How is MK with no Legacy FP?

[lugnut33]

I just had an idea that Disney could use for those that like to park hop.

You get 3 fastpasses between park open and 1 pm, if you don't use them you lose them. Then you get 2 fastpasses between 1pm and park close. You can use them however you want on any ride, tiering could still be in effect. It would also encourage people to get to the parks in the morning because we all know those people sleeping in are just being lazy .

 

[Vidia2]

I'm just going to ignore that question so I don't get in trouble.

I think I can guess now. Thanks.

 

[wisblue]

I posted this video after our Thanksgiving trip, it will give you a very good idea of the problems with scanning:
http://youtu.be/gnutHcc8tbk

Of course there will be one poster who will be along shortly to tell you the line moves quickly and you shouldn't care about another line to get into line..

Yes, that poster is here to remind people that that awful line took TWO MINUTES to get through. All you have to do is watch the last person you can see at the beginning of the clip and see what the time is when that person enters.

And, yes, I don't have a problem taking two minutes getting through the scan point, especially when you move quickly from there to the boarding area.

If you want to conclude that that means that I wouldn't care about waiting 20 minutes getting through the scan point, that's your choice.

Post all the pictures and videos you want, but let's at least be honest about them.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

There have been folks who have had bad experiences, and folks (like me) who have had good experiences. For some reason, people see and hear what they want to see and hear. Those convinced that this is horrible are not swayed by the positive posts, just as those convinced that it is awesome are not swayed by the bad reports. I get the feeling that these threads are a complete waste of time.

 

[kmc]

How was the red-sweatered group able to cut in that really long line without starting a riot?

Haha I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed that!

 

[lugnut33]

Yes, that poster is here to remind people that that awful line took TWO MINUTES to get through. All you have to do is watch the last person you can see at the beginning of the clip and see what the time is when that person enters.

And, yes, I don't have a problem taking two minutes getting through the scan point, especially when you move quickly from there to the boarding area.

If you want to conclude that that means that I wouldn't care about waiting 20 minutes getting through the scan point, that's your choice.

Post all the pictures and videos you want, but let's at least be honest about them.

I have been honest about them, hence the reason I took the video and posted it. It is another line and those lines end up going into the traffic flow areas and are leading to even more congestion. I don't really are if it is 2 minutes, it's another line. And those lines are going to get even more crazy as they crank up the amount of FP+ available. Will they get more efficient at the check points? I sure hope so, but you will see FP+ lines get even longer in the future.

 

[pilferk]

There have been folks who have had bad experiences, and folks (like me) who have had good experiences. For some reason, people see and hear what they want to see and hear. Those convinced that this is horrible are not swayed by the positive posts, just as those convinced that it is awesome are not swayed by the bad reports. I get the feeling that these threads are a complete waste of time.

I disagree.

I think there is constant good information coming through these threads, even when the filter/lens from which it is viewed is taken into account.

Again, I have not yet formed an overall opinion. Some things we saw weren't encouraging, but our actual experiences were not bad...and even the issues we saw (like the BTMRR line) were not horrific or insurmountable (the cm education, specifically, could be fixed). Those things that we saw that were issues...some of them may also have been caused by OTHER things going on in the park (tech issues, tour groups, et)

As I continue to say, I need more history/information before I form an opinion. And there's some of that here, and more coming in.

 

[pilferk]

Post all the pictures and videos you want, but let's at least be honest about them.

That's consistent with what we saw...somewhere between 3 and 5 min for someone getting at the back of the line to clear the checkpoint.

But...again, being honest...that's 3-5 minutes longer than previously. And it's a line stretching into the traffic flow areas that was not there previously. And, if you look at the check in process, it looks to be entirely caused by the scanning process.

Whether you mind waiting in it (we didn't, either) isn't really the point. The point is only that it's there, it didn't used to be, and it looks like it's being caused by the new system.

Now I'll be happy to discuss whether it was temporary and specific to those days, whether they'll increase efficiency and it'll go away, or whether Disney even cares to do anything to make it go away....but as to whether it's a "big deal"...that's going to be too specific to particular posters, their touring habits, etc. There's no use debating it because everyone is "right", as it pertains to their preferences.

