Not impressed with the current fastpass system

[TLSnell1981]

Are you being sarcastic? I don't think that's allowed on the DISBoards...

Sarcastic?! I thought, Goofy had finally come around to our side.

 

[KellyNY]

Are you being sarcastic? I don't think that's allowed on the DISBoards...

That is what double secret probation does to people... Larry, snap out of it...

 

[goofyernmost]

Are you being sarcastic? I don't think that's allowed on the DISBoards...

Sarcastic? Me? Why I don't have a sarcastic bone in my body. I am always serious, but sometimes I have trouble with words and they come out all wrong. I am so misunderstood!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I keep hearing of FastPass lines getting long, but I keep not seeing it. And logically, it doesn't make sense. Unless the ride went offline, I guess.

 

[Paging Mr. Morrow]

DD and I were in MK yesterday. We came in near opening and left a bit after midnight which is actually about an hour less than we normally do on an XHMPM day in MK.

We struggled with using fastpasses. We went to SM late morning and it was busy so we got FP with a return time about an hour away. We were meeting at the restuarant over looking Small World for lunch so we headed across the park. It was busy with lots of people everywhere. Ordering our food was quick but picking it was about a 30 minute wait. Also they would not let you sit down unless you already had your food. Really rather a pain when you are tired but oh well. We finally got our food and found a table. We are not gobble down your food eaters but we did hurry because we were aware of the blocked hour return time.

We walked very fast back to Splash Mountain and encountered a line of people at least 100 deep and stretching to the bridge way before the steps to the fast pass return entry. It was a line of people with fast passes! Yikes what a mess! Once we cleared the turnstyle for the fastpasses the wait was under 15 mins.

The standby wait said 60 minutes and I believe we may have done better to use that line.

After that we headed over to see if we could get a FP for Space Mt. The return time was now within the hour that included our Kona Cafe dinner and travel time. We had been to SM twice earlier in the day but the return times were an hour after we were there and it would have meant booking it to anther ride in another part of the park and then booking it back to SM.

I guess in the past we would have taken the meal time fast pass and then just used it right after dinner. Also the restriction on when you can get another fastpass seemed like a much longer wait. In the past I know we had more than one valid fast pass at one time. It meant way too much walking for me. For the first time in over a decade I left the park with blisters and that was with Power Glide and Crocs! Maybe I am just getting old but it just did not work well for us this trip!

In total all day and night we were only able to use and get two fast passes. Just not a good system for us!

no offense, but it sounds like you needed more planning. If you were only able to use 2 fast passes the whole day that is pretty bad. My suggestion would be to stay in the land in which you have the fast pass. For example, if you got a fast pass for SM you should do the other attractions in tomorrowland (Buzz, people mover, stitch, laugh floor, etc.) then return to SM for your fast pass time, instead of running around between lands and trying to return to SM within the hour. I donno, I have never had a problem with fast pass I think it works pretty well. To each their own..

 

[Bob NC]

We have made many, many trips using Fast Pass. We have always used them within the time printed on the ticket, it never occurred to us that there was an option.

We have always loved Fast Pass, and feel it helped us visit more attractions while minimizing wait times.

If there was ever a 'look the other way', policy on time enforcement, we never knew or cared. We always thought it worked the way it was supposed to by following the guidelines for usage that were printed on the ticket.

Different people treat rules/guidelines differently. When you take a set of guidelines and modify them for your personal use, then yes, I can see you becoming alarmed when the issuer of the guidelines wants to snap the lines back into place.

The Fast Pass says "Return Time 12:55 - 1:55", I don't really see how there is much room for confusion there, but obviously many people feel that "Return Time 12:55 - 1:55", means "Or any time later that day".

The first thing I thought of that might relate is resort check-out times. Check out time is 11:00 am. I know many people stretch this to 11:30 or noon and Disney never says a word about it. Well, if you stay past check-out time on 10 trips and then Disney announces they are going to enforce the 11:00 check out time, I can see people being enraged about it.

Would this be a case of Disney being unreasonable by now enforcing a rule they always had?

Is Fast Pass enforcement any different than this scenario?

 

[mom2rtk]

I keep hearing of FastPass lines getting long, but I keep not seeing it. And logically, it doesn't make sense. Unless the ride went offline, I guess.

Unless they did indeed add more fastpasses into distribution at the same time they started the time enforcement. That was reported by a Jungle Cruise CM on another thread.

no offense, but it sounds like you needed more planning. If you were only able to use 2 fast passes the whole day that is pretty bad. My suggestion would be to stay in the land in which you have the fast pass. For example, if you got a fast pass for SM you should do the other attractions in tomorrowland (Buzz, people mover, stitch, laugh floor, etc.) then return to SM for your fast pass time, instead of running around between lands and trying to return to SM within the hour. I donno, I have never had a problem with fast pass I think it works pretty well. To each their own..

