fast pass getting less useful

[disneyjunkie]

My son and I only visit during school vacation. (peak and regular season)
We've never had a problem with fast pass.

We take advantage of all EMHs during our trips. We're at the gates when they open. We grab a FP right away. Our return times and the time we can get another FP are always pretty early. Since able to get another FP without a huge wait, we're able to hold several FPs at one time.

We always hop into the standby line before using our FPs.

We love FP and can't imagine touring the parks without it.

I believe those who want to see FP done away with, are those we like to sleep in and get to the parks late.

The FP system rewards those who are willing to get to the parks early and do a little leg work.

 

[alicenwonder99]

Who remembers WDW before fastpasses!?? I remember my first trip, in August, before FP. It was awful. I couldn't believe how much I hated WDW. OK, I liked it, but I hated standing in the heat for over an hour for a ride. I swore I would never go back, but when I heard about Fastpasses, we planned a trip.

FP are GREAT!!!! I love them!!!! And to use them to your advantage is just an extra plus. We got to ride Peter Pan several times on one trip by being "smart" about getting the Fastpasses.

To the OP: Ok, now you know. If you want to get on a favorite ride without waiting, then you either have to: go to WDW during a slow season; or get to the park at opening. After each trip, we learn something new "strategic-wise" for making our trip better/easier/run smoother. kwim? And if we can't get on a good ride during our trip, it's no biggie...we'll hit it next time.

Mary

 

[PlutosFriend]

Another FP lover here! I was only wishing the water/amusement park I went to this past weekend had that option, as we were waiting in line for an hour

 

[GarrettJD]

In my opinion that is one of the reasons that FP is a joke. It is really so everyone has the time to enjoy all Disney has to offer, not just so one person can take multiple rides on the same thing. Yes, I know it is there for the using and I don't get upset that you used your brain and figured out a way to make the system work for your needs. That being said, however, it is a fact that only a specific number of FP's are given out each day. For every "additional" FastPass that you used, you deprived someone else of that experience. There is no way to police it nor am I sure it should be. Disney created that monster and only they can fix it. The sooner FastPass is history the happier I will be. It is examples like this that will trigger that change. Some poor smuck HAD to stand in standby for an hour or better because someone went on it three times and used up two FastPasses to do it. Multiply that by the number of people doing exactly the same thing and I'll bet it is a staggering number.

Ouch. I don't know how exactly I've "deprived" anyone from anything just because I used the FP system this way. Anyone else can get up, be at park opening, and do exactly the same thing that I do.

Whatever Disney's rules are for FastPass, I'm going to tailor my touring to work with them. If Disney lets me get more than one FP per day at an attraction, I'll do it. If they changed it, as WillCAD suggested, to only allow one FP per day on any particular attraction, will I get upset? Nope. I'll just readjust my touring to fit the changes. (WillCAD, that's actually not a bad idea, especially on the "lower capacity" FP attractions like Soarin' or Peter Pan.)

 

[klj27]

We love FP!!!! It is even better when you combine it with the child swap passes. 1 fp + 1 childswap = two rides for the older kids!!!!

 

[alicenwonder99]

We love FP!!!! It is even better when you combine it with the child swap passes. 1 fp + 1 childswap = two rides for the older kids!!!!

We will be doing the babyswap for the first time ever on our trip next month (going with a 6 month old infant). Give me an example of how we would do this for 5 people (3 adults, 2 children, plus the infant) for a ride like Splash Mt. if all 5 of us want to ride it.

I'm thinking that we would get the FP's for 5, then come back at the FP time and all 6 of us get in line. Then when we get to the front, the baby and one adult will get pulled to the side while the other 4 people ride. When the 4 people get off the ride, the adult switches the baby with another adult, and now 4 people ride again.

Is this right?

Is there a special spot at each ride for the baby and the adult to wait?

I've NEVER seen anyone do the babyswap before, and I'm trying to piece together the things I've read to figure it all out.

TIA

Mary

 

[extremeplanner]

I think fastpass is a good idea.............however, it has become so popular and almost everyone knows about and uses it, you sometimes have to wait in line twice.........once to get your fastpass, then again to use it. I know that is what happened to us last year during Spring Break. We did not use very many fastpasses for this reason. It got to the point that you could just wait in the standby line and only have to wait in line once.

 

[goofyernmost]

I made it a point to say that I wasn't upset that it was being used that way because Disney made it work that way. I do not believe that was the original intent but there it is.

