Fastpass line being managed differently?

[DisneyParkLover]

Here now and wondering...have they changed the way they are managing the FP return line? This is my third trip with FP+. On the last two trips, the FP return line usually only took about 5 minutes (never more than 10). This trip it is consistently 15-20 minutes after getting into FP return line.

In addition, I have noticed that they seem to be taking back a lot of people from the standby line compared to the amount they let through from the fastpass line. I would have just chalked it up to maybe being more crowded right now, but there were two particular instances that stuck out as different than previous experiences.

First one - had FP+ for Dinosaur, wait time for standby was 15 minutes, we waited over 20 with the FP. Second example: had FP for tea cups. Got in FP line. Watched them take literally every single person from the standby line. Then took FP line after that for the next ride. We saw the people who went into the standby line after we entered the FP line go on the ride the time before us. We would have ridden one round sooner if we had walked through the standby line.

And although those are the most glaring examples, it has been similar things with every FP we've used over the last 4 days. So tell me, has some policy changed? Something in the way they are distributing or managing FP+? Something definitely seems different this trip and not good different.

 

[soniam]

Weird. I don't remember seeing that in March. In fact, the FP+ line always moved faster than the SB line. Now, Universal and it's FOTL, that was sometimes a different story. I wonder if the CMs just didn't see people in the FP+ line.

 

[wisblue]

Interesting.

It was not at all like this for any of the few FPs we used for rides last week. We used them for Space, BTMRR, 7DMT, and TSMM.

And, when we were in the standby lines, I didn't notice any difference in how the FP lines moved.

 

[CAS239]

Seems like you're dealing with a little bad luck with high crowds lol.

They haven't changed the FP process so I'd assume you're just dealing with high crowds and CM's trying to move the standby faster. Anytime we've gone, we've never really waited more than 5-10 min in any fast pass line.

 

[Planogirl]

I've seen many people comment that the SB lines often seem to barely move. It must be the luck of the draw.

 

[Astridia]

I just read another post from someone who is there now and experiencing a similar situation as the OP. http://www.disboards.com/threads/here-now-everything-a-go.3408902/ Only one example: Soarin' 35 minutes with FP+. Disney may be adjusting their wait times based on guest feedback. They may be increasing the FP+ wait times to accommodate more SB. I think this would be a sensible plan, since guests spend a lot of time in SB lines. IMO I don't expect instant ride access with FP+, I would be happy with a 5-10 minute wait.

 

[wisblue]

I just read another post from someone who is there now and experiencing a similar situation as the OP. http://www.disboards.com/threads/here-now-everything-a-go.3408902/ Only one example: Soarin' 35 minutes with FP+. Disney may be adjusting their wait times based on guest feedback. They may be increasing the FP+ wait times to accommodate more SB. I think this would be a sensible plan, since guests spend a lot of time in SB lines. IMO I don't expect instant ride access with FP+, I would be happy with a 5-10 minute wait.

I'm not sure the person in that report was saying that she waited 35 minutes using a FP at Soarin or if she was just saying that the posted wait time at Soarin was 35 minutes when she used her FP. The main point in that report was that standby waits were generally low, and that is consistent with what we saw when we were there on Tuesday-Thursday last week.

 

[Doug M]

I never used a FP last summer if the SB posted time was 20 minutes or less, but this seems silly that they are taking SB ahead of FP. What is next, fill the rides from single rider first?

 

[Astridia]

I'm not sure the person in that report was saying that she waited 35 minutes using a FP at Soarin or if she was just saying that the posted wait time at Soarin was 35 minutes when she used her FP. The main point in that report was that standby waits were generally low, and that is consistent with what we saw when we were there on Tuesday-Thursday last week.

Amazing how 2 people can read the same post and interpret it differently! You're probably right.

I still wouldn't mind if they did have a 5-10 minute wait for FP+ and allowed more SB people access. I just don't think instant ride access is needed with FP+, just faster ride access.

 

[wisblue]

Amazing how 2 people can read the same post and interpret it differently! You're probably right.

I still wouldn't mind if they did have a 5-10 minute wait for FP+ and allowed more SB people access. I just don't think instant ride access is needed with FP+, just faster ride access.

I think a 5-10 minute wait to use a FP is about what it is and what it always has been. Depending on the ride there is usually a certain amount of time involved in just getting through the boarding process.

Last week we went through several standby lines in which we passed the second FP check point in 5-10 minutes or less and then waited just a few more minutes to actually get on a ride vehicle. In my book that is a perfectly acceptable amount of time to wait. Some of those attractions had posted wait times of 20-30 minutes and we were boarded in more like 10-15.

 

[Astridia]

I think a 5-10 minute wait to use a FP is about what it is and what it always has been. Depending on the ride there is usually a certain amount of time involved in just getting through the boarding process.

