Rumor: Fast Pass Restrictions?

[carpedm]

Which rumor exactly? The change in FP enforcement certainly seems to be coming - all the CMs are reporting that they are getting notified through official channels.

I withdraw my comment. My point was that while this rumor was true, the site that first reported it hasn't been all the reliable. I'm not saying they make it up, just that they are quick to repeat anything that is out there. In either case, it isn't germane to this topic, so I edited it out.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I think what amazes me about all of this is the sense of anguish people are having.

We all know Pete discusses that "sense of entitlement" that hardcore Disney fans seem to get. I think this is a prime example of that. Because Disney relaxed their own rule, people began to take advantage of that - to the point that they feel they are owed this priviledge. "How dare they make us do what the ticket says!" Call me crazy, but this really will have no impact on 85% of the guest population. I know it won't on me!

The fact that this is becoming such an extreme issue also goes hand in hand with how the hard-core fans have strayed far away from Walt's original concept of a "place to relax with your family" People get so wrapped up in "I have to plan to do this or someone will beat me to it and our vacation will be ruined!" that we forget that the time spent in line is also a great time to bond with our families, play games with our kids, and just be together.


The way to handle this is to:

• Simply review the return time at your FP machine
• Determine if that time works for you and your previous plans
• Decide what you want to do.

Someone else in the thread said "Remember the days when there were no such things as FastPasses?" It's like asking "Remember when we went to the parks and didn't have cell phones?"! No one wants to, because they think that life obviously wasn't as good then. You know what - we still had fun.

I'm still going to have fun visiting the parks. How about you?

 

[OKW Lover]

Perhaps a bunch of us should get together on PCC 3.0 and discuss the finer points of Fastpass over brandy or cognac

Perhaps a fine single malt Scotch?

 

[mnra]

I agree that it is nice to visit parks without the cell phone. We have been so many times we know our way around and we actual have a no cell phone day in the parks. I know that might not be modern but it works for us. We used to go to ride and either wait or not without the fastpass system. It is amazing how spoiled we can get with things like fastpass etc. My kids who are in their early to mid 20 would rather go to disney then other places so we still travel at least once a year as a group,.

 

[doconeill]

Perhaps a fine single malt Scotch?

Oh, I'm definitely in for that...

 

[WaltD4Me]

I think what amazes me about all of this is the sense of anguish people are having.

We all know Pete discusses that "sense of entitlement" that hardcore Disney fans seem to get. I think this is a prime example of that. Because Disney relaxed their own rule, people began to take advantage of that - to the point that they feel they are owed this priviledge. "How dare they make us do what the ticket says!" Call me crazy, but this really will have no impact on 85% of the guest population. I know it won't on me!

The fact that this is becoming such an extreme issue also goes hand in hand with how the hard-core fans have strayed far away from Walt's original concept of a "place to relax with your family" People get so wrapped up in "I have to plan to do this or someone will beat me to it and our vacation will be ruined!" that we forget that the time spent in line is also a great time to bond with our families, play games with our kids, and just be together.


The way to handle this is to:

• Simply review the return time at your FP machine
• Determine if that time works for you and your previous plans
• Decide what you want to do.

Someone else in the thread said "Remember the days when there were no such things as FastPasses?" It's like asking "Remember when we went to the parks and didn't have cell phones?"! No one wants to, because they think that life obviously wasn't as good then. You know what - we still had fun.

I'm still going to have fun visiting the parks. How about you?

Personally, they could ban cell phones in the parks and it would be fine by me.

That aside, if someone makes a rule, but doesn't enforce it and tells you it's absolutely fine to break the rule.....is it really a rule?

I honestly and truly am not one of those that feels a sense of entitlement and I have never ever said anything ruined my vacation, but I did enjoy being able to enjoy the parks at my leisure....taking the often given advice to stop and smell the roses, while still being able to enjoy favorite rides without waiting in line for an hour or more. I know that I don't HAVE to get a FP, but for the few rides I really want to ride, they were great and while I am not in anguish, I am disappointed in losing the flexibility of the unenforced return time.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Personally, they could ban cell phones in the parks and it would be fine by me.

