Originally Posted By indysoarin19 As a user of both Uni's and Disney's systems, I find Disney's to be unbelievably simpler, so maybe that's why Universal got rid of theirs. Also, no one at Universal takes your ticket to ensure you don't cut in line again, whereas Disney sees to it that you only use it once. Fastpass definitely has its faults when it comes to creating crowd jams. Here in CA when Pirates had FP, man that line was terrible and a crowd jam would occur in the worst part of the park for acrowd jam. But in FL, Fastpass worked seamlessly for everything, including Soarin' when I was there last summer. Planned my vacation to where I had extra magic hour benefits each day and attended the corresponding park. This worked beautifully for Epcot and Soarin', as I rode Soarin' during an evening extra magic hour using Fastpass. Do some rides need FP? Probably not. Primeval Whirl, PhilharMagic, or Maelstrom probably don't need FP, but have it anyway. Thank goodness Peter Pan in FL has FP, because I wouldn't have been able to get on otherwise. Here in CA, Peter Pan doesn't have FP and is consistently a nightmare to wait in. Haven't been able to go on the CA version in years. Charge for FP? I shudder at the thought. My local Six Flags has that system and no one uses it because it is a rip-off and the lines are still outrageously long. All of this is just IMO.
Originally Posted By Lake Nona Any chance that if FP is removed, will FP be only for DVC and WDW Resort Guests? And AP's?
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I have no idea why you guys hate it so>> It's hated for a few reasons. One, when the FP are gone, you are left with no choice but to either skip the attraction altogether, or wait in the stand-by queue, which moves slower than when FP did not exist. Two, FP has made a bit of a mess with the queues, at least for the attractions that had to be rerouted to accommodate the system. Three, it causes congestion in the park. All those people who aren't waiting in line are now "taking up space" somewhere else. Personally, I have mixed feelings about it. I am not a commando, nor do I "have to" ride certain things. It's nice to use FP, but it's not so convenient that I think it's great.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<will FP be only for DVC and WDW Resort Guests? And AP's?>> Not a chance. Disney would get massive complaints if they went that direction.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I don't think that Disney needs to get rid of it because it creates any classes. I agree that it needs to go, but more because it is just a pain in the butt. I know how to work the system, and I can still barely get as many rides in as I could before FP. It makes the lines longer all around, and it really lowers morale in the parks. When you see people walking in the line next to you, you are angry because they get to get on the ride in front of you with practically no wait. People who have FP's have to plan their attractions, shopping, and meals around the windows. It makes the whole experience much more stressful. When you can just get into the park and go to whatever you want, without having to worry about having a FP or using another one, it adds a lot of stress that really has no purpose. On a side note, getting up early to get on a ride is nothing new. I remember when Indiana Jones opened, we wouldn't ride it unless it was early in the morning, because the wait would easily be 4-5 hours by 10:00. I think that getting up early is part of doing the theme park thing right, and it can't be avoided. However, FP is totally unnessecary and really detracts from the overall experience. One last thing: if Disney thinks that people waiting for FP windows are shopping or eating, they are sadly mistaken. I don't know of a single person who thinks "Now I can go shopping while I wait to get on this ride." They usually think "Now I can go wait for this other ride, so I can still ride both." Really, they are using more money, because it costs them money to put the people on the ride, but let Disney think they are really making money. No real loss.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <<<will FP be only for DVC and WDW Resort Guests? And AP's?>> Not a chance. Disney would get massive complaints if they went that direction.< I tend to agree-- but look at ride previews now are for AP and DVC -- and DDE Disney Dining Experience also an AP and DVC only perk --- never say never. and as they look to seel the rest of Saratoga Springs and the next resort -- that kind of perk would be valuable
Originally Posted By Elderp I love FP. I like planning my day I remember the days of 4-5 hour lines and I for one don't want to go back to that. It was a major waste of time and I am grateful Disney has provided a way that those who invest a little bit of planning can maximize their day.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>I agree that it needs to go, but more because it is just a pain in the butt. I know how to work the system, and I can still barely get as many rides in as I could before FP. It makes the lines longer all around, and it really lowers morale in the parks.<<< BINGO...that is exactly the reason that it needs to go. The VAST majority has to wait longer while a few trod right in. It is not the people that could have gotten a FP but didn't that are upset, it is those that couldn't, for whatever reason, that are getting thier vacations, if not ruined, at least frustrated. You once had to wait in line but it wasn't a mega-line and everyone was treated equal. The sooner you got in the Q the quicker you were on the ride and when you got to the entrance you knew you were next. I have also used FP because it is there but I hate it and I wish it would disappear. It causes more ill will then good feelings I can assure you.
Originally Posted By TexasTea I love fast pass. I time my arrival to the Tower of Terror after getting totally loaded and twisted in my hotel room. By getting to bypass the outside queue my high is at it zenith while standing in the library watching the video clip and it lasts well into the elevator ride. Long live fast pass!!
