Originally Posted By Mr X It doesn't take a genius to read a guide map. Fastpass is explained just fine. And as for deciding "which" attractions to get fastpass for, a description of all the rides is also right there in the map. Read for a minute. Decide. Go. Like I said, it ain't rocket science. As for the way the JAPANESE do fastpass, well that's a whole other, ridiculous situation. I will never understand the logic in waiting in a one hour fastpass line when the line for the ATTRACTION ITSELF is only 15 minutes long. Duh.
Originally Posted By dlkozy I would like it if the local APers were blocked out of FPs. They are already getting in cheaper than everyone else and they certainly have the opportunity of visiting the parks more often than others too.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN That would be fine with me as well, since it would be Disney's way to turn their face away from the fact that local APers contribute more money than the tourist in one year when you take in concideration how much moeny we dump on dinner plans, merchandise and special event hard tickets. Why should APs need FP? But how about the APs from outside the state?? Furthermore, I would like to see all wheelchair guests being blocked off FP as well since they get to the front of the line just because they are on wheels, by choice or by illness. Seems to me the unfair issues far outweight the fair ones. Best solution is for Disney to get rid of FP totally.
Originally Posted By avromark re 23, Exactly. As well for those who purchase tickets, this in effect is "paying" premium for the Fast Pass system, without making it an extra add-on charge. Since a ticket has a higher per visit price then an AP (Assuming a person bought the AP since they will be going to the parks often enough to make it cheaper then tickets). The other option would be to make it only available (in any form, or just premium) for those who stay at hotels. So even if you have an AP but you're staying at the GC for example you've paid "extra" for the FP in theory without actually paying for it. This would be an incentive. The other thing they could do (although this solution I like less) is to make FP available for puchasing X dollars or eating a full meal (not just dessert) at a restaurant for example. Make it a perk for purchasing something (of more then nominal value).
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>The other option would be to make it only available (in any form, or just premium) for those who stay at hotels.<< I don't have a problem with that idea, AS LONG AS they cancel Extra Magic Hours forever. It's not fair that patrons who stay off property have to cut their day at the parks short just because others are staying on property, while those who are staying on property get exclusive use of FP *and* extra magic hours as well. No premium price paid for hotel rooms at Disney shall be an excuse to offer so much while offering much less to other guests. Talk about feeling 4th class while being at WDW. And while we are at it.. why is Disney still calling off property guests as "guests"? since it's obvious they do not mean a lot to the bottom line of the resort and are not regarded in the same light!
Originally Posted By u k fan I think the idea of starting to hand out FP tickets later in the day is about the best solution. I thought that the other day whilst reading the other topic, but didn't have time to post. Those who arrive early don't need FP in those first few hours while the lines are shorter and starting to hand out FP tickets later will encourage them to stay when they might have left to do something else otherwise. There is less chance of FP running out mid-afternoon and it might also encourage people to stay for dinner as their FP return time will be later. Everyone gets a fairer chance of getting a FP ticket and Disney might make some more cash, everyone's a winner!!!
Originally Posted By Mr X Good idea for America, I think, but it would be a DISASTER in Japan. Why? Because people would stand outside the fastpass machines all day til they opened, crowding up the sidewalks even worse than they already are. The very same lines would form, only this time they would last half a day instead of a couple of hours in the morning.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN FP has changed the ways for Japanese customers, and their way of being. Japanese guests have always been extremely patient and would wait a long time to enjoy a ride or show. Reason why I feel FP shold be eliminated at TDR totally as well. Now of course, FP has created a different monster of an attitude over there, with guests running to get FP in the morning and extra extra long stand by lines unlike the ones seen in the USA or even DLP. Major congestions at FP rides at TDR. Simply not a good thing. >>I think the idea of starting to hand out FP tickets later in the day is about the best solution.<< Again. the only solution is a) turn the FP distribution into a lottery system like those for castle shows at TDL, or b) eliminate the system altogether FOR GOOD! and re-deploy those CMs working the many FP machines and lines to other more productive chores... like custodial.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> You snooze, you lose. << Another way of saying this is, "Get yours." I love this country.
Originally Posted By dlkozy >>>"But how about the APs from outside the state??"<<< In the case of DL-there is the So CA pass at a really cheap price that No CA who want to buy an AP cannot get-it is only available for the So CA zipcodes. IMHO, anyone with a So CA AP should be blocked from FP.
