Fastpass needs an Update bad.

[ASteelersMidget]

Fun attitude..."I don't know what your new system is, and I don't care because I hate it!"

It is amusing that people are arguing about a system with no details announced at all...way to be judgemental guys!

I did not say I hate it. I'm just saying that growing up as a gamer and a Disney nerd, I've learned that things just don't live up to the Hype people make and that It's easier to be Real Skeptical. If It's great wonderful, if its not i have not gotten my hopes Dashed again.

Please be clear on this.

I am not saying it won't work nor am i saying I am hoping it will fail miserably. In fact i would be very happy if it works well as I tend to plan but I also enjoy the freedom of changing on the fly. I'm just saying that I doubt it will work any better than the current system from my understanding what the new system will be with the limited details I have.

 

[Josh Hendy]

I like the current system pretty much the way it is, except of course they could do away with FP for any ride which no longer draws huge crowds.

On the most popular rides it might be a good thing to enforce the return times a bit more strictly. I think this might make it better for standby-queue people because late in the afternoon it can be a real drag standing there watching hundreds of FP returnees (many of whom have expired FPs) walking past you. Enforcing the return times would in theory smooth out the wait times (if I understand the theory behind FP correctly).

It seems that the FP tickets were meant to be machine readable, and if they went a bit further and introduced automatic turnstiles at FP entrances then there would be no arguing with cast members (or less arguing anyways, if I was a CM I would just turn my back to the FP turnstiles and not catch people's eye). Maybe if they ripped out the dispensing machines from the rides which don't need FP, this would save them $$$ so they could afford to install reader-turnstiles on the rides that do need it.

The great thing about FP is that it lets you get in 3 or 4 good rides per day, even if you're not the early bird who's waiting at rope drop. This is a great thing for families and oldsters who do not enjoy spending their whole day standing in line. When I was in my teens and early 20s I would not think it a waste of time to wait 90 minutes for a roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland, repeatedly, because I was yakking non stop with my friends about nothing in particular. Time is nothing when you're a kid (when you're with your friends) and the tickets didn't cost that much either what with school discounts. Now that I'm a bit of an old f_rt with kids in tow and a good chunk of my paycheck invested in park tickets, airfare, etc. I like spending all day shuffling through zigzag queues about as much as I would like getting an all-day root canal

 

[Faldred]

On the most popular rides it might be a good thing to enforce the return times a bit more strictly. I think this might make it better for standby-queue people because late in the afternoon it can be a real drag standing there watching hundreds of FP returnees (many of whom have expired FPs) walking past you. Enforcing the return times would in theory smooth out the wait times (if I understand the theory behind FP correctly).

While it may seem counter-intuitive, no, enforcing "no late fastpasses" won't make a difference unless that simply means fewer fastpasses are used (because they aren't used before they expire).

What you describe from the point of view of someone in the standby line doesn't take into account that because those fastpass users were "late" in the first place, the standby line is shorter than it otherwise would have been. The difference between being in a 40-minute line with a 10-minute delay added due to an influx of fastpasses and being in a 50-minute line is no time at all, just a perception that those fastpass people delayed you.

 

[TisBit]

While it may seem counter-intuitive, no, enforcing "no late fastpasses" won't make a difference unless that simply means fewer fastpasses are used (because they aren't used before they expire).

What you describe from the point of view of someone in the standby line doesn't take into account that because those fastpass users were "late" in the first place, the standby line is shorter than it otherwise would have been. The difference between being in a 40-minute line with a 10-minute delay added due to an influx of fastpasses and being in a 50-minute line is no time at all, just a perception that those fastpass people delayed you.

And the there is a convenience issue as well. If you pull a fastpass for Space Mountain at 10 am with a return time of 1 pm, you continue on your day riding as much as you can. At 1230 pm, you have just gotten off of Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain has a 45 minute posted wait time, do you go back to Space and wait for 1 or get on splash, hoping the time is right and hurry back to space mountain before you expire....neither of those options are very nice options and would have a lot of people complaining that the return time needs to be much longer than the current window.

