Fast Pass+ is not bad for everyone...

[kassonvike]

So, I keep seeing people say, fast pass plus is going to cause huge lines, 3 fast passes is not enough, I'm not going anymore, its just not worth it, etc.

Now, I totally get it that if you are a fast pass guru, with a runner, etc., you probably currently get 6 or 7 fast passes a day and ride several of the headliners twice. I get that you like that and that you really hate the idea of losing that ability.

That being said, you are probably not the norm. Disney wouldn't be doing this if it was going to make everything worse for everyone . As many have said they are levelling the playing field. The simple fact of the matter is that if 25000 people walk into Epcot they cannot all ride Soarin. It doesn't have the capcity. If you ride it 3 times there are now 2 more people that will not get a chance to ride it that day. Does't fastpass plus give more people the chance to ride it at least once? I don't think standby lines will be longer. Disn'ey wouldn't do it if that was the case. They are trying to keep as many people out of lines and spending money as possible.

Now, like I said, you can absolutely hate this concept and it might even cause you to stop going and decide it is no longer worth it. Its very expensive and you are now getting less of the entertainment you like so no one can blame you. That being said, there are probably 5 other guests that were not fast pass gurus and there vacation just got better. They will go home and tell other non DWers that they had a great time and got to ride on some great rides with no lines as opposed to under the old system some of those types would go home and tell people that they hated it and any ride worth anything had over an hour wait. I'm never going back.

I think I'm probably an anomoly. I was very good at the old fastpass sytem but I'm pretty sure I prefer the new one. My spouse hates trying to make rope drop and me trying to get everyone up and to the park made for some confrontation we no longer need to worry about. I schedule fastpass plus for later in the day. I'm also a planner so I can schedule our fastpasses around our dining reservations and assure us little to no zigzagging around the parks. No more fastpass running!

I must admit I'm not a fan of the 3 limit and tiering, but I can kind of understand the need for it. It also is not as big a deal to me becauase we tend to go for a week or more. I already consider Magic Kingdom a 2 day park so we can do 6 headliners with no wait, not 3. So, Epcot has tiering but I also consider that a 2 day park so we do Soarin one day and Test Track another. Hollywood studios is maybe the trickiest. There are three rides we like to do and we don't usualy go to this park for more than one day. We would probably fastpass plus TSM and go on RR and TT when we first arrive before lines get crazy.

Anyways, as others have alluded to, I think the new system is not as good for most on this board, but is better for probably the majority of guests. It will anger some guests, but I think it makes things better and fairer for more other guests.

Our November trip with fastpass plus was our best disney trip yet. It just seemed so much more layed back and easy going. I wasn't always so concerned about maximizing fast pass and touring strategy.

 

[Alice Royal]

I agree with you wholeheartedly. Being an AP holder that lives 30 minutes away, I suppose I do have the advantage of coming back whenever I please, but on average we spend about 5 hours per day we go, we park hop, and we get MAYBE 3 FPs if we feel like it. Otherwise, we shrug it off and say 'next time'.

That being said, I'm aware that once I get my MagicBand (DMom and I are staying onsite in January, so there is a band waiting for me) I may have the advantage of getting both FP+ reservations and legacy FP using my passholder card (I'm not sure if this is possible due to the card being linked to the band, so don't quote me). I DON'T PLAN ON TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS! There is no reason to for me. There really is no reason for anyone to be getting 6 or 7 FPs a day, especially for the same rides.

There was a time when FP didn't exist. It is a LUXURY! And free, at that! All of the other parks I visit have made this a PAID privilege.

All in all, I find the system to be very efficient and easy to work with, at least in making and changing FP+ reservations on my iPhone. Once I'm in the parks and my band does even more things, like holding room keys and admission, I'm sure I'm going to love it even more. It's a fair system (although I'm not a fan of the tier system in Epcot) and it's something that I believe is right in line with Disney's philosophy of forging ahead with new technologies.

 

[ChipnDale79]

There really is no reason for anyone to be getting 6 or 7 FPs a day, especially for the same rides.

Why?

