FASTPASS Before Arriving

[JessiLynn015]

I would only do it because other would too. We usually book our vacations a couple months out so I don't really like the idea.

 

[Disney Cindy Bear]

I feel that I would have to get the Fastpass ahead of time because so many others would. The question is, would I want to. No, I would not want to get them ahead, it is restricting enough to plan meal times.
I am a planner but I don't like to micromanage our entire trip.

 

[waynesgirl]

Nitpicking.
Not a good analogy.

It is not practical to book more restaurant reservations (ADR) to make up for people who don't show because if too many people did show up that would upset scheduling such as closing time and changeover from breakfast to lunch, etc. Meanwhile if people did not show up for ADRs there is no great loss for the restaurant because there are some walkup guests who will check back more than twice to see if things change and a short wait time pops up.

Meanwhile more fastpasses can be issued altogether anticipating that people won't show up. The ride behaves the same way all day long so making people wait people past their fastpass time* does not force a reconfiguration or other drastic change in operating procedures.

* Use of your fastpass after the window is unconditionally permitted if there is a breakdown or if the fastpass line is really long during the window.

I think you misunderstood- I am talking about the planners, not Disney, who make these reservations because they are undecided. I wrote this on the understanding that FPs would be a SET time, not returning whenever you feel like it after the start time, like it is done now.

I voted that I would, but only because I wouldn't want to get to the parks and have no more FPs be available. Having everything planned sounds kind of stressful to me, but so is running from fp machine to fp machine to collect the fps the day of.

I give you a thumbs up, my friend. We stroll, even with kids, and if we see something we want to ride with a really long line (over 45 minutes) we get a FP.

I said probably not b/c people would find a way to manipulate and abuse the system. Sell FP's on ebay before trips or in the parks same day if you can't pick them up until then, make multiple FP 'reservation's in differnet parks b/c they dont know which park they will be in that day (sound familiar with double booked ADR's), etc.

I think if you have to haul your behind out of bed and get to the parks to get them there is less sketchy activity going on around them. Most con people looking to make a few $ on ebay aren't going to go thru the hassle of the TSM morning dash to try to get a few bucks.

This is why I think it would be related to your reservations and only available by electronic transmission, printed up with the tickets at Guest Services, or put on the room keys.

Again, I like it. It eliminates a lot of paper, a lot of confusion, and maybe, just maybe, it lessens the stampede for TSM or other rides...that gets crazy.

 

[jparc]

I am not sure I get this whole idea. I usually know which rides I will try t o fastpass but whether I do or not all depends on the actual wait time for that ride which means you actuallyhave to be there. I would not want to waste a fastpass on a ride with a short wait.
Would you being making reservations for certain rides during your stay? I am all for making my dining reservations in advance but planning exactly what time I will ride which rides is just toooooooo much for me!!!! I don't want my trip planned down to every detail.

 

[Feralpeg]

As a local, I think it is a terrible idea. Locals already have a terrible time getting into table service dining locations thanks to free dining and ADRs booked months in advance. If I thought I would never be able to get a fastpass when I went to a park on the spur of the moment, there would be no incentive to purchasing an annual pass each year. I believe Disney would lose a lot of locals at their parks.

 

[kirasaurus]

This is a terrible idea! Believe it or not, there is a small group of people that actually ENJOY not having every single hour of their day planned.
Awful, awful, awful. It would completely ruin the experience for me, and for many other WDW-goers.


Oy...

 

[Goofypop]

This is a terrible idea! Believe it or not, there is a small group of people that actually ENJOY not having every single hour of their day planned.
Awful, awful, awful. It would completely ruin the experience for me, and for many other WDW-goers.


Oy...

Why does everyone keep saying this? I don't like to plan my entire day out either but think about it... I know for a fact that on days 2, 3, 4, and 5 I will be going to MK, AK, HS, and EP (This is a tradition for us). I would love to be able to book ride times for the most popular rides during the very first 2 or 3 hours of each day and then relax for the entire remainder and just take it slow and go where I please. People keep acting like they will turn into a robot from 9am to 9pm and just walk from one scheduled attraction to another mindless of their day. This will help keep me from standing in any kind of a line at all for any rides. My family burns off our favorite rides first thing each morning and then we just kind of meander around for the rest of the day doing what we want. This new system (if it even sees the light of day) will be a perfect fit for my family. Believe it or not we do tend to keep things very loosey goosey.

