FP Procedure Creating Long Back-Ups

[PurpleKomodo]

We were at DL last week and I noticed something I have never experienced before. I have been to WDW many time, but this was my first DL trip. We found on many occasions that the lines to go through the FP scan point into an attraction go way backed up. The worst we encountered were at RSR, California Screamin', and Indiana Jones. It seemed that most guests had no idea that they needed tickets out to scan. I think DL has made the whole processes confusing for anyone not keeping up on current news (most people). The FP tickets still have barcodes on them, but are completely worthless. There needs to be some signage or something helping people know what to do. It took us over an hour to ride Indiana Jones in 2 groups with FP (we had to child swap). This seems crazy! Or is it just me?

 

[wilkeliza]

Probably just a fluke. We had no problem during D23 Expo weekend with it. When you get the FP it tells you you have to have your ticket out to scan when you come back. People just aren't reading. The ticket you get from a machine literately says "please have your valid park admission available upon your return" and there were big signs that said Please scan your valid park admission at the front of each FP entry point.

 

[Angrose]

I don't think it's a fluke. When I was there July 8-9, I noticed that FP entrances where sometimes backed up and sometimes they weren't. For example, when we used our Indy FPs, we walked right in, but when we came out, there was quite a back up to get into the FP queue. RSR racers was always backed up.

 

[PiratesMansion]

I remember when WDW rolled out FastPass+ in 2014. They had the exact same issue of people not knowing how to use the system and it backing up FP lines. That problem was nonexistent this year because people have had time to adjust. The same thing will happen eventually at Disneyland.

I was there D23 week and the only rides that consistently had backups like that were Indy and Space Mountain, and that was because people got into the FP line, thinking it was standby, because they were so far back that they couldn't see that they were in the FP line.

 

[BayouQueen]

If multiple tickets have been scanned into one phone, do they count the number of people going through, or scan the phone multiple times as each person goes through? Sounds slow, to me.

 

[Bossy22]

I think I'll miss the good ole days of just using your fastpass!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

It seemed that most guests had no idea that they needed tickets out to scan.

Right. Because it's brand new.

There needs to be some signage or something helping people know what to do.

They do, but I read everything and still hadn't managed to read all the verbiage by the time I got there.

It took us over an hour to ride Indiana Jones in 2 groups with FP (we had to child swap)

Totally normal and typical.

My son is 13 yo and when he was 17 months it took 4 adults way over an hour to ride with swap.

I think I'll miss the good ole days of just using your fastpass!!!

I already do.

 

[wilkeliza]

If multiple tickets have been scanned into one phone, do they count the number of people going through, or scan the phone multiple times as each person goes through? Sounds slow, to me.

It is easiest if each person holds their physical ticket to scan instead of the phone ticket.

 

[Lesley Wake]

I think a big issue is just people not reading or listening to CMs. So many people put away their passes before the second point when the CM makes a point of telling them to keep it out. I think removing the barcode would probably help, because it's a way the CM could really say, I can't do anything without an actual ticket.

With respect to the long FP redemption lines, I have seen them bad too even before the shift to scanned vs paper. Just a lot depends on the percentage of tourists vs locals.

The amount of time in line even with a FP will vary for each ride. I'm not surprised at the hour to ride Indy twice as I would expect that even if there was a backlog at first scan point. There is still a fairly long queue (physical length as well as people) after the FP merge point. Same with Soarin and Space.

 

[ashley0139]

Indiana Jones is notoriously slow for fastpass anyway. You join the standby line (relatively) far back compared to other rides.

 

[wilkeliza]

Indiana Jones is notoriously slow for fastpass anyway. You join the standby line (relatively) far back compared to other rides.

Yeah the whole inside part is shared right?

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm not shocked. There's no way scanning individual bar codes will ever be as fast as just showing several fanned out FPs for your group to the CM standing there.

 

[BayouQueen]

It is easiest if each person holds their physical ticket to scan instead of the phone ticket.

Makes sense. With young kids I guess you'd have to keep custody of the tickets and pass them out as you enter the line. Kids do lose stuff.

I'm guessing they'll get the MagicBands to DL sooner rather than later. I hope they do!

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm guessing they'll get the MagicBands to DL sooner rather than later. I hope they do!

Last we heard on the subject, management said Magic Bands are not coming to DLR.

 

[wilkeliza]

Makes sense. With young kids I guess you'd have to keep custody of the tickets and pass them out as you enter the line. Kids do lose stuff.

I'm guessing they'll get the MagicBands to DL sooner rather than later. I hope they do!

