Fastpass return or replacement?

[cdurham1]

Unless all of the lightning passes for the most desirable rides get booked up in 2 seconds for the day similar to the ROTR boarding groups.

As people were choosing lightning pass for the desirable attraction, the lightning pass line would become increasingly longer. Why would people choose to use the lightning pass if the standby line was 30 minutes, for example, while the lightning pass line was also 30 minutes?

Let me clarify- my idea would not be using lightning pass to get a return time. You would choose the lightning pass and then immediately (or within some short period of time like 10 minutes) have to check into the line and then you are just in the lightning pass line.

 

[cdurham1]

I don't foresee them giving anything for free to resort guests as a matter of policy, I think that will be done on a promotional basis to drive reservations when they need to. The 30 minute early opening is a pretty big benefit because it gets you onto one long wait ride. The late hours for deluxe guests is a pretty large benefit too because the park will be pretty empty. I can see them giving resort guests an earlier booking window on rides with boarding groups (not sure why that isn't already being done).

Yeah, that's possible. To offer it as an incentive instead of policy at the beginning, at least,, might be a good idea. It would allow them to gauge the demand before making it semi permanent

 

[kc51570]

As people were choosing lightning pass for the desirable attraction, the lightning pass line would become increasingly longer. Why would people choose to use the lightning pass if the standby line was 30 minutes, for example, while the lightning pass line was also 30 minutes?

Let me clarify- my idea would not be using lightning pass to get a return time. You would choose the lightning pass and then immediately (or within some short period of time like 10 minutes) have to check into the line and then you are just in the lightning pass line.

The standby line for the most in demand attractions is rarely 30 minutes or less. If that was the case there would be no need for a FP system. No one knows how this is going to materialize, but I definitely prefer knowing in advance that I’m going to get on the rides that I want with little waits.

 

[cdurham1]

The standby line for the most in demand attractions is rarely 30 minutes or less. If that was the case there would be no need for a FP system. No one knows how this is going to materialize, but I definitely prefer knowing in advance that I’m going to get on the rides that I want with little waits.

Yeah, you are right that lines are rarely 30 minutes. They are sometimes. I was just using it as an example to say that you wouldn't use a lightning pass unless there was a big difference between standby wait and lightning pass wait.

You could end up in a situation that, say, FOP has a 2 hour standby wait and the lightning pass line is 45 minutes. You may still want to use it. So it wouldn't be the same, necessarily, as the old fastpass system in guaranteeing you a short wait. It could be something in between.

 

[snowwhite84]

The standby line for the most in demand attractions is rarely 30 minutes or less. If that was the case there would be no need for a FP system. No one knows how this is going to materialize, but I definitely prefer knowing in advance that I’m going to get on the rides that I want with little waits.

I second this! With all the debate about the potential new cost, I am much more concerned about them taking away the ability to prebook FP in some capacity. Maybe not 60 days out but at least 24 hours? I know a number of folks on here welcome the idea of not needing to prebook, to keep spontaneity. But for the people I travel with this would be a nightmare. If I don’t know in advance that I have a FP for FoP or Millenium Falcon, how am I supposed to plan my arrival time to the park? What if I arrive at 10am thinking I will purchase FP for FoP only to discover they are gone and the wait time already over 2 hours? Or what if I get my family up at 6:30am to get to the bus at 7:30am to get to AK by 8:30am and find I could have easily slept in and bought a FoP FP in the park as they happen to be plentiful that day.

 

[Tink-osophy]

Unless all of the lightning passes for the most desirable rides get booked up in 2 seconds for the day similar to the ROTR boarding groups.

True. There must be a better way than that? ...The boarding pass system is better for locals who have lots of chances to revisit, but, potentially, very disappointing for once-in-a-lifetime visitors.

I really dislike the current situation which makes varied aspects of a Disney vacation a lottery (and others a competition)(guests competing against each other so much does not do much for a calm, joyful atmosphere).


