Where were the people before?

[DisneyHardin]

I keep reading threads about how FPP is making the lines for everything so much longer. Where did all the people who are in these long standby lines used to be? I can't wrap my brain around how the new system is increasing standby lines so much without decreasing lines anywhere else.

 

[Saturn23]

It doesn't make sense to me either. There are probably just more people in the parks in general. Either that or they have to be holding back the standby lines and just not letting them move. The same number of people are in them, they just don't go anywhere. I can't understand how that many more people could be using FP+. If they were too clueless to know how to use FP-, what chance do they have with FP+ that requires more work?

 

[pigletgirl]

Because you are limited in the amount of FP+ you can have, once you've chosen those attractions it forces you to ride stand-by for everything else.

Disney might have to limit how many people can get FP+ for certain attractions per day, kind of like ADR's.

 

[DavidNYC]

It's two things. First. - crowds are higher overall. Second, people who never used fastpass are now using it. It is logically impossible for all lines to be longer with fewer fast passes given out overall. More are being used - it's just everyone gets three rather than some using 10 and some using none. It's leveled the playing field. But many of the increases are due to record crowds.

 

[redsbe]

It's two things. First. - crowds are higher overall. Second, people who never used fastpass are now using it. It is logically impossible for all lines to be longer with fewer fast passes given out overall. More are being used - it's just everyone gets three rather than some using 10 and some using none. It's leveled the playing field. But many of the increases are due to record crowds.

Plus as has been posted here previously the MBs are taking more time for visitors and CM to process at the FP lines, causing delays and backups, and many rides need to have improved entrances and line setup to divide crowds and stop crowding and confusion at the various ride entrances. Time and experience with the new technology will result in some improvements.

 

[melnbil]

People are using FP for non-headliners vs 4-5 for the headliners. In other words people are spreading out among the rides.

 

[king kamehameha]

My theory is that they increased total park capacity by thousands when they opened the new part of Fantasyland. By law, the size of the space dictates how many people can be there at a given time. New space plus new attractions= more people. I'm glad we had a bunch of good years there before the current state of things. On a positive note, not going this year has opened our eyes to new travel opportunities like cruises etc. that are just as fun. A lot will have to change before we start giving Disney our hard earned money.

 

[surferdave]

It's how many people go into the park per day. Guests stay for a shorter time and more come in.

 

[I Love Pluto]

I agree that Disney is more crowded than it used to be. In the last 10 years, I can see a definite rise in numbers for any given week.

WHEN are those slow seasons?

 

[3Gsandme]

I feel like it's probably distribution. For instance, standby lines are longer now at rides like POTC and HM beause people who have FP+ have boarding priority. The number of people who can ride per hour hasn't changed, but the way those people are being served has changed. If you coupled that with people who have trouble using the magic bands, you end up with bottle necks. Additionally, I think that FP+ for the "good" ridesr run out of good time slots early. Disney is pushing EVERYTHING to get FP+, including day guests who probably would have skipped that in the past dumping more people into the FP+ system (but not necessarily the park). I think a change in distribution coupled with high crowds due to the economy swinging upward and the winters having been very harsh is why the lines are so long and the park so crowded.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I don't get it either.

 

[DisneyHardin]

Thanks for the replies. I am glad to hear that other people don't understand it either.