Fastpass going away???

[SeattleRedBear]

A couple weeks ago, we were just getting into the 40-minute line at Toy Store Mania and giving the cast member who was changing the rope queue a bad time about the fact that there's no FP for the attraction in DCA while there is at DHS. His response was "That's not the direction the company is going anymore." He then went on to explain that the disney researchers have determined that fastpass doesn't save guests time because they have to take time to return to the ride and that DLR will not be installing FP on future attractions.

This makes no sense at all! If I have a choice between standing in line for 60 minutes or taking 10 minutes to walk back to an attraction and having an extra 50 minutes to do something else (ride more attractions, SHOP, EAT...Disney accountants...are you listening???!!!), what kind of choice is that?

There have been some recent reports of FP not being available when expected, but I would assume DLR would continue to use it for it's most popular rides (and that includes TSM...get on the ball!)

Has anyone else heard this? Are there any CMs who can comment on this? I'm hoping this was just a cranky CM who didn't appreciate our joking and not really future disney policy. Any info appreciated.

 

[PigletGurl]

Nooo, i hope it isnt true!

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh good gravy, how would any one CM know where Disney is heading with a policy?

Also, TSMM at DCA has the marvelous Single Rider line, and I wouldn't give THAT up for some silly FP anyway. Gol, we hardly ever even USE the FP tickets (we collect them but almost never use them b/c we either lose interest or there's no line to speak of) as it is now.

 

[LuLusApple]

I just read a thread at micechat re: this very same thing. This guy said he was in line for TSMM and a CM said the same thing.
Very long "epic" rant and discussion going on over there about it.
I think it's a bunch of phewey till DCA gets done then who knows. If Carsland is void of Fast Passes then maybe that'll be a sign?

 

[lulubelle]

I just read a thread at micechat re: this very same thing. This guy said he was in line for TSMM and a CM said the same thing.
Very long "epic" rant and discussion going on over there about it.
I think it's a bunch of phewey till DCA gets done then who knows. If Carsland is void of Fast Passes then maybe that'll be a sign?

From one Lulu to another....I agree with you!
It is nothing but speculation and rumor at this point. But if there are no FP when DCA is complete, I suppose it will be true. Or until there is an official announcement.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I've heard of this rumor before. I don't know what to think of it honestly. I was surprised to see so many fastpass machines down on our trip in April. While considered a more "slow" time of the year, it was still plenty busy enough to have fastpass working. It was the first time I had ever encountered that. The lines were quite long on those rides too.

Sure hope they don't ever take it away!

 

[Gisele]

Fast Passes going away?? Hopefully they will not be.

 

[Boo Bear]

It makes no sense to me why they'd do away with FP even if they come to the ridiculous conclusion that it doesn't save guests time. The FP system gives them leverage to make people happy. If something goes awry, issue FPs! Give them away and make people feel special, etc. My opinion is that CMs shouldn't tell people stuff like that until there has been an official announcement.

 

[mechurchlady]

I bleieve the CM was only referring to Toy Story Mania. That area is very cramped and unlike WDW there is not a lot of space to put stuff like Fast Pass machines. They have to have the left line for disabled guests to exit, middle line is FP or single rider, and then the rest is stand by. Single rider is pretty fast but that line only holds about 15 to 20 people tops.

They will not get rid of FP as it helps vacationers and is a good feature for marketing. I think it was just taken out of context. Many of DLR rides, even newer ones, are in cramped quarters and line control can be hard. Big Thunder has a long path north and a long path east to wrap lines onto while having lots of room for holding pens and FP machines. Some places it works and others it does not work. Buzz has a giant holding pen to west that when full can extend out into Main Street and around Pixie Hollow though I have never seen it that far.

 

[ballarinamom]

My concern is that it may go the way of a paid option like it is currently at Six Flags and Seaworld Parks. At Fiesta Texas here in San Antonio there are levels of paid options from $39- $69 PER PERSON. They give you a small hand held gadget that tells you when to go to each ride. I also read today that 12 Six Flags parks are offereing VIP tours at $249 per person per day with 4 person minimum. With that it includes a guide, front of the line on all rides, preferred seating for all shows, meals, drinks and snacks and character meet and greets
Our Seaworld has just started this as well but I have not seen how much it costs. I just saw the signs up when we were there on Friday

 

[farmfresh]

Well attention Disney! Should this be the 'direction the company is headed in' may I suggest it is the wrong one! FP is not a waste of time but a sensible reallocation of it. I cannot believe it is more productive for the company to have people stand in line when they might be eating, or shopping or other $$$ activities.

We make full (full!) use of Fps on every trip. Sometimes, on the off season we don't need them for some rides, but as a general rule, we will. Splash for example is muc hmore fun in the middle of the day than first thing (esp when it's cooler) and you can;t ride it then without a reasonable wait. Friends who just returned yesterday thanked me - they used Fps and bypassed queues of 50 plus minutes. Not everyone gets to Dl often - for those who can skip rides till next time, or have a longer vacation, maybe it is possible to get through everything without queuing, but otherwise, Fps are very useful indeed.

