Fastpass Enforcement coming?

[nhl66pens]

Maybe they can start FPs for restaurants! Then you could get your FP for an attraction and then get a FP for lunch or dinner so you could make sure they are coordinated.

 

[n2mm]

The article says they will give a 5 minute early and a 15 minute late cushion. Stuff happens - a ride goes down and you get stuck in line or get poor service in a restaurant. I think they should give more of a late cushion, maybe 1 or 2 hours.

I agree, as soon as I read this I thought, yea, everything except test track which is always shutting down and us being told to come back anytime.

 

[Bonniec]

we have never used a FastPass outside of it's window, and always make ADRs too

Neither have we. I don't really care one way or another if Disney enforces it. I'm happy either way. Honestly, half the time we don'tbother with a fast pass because of all the extra walking just to get one. We do usually grab one or two for the biggest rides.

I wish they had some centralized places to get them though. I think I read somewhere they tried that and it didn't work. Not sure why. Personally, I would love that. I also like the idea of the wristband thingies or at least some way to limit how many fastpasses one person can get. Last time we experienced the fun of having a tour group person pull out a huge wad of fast passes in front of us. There must have been close to 50.

Either way, the system is free so either we use it or just don't.

 

[carrie6466]

This won't impact me. I always use my FP during the allotted window.

I may be in the minority but I am more than willing to pay for FP access. Something similar to what Universal does. If you are a Disney resort guest then you should be able to pay for the right to use the FP lines. There is a demand here that Disney can make lots of $ off of.

I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't Universal let you have express lines or something like it for free if you stay in their hotels? Isn't it the 'outside' guests who have to pay a fee for it?

I agree with those who feel sorry for the cast members having to explain this.

Having to explain that the unofficial guide is really unofficial and that the complete wdw isn't completely accurate sounds like a pain. Especially since all the 2012 versions are on the shelf.

We are arriving on march 13th. Staying positive even with the change!

I agree with all who feel sorry for the CM's who are going to have to deal with it, especially at first. Glad my trip isn't until September. Hopefully by then things will just run smoothly.

It isn't just the FP system that won't work out correctly. It's the ADR system for dining that is the problem, too. Last year we had an ADR for 7:00 pm at Crystal Palace and didn't get seated until 7:45. We had one at Teppan Edo in Epcot for 7:15 and didn't get seated until 7:40. These things were out of our control and slowed us up tremendously. Crystal Palace lost our 'slip' or whatever it is after we checked in. Teppan Edo was just slow eaters, I guess

If we had counted on our 7:00 time to eat at CP and didn't get seated until 7:45, we never could have used the (hypothetical) 8:30 FP we had for Splash Mt. On the other hand, if it had been a regular seating time of 15 minutes or so, we probably would have been ok.

 

[mjp12831]

Your argument makes no sense. Disney only gives out "x" amount in a certain period. That way , when you return, you should have a small wait. If there is no set return time, you can have a mad crunch and it makes the FP line 30 min, and makes the line for stand by even longer.
Just because it always runs at full capacity earlier is irrelevant.

Again this is wrong.

Those of you that think enforcing the end time is going to improve things need to take the emotion out of it and think about the facts. I used to think that not enforcing FP end time was problematic - but I stepped back and thought about the opposing argument and figured out that I was wrong.

They don't give out x in a certain period, they give out x in a day.
So in a day there are only x FP riders.
By the same token, FP rides generally run at capacity so the difference between capacity and x FP are the standby riders in a day.
Someone with a FP with a return time ahead of yours is ALREADY in line ahead of you if you are in the standby line. If they return late (after you get in the SB line and ride), you may actually BENEFIT by now being ahead of that person.
You also benefit by people hoarding FP who do not return and go home with them - this is likely to reduce if FP windows are enforced.

This change makes the park experience worse for those of us that work the FP system, but it does nothing for those of you that don't. A rule change that doesn't improve anything for anyone but makes it worse for others is bad.

 

[RMulieri]

I heard this too..Doesn't really affect me..I generally use them within the window..Just another reason why I loved Universal..Yes those who stay offsite pay for the privelage of express pass, but onsite does not, and believe me not having to carry around slips of paper, stampede to a machine and clock watch my whole trip was SOOOOO worth it.

 

[mjp12831]

Wow, no kidding! People are getting waaaay too worked up about this. I didn't realize there were so many people out there who used FastPasses outside of their actual use window.


If the time doesn't work for you, then don't take the FastPass. Wait in line, or move along to the next ride and come back later. As I stated a while back, we have never used a FastPass outside of it's window, and always make ADRs too. Never missed a meal becuase of FastPass either.

Balancing FastPasses and ADRs is so simple, even a caveman could do it. Honest!

Here's why I "get worked up" about it - it makes the park experience less fun.

If you hustle around the park and collect FP, you can go on the busiest day to any park and ride all day, including hitting the very popular ones 2 or 3 times per day, and almost never wait in a line more than 20 or 30 minutes. This implies that the system is working very well.