That aside, if someone makes a rule, but doesn't enforce it and tells you it's absolutely fine to break the rule.....is it really a rule?

I honestly and truly am not one of those that feels a sense of entitlement and I have never ever said anything ruined my vacation, but I did enjoy being able to enjoy the parks at my leisure....taking the often given advice to stop and smell the roses, while still being able to enjoy favorite rides without waiting in line for an hour or more. I know that I don't HAVE to get a FP, but for the few rides I really want to ride, they were great and while I am not in anguish, I am disappointed in losing the flexibility of the unenforced return time.

You will still enjoy the parks at your leisure, you will just be doing it within the guidelines set up by Disney that should have been enforcing all along. (I do agree that they did create their own problem by being lenient enough that the system was abused.)

If we really want to use a FP, then we need to play by the rules. We just need to change our thinking and our plan to allow for the attraction wait line OR do it on a day that you don't have an ADR planned and are just doing counter service.

My point is that people put "too much at stake" or give too much weight to feeling like they will miss out on something if they can't have that FP that allows them to return WHENEVER they feel like it. There has always been a listed window. We just need to re-adjust and teach others to re-adjust their thinking to reduce potential problems.

 

[Jennygt]

You will still enjoy the parks at your leisure, you will just be doing it within the guidelines set up by Disney that should have been enforcing all along. (I do agree that they did create their own problem by being lenient enough that the system was abused.)

If we really want to use a FP, then we need to play by the rules. We just need to change our thinking and our plan to allow for the attraction wait line OR do it on a day that you don't have an ADR planned and are just doing counter service.

My point is that people put "too much at stake" or give too much weight to feeling like they will miss out on something if they can't have that FP that allows them to return WHENEVER they feel like it. There has always been a listed window. We just need to re-adjust and teach others to re-adjust their thinking to reduce potential problems.

The issue is different for those of us who can only go every few years, if you are not that person, you just don't get it. It was a privilage, and it is disney's right to change the policy, however that does not mean that we all have to be happy about it. I hope they just get on with the next fp system so that i can adapt to it.

 

[safetymom]

I think what amazes me about all of this is the sense of anguish people are having.

We all know Pete discusses that "sense of entitlement" that hardcore Disney fans seem to get. I think this is a prime example of that. Because Disney relaxed their own rule, people began to take advantage of that - to the point that they feel they are owed this priviledge. "How dare they make us do what the ticket says!" Call me crazy, but this really will have no impact on 85% of the guest population. I know it won't on me!

The fact that this is becoming such an extreme issue also goes hand in hand with how the hard-core fans have strayed far away from Walt's original concept of a "place to relax with your family" People get so wrapped up in "I have to plan to do this or someone will beat me to it and our vacation will be ruined!" that we forget that the time spent in line is also a great time to bond with our families, play games with our kids, and just be together.


The way to handle this is to:

• Simply review the return time at your FP machine
• Determine if that time works for you and your previous plans
• Decide what you want to do.

Someone else in the thread said "Remember the days when there were no such things as FastPasses?" It's like asking "Remember when we went to the parks and didn't have cell phones?"! No one wants to, because they think that life obviously wasn't as good then. You know what - we still had fun.

I'm still going to have fun visiting the parks. How about you?

Nancy, I couldn't agree with you more!!! I think there is a very large group of people that think the policy is you can't return later to use the FP. It will be ok. I still plan on having fun in the park. If I find I can't use the FP I will continue to gift them to someone in the park.

 

[disneyceo-2b]

Something that was mentioned on the front page of DIS was the potential for a new fast pass system. I don't know if it's relevant or not, but one of the PI currently being recruited for is "Next-Generation Guest Experience" working with "Ops Transformation Teams." I applied for the role, but haven't heard back. By the sound of it though, there may be change coming. One of my business professors who specialises in service management says that Disney is one of the largest spenders in Queue Research. He explained that few other people do as much research into waiting in line than Disney. Perhaps something is in the works? That's all I can hope for.