Having said that, I interpreted cdurham1's system as running more like the old FP system, where you choose/buy/hold one pass at a time and you get the next one after 'redeeming' the last spread through the day. (And ideally you have to be in present the park to get them.) I don't know why I assumed that - wishful thinking, maybe!

 

[malba2366]

I second this! With all the debate about the potential new cost, I am much more concerned about them taking away the ability to prebook FP in some capacity. Maybe not 60 days out but at least 24 hours? I know a number of folks on here welcome the idea of not needing to prebook, to keep spontaneity. But for the people I travel with this would be a nightmare. If I don’t know in advance that I have a FP for FoP or Millenium Falcon, how am I supposed to plan my arrival time to the park? What if I arrive at 10am thinking I will purchase FP for FoP only to discover they are gone and the wait time already over 2 hours? Or what if I get my family up at 6:30am to get to the bus at 7:30am to get to AK by 8:30am and find I could have easily slept in and bought a FoP FP in the park as they happen to be plentiful that day.

That is the exact thing Disney wants to avoid though. They don't want people coming into the parks squeezing in all the rides and leaving. Its like a casino...the longer you stay, the more $$ you give to the house. It is in Disney's benefit to have the guest in the park from opening to close..and they will design whatever system they come up with to encourage that.

 

[snowwhite84]

That is the exact thing Disney wants to avoid though. They don't want people coming into the parks squeezing in all the rides and leaving. Its like a casino...the longer you stay, the more $$ you give to the house. It is in Disney's benefit to have the guest in the park from opening to close..and they will design whatever system they come up with to encourage that.

I am much more likely to stay and shop, dine in a sit down restaurant, pay for extra experiences if my time waiting in lines for rides is expedited!

 

[malba2366]

I am much more likely to stay and shop, dine in a sit down restaurant, pay for extra experiences if my time waiting in lines for rides is expedited!

But the ability to prebook also allows you to plan your day and finish the park as quickly as possible...or as you said "arrive by 10am...sleep in". If you have to be in the park to get the fast passes then you will spend more time in the park, and with such a system (whether they charge for the fastpass or not) they could offer guests Fastpasses more spread out in time if their system felt a guest was moving too quickly through the rides. There were a lot of people on here who would use fast passes to plan their day such that they were in the pool by 2pm....this is not what Disney wants.

 

[kc51570]

I am much more likely to stay and shop, dine in a sit down restaurant, pay for extra experiences if my time waiting in lines for rides is expedited!

Exactly this. Our last trip I was so exhausted from getting up super early every day and then waiting in lines all day that I had 0 desire to shop. We usually make at least one trip if not 2 to Disney Springs for shopping and eating and that did not happen because we were trying to fit in all the rides over our 8-9 day trip. We also usually eat multiple breakfasts out whether it’s sit down or quick service. That hardly happened either because we were rope dropping every day so no time and there also weren‘t a lot of places open for breakfast. We ate breakfast in our room this time more than any other trip.

 

[snowwhite84]

But the ability to prebook also allows you to plan your day and finish the park as quickly as possible...or as you said "arrive by 10am...sleep in". If you have to be in the park to get the fast passes then you will spend more time in the park, and with such a system (whether they charge for the fastpass or not) they could offer guests Fastpasses more spread out in time if their system felt a guest was moving too quickly through the rides. There were a lot of people on here who would use fast passes to plan their day such that they were in the pool by 2pm....this is not what Disney wants.

I see your point, but it doesn’t jive with how I myself tour. We typically arrive 10am, do our three Fastpass rides, lunch then back to the hotel. We always stay onsite, usually deluxe, and fully use property amenities. Drinks at the pool, shopping at Disney Springs, dinner at Jiko or California Grill. Disney is building resort after resort, but doesn’t seem to currently have a plan for a fifth park. My sense is Disney is focused on keeping guests on property, not necessarily just in the parks.

