Fastpass Enforcement coming?

[letthewookiewin]

Not for me. If I'm spending a majority of my day or vacation waiting, I'm not having fun, I'm not using my vacation time wisely, and I will not plan to go back.

But your going to an amusement park? I know those of us that love WDW like we do here, like to think of it as something more. That doesn't get away from the fact that at it's core, WDW is just amusement park. You'll spend time waiting for rides, shows, parades, or fireworks.

Sometimes people need to do this. Small kids being what they are (heck, bigger kids being what they are), sometimes breaks need to happen. Otherwise we get the posts about the horrible kids that parents drag through the parks. FP was supposed to level the playing field, make the park less of a challenge, make it more inclusive for families, not make people pick and choose so much. This is the opposite of the whole point of the FP system and does not make it easier for families to enjoy the park.

Yes children may need to take naps. However, when you get a FP you know if the time will work for you or not. As long as Disney will let people use a return FP past the time printed on the FP, they are technically not breaking any rules. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. I have much bigger problems to worry about. People make appointments every day in their lives that are for a specific time and they are able to make those appointments? Making to a FP with in the given window shouldn't be any less difficult. Sure there will be things that are out of your control that may keep you from returning when you should. I think the FP system does make it inclusive for families, even if you actually have to go by the time printed on the FP. It will still make it easier to tour the parks.

 

[mggeary]

Will rider swap passes also have an enforced return window?

 

[cmhguy]

There's a thread I enjoyed reading recently "Disney Rewards Bad Behavior" ...if people are getting seated with no ADR by raising a fit...if people are receiving additional lots of QS food and beverages by raising a fit..... if people are getting their their way with all sorts of things by throwing a fit.... ...well...I can't wait to see how this goes...

It may prove to be entertaining.....I'm thinking of picking a spot by TSM about 5 or 6 pm and watching the madness go down.... Perhaps even a new thread will emerge - where's your favorite spot to watch people throw a fit about missing their fastpass return times....and Disney letting them in.....



...however, I'm NOT happy about this if it turns out to be true!!!

 

[KellyNY]

When they going to give details about NextGen, I really want to know what monster to expect.

 

[Marlton Mom]

This is like watching a tennis match, with (Space) lizards no less!

I think this rule change is going to significantly impact people who tour during crowded times at the parks during high attendance times and know how to work the FP system so that they can tour efficiently. The bottom line is that they will no longer have access to the a large number of rides using fast pass at night and they will have to wait in stand by lines if they wish to ride at night.

I think the effect of this will be that people who maximally 'work' the fast pass system (Gather during the morning/use them at night) will probably choose to spend less time in the park at night because they will have to wait in a line of indeterminate length, without their FP security blanket.

I wonder how much of a percentage of the fast passes distributed early in the day were used during the evening. I think it couldn't have been that high because the majority of people don't know how to work the system that way.

I wonder how much of an impact enforcing the return time rules will have on how the system distributes and manages fast passes. I'm betting that the new software will be able to adjust in real time based on the demand placed on it from people IN the Park and People Booking (Future)FP's from 'home" before their journey to the park.

BTW Can you imagine trying to book FP from home and then having to deal with traffic jams or other transportation delays and actually making your window? I wonder if X % will be set aside for times to be determined at any hour if booking from Home and then if the same will be offered at the park, where you can request a (new System) FP at a certain time instead of just seeing what the current return time is on the clock...

There is so much we don't know about all the details of this next generation fast pass system. I think many of us are assuming that it will work following exactly the same rules and I suspect that some of those rule are going to be very different to accommodate the changes that are coming.

I also think we are still screwed regarding the thundering herds of tour groups, be they Brazilians, Pop Warner's, Cheer or other groups at the FP lines. I'd like to see tour groups limited to 30 people at a time and it would be even better if these smaller groups were told to show up at Ride "a" at time "X o'clock". Having prearranged FP times might end the clogging of the FP distribution kiosks.

Just my 2 cents.
Feel free to argue, dissect, applaud or boo my thoughts, it matters not until we have complete details as to all the changes and system updates that Fast Passes of the future are going to experience.

~Marlton Mom

 

[nytimez]

Not lizards. Space lizards. BIG difference. I could explain, but I don't want to go through all the trouble just to see yet another post get redacted.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

I'll just have to wait and see! I was just planning for the end of August, I was hoping to be done with the planning soon, I guess I will have work a little harder on plan B if this comes to fruition.

I can't believe that it could be real this time. If Disney intends to enforce this rule, all I ask for is consistency across the board. Consistency will be key in trying to enforce the new rules.

Also, I don't feel comfortable bashing something that I not only know nothing of but it doesn't exist yet. I don't know ANYTHING about X-pass, so as far as I am concerned it doesn't exist.

 

[Pjimmeyer]

This is like watching a tennis match, with lizards no less!

...

~Marlton Mom

Hmm. I think I would pay to see that.

 

[letthewookiewin]

There's a thread I enjoyed reading recently "Disney Rewards Bad Behavior" ...if people are getting seated with no ADR by raising a fit...if people are receiving additional lots of QS food and beverages by raising a fit..... if people are getting their their way with all sorts of things by throwing a fit.... ...well...I can't wait to see how this goes...