No plan for magic bands. They wouldn't be rolling out scanners if MB was the end point.

 

[disneydadazut2]

I was there last week as well. I noticed similar behavior - but also found that people were backed up waiting to go into the FP line. Meaning, they were waiting for their window to open and then go through the scanner. I noticed this on several rides, especially those that were super quick turn arounds (FP was timed for 10 min out).

FOR YOUR INFORMATION, your ticket can be scanned and give you a green light 5 min before the time stamp on your card. So, if your FP return time is 9:15, you can go through starting at 9:10.

 

[DLgal]

People just don't understand Fastpass in general at Disneyland. It has always been that way, but it is worse now because they just changed how it works again. People literally DO NOT read signs, DO NOT pay attention to what time it is compared to the return time on their tickets, and DO NOT listen to the cast members. A lot of park guests this month are not Annual pass holders and aren't super knowledgeable about the parks.

We were at DCA on Sunday and returned to Radiator Springs Racers to use our DAS return time. The FP line was LONG...but as we approached closer, large groups dropped out of the line in front of us. One HUGE group of like 12 people were told "you are 18 minutes early for your Fastpass time." Another family of 5 tried to use the paper tickets AFTER they had already redeemed the fastpass for a ride. The dad acted clueless and said "I thought we could ride using this line as many times as we wanted today with this ticket" <--- Seriously. He proceeded to argue about it and another CM had to step in. Another group with 2 adult women and their 2 kids had purchased MaxPass for JUST themselves (not the kids) and were turned away when they tried to scan in because the kids tickets didn't have MP. One woman said "we shouldn't have to pay $10 for the kids to get Fastpass...they are minors." Like...what? She was MAD. In that case, the CM let them in but told her she needed to either buy MP for the two kids for the rest of the day or they could go to Guest Relations and ask for a refund for the two MP they bought since they didn't understand the terms and conditions. Those people ended up in front of us in the FP line and spent the whole time ranting about how much Disney is ripping people off and that kids should be free anyway, and blah blah blah. That was fun.

 

[Davin_Felth]

Yeah the whole inside part is shared right?

Yup, once you go inside it's all the same line. I've noticed that it can be really inconsistant too, sometimes they let way too many people inside and you hit the backup pretty quickly. Other times, you're almost to the projector room by the time you hit the line inside. I hate getting a fast pass for Indy, it feels like the least "value" for a fast pass.

 

[wilkeliza]

People just don't understand Fastpass in general at Disneyland. It has always been that way, but it is worse now because they just changed how it works again. People literally DO NOT read signs, DO NOT pay attention to what time it is compared to the return time on their tickets, and DO NOT listen to the cast members. A lot of park guests this month are not Annual pass holders and aren't super knowledgeable about the parks.

We were at DCA on Sunday and returned to Radiator Springs Racers to use our DAS return time. The FP line was LONG...but as we approached closer, large groups dropped out of the line in front of us. One HUGE group of like 12 people were told "you are 18 minutes early for your Fastpass time." Another family of 5 tried to use the paper tickets AFTER they had already redeemed the fastpass for a ride. The dad acted clueless and said "I thought we could ride using this line as many times as we wanted today with this ticket" <--- Seriously. He proceeded to argue about it and another CM had to step in. Another group with 2 adult women and their 2 kids had purchased MaxPass for JUST themselves (not the kids) and were turned away when they tried to scan in because the kids tickets didn't have MP. One woman said "we shouldn't have to pay $10 for the kids to get Fastpass...they are minors." Like...what? She was MAD. In that case, the CM let them in but told her she needed to either buy MP for the two kids for the rest of the day or they could go to Guest Relations and ask for a refund for the two MP they bought since they didn't understand the terms and conditions. Those people ended up in front of us in the FP line and spent the whole time ranting about how much Disney is ripping people off and that kids should be free anyway, and blah blah blah. That was fun.

I've noticed a lot of people (even AP holders) have gotten nastier to CMs. During our Fantasmic viewing they were telling everyone in the sitting section to sit. Instead of just asking if it was okay to stand until a little closer to start these two women snapped at the CM that they knew it was sitting only and they would be standing until the last minute. I just shook my head. I get that the sentiment is the same but being polite and asking if it is okay to stand for a little bit is much better than biting off the poor CM's head.

 

[ktlm]

We were at DL last week and were at WDW during the testing phase for resort guests. It was similar in terms of back ups, but WDW was worse. I think it will get better as more people get used to it like it did at WDW. The only ride where we had significant waits to scan was RSR. There was one day that the FP line went all the way back to Luigi's.