News about fast passes?

[disneygal55]

I just read something on the Universal Studios site. Someone made a comment about how Disney was considering eliminating fast passes and at
this time was testing this at Disneyland. Has anyone heard anything about this? We love fast passes! They make park hopping possible. I hope this doesn't happen!

 

[Buckleybunch]

I haven't heard that, but I know on Monday, they seem to close the fast pass booths up early now days.???

 

[DeirdreTours]

We just returned from WDW (9/23-10/2) and only once did discontinueing fast passed come up. We were about to enter the Haunted Mansion and were debating fast passes or wait-- A cast member standing in front of the machines told us they were closed. I asked if they were closed for the rest of the day and she said they were experimenting with elimenating fast passes and evaluating the effect on wait times. I thought she was just talking about the Haunted Mansion, though.

 

[disneyholic family]

We just returned from WDW (9/23-10/2) and only once did discontinueing fast passed come up. We were about to enter the Haunted Mansion and were debating fast passes or wait-- A cast member standing in front of the machines told us they were closed. I asked if they were closed for the rest of the day and she said they were experimenting with elimenating fast passes and evaluating the effect on wait times. I thought she was just talking about the Haunted Mansion, though.

i think that's just at the haunted mansion...
they also had some of the other FP machines closed during the week while we were there in september, but that's because there were so few people in the park, the FPs weren't necessary...

 

[boomhauer]

Why would they get rid of fastpass?

Is the paper from the machines getting too costly for Disney?

 

[KathylovesPooh]

I can't imagine why they would eliminate it - it seems to work. Keep tweaking it - that I understand.

BTW, we have always traveled during slower times and often they don't open FP machines or close them during the day. Also they sometimes they have been moved between attractions as well (I believe POTC originally had one).

 

[puffkin]

Hopefully they are just going to eliminate on attractions where it didn't make sense to have it in the first place.

When we were there in June (which was very busy), they didn't have FP's for Haunted Mansion, Maelstrom, or It's Tough to Be a Bug. The regular line wasn't too bad though (20 minute or so wait) so it wasn't a big deal. I think on those rides, the Fast Passes actually increased wait times.

I hope they keep experimenting and tweaking the system, but not eliminate it completely.

 

[shafke]

at the end of April the HM FP looked like it was closed whenever we passed it. The wait time on the ride also never looked to be very long.

Maybe they are looking at which rides actually need fastpass. For example... when we went we did Maelstrom. The first time there was a wait of 5-10 minutes. The 2nd time the wait was a little longer only because the ride stopped for about 5 minutes or so. The fastpass machines were open but no necessary.

 

[Vickie46]

we were there last week and it seems like they were testing it a lot... well.. they were actually testing the single ride line alot too.. they scanned a card and then gave it to me to see how long it took for me to get thru the line.. that happened I know at least 4 times. Test Track, Small World, I can't remember the others.

 

[Goofy4]

they scanned a card and then gave it to me to see how long it took for me to get thru the line.. .

We asked about that in 2003 and they said that is how they determine the average wait time. 4 times though -- that's a lot. Perhaps they are testing something.

 

[staylor]

I leave in 24 hours, I hope they don't change anything before then.

 

[PrincessCM]

I don't think I have ever seen the FP open at the Haunted Mansion. I think I read somewhere that it was faster to go through the attraction without it.

 

[philaround]

The last time I saw FP open at HM was May 2004.

If there is a problem with the current FP system I think a big step to help eliminate the problems would be to not allow people to use their FP after their window has expired. I know that many cm's will allow guests to use an expired FP but I follow the posted rules. If I am unable to return in time to use my FP I discard it in the nearest trash can.

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

I noticed the HM FP was closed in August, but the longest we waited was less than 5 minutes so I guess they're trying to get rid of FP for the rides where it probably just causes more of a wait. I doubt they'd get rid of them completely, b/c I know for things like Soarin', Peter Pan, Splash Mountain, etc the FP seem to be worth it.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I just read something on the Universal Studios site. Someone made a comment about how Disney was considering eliminating fast passes and at
this time was testing this at Disneyland. Has anyone heard anything about this? We love fast passes! They make park hopping possible. I hope this doesn't happen!

