Fast Pass HS, needs an update?

[TDSAXX]

I love the tier system at DHS. Sitting at MCO now after spending 10 days at Disney. Between the Refresh Method and knowing the times that they drop additional same day FP we rode all the Tier 1 rides numerous times.
I also agree with others if Disney starts to charge for FP I’ll vacation somewhere else. I am not paying more for something that’s always been included in the admission price and I’m too spoiled by FP to stand in line for 2-3 hours.

 

[Frozen2014]

Slinky if you’re near the front of the crowd, if you’re not, go to Sunset Blvd. SDD has longer lines 5 minutes after opening than an hour after opening because so many people try to rope drop it.

Do Smugglers as late in the day as you can, it’s busiest in the morning.

You shouldn’t have to stand in line for anything except Smugglers Run and SDD. You should have no trouble finding day of FPs for TOT, RNR, and Alien Saucers.

Thanks. I figure Toy Story is a good one to get for our Tier 1 as from what I have read, no change getting a FP for SDD when HS is day 2 of our trip.
Ok...so rope drop SDD, and visit Smuggler's Run later.

 

[DaisyNY]

Curious...what time do they drop additional same-day FP? I never heard of this...

 

[midnight star]

I love the tier system at DHS. Sitting at MCO now after spending 10 days at Disney. Between the Refresh Method and knowing the times that they drop additional same day FP we rode all the Tier 1 rides numerous times.
I also agree with others if Disney starts to charge for FP I’ll vacation somewhere else. I am not paying more for something that’s always been included in the admission price and I’m too spoiled by FP to stand in line for 2-3 hours.

What time do same day ones get released??

 

[TDSAXX]

Curious...what time do they drop additional same-day FP? I never heard of this...

There are different times for different parks. I googled it before our trip.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

We had really good luck rope dropping then high tailing it to a ride.... that was better then any fast pass. You can do that for any must ride you did not get.

I really like the system at universal, stay in there top tier lowes hotels ( or pay $100 ) and get the express pass. It was so much better than the fast pass system.

Yep. EP is fantastic. But part of why it works is the size of the resort and parks. Universal is smaller with a lot fewer resorts and, honestly, doesn't have the same level of popularity as Disney. Universal deluxe with EP is the same cost as the moderates at Disney (or the lowest end deluxe). Disney already has rack rates (and discounted rates) well north of that and they have too many deluxes to give everyone there unlimited FPs. It would have to be a subset and those rack rates would probably be over $1000 per night if they had unlimited FP.

 

[CaptainJack4077913]

For us, we only have one day at HS as we have just 3 days all together so no choice but to stand in line for them (sneaking in the park as part of a pre-cruise trip). So no choice.

So if we are coming at rope drop to get a Boarding Group....which ride should we go to first? Assume we get a FP+ for Toy Story.....Smuggler's Run, Slinky Dog Dash, or Alien Swirling Saucers?
I'm guessing that is the order to try as stand by, but let me know if I'm wrong.

I would try SDD. MFSR has a reasonably short wait time most of the day and if you do SDD right away you can probably get to MFSR before the line gets outrageous.

 

[DaisyNY]

There are different times for different parks. I googled it before our trip.

Just found this on touring plans...
AK - 11.01, 1.01, 3.01, 5.01
HS - 9.31, 12.01, 2.31
EP - 11.31, 1.31, 3.31
MK - no specific drop times

 

[Disneyfan754321]

Just found this on touring plans...
AK - 11.01, 1.01, 3.01, 5.01
HS - 9.31, 12.01, 2.31
EP - 11.31, 1.31, 3.31
MK - no specific drop times

In that same post there is other tips, i would say google its a great read.

 

[yorkieteacher]

I would just untier DHS altogether once MMRR and the SWGE rides are on the system. It’ll be a park with 9 rides, 5 of which are new to most guests and 8 of which opened as the park’s headliner. There’s a lot of opportunity for people to make their own day, just like at MK.

This is so true! After Railway opens, HS has as big a number of headliners as MK. I count MK headliners as Mine Train, Splash, Space, and Big Thunder Mountains, followed closely by Pirates, Buzz, Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion. HS would have both Galaxy's Edge rides, MMRR, ToT, SDD, TSMM, and RnRC, followed by Saucers and Star Tours. But since this makes sense, they probably won't.

 

[realhousewife]

For us, we only have one day at HS as we have just 3 days all together so no choice but to stand in line for them (sneaking in the park as part of a pre-cruise trip). So no choice.

So if we are coming at rope drop to get a Boarding Group....which ride should we go to first? Assume we get a FP+ for Toy Story.....Smuggler's Run, Slinky Dog Dash, or Alien Swirling Saucers?
I'm guessing that is the order to try as stand by, but let me know if I'm wrong.

I would say slinky dog. But you need to be there very very very early to be at the front of the crowd. We got in line at 6 am and there were 10,000 people in front of us, at least. When we walked to slinky dog the wait time was 180 minutes at 7:05 am. Not fun.

 

[Frozen2014]

I would say slinky dog. But you need to be there very very very early to be at the front of the crowd. We got in line at 6 am and there were 10,000 people in front of us, at least. When we walked to slinky dog the wait time was 180 minutes at 7:05 am. Not fun.

Wow...that's crazy. Thanks for the feedback. We'll be skipping that one if that's the stand by line....and not getting to the gate hours in advance (as then waiting anyways). Don't need to ride SDD that badly.

 

[realhousewife]

Wow...that's crazy. Thanks for the feedback. We'll be skipping that one if that's the stand by line....and not getting to the gate hours in advance (as then waiting anyways). Don't need to ride SDD that badly.

