Would you trade FP+ for no fast passes at all?

[disneysteve]

The parks (or park, if you mean pre-Epcot) were a lot less crowded in those days

Yep. I've been going since 1978. I have pictures of the 3pm parade in MK and there are hardly any people on Main Street. You didn't need anything like FP because there simply weren't that many people there. There were no 90 minute lines for anything. Most things were 30 minutes or less. Maybe Space Mountain was longer at busy times.

Today, the volume of guests is tremendous and you need a way to help direct and regulate that crowd. Without some system like FP, it would be unmanageable.

I would prefer eliminating the advance scheduling though and going back to getting FPs same day like before.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

No. I would not trade. The park crowd levels are tremendously larger than they were years ago. What worked in the past just wouldnt be logical today.

We honestly avoid our local park (Busch Gardens Williamsburg) near Holidays and Summers because of the crowds. WDW would be a million times worse, but year round.

 

[whiporee]

Would you be willing to pay 50 percent more for admission for a 30 percent reduction in crowds? Double for a 50 percent reduction?

Or, how would you feel if the MK was open only for people who stayed on site? I mean, places like Beaches don't allow folks from the neighboring resorts to use their beach chairs -- what if Disney went exclusively for the resort crowd? There are nearly 32,000 rooms there if you count LBV (the post was six years old, but it's close I guess) Max capacity for the four parks is about 250,000, so if you figure four people a room, that would put it at about 130,000 for a full day. Maybe limit the off-site folks to the non-MK parks?

I'm not sure the math works, I'm just wondering what folks would think of the concept.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I was thinking something similar. Maybe one day a week no FP+?

We checked the app in the hub the other day, saw IASW had a 10 minute wait. We had about 40 minutes to kill before our next FP+. We walk over and the SB line is now 35. No ride for us!

Frankly, I think WDW has overbuilt the number of rooms without adding the nessary ride capacity. Sort of oversold the place.

I like the idea of same day only. Then the people who are really committed to going to the park that day would reserve FP+. However, getting up at midnight to pick FP+ for 6-10 days straight wouldn't be all that fun.

 

[btk2333]

You still do that...

I don't... I honestly can't remember the last time I waited in an hour long line at WDW... I've done three trips with FP+ too. I think the longest line at which I've waited was waiting for a table at ESPN Club during the Blackhawks stanley cup finals game in 2013- but I was able to stand at the bar for that so no complaints. Maybe the wait for a bathroom at the Wine and Dine half marathon before the race started- those were long...

I remember going with my parents and waiting an hour for Space and Splash (probably like 1996?) I entertained myself by singing Oompa loompa songs and that song that you sing all the states names. My parents must've been saints

 

[castle1]

The parks (or park, if you mean pre-Epcot) were a lot less crowded in those days, and a lot cheaper too. As I said the last time this came up, I would love to visit 80's or 90's WDW again. I'd even pay 2014 prices to do it.

Me too!