 

[mom2rtk]

Oops. We're gonna need more rides.

You missed rule #1. All options are on the table except more rides.

I would imagine with legacy being removed and everyone on the three and done system, people will start grabbing the FP"+" reservations online in advance at a quicker pace.

It will be interesting to see how the kiosk availability changes at spring break with more people understanding the system and booking ahead of time.

If off-site don't get to book in advance, there is no way this can be good for them during peak season.

Off site guests NEED to be at the park BEFORE rope drop to have a fighting chance. I wonder if that small glimmer of rope drop hope will drive up early morning attendance from the off site guests.

As more off-site guests show up early and grab what they can, more on-site guests will be forced to grab their advanced ride reservations in advance.

It seems to me that the ARR battle will inevitably move to the cyber arena.

When the race for FP"+" moves online, the off set guests will be doomed.

And that's the sad part. It used to be that if you went to the hassle of being at rope drop you were pretty much assured of getting that one fastpass you were really after. Now? Not so much. It's entirely possible to go through that hassle, even though you wanted to sleep late, even though your kids would be much happier with a couple more hours of sleep....... but can now come up empty.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

It take a few seconds to position your arm correctly, then a few more seconds to get the green Mickey. Invariably there will be a family of 8 all trying to use one scanner despite a cast member yelling at them to use both.

And telling each child, one at a time, to hold up their arm, no try again, a little higher, to the left, let me help you...next child...

We used wristband scanners at the Mall of the America and it took me a few rides before I was holding my wrist correctly and my five-year-old needed help throughout the day. Fortunately, the lines were short all day. On a summer weekend.

 

[nancipants]

...again, being honest...that's 3-5 minutes longer than previously. And it's a line stretching into the traffic flow areas that was not there previously. And, if you look at the check in process, it looks to be entirely caused by the scanning process.

Whether you mind waiting in it (we didn't, either) isn't really the point. The point is only that it's there, it didn't used to be, and it looks like it's being caused by the new system.

I don't know about anyone else, but I've certainly seen legacy Fast Pass lines stretching back far into the park, mostly on rides like Space Mountain, Big Thunder, and Star Tours.

In my experience from attending MK yesterday, most of the bottlenecking at the first check point was because of "user error." I.e. people who don't have their bands/passes ready to go and scan. This same issue happened with legacy Fast Pass, too, both at the ride and at the kiosks.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

And telling each child, one at a time, to hold up their arm, no try again, a little higher, to the left, let me help you...next child...

We used wristband scanners at the Mall of the America and it took me a few rides before I was holding my wrist correctly and my five-year-old needed help throughout the day. Fortunately, the lines were short all day. On a summer weekend.

Most children are not going to need help after the first time. The "put the Mickey head on the Mickey head" instruction is very simple.

 

[pilferk]

And that's the sad part. It used to be that if you went to the hassle of being at rope drop you were pretty much assured of getting that one fastpass you were really after. Now? Not so much. It's entirely possible to go through that hassle, even though you wanted to sleep late, even though your kids would be much happier with a couple more hours of sleep....... but can now come up empty.

I can't speak for the busier times of year, but...for now....

If you're there for rope drop, you're much better off just going to that ride with your family and getting in the standby line. From what we saw last week, you're not going to wait very long...possibly not at all, depending on the ride and how busy the parks are.

Ignore the FP+'s until later (assuming you're off site). You might not get exactly what you want in FP+'s, but you'll likely get to ride what you want for the first hour or two, with relatively short waits, and can worry about "filling in" later.

 

[pilferk]

I don't know about anyone else, but I've certainly seen legacy Fast Pass lines stretching back far into the park, mostly on rides like Space Mountain, Big Thunder, and Star Tours.

In my experience from attending MK yesterday, most of the bottlenecking at the first check point was because of "user error." I.e. people who don't have their bands/passes ready to go and scan. This same issue happened with legacy Fast Pass, too, both at the ride and at the kiosks.

I never have at the rides. I have at the kiosks, during the "FP rush" for TSMM (and only for that one ride).

Which might speak to the times of year I travel (early Dec, mid Jan, mid to late Oct).