Of course that's the ideal plan. But there are plenty of times when your return time is many hours away. Soarin, for example, is the one that I think will really throw off my touring. We usually get to that park later in the morning, and that will throw our return time into the afternoon when we are usually half way around the world showcase. Can't start that WS tour earlier since it doesn't open until 11. Better just bring my running shoes.

 

[North of Mouse]

We have made many, many trips using Fast Pass. We have always used them within the time printed on the ticket, it never occurred to us that there was an option.

We have always loved Fast Pass, and feel it helped us visit more attractions while minimizing wait times.

If there was ever a 'look the other way', policy on time enforcement, we never knew or cared. We always thought it worked the way it was supposed to by following the guidelines for usage that were printed on the ticket.

Different people treat rules/guidelines differently. When you take a set of guidelines and modify them for your personal use, then yes, I can see you becoming alarmed when the issuer of the guidelines wants to snap the lines back into place.

The Fast Pass says "Return Time 12:55 - 1:55", I don't really see how there is much room for confusion there, but obviously many people feel that "Return Time 12:55 - 1:55", means "Or any time later that day".

The first thing I thought of that might relate is resort check-out times. Check out time is 11:00 am. I know many people stretch this to 11:30 or noon and Disney never says a word about it. Well, if you stay past check-out time on 10 trips and then Disney announces they are going to enforce the 11:00 check out time, I can see people being enraged about it.

Would this be a case of Disney being unreasonable by now enforcing a rule they always had?

Is Fast Pass enforcement any different than this scenario?

100% If the return time is too long, and we feel we cannot make it - very simple, we don't get one We always get to Epcot early for a Soarin' FP because it is very important to us ( the same for DHS to get our TSM FP). They can't work around everyone else's touring style - we have to work around the FP times we get.

 

[mom2rtk]

Those of you who live close enough to attend Disney regularly and often have to understand that it's a different matter from people who can only get there once a year or even less. To folks making a rare trip, saying "just don't get the FP" sounds like crazy talk. To someone who will be back in a few months, it's an entirely different matter.

 

[UNCFanatik]

Those of you who live close enough to attend Disney regularly and often have to understand that it's a different matter from people who can only get there once a year or even less. To folks making a rare trip, saying "just don't get the FP" sounds like crazy talk. To someone who will be back in a few months, it's an entirely different matter.

That is interesting. I havent been to WDW in about 10 years but will be there in 5 days and probably wont return for another 10. I dont consider it "crazy talk" to just not get an FP that I know I will not make it back in the return window.

 

[mjp12831]

Different people treat rules/guidelines differently. When you take a set of guidelines and modify them for your personal use, then yes, I can see you becoming alarmed when the issuer of the guidelines wants to snap the lines back into place.

The Fast Pass says "Return Time 12:55 - 1:55", I don't really see how there is much room for confusion there, but obviously many people feel that "Return Time 12:55 - 1:55", means "Or any time later that day".

The first thing I thought of that might relate is resort check-out times. Check out time is 11:00 am. I know many people stretch this to 11:30 or noon and Disney never says a word about it. Well, if you stay past check-out time on 10 trips and then Disney announces they are going to enforce the 11:00 check out time, I can see people being enraged about it.

Would this be a case of Disney being unreasonable by now enforcing a rule they always had?

Is Fast Pass enforcement any different than this scenario?

It's different because late use didn't impact other guests. Checking out late clearly does because it delays the turn around time to get the room ready for the arriving guest later that day.

But since you made a room analogy, what about check in times? Have you ever arrived at your WDW resort earlier than your clearly stated 3:00 check in time and asked if your room was ready?

Is this policy breaking? Would you feel they were unreasonable if they stopped allowing people to do that?

 

[Hannathy]

Those of you who live close enough to attend Disney regularly and often have to understand that it's a different matter from people who can only get there once a year or even less. To folks making a rare trip, saying "just don't get the FP" sounds like crazy talk. To someone who will be back in a few months, it's an entirely different matter.

Nope it isn't. I live very far from Disney and don't get there very often anymore it still applies.

Fast Pass is a nicety that they don't have to offer. I think that may be part of it. If you went to Disney for years before it and your only choice was to get in line you look at it as a gift! When we get to a ride with a fast pass we look at the time and the standby line, if the stand by is to long then we get a FP and plan what we will do with the time we save not getting into the standby line. If it is during an ADR then we know that to ride this we need to line up now or come back later and try for a FP or the line.

 

[mom2rtk]

That is interesting. I havent been to WDW in about 10 years but will be there in 5 days and probably wont return for another 10. I dont consider it "crazy talk" to just not get an FP that I know I will not make it back in the return window.

I'm glad that works for you.

 

[mom2rtk]

Nope it isn't. I live very far from Disney and don't get there very often anymore it still applies.

Fast Pass is a nicety that they don't have to offer. I think that may be part of it. If you went to Disney for years before it and your only choice was to get in line you look at it as a gift! When we get to a ride with a fast pass we look at the time and the standby line, if the stand by is to long then we get a FP and plan what we will do with the time we save not getting into the standby line. If it is during an ADR then we know that to ride this we need to line up now or come back later and try for a FP or the line.

