Standby lines- before and after

[MrInfinity]

This doesn't really add up. First of all, supposedly, FP- was under utilized, so the small percentage of people roaming around the parks hunting for fast passes wouldn't make a dent in the lines were they to now get in them. Secondly, the people who did use FP- pulled, on average, 2 per day. So the amount of time they spent hunting for passes was negligible. Third, the time it took to acquire their Fast Passes wasn't enough to account for riding extra rides now. For example, if you got off of Splash Mountain and then walked over to Thunder Mountain to get your next Fast Pass, how much time did that "waste"? 30 seconds? Eliminating that time gap doesn't allow for extra rides on other attractions. Same with Space Mountain and Buzz. Or RnR and ToT. And so forth. Very few people toured in such a hodgepodge way as to burn 10-20 minutes getting Fast Passes when they could have been riding rides. The few people who did criss-cross parks in an inefficient manner could not be enough to make standby lines longer now. And fourth, we all know that Fast Passes were obtained by "runners", so the time it took them to get those Fast Passes was not very long. It doesn't take but a minute or two to run from Peter Pan to Pirates.

I would bet that the number of people who are now in lines instead of out hunting for Fast Passes is much smaller than the number of people who are now in lines instead of being on buses, boats and monorails hopping from park to park. Until people learn to work the new system, I'll bet there are a lot of people who used to hop who now do not. When those people stay in one park all day, they cut an hour of travel time out of their day and spend that "found" hour riding rides making lines longer.

Um... Jimmy, the OP's question was: Do you feel that the wait on standby lines has increased, decreased or stayed the same since FastPass+ has been implemented?

Not sure why you're attempting to pick apart my post, as if to say ha-HA! Your opinion is wrong. It's what I feel, and that's what the OP asked. I've been in both periods. I got on about the same in both periods -- and we ride a lot. There is so much wrong in your counter, but I'm not sure that a debate between you and I is appropriate for the OP's thread which was more of a poll. We've already hashed out that you were unable to replicate several days created by several people, using FP-. So there is definitely time savings to be had there.

Do I feel lines are longer, shorter, or about the same?: About the same, but a little longer due to higher attendance. If you have a different answer, why not state your opinion instead of attempting to dismantle mine?

 

[JimmyV]

I'm not dismantling your opinion. Only your reasoning as to why this is true. Yes, SB lines are longer for the most part. Easywdw has been providing readers first-hand experience of this for months. Josh wouldn't lie about such a thing. But it isn't because FP runners are now in line for rides.

 

[Disneylover99]

It's a no-brainer really. If FP+ is offered on a ride, the stand-bye wait times will be longer. It really has nothing to do with higher attendance levels.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yup. The problem is, the decreased wait time for the headliners is not significant enough for me to ever want to use the standbye line for.

..... and if you previously were able to get fastpasses for 6 headliners (not hard in the MK) and you can now only get FPs for 3 headliners, having a slightly shorter wait for those 3 doesn't even com close to evening out since your next 3 trips through the line will likely be via standby.

(Yes, I know it's possible to get additional FPs, but I've been watching reports and those tend to be for second tier rides, things that previously had no FP at all).

 

[MrInfinity]

Here is a good way to think of it... Rides that weren't FP before, are now. So take for example, SE. On any given day, we'll want to ride SE - once. In the old days, we'd have to ride it standby, like everyone -- long standby line. Under FP+, I only rode it by FastPass. So while you'd think everyone is now waiting longer because they've added FP, really anyone that wants to ride it can do so by FastPass. Unless more people want to ride it more times now than before, the SB line would not be longer. The SB line builds up when demand exceeds supply. Is there more demand now? Well... Attendance is up. And people have more time on their hands due not not going for tickets. So I do believe demand is up a little, leading to mildly longer lines... but... because of FP+, you can choose to skip them altogether. I definitely waited less for SE under FP+.

See everyone who rides SE via FP -- is one less person waiting standby for it. Thus -- no significant change.

 

[North of Mouse]

We have been here for two weeks and have been able to 'walk on' several rides that we never would have been able to before - also, we are not super early or late people. Granted, this has been one of the 'very' few relatively 'slow' times, and I say that loosely, as 'no' times are slow any more.

We have mixed feelings on FP+ - didn't make any FP's until about three weeks before we came as that's when we purchased our AP's. Were able to get 'most' of what we wanted then, and since being here, have tweaked our schedule to get everything we wanted.

We would 'never' come here without hoppers though, as we've had to change complete parks to get what we wanted. People that have 'basic' tickets would really have scheduling issues unless they were rushing to get their FP's at 60 days - too much hassle and stress for us - we can still sort of wing it - just can't ride as many of our favorites several times like before. Don't count on much, if anything worth it though, after using your 3 FP's - nothing available, even at slower times.

So, all in all, definitely prefer the legacy FP. Disney is back to the A-E ticket system (modern version) to spread people out. They don't have enough ride capability to accommodate the masses that they let in the parks.

Now, I really feel sorry for day trippers as there is nothing for them to get FP's for when they get here, except maybe the 'A' rides. Way to go Disney!!

 

[mom2rtk]

So, all in all, definitely prefer the legacy FP. Disney is back to the A-E ticket system (modern version) to spread people out.

Yep. But they are still collecting "all access" pricing at the gates.

 

[North of Mouse]

It's a no-brainer really. If FP+ is offered on a ride, the stand-bye wait times will be longer. It really has nothing to do with higher attendance levels.

This has 'not' been true the two weeks we are here now - have seen lots of stand-by lines about the same length as FP. Walked on several we could never have before, but it is a 'slower' time - still do not like FP+ - sure doesn't work as well for us. Yes, it has lots to do with attendance levels.

 

[North of Mouse]

Yep. But they are still collecting "all access" pricing at the gates.

