Fastpass needs an Update bad.

[sjaakie]

Then take issue with the DIS' FAQ on the subject:



You may have observed someone who fits the other criteria who was also using a GAC. You may also have seen someone who was waiting in a designated area away from the main lines until it was their own turn.

No I only believe what I saw whit my own eyes. The same people with a GAC got in front of us twice. No matter how hard you tell me that it is not the intend of a GAC it is a FOTL pass.

It were no MAW children either. Just adults getting in front of us twice.

 

[cmwade77]

No I only believe what I saw whit my own eyes. The same people with a GAC got in front of us twice. No matter how hard you tell me that it is not the intend of a GAC it is a FOTL pass.

It were no MAW children either. Just adults getting in front of us twice.

Did you follow them the entire day? If not, then you only saw those two attractions. As I said, for certain attractions, it does work this way, but for many it doesn't. Other attractions the process varies by how many wheel chairs/GACs are waiting to get on or depends on the length of the standby line. For example Spaceship Earth is a prime example, if the regular line is less than about 30 minutes, then those in wheelchairs or with GACs will generally get right on (depending on how many are waiting to get on), if it is over 30 minutes, then they have you take a seat in the exit and wait the length of the standby line. I don't remember how all of the attractions work at WDW, but that is one off the top of my head. At DL, wheelchairs/GACs will usually wait longer than anyone else for: POTC, Peter Pan, Matterhorn, Star Tours, Space Mountain, Finding Nemo, it's a small world holiday, Big Thunder (same amount of time, but a different waiting area, sometimes slightly longer), Little Mermaid (same amount of time, unless they can't transfer, gives return time passes for those that can't stand in the regular line, all others go through the regular line), Toy Story, California Screamin', Grizzly River Run and sometimes Jungle Cruise.

These are all due to how many wheel chairs (GACs count as a wheelchair in most locations) are allowed on at one time, even with FP, sometimes it takes longer than the standby line for those in wheelchairs or have GACs.

Now that being said, just like anyone, those with GACs can reduce their wait times by going at times when the attractions have lower crowds in the standby lines (or lower crowds in the wheel chair lines, which don't always happen to coincide with each other), but this is the same planning that anyone can and should do if they want to minimize their wait times. The strategy may just be a bit different, but the concept is the same.

 

[jade1]

(copied from another forum)
How about this? If you reserve one fastpass from home or from your phone or from your resort then you may not get more fastpasses until 2 hours after you entered the park. If you reserved two fastpasses in advance then you could not get more fastpasses until 4 hours after you entered the park. Etc. (Based on the 2 hour delay between fastpasses.)

I will go a step further-if I can pre-reserve QTY 2 per day, I will not use additional FP's at all. Since we usually use 2 or 3 per day-that means I will be using less than now, so this "increases" the chances of offsiters and nonplanners of obtaining FP's.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Then take issue with the DIS' FAQ on the subject:

Did you ever consider that Disney is actually wrong? Seems funny but we all know that MAW is not the only people getting fotl access. We all know that celebrities also get this. Did Disney just forget to mention this in their FAQ or did they just never intend to tell us all of their policies?

 

[Condorman]

Did you ever consider that Disney is actually wrong? Seems funny but we all know that MAW is not the only people getting fotl access. We all know that celebrities also get this. Did Disney just forget to mention this in their FAQ or did they just never intend to tell us all of their policies?

Disney can do whatever they want. They don't answer to you or the shareholders. Their duty is to make money, not hold your hand and wipe your nose. If celebrities are paying more by staying in a suite and bringing greater publicity during one of their visits to a park, then they should get FOTL privileges. Who's the snob: The rich person who can afford better, or the poor person who can't and hates the rich people who can? That's right, the poor person is the snob. Thanks for playing.

Don't hate because you can't get it. Some of us can, and do, because we deserve it.

 

[doconeill]

Did you ever consider that Disney is actually wrong? Seems funny but we all know that MAW is not the only people getting fotl access. We all know that celebrities also get this. Did Disney just forget to mention this in their FAQ or did they just never intend to tell us all of their policies?

One, the link is not to Disney, but the DISboards.

Two, it is only in reference to the GAC card and does not address other things.

Three, we know "celebrities" and anyone willing to shell out $300+/hour for the Premium VIP tour get FP or FOTL access. It's actually well known now since they started offering the PVIP.

Let me put this very simply: The GAC card is NOT a FOTL Pass. Period. Saying it is implies that it works as such at every attraction. It does not.

The GAC card indicates to the CMs that special handling may be needed. If you have a wheelchair or an ECV, you actually don't even need a GAC card in a lot of cases.