 

[snowwhite84]

Exactly this. Our last trip I was so exhausted from getting up super early every day and then waiting in lines all day that I had 0 desire to shop. We usually make at least one trip if not 2 to Disney Springs for shopping and eating and that did not happen because we were trying to fit in all the rides over our 8-9 day trip. We also usually eat multiple breakfasts out whether it’s sit down or quick service. That hardly happened either because we were rope dropping every day so no time and there also weren‘t a lot of places open for breakfast. We ate breakfast in our room this time more than any other trip.

Yes, this is exactly what I would predict happening with my family if we couldn’t prebook FP, even if we had to pay for it. Over the course of a visit, I bet we would end up spending less. And I suspect Disney knows that about me

 

[cakebaker]

Exactly this. Our last trip I was so exhausted from getting up super early every day and then waiting in lines all day that I had 0 desire to shop. We usually make at least one trip if not 2 to Disney Springs for shopping and eating and that did not happen because we were trying to fit in all the rides over our 8-9 day trip. We also usually eat multiple breakfasts out whether it’s sit down or quick service. That hardly happened either because we were rope dropping every day so no time and there also weren‘t a lot of places open for breakfast. We ate breakfast in our room this time more than any other trip.

Same here for us. We ended up snacking in our cabin or room for a lot of meals, no real shopping in the stores and no DS. We were too exhausted just getting through the parks. I think I spent less on this trip than I have on any other trip for food, souvernirs and of course expensive add ons. I came home with money left on my gift cards and didn't even touch my Visa rewards card at all. They definitely didn't get the money they normally would have.

 

[Lashed34]

I think this is the biggest problem Disney World have now, people are just exhausted in the parks, restaurants are impossible to get into, lines are insanely long and people spend their days at a real loss of how to plan it all. They really need increase their opening hours to an extreme point now. Give on site guests an hour extra in the morning and increase park hours until at least midnight - give people an option of when to come, not just arrive early and hope.

As for Fast Pass, I would personally ditch it altogether, but of course they won't, they'll charge for it.

But whatever they do, they need to give people a fantastic and magical experience, but as it stands at the moment, most seem worn out and miserable.

 

[Jrb1979]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1423309139346812934

I wouldn't be surprised that it eventually does get implemented for meet and greets.

 

[Ellen B]

As a traveller from another country ,Canada, my family has always loved staying onsite and having an opportunity to book 3 FP each day. Planning a trip 60 days out was never an issue. In fact we appreciated it since we only vacationed at Disney every 2yrs and a lot of prep had to be made to make trip possible. Since our dollar currency is worth less to pay a fee to ride that will be 20%+ more is too much. This will affect travel from those coming from other countries.

 

[Prince John Robin Hood]

FP+ was designed to free up peoples time so they'd spend more. Was that not successful?

I think they should give at least one tier 1 and one tier 2 for free. Allow additional to be purchased if they feel they need to monetize.

 

[Ellen B]

What incentives do guests have anymore for staying on site, especially if from other countries or out of state?
Magical Express will cost them $ in January, room and ticket prices increase each yr and now possibly no perk of 3 fast passes 60 days out. They will loose a lot of resort and out of state/ country guests. Incentives are needed especially for travellers that pay more on the dollar already. Soon they will out price more and more people. Price point just keeps increasing.

 

[Lewisc]

FP+ was designed to free up peoples time so they'd spend more. Was that not successful?

I think they should give at least one tier 1 and one tier 2 for free. Allow additional to be purchased if they feel they need to monetize.

I read, on the internet so it must be true, guests used the time saved by using FP to ride secondary attractions or go back to their resort. Increased shopping didn't materialize to any real extent

 

[Karin1984]

I wouldn't be surprised that it eventually does get implemented for meet and greets.

We never had FP for shows & parades of Meet & Greets in Paris. There are only 2 indoors characters, Mickey and the Princesses. They have experimented so much with the Princess Pavillion, but never found the right way.
I am fine with it for shows & parades, as long as I can keep my AP VIP seating as well .
Don't think it will be very popular for shows & parades. For characters, maybe.