But the BTMRR line (both days we were there) was smack dab in my normal travel times.

Now, I'm not saying it's never happened while I've been on site..just that I've never seen it.

I saw it consistently for BTMRR, Space Mountain, and RnR while there.

Again, I'm perfectly willing to chalk that up to an anomaly if that's what it was. But...at least recently...I'm not the only one reporting it/seeing it.

 

[wisblue]

That's consistent with what we saw...somewhere between 3 and 5 min for someone getting at the back of the line to clear the checkpoint.

But...again, being honest...that's 3-5 minutes longer than previously. And it's a line stretching into the traffic flow areas that was not there previously. And, if you look at the check in process, it looks to be entirely caused by the scanning process.

Whether you mind waiting in it (we didn't, either) isn't really the point. The point is only that it's there, it didn't used to be, and it looks like it's being caused by the new system.

Now I'll be happy to discuss whether it was temporary and specific to those days, whether they'll increase efficiency and it'll go away, or whether Disney even cares to do anything to make it go away....but as to whether it's a "big deal"...that's going to be too specific to particular posters, their touring habits, etc. There's no use debating it because everyone is "right", as it pertains to their preferences.

I guess I'm more willing than some to see how this plays out as Disney learns from the transitions and comes up with ways to alleviate bottlenecks that really are problematic. I'm not going to assume that the way something is the first weekend of having no paper FP at MK is going to stay that way forever or only going to get worse.

I know that it wasn't this way for us on our recent trip over Christmas week, even at DAK where there were no paper FPs. So, maybe we were just lucky or maybe these lines are not this way all the time.

 

[pilferk]

Most children are not going to need help after the first time. The "put the Mickey head on the Mickey head" instruction is very simple.

I think you'd be surprised.....

If you put mickey a little to high, or a little too low, or left, or right...it doesn't scan. The sweet spot isn't nearly as big as it probably should be.

I don't know about "over and over" with the same people, but we saw it consistently. Maybe it was a LOT of "first timers" in line after line, hour after hour, at all different times of day. It's certainly possible....we'll have to see if the inefficiency evaporates as people get more familiar with the system.

It's certainly possible.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

And telling each child, one at a time, to hold up their arm, no try again, a little higher, to the left, let me help you...next child...

We used wristband scanners at the Mall of the America and it took me a few rides before I was holding my wrist correctly and my five-year-old needed help throughout the day. Fortunately, the lines were short all day. On a summer weekend.

Most children are not going to need help after the first time. The "put the Mickey head on the Mickey head" instruction is very simple.

KatieCharlotte, I think they just basically said there is something wrong with your child.

BTW, just because a child knows what they are suppose to do doesn't mean they will be able to do it and/or do it with speed.

 

[Frank The Tank]

I periodically had issues getting mine to read. I wonder if it would be easier to scan if they rotated the scanner 90 degrees and all you had to do was lift your wrist up instead of having to twist it.

 

[pilferk]

I guess I'm more willing than some to see how this plays out as Disney learns from the transitions and comes up with ways to alleviate bottlenecks that really are problematic. I'm not going to assume that the way something is the first weekend of having no paper FP at MK is going to stay that way forever or only going to get worse.

I know that it wasn't this way for us on our recent trip over Christmas week, even at DAK where there were no paper FPs. So, maybe we were just lucky or maybe these lines are not this way all the time.

Sure. And there's nothing wrong with taking that stance.

But those who see the problem/issue/new "nuance" aren't attacking you because they choose otherwise. Because they want to actually look at the specifics and talk about them, as they are actually happening.

If you think that's not worthwhile, because you think the problem will resolve itself without examination....no problem.

But nobody is "right" here, and nobody is "wrong". It's just different ways of examining/handling the changes.

Edit: OH, and FYI: The BTMRR and Space Mountain lines happened Sunday, the 12th, too (in addition to Friday the 17th). And that predates the elimination of paper fastpasses by a couple days.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

I periodically had issues getting mine to read. I wonder if it would be easier to scan if they rotated the scanner 90 degrees and all you had to do was lift your wrist up instead of having to twist it.

What a great idea!! You deserve a cookie! Or maybe an extra FP+!!