 

[doconeill]

There is definitely change coming. To what extent is unknown - the only thing we know for certain is that it involves being able to "book ride times like ADRs", and it's part of the NextGen initiative called "X-Pass" currently.

We don't know when it's coming, or how to use it, what its limitations are, how who will get to use it. There is a lot of conflicting reports based on speculation. Some say it will be a "pay-to-play", perhaps only offered to on-site guests. Others say it will be a Deluxe resort perk to help fill lagging reservations in that category. It also isn't known if it is in addition to or will replace Fastpass (although at least short term the money is on in addition to).

The FP restrictions that have come out are the first step to rolling this out though - it appears it is to get the guests and the CMs in the mindset that you must return during the window, as opposed to any time later in the day.

 

[disneyceo-2b]

I think what amazes me about all of this is the sense of anguish people are having.

We all know Pete discusses that "sense of entitlement" that hardcore Disney fans seem to get. I think this is a prime example of that. Because Disney relaxed their own rule, people began to take advantage of that - to the point that they feel they are owed this priviledge. "How dare they make us do what the ticket says!" Call me crazy, but this really will have no impact on 85% of the guest population. I know it won't on me!

The fact that this is becoming such an extreme issue also goes hand in hand with how the hard-core fans have strayed far away from Walt's original concept of a "place to relax with your family" People get so wrapped up in "I have to plan to do this or someone will beat me to it and our vacation will be ruined!" that we forget that the time spent in line is also a great time to bond with our families, play games with our kids, and just be together.


The way to handle this is to:

• Simply review the return time at your FP machine
• Determine if that time works for you and your previous plans
• Decide what you want to do.

Someone else in the thread said "Remember the days when there were no such things as FastPasses?" It's like asking "Remember when we went to the parks and didn't have cell phones?"! No one wants to, because they think that life obviously wasn't as good then. You know what - we still had fun.

I'm still going to have fun visiting the parks. How about you?

Hey Nancy,

Not all hard-core fans have lost sight of Uncle Walt's goal. Either that or my family has surpassed hard-core and become a family of Zen Guests who go to the parks and manage to somehow be satisfied with what we can accomplish regardless of how madly other guests are acting.

I've been going to Disney since before I was born, and as cool as fastpasses, and cellphones, and smartphone apps are, you are absolutely right. It's all about who you're with.

 

[daneenm]

The issue is different for those of us who can only go every few years,

I agree with you on this point Jenny. When your trips are infrequent, you want to do your best to get in the things your family wants to do because it may be your only opportunity for many years. Will I let this ruin my trip and say I am never going back to Disney, no, of course not. Having said that, i do think it is a bigger deal for those of us for whom WDW is a very infrequent trip. At the very least it is an inconvenience we didn't have to deal with before. It was very nice to not worry so much about return windows passing while your family might have been in a line that was longer than expected, or a meal that you had to wait for, etc.

I will be interested to see what this next thing is that is being rumored.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

The issue is different for those of us who can only go every few years, if you are not that person, you just don't get it. It was a privilage, and it is disney's right to change the policy, however that does not mean that we all have to be happy about it. I hope they just get on with the next fp system so that i can adapt to it.

Jen - I was that person once, so I can see all sides to the issue. I know how sacred and special the occasional-visiting Disney fans feel that visit is.

I guess my point is that when I would plan my trips back in those days, I would never base my plan around getting a FP and using it in that fashion. That's all. I always planned based around what park had extra hours or where I could get the ADR I really wanted. Those time windows are really what counted to me. Anything else I did took a secondary priority. I just made myself aware of the touring patterns of the park and went from there.

I think that instead of being once thought of as a "perk", FastPass has now become considered a "mandatory item" for many in the planning process. It really never was designed as that, and I don't think that the folks at Disney had any concept that it would grow to be that "addicting" to the commando planners. Now, they know better and have to deal with the fruits of their actions.

 

[jcb]

Am I a bad person for not always giving away my unused fast passes?

