Fastpass Enforcement coming?

[brerrabbit]

There is no proof. But do a search for Xpass or Next Gen on Disboards or other Disney sites.

Nothing official has been announced yet, but even reviewing this thread, agree with the policy or not, I think most agree that the only reason this change is being enforced is because of the affect it will have on Xpass. Disney needs to know how many people are going to be returning to a ride in a given time period so that this additional level can also be incorporated. If 500 people book an XPass time for the 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm hour for Space Mountain before their trip, that means less Fastpasses for return times within that timeframe will be distributed.

This is a good point you make but if you really think about it Disney already has ten years worth of information on this very subject. Ten years is how long FP has been in place and they hasve the numbers around how many folks use them in their window and how many use them outside their window. As a result they know that if they move to a policy of enforcing the time window for FP's issued at the rides then by default the also know how many X-passes they can allow as well because essentially all FP's not currently used in the window could become X-passes.

I don't think the x-pass system will force you to pre book your time, they will just give you good anytime access to so many FP lines a day, or maybe even unlimited access for the day. No reservation time needed. They created the room in the FP line by not letting normal FP's be good till close.

 

[Wadecool]

There is no proof. But do a search for Xpass or Next Gen on Disboards or other Disney sites.

Nothing official has been announced yet, but even reviewing this thread, agree with the policy or not, I think most agree that the only reason this change is being enforced is because of the affect it will have on Xpass.

Speculation is fine, this thread and others are filled with it. When you posted the quoted statement below, it looked you knew something the rest of us didn't. Apparently not.

"What's being added is an additional "X-Pass" level for people willing to pay for it."

 

[DisneyDad79]

I think has a lot more to do with the new NextGen queue system than the paid X-Pass idea.

From what I have read there will be no more traditional lines at Dumbo when it reopens, instead a "flight number" will be assigned and you will need to be there when your "flight time" comes up. If this is successful and rolled out to other attractions, it could essentially eliminate stand by lines and have every major attraction be scheduled in advance. You either walk up and get assigned the next available slot or you show up for your pre-booked slot. You could deal with no shows by having a boardning soon area and then just fill in with people slotted for the next "flight". Obviously a system like that would necessitate being fairly strict with return times.

It takes away the flexibility and makes operating a ride more labor intensive, but I would give up some flexibility if I could avoid waiting in lines all togeather.

 

[LaurenT]

If they start enforcing FP, I'll just find a way to make it work for me.
But, I have to say, I am having a hard time believing that a lot of people are going to reserve a specific time for a specific ride on a specific day for a trip that is months away.
Are people really going to clear their schedule 180 days out to make sure they can reserve the 10 am slt on TSM?

 

[wmharley]

I hope its false. I know this is another reasoning, if true, to not renew my passes. I'm sure many will be happy as one less family there, but the thing that makes Disney magical, imho, has been on the waning side lately. Sure they are getting new Fantasyland, but it feels like they are nickle and diming people to death. Its to theme parks like what Verizon Wireless is to cellular carriers. Sure its great, but when there are restrictions and overcharging for every little thing, it gets tiring.

There are too many variables why someone can get delayed. Its not our fault, and realistically, to say don't do anything else in order to avoid missing your time is glossing over the issue. Its like me saying, "Don't walk because you could then trip over." Are we all to be paralyzed for a FP time?

I say then if they want to limit FPs like this, they need to

Shorten the time until we get another FP

Let us get more FPs instead of one out to 2 hours later. 30-60 min between getting one FP and getting another is then fair.

 

[wmharley]

I think has a lot more to do with the new NextGen queue system than the paid X-Pass idea.

From what I have read there will be no more traditional lines at Dumbo when it reopens, instead a "flight number" will be assigned and you will need to be there when your "flight time" comes up. If this is successful and rolled out to other attractions, it could essentially eliminate stand by lines and have every major attraction be scheduled in advance. You either walk up and get assigned the next available slot or you show up for your pre-booked slot. You could deal with no shows by having a boardning soon area and then just fill in with people slotted for the next "flight". Obviously a system like that would necessitate being fairly strict with return times.

It takes away the flexibility and makes operating a ride more labor intensive, but I would give up some flexibility if I could avoid waiting in lines all togeather.

The problem with this is that it limits where and what you can then do. If your flight number is 78 and they are on 32, and you ahve no idea if its sequential or not, or given an expectation of "This will be about an hr wait" then you are locked in and cannot do anything else.

FPs you know you can show up later, or in the window, and can do other things.

