and-strategies-part-ii.3326057/

 

[Robo]

Standby is still alive and well in WDW. They did a test a while back for standby only on some attractions but so far no word on whether they will test again or implement at any attractions.

I think you may the the term "standby" confused with something else.

All rides have standby, and (for all intents and purposes) they always have had standby.
Some attractions (and it used to be MOST of them) have always been standby only.
(No tests needed for that.)

The tests they did were to (temporarily) ELIMINATE standby, and substitute a "come back at X time" and enter" pass system.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think you may the the term "standby" confused with something else.

All rides have standby, and (or all intents and purposes) they always have had standby.
Some attractions (and it used to be MOST of them) have always been standby only.
(No tests needed for that.)

The tests they did were to (temporarily) ELIMINATE standby, and substitute a "come back at X time" and enter" pass system.

Yeah. What he said.

 

[Lorelai]

I think you may the the term "standby" confused with something else.

All rides have standby, and (or all intents and purposes) they always have had standby.
Some attractions (and it used to be MOST of them) have always been standby only.
(No tests needed for that.)

The tests they did were to (temporarily) ELIMINATE standby, and substitute a "come back at X time" and enter" pass system.

Believe it or not, I actually did mean standby. Someone seriously told me that Toy Story had eliminated their stand-by line completely, and it was now a FastPass only attraction. I was pretty sure that someone had slipped something into his Dole Whip, but, then again, I don't pretend to be a pro planner anymore. So...if I so choose to age gracefully as I wait to greet Potato Head, that is still my choice...correct?

 

[mesaboy2]

Believe it or not, I actually did mean standby. Someone seriously told me that Toy Story had eliminated their stand-by line completely, and it was now a FastPass only attraction. I was pretty sure that someone had slipped something into his Dole Whip, but, then again, I don't pretend to be a pro planner anymore. So...if I so choose to age gracefully as I wait to greet Potato Head, that is still my choice...correct?

Yes. The no-standby queue test lasted 2 or 3 days at TSM sometime last year. Other attractions where this was briefly experimented with was Soarin' and the A&E M&G (twice). All have been back to normal for many months now.

Given that all 3 of these attractions are now known to have additional or new locations in work, the tests strongly suggest FP-only options for portions of these attractions (one theater or one track dedicated to FP users) in the future.

 

[Lorelai]

Yes. The no-standby queue test lasted 2 or 3 days at TSM sometime last year. Other attractions where this was briefly experimented with was Soarin' and the A&E M&G (twice). All have been back to normal for many months now.

Given that all 3 of these attractions are now known to have additional or new locations in work, the tests strongly suggest FP-only options for portions of these attractions (one theater or one track dedicated to FP users) in the future.

Okay, we'll now that makes sense. One last question... Do EMHs still exist? That was the only other comment that had me baffled. This person also said EMHs are a thing of the past Thanks!

 

[verleniahall]

yes - emh are still there -

 

[mesaboy2]

Okay, we'll now that makes sense. One last question... Do EMHs still exist? That was the only other comment that had me baffled. This person also said EMHs are a thing of the past Thanks!

Sound like you might want to stop listening to "this person" for WDW advice at least.

Evening EMH was cut from 3 hours to 2 hours in the last year or so, that's the only EMH change I am aware of.

 

[Lorelai]

Sound like you might want to stop listening to "this person" for WDW advice at least.

Evening EMH was cut from 3 hours to 2 hours in the last year or so, that's the only EMH change I am aware of.

Yup, two spectacularly WRONG pieces of advice are enough for me! I'm out. I knew my DisBros would have my back, though Time to begin planning my fam's 1st trip since June 2012. No way I will be screwing up a trip for 12 people I love. (I'm going to have more Q's for sure tho)

 

[IBLarsen]

I know the FP system seems confusing, it was to me as well after knowing how to use the old FP system so well. We just got back and the new FP+ really couldn't be any easier if you are a planner. I actually liked it better than the old way believe it or not, and I was quite opposed in the beginning. There are definitely some rides that you will hugely benefit from having an FP for, but obviously you can certainly do standby. Look through the FP thread mentioned to see what are the best uses for FP's. In Magic Kingdom, if you rope drop, plan your FP's for a couple hours after opening. We were there last week and it was quite busy, and we still got a lot done at rope drop. One of our days we hit Big Thunder early and there was no wait and we still saw people using their FP's! I was floored, we had one for later, but as it was walk on, we rode it twice in a row and switched our later FP to something else. It really isn't as complicated as it seems, I promise Have fun planning!

 

[Lorelai]

I know the FP system seems confusing, it was to me as well after knowing how to use the old FP system so well. We just got back and the new FP+ really couldn't be any easier if you are a planner. I actually liked it better than the old way believe it or not, and I was quite opposed in the beginning. There are definitely some rides that you will hugely benefit from having an FP for, but obviously you can certainly do standby. Look through the FP thread mentioned to see what are the best uses for FP's. In Magic Kingdom, if you rope drop, plan your FP's for a couple hours after opening. We were there last week and it was quite busy, and we still got a lot done at rope drop. One of our days we hit Big Thunder early and there was no wait and we still saw people using their FP's! I was floored, we had one for later, but as it was walk on, we rode it twice in a row and switched our later FP to something else. It really isn't as complicated as it seems, I promise Have fun planning!

Your reply just put a smile on my face, because I really have been feeling a little overwhelmed trying to wrap my brain around all the changes (took me some research to even figure out what BOG was!) It's nice to know I'm not alone in being a little nervous about the changes. I have a feeling that I will share your sentiments once I get there. As a person who likes to be as prepared as possible, I'm going to do the work beforehand, so my family can enjoy most of the things they love to do in Disney. First on everyone's list this time, the all new (to us!) 7 D Mine!!