I cannot think of one benefit that changing (enforcing end times) will have. If someone can point out a benefit, I'd be happy to hear it.

In the meantime, I'm thinking that the change will result in me riding less times and being tethered to my cell phone clock all day watching times and figuring out where I am in the park - that is less enjoyable. I get to deal with schedules the rest of my year - when I'm in WDW, it's nice to not have to pay attention to the clock all day.

 

[rsimon]

Maybe they can start FPs for restaurants! Then you could get your FP for an attraction and then get a FP for lunch or dinner so you could make sure they are coordinated.

They do have FP for restaurants.. It is called an ADR!

 

[RMulieri]

The article mentions they are doing this for NextGEN Fastpass..Which there hasn't been alot of info about yet..Maybe there are better things coming down the road.This does not have to be some tragic thing, it could be paving the way for something better...I can't believe I actually said this.

 

[jillybgood]

Well, I wasn't "dropped on my head," but changing how FP operates will certainly make me think about taking a Disney vacation during certain times of the year, absolutely. When any place changes a practice, rule, or policy related to how you access it's features, naturally it's going to make you re-evaluate if you want to accept the trip under the new conditions.

Exactly! We decided on our last vacation to Disney that our next vacation to Orlando would be a non-Disney vacation in which we did all the other major Orlando parks as well as Busch Gardens. Our reasoning was that we wanted to have a fun vacation but also wanted it to feel more relaxing and less like mission to accomplish. We decided to stay onsite while at the universal parks so we would have the express pass benefit which we love and also do a Discovery Cove ultimate package. We would also work enough money into the budget to buy the express pass privledges at Busch Gardens/Seaworld if we thought they would be needed when we arrived at the parks.

After we got home we started wavering on that decision and came to the conclusion that if free dining (great deal for my family) was offered for our time period (likely) we would go back to Disney. We love the dining plan but hate how it forces you to plan your vacation around your meals. I love the headliner rides and if I have to hard schedule those into our plans as well then it is a deal breaker for me for our next vacation. If FP times going to be enforced are going with our original plan for the non-Disney vacation. Disney will have made the decision easy for us.

I'm not saying we would never go back to Disney. We probably would. What I am saying is that under the present set-up a Disney vacation is so attractive to us that we find it hard to stay away even though we have been there many times. Under the new set-up we will find the decision to stay and play elsewhere much, much easier.

Tropical Wilds, I agree with everything you have posted!

 

[sjs314]

My disappointment with this is that at the end of the day this is going to cause many, many hassles for guests.

Let's say I come up to Toy Story Mania and the FP return time is 11:50 -12:45. But I have a ADR for Noon on the same day across the park. I really can't go to the ride at 11:45 (5 mins early) and expect to make my ADR on time. Nor can I expect to make it to the ride at 1:00 (just an hour after my ADR starts, assuming I get seated on time).

And, thanks to Disney's latest $$ grabbing scheme, I can't skip out on my ADR because they will charge my credit card.

So, what do I do (besides the obvious - not ride)? I could return to the attraction later in the day but the FPs will surely be gone then. So, instead, I sit at the FastPass machine for a while for the return window to advance to a time that I know I can make. This could take a long time... and it isn't a magical time while I'm waiting either.

As noted by some, FP isn't a God given right. I guess I'm just saying that this new system is going to add more stress and friction to the Disney vacationer's experience. Which doesn't seem to me like a good change.

Then you don't grab that fastpass because it won't work for you?

Fastpass IS a free courtesy, not a right. If it doesn't work for you, don't use it - easy enough

cymbaldiva, I agree with you 100% if you see the return time that is posted is going to conflict with an ADR you have then you just bypass the FP and guess what it is just possible and I think totally should play out that when you return later to get a FP there will be one available , not "all gone for the day" as happens now with the more popular attractions/rides.

How great would it be to head to TSM after noon or later and find you could still obtain a FP for TSM. This is how the system should work, All FP should not be gone for the day by 10:30 am because of people grabbing and hoarding them to use later in the evening hours.

Back when the FP system was relatively new, I can rememeber being at Epcot for EMH, and there were still FP to be had for Soar'in at 9:30pm
I think once it get rolls out everyone will find the new system will work to everyones advantage.

 

[HalloweenNut]

I'm still new and was just starting to get the whole FastPass/touring plans thing figured out so this has thrown me for a bit of a loop. There were only a few instances though where we were planning on picking up some Fastpasses on our way out of the park for a mid-day break with the intension of using them later so hopefully it shouldn't affect us too much.

Do you think this is a way of Disney trying to cope with the hordes of tour groups that I've heard can descend on a Fastpass line en-mass and clog it up? Just a thought.

 

[i*heart*minniemouse]

Then you don't grab that fastpass because it won't work for you?

