Fastpass Changes In March

[Mousemates]

I will continue to post... so, i dunno what your post really is meant to do..

My post was simply meant to communicate my observation that the thread had lost much of its civility (others apparently agreed) and that it was apparently a bigger deal to some people than perhaps they even realized themselves. Happy postings.

[Nascfan]

After taking a few days to digest this news, it really won't affect us much. We usually do the most of the headliners first thing in the morning and use FP a handful of times throughout our trip. I think we've missed one return time over the years and that was due to a meal taking longer than we'd planned.

However, I fail to see the logic of allowing entry "5 minutes before". If they are going to enforce times, why not the start time, which has NEVER been flexible to the best of my knowledge. Can a CM or someone in the know explain the allowing early entry please?

[wdw dude]

I'm not worried about the 5 min early because we've never been admitted early but I'm not liking the 15 min after part. We often show up late for our FP return time.

Same here.

[Goofeygal]

I really hope they do enforce the fastpass time.

[joanna71985]

All I can say is that I'm glad I'm no longer at TSM

[GrandFlo]

WOW...am I . I had no idea you could use FP after the time frame. Im the one at the FP return 10 minutes early watching the clock and if I missed the time frame, I just trashed the FP or kept it for the scrapbook

I do feel bad for the CMs now having to enforce this and the guests returning at the correct time havining to wait longer now because I'm sure some guests will be arguing with the CMs at the FP entrance....

[Gator]

And, honestly, the more I think about the "NexGen" fastpass thing, the more I HOPE they offer premium fastpasses that you can pay for and that you can buy to the parameters you set.

It's bad enough I feel that green envy sneak up everytime I see folks on a GF bus or a Poly bus. That's a perk I'll never be able to afford. Shoot, I can't squeeze out an extra $200 for the ParkHopper option on 4 tickets. For Disney to actually sell a FastPass system would push me and many other away FOR GOOD. It would mean that others are taking up more fastpass slots, which means fewer for me and even longer stand-by lines.

I like the idea that when someone walks into WDW or DL, they are equal with the person right next to them. Same lines for rides, same lines for food, same chance to get a spot for parades, same chance at a fastpass. If they can make you pay for fastpass, they can make you pay for parade spots, firework spots, and everything else. Don't like that at all.

[Lizzie]

I haven't been to Disneyworld in a few years but we frequent DL often. On our last trip we had 4 girls 4 and under. We would get to the park for rope drop get fast passes for a ride and continually get fast passes as our windows open. We generally used them when our windows opened. But there were times when we would run into a character they had to see, have to do bathroom stops, kids needing food all of a sudden or having to go back to the hotel for a nap.

It was nice to know that we could use those passes when we got back to the park or back to our planned schedule.

Am I going to be in the fast pass line and having to run out because of a potty emergency and than get evil glares for coming back in line?

There are six of us am I going to have to pay 100 a head for fast passes that's 600 dollars.

We are planning a trip for 2013. Would like to book it when good deals come up but can't do that how would we book our meals six months in advance. My girls want to eat in the castle. And it's not like we can afford a deluxe for six people.

[badkitty]

I have in the past used the fastpass later than the window , its been a convinience knowing we can use it later than the time stated. I have no problem with the window being inforced, it was meant the keep the crowds controlled during the day.
As far as a ride breaking down , i dont see why there has to be a problem, cant they just create a special RIDE MALFUNCTION fastpass that doesnt have a stated window time.

How would that work? If the ride is down when you return for your fastpass time, the CM exchanges your pass for the malfuntion pass? Interesting idea...

[DizneyFreak2002]

How would that work? If the ride is down when you return for your fastpass time, the CM exchanges your pass for the malfuntion pass? Interesting idea...

No need to do that... If you return during your FP time and the ride is down, CMs are told to allow you in later in the day... It is part of their Fastpass operational reminders...

[DizneyRox]

I've got o imagine the 5 minutes before is to get rd of the loiterers that always go early and argue that it's just 1 minutes. Otherwise, you just print the actual time on the tickets and enforce it.

Gotta be a psychological ploy of some sort.

The pay to play is lready in progress. Fantasmic Package, Candlelight Processional Package, etc. Fastpass is coming. Getting rid of the all-day return is probably a step to open up more capacity.

How so? Well, currently, they have a set number. Once distributed, they can come back at any point. There's probably a large amount or stragglers. If you can stop that, say 5% expire out, you can open up 5% more to be distributed.

[ChipNDale79]

You know that look on people's faces when you tell them you are going to Disney again, and they ask you how can you afford to go so much? Our response as always been, "It's not as expensive as you think it is."

Well if some of the NextGen things are true and you have to pay for Fast Passes, we won't really be able to respond that way.

[PopPhan]

It's bad enough I feel that green envy sneak up everytime I see folks on a GF bus or a Poly bus. That's a perk I'll never be able to afford. Shoot, I can't squeeze out an extra $200 for the ParkHopper option on 4 tickets. For Disney to actually sell a FastPass system would push me and many other away FOR GOOD. It would mean that others are taking up more fastpass slots, which means fewer for me and even longer stand-by lines.

I like the idea that when someone walks into WDW or DL, they are equal with the person right next to them. Same lines for rides, same lines for food, same chance to get a spot for parades, same chance at a fastpass. If they can make you pay for fastpass, they can make you pay for parade spots, firework spots, and everything else. Don't like that at all.

