FASTPASS Ignorance Abounds

[englishrose47]

My tale is a little different ! Someone I know went to Disney stayed on site in a 2 bedroom villa and insisted that because of this he got free FP and everone else had to pay $25 a day . I tried telling him he was confused but he wasn't listening!!

 

[luvthemouse71]

When we went, I grabbed FP's for Soarin for three of us (me, DH and DD). DH didn't like the ride enough to go again (fear of flying), so I had an extra FP. It was approx. 3:00 in the afternoon, the FP was valid for right then... I politely asked a few people who gave me the "snake oil" look, and I stood in the middle of this sea of people and proclaimed rather loudly "Does ANYONE want a fast pass to ride Soarin' RIGHT NOW? I am going to tear this in half and throw it away!" Then some (creepy?) guy took it from me and walked away - don't know if he used it or not, or if he's selling it on ebay right now. But man! Was that tough to give away!

I would have knocked people down to take that from you, LOL..

 

[wishspirit]

eh, it just seems to negate all the pixie dust being cited in this thread to turn around and call people ignorant for how they spend their vacation.

and, re-reading your OP -- that mom with two young kids could have been my friend or neighbor since i have been telling everyone who would listen not to do fastpass their first time on toy story mania so they get the entire experience. maybe the look was because she thought you were ignorant for wanting her to miss mr. potato head.

Its not ignorant about how they spend their vacation, but how they don't seem to research or even read the map! The information is there, but they just don't seem to want to know!

Us Disney obsessives are allowed to have our laughs, just like someone who isn't can laugh at us for going to Disney on holiday! (they just don't get it )

 

[glitterkittyy]

For those who are insulted by the use of the term "ignorant", you do realize that ignorant simply means not knowing, right? So for the OP to say that people are ignorant about FP is not an insult; it's a fact. It's something easily seen and overheard every single day at WDW. We were *all* ignorant of the facts of FP at one point, but some of us have decided to educate ourselves on it and use it to the fullest. If others don't take that opportunity, they remain uneducated (ie ignorant) of the use of FP. The term is appropriate and not insulting.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

I realize in this world that its uncommon to get free anything, but have a little failth and pixie dust that there ARE good people out there willing to spread the magic!

Amy

Well said(written).

- Jennifer

 

[arielchickenofthesea]

DH and I had the same thing happen. We were at DCA and had to get going and had 2 Fastpasses for Soarin'. We were bummed that we could not use them, but we HAD to leave, so I went up to the end of the stand-by line and offered them to a guy at the end. He looked at me as if I was trying to pick his pocket. Then I offered them to the couple in front of him and they smiled real big when I told them what they were, they did not know about fastpasses, but I told them get out of line here and go up to the gate and hand them to the CM, you will get right in.

I also explained about fastpasses around the parks real quick and they *got it*. They took them and we watched as they got in. They were so happy!!! I was so happy for them, plus they learned about what fastpass is!

I am truly amazed at the sheer numbers of people who have no idea what they are, but will give the dirtiest looks to those in the fastpass line and ask, "Why do they get to get on in front of us?" No amount of explanation will take away the belief that somehow we paid more for the luxury. It boggles the mind, even after you tell them what it is, they do NOT believe you!
hehehe...More fastpasses for all of us!
arielchickenofthesea

 

[arielchickenofthesea]

i think there would be more success in giving away fastpasses if instead of walking off and mentally preparing your post at disboards about all the ignorant people at disney you took a minute and explained how they work.

we rarely use the fastpass system as it is really not necessary when you go every couple weeks with a 3 year old. if there happens to be a fastpass ride that we actually want to go on we will get in standby instead of waiting until 2:25 in the afternoon.

but the one time we won dream passes at AK we had no problem giving them away on our way out of the park. we had four and decided to divide them up into twos and each time i went up to a couple and said something like -- we won these and have no use for them, they let you get on rides faster. we used the safari, sorry about that, but you can use them for the new roller coaster! --- and that was that.

disney has changed so much over the last 10 years in how tickets, meals, ride lines are done -- i wouldn't expect most people to be able to download it all like a pro -- on VACATION. shoot in a similar vein, i would no be able to tell you much about the dining plan. never used it and don't plan to. if it wasn't for reading the boards and figuring some of it out i think i too would be confused when the server at a restaurant asked me if i was on "the plan".

let's all enjoy our breaks from reality and stop worrying so much about how others spend their time at disney.