Well, you have to understand this is a difficult time for us rule breaking wild hooligans. I used to shop at stores on Main Street after park close as well, but have decided I should discontinue that practice. And I did check into my room at 2:30 once, so I need to reform that behavior as well.

Oh, and did you guys hear how I stole the keys from the dog's mouth at PotC last week?

 

[Colleen27]

I keep hearing of FastPass lines getting long, but I keep not seeing it. And logically, it doesn't make sense. Unless the ride went offline, I guess.

Actually it does make sense that they'd be longer than they used to at the peak-crowd time of day, because before you had people delaying their return until later rather than joining the line when the park is at its busiest. Now you have all/most of the people who pulled FPs for mid-afternoon returns coming back within the assigned window, making both the FP and standby lines longer than they would have been at the same time of day under the old policy. The flip side of that is that at the end of the day FP lines should be shorter than they were, which also allows the standby queue to clear more quickly (something I'm sure attraction CMs appreciate).

 

[North of Mouse]

Those of you who live close enough to attend Disney regularly and often have to understand that it's a different matter from people who can only get there once a year or even less. To folks making a rare trip, saying "just don't get the FP" sounds like crazy talk. To someone who will be back in a few months, it's an entirely different matter.

We live 650 mi. away, so don't get there regularly either. I'm just saying that because those two rides are very important to us, we make sure we get to those parks early (which if I can get up early - hate early mornings ) anyone can for something special. In fact, we get another FP to each (usually) before riding (or right after) unless it's crazy busy. That's how much those rides mean to us. AND, we have not gotten the FP if we knew the return times were too late for us. We've also been across the park, and gone back for our FP time because, again, that's what they mean to us. But, we all tour according to our own wishes

 

[Colleen27]

no offense, but it sounds like you needed more planning. If you were only able to use 2 fast passes the whole day that is pretty bad. My suggestion would be to stay in the land in which you have the fast pass. For example, if you got a fast pass for SM you should do the other attractions in tomorrowland (Buzz, people mover, stitch, laugh floor, etc.) then return to SM for your fast pass time, instead of running around between lands and trying to return to SM within the hour. I donno, I have never had a problem with fast pass I think it works pretty well. To each their own..

That would work fairly well at MK, not so much in the other parks. There's just not that much to do near Soarin' or Test Track, for example, especially if you arrive mid-morning and have a mid-afternoon FP return. Our return times there always tend to give us too much time to spend in the area but too little to make the World Showcase loop, resulting in a ton of back-tracking to use the FP within its window. Soarin' was actually the ride where I was told of the "come back any time" policy, by a CM who overheard DH & I debating how to handle our 4pm return window.

 

[North of Mouse]

That would work fairly well at MK, not so much in the other parks. There's just not that much to do near Soarin' or Test Track, for example, especially if you arrive mid-morning and have a mid-afternoon FP return. Our return times there always tend to give us too much time to spend in the area but too little to make the World Showcase loop, resulting in a ton of back-tracking to use the FP within its window. Soarin' was actually the ride where I was told of the "come back any time" policy, by a CM who overheard DH & I debating how to handle our 4pm return window.

When was this? We were there in April and they turned some away at Soarin' while we were there. The FP line was "short" for a change, as were the others that we were in - great for us that never even realized there was a past option of returning at a different time

 

[LilyWDW]

Those of you who live close enough to attend Disney regularly and often have to understand that it's a different matter from people who can only get there once a year or even less. To folks making a rare trip, saying "just don't get the FP" sounds like crazy talk. To someone who will be back in a few months, it's an entirely different matter.

I don't get to go often at all. Wish I could go more often, but money prevents that from happening!

If the fastpass time does not work for you, then don't get a fastpass. If a specific attraction is a priority for you, then you have to have a plan. If you want a Soarin' fastpass for before lunch, then you may have to get there at rope drop. That is what I do and it has worked every time. I think many people are blowing thing out of proportion and are making it seem more difficult then it really is.

And again, I had no issues with the old policy about allowing people to come back later. Didn't bug me at all and I don't think that people were cheating when they did so. Disney allowed it... may as well do it. So, when I say that I never had to do it and that I had no issues using fastpasses within the printed time I am simply telling of my experience and how it IS possible to do. On top of that, it is possible to do without running all over the park, freaking out about return times, or using an app.

 

[stashbin]

We go in August so we need to do World Showcase at night to avoid the heat. But every time we attempt to do that, there are no FP's available EVER for anything we want to ride!
I am hoping because of the enforcement in policy we can actually ride Soarin and other favorites in the evening without having to wait in stand-by.

Honestly, I never knew people were hoarding until I started reading these FP threads, and now looking back on all of those trips when we were bummed out about all of th FP's being distributed so early, I realize it was due in part to hoarders! That makes me angry.