Video from Space Mtn. fastpass line

[lugnut33]

Well, I think it's pretty obvious that once FP- is eliminated that those lines will be longer because it simply takes longer to get through the scanners than just showing your paper ticket.

 

[JanaDee]

Just thought this video would help some people know what to expect now when using FP+. This line will be longer once the whole system is in place and paper fastpasses are gone.

This video was taken on Sunday, Dec. 1 in the afternoon. The standby line was 50 minutes at this point, so I'd say it was a medium busy day. A couple of things to note from the video:

1. A long line now forms outside in order to get into the FP line. I even saw some rides that had CMs at the end of the line with a sign indicating where people should get in line for fastpass

2. The gentleman in the grey jacket didn't understand the FP concept and was there 2 hours ahead of his FP time.

3. You can clearly see that the paper FP is much quicker than the bands.

4. If you are using the new disability program you don't have to wait in the FP line, you can just go to the front.

http://youtu.be/gnutHcc8tbk

I experienced much longer than I was used to FP return lines in the last week of October, but if I remember right, I was told it must have been a fluke.

The MB's are slowing down FP return lines, there is no doubt about it.

 

[pellegirl]

Based on the length of the line I wonder how long it took people to get to the CM's to scan their band or show their paper FP. If you get in "line" within your hour window but it has expired by the time you actually get up to the CM will they boot you? Seeing this video makes me think we need to shoot to be in line at the start of the window as we are heading down during President's week.

 

[PrettyFlower2]

The gentleman in the grey jacket looked ultra confused as he was walking away. Maybe he didn't speak English? Poor guy.

 

[wordwitt]

OP, I'm not sure how you know that FP lines will be longer once FP+ is fully implemented. Right now people are using both FP+ and FP-, and many are using both.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Didn't look that bad to me. When there were hold ups, it was guest driven. Like the family that showed up 30 minutes early. As far as the old guy, he may have been playing confused in hopes that they'd just take pity on him and let him through. I know people that would try this. He did look like he was smirking slightly as he left, so who knows.

With the paper FPs there were holdups too. Mainly the people who had 5-10 minutes left and were congregating around the entrance, who would then shoot you a nasty look as you edge your way past them.

 

[ktlm]

Anyone else notice that the Mickey heads are still swirling while they wave people through? If it checks it that quickly on the CMs' iPads, then have the green show up that quickly.

And for the record, if you're using a DAS for a disability accommodation, you get a return time for the current standby time (minus 10 minutes) and then you return to the FP line when it's time to ride.

You're observant! I was thinking those things must be turning green alot faster than they were in October as fast as they were putting people through, and sure enough, I went back and watched and people were being waved through while the scanners were still swirling white. When we were there, not all the CMS checking had ipads/tablets-maybe they have added those to try to move it faster? I know that no one moved forward until it went green on our October trip. That must be why it looks like it is moving so much faster now.

 

[lugnut33]

OP, I'm not sure how you know that FP lines will be longer once FP+ is fully implemented. Right now people are using both FP+ and FP-, and many are using both.

Think about it, current ration is 50/50 on FP+ and FP-. If it takes longer to scan the bands then by extension the lines will be longer. I never remember lines to get into the FP line do you? Now there are lines, so what has changed? I believe it's the addition of FP+ and having people scan the bands to get in. I mean, it's quite obvious in the video that it takes a lot longer to scan bands than read the paper slips.

 

[Mnrlred]

This happens with paper FP more often than you think, especially after A downtime. I prefer MB because it's really impolite when rude guests stick the paper in your face and pull it away within a second and my eyes didn't even have the chance to focus those folks tend to just keep on walking and you have to pull them back to actually check their times,Or when they stack invalid FPs underneath valid ones in order to get extra people in line which takes time for us to have to fan them out to check times. With touch points it's a pretty clear 'go, no-go' decision. My one concern:The touch points need better "range" than what they have to make the process smoother, but as one NGE leader explained to me it's dialed down to prevent accidental reads of other guests.

 

[lugnut33]

This happens with paper FP more often than you think, especially after A downtime. I prefer MB because it's really impolite when rude guests stick the paper in your face and pull it away within a second and my eyes didn't even have the chance to focus those folks tend to just keep on walking and you have to pull them back to actually check their times,Or when they stack invalid FPs underneath valid ones in order to get extra people in line which takes time for us to have to fan them out to check times. With touch points it's a pretty clear 'go, no-go' decision. My one concern:The touch points need better "range" than what they have to make the process smoother, but as one NGE leader explained to me it's dialed down to prevent accidental reads of other guests.

I will ask again, why are there now lines at FP entrances?

 

[wordwitt]

Think about it, current ration is 50/50 on FP+ and FP-. If it takes longer to scan the bands then by extension the lines will be longer. I never remember lines to get into the FP line do you? Now there are lines, so what has changed? I believe it's the addition of FP+ and having people scan the bands to get in. I mean, it's quite obvious in the video that it takes a lot longer to scan bands than read the paper slips.

Is it 50/50 right now? That's the first I've heard an actual ratio. In any event, once people get used to it the scanning process will be faster. I know that when we were there it took us only marginally longer to scan our bands once we got the hang of the "touching Mickey" thing.

 

[Jennasis]

Wow. I would be really miffed to see a FP line that long outside the building. The band scanning is clearly more time consuming than the paper passes. Also, the scanners are at a position/height that seems awkward for kids to get to...and the pooh sized guy who went through made using the both scanners impossible.