Does a GAC card, wheelchair, or ECV work like a FOTL pass in some cases? Absolutely. As I said earlier, it depends on the attraction, the CMs (and their experience), etc. as to how such people are handled. In some cases, it was actually a hindrance, as like I said we had Fastpasses to TSM but we had to wait longer because of the way that attraction loads, etc.

We also had to deal with poor attitudes of a couple of CMs and bus drivers who seemed to be affronted to have to deal with it, inconsiderate guests who would just walk in front of us, people cutting around us waiting for the monorail to get ahead of us, etc.

 

[doconeill]

Disney can do whatever they want. They don't answer to you or the shareholders. Their duty is to make money...

Well, they DO answer to the shareholders...and the majority of them are the ones that want Disney to make money...

 

[ASteelersMidget]

Disney can do whatever they want. They don't answer to you or the shareholders. Their duty is to make money, not hold your hand and wipe your nose. If celebrities are paying more by staying in a suite and bringing greater publicity during one of their visits to a park, then they should get FOTL privileges. Who's the snob: The rich person who can afford better, or the poor person who can't and hates the rich people who can? That's right, the poor person is the snob. Thanks for playing.

Don't hate because you can't get it. Some of us can, and do, because we deserve it.

This entire post will be off topic, but

I hope you realize you sound like a horribly conceited Rich man who has no idea what being poor is like. You sound like a huge ****. Go get some humility and then we'll talk.

Also, Disney does have to answer to their share holders or they WON'T make money.

P.S. I had much worse things to say to you but I tried very hard to keep it family friendly.

 

[cmwade77]

Ok, can we all agree:
If you have enough money, you can get pretty much anything, right wrong or indiferente.

And a GAC does not equal a FOTL pass, as I and others have pointed out.

Now, back on topic.....
FP works fairly well as it is, it does need some tweaks to prevent late arrivals when there has been nothing happening to stop them from coming on time, but that is about it.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

One, the link is not to Disney, but the DISboards.

Two, it is only in reference to the GAC card and does not address other things.

Three, we know "celebrities" and anyone willing to shell out $300+/hour for the Premium VIP tour get FP or FOTL access. It's actually well known now since they started offering the PVIP.

Let me put this very simply: The GAC card is NOT a FOTL Pass. Period. Saying it is implies that it works as such at every attraction. It does not.

The GAC card indicates to the CMs that special handling may be needed. If you have a wheelchair or an ECV, you actually don't even need a GAC card in a lot of cases.

Does a GAC card, wheelchair, or ECV work like a FOTL pass in some cases? Absolutely. As I said earlier, it depends on the attraction, the CMs (and their experience), etc. as to how such people are handled. In some cases, it was actually a hindrance, as like I said we had Fastpasses to TSM but we had to wait longer because of the way that attraction loads, etc.

We also had to deal with poor attitudes of a couple of CMs and bus drivers who seemed to be affronted to have to deal with it, inconsiderate guests who would just walk in front of us, people cutting around us waiting for the monorail to get ahead of us, etc.

Trying to pick a fight with me again? (LOL). I clearly stated that the problem is that Disney simply doesn't not publish all of their internal policy. A fact that you actually agreed with by agreeing that VIP's get fotl that the quoted policy didn't state.

 

[doconeill]

Trying to pick a fight with me again? (LOL). I clearly stated that the problem is that Disney simply doesn't not publish all of their internal policy. A fact that you actually agreed with by agreeing that VIP's get fotl that the quoted policy didn't state.

I am most certainly not trying to pick a fight with anyone. You referred to Disney forgetting to include something in their FAQ, but we weren't talking about their FAQ at all, you quoted a post referring to a sticky post on the DISboards regarding the Guest Assistance Cards, which has nothing to do with whether celebrities or VIP tours or anything. So Disney didn't forget anything in the FAQ.

Most of my post was in response to posts in general, although because I quoted your post I admit it looked more like it was aimed at you.

Now, I admit in the section regarding FOTL in the GAC FAQ (after I reread that section), it should be rewritten. I don't know if it is technically false, but misleading. Even the premium VIP tours are not guaranteed FOTL access to everything, but the MAW kids are handled everywhere with priority.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I am most certainly not trying to pick a fight with anyone. You referred to Disney forgetting to include something in their FAQ, but we weren't talking about their FAQ at all, you quoted a post referring to a sticky post on the DISboards regarding the Guest Assistance Cards, which has nothing to do with whether celebrities or VIP tours or anything. So Disney didn't forget anything in the FAQ.

Most of my post was in response to posts in general, although because I quoted your post I admit it looked more like it was aimed at you.

Now, I admit in the section regarding FOTL in the GAC FAQ (after I reread that section), it should be rewritten. I don't know if it is technically false, but misleading. Even the premium VIP tours are not guaranteed FOTL access to everything, but the MAW kids are handled everywhere with priority.

