Disney just announced that they're adding an upcharge option to book digital FPs at DLR. For the time being, the price is pretty reasonable ($10/day, including PhotoPass downloads) and the legacy FP system will remain "free" with park admission. They're also adding FP to Toy Story Midway Mania and Matterhorn Bobsleds, two popular attractions with limited capacity that could be severely impacted by FP additions Additional Disney FASTPASS Locations and New Disney MaxPass Coming to Disneyland Resort
Apparently you need to be within DL or DCA to book fastpasses; you can't reserve days ahead. I don't know if it's still this way, but I remember the reports of ridiculously long and slow lines for TSMM at WDW due to fastpass. I hope they at least limit the number of fp's per hour they give out for TSMM at DCA or DLR could have the same problem.
TSMM consistently pulls one of the longest waits in all of WDW. Part of that is due to it's relatively low capacity, but it's also a factor of being one of only 5 rides in the park. In contrast, DCA has about 20 rides, so the demand on any single one is far lower WDW recently opened an additional TSMM track (and 3rd Soarin' theater) to help reduce wait times. This seems to have helped both attractions reduce waits to near-DCA levels, though WDW's still tend to be longer. Obviously adding a 3rd track isn't really a practical option in DCA, where space is more limited Part of what makes WDW's FP system theoretically work is giving guests FPs to things that really don't need them, like omnimovers and theater shows, along with nearly every single ride on property. This has increased standby wait times across the board, but theoretically the average guest saves time overall by having more FPs. A similar approach will need to be implemented at DL, though it will be really tough to do there with the narrow walkways and limited queue space
What sucks is it is $10 a day per person. One person can manage a group but if you have four people in your family that is $40 for the day. How much is this going to cost as an AP add on? I bet in the next year free paper tickets will disappear. It's a pure cash grab but it might help get rid of long fast pass lines making standby more manageable unless everybody really wants to pay for fast passes now.
We all knew that this day was coming when they would start charging for some version of the fast-pass system. I think that it is going to have a real negative impact on Disneyland because it is just going to make so many more people wondering around causing larger crowds and also causing much longer standby lines, which we will all be forced to stand in now.
I have to agree, totally. From what I have seen at 6Flags parks; people are more than willing to pay for a shorter line. I always thought it was so great that Disney offered them for free to all guests. Another bit of Magic vanishes. "Sorry honey, we can't afford that line."
Jeez...remember the days before FP when you would simply get in the back of the line and wait?! I remember, as a kid, always waiting 45-60 min for Pirates. It was just part of the experience. This new system is not needed and just plain goofy (I know...it's all about the $$$). Well, if paper fast passes become impossible to get, we'll just wait on lines. I'm sure we will survive. I wonder if my next AP will include this and cost me another $200?
Lol....maybe you're right. But, we all survived. As a kid, I didn't mind waiting. Now I'm just an old fart and long lines annoy me. But not enough to pay $10 more for a few FPs.
And now Universal Orlando says it will have the first no standing in line theme park with their Volcano Bay state of the art fully themed out full day and night water park(with nightime show extravaganza). I guess their much hyped 3rd gate will not only have no standby but patrons will never have to carry a tube or mat when ascending the stairs to the water slides.
I'll be very curious to see how this works in reality. Disney tried FP-only for a couple days on TSMM in WDW and it did not go well. In my mind a water park is even more "spur of the moment" than a theme park, so the fully-planned day just doesn't seem appealing to me, though there's a lot of appeal to not waiting in queues Don't some of the Disney slides also have conveyors to bring the rafts to the top of the stairs? I've only spent one day at Typhoon Lagoon, but I don't remember having to carry anything while we waited
I seem to remember carrying a small 2 person/seater tube up to the Crush and Gusher at Typhoon's so-called water coaster but I can't say for sure.....I might be confusing it it another water slide. But ya, carrying your own tube is pretty lame requirement. Just another small reason not to be a waterpark enthusiast.
Most videos I've seen of Disney water parks it seems like the tube is brought up via conveyors belt. What sucks is having to pay for the right to use a tube.
Where do they do that?! I don't think I've ever been to a water park that charges for tube usage, especially since a lot of slides require you to be in a tube. That just seems tacky, especially since nobody is carrying a wallet in their swimsuit, so it adds another hurdle to the process
I just checked a video and guests do indeed carry their 2 seater or single tubes on "Crush N Gusher" at Typhoon. One picks up a stray floating tube in the pool where riders empty into and then bring it along the entire path and ultimately up the stairs to the launch platform.
I've seen it at Lagoona Beach water park at Lagoon in Utah. You had to buy a wrest band in order to get a tube.
