Why don't people use FastPass?

[disneyxica20]

some people don't know that fast passes for shows and rides are disconnected and/or they don't realize you can pull another pass once your return window opens OR 2 hours later (even though it says so right there on the pass). so they get a fastpass in the afternoon with an evening return time and think they have no choice but standby lines until then. i've had to explain both of things to people several times.

 

[psac]

Buzz is the only ride currently disconnected (aside from the two parks being disconnected from each other) as of my last visit in July. The shows are also disconnected, though, if that matters to you . So could pull an FP for WOC, Frozen, and a ride at each park (if you have a hopper) in the same window of time. Three rides if you count Buzz. No need wait two hours in between or for a window open.



Oh good. I'm not the only one. This is the big reason I like the legacy system for FP. Fewer people know how to fully take advantage of it and even less are willing to put the effort in since it does take quite a bit of effort. Works out great for me . And I'm okay those days I just want to take it easy too and not add more mileage than necessary to my shoes.

Thanks!!!

 

[MinnieMouse84]

I haven't yet figured out how they work, but I plan on using them for the Haunted Mansion and Soarin'. I'll probably do the single rider line for Splash Mountain. None of the other rides I want to go on have FP.

 

[LizzyS]

We are people who get up early and get going and, though we have used fastpass before, we do it sparingly as we get a lot done without using it too much, anyway. I think it really depends on your touring style as to whether or not it's very valuable to you.

 

[agamble]

We are people who get up early and get going and, though we have used fastpass before, we do it sparingly as we get a lot done without using it too much, anyway. I think it really depends on your touring style as to whether or not it's very valuable to you.

We’re also early morning people. We often pull FP that we don’t end up using for one reason or another. Sometimes it’s hard to predict what’s going to happen on a Disney trip. The kids may need a break, or just have to meet Mickey for the umpteenth time. But there are some rides we only ride with FP. We’ve yet to go through the standby on RSR.

 

[mich311e]

We go to the parks a lot and we think we're pretty good navigating the lines and using Fast Pass. During a visit on the first week in August we were 20 minutes away from being able to pull another fast pass. We wanted to ride Splash and the line was "only 60 minutes" so we said why not and got in standby line. Rookie move. It ended up being 90 minutes. Never. Again. Fast pass only! Or standby if it's less than 30.

 

[Jkpark]

I had a really strange interaction with a CM at Buzz a few trips ago. We knew it was disconnected, pulled Space Mtn and Buzz, rode Star Tours and had a snack, went to use Buzz. The actual line was maybe only 10 or 15 minutes. The CM collecting them inside stopped me to tell me I wasted time by pulling the FP and I shouldn't have done so b/c I had to wait 45 minutes to use it and the line was only 15. I explained I was able to do other things during those 45 minutes. He replied that I could have just waited the 15 and then done those things and not wasted time. I decided not to continue the conversation b/c (1) the standby line was streaming by while he is scolding me for using the FP, and (2) I figured he probably wanted to be working elsewhere and was hoping if people stopped using Buzz FP, he could work a different attraction.

The next day I see the same guy manning the line outside and I sent my friend to pull our FPs. She said he was telling everyone pulling them that they shouldn't b/c the line was only 15 minutes. Now maybe some of those people didn't know it was disconnected, and it wasn't a good choice - I just couldn't get over this one CM discouraging FP. Maybe there are others like him and that adds to people not using them - CMs telling you they are a waste of time. I don't know - I'm just glad I know how it works.

 

[tarheelalum]

I personally love that more people don't use the fast pass system efficiently. It makes my day easier.

 

[Sagginit]

My mother declared on our first trip after learning what FP was while using our first one on Splash in MK that "all those people in line are stupid, like really dumb, I mean why are they just standing for hours when they have these magic things".... she declared this loudly as we walked by them in the FP queue Anyways I think some people find it too complicated to learn the system, or you make a mistake and it doesn't work out well so you give up. I love the paper system in DL/DCA so we use it to our advantage. I combine those with the app to tour with efficiency. As adults we sometimes skip half the rides in a land. For our next trip in a few days I am preggers so we are going to adapt our strategy combing single rider lines and FP for my husband to maximize efficiency since we will try to do the kiddie rides for me and still fit in coasters for him.

 

[paintingoncelluloid]

As a local I still pull FPs, but I would say probably half the time I don't end up using them. Either I change my mind about riding that particular ride, or I find myself across the park (or in the wrong park!) when the time rolls around. But, since I already have a FP "outstanding," I still have a lot of time where the only option is to ride other attractions standby.

Since I go so often, I don't really worry about being efficient about time usage -- last week I went to the park specifically to ride Haunted Mansion Holiday, and the line was an hour wait without FPs. So I waited, because that was what I was there to do. For me, that wasn't a waste of time because I really wanted to ride that specific thing.

 

[jammyjam25]

As adults we sometimes skip half the rides in a land.

As someone who goes on adult-only trips and rides EVERY ride in both parks every single trip, you're killing me here! Some of the "kid" rides are my favorites (looking at you Heimlich's Chew-Chew train!).

I can't tell you how many co-workers, friends, etc. come back from Disney trips complaining about the lines and then when I ask about whether or not they used FPs I get a blank stare in return! Some people just don't plan or take the time to research which works out better for me!

 

[goofyfan13]

When we made a trip 3 years ago I was a noob and didn't use fast pass effectively at all. I'm taking to heart the mantras
1. Always have a fast pass in your pocket
2. When you are in the one hour window get a second fast pass before using the first

We used fast pass and it helped but didn't really maximize the benefit.
I'm designated FP runner so I hope to grab and go and allow the family to meander from land to land, ending up at the land with the FP When we can use it.

