Fastpass needs an Update bad.

[The_Duke_Knows]

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

People go in late all the time. Sure, a fraction of the people know you can come in late, but, CM's are usually cool like that.

It should be two hours but also taken away from the following attractions.

Buzz
Peter Pann
Pooh
Jungle Cruise
Toy Story Mania
All shows
Living with the Land.

First off, I don't think the issue is as big as you think. I think most people don't know enough to use the FPs late, my guess would be less than 20 % know this trick. Heck, I would guess a third of all the people going to Disney don't even understand the FP system enough to use it. The only time I have run into really bad FP lines are on Space Mountain, and that was when it had broken down several times during the day, and immediately after the fireworks.

That said, I think your idea has merit. A longer FP window (say three hours) and enforcing the timeframe would be more effective at spreading out the crowds. However, I think Disney has in a way dug its own grave here. The reason that they started allowing the late FP in the first place was to avoid conflict with guests and keep them happy. While it's easy to say to a guest "Oh no, you have to come back later to use that FP", it's a lot harder to say "No, you can't use it at all." With so many people knowing that they can use FP late, they would come into a change system and still want to use their passes late, and Disney would likely still feel that they have to back down and let them.

I don't know how the rest of the Disney-going public feels - but the current system works very well for ME...so I am fine with them keeping it as is.

SkierPete

Personally I would like for Disney to do away with Fastpasses entirely.

First of all, the parks was designed with the expectation that a certain percentage of Guests would be in lines for attractions; having FPs changed this.

Second, the FP actually is a failure from what was expected; Disney had thought that if people were not in lines for an attraction they would be spending more money on food and merchandise, but there was no uptick in sales other than price increases. It just drove people to other lines.

And third, without Fastpasses the lines will actually move faster.

Thank you! I've been saying for years what you just said! I truly HATE the fastpass system! It clogs up lines, it never did spike purchases, and caused more guest situations than good with people trying to cheat it to get by not waiting in line or trying to come in early because they messed up and either picked one for 17 hours away or thought they could get 15k of them at once even though they read the one-only rule in the map.

Take it all out... It's the way Mr. disney would of wanted it!

 

[DisneyDadof3]

Take it all out... It's the way Mr. disney would of wanted it!

Don't know what Mr. Disney would have wanted specifically... but I'm thinking he would want people to enjoy themselves to no end and return. My family and I would not be coming back if it were not for the fastpasses. There are few things we hate more than waiting in line... in the heat. My first two visits to the park without the fastpasses were miserable. We have returned for numerous vacations over the past 8 years because we can enjoy the vacation because of them.

Thanks to those that created this system!

 

[Robo]

I truly HATE the fastpass system! It clogs up lines...

Take it all out... It's the way Mr. disney would of wanted it!

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

 

[doconeill]

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Why, Robo, why...it was two months dead...

 

[Rumors Rocks]

Better still -- they should put more things to do at DHS, then there wouldn't be such long lines for the few noteworthy attractions in the first place.

 

[DPCummerbund]

You revived a thread that's been dead for two years just to give it a thumbs up?

 

[rock_doctor]

You revived a thread that's been dead for two years just to give it a thumbs up?

That is the rule. This thread must be arbitrarily revived every....period of time.

 

[beer dave]

You revived a thread that's been dead for two years just to give it a thumbs up?

LOL

 

[Rumors Rocks]

The FastPass from home worries me as a WDW veteran as we don't really do touring plans anymore. We play it be ear.

If they wanted to improve FastPass, they could offer FastPass Plus similar to Universal Express Plus.

Impressive! Foreshadowing, at it's finest.

That is the rule. This thread must be arbitrarily revived every....period of time.

Indeed.

 

[Planogirl]

All I can say is to be careful of what you wish for.