Fastpass Enforcement coming?

[doconeill]

In order to increase profit they have to be in tune with what the guests want, so obviously they feel this change is a good one.

Hmm...or they could reduce costs. By producing cheaper product. Or by mass producing one design sold everywhere, instead of different designs sold in certain areas, or cutting back staff, or raising prices, or any of a dozen more things Disney has done in the past several years.

I seriously do not think there was a giant uprising of guests demanding that late FP policies be changed based on perceptions that "lines are long, therefore it must be due to late FP users" that are completely bogus.

 

[nkereina]

Sorry if this has been addressed earlier in the thread, but does anyone know where the web site that was linked got this info from? Usually these threads come from a person who says a "CM told them.." and it's never legit. But that link has some pretty specific info so it has me curious how they got that info.

 

[A&Bmama]

I think everyone is different. I see Maxiesmom point, Disney is not an amusement park, it is a theme park, huge difference. People do not spend a week at amusement park, mostly a day and go there because of rides which btw much better then Disney rides in terms of trill. In Disney you can find much more then just rides but parades, shows, great dining and so on. I am not saying that you are wrong to want to ride as much as you can but for many, esp. repeated visitors, number of rides does not equal successful vacation. It is all about overall experience.

I appreciate your post KellyNY, I agree 100% that there is much more to WDW than just the rides. In fact my all time favorite thing to do is a see FOTLK.

I also agree that it is about the overall experience and rides are a very important part of that overall experience. Once these changes come into effect I think my experience may decline, therefore, I am waiting to see what this next gen thing is all about before I decide if WDW is right for me on my next vacation.

 

[doconeill]

Sorry if this has been addressed earlier in the thread, but does anyone know where the web site that was linked got this info from? Usually these threads come from a person who says a "CM told them.." and it's never legit. But that link has some pretty specific info so it has me curious how they got that info.

Trustworthy sources in this thread have also reported hearing about the same changes from internal channels.

My confidence that the information is valid is moderately high at this point, and that SOMETHING is happening.

 

[Sammie]

Hmm...or they could reduce costs. By producing cheaper product. Or by mass producing one design sold everywhere, instead of different designs sold in certain areas, or cutting back staff, or raising prices, or any of a dozen more things Disney has done in the past several years.

I seriously do not think there was a giant uprising of guests demanding that late FP policies be changed based on perceptions that "lines are long, therefore it must be due to late FP users" that are completely bogus.

I agree but if they are going to offer specific times to advance booking you can't have others just showing up when ever they want.

One has to think of the system like a movie ticket in that if you purchase a ticket for the 7pm show you can't show up for the 10pm show just because you got delayed.

 

[doconeill]

I agree but if they are going to offer specific times to advance booking you can't have others just showing up when ever they want.

Right...but that doesn't mean things are broken now, which is what several of the most recent posts claim.

One has to think of the system like a movie ticket in that if you purchase a ticket for the 7pm show you can't show up for the 10pm show just because you got delayed.

But comparing the "movie" model doesn't work because you're getting a ticket for a 2 hour time slot, and there is a maximum capacity during each slot which is generally a LOT lower than a continuously loading attraction or one that has limited seating but for a much shorter time. The "attraction" model can be a lot more flexible because of that.

Plus, if I had gotten a ticket in advance, but then were unable to make the movie time and showed up later, I'm pretty sure that unless other showings are sold out, most movie theaters will offer to trade my tickets for a later showing.

 

[KellyNY]

I appreciate your post KellyNY, I agree 100% that there is much more to WDW than just the rides. In fact my all time favorite thing to do is a see FOTLK.

I also agree that it is about the overall experience and rides are a very important part of that overall experience. Once these changes come into effect I think my experience may decline, therefore, I am waiting to see what this next gen thing is all about before I decide if WDW is right for me on my next vacation.

I understand, I have my fears as well. I cannot book 6 months in advance and therefore I am afraid that when I get to choose my FPs times with new system every good FP just like ADR will be gone.

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

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.
Actually Walt wanted something different than just another amusement park. Once it becomes just another amusement park then the price they charge is not justifiable. They set themselves up as a magical family destination and they charge a premium for it. Once they are just another park like Universal, etc than that premium isn't worth it.

 

[nytimez]

I see the space lizards are back in force... and with reinforcements, too. I warned you -- this is an unprecedented union of space lizard species.

 

[TLSnell1981]

This is such a change. There will be people who won't like the change but Disney might be slow to make changes but I really don't think they are stupid, and this change tells me that most people will be pleased with the changes.

