Fast pass situation at GE/DHS

[Davey Jones II]

I think not offering fast passes for Smuggler`s Run is a mistake. If the only way to get into the ride is to queue up, that will only aggravate congestion in and around the land. Then Disney compounded the mistake by putting virtually everything into Tier One at DHS. They could have put SR and Slinky Dog into Tier One, and still let us get fast passes for Tower, Rock n`Roller, etc.

If this turns out very badly, I hope Disney can reverse their decision and change the horrendous FP situation at DHS. Thoughts?

 

[rteetz]

I think not offering fast passes for Smuggler`s Run is a mistake. If the only way to get into the ride is to queue up, that will only aggravate congestion in and around the land. Then Disney compounded the mistake by putting virtually everything into Tier One at DHS. They could have put SR and Slinky Dog into Tier One, and still let us get fast passes for Tower, Rock n`Roller, etc.

If this turns out very badly, I hope Disney can reverse their decision and change the horrendous FP situation at DHS. Thoughts?

Completely disagree. It’s done wonders in DL and I think it will work here. They need to keep that line moving and no FP does that.

Having everything in Tier 1 in the rest of the park is to help spread out the crowds. Disney knows what they are doing.

 

[gatorlisa]

I agree with rteetz, no FP for Smuggler's Run will mean that line moves so much faster. I don't like what they have done with putting all of the rides in Tier 1, but I do understand what they are trying to accomplish. I do wish though that they had at least considered putting AS2 down in Tier 2 with Star Tours to balance it out a little more.

 

[Liljo22]

I think not offering fast passes for Smuggler`s Run is a mistake. If the only way to get into the ride is to queue up, that will only aggravate congestion in and around the land. Then Disney compounded the mistake by putting virtually everything into Tier One at DHS. They could have put SR and Slinky Dog into Tier One, and still let us get fast passes for Tower, Rock n`Roller, etc.

If this turns out very badly, I hope Disney can reverse their decision and change the horrendous FP situation at DHS. Thoughts?

Don't agree. Standby would be hours longer than it is now if there was FP. The only way to make it manageable is without FP.

 

[disney4us2002]

I get not having FP for SR but I am irritated about everything else now in Tier 1. On my Studios day I only have one FP planned and cannot book another at another park til I'm there and it's used. To me, there is nothing else worth FP at Studios. YMMV of course.

 

[MomOTwins]

My concern is that for a ride with a low height restriction of 38 inches, rider swap is off the table for my four year old, and a four hour line at rope drop is impossible for him (and frankly, for my 7 year olds too). So if they don't offer FP by the time we go, and wait times aren't much lower, we won't be riding. I just hope this is all opening day specific and the wait time will taper down over the next couple of months. If I didn't have kids I would wait that long in standby, but Disney is more or less making it impossible for families to ride Smugglers run by not offering FP, which is a weird choice consider it is, you know, Disney World.

Tier 1 now just makes HS like EP. I don't love that I only have one FP that I want to do at Epcot either--it's just going to be the new normal I think.

 

[CastAStone]

Disagree. The new tier system is extremely gameable and will make for excellent touring. See my thread on the topic here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/the-definitive-tier-1-dhs-fp-strategy-post-8-29.3767048/

I also think keeping MFSR out of FP makes sense at least until ROTR opens for all the reasons listed by others.

 

[wisblue]

I just checked FPs for 2 at DHS for this afternoon. At 12:45 PM EDT, there were FPs available for everything but Slinky and the return times were all for 1:30 or earlier, except for RNRC which was at 3:30.

So, it looks like someone who uses their 3 FPs early (either at DHS or another park) would have a good chance to do some good rides with FPs in the afternoon.

 

[MomOTwins]

It definitely requires you to get to HS in the morning though. Our former strategy was always to start the day at Epcot, have lunch in WS, and then go to HS in the afternoon and use our 3 fastpasses there. I rope dropped HS once for SDD and swore never to do it again; I hate how they do the rope drop there. And it is such a HOT park with all the concrete, I like it better in the afternoon and evening. We are still going to keep to that strategy, but now we will only get to FP one of the rides we want instead of three.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I’m glad there aren’t currently FP. I think it makes touring easier as there are so many tier 1 rides that need FP there (just a few years ago who could say that about DHS?) and this at least takes one out of the equation.

I’m just worried they’re going to add FP without warning and those of us less than 60 days away are in trouble.

 

[wisblue]

It definitely requires you to get to HS in the morning though. Our former strategy was always to start the day at Epcot, have lunch in WS, and then go to HS in the afternoon and use our 3 fastpasses there. I rope dropped HS once for SDD and swore never to do it again; I hate how they do the rope drop there. And it is such a HOT park with all the concrete, I like it better in the afternoon and evening. We are still going to keep to that strategy, but now we will only get to FP one of the rides we want instead of three.

We have usually used our FPs in late afternoon or evening too, but sometimes we get them earlier, like on departure day or if we are going to Epcot in the afternoon or evening.

I suspect that the FP strategy at DHS will change when the second GE ride opens. My guess is that the two GE rides and Slinky (and maybe one more like RNRC) will be tier 1. That could put at least two more of the most popular rides at DHS into Tier 2. And maybe someday the Mickey Minnie ride will open too.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

And maybe someday the Mickey Minnie ride will open too.