Major league here!!!!

[PopPhan]

I've got o imagine the 5 minutes before is to get rd of the loiterers that always go early and argue that it's just 1 minutes. Otherwise, you just print the actual time on the tickets and enforce it.

Gotta be a psychological ploy of some sort.

Now, the loiterers will show up 5 minutes before the 5 minute early mark!!

The pay to play is lready in progress. Fantasmic Package, Candlelight Processional Package, etc. Fastpass is coming. Getting rid of the all-day return is probably a step to open up more capacity.

How so? Well, currently, they have a set number. Once distributed, they can come back at any point. There's probably a large amount or stragglers. If you can stop that, say 5% expire out, you can open up 5% more to be distributed.

You have a valid point here, but in all the cases you state, and for all of those "events," you can still wait in the Stand-By lines if you don't want to 'Pay-To-Play.'

Where the 'Pay-To-Play' idea irks me is when you take into account the "parties" in MK -- MNSSHP, MVMCP, etc. -- they close down the park earlier than normal closing time, allow people in hours before the "party," and herd those not paying out.

Sorry for going 'Off Topic' here!!! My bad!!

[FamilyBand1]

This bummed me out. We go all the time and I like having the flexibility to having the day to use the fast passes that I've raced around to get for my family.
I can make the times, but I liked having the freedom, since it's not always possible to make it in that hour window.
To be honest, I never really like the fast passes to begin with. Just throw us all in the same line like the good ol' days. (Can't do that now if they can make money off of fast passes though)

[DizneyRox]

I do beleive that some form of fastpass will remain free. The pat part could be...

a. Done in your hotel room, you pick the ride(s) the night before, and get something delivered in the morning with your passes.
b. Based on your accomodations, value gets one per two hour period, moderates gets two, deluxe gets three. All tied to your room key/tickets, so nobody knows you're better than everyone else.
c. A front of the line pass like sold at Universal.

I can think of all sorts of ways to monetize the system. People will pay, especially if they start enforcing the return windows.

[MrPeetrie]

I hope Disney doesn't start charging for FastPasses, employing the old ATM philosophy: get them hooked on it then charge them for the convenience later.

When I tell family and friends about how wonderful WDW is, I always cite their FREE FastPass system as a perk. Years ago, we went to Six Flag (when they purchased Geauga Lake) and we paid $12 per person for their QueBot. We were outraged, but it was the only way to ride any rides. (That was a poorly run park.)

Currently, because we aren't paying extra for FastPasses, the guests are likelier to be more lenient if the system isn't perfect. If we are asked to pay extra for it, we will DEMAND it operates perfectly. We will become irate if it isn't perfect!

And Disney will lose a little more Magic in the process.

[Eran_wolf]

I think people are getting extremely worked up over a lot of speculation.

By trade I work in IT logistics and I can tell you that EVERYTHING is now leaning towards automation and logistics. That being said, logistics doesn't work unless there is strict structure in place. Rules must be followed in order to maintain flow. Disney spends millions every year monitoring queue times and think tanking ways to make lines shorter and more enjoyable for guests. The future of logistics is RFID chips. Credit cards already have them and Disney is already implementing it with Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. The NextGen pass will most likely be this technology implemented into your ticket. No longer will there be a FastPass ticket station but simply a kiosk in which you wave your ticket at and it will program the chip with your rid return time. In order for this to work properly and crowd distribution to be maintained the return time must be enforced.

Now, that said I do not think Disney will start charging for anything FastPass related. Not in the current economy anyway. They are already fighting tooth and nail to keep customer numbers up. What they will do is try as they always have to make the parks run more efficiently. You can't please everyone and if this means angering the 10% (high estimate) of guests who even knew FastPasses were good after the return window then thats something they have to do. They are the innovator that ALL other amusements parks want to be. To stay that way things must change and people don't like change.

My family and I always say the same thing when visiting other amusement parks. "We had a good time, but it wasn't Disney."

Sorry that was so long but I think we all need to wait and see what happens. I will be at the Magic Kingdom on March 7 and 8 so I will tell you all first hand what happens and probably have quite a few stories of irate guests to share!!

[badkitty]

I like the idea that when someone walks into WDW or DL, they are equal with the person right next to them. Same lines for rides, same lines for food, same chance to get a spot for parades, same chance at a fastpass. If they can make you pay for fastpass, they can make you pay for parade spots, firework spots, and everything else. Don't like that at all.

But they already do charge for parade/fireworks spots. For example, the Fireworks party at MK and the cruises. Plus the viewing areas at IllumiNations for special paid events and special VIP viewing areas for the MK parades. Typically there is some other service provided like dessert but the system is in place.

[ronandjulie]

Finally! Is it really that hard of a concept to understand? It's design is to allow a certsain amount of guests in a specific window. If many people used them at later times it reduces the FP effectiveness. I love it. Enforce it! No 5 minutes early. No 15 minutes late. just make the window larger than an hour maybe. Perhaps change the calculations and make it an 1 1/2 hour window? They should also do something similar to Universal and maybe put barcodes on the FP and give the CM a scanner to validate the FP. There are going to be a lot of upset people at first but it's only going to be the people that tried to "cheat" the system in the 1st place. Look how many people still use the "I'm trying to get to my family" excuse to cut in line. I know that Disney is all about the magic, but if it ruins the magic for a few to increase the magic for countless thousands, so be it. I love it!