Yes, they are, but 'not' true - just try to get a headliner when you come into 'any' of the parks for one day! Would be 'sheer luck' if someone happened to cancel at that very time!

 

[Dis703]

I haven't noticed a change so far. I've always found at various points in the day that any ride can get long lines. I pass by them when they are 30 minutes or more but at some point I generally always find they are lower and that's when we ride.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I haven't noticed much change. But I tend to strategize as I have always done and migrate to the lines with shorter lines.

 

[Disneylover99]

Here is a good way to think of it... Rides that weren't FP before, are now. So take for example, SE. On any given day, we'll want to ride SE - once. In the old days, we'd have to ride it standby, like everyone -- long standby line. Under FP+, I only rode it by FastPass. So while you'd think everyone is now waiting longer because they've added FP, really anyone that wants to ride it can do so by FastPass. Unless more people want to ride it more times now than before, the SB line would not be longer. The SB line builds up when demand exceeds supply. Is there more demand now? Well... Attendance is up. And people have more time on their hands due not not going for tickets. So I do believe demand is up a little, leading to mildly longer lines... but... because of FP+, you can choose to skip them altogether. I definitely waited less for SE under FP+.

See everyone who rides SE via FP -- is one less person waiting standby for it. Thus -- no significant change.

It doesn't matter that standby lines were longer in the past because everyone was standing in them. Now, standby lines may actually be shorter because more people are using a FP, but the wait times in standby are still longer then in the past, because of the ratio of FP users being let in before standby.

 

[cakebaker]

We were there last week, when crowds were rated anywhere from 2-5. Even on recommended days we found the wait times at non headliner rides, especially in MK and DHS, to be significantly longer than in pre FP+ days. Most headliners, OTOH, had wait times shorter than we had previously experienced (during the same time of year).

Josh at easywdw.com has been demonstrating this change for many months with his wait time tables.

Not sure why you quoted me. My experience in the parks is what it is and yours is yours. Because you experienced something different doesn't change my experience.

Not once during either of our trips using FP+ did we notice a difference in wait times between these trips and previous ones. When we came across a line that was unacceptable to us, we passed it by and came back later. This is nothing different than any other trip we ever take. So in the end, both trips were, other than the benefits we got from FP+, much the same as previous trips in regards to wait times.

Josh isn't the only source for ride wait times and studies of the effect of FP+. Touringplans did the same and came up with different results.
Honestly, I don't really care what websites say as far as increased wait times. What counts with me is my personal experience. And the OP is asking what peoples perceptions are in regards to wait times, not what study shows what.

 

[Disneylover99]

This has 'not' been true the two weeks we are here now - have seen lots of stand-by lines about the same length as FP. Walked on several we could never have before, but it is a 'slower' time - still do not like FP+ - sure doesn't work as well for us. Yes, it has lots to do with attendance levels.

Which means longer wait times in standby. I'm not sure if ratios are different per ride, but I've heard the ratio is 13 fp's get on to 1 standby person.

 

[Cormoran]

Um... Jimmy, the OP's question was: Do you feel that the wait on standby lines has increased, decreased or stayed the same since FastPass+ has been implemented?

Not sure why you're attempting to pick apart my post, as if to say ha-HA! Your opinion is wrong. It's what I feel, and that's what the OP asked. I've been in both periods. I got on about the same in both periods -- and we ride a lot. There is so much wrong in your counter, but I'm not sure that a debate between you and I is appropriate for the OP's thread which was more of a poll. We've already hashed out that you were unable to replicate several days created by several people, using FP-. So there is definitely time savings to be had there.

Do I feel lines are longer, shorter, or about the same?: About the same, but a little longer due to higher attendance. If you have a different answer, why not state your opinion instead of attempting to dismantle mine?

Hi Fuzzy/MrInfinity Why did you decide to change your user name?

 

[MrInfinity]

Hi Fuzzy/MrInfinity Why did you decide to change your user name?

Hi... Management asked me to. They didn't like the llc in my old handle. No big deal...

 

[Luckybee]

Hi... Management asked me to. They didn't like the llc in my old handle. No big deal...

So why not just take out the llc?

 

[MrInfinity]

So why not just take out the llc?

That was my preferred choice, but FuzzyLogic was already taken. The old name had to do w 2 little stuffed animals who have been on every Disney trip with us. One is cute and fuzzy, the other logical and calculating. Thus, the username. I'll miss it...

 

[Luckybee]

Not sure why you quoted me. My experience in the parks is what it is and yours is yours. Because you experienced something different doesn't change my experience.

Not once during either of our trips using FP+ did we notice a difference in wait times between these trips and previous ones. When we came across a line that was unacceptable to us, we passed it by and came back later. This is nothing different than any other trip we ever take. So in the end, both trips were, other than the benefits we got from FP+, much the same as previous trips in regards to wait times.

Josh isn't the only source for ride wait times and studies of the effect of FP+. Touringplans did the same and came up with different results.
Honestly, I don't really care what websites say as far as increased wait times. What counts with me is my personal experience. And the OP is asking what peoples perceptions are in regards to wait times, not what study shows what.

I know you keep saying that you didn't notice a difference in wait times but I'm still trying to figure that out given that you were at D the same time as we were(and if I recall correctly you were even at MK one of the same days as us) and compared to previous years in the same periods the differences in the lines that we saw was huge (both the lines and the differences) . Never ever ever ever ever had we had to wait 30+ minutes for secondary attractions in low season and there were more than just a couple that had posted wait times like this. Think what I may do next trip is take photos of the wait times so as to leave no doubt !

 

[Luckybee]

That was my preferred choice, but FuzzyLogic was already taken

By someone else ? Omgosh...didn't know there were 2 of you.