Fastpass return or replacement?

[Mac30188]

I suspect that this sounds more complicated than it is. For example, depending on how this is implemented, the standby queue could be really cool. If you can be virtually standing in a long standby line until it hits 30 minutes, that would be very awesome. I would assume for this to work there would be a scanner / scanning system to add your name to the list at the start of the standby line for people who want to just walk up and ride. If the ride is less then 30 minutes, just scan and walk in. If the ride is more than 30 minutes, there is a sign indicating when they are taking Standby reservations for. You scan band, get in the virtual line and come back at X to stand in a much shorter physical standby line.

Only one standby line at a time, so if the standby is too long, then just pick another ride. It would work the same but give you more time to shop, eat,etc. win - win.

 

[BrianL]

You won't be able to "just stand in line" anymore. This is Disney's way of preventing 100 minute long queue's. Once a standby queue gets to a certain "length," I'm sure they'll shut it down and the only way to get on it will be through the free genie option. It's effectively the ROTR system for every ride in the park. The only unknown here is what that preset limit is. I'd bet it's the amount of people they can fit inside the normal queue without it spilling out into the rest of the park.

Basically it'll be: Oh, Space mountain is starting to spill outside the queue. Ok, no more getting on line. You need to use the genie to reserve a spot to get on line later in the day. Whoops, that's all sold out too now. Well, you can always by a lightning pass!

Oh, man, I would HATE that! I hate the Boarding Groups for ROTR anyway, I don't want to see it become more prolific. It won't work well for most people, and the competition to get in these queues will be so fierce - what happens when you're getting shut out of everything because of crowds and people on their phones snapping up availability?

The real problem is that demand is just too high for their bandwidth. We're there. It has reached critical mass. Too many people want to do Disney - a testament to their great success and marketing, but if they are going to sell that many tickets then they've got to accommodate that many guests. I know they've been building - SLOWLY. If they want to maintain this, they have to expand. I'm talking "Fifth Gate" kind of stuff! I wouldn't have thought that they would rebound like this after(?) the pandemic, but it shows no signs of slowing down. Convoluted digital crowd management systems are just a band-aid on the wound.

 

[Pens Fan]

It’s my understanding that in other parks they go to the virtual standby once the line gets to a certain point. So if Dumbo is 20 minutes, you could presumably still spontaneously jump on line. It sounds to me that the aim is to cut down on these long stretching lines outside the attraction.

See, this is how Disney wants us to think - that they are doing something to improve the guest experience.

The reason the standby lines are stretching out into the park is because E ticket attractions were designed to have the majority of the people go through the FP line. Currently the FP line is only being used for a tiny fraction of the people it was designed for - DAS, Club 33, VIP tours, etc - so the standby lines are overrun.

Instead of going for the simple solution (reinstate FP - the system Disney spent a fortune to create), they've come up with a more expensive, convoluted system to solve the problem they created by eliminating FP.

Funny how that works (not).

 

[snowwhite84]

But they’d be much more dispersed and able to do other things. They have to do something about the congestion from all the extended queues. Of all the things that bother me, this option doesn’t. If the natural standby is 2 hrs, I’d much prefer to be able to move around the parks and do other things, then get in line for just 1 hr vs 2 hrs with half that outside in the sun just standing.
Theoretically of course...In reality, I’m not standing in hour long lines regardless.

I agree completely!

 

[Aprilshack]

This will hit a specific group of people. I guarantee there will be takers.

I probably would tbh. Get it out of the way, done. Would be the only ride I would pay $50 for though. The other half would tell me to get lost!

 

[snowwhite84]

See, this is how Disney wants us to think - that they are doing something to improve the guest experience.

The reason the standby lines are stretching out into the park is because E ticket attractions were designed to have the majority of the people go through the FP line. Currently the FP line is only being used for a tiny fraction of the people it was designed for - DAS, Club 33, VIP tours, etc - so the standby lines are overrun.

Instead of going for the simple solution (reinstate FP - the system Disney spent a fortune to create), they've come up with a more expensive, convoluted system to solve the problem they created by eliminating FP.

Funny how that works (not).

But the thing I was addressing in my post is free.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

suspect that this sounds more complicated than it is. For example, depending on how this is implemented, the standby queue could be really cool. If you can be virtually standing in a long standby line until it hits 30 minutes,

It seems unlikely that 30 minutes is the cutoff here. For one, that would cannibalize their paid options. For another, they're probably ok with filling their normal queue space. Think back to how long a line like space mountain was when it completely filled the queue at a time when 80 percent of the ride capacity was going to fastpasses. That's probably closer to what we're looking at.

 

[snowwhite84]

It seems unlikely that 30 minutes is the cutoff here. For one, that would cannibalize their paid options. For another, they're probably ok with filling their normal queue space. Think back to how long a line like space mountain was when it completely filled the queue at a time when 80 percent of the ride capacity was going to fastpasses. That's probably closer to what we're looking at.

Yes I would be interested to see at what time the standby virtual line goes into effect. Anyone know at what point they change it over in Paris?

 

[jujubiee4]

Just finished listening to that segment of the podcast. Interesting observation was that Disney is intentionally making it overly complicated in the hopes that guests will just throw money at it in order to "solve the problem" (of waiting in a long line)..

