Get a load of this! A reader's comment about Fastpass to AAA Home and Away magazine

[goofyernmost]

OK, one more time for all you experts. THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH FASTPASSES FOR EVERYONE. If there were it would be useless. The article really didn't say specifically that they didn't know about it, it said that they stood still while only one line moved. (fastpass)

And there is a REAL, PALPABLE UNFAIRNESS TO IT. Even if there wasn't it still creates a cast system that rewards those that have it and punishes those that don't. If those in fastpass paid more than those in standby to get in the park or to use it, then it would be more palatable to those that had to wait.

So all you dedicated Fastpass users keep kidding yourself that it is a wonderful thing. I will never ever think that it is in the best interest of WDW or any theme park to use them. Cater to the few and anger the masses is not a good, long range plan, no matter who you are, or how friendly looking your corporate icon is.

 

[Doug Wolfe]

Time101....you are right. It would be poetic justice for me to end up in Indiana.

Heck, I grew up in New Jersey, now I'm living next door to Abe Lincoln.

Yeah, I can see it now, sitting on my porch in Michigan City handing out fast passes to unsuspecting Hoosiers! Take care.

 

[MRS AR]

The best fast pass system is at IOA. They allow resort guest to always use the fast pass line with your valid room key. I e-mailed Disney and asked why they couldn't adopt a similar policy, but they were very offended that I would say the Universal had a better plan. They really do. If you ever experience it, it makes you think twice about a disney vacation.

 

[Hippychickali]

Mrs AR, I think that it would be less successful at WDW seeing as there are so many more resort guests.

Goofyernmost, you said:
"And there is a REAL, PALPABLE UNFAIRNESS TO IT. Even if there wasn't it still creates a cast system that rewards those that have it and punishes those that don't."

How the heck does this create a cast system? It's first come first serve. Therefore, everyone has the same opportunity to take advantage of fast pass. It has nothing to do with your financial situation.

Ali

 

[Doug Wolfe]

"Cater to the few, anger the masses...."

"cast system"

Vermont?

Howard Dean, is that you?

 

[XStAnt]

To follow up on NotUrsula's point, it is possible that the people had a FP for another ride and couldn't get another one yet. Perhaps they decided to try Pooh in the standby line, and were annoyed that the standby line barely moved. That might annoy me also. Ideally both lines should move at a reasonable rate, with preference for FP holders.

Of course, the smart move upon seeing the standby line not moving would be to get out of line (and wait in a non-FP line or do something else) and get a FP for Pooh as soon as eligible. I think the whole concept of FP is to avoid standing in lines for rides with FP available. Instead, when waiting for your return time wait in a ride that doesn't use FP.

Goofyernmost, I think the FP system would be unfair if Disney charged extra for it. This would mean people who save all their money for a trip and had little/none to spare would not be able to use FP. I feel it is unfair to give an advantage like that to people with money. The fact that FP is available to everyone makes it fair.

 

[Bill From PA]

Quote: 'it still creates a cast system'.

Assuming you meant caste system, that would only be true if this feature were availabe to a select few, such as WDW resort guests or AP holders. This is not true of FastPass, a benefit to all who enter a WDW park. Early Entry receipients are members of a privileged caste , FP users are not.

Bill From PA

 

[crazyforgoofy]

exactly. You beat me to it. Well said, sir.

 

[seashoreCM]

I'm always willing to stop in the fastpass line and take the time to explain to people in the adjacent regular line how to use fastpass.

Once as I walked straight along the perimeter of the waiting area past the endless curlicues of queued up regular riders I thought about yelling out this question: "How many of you have never gotten or used a fast pass, please raise your hands" in response to a complaint from one of them.

Except I have never heard anyone griping about "the privileged fastpass few" as I walked past them.

It is not unusual for the ratio to be 4 fastpass riders for every one regular rider.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/fastpass.htm

<small>
9/65 Disneyland
3/75 World Inn (now Doubletree Club)
4/85 Kon-Tiki (now Econolodge Hawaiian)
'80s Disneyland once or twice
7/94 Dixie Landings (now Port Orleans Riverside)
9/97 All Star Music
11/98 ASMu & first premium annual pass
12/98 Knights Inn on 192
9/99 All Star Movies
12/00 All Star Sports & PAP#2
9/01 ASSp
11/01 ASSp
1/03 Motel 6 & ASSp & PAP#3
11/03 ASMu
</small>

 

[Mr.BsMom]

Originally posted by Hippychickali

How the heck does this create a cast system? It's first come first serve. Therefore, everyone has the same opportunity to take advantage of fast pass. It has nothing to do with your financial situation.

