FASTPASS being added to many Epcot and Studios attractions

[TeresaWen]

This is making me even more concerned about how FP+ will affect local passholders like me, and those who take last minute trips. If people are booking FPs like ADRs, how will we ever be able to take advantage of them? The FP system being free and readily available to all guests is one of the things that has always set Disney apart from other theme parks. It has worked very well. Why they feel the need to change that now is beyond me. Using a wristband/RFID is fine by me and is probably a good change from the paper tickets. But having to reserve FPs in advance is NOT an improvement. I will be very, very disappointed if this means I can't show up to a park and have a chance to get FPs for the most popular rides.

I could not agree more. This ultra planning is not for me or my family. I have been asked many times over the past few years why we don't purchase DVC. The reason is with all these changes resulting in the need to plan plan plan plan plan, vacations at Disney are becoming stressful and the magic is slowly being drained. I just cannot commit to Disney for the long term. What is wrong with getting to a park and deciding what attractions we want to experience...why do I have to plan this days, weeks, or months in advance.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think they do risk making a first time trip so inimidating that they might just scare people off. People posting here at least enjoy planning (altough might prefer not to do it to the degree it seems will become necessary)..... but imagine the poor first time visitor.

My greatest concern in all of this is what this does to the standby line. The more FP slots that are taken up with the new system, the longer that standby line becomes. Yes, it will still be there. But it will be a new "normal".

 

[tfc3rid]

Ahhh, the day when lines actually moved back in the 80's and early 90's are like the halcyon days now...

 

[arlsdimples]

Although it is unclear what the exact outcome will be for FP+ what it appears to be becoming does absolutely nothing for me. About the only thing that intrigues me are the FP for Wishes, parades and Fantasmic. I like the way the current FP system works. We use it for certain attractions and go with the flow for the rest. The idea of having to pick what rides I will want to go on in advance makes me a little irritable. Just like another poster we do not even plan our trips 180 days in advance. Our next trip on my counter is an approximate but will not be actually booked for probably another two months based more on ours and our older two kids schedules.

Well here is hoping that what it becomes makes more sense than what everyone is speculating.

 

[ktlm]

I'm very leery about this fastpass+ thing. Seems like in the trials you could only pick a specific attraction for one fast pass a day. In MK, we pretty much only fast pass Peter Pan (DD's favorite), and we have fast passes in our pocket for that one most of the day. When our time is ready to get a new fast pass, we get a new one for that same ride...over and over. Only being allowed to FP Peter Pan one time in an entire day will be rough for us. Plus, I don't want to plan out my day ride by ride using Fast Plus+

As far as the fast pass for Fantasmic, I wouldn't get too excited about that one. It likely isn't going to help the wait. At California Adventure at Disneyland you can't see World of Color (a great show by the way) unless you have a fast pass. So, everyone rushes to get fast passes in the morning. The fast passes aren't specific on spots, so to get a good location for the show, you need to line up an hour and a half before the show and wait to be let into the viewing area. Some people line up as early as 2 hours. We do the dinner packages and even with that, you still have to be there an hour before the show to get a decent spot. All a Fantasmic Fast Pass will do, is guarantee you will be admitted into the viewing area. Fantasmic will be a little better than WOC, because Fantasmic is all seated (WOC is standing), so if you are in a corner of the back row at Fantasmic, you will still be able to see. If you care about where you sit at Fantasmic though, you will likely still spend the same amount of time standing outside the arena waiting for them to let people in as you always have.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

It's Fastpass+.

 

[parkhopping]

I think they do risk making a first time trip so inimidating that they might just scare people off. People posting here at least enjoy planning (altough might prefer not to do it to the degree it seems will become necessary)..... but imagine the poor first time visitor.

My greatest concern in all of this is what this does to the standby line. The more FP slots that are taken up with the new system, the longer that standby line becomes. Yes, it will still be there. But it will be a new "normal".

Spot on. If this goes forward as rumored, all I think we can expect to see is:

*Longer standby lines
*Limited choice of attractions
*Generally unhappy guests

I almost feel like it would be better for them to just abolish the FP system entirely than to put this in. I don't see how it's much of an improvement over no FPs at all.

 

[ex007]

So, FP+ is designed to give people A, B, C, D & E tickets.

 

[Waddler]

I just wish they'd go ahead and announce the details. We've already booked our trip to BLT in April (renting points), WDW's tenative park schedule is out, our ADR windows are opening...

Planning an early 2013 trip is like playing a game without knowing all the rules.

 

[cmh314]

I'm very leery about this fastpass+ thing. Seems like in the trials you could only pick a specific attraction for one fast pass a day. In MK, we pretty much only fast pass Peter Pan (DD's favorite), and we have fast passes in our pocket for that one most of the day. When our time is ready to get a new fast pass, we get a new one for that same ride...over and over. Only being allowed to FP Peter Pan one time in an entire day will be rough for us. Plus, I don't want to plan out my day ride by ride using Fast Plus+

As far as the fast pass for Fantasmic, I wouldn't get too excited about that one. It likely isn't going to help the wait. At California Adventure at Disneyland you can't see World of Color (a great show by the way) unless you have a fast pass. So, everyone rushes to get fast passes in the morning. The fast passes aren't specific on spots, so to get a good location for the show, you need to line up an hour and a half before the show and wait to be let into the viewing area. Some people line up as early as 2 hours. We do the dinner packages and even with that, you still have to be there an hour before the show to get a decent spot. All a Fantasmic Fast Pass will do, is guarantee you will be admitted into the viewing area. Fantasmic will be a little better than WOC, because Fantasmic is all seated (WOC is standing), so if you are in a corner of the back row at Fantasmic, you will still be able to see. If you care about where you sit at Fantasmic though, you will likely still spend the same amount of time standing outside the arena waiting for them to let people in as you always have.