This IS a DISCUSSION forum and folks are DISCUSSING aspects of fastpasses and how to use them and people who don't know how to use, sharing funny stories about people who refuse them. If you don't like the discussion, then don't discuss, but I don't think it is okay to tell other dissers what is and is not okay to discuss here re: fastpasses.

Personally, I find it fascinating to read The Dis and i love to hear about the funny, odd things that people do at the Parks, and I love to hear the dissers tell their great stories about The World. I highly doubt that most folks here spend their vacation worrying about what everyone else is doing at the park, when they are all having their own fun there and just trying to do a good deed and make a little magic for others. When something comes up, that you see or hear, then it is fun to share that story.

Sheesh! If you cannot discuss on discussion forum, where can you discuss it? I guess all of us could have a big conference call. That would be fun! Talking Disney is always fun!

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

eh, it just seems to negate all the pixie dust being cited in this thread to turn around and call people ignorant for how they spend their vacation.

and, re-reading your OP -- that mom with two young kids could have been my friend or neighbor since i have been telling everyone who would listen not to do fastpass their first time on toy story mania so they get the entire experience. maybe the look was because she thought you were ignorant for wanting her to miss mr. potato head.

Since there was as much as a 90 minute wait we could not do TSM without having a fast pass. What is it we missed by doing it with the fastpass?

 

[vicki_c]

With the FP, apparently you bypass the regular themed queue which has a talking Mr. Potato Head, among other things, I'm sure.

Now personally, I would love to see the regular queue with Mr. Potato Head, but not at the price of a 90 minute wait! No way. I will FP next week, miss Mr. Potato Head and hope that at some point in the future (like one of our January vacations), we will be able to take the regular line with no or little wait. I would ride standby at RD to see the whole thing, but we're on SWW character mission next week ...

 

[danceintherain]

I can't believe people don't know that they are FREE to ALL guests. Even on our first trip to WDW when I didn't plan a thing (yes, I was one of THOSE first timers), I still could read the map and learn how FP worked!!

I hear ALL the time comments from the stand-by line, as we pass people, that it's "unfair" or we're "ditching". I just don't get it.

They didn't have Fastpasses the first time we went, but when they had implemented the system by 2001, it did not take us very long to figure it out. However, I think we were under the impression that we had "purchased" the privilege.


We got Fastpasses for RnR in MGM one day between Christmas and New Year's. Unfortunately, the ride broke down, and the wait was incredible. Our FP return time was 9:40pm or something(really late). They told us we could return the next day if we wanted to use them. We weren't planning another day in MGM so we gave them to the group of kids from the school band that we were technically there with. They were thrilled.

I think even if they attempted to try to explain the system better, there would be some people that would still be confused.

 

[HydroGuy]

With the FP, apparently you bypass the regular themed queue which has a talking Mr. Potato Head, among other things, I'm sure.

Now personally, I would love to see the regular queue with Mr. Potato Head, but not at the price of a 90 minute wait! No way. I will FP next week, miss Mr. Potato Head and hope that at some point in the future (like one of our January vacations), we will be able to take the regular line with no or little wait. I would ride standby at RD to see the whole thing, but we're on SWW character mission next week ...

Yes, you are correct. The Mr. Potato Head is only visible in the standby line and you cannot see him thru the FP line. We did standby once in the early morning and saw him. He is just a talking AA character - nothing all that special IMO but kind of fun to see. Not worth an 80-minute wait IMHO.

 

[thatgrrl]

For those who are insulted by the use of the term "ignorant", you do realize that ignorant simply means not knowing, right? So for the OP to say that people are ignorant about FP is not an insult; it's a fact. It's something easily seen and overheard every single day at WDW. We were *all* ignorant of the facts of FP at one point, but some of us have decided to educate ourselves on it and use it to the fullest. If others don't take that opportunity, they remain uneducated (ie ignorant) of the use of FP. The term is appropriate and not insulting.