 

[sandym718]

For us this would create much more relaxation. We stay out late (our choice) and are lucky to get in a park by noon-even mid afternoon so FP's are the first thing we check into on arrival, often all out.

But with this we could relax all am knowing we are set with a FP or 2 ahead of time.

I'm not sure how I feel about the whole idea overall, but I do agree that, at least some mornings, it would be very nice to sleep in. Take it easy and head out later without having to either skip the headliners or have long waits. Right now we're rope drop folks, by necessity, not always would that be our preference.

 

[Goofypop]

I highly doubt this new FP system will flesh out. There is such an extreme backlash against it right now. Disney would be foolish to mess with it.

How about instead of giving a perk of a Sammy Duvall Water Sports discount (Who seriously uses that!? ) they could give a perk of two FPs to each member of your party at check in for use at any FP attraction during your stay.

 

[sandym718]

I highly doubt this new FP system will flesh out. There is such an extreme backlash against it right now. Disney would be foolish to mess with it.

How about instead of giving a perk of a Sammy Duvall Water Sports discount (Who seriously uses that!? ) they could give a perk of two FPs to each member of your party at check in for use at any FP attraction during your stay.

 

[jade1]

As a local, I think it is a terrible idea. Locals already have a terrible time getting into table service dining locations thanks to free dining and ADRs booked months in advance. If I thought I would never be able to get a fastpass when I went to a park on the spur of the moment, there would be no incentive to purchasing an annual pass each year. I believe Disney would lose a lot of locals at their parks.

Its too early to say, but it is possible if only 1/2 are reserved in advance-you may find the remaining 1/2 (staying exactly as it is now) actually disperse even slower than now. And the am rush would obviously be less than currently-theres no way it could increase anyway.

 

[nytimez]

I highly doubt this new FP system will flesh out. There is such an extreme backlash against it right now. Disney would be foolish to mess with it.

How about instead of giving a perk of a Sammy Duvall Water Sports discount (Who seriously uses that!? ) they could give a perk of two FPs to each member of your party at check in for use at any FP attraction during your stay.

Because the Sammy Duvall "perk" is an incentive to drum up business for Sammy -- not a perk. It's done to sell a product... not to make people feel good about a "perk."

Giving people two FPs for "any" attraction would sell nothing and in reality be giving everyone two FPs for Soarin' and/or TSM -- because that's where 90 percent of people would use them, and it would throw the entire FP system at those attractions into chaos.

 

[jade1]

Why does everyone keep saying this? I don't like to plan my entire day out either but think about it... I know for a fact that on days 2, 3, 4, and 5 I will be going to MK, AK, HS, and EP (This is a tradition for us). I would love to be able to book ride times for the most popular rides during the very first 2 or 3 hours of each day and then relax for the entire remainder and just take it slow and go where I please. People keep acting like they will turn into a robot from 9am to 9pm and just walk from one scheduled attraction to another mindless of their day. This will help keep me from standing in any kind of a line at all for any rides. My family burns off our favorite rides first thing each morning and then we just kind of meander around for the rest of the day doing what we want. This new system (if it even sees the light of day) will be a perfect fit for my family. Believe it or not we do tend to keep things very loosey goosey.

We would book late as possible, then each morning would be stress free and enjoyable, but we stay out late and sleep in.

 

[jade1]

This is a terrible idea! Believe it or not, there is a small group of people that actually ENJOY not having every single hour of their day planned.
Awful, awful, awful. It would completely ruin the experience for me, and for many other WDW-goers.


Oy...

Might be fine not participating-maybe better off than now even.

 

[Goofypop]

Because the Sammy Duvall "perk" is an incentive to drum up business for Sammy -- not a perk. It's done to sell a product... not to make people feel good about a "perk."