In my mind, queuing is the worst part of the DL experience, (although the coffee is a close second!)and judging from the MM crowds, I'm not alone.

We have often remarked on what a simple, ingenious and democratic approach Fp is (beats FOL) - long may it last I say!

 

[teatime]

oye take what the guy says on micechat with a grain of salt .I know folks from boards I have been on who have met him and know him ,say he likes to talk big and spread rumors.

 

[PinkBudgie]

oye take what he says with a grain of salt .I know folks from boards I have been on who have met him and know him ,say he likes to talk big and spread rumors.

I remember awhile back someone saying a CM at TSMM said the same thing. I wonder if you are right, just one CM spreading rumors. No point in getting in an uproar unless we hear something official.

 

[mechurchlady]

I still think that everyone is gettting their feathers ruffled over a statement that was about the ride and not the parks themselves.

 

[teatime]

I remember awhile back someone saying a CM at TSMM said the same thing. I wonder if you are right, just one CM spreading rumors. No point in getting in an uproar unless we hear something official.

yeah your right, I will believe it when I see it. I hope it does not go, but again, you never know. But really its a good thing to have at the parks,why ruin a good thing !

I still think that everyone is gettting their feathers ruffled over a statement that was about the ride and not the parks themselves.

yep your right Im not ruffled. I go in August, it wil be there when I am

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

::GASP!!::

I hope they read this board bc they are SOOOOO wrong!!!! Walking back to a ride you've been anticipating is SOOOO much more worthwhile than standing in one place while in line.

When I wait in line at a store...I start second guessing my would be purchases. Do I REALLY need more flip flops? Should I wait until these pants go on sale? If I knew I had to wait in line for a long time (long being 30 min people!!) - I'd second guess that too!!!! Get me while I'm happy & excited - not when I'm bored & angry.

I'd rather lay on the beach than wait in a line. If my kids outgrow DL....I might too if lines are necessary.

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

I wonder if instead of getting rid of the Fast Pass system, if maybe they are going to improve on it? It is a fine system but it can be a little quirky. Maybe they will figure a way to streamline it a little? Make it more efficient?? I don't know, it seems like if a system is popular and is used as much as the FP system is, they wouldn't think to scrap it. They would want to fine tune it......

 

[kiwitravel]

I too have read that FP is not in Disneys future, but only in that it won't be applied to anymore new rides. From what I can gather it is not deemed necessary in the longer term and is therefore not worth the expense of installing for the two or so years that the new ride may be busy....

Cases in point are PoTC refit, BTMRR and BLAB, even in the busy season these rides often don't need FP. Even a slow loader like Nemo is now getting more managable line times and it is expected fast loading TSM will do the same once the shine has gone off the new ride...

Old favourites like Splash, Space and Indy will always need FP as they are not fast loaders, PoTC can get away without FP because it is a fast loader... One ride that could do with FP but can't have it for lack of room is Peter Pan...

 

[kc10family]

I think things change as needed. If they deem it needed, they will find a way to do it. Outside of PP and the other fantasyland rides, they could make it happen. TSM could have the FP machines across the way by the water I would think.

 

[SilentFeline]

A couple weeks ago, we were just getting into the 40-minute line at Toy Store Mania and giving the cast member who was changing the rope queue a bad time about the fact that there's no FP for the attraction in DCA while there is at DHS. His response was "That's not the direction the company is going anymore." He then went on to explain that the disney researchers have determined that fastpass doesn't save guests time because they have to take time to return to the ride and that DLR will not be installing FP on future attractions.

OP, if your description of what the CM said was accurate, I believe he may have only been referring to the fact that the FP option would continue to be available for the rides in which it is currently offered, but that the company is making no plans to include FP machines on any new or additional rides/attractions. If not, I would assume the CM was not being entirely truthful about the reasoning behind the dramatic change. My bf and I just returned from our trip to DL on May 30, and I can't even tell you how much better our trip was simply because of FPs. It's ridiculous to say that they don't save time since you can use them all day on the day they are issued, and even if they could only be used within the hours specified, people can always plan to be in that part of the park at that specific time frame. We saved at least 15 minutes every time we used our FPs (and as much as 35 minutes on really popular rides like Indy and Space Mountain), and we only failed to use 2 sets because we ran out of time. If the entire FP system is removed, I would assume it would be more due to budget cuts rather than what the CM said. No FPs mean hiring fewer CMs for the return lines, and would possibly save on system maintenance costs. Still, it would be a very poor choice on Disney's part. FPs made our trip a lot easier, and I'm not so sure we would want to go back very soon if we had much longer wait times. As it is now, we are planning to return to DL in 2 years, after my bf obtains his teaching credential. I guess we'll all just have to wait to see what happens...