Why don't people use FastPass?

[mom2rtk]

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

Some people head for the FP first then ride (the line is still short) so their fast return time allows them to pull another FP even sooner.

 

[Astylla]

Some people head for the FP first then ride (the line is still short) so their fast return time allows them to pull another FP even sooner.

We did this today with Haunted Mansion Holiday. We made rope drop at DCA and grabbed a RSR FP for 8:50-9:50am then WALKED ON Toy Story Mania and Screamin' , then walked to Carsland and did Luigi's and RSR with FP. Then went to DL and grabbed FP for HMH for 10:20-11:20am, did standby as it was 15-20 then walked on Splash Mountain, HMH FP came up by time we were done with Splash and rode it again.

Then got lunch at French Market, back to DCA for AP DAYS , did Chase meet and greet, took a breather, I was a runner for Ghost Glaxy FP for 7:30-8:20 tonight and then we got Grizzly FP for 3:20-4:20, so by 3:45pm we have done quite a bit !

 

[Indiana Scott]

Just got back. We use FP some but not as much as we could. The reason is it requires too much walking.
I mean, we get a FP and it's for two hours kin the future but it's not likely we'll still be in that area in two hours so we have to walk all the way back.

 

[bumbershoot]

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

Yikes!

Like I said earlier, sometimes you have a FP that's not allowing you to get a FP for that time period. If you want to ride something, why not? What else are you going to do? Just stand around waiting? Meh. We're learning that sometimes that down time of waiting in a line isn't horrible.

Some of the "kid" rides are my favorites (looking at you Heimlich's Chew-Chew train!).

How I adore Heimlich.

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."

Meh.

Just b/c you have a FP for that time period doesn't mean they don't have a fP for another time period. Doesn't make them chumps. Not at all.

What are you doing when you aren't riding something that's over 30 minutes?

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

No one should ever be running in Disneyland unless you paid $200 and got a bib and a shirt to do it.

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!!!

Some people have other plans! No need to laugh at them.

Some people head for the FP first then ride (the line is still short) so their fast return time allows them to pull another FP even sooner.

Exactly. A most excellent plan. Way better for some than riding THEN pulling the FP.

 

[disneychrista]

I am not a running around the park touring style person. I am a land by land touring style person. I also won't stand in lines longer than 30 minutes. I am not physically able to do a lot of running around the park & standing in lines for me is worse than walking around.

I use FP but it has to fit into my plan, not me trying to make my schedule around the FP.

 

[Tikkat]

First time I went to Disneyland at 17 with my mother she planned it all with a travel agent and we had no idea about fasspasses until we arrive so we hardly used it. Last year I decided I could do better than an Australian travel agent and planned my WDW trip myself. So I knew all about fp+ and used it well. This time going to DLR I'm more prepared and plan on making more use of it.

 

[FryingPansWhoKnew]

I'm actually surprised that not everyone uses FP's to the fullest extent. I had my uncle and cousin fly in from Virginia early in the summer. We got to Disneyland at park opening 8AM and left at 2PM having ridden everything in Disneyland (everything they wanted to ride) using FP's.

 

[mom2rtk]

I guess I never realized so many people judge others (by laughing and branding as stupid) by their parks touring plan.

 

[KeKy4]

I get if people want to do Disneyland land by land. They don't want to pull a fast pass, go somewhere else, then have to go back.
But if the wait is two hours and the fast pass is two hours, wouldn't you rather pull the fast pass and just relax/visit with friends and family/shop nearby than walk inch by inch through the line?

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Yikes!



No one should ever be running in Disneyland unless you paid $200 and got a bib and a shirt to do it.



.

HOW TRUE! We're not runners. We like to meander and people watch. That's why I never did the rope drop stuff. We rode single rider. Unfortunately that won't work with my youngest (6) coming. Fast pass it is. As long as there's no running. LOL

 

[Darkbeer1]

Interesting to read this thread.

In case you don't know, I am known as the father of the FastPass Guide a couple of decades ago, and featured in places like the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland.

I have used probably the first type of FastPass like thing in an Theme/Amusement park, and that was Universal Studios Hollywood, where they realized that it was getting too busy to force everyone onto a Tram first thing, and had to send some to the rest of the park with a return time. It was an expensive decision, as they original set up allowed staffing to start later for the "after tram" part of the park, but greatly increased capacity.

I have done the old Cedar Point thing, where you got in line for an 11 AM hand stamp to avoid most of the wait in line later in the day. They had latex hand stamps that had the ride and return time, you were lucky to get 2 and maybe 3 with inside knowledge. But it was once a day, and everyone in the group had to be in line, usually the line for the stamp would be 30 minutes to an hour.