 

[Donalyn]

With the enforcement of FP window times, I can see why some people wouldn't want to use them. (I have to say, I love the old policy. We always used our passes, but often had multiple in my backpack at any given time.)

Also, many, many people go to DL and WDW without doing any research. I remember being a little confused by them, but caught on very quickly.

I don't like the new system at WDW. It was relatively new on our last trip there and if you were staying off-site, FP+ did nothing for you at EPCOT. All the good rides were out of passes by the day.

 

[Wahlee]

I only do the standby line if it's less than 30 minutes, and sometimes not even then. When we we blasting by people on my last trip on RSR (standby time: 90 minutes), I said to my friend that "standby is for chumps." I do know that many people don't understand how it works or can't be bothered. My best friend's husband grew up in SoCal, since way before FastPasses existed, and I went with him to DLR once when they were living down there. I hadn't been since 1991, we were only there for one day, and I didn't know how FastPass worked. I figured it out fairly quickly, and suggested pulling FPs for Space Mountain at one point, but he, having grown up just waiting in lines, didn't see the point. So we waited 90 minutes in June, in the hot sun, with a very bored 5-year-old, to ride SM. The next year I went with my BFF and a couple other friends for a bachelorette trip. Again, one day only. We did a bit better with FPs on that one, but still waited 45 minutes for BTMRR when FPs were only about 35 minutes out. After that trip I declared NEVER AGAIN, learned all the ins and outs of FPs, and now use them like a boss. Because standby is for chumps.

I do try to explain FPs to people who don't seem to know how to use them, though. Many thought you had to pay for them.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Do you still have to run like a madman to get rsr fp's?

I'm not a hardcore tour person and last two trips I've had to get a wheelchair for myself so FP's have been rare.

 

[disneyxica20]

Do you still have to run like a madman to get rsr fp's?

I'm not a hardcore tour person and last two trips I've had to get a wheelchair for myself so FP's have been rare.

not really. they're still popular, but usually as long as you're there within the first few hours of park opening you shouldn't have a problem getting one.

 

[Kender]

I had a really strange interaction with a CM at Buzz a few trips ago. We knew it was disconnected, pulled Space Mtn and Buzz, rode Star Tours and had a snack, went to use Buzz. The actual line was maybe only 10 or 15 minutes. The CM collecting them inside stopped me to tell me I wasted time by pulling the FP and I shouldn't have done so b/c I had to wait 45 minutes to use it and the line was only 15. I explained I was able to do other things during those 45 minutes. He replied that I could have just waited the 15 and then done those things and not wasted time. I decided not to continue the conversation b/c (1) the standby line was streaming by while he is scolding me for using the FP, and (2) I figured he probably wanted to be working elsewhere and was hoping if people stopped using Buzz FP, he could work a different attraction.

The next day I see the same guy manning the line outside and I sent my friend to pull our FPs. She said he was telling everyone pulling them that they shouldn't b/c the line was only 15 minutes. Now maybe some of those people didn't know it was disconnected, and it wasn't a good choice - I just couldn't get over this one CM discouraging FP. Maybe there are others like him and that adds to people not using them - CMs telling you they are a waste of time. I don't know - I'm just glad I know how it works.

Woah. That's... Odd to say the least.

I would have probably ended up in far too long of a conversation with that CM trying to understand why a disconnected FP would be a waste of time at all. From the surface of it, it seems like a CM who has zero idea how the FP system works and how best to utilize it. I can think of zero reason Buzz is a waste to pull since it affects nothing in regards to other FPs and I am really curious why he thought it was.

 

[tarheelalum]

I had a really strange interaction with a CM at Buzz a few trips ago. We knew it was disconnected, pulled Space Mtn and Buzz, rode Star Tours and had a snack, went to use Buzz. The actual line was maybe only 10 or 15 minutes. The CM collecting them inside stopped me to tell me I wasted time by pulling the FP and I shouldn't have done so b/c I had to wait 45 minutes to use it and the line was only 15. I explained I was able to do other things during those 45 minutes. He replied that I could have just waited the 15 and then done those things and not wasted time. I decided not to continue the conversation b/c (1) the standby line was streaming by while he is scolding me for using the FP, and (2) I figured he probably wanted to be working elsewhere and was hoping if people stopped using Buzz FP, he could work a different attraction.

The next day I see the same guy manning the line outside and I sent my friend to pull our FPs. She said he was telling everyone pulling them that they shouldn't b/c the line was only 15 minutes. Now maybe some of those people didn't know it was disconnected, and it wasn't a good choice - I just couldn't get over this one CM discouraging FP. Maybe there are others like him and that adds to people not using them - CMs telling you they are a waste of time. I don't know - I'm just glad I know how it works.

That guy sounds like a complete idiot.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

not really. they're still popular, but usually as long as you're there within the first few hours of park opening you shouldn't have a problem getting one.

Thanks! We're always there at opening. I'm glad to hear this!

 

[bcwife76]

We LOVE fast passes, we used so many of them on our last trip! Made our trip very efficient!

I did have to laugh at one point though; one morning we were at DCA for rope drop. We were in the crowd that was headed directly towards Soarin. So many people went straight for fast passes, meanwhile we waited less than 10 minutes to get on the ride!!! I actually had a woman tap me on the shoulder and ask "is this the line for fast passes?" I said "no, this is the line for the RIDE, since it's so short" then directed her over to the FP line. D'oh!
When we got off Soarin' we THEN grabbed a FP. Return time: 1 hour later. Later in the day we grabbed yet another FP for Soarin' lol