This is what I was thinking. Maybe we've been lucky, but we've never had a problem getting in to see Fantasmic. Its getting in line early enough to get good seats that takes up time and I'm not sure how this will change with Fastpass unless you're somehow reserving seating in a specific area with the fastpass. But even then, I imagine you still have to get there pretty early anyway.

 

[LuckyGirl777]

I'm still undecided on how I feel about FP+, but I know for sure it will make it even harder on those who are going for their FIRST trip!
It's hard enough to pick which hotel to stay at, then which tickets you want, THEN which dining plan you want AND make ADR's.....now you have to pick rides, too?? Seems that will add even more stress to a Disney vacation.
Also, what about the first-timers that don't know you need to do this 6 mos in advance?? They will go to plan this wonderful vacation 3-4 mos in advance and not get FP's for the more major rides because they were gone at the 180 day mark.
Seems this will be workable for those of us who have been several times...but may discourage first time visitors.

I agree. I'm heading out for my first trip to WDW next week, and I was totally overwhelmed with trying to get the ADRs in order.

If I had to figure out rides like this, I think my brain would explode.

 

[DizzyStitch]

I love going to Disney, but all this pre planning just tires me out before the trip even. It sure feels like you will lose the magic if you have to know every step you are taking 6 months ahead. I have moved away from dining for that very reason. What seems good now is not what we really want when we get there. I really prefer the ability to be spontaneous. Is the going to end that?

 

[LuckyGirl777]

I just wish they'd go ahead and announce the details. We've already booked our trip to BLT in April (renting points), WDW's tenative park schedule is out, our ADR windows are opening...

Planning an early 2013 trip is like playing a game without knowing all the rules.

I haven't been there yet, going next week, but I totally agree with the "playing a game" statement. That's how I felt planning this trip, like I was playing a game, but I didn't know all of the rules and I really don't feel like figuring out all of the rules. When does it cross over from fun to too much work? You have to find the special offers out there, ADRs, EMHs, etc, it's a lot to figure out for a vacation. In fact, it's way too complicated as it is IMO. If this is true about the rides, forget it.

 

[SaraJayne]

I love going to Disney, but all this pre planning just tires me out before the trip even. It sure feels like you will lose the magic if you have to know every step you are taking 6 months ahead. I have moved away from dining for that very reason. What seems good now is not what we really want when we get there. I really prefer the ability to be spontaneous. Is the going to end that?

Yup, that is exactly what Fastpass + or NextGen or whatever the term of the day is, is going to do.

Planning your rides 180 days out sounds just magical, doesn't it?

 

[LuckyGirl777]

Yup, that is exactly what Fastpass + or NextGen or whatever the term of the day is, is going to do.

Planning your rides 180 days out sounds just magical, doesn't it?

And what if your kid gets sick on the day???? Gah.

I already had to book two princess meals just in case because I am so scared that someone will be sick for the first one I have booked, and that is the main thing my DD wants to do at WDW.

 

[Waddler]

It'll be very interesting to see if FP+ results in more substantial standby waits for the less popular/faster loading attractions.

If it doesn't, I think even first time visitors will feel ripped off when they use a FP to see Figment and realize that the standby line is almost nonexistent.

 

[DebbieB]

Yup, that is exactly what Fastpass + or NextGen or whatever the term of the day is, is going to do.

Planning your rides 180 days out sounds just magical, doesn't it?

No one really knows how this is going to work. I can't imagine choosing rides 180 days out. People cancel their plans, then what?

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

FP + may have me selling a lot of DVC points. I don't want to go to Disney to be told "sorry since you didn't plan every waking minute six months ago your options are shopping and quick service, all rides and meals are booked" If that's the way it goes I am gone!

 

[freediverdude]

It sounds like this fastpass+, along with the ADR's, will make a Disney vacation more and more like a series of appointments that you'll need to have a paper schedule or calendar app on a phone to keep track of- need to be here by this time for this ride, then we've got x minutes to make it to this ADR, then x minutes til this ride, etc. This doesn't really sound fun to me, I dunno, maybe it appeals to others

 

[2Tiggies]

I think they do risk making a first time trip so inimidating that they might just scare people off. People posting here at least enjoy planning (altough might prefer not to do it to the degree it seems will become necessary)..... but imagine the poor first time visitor.

My greatest concern in all of this is what this does to the standby line. The more FP slots that are taken up with the new system, the longer that standby line becomes. Yes, it will still be there. But it will be a new "normal".

^^^ This
I am totally with both points you raised in your post. With particular consideration for first timers, it should be noted that some folk hate planning more than they absolutely have to for a vacation and countless people who visit Disney don't know that they have to plan so carefully in advance. It's all very well to say that they should do SOME research for an costly trip like WDW, but the sheer ever increasing volume of planning required down to the last detail is starting to take some of the pleasure and most of the sponaneity from even those of us who DO like to plan.