Originally Posted By RoadTrip I don't like Fastpass at some locations, but at others it is almost essential. The lines at Peter Pan and Pooh at the MK and Test Track at Epcot are way too long for almost all of the day. It takes too much time out of your day to wait in a regular line for those attractions.
Originally Posted By SJHYM ^^^However, I would say that FP makes those attractions lines overly long. I was a mgr for Peter Pan for several years and even during the summer we normally ran a 45-60 min wait, 20-30 min during the slower times. I bet you cant find a day now where the wait time is less than 45mins. I think thats a direct result of FP. Also, time was you could hit Peter Pan late in the evening and just walk on. Thats impossible now.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA ^^^Same with Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland, SJHYM. Toward the end of the day, we used to always be able to walk-on BTM -- not so anymore. And forget Autopia -- used to also be a walk-on toward the end of the day. Nowadays, if you don't get a fastpass, you get to stand in a 90 minute long line [for Autopia?]...
Originally Posted By SJHYM Yeah, its one of the downsides of FP that most people forget about. FP pushes people out into the park which makes other lines longer and in some cases so long that you either wait forever or dont ride.
Originally Posted By gardenrooms I totally agree that WDW can't change any requirements while the possibility of a lawsuit is pending. I like the idea of intensity ratings, though, and you could add a "PG" to rides that might be too intense physically or psychologically for young children even though they meet age or height requirements. Of course, every child is different, and who knows them better than their parents. Sometimes a gentle reminder is helpful. My son, who will ride anything now (well, except "Hulk" and "Ghostrider", which I thought were fun but gave him headaches - being old, I'm careful to keep my head back and neck still - lol)) was scared at 3 of Peter Pan (I didn't realize how dark and loud it was until I went on it with a toddler). Heck, Disney's daughters were reportedly scared by a scene of Lassie going into a burning house so he toned down all the classic tales he turned into cartoons (I love Jimminy Cricket, but in the actual story, the cricket is just a ghost after Pinocchio kills him by throwing a mallet at him around the time he burns his feet off warming them by the fire). Not that a "PG" caution would have helped this family, but if it keeps one child from being scared into an unenjoyable experience at WDW or DL it would be worth it. I sure avoided loud dark rides that one year after our Peter Pan experience, and DS is alsmost as big a Disney freak as I am.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Now if I could just get the masses to accept that Fastpass stinks. LOL<< You know you can always count on me to help out with this.. >>I will be glad to help pass that idea along. I hate fastpass!<< So do I. >>It takes too much time out of your day to wait in a regular line for those attractions<< No it does not. Ever since the introduction of FP, I find myself doing less and less at the parks on crowded days because the FP policy blocks for hours at a time or forces you to do standby lines whihc hardly move. I find myself wondering around aimlessly trying to find something to do because the things that I want to do are "Stand-by wait time"-prohibitive. >>I would say that FP makes those attractions lines overly long.<< Yes it does, and yet, I have had this same argument with other fans on other sites besides LP, and they swear on their mothers' names that Stand-by lines are not longer than regular lines before FP was introduced. One such fanatic is jonvn...LP old-timers may remember that name...
Originally Posted By basas <<Now if I could just get the masses to accept that Fastpass stinks. LOL>> *Hates it*...i think more and more people (especially regular fans) are beginning to see the downside of FP...partially due to the positive effects on MK/DL HM, IASWH (DL), POTC (DL), etc.
Originally Posted By basas <<partially due to the positive effects on MK/DL HM, IASWH (DL), POTC (DL), >> The positive effects of taking it OFF that should say.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>The positive effects of taking it OFF that should say.<< Know what you mean... and I think that some managers in charge are beginning to realize this since some rides have already lost FP for good.
Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney "Know what you mean... and I think that some managers in charge are beginning to realize this since some rides have already lost FP for good." This is already (thankfully) the case in Anaheim. But what has lost it at WDW? I could list many attractions it isn't needed on from anything at Epcot other than Test Track and Soarin, to the Haunted Mansion and PhilharMagic (no 3D movie needs it) etc ...