The CM's also looked and sounded stressed.

 

[jimmysmom74]

This is what SM looked like every time we approached the FP line during our trip last week. There are many issues with these first mickey scan areas that I notices...
1. Scanning takes a few seconds longer if done correctly, problem is has to be mickey to mickey head. If you are scanning the wrong part of the band, or you aren't ready ect. Line starts backing up.

2. MB error, ppl show that their app says they have it, but they are not scanning green.

3. Ppl are too early, or too late. 5mins early or 15 mins late is the max. Don't try to use it if you are not in those windows. Reschedule or wait.

4. Ppl are totally confused with no clue how to use the FP+, some times they don't even have the right ride. We saw a family trying to get on SM with BTM FP+. Just lost and confused, possibly language barriers.

5. Ppl see a line and they get in it. Many ppl think they are in the standby line and when they get to the mickey scan, just scan and stand there till someone shows them the Standby line. We named them "The Lemmings". LOL

 

[wisblue]

I will ask again, why are there now lines at FP entrances?

As others have explained in this thread, because it can take slightly longer to read a band than for a CM to eyeball a paper ticket, that can create a backlog at the entry point. But, unless you follow the process all the way through to boarding, you might just be shifting WHERE the line is, not HOW LONG you are waiting.

In my experience there has almost always been some kind of line at the second point where the CM actually collects the paper tickets.

 

[ArmchairDetective]

With a family of four, using FP-, they can all be waved through at once by handing over 4 slips. MBs require each and every individual to wait for the green. No doubt this takes longer.

 

[Mnrlred]

I will ask again, why are there now lines at FP entrances?

it isn't new, this happens during peak periods and after downtimes and usually has more to do with the CM at the entrance. I worked attractions at an E-TIcket for more than a year and prior to FP+ We see this. It also happens when the FP team decides to experiment with our distribution numbers. Which happened a lot prior to FP+ rollout and I'm sure it continues today. The attraction has procedures in place to expedite FP guests and ensure their wait time is acceptable. Also in the first frame of your video the lady in the pink hoodie and white pants is very near the end of the very first frame. At 1:35 you can see she made it to the Touch point. If she was halfway through the line when your video starts, then She had a 3 Minute wait time. If she's 3/4th through the line she waited 4:30. This isn't extraordinary, and it's still within the acceptable window for wait time. The queue indoors isn't visible, but if it was truly backed up there are procedures for that.

 

[lugnut33]

As others have explained in this thread, because it can take slightly longer to read a band than for a CM to eyeball a paper ticket, that can create a backlog at the entry point. But, unless you follow the process all the way through to boarding, you might just be shifting WHERE the line is, not HOW LONG you are waiting.

In my experience there has almost always been some kind of line at the second point where the CM actually collects the paper tickets.

I would say the FP lines we experienced were longer than normal. Not only are you waiting at the entrance, but also waiting inside the ride.

However, let's just say you're correct, that the line is now shifting to outside the ride. By doing that now you are blocking walkways and creating traffic flow problems. I saw it happen at Star Tours, TSMM, ToT, BTMRR, Space Mt., Under the Sea, and Peter Pan.

 

[wordwitt]

With a family of four, using FP-, they can all be waved through at once by handing over 4 slips. MBs require each

and every individual to wait for the green. No doubt this takes longer.

But there are scanners on each side of the line. It probably does take longer, but the difference is marginal. Additionally, rides are loading at the same rate they always did, which means that if there is some back-up at the first scan-point, there is probably less at some point along the ride. But like all things FP+ it seems, everything gets overblown. Will it take a while for people to get used to the new system? Yes. Will some people never get the hang of it? Of course. But most folks will get it after a few tries.

 

[wisblue]

I would say the FP lines we experienced were longer than normal. Not only are you waiting at the entrance, but also waiting inside the ride.

However, let's just say you're correct, that the line is now shifting to outside the ride. By doing that now you are blocking walkways and creating traffic flow problems. I saw it happen at Star Tours, TSMM, ToT, BTMRR, Space Mt., Under the Sea, and Peter Pan.

If you're also waiting inside the ride, then the delay getting through the first touch point is irrelevant because you would have been waiting later anyway.

If you are now changing the concern to one of blocking walkways, this is pretty easily dealt with by placing some sort of barricade to direct that line to a direction that doesn't block the walkway. I'm confident that they can figure that out as they get more experience with how FP+ affects traffic flow. That's one of the many things testing is supposed to accomplish. As a PP said, once FP- is gone there will also be the option to add more scanners.

As the PP said, you can't tell from the scan of the line where exactly the end is. But the people who appeared to be way back in the line got past the touch point in about a minute and a half. Even if the line was 3-5 minutes long, that isn't something that I would get excited about.

 

[wisblue]

But there are scanners on each side of the line. It probably does take longer, but the difference is marginal. Additionally, rides are loading at the same rate they always did, which means that if there is some back-up at the first scan-point, there is probably less at some point along the ride. But like all things FP+ it seems, everything gets overblown. Will it take a while for people to get used to the new system? Yes. Will some people never get the hang of it? Of course. But most folks will get it after a few tries.

Also, note in this short video where there are breaks in the flow, such as people not keeping up with the people ahead of them, plus the delay caused trying to deal with the gentleman who apparently didn't understand the return time on his PAPER FP. There did not seem to be any significant problems with people getting the scanner to turn green.