"sheesh", not really insulted. i was just sharing my own observation.

 

[thatgrrl]

With the FP, apparently you bypass the regular themed queue which has a talking Mr. Potato Head, among other things, I'm sure.

Now personally, I would love to see the regular queue with Mr. Potato Head, but not at the price of a 90 minute wait! No way. I will FP next week, miss Mr. Potato Head and hope that at some point in the future (like one of our January vacations), we will be able to take the regular line with no or little wait. I would ride standby at RD to see the whole thing, but we're on SWW character mission next week ...

personally, i think it is just a really cool queue. lot's of old school stuff that i really enjoyed. when you go through a queue like this and reflect back on pirates, or other classic queues -- you really see disney advancing itself and that is something i like to see. but then again i am a design nut who has a secret passion to become a designer at disney.

 

[thatgrrl]

If you don't like the discussion, then don't discuss, but I don't think it is okay to tell other dissers what is and is not okay to discuss here re: fastpasses.

just giving a different opinion. i hardly think i have the power, nor do i desire the power, to tell people what to discuss. as you appear to be well versed in discussion board etiquette, i am sure you realize that there is no requirement to agree with the original poster and my opinion, just like yours, is just that. sheesh.

 

[HydroGuy]

eh, it just seems to negate all the pixie dust being cited in this thread to turn around and call people ignorant for how they spend their vacation.

and, re-reading your OP -- that mom with two young kids could have been my friend or neighbor since i have been telling everyone who would listen not to do fastpass their first time on toy story mania so they get the entire experience. maybe the look was because she thought you were ignorant for wanting her to miss mr. potato head.

Whatever. I tried to be nice and give someone FPs mid-day so they could avoid a long line. And then through some tortured logic that means I am ignorant?

 

[eeyoregon]

Nap time everyone.

 

[englishrose47]

DH and I had the same thing happen. We were at DCA and had to get going and had 2 Fastpasses for Soarin'. We were bummed that we could not use them, but we HAD to leave, so I went up to the end of the stand-by line and offered them to a guy at the end. He looked at me as if I was trying to pick his pocket. Then I offered them to the couple in front of him and they smiled real big when I told them what they were, they did not know about fastpasses, but I told them get out of line here and go up to the gate and hand them to the CM, you will get right in.

I also explained about fastpasses around the parks real quick and they *got it*. They took them and we watched as they got in. They were so happy!!! I was so happy for them, plus they learned about what fastpass is!

I am truly amazed at the sheer numbers of people who have no idea what they are, but will give the dirtiest looks to those in the fastpass line and ask, "Why do they get to get on in front of us?" No amount of explanation will take away the belief that somehow we paid more for the luxury. It boggles the mind, even after you tell them what it is, they do NOT believe you!
hehehe...More fastpasses for all of us!
arielchickenofthesea

That's what I meant about my friend he would not believe that Fast passes were free for all! He truly thought he was getting a special perk!!

 

[vicki_c]

personally, i think it is just a really cool queue. lot's of old school stuff that i really enjoyed. when you go through a queue like this and reflect back on pirates, or other classic queues -- you really see disney advancing itself and that is something i like to see. but then again i am a design nut who has a secret passion to become a designer at disney.

I'm sure it is and can't wait to see it - I just won't wait in a long line to do it. Waiting in lines is totally NOT part of the Disney magical experience to me. I know others feel differently - I see posts saying people don't mind waiting in 60-90 minute lines, they enjoy talking to the people around them and looking at the queue. I am not in that camp!

We don't tour so commando anymore, but I guess I can't give up all my Type A personality traits!

 

[dpuck1998]

This has likely already been said, but I usually don't even try to give them away anymore. People just look at you like your crazy. From now on I just leave them on top of a fast pass machine and hope someone spots them.

 

[joshsmom]

From now on I just leave them on top of a fast pass machine and hope someone spots them.

Hopefully I will be that "someone!!!!!" If not me, maybe another Diser!!!