fast pass getting less useful

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Am I using this wrong or is fast pass just not as usefull as it used to be?

 

[MickeysBestPal]

Am I using this wrong or is fast pass just not as usefull as it used to be?

I don't know.

Didn't it work?

 

[notnothin]

I haven't noticed its marginal utility decreasing....

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

It seems to me that by 3PM almost all the rides are return times of 9:30.

 

[BlindTyldak]

It seems to me that by 3PM almost all the rides are return times of 9:30.

But what's your wait time when you get back at 9:30?

 

[GarrettJD]

I'm confused-- what exactly makes you say this? We used FastPass to its fullest extent on our trip last month, and we were able, in one day at the MK, to get on all three mountains three times each in one day, among the myriad of other attractions we did. This was a combination of arriving early, grabbing FastPasses at every opportunity, lusing late FastPasses (which I know is controversial to some, but as long as it's Disney's policy to allow it, we'll do it, and we won't get upset if thay change the policy or deny us entry), and hitting Big Thunder and Splash in the last hour between Wishes and the second Spectromagic.

Also, at the AK we were able to get on Everest three times in the first three hours, with other attractions in between, by efficient use of FastPass. For example, I sent my GF ahead to Everest to get passes at opening, while I joined the Standby line. We rode, then toured Dinoland. As soon as our FP window opened, we grabbed more FPs, used our first set, then toured Africa. After we were done there, we headed back to Everest to use our second set.

So FP is very useful to us. I'm kind of curious why you think it isn't. No flaming, here-- I'm just genuinely interested.

 

[DOOM1001]

It seems to me that by 3PM almost all the rides are return times of 9:30.

It depends when you go,how busy are the parks?, how popular the ride is? and so on.For example I know if I want to ride Soarin without doing the stand-by line and waiting at least 40+ minutes then I should get to EPCOT at park opening, ride it and get a FP right away to ride it later,cause if I get to the park later in the day FP's might be gone or they have return times of 9pm.Same goes for Everest, but at least there you have the single rider's option.I don't believe all the rides have return times of 9:30 at 3pm, the more popular ones,yes,especially during summer or a busy season.I love FP's, sure they're not perfect, but they help out a lot!!!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We find them fairly useful. But you have to know how to use them to maximize their benefit. Plus, you have to take into account the rides that can develop long lines that do not use fastpass.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

We still like it and think it is very useful. That way I don't have to stand in line for an hour and can do other things. We haven't had to wait more than 10 minutes before when using a FP.

 

[Evil Queen]

The only park my fastpasses have been MUCH later were Epcot, and even then wasn't so bad.

I like using them.

 

[DebbieB]

I used it with success in June. The key is to get them early. By early afternoon Soarin' and Expedition Everest fastpasses were usually gone for the day. I got a Splash Mt fastpass in the evening with about a 2 1/2 hour wait time.

 

[pixiewytch]

I think its convenience definitely depends on how crowded the park is. When we went to MK last month I didn't feel they were all that useful for several reasons. First off, the line just to pick up a fastpass was long, unorganized, and stressful. Then there were people picking up like 20 fastpasses at once. I know some people have large parties but I just saw too many people doing this which would take longer of course. Then as someone else had mentioned, some of the times were really late, like after 9p.m. That is partially our fault because we didn't get there until close to noon so I would second the suggestion of picking up fastpasses early. The last inconvenience was trying to explain to my preschooler that after waiting in line for the fastpass we had to come back in several hours to actually ride the attraction. That one didn't go over too well.

Everyone is going to have a different experience though depending on their circumstances. At the right time of year and during the right circumstances fastpass can be very useful.

 

[goofyernmost]

Also, at the AK we were able to get on Everest three times in the first three hours, with other attractions in between, by efficient use of FastPass. For example, I sent my GF ahead to Everest to get passes at opening, while I joined the Standby line. We rode, then toured Dinoland. As soon as our FP window opened, we grabbed more FPs, used our first set, then toured Africa. After we were done there, we headed back to Everest to use our second set.

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.

 

[bluejasmine]

We always use FP and swear by it. One thing ppl dont understand tho is you cant wait for rides like Soarin until 3 and expect to get to ride within an hour. I mean think about it that FP machine has been spitting out passes since opening that morning it seems pretty natural that it would be a bit of a long wait. Also when the wait time estimates 40 min, its an estimate and the two times Ive ridden Soarin it was estimated around that time but I was only in line for about 25-30 min which is not bad at all for a line in WDW. I mean honestly if you dont want wait times you will need to go at a very slow time of year.
We have gone during Spring Break, the crowds were just unbelievable but I had planned and we got up and were there at opening, hit the biggest rides first used FP for lots of things and stood in line for some and was able to do everything and more that we wanted to. PPl just can expect to come into a park late morning/ early afternoon during a busy time of year and get to ride the bigges/most popular rides if its not a slow time of year.
Also remember with the new Dreams promotion they will be doing something different with the FP..

 

[WillCAD]

Fp is not a "joke". It's a system with a loophole or two that smart people know how to exploit.

There is a simple way to eliminate the additional FP problem you seem to dislike so much - each Guest could easily be limited to one FP per day for each attraction. Disney obviously doesn't feel that multiples cause a problem or they would impose the limit, although I do feel that on super-popular attractions like Soarin' the limit might make the FPs last beyond 2pm.

If they got rid of FP entirely then EVERY "poor schmuck" in teh park would have to stand in the standby lines for an hour or more for every attraction.

 

[Allison]

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.

Huh?? I have never seen anything that says one person can't take multiple rides on the same thing. Sounds like you are trying to project the way you want things to be onto what they really are. People are allowed to use as many fastpasses as the system will allow them to use. They haven't deprived anyone of any experience. Everyone is FREE to use fastpass. This isn't school where everybody gets a turn. You do your own planning and use fastpass as you see fit.

 

[Allison]

I found fastpass to be very useful for our family. Between using fastpass and knowing when to hit the popular attractions we rarely stood in lines on our June trip. The longest was 15 minutes on the Safari using fastpass.

 

[notnothin]

Huh?? I have never seen anything that says one person can't take multiple rides on the same thing. Sounds like you are trying to project the way you want things to be onto what they really are. People are allowed to use as many fastpasses as the system will allow them to use. They haven't deprived anyone of any experience. Everyone is FREE to use fastpass. This isn't school where everybody gets a turn. You do your own planning and use fastpass as you see fit.

ITA! Fastpass works well for us, and keeps us out of horribly long standby queues. I have absolutely no problem with it. Learn to use the system!

 

[patsal]

We used them happily and successfully in July with one exception. We were headed toward Star Tours when a tour group of about 300 cut us off and headed in, we knew things would be backed up so we waited about 20 minutes more then headed in--it threw our plan off a bit but we didn't have to wait in line with the chanting, etc. The only thing I dislike about fastpass is when the tour groups head in in clusters or when the tour group rep. is getting fastpasses for the whole group--I am a bit more vigilant when I get in the fast pass distribution line now since waiting behind someone pulling 300 fast passes is just way too long a wait!

 

[tmarquez]

I doubt you'd be happy standing in a 90 minute line for every attraction because there is no more FP.

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.