 

[tinkerbells mum]

Although I spend far too much time on the Disboards I know very little about the FP+ system but I like what I do know about it. As a UK visitor we spend 2 or 3 weeks at Disney each time. on our 2011 trip we went for 3 weeks, my DD, mum, dad and me only managed to ride Toy Story once my sister and her family not at all because all the FPs were gone when they got to the park with FP+ we would have been guaranteed to ride it that is a huge plus in my opinion. Generally people don't like change but hopefully once the system is fully rolled out and all the kinks and quirks are ironed out it will be an improvement for most people. I love the planning part of any trip, working out ADR dates and times so adding FP+ in will only add to the planning although working out which park we want to be in for an entire 3 week stay could be interesting!

 

[ShayBells]

Very well said. I agree with you. I get why people are upset but I also get that the DIS is a small small portion of the Disney Population.

Everyone said it was fair before because we were all on an equal playing field to run and beat each other for those FPs. I never took part in it. We rope dropped and still rode rides more than once.

It all depends on your touring but like you said it probably will be good to the majority.

Oh and people weren't saying they get 6 or 7. I saw someone say they got 20 .. No exaggeration.

Ridiculous. It's all ridiculous lol. But I'm the person who is fine with FP- , FP+ , or no FP at all.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[rteetz]

. There was a time when FP didn't exist. It is a LUXURY! And free, at that! All of the other parks I visit have made this a PAID privilege.

that's just it prior to when legacy FP came out there was no FP system. Then Disney came out with one and people were outraged just like they are now but in a different saying that's gonna make the parks crazy and lines are going to be long or short or whatever. Disney is the largest theme park company in the world and they offer this line shorting service free to all guests. The vast majority of all other parks offer a similar service but for a hefty fee. Disney pioneered this type of system that all other parks soon followed and now they are changing it. The change is what makes people outraged. I myself would be fine with three FPs a say OP is like me we don't go to rope drop and we spend more than one day at MK and Epcot. This new system will not work for everyone nor does the system right now work for everyone but Disney is going to do what they feel necessary and I stand behind them for that.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Very well said. I agree with you. I get why people are upset but I also get that the DIS is a small small portion of the Disney Population.

Everyone said it was fair before because we were all on an equal playing field to run and beat each other for those FPs. I never took part in it. We rope dropped and still rode rides more than once.

It all depends on your touring but like you said it probably will be good to the majority.

Oh and people weren't saying they get 6 or 7. I saw someone say they got 20 .. No exaggeration.

Ridiculous. It's all ridiculous lol. But I'm the person who is fine with FP- , FP+ , or no FP at all.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I don't think 6 or 7 would be outside the norm..but 20 without a question is. I don't think that's even possible.

 

[themousexpert]

So, I keep seeing people say, fast pass plus is going to cause huge lines, 3 fast passes is not enough, I'm not going anymore, its just not worth it, etc.

Now, I totally get it that if you are a fast pass guru, with a runner, etc., you probably currently get 6 or 7 fast passes a day and ride several of the headliners twice. I get that you like that and that you really hate the idea of losing that ability.

That being said, you are probably not the norm. Disney wouldn't be doing this if it was going to make everything worse for everyone . As many have said they are levelling the playing field. The simple fact of the matter is that if 25000 people walk into Epcot they cannot all ride Soarin. It doesn't have the capcity. If you ride it 3 times there are now 2 more people that will not get a chance to ride it that day. Does't fastpass plus give more people the chance to ride it at least once? I don't think standby lines will be longer. Disn'ey wouldn't do it if that was the case. They are trying to keep as many people out of lines and spending money as possible.

Now, like I said, you can absolutely hate this concept and it might even cause you to stop going and decide it is no longer worth it. Its very expensive and you are now getting less of the entertainment you like so no one can blame you. That being said, there are probably 5 other guests that were not fast pass gurus and there vacation just got better. They will go home and tell other non DWers that they had a great time and got to ride on some great rides with no lines as opposed to under the old system some of those types would go home and tell people that they hated it and any ride worth anything had over an hour wait. I'm never going back.

I think I'm probably an anomoly. I was very good at the old fastpass sytem but I'm pretty sure I prefer the new one. My spouse hates trying to make rope drop and me trying to get everyone up and to the park made for some confrontation we no longer need to worry about. I schedule fastpass plus for later in the day. I'm also a planner so I can schedule our fastpasses around our dining reservations and assure us little to no zigzagging around the parks. No more fastpass running!

I must admit I'm not a fan of the 3 limit and tiering, but I can kind of understand the need for it. It also is not as big a deal to me becauase we tend to go for a week or more. I already consider Magic Kingdom a 2 day park so we can do 6 headliners with no wait, not 3. So, Epcot has tiering but I also consider that a 2 day park so we do Soarin one day and Test Track another. Hollywood studios is maybe the trickiest. There are three rides we like to do and we don't usualy go to this park for more than one day. We would probably fastpass plus TSM and go on RR and TT when we first arrive before lines get crazy.