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <Hey jim is that biting sarcasm or are you just using banter?> Both! Sorry TexasTea, that's the crack talking.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>We go a lot, but never ever when school is out. I am always very thankful for Fastpass, it works great for us.<< That's all nice and lovely and the way FP always works on days the parks are not very crowded. But try doing this on a very crowded day... Case in point.. Epcot on New Year's Eve. Soaring FPs were gone by 10:30am... since most guests had to wait a long time before riding Soarin with their FP, most of these folks were blocked off from using another FP until very later in the day... So that rule effectively took away their chances to take advantage of FPs on other rides earlier in the day... <---That's one thing. The other issue I have is how CMs are allowing people with expired FP to go thru the line after their window has passed, effectively backing up the stand by line even further.. The other problem was that those who could not get a FP for Soaring before 10:30am were confronted with the sour reality of having to stanb by in a 4 hr long line (yes... 4 hrs and there were people outside The Land offering cash to other guests for FP) or skip EPCOT's newest ride altogether... The Land was dealing with huge backups inside the pavillion that cuased traffic nightmares for other guests trying to access the food court (where the stand by line cut thru) or the Living with the Land boat ride (which was also dealing with backup problems due to their FP availability) It was a freaking MESS of epic proportions.. I am told there was a steady line of angry guests at guest relations over this, according to my friend who works there and would like FP to be gone as well... FP works well on uncrowded days but not on crowded days, and if you were able to do other rides while waiting for FP times on others... it's because those other rides do not have the FP and the lines move!!! Otherwise, your time would not be maximized at all!!! >>Universal simply doesn't need Fastpasses<< Neither does Disney, but it's here to stay for now. >>you want to make it so only rich people can "cut" in line. For most folks just getting to Disney once in their lives is special and about all they can afford. << That's a very lame argument.. You don't have to be rich to be able to go to Disney...I know this because I work in the travel industry... Most guests at WDW now a days are enjoying reduced rates at on-property hotels, airline fares that are cheaper now than what they used to be in the early 90's, and another good number of them *drive* to WDW from neighboring states, Plus, you don't have to be rich to afford buying a multiday pass at Disney anymore... What's making it expensive is Disney's Magic your way where you are forced to PAY EXTRA for the little things we used to take for granted...like park hopping? water parks and PI?? >>It seems to me that you only don't like it when they run out and you couldn't get one, so you're jealous of those that did<< BS. I am not jealous of those who did get FP because I am blessed with the chance to go to WDW (or any disney resort for that matter) quite often and can ride these old rides anytime I want.. And at times, I have opted not to take a FP for any particular ride, simply because I do not have to the time to wait around for another 3 hrs before window time comes up...and will sure NOT wait in a stand by line for an hour knowing that without FP, such a wait would be reduced to 40 mins. >>Hmmm, so when did Uni get rid of Express Pass?<< It's been about two months since the service was discontinued at Universal. >> This creates a two-class system - those with money to splurge, and those without.<< If you can afford a trip to WDW at any given time, you have money to splurge...trust me Besides, FP as it is right now is a TWO CLASS system... Once you obtain a FP at any ride, you are upgrading yourself to a higher class of service. Same argument can be said about Magic Mornings and E-Ticket Nights for resort guests, where the non-resort guests (some of them paying for higher, more glamorous digs than those found on property) are treated like 2nd class when they are denied the ability to enjoy a longer day at the park. So this "two-tier class" argument does not fly with me. >>Real VIP's have always gotten stuff that ordinary guests don't.<< yes but my understanding is that many VIP's do pay for the extra attention... This is not a free service, unless you have been invited to be a VIP on property... like The Press or some dignitary... That's my understanding.
Originally Posted By Kylesmom I always liked FP until I was in line for Peter Pan during EMH. I swear, the CM was letting 30+ Fast Passers in for every dozen or less Stand By riders. What looked like a 10 or 15 minute line took almost an hour. So on this one I'm with TDLFAN, get rid of Fast Pass and let the lines be what they are. I'd also like the distribution kiosks to go away so the walk ways won't be so crowded, especially at DL where they aren't as wide.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN You brought up another reason why FP must go... There doesn't seem to be pre-set ration about how many FP versus Stand by guests CMs are supposed to let into the merged line. Some CM's seem to do what they care to do in regards to that, just like it's the CMs faults for letting guests use their FP tickets with expired window times..
Originally Posted By TexasTea The important point here is never bring anything that would offend other guests inside the park because after all it is a family place. And always get a ride from a sober driver who can drop you off at the ticket booths or turnstiles so it's just you and your fast pass ready to go. ps only use the Disney transportation(buses) if you absolutely have to because it could mess with the whole timing of entering the fast pass line.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>The important point here is never bring anything that would offend other guests inside the park because after all it is a family place.<< Gee, then ban the brits for their offensive shirtless romps, black socks and ugly shorts!!!
Originally Posted By TexasTea If fast pass goes away then I don't know what I will do. I guess from now on I will go in early Dec. so the crowds won't upset my timing. Timing is everything. The worst thing that happened was back in '96 when I got cought up in that mile long queue of Disneyland's Indiana Jones. By the time That I got in the jeep I was already done and back to normal. WHAT A PISSER!!!
Originally Posted By basas While i completely agree with getting rid of FP (I absolutely hate it...), I would prefer it to be left alone than to have it either for deluxe resort guests, or for an extra fee. That would be even worse than the current system IMO. And for those who talk about how people wouldn't go to the parks anymore without FP, or how the lines would be so hugely long it wouldn't be any fun...last time i checked, Disney didn't have FP before 1999 (and didn't really expand until 2000-2001)...hm...everyone really hated the parks pre 1999, huh?
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>If fast pass goes away then I don't know what I will do.<< You'll do the same you did before FP... get in line and wait your turn along with everyone else...the way the person who invented the concept of a "line" intended it to be used= first come first serve.