I disagree...that most will be pleased. Disney seems to have forgotten the Magic and their only concern is with profit margins. I'm not pleased with the changes, Iger has wrought. Many areas have suffered, but sadly, too many accept the loss in service and quality. They will defend Disney...at all cost.

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

Right...but that doesn't mean things are broken now, which is what several of the most recent posts claim.



But comparing the "movie" model doesn't work because you're getting a ticket for a 2 hour time slot, and there is a maximum capacity during each slot which is generally a LOT lower than a continuously loading attraction or one that has limited seating but for a much shorter time. The "attraction" model can be a lot more flexible because of that.

Plus, if I had gotten a ticket in advance, but then were unable to make the movie time and showed up later, I'm pretty sure that unless other showings are sold out, most movie theaters will offer to trade my tickets for a later showing.

I suspect that in the future a higher percentage of the rides capacity will be available for fastpasses which will necessitate a more stringent approach to the timed window. I obviously do not know what percentage of the current ride capacity is available for PF's now, bur it certainly seems to be a fairly small amount. If they decide in the future to make a higher percentage of the capacity available then following the current policy would have a larger effect than it does now (which I still claim is negligible).

 

[carrie6466]

... With the new system said person will just not take a FP either get in line now or return after their lunch at Le Cellier...

Let's not forget door #3. Don't spend money on the dining plan or making reservations that require a deposit. It does affect their bottom line if you are eating an $8.99 CS lunch instead of a $40 TS one.

Maybe it's just me...but I've seen them enforce the FP return times several times. I try to avoid the parks during peak, but it's happened a few times and the CM's were pretty adamant when picking up fp's that you needed to be back during the allotted time or you were SOL.

When I was there in July 2009, I saw this at Toy Story Mania. It happens.

Based on this and other threads, not all Disers use FPs late and I highly doubt general public(non Disers) even know about it, so considering such a tiny number of people, why would they change things, just don't understand it.

We didn't know we could until I was worried about missing a FP window for Soarin' due to dinner reservations at Coral Reef. The CM told me not to worry about it, just come back when we finished dinner.

 

[doconeill]

I see the space lizards are back in force... and with reinforcements, too. I warned you -- this is an unprecedented union of space lizard species.

I don't see a Gorn yet. Oh, wait...there he is...

Let's just hope some Sleestak don't show up. Those things always freaked me out.

 

[style2k7]

Hopefully if this new system works correctly, the wait time for the regular lines will drop. If you're controlling how many guests enter the FastPass line, that's less that you have to halt the standby line for. Less FastPass guests means more regular guests get to enter onto the attraction.

Let's say an attraction gives out 2,000 FastPasses. If they come back all spread throughout the day, it's a pretty good flow between the 2 lines. However, if they all come back at 5pm at night (which they could with the current way it works), the FastPass line is now not very fast, so the regular line has to come to a complete stand still, while only FastPass is being let onto the attraction.

Hopefully it'll work. The only thing they need to do is let guests know before they get their FastPasses. Signage is needed, as well as Cast Members reminding guests. Information on the websites and maps would help as well.

Makes complete sense to me.

 

[joelkfla]

It just pushes the problem up 5 minutes though. People will be waiting around 7-8 minutes early, waiting for their 5 minute grace period...

A few, but most guests take things at face value. If their FP says to return between 1:00 & 2:00, they will think it magical that they were allowed to enter at 12:57.

 

[doconeill]

A few, but most guests take things at face value. If their FP says to return between 1:00 & 2:00, they will think it magical that they were allowed to enter at 12:57.

But how many of those "face value" guests will be standing there, waiting for the clock to tick to their exact return time - and therefore the situation hasn't really changed?

 

[allforpooh]

Uggggg....

Hopefully this doesn't last to long.

 

[mattsdragon]

what's Fast Pass?

 

[doconeill]

what's Fast Pass?

 

[sandymandr]

I wish WDW would use the FOTL like Universal, it is easy, no FPs to worry about. Stay at resort and get it free...I would even pay for an all day FP. I am sad to hear the FP windows may be changing since I am going in May and had actually planned my days / adrs based on being able to use late FPs. The kids have always been young enough that we never really used this advantage, this time, they want to do all roller coasters and I was excited to be able to use the late fp thing. I only hope there are signs and good communication from WDW regarding the new stringent policy. I also wish they would wait until they switch to their new system. Oh well. We'll just spend more time at WPs or the pool. And maybe not go back to parks for dinner. There are a lot of better places to eat for sure!