Here is what we stood in on Jan. 4....

 

[agamble]

SDD has longer lines 5 minutes after opening than an hour after opening because so many people try to rope drop it.

Sounds like Peter Pan at Disneyland. Everyone rushes there and the line gets ridiculous within minutes. I shake my head every time I see people in a 60 minute line when all the other rides are walk-ons. The wait gets high but then stays there all day, so no need to waste the morning. Thanks for the tip with Slinky. We'll try our best. I thought we might do the other two Toy Story rides first if Slinky gets backed up. Is that a good plan?

 

[DebbieB]

I like it. It makes it way easier to get good FPs as 4th+ later in the day.
In November I was able to get all 3 Toy Story rides right in a row in the early afternoon, followed by TOT and RnR right after.

I agree. We were there on 12/4, we had Beauty and the Beast, Slinky and Little Mermaid as our original 3. We had a fastpass from the DVC tour and did TOT first. We just tapped into BATB, didn’t watch it, did Slinky, had Lunch, did Little Mermaid. Got a TSM for later, we were going back to the hotel for a break. Had dinner at 50’s Prime Time, did TSM, got a FP for Alien Saucers, did that, and ToT. We checked out the line for Slinky (love it at night), it said 50 min but looking at the queue, no way, It was about 25, then we did the ToT fastpass. Park closed.

 

[CastAStone]

I thought we might do the other two Toy Story rides first if Slinky gets backed up. Is that a good plan?

It is which is why others will plan to do the same. I wouldn’t bother to check out Slinky; if you’re near the front of the crowd to TSL at rope drop go to SDD, but if you’re not, go straight to AS2 or TSM (or TOT or RNR); I’m not sure exactly what you’d be looking for at SDD - the posted time will be nonsense and the line will be moving as people fill it in so you won’t be able to tell how long it is. But the one minute you spend checking will add 10-15 minutes in line at TSM or AS2.

 

[YawningDodo]

Yep. EP is fantastic. But part of why it works is the size of the resort and parks. Universal is smaller with a lot fewer resorts and, honestly, doesn't have the same level of popularity as Disney. Universal deluxe with EP is the same cost as the moderates at Disney (or the lowest end deluxe). Disney already has rack rates (and discounted rates) well north of that and they have too many deluxes to give everyone there unlimited FPs. It would have to be a subset and those rack rates would probably be over $1000 per night if they had unlimited FP.

Yep, this. And if they started allowing anyone (onsite or off) to buy unlimited fastpasses for $100 per day like Universal does, I think too many people would buy it. Add-ons have proven very popular at Disney; a lot of people are willing to pay more to wait less. So either they'd sell too many and the fastpasses would effectively become useless, or they'd cap it and end up selling out constantly, and this board would be a litany of complaints about being shut out of taking advantage of the offering. The demands, advantages, and disadvantages of the two properties are very different...and frankly I always found it a bit annoying at Universal that they want me to fork over extra cash for something Disney has conditioned me to see as a standard service to be included with general admission.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Yep, this. And if they started allowing anyone (onsite or off) to buy unlimited fastpasses for $100 per day like Universal does, I think too many people would buy it. Add-ons have proven very popular at Disney; a lot of people are willing to pay more to wait less. So either they'd sell too many and the fastpasses would effectively become useless, or they'd cap it and end up selling out constantly, and this board would be a litany of complaints about being shut out of taking advantage of the offering. The demands, advantages, and disadvantages of the two properties are very different...and frankly I always found it a bit annoying at Universal that they want me to fork over extra cash for something Disney has conditioned me to see as a standard service to be included with general admission.

I can see feeling conditioned to expect FP/EP for free. Since I've spent more time at places like Six Flags, I tend to have the opposite perspective. We're a family of 5 who all stay in one room, so resort EP is great. I couldn't get an unlimited pass at Six Flags for less than roughly $600 a day and when we book early, we can get RPR for $255 a day. Crazy good value.

I enjoy the free FP at Disney (and don't want it to go paid) but it does come with a lot of strings so I feel like I'm dealing with an entirely different animal.

 

[YawningDodo]

I can see feeling conditioned to expect FP/EP for free. Since I've spent more time at places like Six Flags, I tend to have the opposite perspective. We're a family of 5 who all stay in one room, so resort EP is great. I couldn't get an unlimited pass at Six Flags for less than roughly $600 a day and when we book early, we can get RPR for $255 a day. Crazy good value.

I enjoy the free FP at Disney (and don't want it to go paid) but it does come with a lot of strings so I feel like I'm dealing with an entirely different animal.

That's fair. I haven't really had access to any Six Flags-style parks for years now, so theme parks are basically a once-per-year experience for me and it's usually Disney. From that perspective I do see it being a more appealing deal--and to be honest, despite my frustration with it, I have set aside money for an EP on my Universal day in case I decide I want it. I've just had past trips where I wasn't in a position to pay for that kind of upgrade.

And fastpass is...well, far from a perfect system. I don't want anyone to think I'm arguing that Disney has gotten everything perfectly right with it...just that applying Universal's business model to it probably wouldn't make things any better.

 

[TinkSassy]

I'd be ok with pay FP - but only if it becomes like MaxPass at DL. Everyone has to wait until arrival and then we start collecting. I like it because it is a level playing field, however you still have the paper option there for free as well. The 60+ day is hard for those doing a long weekend (the big rides are usually gone because your longest window is 60+2) and a last minute getaway is also hard because once again the big rides are gone.