To say that you didn't deprive anyone else of a chance by using multiple tickets for the same ride is just justifying your usage of it. If the computer is programed to give out 100 tickets per day and you took two of them then you indeed did deprive someone of one. Could they have gotten there earlier or at a different time just before you and gotten one, perhaps, but the fact remains that once you took the second one someone else couldn't get it and you had two.

And I did go to WDW long before FP's were heard of and even when MK was the only park the lines were never more than 20 minutes anyplace with the exception of Space Mountain, 20K and the Jungle cruise. The last two because of it's slow loading setup. I routinely stand in line now for 40 minutes or more. It did create a slower moving standby, like it or not. I still prefer standby because many of the rides have great themeing that is missed by the "I'm in a big hurry" crowd. OK, no foul, that is my choice. Do I like spending additional time in line so I can let a few go ahead of me, apparently, more than once? Not really but it is my choice. Those that didn't get that choice because all the FP's were gone aren't anywhere near that happy and that will create a decline in repeat business of the masses. Those hundred or so of you that get a FP's cannot support the parks all by yourself. FP is a long term solution to a small problem. Unhappy guests are a long term problem with no solution as long as FP, as it exists, is in place.

This is a hot item whenever it comes up. I believe we are all entitled to our opinions and that is mine. I have said it before, I will say it again. FastPass will live or die of it's own merit. My opinion really isn't the final decision. I am just calling it as I see it.

 

[deltachi8]

The sooner FastPass is history the happier I will be.

Ya, Id rather go back to waiting in long lines, its what I live for.

Some poor smuck HAD to stand in standby for an hour or better because someone went on it three times and used up two FastPasses to do it.

The poor schmuck shoul listen to advice given everywhere - grab your fast passes early.

 

[Allison]

I made it a point to say that I wasn't upset that it was being used that way because Disney made it work that way. I do not believe that was the original intent but there it is.

To say that you didn't deprive anyone else of a chance by using multiple tickets for the same ride is just justifying your usage of it. If the computer is programed to give out 100 tickets per day and you took two of them then you indeed did deprive someone of one. Could they have gotten there earlier or at a different time just before you and gotten one, perhaps, but the fact remains that once you took the second one someone else couldn't get it and you had two.

And I did go to WDW long before FP's were heard of and even when MK was the only park the lines were never more than 20 minutes anyplace with the exception of Space Mountain, 20K and the Jungle cruise. The last two because of it's slow loading setup. I routinely stand in line now for 40 minutes or more. It did create a slower moving standby, like it or not. I still prefer standby because many of the rides have great themeing that is missed by the "I'm in a big hurry" crowd. OK, no foul, that is my choice. Do I like spending additional time in line so I can let a few go ahead of me, apparently, more than once? Not really but it is my choice. Those that didn't get that choice because all the FP's were gone aren't anywhere near that happy and that will create a decline in repeat business of the masses. Those hundred or so of you that get a FP's cannot support the parks all by yourself. FP is a long term solution to a small problem. Unhappy guests are a long term problem with no solution as long as FP, as it exists, is in place.

This is a hot item whenever it comes up. I believe we are all entitled to our opinions and that is mine. I have said it before, I will say it again. FastPass will live or die of it's own merit. My opinion really isn't the final decision. I am just calling it as I see it.

Sure you can have your own opinion even if there is no validity to your statements. "A decline in repeat business of the masses" because someone used 2 fastpasses on the same ride? I don't think so.

Oh and by the way, since I CHOSE to get a fastpass twice for Splash Mountain, I couldn't get a fastpass for Space Mountain. See how generous I am-I gave up my fastpass there so someone else could have it.

 

[DisneyBound2007]

I am hearing many people say that often times the FP kiosk line get long and unorganized. Obviously if you get to the park at rope drop the FP kiosk shouldnt be too crowded as you will be getting one of the first FPs of the day, but by about 10 or 11 a.m. if I show up to the Mission Space or Soarin FP kiosk how long might I expect to wait before I can get my FPs.

 

[Allison]

I am hearing many people say that often times the FP kiosk line get long and unorganized. Obviously if you get to the park at rope drop the FP kiosk shouldnt be too crowded as you will be getting one of the first FPs of the day, but by about 10 or 11 a.m. if I show up to the Mission Space or Soarin FP kiosk how long might I expect to wait before I can get my FPs.