 

[DisneyDad79]

The problem with this is that it limits where and what you can then do. If your flight number is 78 and they are on 32, and you ahve no idea if its sequential or not, or given an expectation of "This will be about an hr wait" then you are locked in and cannot do anything else.

FPs you know you can show up later, or in the window, and can do other things.

I'm sure they would have some sort of time frame attached to the "flight number" otherwise it would be entirely pointless. I have read that this system was tested on RnR. Anybody out there that can give some insight as to weather or not a time expectation was given?

 

[LaurenT]

Any chance that they'll change the return time to a 2 hour window to make things like late seating at and ADR less likely to interfere?

 

[phillyteamhater]

It seems to me that the problem is that privileges that were once available to all, are now only available to those willing/able to pay and that giving the FPs to those paying, you obviously take them away from those who can't pay.

If you are staying in a Deluxe resort now, you get easy access to the park, nicer accommodations, better pools, etc. However, none of those things negatively impact people staying off-site or at a value; they just make things nicer for you. But if those people now are given x number of FPs in the parks, those are no longer available for those staying at the less expensive options, thereby affecting them negatively. I seriously doubt Disney is planning to lower their gate prices for those who can no longer access FPs for free. It's like paying the same amount for a 10 oz. box of cereal that you used to pay for 12 oz. They just hope most people won't notice the difference.

I completely agree.

 

[Albytaps]

I really hope they get on the ball with this and implement it. I have always followed the FP return time and window and when it has expired or knew that I couldn't make it in time I would just throw it away. There's nothing like getting a FP only to have to wait longer than the stand by line because everyone with a FP decided to skip their time window and come whenever they wanted. Why they never enforced this is beyond me.

 

[MrToad_at_BLT]

Any chance that they'll change the return time to a 2 hour window to make things like late seating at and ADR less likely to interfere?

The only reason I think that this won't be an option for them is that based on what's been reported they're already building in a 5 minute early return and 15 minute late return window. So we're already looking at an hour and twenty minutes.

If they just say you have two hours there will still be people saying they can't make it back in time so there will never be a limit everyone will agree on.

My personal experience is that an hour and twenty minutes is more than enough time to get from any one place in the park to the next, it will just take awareness of the time before you decide to see a show or get in line for another ride that has a long wait.

 

[doconeill]

I'm sure they would have some sort of time frame attached to the "flight number" otherwise it would be entirely pointless. I have read that this system was tested on RnR. Anybody out there that can give some insight as to weather or not a time expectation was given?

There were some approximate times...but if you missed your "flight", you lost, and the recommended not straying. It really was meant as a "line without a line" - you had to still be there, but you didn't have to stay in a crowded line.

Any chance that they'll change the return time to a 2 hour window to make things like late seating at and ADR less likely to interfere?

It's possible, although I've not heard of it. But such a change isn't necessarily something that would be communicated through these channels. Same with the "next fastpass" time as someone mentioned earlier - it could change, but we've heard nothing on it.

I really hope they get on the ball with this and implement it. I have always followed the FP return time and window and when it has expired or knew that I couldn't make it in time I would just throw it away. There's nothing like getting a FP only to have to wait longer than the stand by line because everyone with a FP decided to skip their time window and come whenever they wanted. Why they never enforced this is beyond me.

I have yet to hear of any verifiable instance where the wait in the FP line was actually longer than the standby line. It just doesn't happen. And just because the FP line got backed up does NOT mean that it must be because people are using their FPs late. Lots of people make that assumption that it is due to it - very few have any actual evidence of it. Just because mathematically it can happen doesn't mean it really does.

 

[wmharley]

I just got off the phone with a friend who works there and she told me they were advised of the FP changes already.

This will stink.

 

[maxiesmom]

I hope its false. I know this is another reasoning, if true, to not renew my passes. I'm sure many will be happy as one less family there, but the thing that makes Disney magical, imho, has been on the waning side lately. Sure they are getting new Fantasyland, but it feels like they are nickle and diming people to death. Its to theme parks like what Verizon Wireless is to cellular carriers. Sure its great, but when there are restrictions and overcharging for every little thing, it gets tiring.

There are too many variables why someone can get delayed. Its not our fault, and realistically, to say don't do anything else in order to avoid missing your time is glossing over the issue. Its like me saying, "Don't walk because you could then trip over." Are we all to be paralyzed for a FP time?

First a question: How are they nickle and diming people to death? I can't think of any additional fees to what you know you have to pay, no hidden charges.