Giving people two FPs for "any" attraction would sell nothing and in reality be giving everyone two FPs for Soarin' and/or TSM -- because that's where 90 percent of people would use them, and it would throw the entire FP system at those attractions into chaos.

Well the discount is labeled as a perk.

And it would throw the whole system into chaos? Really? That's kind of "glass half empty" isn't it? I don't think it would do anything different. I mean, it's not like every single one of the people would rush the attraction at opening and jam things up in a gridlock causing mass pandemonium, burning bushes, cats and dogs living together, etc... I just mean that it would be kind of nice to see a "perk" that we would actually use.

 

[jade1]

I am not sure I get this whole idea. I usually know which rides I will try t o fastpass but whether I do or not all depends on the actual wait time for that ride which means you actuallyhave to be there. I would not want to waste a fastpass on a ride with a short wait.
Would you being making reservations for certain rides during your stay? I am all for making my dining reservations in advance but planning exactly what time I will ride which rides is just toooooooo much for me!!!! I don't want my trip planned down to every detail.

Sounds like they are looking at a 90 day window. How long each slot is available is the unknown. I'm pretty sure cancelations would happen and that would either free up those reserved FP's, or just speed up the stand by lines. I would assume it would be like the dining is now where you can call up to the day before and see whats available-or jump on a computer and look even while you are at WDW. Assume you are down there on a Sunday and decided to look into it. You could look at each park and each attraction and if anything is available you can work with-then take it (example: DHS has TOT available from 8:55am to 9:55am, or AK has EE from 3:40 to 4:40 etc). You could look at the whole week. Just may as well check from home first if possible-better odds. If its all gone-just go to the park as normal and hit the machines first thing.

 

[nytimez]

Well the discount is labeled as a perk.

And it would throw the whole system into chaos? Really? That's kind of "glass half empty" isn't it? I don't think it would do anything different. I mean, it's not like every single one of the people would rush the attraction at opening and jam things up in a gridlock causing mass pandemonium, burning bushes, cats and dogs living together, etc... I just mean that it would be kind of nice to see a "perk" that we would actually use.

They can call it fairy magic if they want. doesn't change what it is.

And yes, it would throw the FP system into chaos if thousands of TSM and Soarin' FPs were distributed beforehand, to the point where the passes would no longer be available at all at the kiosk anymore.

If you want to throw in burning bushes and all your other hyperbole, feel free -- it's usually a tactic employed when you can't actually answer to the specific merits of the debate, so I graciously accept your defeat.

 

[epcot.girl]

I'm not a local but I agree with feralpeg.

And, no, it would not throw the system into chaos. Stop with all of the extreme thinking. They wouldn't just hand out all of the FPs.

How can you possibly know whether they intend to make all FPs available for advanced purchase/reservation or not? All restaurant slots are available for advance reservation, so I don't see why they wouldn't do the same with FP.

I think making even half of them available in advance would be too much.

I'd rather get up early for rope drop than have to decide on my touring schedule 3-6 months out (and I'm most definitely not a morning person!). In fact, I usually only make rope drop at each park once while I'm there (and I'm usually there for over two weeks at a time) and I've never had issues with getting on the headliners when I turn up later, with or without FP.

There also seems to be the assumption that the policy of accepting FPs after their official return time window has passed will continue if they introduce advanced FP reservations, but there's no guarantee that will happen.

 

[Goofypop]

How can you possibly know whether they intend to make all FPs available for advanced purchase/reservation or not?

I don't know. Because I don't work for Disney. No one knows. I'm just not one of you "extreme thinkers" out there who apparently think this will be the end of the world as we know it. You all keep talking about how bad it will be. How you know it will jack up the system and throw the FP system into total chaos. So tell me, how do you possibly know it will be a bad thing? And remember, keep to your extreme and "all or nothing" thought process here.

 

[FortWildernessLoopy]

That's fine for us "in the know" but what about the first time visitors? Imagine coming and either having to wait in a huge line or not get to ride at all because all the FP were taken before you even got there.