I'm surprised to hear these comments. I have rarely had a line to get a fastpass and if there was it was only a few people in front of me. Most attractions have several fastpass machines, it has never been a problem for me to get one unless the machine is malfunctioning.

 

[DisneyBound2007]

Thanks that makes me feel a little better

 

[CFioren317]

I agree with goofyernmost. It's like Steinbrenner and the Yankees. I hate them...they spend too much money compared with everyone else. But as long as those are the rules, then he's doing nothing wrong. If baseball gets a salary cap, it will be fair for all the teams. Same as the FP...if they get a "daily ride cap", then it will be more fair. However, until that time, the rules read that you can get as many FP's for the same ride. If the Florida Marlins or Kansas City Royals don't get a FP that day...well, you get the idea.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Only 20 minute waits pre-fastpass. YEAH RIGHT.

 

[pixiewytch]

Ouch. I don't know how exactly I've "deprived" anyone from anything just because I used the FP system this way. Anyone else can get up, be at park opening, and do exactly the same thing that I do.

Whatever Disney's rules are for FastPass, I'm going to tailor my touring to work with them. If Disney lets me get more than one FP per day at an attraction, I'll do it. If they changed it, as WillCAD suggested, to only allow one FP per day on any particular attraction, will I get upset? Nope. I'll just readjust my touring to fit the changes. (WillCAD, that's actually not a bad idea, especially on the "lower capacity" FP attractions like Soarin' or Peter Pan.)

Okay, I'm not going to say that picking up a few extra fastpasses is a travesty that deprives somebody else of a magical time....buuutttt....use common sense here and have a little courtesy. The biggest frustration for me is waiting in long lines behind people pulling out dozens of fastpasses. I find it very rude to make others wait behind you so that you can get as many as possible. I guess if you don't have a line behind you, no harm done. I have no idea how pulling multiples affects overall distribution for the day. I also don't think it's fair to say that if someone didn't get to the park early, tough cookie. Everyone has different schedules to abide by on their trips and in my opinion someone showing up at 1p.m deserves just as much courtesy as the person showing up at 9a.m.

Just remember to have a little respect for others at the park. Someone like me may be waiting behind you only asking for one fastpass while you hold up the line pulling out a bazillion. Getting in and out of the line as quickly as you can is just a kind thing to do for everybody.

 

[GarrettJD]

I'm in agreement with Allison. As she pointed out in her Splash/Space example, nobody is eligible to get any more FPs than anyone else.

Let's look at my situation. I get FPs for Everest at park opening, then ride in the Standby line. My FPs are valid starting at 10:00, which means I can't get any more FPs until then. During this time, other guests are getting FPs for the Safari, Dinosaur, etc. etc. I'm not allowed to get any more FPs until 10:00. If I want to ride any other attractions, I have to use the Standby line.

So 10:00 arrives. I can now choose to get another set of FPs on any attraction I want. I get another set for Everest, this time with a return time of 12:00. That means that, once again, I can't get any other FPs until 12:00. If I want to ride the Safari, I have to wait in the 40-60 minute Standby line, or wait until 12:00 arrives, get FPs for the Safari, then wait for the return time to occur on those FPs.

I know that FP is a controversial subject for some people, and that some people preferred the days before FP. I guess I really don't have a perspective on that, because except for a brief visit in 1984 (as a child, when I didn't do any planning or decision making), I've never toured the parks without FP. My first visit as an adult was in 2003, so to me, FP is an integral part of WDW touring.

The fact of the matter is, the FP system is very popular, both with the majority of guests, and with Disney themselves, because they have more people in shops and restaurants waiting for their FP return time instead of being in a queue.

 

[KimberlyC]

We will be doing the babyswap for the first time ever on our trip next month (going with a 6 month old infant). Give me an example of how we would do this for 5 people (3 adults, 2 children, plus the infant) for a ride like Splash Mt. if all 5 of us want to ride it.

I'm thinking that we would get the FP's for 5, then come back at the FP time and all 6 of us get in line. Then when we get to the front, the baby and one adult will get pulled to the side while the other 4 people ride. When the 4 people get off the ride, the adult switches the baby with another adult, and now 4 people ride again.

Is this right?

Is there a special spot at each ride for the baby and the adult to wait?

I've NEVER seen anyone do the babyswap before, and I'm trying to piece together the things I've read to figure it all out.