Originally Posted By avromark imho everyone should be blocked from Fast Pass, err I mean it should be eliminated. Waiting in lines is part of the experience. No one should have special privledges, who really likes seeing Michael Jackson getting to go to the front of the line through the backstage? (Not that he does anymore)
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <This at least spreads the "unfairness" to include some people who already have FP's. Everyone using FP would have to understand that if you ever get an FP ticket for more than 3 hours out from now, that that ticket might not be honored when you return. So you should check the electronic tip boards in the park before returning to that ride to be sure. < I am not sure what dictionary from 'heck' would define fairness as spreading unfariness. How do you punish someone who already has a fastpass. And let's say they get 6 Pm at Noon, so they plan a nice dinner at 4 - and you cut them out because too many people got FP's - geez - I know you hate FP and somehow are looking to make it more fair for those who show uplate and miss their oppotunities - but screwing someone who already has something is not the way. "sorry sir - we had your room waiting, but a sudden run on reservation holds made this hotel too popular today, you're out of luck. Nope I don;t care if you have a receipt, read the fine print, it is not any good if the moon is blue, today is Tuesday and too many people want to ride Soarin," I still believe by definition is is as 'fair' as it's going to get - when the gates open each person has the same opportunity, regardless of the size of their wallet ...no different than any sale that has items at a price until they run out. Get there 6 hours after they open and they are gone. No one holds any on the side for those doing something else - it wasn't your priority to begin with so it wasn't the seller either. Now that being said, and I am not even sure why I am throwing a log on this constant fire from the disenfranchised - but maybe limit FP's to only going 2 -3 hours out, then the machines shut down until the clock moves forward ? At least then you are not taking something away from someone who already has it - I think that would really be crapola customer service.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> I know you hate FP << Sorry, I don't hate FP. It works when it works. What I DO hate is the fact that it generates friction when people are passed up in line for long, long stretches. And they can't get an FP anymore because they're gone for today. I hate the unfairness of it when the tickets are gone. ---------------------- The people that like FP the most are the one's that it works for. Again, I say, when it works, it works. The one's that don't get FP's are standing in line just watching the parade go by. ----------------------- If the Standby Line didn't have to watch the FP people stroll by, friction wouldn't be as much of a problem.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy -------------- And here's yet another idea (THREE in one thread!) -------------- If you don't like cancellation (I'm not happy with that either), and if you don't like not starting to issue FP's until 2 hours into the day, then how about simply severely restricting the NUMBER of FP's issues each day, at least for the most popular attractions? Instead of say, 25% of the day's Soarin' rides for FP, maybe only 5%. That way, FP's will just plain run out sooner, and everybody is naturally back in a Standby line for the rest of the day, when the day is busiest anyway. There will simply be fewer FP's passing people up in line when the lines are longest. On attractions where FP's aren't running out, then keep the number at 25%. ---------------------- Note to Disney -- You can use these ideas for just a small remuneration!
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy By the way, airlines DO "cancel" flights for people who already have a reservation. They do it regularly. Airlines overbook their flights because they know that many people just no-show. They will guess at the percentage of no-shows and overbook the flight for that figure. That way, their flights are always full. But then what happens when all the people who have reservations actually show up? Then they start asking people to give up their seats -- for a fee, a future free flight. Other bennies, too. This works, because I'm PAID to get bumped. But when I'm being passed up for FP, all I get is to wait longer. ------------------ TDLFAN -- What happens when not enough people volunteer to self-bump? Just what do they do with the passenger who has a reservation, but can't get on the plane?
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> But when I'm being passed up for FP, all I get is to wait longer. << Maybe Disney should pass out bags of airline pretzels to people in the Standby line when FP's are gone. (<--- a joke!)
Originally Posted By Mr X TDLFAN and SuperDry would know more than I, but it's my understanding that if they don't get volunteers the do "forcibly" bump people (I don't know how they decide WHICH people though)...however that generally comes with more perks, and there is some stuff I believe they have to provide by law if you arrive at your destination much later than you were supposed to. I like that idea of giving out much FEWER fastpasses. They could make them more flexible (like, please enjoy this attraction any time after 1pm, or whatever, no more 1 hour windows), and reinvent the whole thing as "early bird specials" or something. That way, you KNOW that it's not easy to get, and people that really want them HAVE to arrive early...plus the folks waiting in line wouldn't be subjected to the constant stream of people "bypassing" at all hours...it would only be a trickle, much less annoying. Plus the regular lines would be shorter, I believe. They could also limit FP to only 2 or 3 per day. I think that could be a "best of both worlds" solution to the current irritation that many people feel. Personally, FP doesn't bother me because I've been to SO many Disney parks so many times that I just don't care if I "miss" Space Mountain on a particular day. I don't bother getting into long stand-by lines at all. But I realize that's not the reality for many folks.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>If the Standby Line didn't have to watch the FP people stroll by, friction wouldn't be as much of a problem.<<< Bingo!!! That is exactly what I said to a Disney rep that called me because I sent an e-mail with my concerns about FP. This was a few years back but they called me and wanted to know what thoughts I had about the subject. After a lengthy discussion on what I consider the evils of the system I said..."If you don't get rid of it, at least move it so standby does not have to watch people go to the front." You see, I am less concerned about the uses of FP then I am about the general feeling it creates. The magic disappears really fast when you have been standing out in the heat for ages and then some group of people walk right in front of you. I don't care how "legal" it is.