Anyways, as others have alluded to, I think the new system is not as good for most on this board, but is better for probably the majority of guests. It will anger some guests, but I think it makes things better and fairer for more other guests.

Our November trip with fastpass plus was our best disney trip yet. It just seemed so much more layed back and easy going. I wasn't always so concerned about maximizing fast pass and touring strategy.

I am not trying to rant, or argue with you, but you truly don't know anything about what people like or don't yet.

You went in November. Wait times for all the headliners are 15-20 minutes. The entire country is in school, therefore parks are dead. What you think is a good idea, may look good in November, but it will not be good from March - August, when people have to wait in line for 1-3 hours per ride.

I know as a fact, Disney is scared to death right now, because they are anticipating a nightmare comes March 1st. What sounded like a good idea will be a nightmare, but not because of fast passes. The problem is, the bands are struggling to hold data and info. So far, bands are being misread. They are making errors charging credit cards for snacks, rather than eliminating a snack credit. Disney has been warned, that when the parks get into peak season, there may be even more problems that they haven't even realized yet. Start paying attention. People have been losing their job and several others are close to being terminated.

As I said for the fast passes, don't worry resort guests and Floridians. Universal Studios makes money on Fast Passes. Guess what? Disney wants to as well. But they do not want to charge like Universal and seem greedy, so they are going around and about to disguise how they will make money of their guests. You can agree, disagree or whatever, but the fact is this, Fast pass Machines are going to be eliminated completely. They are as good as gone. Disney will be awarding resort guests with fast passes, and non resort guests will be waiting in line.

I know right now the non resort guests are testing temporarily through my Disney Experience, but its a sham. They are allowing non resort guests to do it, only to show them how wonderful it is. Then when testing is completed, they will drop the hammer on the new policy and those guests who usually stay off resort, will now come in and stay in the resort, just to avoid lines.

I am not saying I personally like it or hate this idea, because honestly I think it is genius. There was nothing wrong with the old system. You may have heard them say there was a problem, but there wasn't. This is how Disney disguises their greed to get more money. By claiming their is a problem and they want to "even up the playing field" but in the end, this solution will make all non resort guests either spend money on the resort or to wait in line.

 

[beer dave]

I am not trying to rant, or argue with you, but you truly don't know anything about what people like or don't yet.

This is a heck of a statement for someone who doesn't want to argue. They posted their opinion, backed up by some personal facts. You can disagree, but they do know something about what some people like and dislike.

Lighten up.

 

[lillykat]

I will say that everyone I have spoken to IRL has loved the bands who used them. No negative comments. They have said it was easy to change day of FP and it was very easy. I have seen on FB and non disney sites comments like this....

"This year Disney rolled out their new magic bands and they are AMAZING. You use them to get into your room, the parks and if you connect a CC to your account you use them to charge all your expenses. However the best thing was we were able to go online the night before and get fast passes for the next day which was awesome. You can also use them to get fast passes at the parks. They have special kiosks only Disney resort visitors can use. We were able to bypass some long lines this way."

Granted this is from a Disney newbie...but I have spoken to some who have made several trips who felt that same as the above quote. I think the majority did not get 4+ FPs regularly so the limit might not bother many not on these boards. I think the majority of people on here will be more well versed, more able to use the perks to their advantage than the average wdw visitor. I am not crazy about the tiering at EPCOT but am more worried about glitches because I had issues last trip in May when my KTTW said it was a MB NOT a regular card. Everyone was very nice and very helpful but after multiple visits to the front desk and two guest service visits...stumping several managers we ended up with some compensation for our time lost and the whole double room reservation had to be cancelled and rebooked.

 

[sweetdana]

I think at this point it has gone to far. FP+ is done.. Even if they thought they messed up.. it is too late.

I agree with what you are saying, but I have a different opinion..


You need 3 people to = 1 dis-er on average..

We are repeat business.. and to anger 1 dis-er they need 3 people every yr to make it up..Or someone with the goals of a trip to the same place every yr.. so I disagree we don't matter. And I disagree they will make more trying to even out the lines.. EVERYONE will take the once in a life time trip there.. They are not the ones buying DVC, or Aps.. They are not the ones that know what the Firework Cruise is, or make LaCeir a lunch every trip even at 50$ a plate..