Fastpass IS a free courtesy, not a right. If it doesn't work for you, don't use it - easy enough

 

[sharonabe]

But it's STANDBY, meaning, they fill in the space for the primary line which is the FP line. Making it harder for FP people to use the service so that the people in standby don't have to wait as long is the same as the airlines deciding to make it harder for ticketholders with reservations to get on the plane to make it easier for people flying standby to get a seat.

You're standby. By definition, your seating isn't the priority. You got there late, didn't use the system, now you have to wait. That's how it works for airplanes, concerts, events, dinners... Everything. That is what standby is, that's how it works, that's the whole point of it. Changing the actual ride line to allow more people to use standby and get on penalizes the folks who are using the system correctly and as it's intended and should not be Disney's priority, especially since their repeated and express purpose in putting in FP was so that as a FP guest, you could do other things.

I thought you said there was no such thing as a FP guest?

 

[Goofy4]

This would be a great topic for MythBusters, no?

Late FP usage can have an impact on everyone else. Consider:

• Obtaining a FP for Mission: Space when there is no wait impacts later stand-by and FP users when there is a line.
• Obtaining a FP for EE and immediately riding EE gives you 2 shots at EE. Nothing wrong with that, except for the late-arriving stand-by guests who can neither obtain a FP nor ride EE without it eating up most of an afternoon (really bad if AK closes early). You might be happy, but the guest who missed out isn't.
• Obtaining multiple FPs early holds multiple virtual places in line, freeing you ride other non-FP attractions. By becoming a virtual copy of yourself, you are able to hold more than one spot in line AND increase the wait time at non-FP attractions, entertainment, restaurants, etc. (think HM).
• Holding an invisible virtual spot in line skews the the expected wait time for both FP and stand-by riders late in the day. For example, when you're attempting to ride RnR one more time before you leave because you see a short stand-by time, you know what I mean -- the late FP riders keep coming and coming.
• Late FP usage enables "professional" FP collectors to either act as a proxy for those willing to pay for it, or for leaders of those large tour groups to obtain FPs for 40,60,80 people. I think this is what catches Disney's attention the most.

 

[Alesia]

How great would it be to head to TSM after noon or later and find you could still obtain a FP for TSM. This is how the system should work, All FP should not be gone for the day by 10:30 am because of people grabbing and hoarding them to use later in the evening hours.

Enforcing the return time isn't going to change this. The only difference is that now everyone will just have to return on time - and most of them will. The others will have just wasted a fast pass. As it is now, most people do return within the window. Those that don't still could - they just don't because they don't have to. Enforcing the end times will only ensure that a larger percentage make more of an effort to get back to TSM in time.The only thing that is going to stop the hoards from converging on TSM is building another massively popular attraction.

 

[Jessfromjersey]

I see both sides to the argument..but one thing bothers me. Who says it's your "right" to ride all attractions regardless of dinner reservations, or other plans? If you can't make the new fp time alloted...then you don't ride. What about the people who can't ride at all because all of the fp's are gone and the sb line is out of control? You are both out of luck. Its vacation folks.....if you ride, you ride. If you can't be there when it is your turn to ride....better luck to you next time. Maybe this change will make things worse for some of you and maybe it will make it better for others....but regardless, rules are rules. Follow them or hit Universal next time.

 

[The 6 J's]

cymbaldiva, I agree with you 100% if you see the return time that is posted is going to conflict with an ADR you have then you just bypass the FP and guess what it is just possible and I think totally should play out that when you return later to get a FP there will be one available , not "all gone for the day" as happens now with the more popular attractions/rides.

How great would it be to head to TSM after noon or later and find you could still obtain a FP for TSM. This is how the system should work, All FP should not be gone for the day by 10:30 am because of people grabbing and hoarding them to use later in the evening hours.

Back when the FP system was relatively new, I can rememeber being at Epcot for EMH, and there were still FP to be had for Soar'in at 9:30pm
I think once it get rolls out everyone will find the new system will work to everyones advantage.

Well said. I don't know if in practice it will extend how long FP are available for certain headliners but I agree with the concept and hope that is how it pans out. In general I don't get the uproar. I guess any change comes with controversy but the enforcement of a rule that has already been in place on a free perk available to all guests? Sure, I'll have to adjust how we tour a little bit. But I'm so thankful for this system and that I know how to use it to my advantage that I don't see where the complaint is. Also, if this is just a tweak in advance of NextGen I can't imagine what will happen when the really big changes come about. I hope disboards' servers will be ready to handle that!

 

[Ryansdad0727]

I think this will hurt Disney financially. I know that i will probably not park hop as much since i can't come back to the same park later that night and use the FP's i got that morning. It might just cause me to decide i don't need to buy the park hopper option. Now if i could reserve my FP's online during planning like i think the NextGen system will allow us to do then i will go back to hopping. I am going in March and July this year so i hope this is not true.

 

[nytimez]

"Professional" Fastpass collectors? Now this thread REALLY has been taken over by the space lizards!