TIA
Mary

I haven't finished reading this thread so maybe someone else has tried to answer your Q but I'll give it a go. We used baby swap for the first time in June (DS - 2's first trip). Anyhoo...I think it may depend on the ride, but we showed our toddler to the CM at the entrance and got a babyswap return pass that allowed us to go into the FP line.

Here's what we did: We (DH, Me and DNiece-age 12) get 3 FP's. We return at the fast pass time and show the CM at the entrance our toddler. We then received a baby swap pass that allows up to 3 people to return. Using 2 FP's, Dh would take DNiece on the ride while I waited with my toddler getting him a snack, changing him or whatever. When they finished I would take DNiece on the ride while DH watched our toddler. Now since I had one extra FP and the baby swap allowed 3 people to return (and only 2 of us could) we would try to spread some pixie dust by adopting a couple to ride with us. We would hand one person the FP and use the baby swap pass for Me, DNiece and the other person.

We are going again in September and I will be doing baby swap the same except if there is a ride nearby that my toddler would like that also has FP we will only get 2 FP's for the ride he can't go on and use DH's card to get an FP for the other attraction. For example, my DS is too small to ride Soarin but the Land is close so I'll get 2 FP's for Soarin and 1 for the Land. At our FP time, we'll show DS to the CM at Soarin and get a baby swap pass to return. Me and DNiece will ride Soarin using FP. At the same time, DH will take DS to the Land for a "boat ride". We will all meet outside Soarin when finished. Then DH will take DNiece on Soarin using the baby swap pass. Since 3 can return, they'll spread some pixie dust by adopting a single rider. I'll let DS play while they ride.

The nice thing about baby swap is that the children in your group will get to ride again. I recommend you get FP's for 5 people. Show your baby and you get a pass for 3 to return. Wait with your baby while the 2 other adults and 2 kids rides using 4 FP's. When they get off the ride, hand your baby to your DH who waits with the baby in a nice shady (or airconditioned) spot. Then you and the 2 kids ride using baby swap (for 3) and use Your FP for the other adult in your party. You and your DH only get to ride once but the rest of your party gets to ride twice with essentially no wait. When using babywap you go into the FP line.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[GarrettJD]

Okay, I'm not going to say that picking up a few extra fastpasses is a travesty that deprives somebody else of a magical time....buuutttt....use common sense here and have a little courtesy. The biggest frustration for me is waiting in long lines behind people pulling out dozens of fastpasses. I find it very rude to make others wait behind you so that you can get as many as possible. I guess if you don't have a line behind you, no harm done. I have no idea how pulling multiples affects overall distribution for the day. I also don't think it's fair to say that if someone didn't get to the park early, tough cookie. Everyone has different schedules to abide by on their trips and in my opinion someone showing up at 1p.m deserves just as much courtesy as the person showing up at 9a.m.

Just remember to have a little respect for others at the park. Someone like me may be waiting behind you only asking for one fastpass while you hold up the line pulling out a bazillion. Getting in and out of the line as quickly as you can is just a kind thing to do for everybody.

That's the thing. You can't "pull out a bazillion." You're only eligible to obtain one valid FP at a time, and you can't get any more FPs for that attraction OR any other attractions until either two hours have passed or your return time starts, whichever is earlier. I think the people that you see getting a lot of FPs at once have a large group. It's more efficent for that person to take all the park tickets and get FPs for everyone, rather than have each person get theirs individually.

 

[AUDramaQueen]

The biggest frustration for me is waiting in long lines behind people pulling out dozens of fastpasses. I find it very rude to make others wait behind you so that you can get as many as possible. I guess if you don't have a line behind you, no harm done. I have no idea how pulling multiples affects overall distribution for the day.

Just remember to have a little respect for others at the park. Someone like me may be waiting behind you only asking for one fastpass while you hold up the line pulling out a bazillion. Getting in and out of the line as quickly as you can is just a kind thing to do for everybody.

Actually if everyone in my party went to the Fastpass machine to pull one Fastpass at a time, then aren't we making the line more unorganized with more people and taking up more time?

Think about it, one person pulls the pass, puts their tickets up then moves out of the way, then next person in my party comes up then pulls a ticket, etc etc. To me, that would take up more time then one person with all the tickets pulling passes for a whole party. I'm not talking whole tour groups, of course. Just my opinion...

Also, I've been mostly during summer and have never had to stand in line that long to get a Fastpass. Maybe 5 minutes tops.


(oops GarrettJD types faster than I do)