Fastpass Closed on Some Rides for Light Crowds (Tiered Fastpass System)

[frndofpooh]

We just returned after spending 9/21-9/26 at WDW. Because the crowds were light, Fastpass was not being used on some of the rides. The machines were covered and the Fastpass lines were roped off. The rides on which I can recall this occurring were Buzz Lightyear, the Jungle Boat Cruise, the Haunted Mansion, and the Maelstrom. There likely were others, but I can't recall them at the moment. Although this was not a big deal given the light crowds (our longest wait on a ride on which Fastpass was closed was 15 minutes for the Jungle Boat Cruise), it did impact our method of touring. It also was interesting to us that some rides were using Fastpass while others were not, seemingly without regard to the line length.

Being curious about this decision, we spoke with a cast member who provided some information about this. Apparently, Disney uses a tiered system for the Fastpass rides. "Tier 1" rides always use Fastpass regardless of crowds, while "Tier 2" rides will sometimes close their Fastpass access with light crowds. The cast member stated that the decision on when to close Fastpass access on a Tier 2 ride is based upon crowd totals at noon. Other considerations include historical crowd totals on similar days, accounting for some rides never opening their Fastpass queues on a given day instead of waiting to close later in the day when noon crowd totals are available.

Does anyone have any additional information about how Disney decides when and if to close Fastpass access to certain rides? Is this a new phenomenon, or is Fastpass access typically closed on less crowded days?

 

[Safari Steve]

Since it's debut, FastPass has always been subject to seasonal availability. The first winter, Splash Mountain's FastPass machines were not used at all. Most of the time, if FP is not offered, it really isn't necessary.
Occasionally, a staffing situation may arise (due to too many CMs calling in sick, generally), that makes it necessary to close FP at a particular attraction in order to provide a more efficient experience for the guests (it only takes a handfull of people to run most attractions, and the person who is staffing the distribution area at Haunted Mansion, for instance, could double the attraction's capacity by moving to another position.)
At Disney's Animal Kingdom, the times guide shows which attractions will be offering FastPass each day. There is simply not enough room on the other parks' Times Guides for this information.

 

[justhat]

We we were there in February, FP was open for all attractions from 2/14-2/17, which was President's Weekend. However, after 2/17, they closed the FP machines for a few attractions (Jungle Cruise and Maelstrom that I remember), even though it was still President's Week and the standby lines for these attractions were at least 45 minutes. We asked a CM who was manning the closed FP area at Jungle Cruise why they were closed and he said there wasn't enough demand for it and that it would be closed there all week. Pretty odd I thought since the regular wait for that ride was an hour and he had to stand at the closed machines to keep people away anyway.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Well that's interesting... especially noting that sometimes an hour wait but the fastpass isn't being used? And also- they base it on noon crowds? So if a ton of people came in at 2-4pm- you're basically SOL because fastpass isn't going on some rides since it was low crowds at noon?

 

[DebbieB]

When we were there in May, the same rides you listed had fastpass closed. It wasn't a big deal, they all were pretty much walk-on. The one I always use it for is the Safari at AK regardless of the wait time. We get fastpasses and then do the walking trail, then go back to the safari.

 

[frndofpooh]

We also questioned the use of noon crowds to determine Fastpass openings, but I guess Disney has decided that noon crowds are a pretty good indication of the crowds for the remainder of the day. Justhat's experience with the Jungle Cruise in February and our experience last week suggests that they stick to a pretty rigid formula rather than making individual ride decisions based upon the standby wait times for a particular ride. A 45 minute standby wait on the Jungle Cruise presumably would justify opening the Fastpass lines if Disney was willing and able to make inidivdual ride decisions as the day passed by.

The same day last week that we waited 15 minutes for the Jungle Cruise with Fastpass closed, we waited less than 5 minutes for Pooh, which had its Fastpass open! Pooh is apparently one of the Tier 1 Fastpass rides that always has Fastpass regardless of crowds. In fact, the next day I got a Fastpass early in the morning for Pooh (not knowing how the lines would be later that morning), and when we returned to use our Fastpass the standby line was still less than 5 minutes. We entered the Fastpass line, and the cast member looked surprised and stated that using Fastpass was "pointless." We were a little taken aback that a cast member would make such a comment, but I guess it further indicates that Disney is not making individual ride decisions for Fastpass on a day to day basis. Instead, they apparently are using a formula applied to the park as a whole.

 

[Safari Steve]

Having worked at two FP attractions for years, I have never seen or heard of FP being closed or open during the day based on attendance for any hour (noon sounds completely arbitrary). Suffice it to say that unless something totally bizzarre happens, the attractions that open w/ FP will close w/ FP and the attractions that open w/o FP will close w/o FP.
Stop at the tip board and they should be able to tell you which attractions are offering FP that day.
Also, Also: wait times can fluctuate wildly, and while the Jungle Cruise (using that example b/c I'm most familiar with it) might have a 45 min queue at some point during the day, it won't be like that all day. You should definitely check back later (closer to sunset, the line really drops off, and most nights they send boats empty just to keep the ride moving.)

 

[pilotmono]

As usual, Safari Steve is correct. Staffing for FASTPASS is determined weeks in advance based on demand. On a cold or rainy day Splash Mt. may not open FASTPASS because it is not necessary (ie. walk on all day) even if it was scheduled. It is easier to close the system early than to open it later in the day, especially from a staffing stand point. There are more than two tiers. Technical problems may cause FASTPASS to shut down temporarily or for the entire day. Rarely (once per year) will technical problems shut down all FASTPASS locations. Guest service is ALWAYS foremost on the minds of those making the decisions and they will always error in that favor.