OK! We're at least being civil.

 

[tfc3rid]

Umm...how do they have priority already if you aren't giving it to them? That IS their priority - to have preference over the entrance. If you make the standby line have preference, then the Fastpass line no longer works.

I DO agree that it is important to keep the standby line moving. Idleness increases the illusion that it is taking longer that expected.

The priority for FP users is that their line is shorter... I remember the days before FP where a 60 minute posted wait at Space Mountain that was more like 30 minutes felt because there was constant movement... That's the key... Keep the standby line in motion... Stops and starts do not work...

 

[doconeill]

The priority for FP users is that their line is shorter...

But their line is shorter because they DO have the priority. If they lose the priority, then the line gets longer. There probably should be better priority management though...no matter how many people are in the FP line, only maximum ratio compared to the standby line should get through. But what that ratio is depends completely on the FP issue rate vs. the attraction load rate, etc. Somewhere earlier in this thread was a link to a document about Fastpass theory, and in there the theory would be that Fastpass would be near 100% of the utilization of the ride in an ideal situation - which makes me believe that it is possible that FP issue rates can be somewhere in the 50-90% range. But the closer to 100%, the slower the standby line will be, etc.

I remember the days before FP where a 60 minute posted wait at Space Mountain that was more like 30 minutes felt because there was constant movement... That's the key... Keep the standby line in motion... Stops and starts do not work...

That I have said many times...perceived wait times vs. reality don't concern the average guest...perception is everything. But that is why they are adding more "distractions" like games, etc.

 

[Faldred]

I remember the days before FP where a 60 minute posted wait at Space Mountain that was more like 30 minutes felt because there was constant movement... That's the key... Keep the standby line in motion... Stops and starts do not work...

I think that's why you're seeing a lot more "interactive" queue concepts in the works. You don't notice the stops and starts so much if there are things to do or look at while you're stopped.

 

[jade1]

I think that's why you're seeing a lot more "interactive" queue concepts in the works. You don't notice the stops and starts so much if there are things to do or look at while you're stopped.

I have even heard you should take the standby line at Harry Potter (the ride in Hogwarts) even if you could go right to the front-at least the first time just to see everything.

 

[doconeill]

I have even heard you should take the standby line at Harry Potter (the ride in Hogwarts) even if you could go right to the front-at least the first time just to see everything.

Have they even added a Express lane yet? I haven't heard of them doing so.

But the queue is VERY interesting. Lots to see and here. Most of the paintings you can see move and several talk, plus there is Dumbodore's office, Herbology, the Dark Arts, and the Griffindor common room along the way.

I had the opportunity to attend a private party at the Wizarding World back in October. The party was pretty small - maybe 60-70 guests. Since there wasn't any lines, we breezed through the queue so fast we didn't really get to see much of it, so I went back through with my camera to get shots. Unfortunately the camera wasn't the greatest for the low light levels in the queue...we also got to take a shortcut, so when we went back in December I got to see even more - didn't even know there was a Herbology classroom area...the Wizarding World also looks a lot different and interesting at night...

 

[Faldred]

I have even heard you should take the standby line at Harry Potter (the ride in Hogwarts) even if you could go right to the front-at least the first time just to see everything.

Oh, I know we miss a lot of the theme elements at WDW by using Fastpass and/or rider swap pretty much exclusively for the main attractions, but we also have autistic twins to deal with, and lines aren't their best thing, even with tings to do and look at. (They're both "runners".)

 

[natatomic]

For those who think that the GAC card is not a FOTL pass, if your GAC has the Alternate Entrance stamp (which most do these days, since MK and DHS have gotten rid of the wheelchair stamp), you go through the FP line at any attraction that has it. So, um, yes. It's about as Front of the Line as you can get. And it is taken advantage of in unsettling numbers. Obviously there are guests that genuinely need the Alternate Entrance stamp, but most don't and their expedited wait comes at the expense of the rule-abiders waiting longer in the standby line.

 

[doconeill]

For those who think that the GAC card is not a FOTL pass, if your GAC has the Alternate Entrance stamp (which most do these days, since MK and DHS have gotten rid of the wheelchair stamp), you go through the FP line at any attraction that has it. So, um, yes. It's about as Front of the Line as you can get. And it is taken advantage of in unsettling numbers. Obviously there are guests that genuinely need the Alternate Entrance stamp, but most don't and their expedited wait comes at the expense of the rule-abiders waiting longer in the standby line.

You only get that stamp if the CM gives it to you. There are several other stamps as well, which are given on an as-needed basis.

Saying the GAC card itself is a FOTL pass is false.

As for it being abused...well, I believe the state of Florida is the enabler there, since they don't allow Disney to ask for any verification as to need.