I've given some away before but sometimes I like to take them home as a souvenir. I have unused fast passes from Soarin', Test Track, Tower of Terror, and even, gasp, Toy Story Mania.

 

[daneenm]

Am I a bad person for not always giving away my unused fast passes?

I've given some away before but sometimes I like to take them home as a souvenir. I have unused fast passes from Soarin', Test Track, Tower of Terror, and even, gasp, Toy Story Mania.

Yes, Jack, you are VERY bad!! Well...you asked...

 

[doconeill]

FYI, I just posted a poll in the TPAS forum about how people tended to use their FPs under the old policy - it would be interesting to see how it turns out:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2876051

 

[dalt01]

There is definitely change coming. To what extent is unknown - the only thing we know for certain is that it involves being able to "book ride times like ADRs", and it's part of the NextGen initiative called "X-Pass" currently.

We don't know when it's coming, or how to use it, what its limitations are, how who will get to use it. There is a lot of conflicting reports based on speculation. Some say it will be a "pay-to-play", perhaps only offered to on-site guests. Others say it will be a Deluxe resort perk to help fill lagging reservations in that category. It also isn't known if it is in addition to or will replace Fastpass (although at least short term the money is on in addition to).

The FP restrictions that have come out are the first step to rolling this out though - it appears it is to get the guests and the CMs in the mindset that you must return during the window, as opposed to any time later in the day.

that is it exactly..........if they are going to offer a PREMIUM fastpass system to a certain segment of guests they have to make sure the trains run on time so they are not bumping up against us normal folk. in other words ya gotta take the random element out of it. if they "block" a certain time for the new process they must know that stragglers are not going to over tax the blocked time.

 

[disneyfanjan]

Are you serious????????? Wow. I've never seen a family fun destination work so hard to make your trip as difficult to have fun as possible. Any word as what you are supposed to do when you get a coveted TSM FP for the same time as your "can't cancel for any reason or I will be charged $10 per person" ADR?

You know.......Pete often questions what the tipping point for people is cost wise when it comes to a
Disney vacation, but I'm beginning to think my tipping point isnt going to have anything to do with the cost, but will have everything to do with attitude and policies.

My first thought was to agree that Disney certainly can make things complicated. Just when you think you know the rules, they change... However, it does make sense after reading the many entries of those who say they have taken advantage of the "unwritten rule" of extending the time element on the FP, that something needed to be done.
I had no idea. It wasn't until our last visit that we found out you could extend the time as we have always "played by the written rule". Alas, our ADR conflicted and we were pleasantly surprised to find we could still use the FP. This is a great help, but understandably, if everyone makes their own time, then the ability of the FP to control crowds is voided. What if everyone decided to come back at the same time? ....I think we did this one to ourselves.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

My first thought was to agree that Disney certainly can make things complicated. Just when you think you know the rules, they change... However, it does make sense after reading the many entries of those who say they have taken advantage of the "unwritten rule" of extending the time element on the FP, that something needed to be done.
I had no idea. It wasn't until our last visit that we found out you could extend the time as we have always "played by the written rule". Alas, our ADR conflicted and we were pleasantly surprised to find we could still use the FP. This is a great help, but understandably, if everyone makes their own time, then the ability of the FP to control crowds is voided. What if everyone decided to come back at the same time? ....I think we did this one to ourselves.

Fast pass times are not being enforced because the system was broken. They were talking about this on another podcast and said that about 80% of people use their fastpass within the allotted hour. (Although I would guess any poll on the boards would show a much lower percentage.) They are being enforced because to the Next Gen/Xpass system. With the way the system is now, I can go around and collect my fast passes during the morning and continue to ride standby when the waits are low, take a break and come back in the afternoon/evening when it's busier and use all my fastpasses. Many people do this and rarely wait longer than 15-20 minutes for any ride. But if I can do all this on my own, Next Gen/Xpass has little or no value to me. Disney wants to use Next Gen/Xpass to increase revenues, either by charging for the service or using it to convince more people to stay onsite/upgrade their resort.