Aside from that.. I have thousands of dollars into my Mickey bathroom, my Mickey décor camper, so many pins, I could scrap them for metal, little things like at least 200$ worth of Mickey stuff for Christmas for Kiddos getting Mickey chairs for a kids table, and Mickey wrapping paper. .. Don't get me started on my 3 sets of earrings bought on main street, my art, or the Mickey clothes I wear EVERY DAY! Booking a Disney Cruise, cause I love the Characters so much.. . all these things are gone the second I give up because waiting 60 mins for Soarin is not a vk, and I cannot get FP for both Soarin and TT..

The thing is a number of people here on Dis, have large amts of fun spending, income, which is not the case of most of the population. We also often spend it at Disney, I figured out from 04/2012 -04/2013 I will have spent over 25K on vacations.. (not as much as in 2008, 2009 or 2010..) with out other stuff.. ALL Disney.. . so it is not = ..

I do the BBB every other trip, and I nearly only eat on site, and do the DP almost every trip.. It is not the same as the 1st timer who stays at the Best Western, rents a car and goes to a local Olive Garden for dinner.. The newbie who books ASM cause it is cheaper that the BC.

So no.. I see your point and raise you a

I cancelled my Dec 2013 trip, due to my July trip was not amazing. (Stayed off site for 7 days of 13, and a 1 bedroom with DDP rest. )

I cancelled my Feb 2014 DH and I alone trip, after out Sept onsite 1 bd at the BC for 14 days.. ..(no idea where we are going for Valentines, but somewhere and not Orlando now), Due to the fear of what would happen when they took out the machines, knowing it would be busy with Pres weekend, valentines, not risking a short 4 night trip. cancelled the 2 tours as well as the DDP and all ressies we had.

* I did book a Disney cruise with BC time around it ( in April) .. and you know what.. I am not sure I am buying park tickets.. The thing it I should be renewing my AP, and going in June, and Dec 2014 as planned.. .. which at this point, I am not.

So far Disney has lost thousands of my $, and I wasted every DVC point I had for 2013 and 2014.. to go elsewhere for Memorial Day 2014, Summer 2014, and Dec 2014 ... sorry.. it matters..

 

[themousexpert]

I think at this point it has gone to far. FP+ is done.. Even if they thought they messed up.. it is too late. I agree with what you are saying, but I have a different opinion.. You need 3 people to = 1 dis-er on average.. We are repeat business.. and to anger 1 dis-er they need 3 people every yr to make it up..Or someone with the goals of a trip to the same place every yr.. so I disagree we don't matter. And I disagree they will make more trying to even out the lines.. EVERYONE will take the once in a life time trip there.. They are not the ones buying DVC, or Aps.. They are not the ones that know what the Firework Cruise is, or make LaCeir a lunch every trip even at 50$ a plate.. Aside from that.. I have thousands of dollars into my Mickey bathroom, my Mickey décor camper, so many pins, I could scrap them for metal, little things like at least 200$ worth of Mickey stuff for Christmas for Kiddos getting Mickey chairs for a kids table, and Mickey wrapping paper. .. Don't get me started on my 3 sets of earrings bought on main street, my art, or the Mickey clothes I wear EVERY DAY! Booking a Disney Cruise, cause I love the Characters so much.. . all these things are gone the second I give up because waiting 60 mins for Soarin is not a vk, and I cannot get FP for both Soarin and TT.. The thing is a number of people here on Dis, have large amts of fun spending, income, which is not the case of most of the population. We also often spend it at Disney, I figured out from 04/2012 -04/2013 I will have spent over 25K on vacations.. (not as much as in 2008, 2009 or 2010..) with out other stuff.. ALL Disney.. . so it is not = .. I do the BBB every other trip, and I nearly only eat on site, and do the DP almost every trip.. It is not the same as the 1st timer who stays at the Best Western, rents a car and goes to a local Olive Garden for dinner.. The newbie who books ASM cause it is cheaper that the BC. So no.. I see your point and raise you a I cancelled my Dec 2013 trip, due to my July trip was not amazing. (Stayed off site for 7 days of 13, and a 1 bedroom with DDP rest. ) I cancelled my Feb 2014 DH and I alone trip, after out Sept onsite 1 bd at the BC for 14 days.. ..(no idea where we are going for Valentines, but somewhere and not Orlando now), Due to the fear of what would happen when they took out the machines, knowing it would be busy with Pres weekend, valentines, not risking a short 4 night trip. cancelled the 2 tours as well as the DDP and all ressies we had. * I did book a Disney cruise with BC time around it ( in April) .. and you know what.. I am not sure I am buying park tickets.. The thing it I should be renewing my AP, and going in June, and Dec 2014 as planned.. .. which at this point, I am not. So far Disney has lost thousands of my $, and I wasted every DVC point I had for 2013 and 2014.. to go elsewhere for Memorial Day 2014, Summer 2014, and Dec 2014 ... sorry.. it matters..