 

[DC7800]

While it may seem counter-intuitive, no, enforcing "no late fastpasses" won't make a difference unless that simply means fewer fastpasses are used (because they aren't used before they expire).

What you describe from the point of view of someone in the standby line doesn't take into account that because those fastpass users were "late" in the first place, the standby line is shorter than it otherwise would have been. The difference between being in a 40-minute line with a 10-minute delay added due to an influx of fastpasses and being in a 50-minute line is no time at all, just a perception that those fastpass people delayed you.

This assumes that the same number of people will be riding the attraction whether the Fastpass users show up late or not, and we have no basis for such an assumption. As one simple example, a short period in which fewer Fastpass holders are returning (perhaps during a parade, or just before crowds are released from a high capacity show such as Lights Motors Action) may temporarily shorten the standby line. A shorter standby wait time makes it more likely that people will enter that standby queue - including persons who otherwise may not have rode the attraction. Most of us here have spontaneously decided to ride something that we just happened to walk by and see the wait was short, and Fastpass doesn't change that.

 

[buzzCMlightyear]

I have been given confirmation from managment that the new fastpass system will be able to be used with Smart Phones. Not sure how yet.

 

[4tinkerbe]

my main complaint about fastpass is the lines. When the parks open up, a lot of people rush to the fastpasses and then try to make it to the ride's lines before they get too long. well, thats hard to do when the clueless get up there and don't have their tickets out already so they got to stand up there and dig in their purses for 10 minutes looking for them. PLEASE PEOPLE: HAVE YOUR TICKETS READY **BEFORE** YOU GET UP THERE!!!

 

[jade1]

my main complaint about fastpass is the lines. When the parks open up, a lot of people rush to the fastpasses and then try to make it to the ride's lines before they get too long. well, thats hard to do when the clueless get up there and don't have their tickets out already so they got to stand up there and dig in their purses for 10 minutes looking for them. PLEASE PEOPLE: HAVE YOUR TICKETS READY **BEFORE** YOU GET UP THERE!!!

Agreed-then again another reason/s to reserve ahead and avoid entirely.

 

[Indyfan4ever]

I always thought it would be cool if Disney added a Fastpass Kiosk machine at the lobbies of their various resorts...It would be an additional thing for Disney Resort guests. Would be cool, like an ATM, you slide your ticket, you can pick the park, and the rides...would be a nice gesture to those who stay on property.

 

[miprender]

I disagree - it'll be like the dining plan, for fastpasses. Obsessive planners will hog all the passes early on, whether they plan to use them or not. People who don't like to have every moment of their day planned out six months ahead of time will be shut out.

I like it just the way it is, thankyouverymuch.

That would be me. But I would have to decide between my ADRs or Fast Passes to book at my 180 days

I always thought it would be cool if Disney added a Fastpass Kiosk machine at the lobbies of their various resorts...It would be an additional thing for Disney Resort guests. Would be cool, like an ATM, you slide your ticket, you can pick the park, and the rides...would be a nice gesture to those who stay on property.

That's the best idea yet

 

[jade1]

I always thought it would be cool if Disney added a Fastpass Kiosk machine at the lobbies of their various resorts...It would be an additional thing for Disney Resort guests. Would be cool, like an ATM, you slide your ticket, you can pick the park, and the rides...would be a nice gesture to those who stay on property.

Thats a great idea. Its really what they are planning though, just taking it a step further to the point of having one in your living room (PC, or a phone call)) before you leave home. Even ones in the lobby would have lines, and you would always have folks scanning through all the parks and rides trying to decide-might take forever.

 

[umichigan10]

my main complaint about fastpass is the lines. When the parks open up, a lot of people rush to the fastpasses and then try to make it to the ride's lines before they get too long. well, thats hard to do when the clueless get up there and don't have their tickets out already so they got to stand up there and dig in their purses for 10 minutes looking for them. PLEASE PEOPLE: HAVE YOUR TICKETS READY **BEFORE** YOU GET UP THERE!!!

just like when you go to McDonalds: know what you're going to get before you get to the front of the line.