Ali

I agree Ali!! I don't know why some think that using a FP is such a bad thing?? We're all on an equal playing field... First come, first served. That sounds fair to me! And if I choose to make the effort to get a FP, and Goofyernmost chooses not to... so be it! That doesn't make either one of us better than the other. But I'll be sure to wave as I walk on past in that FP line!

 

[Poohbear123]

I have to admit, I did NOT start using Fastpass until June of 2002! I kind of, sort of, did NOT understand HOW it worked. But, when I went with Friends in June of 2002, It was explained to me in detail! I have used it, when needed, ever since!

 

[Gary M]

Being a Hoosier, I will overlook the comments from our neighbors to the west. The person who wrote the letter to the AAA mag is from Fishers, IN, which is an upscale suburb of Indy. I guess that well-to-do and well-educated Hoosiers may not understand FP.

 

[arminnie]

I don't see how FP is any different from theatres selling tickets ahead of time. You show up w/o tickets for a popular show and you probably won't get in if it's busy.

And read the sign over the non-FP line - it says STAND-BY - and that's what it is.

FP should be let on first - they took the time to make the "reservation" and the stand-by line is just that - stand by to see if there is room after the reservation people are let on. Disney isn't quite that strict and does let the stand-by people merge in with FP though.

I love FP. I still have to wait and maybe longer than the people in line but I can wait where I want to not in line. That's really all that FP buys you - a choice of where to wait.

 

[Hippychickali]

I think that we need the person who originally was talking about the unfairness of FP (and the caste system) to clarify what they meant because, frankly, I just don't get it.

Ali

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I can see it from both angles. It is first come frist served - which doesn't work well when you get to the park late (like after a breakfast ressie). And there's the chance that you will get a FP for a much later time - but you can't go then because you have a dinner ressie.

I think there is a better plan. I haven't the foggiest idea what it could possibly be - but there's got to be something better, and I don't think it involves extra cost. Maybe if you could pick your time? Have every hour or half hour available? Get there at 9 am and chose a 5 pm ride time? Thus, leaving earlier times for people who can't stay late? There could be a board above the FP stations with which hours are still available - and which ones are sold out. Hmmm... like chosing a movie time.

I dunno - it seems like a good idea in D4D-World!

D4D

 

[CaseyJr]

All anyone has to do is just ask! Interact instead of react (and / or pay attention to what's going on around them and read the park guides...).

As I've gotten older (and become a parent) I've become much more assertive (and less shy). I go up to people and CM's all the time and ask questions. Lots of people ask me stuff at the parks. I am ever-helpful and more than willing to take a few extra moments to explain or clarify something. And I'd be willing to bet there are a lot more of you out there like me, too, right?

 

[phamton]

Originally posted by Ducky4Disney
Maybe if you could pick your time? Have every hour or half hour available? Get there at 9 am and chose a 5 pm ride time? Thus, leaving earlier times for people who can't stay late?

This is how Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure do their express passes. (They have them set up like the fast pass machines at Disney and they are also free like Disney.) You get a choice between two times, one early and one late. Both times show up on a touch screen and you just pick which time you want by touching the screen.

Also last month they had a special reward for annual passholders there. You could get 2 express passes without waiting two hours. So you could get a pass for Hulk and then run over and get one for Spiderman.

 

[MDonley]

During our first trip to WDW, we were clueless. We'd spoken to anther family that was going a month before us & thought we were prepared. We weren't! That became painfully evident when we watched the groups of foreigners with everything mapped out and all of their ducks in a row. That evening we sat down and planned out our next day. Big improvement!
So, even though the FP is explained in several places, it makes it difficult to see how it could fit into your plans if you're just wandering around aimlessly or trying to explain it to kids that "We'll get a FP and come back later" when they want to go on the ride "NOW!"

 

[time101]

Isn't complaining that FP'ers have an unfair advantage the same as saying that guests who have made PS's at popular restaurants have an unfair advantage? "Look at all those diners going ahead of me to their tables!!"

And actually, FP is explained much better to park visitors than are PS's. Your average first timer to WDW has no idea that restaurant PS's need to be made 90 days out. But your average first timer upon park entry is handed the instructions for FP on walking through the turnstiles in the form of the park map. And I cannot imagine going to WDW for the first time and not pausing on Main St. to look the map over first.

 

[CRSNDSNY]