I suspiciously agree with you regarding this plan. I know too many people when presented with too
many choices will choose an all in one to avoid the headache of breaking down options.

 

[snowwhite84]

I suspiciously agree with you regarding this plan. I know too many people when presented with too
many choices will choose an all in one to avoid the headache of breaking down options.

I agree this could be true, but it doesn’t sound like there even is an all in one option in the rumors, right? It seems to be a la carte.

 

[cakebaker]

I agree this could be true, but it doesn’t sound like there even is an all in one option in the rumors, right? It seems to be a la carte.

The lightning pass options seem to be all in one.

 

[NJlauren]

Wow my 3rd post on this….

As a self identified Disney apologist, I really hope this is false, it would significantly cut down on our family trips, or the days spent at WDW. I guess when everyone wants to be at Disney you need to drive some people away to make it sustainable.

It would become cost prohibitive to enjoy a week at WDW, and to much checking on the phone, which is already to much. I hope this rumor is only part true.

 

[snowwhite84]

The lightening pass options seem to be all in one.

Interesting!

 

[Bibbobboo2u]

You won't be able to "just stand in line" anymore. This is Disney's way of preventing 100 minute long queue's. Once a standby queue gets to a certain "length," I'm sure they'll shut it down and the only way to get on it will be through the free genie option. It's effectively the ROTR system for every ride in the park. The only unknown here is what that preset limit is. I'd bet it's the amount of people they can fit inside the normal queue without it spilling out into the rest of the park.

Basically it'll be: Oh, Space mountain is starting to spill outside the queue. Ok, no more getting on line. You need to use the genie to reserve a spot to get on line later in the day. Whoops, that's all sold out now too. Well, you can always buy a lightning pass! Wow, a lot of people are buying these lightning passes, better turn on surge pricing!

Exactly, if the rumors are true. I have been sadly anticipating the changes to come. I completed a lengthy AP survey a couple of months ago, which focused on what would/would not encourage me to renew my AP. FP+ was included in a number of questions, along with many other items. They probably did it just to try to find out what to do to get rid of AP holders!!! If this system is put in place, they will have found a way to do just that for us. We are out-of-state Platinum AP holders who visit 2-3+ times per year, stay onsite, and never leave the bubble. We stay either deluxe or moderate, always have some signature dining reservations, and come home with more hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, pins/charms, etc. We also used Minnie Vans frequently and attended the parties and some paid extra hours events. All to say, we spend too much money with Disney as it is, but doing something like this will end our AP days. So, it looks like their plan may have worked. for now. However, I will probably get to the point of being if this comes true. Thanks for letting me vent!!!!

 

[Marionnette]

It’s my understanding that in other parks they go to the virtual standby once the line gets to a certain point. So if Dumbo is 20 minutes, you could presumably still spontaneously jump on line. It sounds to me that the aim is to cut down on these long stretching lines outside the attraction.

In the podcast, they specifically cited how the line for Slinky would get shutdown after it extended past Little Mermaid. With a virtual standby queue, you could theoretically join the wait to join the queue and go off to do something else. Once the queue gets to a manageable length again, those who had joined the wait could then get in line.

You basically get in a virtual line in order to be able to join an actual line. Disney already has a problem with line jumpers. Imagine what will happen when an entire tour group jumps in ahead of those in a virtual standby line.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

The lightening pass options seem to be all in one.

Really? They seem to be advertised as essentially what they're doing in DLP right now. A pay per attraction fastpass. The Lightning Pass + go immediately to the front doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me honestly and I feel like there's something being mis-reported there, but even that is being described as an a la carte option. (As in $50, to immediately ride ROTR). I don't believe that piece of it.

 

[snowwhite84]

Really? They seem to be advertised as essentially what they're doing in DLP right now. A pay per attraction fastpass. The Lightning Pass + go immediately to the front doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me honestly and I feel like there's something being mis-reported there.

That’s how I interpreted it, as well.

 

[StarrySkye21]

You’d think in this day and age they could computerize all lines. Leading up to their trips, guests would open an app, click all the attractions they would like to experience, select all their break times and meals and let Disney schedule all attractions for every guest across the park.

Oh, but that would leave no money for Disney.. sooo. Nevermind.

 

[Lashed34]

if 10,000 people have the Lightening Pass+ then how can they all go to the front of a queue, that makes no sense at all.

 

[jade1]

Lightening Pass - Paid entry into the fastpass line (much like the Paris model)

Lightening Pass Plus - Costs more than LP but straight to the front of the line

Genie Basic - Free but only allows you to book a time to join the standby line. Once in the standby line you have to wait the same as everyone else.

Genie Favourite Attractions - Free and allows you to identify a specific number of favourite attractions. You then 'may' receive an alert informing you when the standby line is low. Only some folks will receive that message though so the attraction isn't overloaded.

Genie Plus - Paid customised touring plans, much like those already offered by the Touring Plans website.

Standby - (most but not all attractions) - traditional walk up and wait.

Boarding Groups - Will continue for ROTR and will be the only way to ride Ratatouille when it opens.