Disneyland did away with some of their fastpass machines about a year ago. Disneyland's HM, POC and Star Tours no longer have fastpass (HM will still have it during the Nighmare Before Christmas holiday version only). Those are such fastloading rides they apparently decided they didn't need it. Since they did away with those at Disneyland I have visited a few times and lines for those rides that lost fastpass were never that bad so I guess they were right to get rid of fastpass on those. At both WDW and DL, I have always noticed that on days that aren't that busy they will just cover up the fast pass machines. I believe UG says that fastpass is really only beneficial if lines are over 30 minutes, because by the time your return time comes up, you could have stood in line and ridden the ride. Some people, myself included will still use fastpass (if its available) even if the lines aren't that long because there is less que to walk through in some of the rides and even 30 minutes of standing can be unappealing.

I have heard rumors that fastpass may change (something about the higher level resort you stay at, the more fastpasses you will be able to get ) but who knows! I have also heard rumors that they will move the fastpass machines at WDW's Haunted Mansion over to the Indy Speedway but again, who knows!

 

[mrp4352]

I went in September and in the materials they gave us at check in, they listed which rides would have fast passes on which days. Sorry, I'm at work, so I don't have the details, but I know that they have published that not all FP machines will be working every day.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

we were there last week and it seems like they were testing it a lot... well.. they were actually testing the single ride line alot too.. they scanned a card and then gave it to me to see how long it took for me to get thru the line.. that happened I know at least 4 times. Test Track, Small World, I can't remember the others.

We were also at WDW last week and constantly saw those little red cards.

 

[lark]

I just read something on the Universal Studios site. Someone made a comment about how Disney was considering eliminating fast passes and at
this time was testing this at Disneyland. Has anyone heard anything about this? We love fast passes! They make park hopping possible. I hope this doesn't happen!

I was just at Disneyland, and fastpass was in full effect, even though the crowds were very light. There were definitely a couple of attractions where fastpass was either closed or had been removed at DL from the prior year, but it was still being used on many attractions.

Apparently, FOTL for Universal has really helped boost their hotel occupancy, and disney has taken notice and is accordingly attempting some tweaks that will allow them to give greater fastpass benefits to those onsite. The unofficial guide has a long section about a new disney patent on fastpass that disney has filed, which ties things like unlimited fastpass and multiple fastpass to concierge or deluxe guests, or to certain kind of packages or admission tickets. For this reason, since I'm already planning a late 2006 trip, I'm going to try to stay with room only and 6-day cancel for as long as possible (unless a great deal comes up) so that I can stay flexible if changes are announced.

EDIT -- boy, the internet is an amazing thing. Actually, there are 5 different fastpass related patent applications. The following appears to be the most important one. There's a lot here, but the most interesting innovention appears to be the ability for resort guests to arrange their fastpasses on their television the day before their park visit. This application also appears to definitely integrate the idea that better fastpast perks could be made available to concierge or other guests. After looking at this, I would say that the belief that fastpass is going away is definitely not in the cards -- although it could change significantly.

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph...pass+AND+hierarchy&RS=(fastpass+AND+hierarchy)

 

[KeriZ]

Just wanted to reply as we have just come back from Disneyland last week and we were speaking with a person at the DVC counter at Downtown Disney in Disneyland. We were in Disneyland from the September 27- October 1.

My husband and I were curious about the fast passes being closed because the parks seemed to be way busier than we thought it was going to be. Big Thunder Mountain FP was closed and we didn't wait very long but Splash Mountain lines were terribly long (60 minute ++) and it seemed like no one was using the FP at all.(my 4 1/2 year old daughter was running as fast as she could in the FP line past hundreds of people). The FP didn't help at all for Space Mountain or Soaring (which we weren't very happy with at all).

Anyways the DVC rep said they are definately taking out the FP at a lot of the attractions at Disneyland for example Honey I Shrunk the Kids and the HM (except during the Holiday overlay) because they feel that people aren't utilizing them how they should. I asked "how should" they be used and he really didn't give me a direct answer.

He said expect the same in Disneyworld in the New Year.

I was disappointed as we are making another trip to the WDW in May 2006 and are taking friends and wanted to show them how much more you could get done in a day at WDW with FP.

I know I'm rambling but I just had to respond to this thread.

Keri

 

[MOMOFMNM]

we only used FP once at Soarin and by the time we got our time the standby line was only 20 mins long...but we had a chance to eat and do circle of life...
the thing I did not like was swich off...how dumb!!! My dd was not allowed to go thru the lines with us as decribed in the UG even though she was over the height requirement so we had to wait for our family then I was given a fast pass and had to still wait in the FP lines behind others EXCEPT for at TOT, those people had it together AND she got to go thru the line with us and they took us down another non dropping elevator and back up right away to the laoading area when it was time!! That was cool...my dd was afraid of the "real" elevator though and thought IT was going to drop she even asked the CM if this elevator goes down REALLY SLOW!!!