It may prove to be entertaining.....I'm thinking of picking a spot by TSM about 5 or 6 pm and watching the madness go down.... Perhaps even a new thread will emerge - where's your favorite spot to watch people throw a fit about missing their fastpass return times....and Disney letting them in.....



...however, I'm NOT happy about this if it turns out to be true!!!

That made me think of a segment they used to do on America's Funniest Home Videos. They would start a clip, and a person from the studio audience would have to guess what was going to happen next. You could sit and make bets as people are walking up to the TSM FP entry if they are going to pitch a fit. I do think if they implement it, the CMs working the FP return line for especially TSM should get extra hazard pay.

Honestly, whether it turns out to be true or not, my family will still use our FPs on time. Whether other families decide to or not, I don't even care. I just don't get the "OMG, I can't use a FP just willy-nilly when ever my little heart desires so Disney has ruined my trip" thinking. Then again, I don't understand Klingon either.

 

[Marlton Mom]

Hmm. I think I would pay to see that.

Well, we know the (space) Lizard tennis match would be sponsored by.....

WAIT for it....


GEICO!

~MM
PS. would we need a Fast Pass to get in??

 

[KellyNY]

This is like watching a tennis match, with lizards no less!

I think this rule change is going to significantly impact people who tour during crowded times at the parks during high attendance times and know how to work the FP system so that they can tour efficiently. The bottom line is that they will no longer have access to the a large number of rides using fast pass at night and they will have to wait in stand by lines if they wish to ride at night.

I think the effect of this will be that people who maximally 'work' the fast pass system (Gather during the morning/use them at night) will probably choose to spend less time in the park at night because they will have to wait in a line of indeterminate length, without their FP security blanket.

I wonder how much of a percentage of the fast passes distributed early in the day were used during the evening. I think it couldn't have been that high because the majority of people don't know how to work the system that way.

I wonder how much of an impact enforcing the return time rules will have on how the system distributes and manages fast passes. I'm betting that the new software will be able to adjust in real time based on the demand placed on it from people IN the Park and People Booking (Future)FP's from 'home" before their journey to the park.

BTW Can you imagine trying to book FP from home and then having to deal with traffic jams or other transportation delays and actually making your window? I wonder if X % will be set aside for times to be determined at any hour if booking from Home and then if the same will be offered at the park, where you can request a (new System) FP at a certain time instead of just seeing what the current return time is on the clock...

There is so much we don't know about all the details of this next generation fast pass system. I think many of us are assuming that it will work following exactly the same rules and I suspect that some of those rule are going to be very different to accommodate the changes that are coming.

I also think we are still screwed regarding the thundering herds of tour groups, be they Brazilians, Pop Warner's, Cheer or other groups at the FP lines. I'd like to see tour groups limited to 30 people at a time and it would be even better if these smaller groups were told to show up at Ride "a" at time "X o'clock". Having prearranged FP times might end the clogging of the FP distribution kiosks.

Just my 2 cents.
Feel free to argue, dissect, applaud or boo my thoughts, it matters not until we have complete details as to all the changes and system updates that Fast Passes of the future are going to experience.

~Marlton Mom

Good points. I worry about new system as I do not want reserve my FPs from home, esp. when I go last minute and I mean I book few days in advance. Also not sure I am happy about running to my room at night and reserving FPs instead of my pool time. Difficult to argue when we know no details but I am not excited.

 

[letthewookiewin]

Not lizards. Space lizards. BIG difference. I could explain, but I don't want to go through all the trouble just to see yet another post get redacted.

This made me think of World of Warcraft. There is a race of people that we call space goats and I just imagined something like them.

 

[blessedby3]

Can someone explain what the Next Gen system is??? Im a bit scared
We are a fast pass collecting family that uses them later in the day. I hope the March changes are not going to be stickeing around...if indeed this is accurate.....but what is Next Gen??

 

[KellyNY]

Can someone explain what the Next Gen system is??? Im a bit scared
We are a fast pass collecting family that uses them later in the day. I hope the March changes are not going to be stickeing around...if indeed this is accurate.....but what is Next Gen??

New system they are working on that will let you reserve FP even before your vacation. No other details on how, how many, possibly for resort guests only. A lot of speculations so far.

Edit: Actually there is more but I am a bit lazy to get into details.

 

[Colleen27]

Again I will use the ADR example:

When getting a Fastpass you are in a way making a "reservation" for a time to experience the attraction. If you miss your 'reservation" you don't get seated for your ADR. I read the one argument that some attractions operate at capacity all day so what difference does it make? Still using the ADR example, many restaurants operate at capacity all day and the ADRs are enforced to help with crowd control. Same idea with the Fastpass.

Someone help me understand the difference???

The big difference that I see is that no one is trying to fit 3-5 ADRs into a day without any of them conflicting with one another, based on arbitrarily assigned times handed out when making the reservation. IOW we can CHOOSE when we make ADRs and plan our days accordingly. You can't, at least under the current system, choose when your FPs are valid. And you don't have to walk to the physical restaurant to make your ADRs; if we had to walk to Japan in the morning to get our dinner ADR for Teppan Edo that wouldn't work for us either!