And I also remember when I could use my Ralphs Grocery Frequent Shopper to get a Disneyland FastPass. (so basically unlimited), so they started to improve the system, and then my Annual Passes from other parks would work. (Since the admission system barcodes are an industry system, and not exclusive to Disney). Disney finally went to "real time" where a pass HAD to be scanned at the front gate before being valid that day, which stopped that issue. Then the amount of connected/unconnected machines, and how they worked.

Also, the policies of using FP's after the stated return time, and how that is no longer allowed.

But then, I also love the Lo-Q that Six Flags, Dollywood, LEGOLAND and others use. This is a pager like device, where you can just search and request a return time anywhere in the park, with limits into what you can request at one time, usually one ride and one show at a time. And if you want to change it, there is no issues. They also have a water park version where you wear it on your wrist.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accesso

Also, some water park systems allow a payment option for food and merchandise. You can set a certain dollar amount, or just attach a credit card to the band. No need to carry a wallet/money around.

You still have some other systems, like what Universal and Cedar Fair (Knott's) uses, which is a lanyard/wristband that is scanned and allows front of the line access without a return time being assigned for an extra fee.

Things change, and now Disney is looking at adding additional costs to use FastPass, such as a requirement to stay at a Disney Hotel for better access.

But as a local, a lot has changed over the last few decades, and I use them less often now.. though they did come in handy when my wife and I created a new World Record that hasn't been beat yet.

http://web.archive.org/web/20070301165523/http://www.miceage.com/guest/gu070306a.htm

https://darkbeer.smugmug.com/Theme-Parks-2006-Photos/11-Parks-11-Roller-Coasters/

 

[avalon451]

I miss the days when you could pull them in quick succession, as soon as each window opened, in the early morning... while enjoying the low lines of early morning touring... leave the park for a break... come back at 5 or 6 p.m. and use 5 FPs straight in a row during the huge wait times. When they didn't enforce late return times.

When I was there last week, we used FP, but to a much lesser extent. My strategy was more to concentrate on one area at a time, using FPs as they became available there. We had 3 full and 2 half days, and we did a lot fewer rides multiple times, but it made for a decent pace and good park coverage. We got to see and ride everything we wanted, and a few twice.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

We use FP sparingly because we prefer to tour one area at a time. I might grab a FP for Space Mountain, then ride everything else in the area while I wait. I also prefer touring early morning. When you get there before rope drop, if you get it down to a science, you don't have to spend any time waiting. On a lot of attractions, the standby time isn't more than 30 minutes anyway. My rule is that I won't wait longer than 30 minutes for anything. During the busiest time of day, I watch shows or take a hotel break, then come back later when lines tend to die down a little again.

 

[grannyminnie]

In reading thru this thread to familiarize myself with DL's fastpass system (I'm a WDW vet), I see the word "disconnect" used in reference to a ride, say Buzz. No idea what that means...
Also, is there a "primer" I can read to know any ins and outs of the fastpass system to begin with? Going in early November, and might want to use them for the first time at DL. On other trips in the past few years, I never paid attention to their existence!

 

[mom2rtk]

In reading thru this thread to familiarize myself with DL's fastpass system (I'm a WDW vet), I see the word "disconnect" used in reference to a ride, say Buzz. No idea what that means...
Also, is there a "primer" I can read to know any ins and outs of the fastpass system to begin with? Going in early November, and might want to use them for the first time at DL. On other trips in the past few years, I never paid attention to their existence!

If it's disconnected, it means it won't interfere with your ability to pull another one right away. Not many are disconnected. Just Buzz and the shows I think (WOC, Frozen).

 

[grannyminnie]

If it's disconnected, it means it won't interfere with your ability to pull another one right away. Not many are disconnected. Just Buzz and the shows I think (WOC, Frozen).

Ok, thx.

 

[cruisehopeful]

We use fast passes when the timing works out for us, but won't do fast pass rides just for the sake of using a fast pass. I also don't like to wait in lines for very long. The time in line usually gives me a chance to talk to my family since I don't get to talk to them much otherwise because of work schedules, etc.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

What is traditionally faster - FP or SRL? And does every ride have a Single Rider Line? If I'm going solo, I need to be prepared, LOL

 

[Darkbeer1]

What is traditionally faster - FP or SRL? And does every ride have a Single Rider Line? If I'm going solo, I need to be prepared, LOL

It depends, for example, Soarin' can have longer waits for Single Rider, depending on how well the CM can load the main queues (FP and Stand-by), also you can't see the wait before deciding. I opt for FP if it is an option.

It is truly hit or miss, as the CM's loading have a major effect, as some will try and maximize seats, while others get "behind" and need to send vehicles out with emprty seats to keep up with the general loading/unloading time.

 

[disneychrista]

It depends, for example, Soarin' can have longer waits for Single Rider,

Unless it has changed recently, Soarin' (over the world) does not have Single Rider.