Second, I'm not sure how many ways a person can be delayed from their FP that is not their own fault. Ride breakdown is about the only thing I can come up with. Potty breaks, hungry tummies are all things within our control. We have always always used FP in their time window. Very rarely do we not make that window, and when we haven't it has been our choice. If you get a FP in Fantasyland for 4pm you need to be aware of the time enough to know that you shouldn't be getting on Pirates at 3:55.

But maybe it just doesn't seem that hard or traumatic because we have always toured the parks that way.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have yet to hear of any verifiable instance where the wait in the FP line was actually longer than the standby line. It just doesn't happen. And just because the FP line got backed up does NOT mean that it must be because people are using their FPs late. Lots of people make that assumption that it is due to it - very few have any actual evidence of it. Just because mathematically it can happen doesn't mean it really does.

I popped over to a web-site set up by CMs, and they seem to think people collecting FPs late and using them does back up the lines. I was wondering what their take was on this and so far they seem to be for it.

 

[WDWMom]

But Dan, the only problem with your scenerios is that you are forgetting that you always have options.
Yes it stinks to take away a bit of flexibility but your flexibility clogs up the system for every one else. If I'm understanding the issues disney is having with the fp system correctly.

I understand your frustration but seriously unfortunately this is about choices.
Yes now you have to make a choice, do I want to watch LMAM or do I return and do a ride.
Now basically when you get your fast pass and you see it's during your lunch adr now you have to make a choice.

Does the fast pass kios have a return time over the machines? I thought they did.
When we get our fast passes, we glance and see what the return time is, then we make a "guesstimate" on whether or not we want to get one. In your TSM example especially at rope drop we rarely get the fp because we've found out that while most folks are trying to get fp, the standby line moves really well. last august the standby line said 35 mins but in reality it was 22 minutes.

I always park hop and not sure how this will effect our touring plan as we simply return when our window says we can.

no worries venting, but I think like any thing else disney rolls out, people adjust.

Has anyone heard any office word as to WHY disney is changing the policy? That may make this more understandable. Have they done any type of polling that says maybe all those 1 pm fp's returning at 7 pm creates issues?

Not sure why they would have to do polling? Any manager could tell you that it probably is a problem. Any "suit" could stand at Space Mt. and watch how many people to in thru the FP line from 7-8/9-10 or whatever a couple times a week and see that there are more people going thru that should and it is causing problems in the stand by line and with people who go the correct time thru the FP line. I will admit we have used our FP beyond the stated time becauswe knew WDW allowed it. In fact, we once used them a whole year later just to see if we could (and yes we could).

 

[MrToad_at_BLT]

I popped over to a web-site set up by CMs, and they seem to think people collecting FPs late and using them does back up the lines. I was wondering what their take was on this and so far they seem to be for it.

Let's see how they feel about it the week it starts after they start getting yelled at and complained too.

 

[doconeill]

I popped over to a web-site set up by CMs, and they seem to think people collecting FPs late and using them does back up the lines. I was wondering what their take was on this and so far they seem to be for it.

Backing up the lines is one thing...making the FP line longer than the Standby line? Only if the standby line is near zero, and then it really doesn't matter if you have a FP or not.

Let me say this - A person using a late FP DOES back up the FP line. By one person. For a very short time. It is not a lasting effect, because in most circumstances, the FP line empties periodically and frequently, and once empty, that late FP user NO LONGER HAS AN EFFECT on the FP line.

All the arguments for enforcement to "fix" this often say, "If 1000 people who had FPs for X o'clock then show up at Y o'clock...". You know what? It doesn't happen that way. Could it? Yes, but it would take a conscious concerted effort on the part of a LOT of people to do it. Kinda like a flash mob.

As for any effect on the standby line, as has been stated time and time again, the people in the standby line ride at the exact same time they would have if the late FP users had shown up on time. They only perceive a difference because they were in the line slightly longer. But the time they get on the attraction did not change.

 

[savannahcat]

I popped over to a web-site set up by CMs, and they seem to think people collecting FPs late and using them does back up the lines. I was wondering what their take was on this and so far they seem to be for it.

I have friend who works on one of the coasters. She says this "will be a great help in keeping all of the wait times shorter."

 

[WDWMom]

Are you sure it was because of the FP line? Most rides have an hourly capacity of at least 1000+. So that would mean 1000 late FP users would have to enter the line while you were standing there.

Yes because we watched them while we were at the front of the SB line. DH even commented to a CM why were they letting in so many FP people and not letting SB people go. He said the FP line was too long and they had to keep it going. When we were finally let thru (a party of 5), the party behind us could not go. They let more FP people thru.