Are we sure this ride hasn’t just been an elaborate but false rumour all along?

 

[Rach3975]

I just checked FPs for 2 at DHS for this afternoon. At 12:45 PM EDT, there were FPs available for everything but Slinky and the return times were all for 1:30 or earlier, except for RNRC which was at 3:30.

So, it looks like someone who uses their 3 FPs early (either at DHS or another park) would have a good chance to do some good rides with FPs in the afternoon.

I'm not sure if that will remain true going forward. It wouldn't surprise me if most people at HS today are there for GE and that others deliberately stayed away if they could. After the first few days, I think we'll see more "regular" HS visitors start to come back. That said, while the lack of advance FPs can make any one person's day more difficult, I think as a whole there will be more same day FPs available for the Tier 1 rides.

 

[rwalker1304]

I am remote still (3 weeks out from visiting), but I note on the App that there are "Boarding Groups" in order to enter SWGE? Can anyone confirm? Is this Opening Day only or is this in place while the crowds are high?

 

[erionm]

I am remote still (3 weeks out from visiting), but I note on the App that there are "Boarding Groups" in order to enter SWGE? Can anyone confirm? Is this Opening Day only or is this in place while the crowds are high?

Boarding groups will be used whenever Disney feels it's necessary.

 

[rteetz]

I am remote still (3 weeks out from visiting), but I note on the App that there are "Boarding Groups" in order to enter SWGE? Can anyone confirm? Is this Opening Day only or is this in place while the crowds are high?

Boarding groups are the virtual queue. It is a system to control crowds in the land. They fill the land to capacity and then initiate the boarding groups. If the land never reaches capacity then they do not need to use the boarding groups.

 

[tlmadden73]

I think not offering fast passes for Smuggler`s Run is a mistake. If the only way to get into the ride is to queue up, that will only aggravate congestion in and around the land. Then Disney compounded the mistake by putting virtually everything into Tier One at DHS. They could have put SR and Slinky Dog into Tier One, and still let us get fast passes for Tower, Rock n`Roller, etc.

If this turns out very badly, I hope Disney can reverse their decision and change the horrendous FP situation at DHS. Thoughts?

Totally disagree.

Look at wait times of MFSR on opening day .. 120 minutes currently in the middle of the afternoon. That seems amazing for a brand new ride in a new land .. simply because there isnt people skipping the line and mucking it up.

Fast passes, in my opinion, are a failure for high demand rides. Unless you have a LONG trip at a resort, your chances of getting a FP for SDD, FOP, SDMT are almost impossible. I booked FPs right at 60 days at 7:00 am for my October trip. On day 2 of my 5 day trip, I could not get a FP for SDMT ..yet EVERYTHING else in the park (for any time) was available. I could only find FOP FPs for my trip at night. I could only get a SDD FP on my departure day (60+5) .. and even then only after noon.

So if you have short trip, not only do you NOT get a FP, but you get an extra long line because of all the people who ARE skipping.

If MFSR had FPs ..they wouldnt be available to most guests, just frustrating that they are not available and frustrating them because the lines are extra long. If something is advertised, but not readily available -- it may as well not even be offered.

Giving everyone equal opportunity is great .. especially for a new ride. They should do this for every new ride for the first 6-12 months in my opinion.

 

[rwalker1304]

Totally disagree.

Look at wait times of MFSR on opening day .. 120 minutes currently in the middle of the afternoon. That seems amazing for a brand new ride in a new land .. simply because there isnt people skipping the line and mucking it up.

Fast passes, in my opinion, are a failure for high demand rides. Unless you have a LONG trip at a resort, your chances of getting a FP for SDD, FOP, SDMT are almost impossible. I booked FPs right at 60 days at 7:00 am for my October trip. On day 2 of my 5 day trip, I could not get a FP for SDMT ..yet EVERYTHING else in the park (for any time) was available. I could only find FOP FPs for my trip at night. I could only get a SDD FP on my departure day (60+5) .. and even then only after noon.

So if you have short trip, not only do you NOT get a FP, but you get an extra long line because of all the people who ARE skipping.

If MFSR had FPs ..they wouldnt be available to most guests, just frustrating that they are not available and frustrating them because the lines are extra long. If something is advertised, but not readily available -- it may as well not even be offered.

Giving everyone equal opportunity is great .. especially for a new ride. They should do this for every new ride for the first 6-12 months in my opinion.

Agreed.

 

[rwalker1304]

Boarding groups are the virtual queue. It is a system to control crowds in the land. They fill the land to capacity and then initiate the boarding groups. If the land never reaches capacity then they do not need to use the boarding groups.

Thanks. I was just surprised as I thought Disney said they weren't planning to use a reservation system at DHS, and yet they did on Day 1. Maybe I misunderstood.

 

[rteetz]

Thanks. I was just surprised as I thought Disney said they weren't planning to use a reservation system at DHS, and yet they did on Day 1. Maybe I misunderstood.

This isn't a reservation system like Disneyland had. This is a queue. Instead of having people waiting in a line across the park people can go about their day and come back when their time is called.