 

[Faldred]

Thats a great idea. Its really what they are planning though, just taking it a step further to the point of having one in your living room (PC, or a phone call)) before you leave home. Even ones in the lobby would have lines, and you would always have folks scanning through all the parks and rides trying to decide-might take forever.

I really wouldn't mind this sort of arrangement, as long as the number of pre-arranged fastpasses are kept to a low number (as in, maybe 1 or 2 per person, per day) and that they strike a balance with ones available in the park and at the resort without making standby be a total nightmare.

Despite the fact that I am an early bird, I can fully appreciate that there are many who want to go to WDW and not have to get up at the crack of dawn just to experience the one or two attractions that they really, really want to do without having to wait for 1-2 hours in line each. It would be nice if every guest had a reasonable chance to do their "must-do" attractions without excessive waits.

At the same time, those who go to the parks without having their days planned out to the minute ought to be able experience them as well, without long waits caused by excessive numbers of fastpass users.

 

[Mrs. Sojourner]

Is there a date on when the new system will roll out?

 

[doconeill]

Is there a date on when the new system will roll out?

No. And it may never happen. Just because Disney announces something, doesn't mean it actually happens.

 

[jade1]

I really wouldn't mind this sort of arrangement, as long as the number of pre-arranged fastpasses are kept to a low number (as in, maybe 1 or 2 per person, per day) and that they strike a balance with ones available in the park and at the resort without making standby be a total nightmare.

Despite the fact that I am an early bird, I can fully appreciate that there are many who want to go to WDW and not have to get up at the crack of dawn just to experience the one or two attractions that they really, really want to do without having to wait for 1-2 hours in line each. It would be nice if every guest had a reasonable chance to do their "must-do" attractions without excessive waits.

At the same time, those who go to the parks without having their days planned out to the minute ought to be able experience them as well, without long waits caused by excessive numbers of fastpass users.

Very reasonable response.

 

[drakester]

I love fp and find people who don't like it are the ones who don't know how to make it work for them.

 

[scauzilloc1121]

Everything we do in life can be tweaked to make it slightly better. But FP has been in place for quite some time and works very well with the rides. Don't change it.

 

[Kona65]

As nobody is sure of how the new fastpass from home system will work yet, a huge fastpass overhall is in need along with the update.

Most people know how fastpasses work. Obtain a pass with a hour time slot for you to return during for a minimal wait time. What most people don't know, and a lot debate over, is whether or not the CM's will let you in late if you do not make it during your hour. Well just to clarify, you can use your fastpass any time during the day issued, after the start time of your hour, even hours late. Now this sets off the number of people that each attraction is expecting, resulting in a longer FP line, and longer wait for standby, especially after parades/fireworks. I understand why FP's are accepted late, reservations, parades, fireworks ect. But this is a huge flaw in the FP system.

Now the following is just my idea, there is no inside information in this at all, and I would love feedback and others ideas on what you think would help the problem.

My idea to fix this is to, instead of an hour timeslot, make the timeslot you can come back during 2 or maybe even 3 hours, and no longer accept FP late. Making the time slot a longer duration would let guests account for their reservations to eat, time to watch a parade and see fireworks. I also only think the online fastpass system will only work well if guests are not allowed to return late, but we'll see what happens with that.

Also another need is new FP distribution machines. Barcode scanners are a must. Way to many people keep their phones with tickets, causing the magnetic strip that the machines read to become worthless.

I know its long but if you have stuck with me this long than thanks for reading

How about no time limits, use the ticket whenever you want. Just during the day you get it. No big deal, who would really care.

 

[ASteelersMidget]

How about no time limits, use the ticket whenever you want. Just during the day you get it. No big deal, who would really care.

That basically already happens. anytime after the original comeback time.