Last week we went through several standby lines in which we passed the second FP check point in 5-10 minutes or less and then waited just a few more minutes to actually get on a ride vehicle. In my book that is a perfectly acceptable amount of time to wait. Some of those attractions had posted wait times of 20-30 minutes and we were boarded in more like 10-15.

Lucky you. SB lines at MK on our last trip were either the same as posted or longer than posted.

 

[ExBellhop]

From the earliest days of FP, it was determined that Guest Satisfaction with the (at the time, 1999'ish) FP system was still "high" even if there was 15 minutes of waiting upon returning to line, though 15 minutes was the high end. The typical goal of a FP merge CM was a 70% to 30% mix of FP to SB. The goal, technically, was not necessarily to *empty* the FP line but keep both lines moving at that 70:30 ratio, trying to keep your FP line under 15 minutes, and trying to make sure your SB line was never standing too still for too long.

 

[Astridia]

From the earliest days of FP, it was determined that Guest Satisfaction with the (at the time, 1999'ish) FP system was still "high" even if there was 15 minutes of waiting upon returning to line, though 15 minutes was the high end. The typical goal of a FP merge CM was a 70% to 30% mix of FP to SB. The goal, technically, was not necessarily to *empty* the FP line but keep both lines moving at that 70:30 ratio, trying to keep your FP line under 15 minutes, and trying to make sure your SB line was never standing too still for too long.

According to Len Testa, at touring plans, the ratio is more like 80:20 or 90:10.

 

[Chrelaine]

We just returned from a 7 day trip. I found FP lines to be quite quick. We never waited more than 5 minutes....EXCEPT at Test Track. I want to say we waited close to 25 minutes, even with FP+. And for some reason, we waited almost 20 for Turtle Talk w/Crush. We must have walked in right when the show before ours entered. Overall, we loved FP+ for rides. We found they didn't provide much advantage for shows during our week. I'm sure it helps for shows when the crowd level is higher than 5/10.

 

[PSUGuy]

Don't know about the Tea Cups but I've consistently found the posted time for Dino to be pessimistic. Anything 20 mins or less are pretty much a walk-on.

Bill From PA

 

[ExBellhop]

According to Len Testa, at touring plans, the ratio is more like 80:20 or 90:10.

Could very well be the reality. I was speaking purely in terms of training manual goals. And really, it has been more than a decade since I did any of that, so those goals most certainly could have slid in that direction over time. To be quite honest, I saw more hateful looks from FP return guests being asked to wait while I let in a family of 4 from the standby line than the other way around... So at times the 90:10 wasn't out of the question if I wanted a whiny entitled group of FP returns out of my face

 

[Astridia]

Could very well be the reality. I was speaking purely in terms of training manual goals. And really, it has been more than a decade since I did any of that, so those goals most certainly could have slid in that direction over time. To be quite honest, I saw more hateful looks from FP return guests being asked to wait while I let in a family of 4 from the standby line than the other way around... So at times the 90:10 wasn't out of the question if I wanted a whiny entitled group of FP returns out of my face

Don't blame you!

 

[ajfd]

Out of curiosity, when people here are talking about FP+ wait times are you referring to the wait to the merge point or to the ride?

TSMM and TT come to mind as examples where the wait to get on the ride can be long after the merge point.

 

[ajfd]

Second example: had FP for tea cups. Got in FP line. Watched them take literally every single person from the standby line. Then took FP line after that for the next ride. We saw the people who went into the standby line after we entered the FP line go on the ride the time before us. We would have ridden one round sooner if we had walked through the standby line.

From observation, it appears that tea cups loads into the pre-ride corral from FP first, then SB. Is it possible they had already started the FP load before you got in line?

This is not to discount your example... it is interesting to see the different expectations and executions for FP.

As an example of my expectation for Tea Cups FPs:
- If I am in the FP line, I would expect to be loaded at some ratio (80/20 or whatever)
- If I am not in line when they start loading FP into the corral, I would not expect to be part of that load, even if they are below the ratio when I got to the merge. If I am, great. If not, I would expect to be loaded on the next run.

Over many trips and a large number of FPs, it has been very rare for FP+ to not meet my expectations. "Not meeting expectations" is not a judgement or satisfaction call in this case; more of a statement of fact. I expected X and either I did or did not get X. In much the same way if I entered a queue with a 20 min posted wait and ended up waiting 30 min, my expectations were not met, but I wouldn't necessarily be dissatisfied.

I could certainly see other expectations for FP being just as valid.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We just returned from a 7 day trip. I found FP lines to be quite quick. We never waited more than 5 minutes....EXCEPT at Test Track. I want to say we waited close to 25 minutes, even with FP+. And for some reason, we waited almost 20 for Turtle Talk w/Crush. We must have walked in right when the show before ours entered. Overall, we loved FP+ for rides. We found they didn't provide much advantage for shows during our week. I'm sure it helps for shows when the crowd level is higher than 5/10.

At test track we had long wait for the FP and discovered the ride went down. The day we went HS RR was down for out FP. We were sad but went back later.