I understand exactly how you feel. What people here do not realize is, they are listening to reviews from people who travel to Disney in the weakest season of the year.

As I pointed out, watch what happens to these boards march - August. These are the people Disney love. These are the people who pay top prices for resort stays, park hoppers and dining. That's why Disney doesn't give free dining during those months of the year.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I'd just like to point out that the Disney obsessed (nice impassioned diatribes)...are the decided minority of visitors...

So if even I share some commonalities and agree on some points...do you think there's any hope of winning?
It's a "dent" in the bottom line in the aggregate...insignificantly significant.

I get it... Some people are fastpass junkies and run from ride to ride all the livelong day

But you've now officially lost. The score is 1-0...and you're now the 0.

I'd share/sympathize more if they were building things you need fastpasses for... But they're not. So maybe that is a good enough reason to cancel one of four annual 2 week trips.

They're biting the hands that feed them by running wdw like a tired shopping mall...come back and see what's old...
And we are all "yes mother...may I have another"
Me too...bad consumer.
Bad consumers lose.

 

[jlwhitney]

I love FP+ hated the old system, too many flaws.

I also found it crazy that some of the top rides would have all the FP's gone within in a few hours and you know many of those grabbing the evening passes won't even still be in the park.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I love FP+ hated the old system, too many flaws.

I also found it crazy that some of the top rides would have all the FP's gone within in a few hours and you know many of those grabbing the evening passes won't even still be in the park.

I think that's no one's fault but Disney's, they could have staggered the fast pass system therefore not allowing fast passes to be handed out so many hours in advance. Honestly, all they needed to do was adjust the old fast pass system and I think everything would have been fine.

 

[sweetdana]

I think that's no one's fault but Disney's, they could have staggered the fast pass system therefore not allowing fast passes to be handed out so many hours in advance. Honestly, all they needed to do was adjust the old fast pass system and I think everything would have been fine.

Yup disturbute 9-11 FP at 9 ..

then 11-12 at 10 ..
and so on..

Just like the egg hunts at Epcot on Easter.. they could have..

 

[Surfinpiratee]

Why?

Um, because you're hogging them from other guests?
I get it. We're on the DIS, we're smart , we know how to schedule so we get the most out of our day. But that doesn't mean that someone who's not on the DIS, and let's say it's their first trip...it's not fair to them if they can't ride their favorite ride ONCE if you took 7 fast passes for that one ride all day.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

Ridiculous. It's all ridiculous lol. But I'm the person who is fine with FP- , FP+ , or no FP at all.

I'm the same way I don't plan on using FP+
I love what the OP is saying though it's perfect

 

[ChipnDale79]

Um, because you're hogging them from other guests?
I get it. We're on the DIS, we're smart , we know how to schedule so we get the most out of our day. But that doesn't mean that someone who's not on the DIS, and let's say it's their first trip...it's not fair to them if they can't ride their favorite ride ONCE if you took 7 fast passes for that one ride all day.

I'm not paying thousands of dollars for a trip to WDW to be told I can only ride a certain ride once. Forget about it.

If I want to get as many fast passes as allowed by Disney for a ride like space mountain, then I have every right to do so.

I've not done anything that's against the rules by Disney, if their rides or attractions were meant to be one time only attractions, they they would have never left the "ticket book" pricing model.

That's absurd.

 

[Mad-Jasper]

I'm not paying thousands of dollars for a trip to WDW to be told I can only ride a certain ride once. Forget about it. If I want to get as many fast passes as allowed by Disney for a ride like space mountain, then I have every right to do so. I've not done anything that's against the rules by Disney, if their rides or attractions were meant to be one time only attractions, they they would have never left the "ticket book" pricing model. That's absurd.

^^^This x10