Right now, the late use of FPs actually speeds up the standby line marginally at the busiest times of day - midday, when the crowds peak but many people are holding on to FPs for later - and then slows it down at the end of the day when the crowds have begun to ebb anyway. Allowing the late use shifts a fraction of the ride demand to a lower period; enforcing times will bring some of that demand back to the peak times, slowing the standby line at the time when it is naturally longest. People complain about large numbers of FP holders causing long standby waits at Soarin' (for example) at closing but that standby time is still 20+min shorter than the standby line in the early afternoon, but because they personally aren't getting in standby lines at midday they don't mind that enforcing FPs will make the lines longer for the folks that do.

I don't go to other amusement parks because I don't do waiting in line an hour for a 60 second experience. If we see an end to being able to tour reasonably efficiently with FP - and by that I mean not having to run all the way back to Splash in the middle of touring Tomorrowland or to Soarin' from Japan because that's the FP time we happened to pull - Disney will take one more step towards being just another amusement park to me.

 

[Wadecool]

Not lizards. Space lizards. BIG difference. I could explain, but I don't want to go through all the trouble just to see yet another post get redacted.

Big brother is watching you.

 

[cinderella'smommy]

I don't go to other amusement parks because I don't do waiting in line an hour for a 60 second experience. If we see an end to being able to tour reasonably efficiently with FP - and by that I mean not having to run all the way back to Splash in the middle of touring Tomorrowland or to Soarin' from Japan because that's the FP time we happened to pull - Disney will take one more step towards being just another amusement park to me. [/QUOTE]



This---I will be very disappointed; and I just made all our plans for an April trip. I don't think we are FP 'hoarders'; but we do have young children, and need the break in the afternoon; and like the flexibility of seeing everything in Tomorrowland before hauling ourselves back to Frontierland. I will be very disappointed, and, for the money we spend to take these trips, it would definitely make a difference on how many more times we go back.

 

[Interpol]

I'm trying to figure out the motive behind this move from Disney's standpoint - the business side of things.

First, I totally agree with everything Dawgdad has said - if FP didn't help increase revenues, Disney never would have implemented it. The FP system, as it works now, works based on 2 assumptions:

1. That there are a limited number of fastpasses that are given out daily, and
2. The ride has a controlled and fairly predictable rate at which guests can be accommodated per hour.

Simple example: assume a certain attraction can accomodate 100 riders/hour. In a 10 hour day without breakdowns, that attraction will churn through 1000 riders. Now assume that a maximum of 200 Fastpasses are handed out that day - so in that 10 hour day, that attraction will have accomodated 800 standby and 200 Fastpass riders.

There is no difference if all 200 FP holders showed up an hour before park closing versus spreading that 200 out over the day. 1000 people will still have ridden that ride. So from Disney's standpoint, it doesn't make a difference. In fact, the only difference is that those 200 FP holders will hopefully be out spending money on food or souvenirs instead of standing in line.

So what's the benefit to the guest if return times are enforced? I can't really think of any. From a mathematical standpoint, there is no difference either. From a business standpoint, I can only make the following guesses:

- it will help decrease the incidence of a tour group monopolizing the FPs.
- more people will end up not using their FPs because they show up late, which theoretically means standby wait times will be shortened. Significantly shortened? Maybe, maybe not.
- it will get people moving faster from one point to another, which again means higher potential for guests to spend money SOMEWHERE in the park.

I may be off base here, but those are my guesses.

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't think the timing on this is coincidence. Remember, Dumbo is slated to open 3/12 and is supposed to use a queue-less line. I'm sure that with that system times will be very tightly enforced. I'm wondering if Disney thinks their guests can't handle a lax return time on FP rides while holding tight on the Dumbo times...... which would indeed be pretty dumb-o if that were the case.

 

[Colleen27]

- it will get people moving faster from one point to another, which again means higher potential for guests to spend money SOMEWHERE in the park.

I'm not sure that one is valid. Right now there's no deadline factor with FPs so people are criss-crossing the parks at a fairly leisurely pace as they collect and later use their FPs, which allows time for browsing shops and indulging collecting hobbies like pins and vinylmation. If you have somewhere to be at a certain time you're less likely to stop in just to browse.

I picked up Test Track FPs around 1pm last week with a 3:40 return time; we used them around 7. In the meantime we ate at Le Cellier, rode Figment and spent some time playing in the post show (and buying my youngest a stuffed Figment, and accidentally starting her obsession with trading for Figment pins), met Alice and bought some tea in the UK, did a Kim Possible mission in France, got a henna tattoo in Morocco, spent way more than I intended in Japan, ate kaki-gori, bought caramels in Germany, enjoyed a glass of rosa regale in Italy, picked up a pair of earrings in Mexico, pressed pennies in every country, etc. That's a lot more money spent than if we had to drop everything an hour or two into the World Showcase to rush back to Test Track to use a FP on time!