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Whether or not Fastpass has been successful or not is certainly open to debate. I must say though that I really respect Disney for developing an "anyone can go to the front of the line" system rather than something like Universal's "buy your way to the front of the line" system.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Absolutely -- I think Universal's system is extremely nasty and should offend most people. Also I am not a Fastpass hater. I think it grew too much...but as someone who takes at least one of their trips in the June timeframe when school is out and it is very crowded ( and not a local that can drop by whenever i want to ride a few rides here and there) - Fastpass for things like Splash / Thunder -- Space/Buzz --- Kali / Kilamanjaro -- make a lot of sense....as does the ability to get the non-counting Fastpass for the stunt show at the Studios.... I agree they are unnecessary at some attractions and some have already been removed
Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney ^^^My educated opinion, Roadtrip, is that FastPass was a great idea in theory, but more often than not, is a disaster in implementation. But it's a great marketing tool. No doubt about it.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>I must say though that I really respect Disney for developing an "anyone can go to the front of the line" system rather than something like Universal's "buy your way to the front of the line" system<< That's just it! NOT everyone at Disney can "go to the front of the line" otherwise it would render FP obsolete. At TDL for example...if you get to the park after 3pm, it's safe to say that all FPs will be gone, so that forces late arriving guests to stand by! NOT FAIR!! Just because in theory the system is opened to everyone...the reality of it is that once FPs are distributed for the day, not everyone is able to use the system at their prefered attractions if at all. Moreover, if it wasn't because of Disney's implementation of FP, no other parks (like Universal) would have bothered implementing their system, but monkey do what monkey sees... because of the dreaded competition and rivalry between these two entertainment giants. Disney's FP is like a bad virus spreading across the theme park community outside of Disney's gates. >>But what has lost it at WDW?<< Haunted Mansion and Millionaire. The last time I was at the MK, both Cartoon Spin and Stitch's Great Escape had FP machines turned off. Needless to say it made the wait for both those attractions the shortest I have seen at them since their debut; an average of 10 mins.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Moreover, if it wasn't because of Disney's implementation of FP, no other parks (like Universal) would have bothered implementing their system, but monkey do what monkey sees... >> I will have to research this to make sure, but I am quite (very) certain that Universal had their buy your way to the front of the line system implemented before Disney ever came up with Fastpass. In fact I believe Fastpass was Disney's response to the Universal system.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN But do the research please... because I have a hard time believing that Universal would lead Disney in doing anything... then again.. wasn't Disney the creator of kissing their hotel guests butts in offering such perks as extra magic nights or early entry options???
Originally Posted By Faith << At TDL for example...if you get to the park after 3pm, it's safe to say that all FPs will be gone, so that forces late arriving guests to stand by! >> I'm sure that's the case in peak season/weekends, but it was not the case when I was there recently so I assume it is not the case *every* single day. Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare still had fast passes available after Dreamlights had ended, and I know Pooh had FP available pretty late as well. FP seems to work best on days when a park is moderately crowded- when the standby lines are somewhat longer than I want to wait in, but the park isn't crowded enough for them to be insane or for the FP's to have really late return times. It also probably works best for out of towners who plan to spend a full day in the parks than for locals, for the reasons you have explained. Most days, you can still get in rides if you plan properly. The last time I was in Tokyo, it was much more crowded and there were lines just to get the Pooh FP. However, I still rode Pooh with little line by arriving when Dreamlights was about to start- and I got off the ride in time to catch the parade. Likewise, Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare was practically a walk on right after Dreamlights ended. I originally hated the idea of FP and I am still not the biggest fan. I absolutely agree that it makes standby waits longer and that it's just plain silly at things like shows. I also don't like it when I get a FP and there is still a 10-15 minute wait at some attractions when I go to use the FP... mainly because it makes the posted standby wait time not be entirely accurate as far as the time I'd save by using FP. (i.e. if the standby wait is posted at 25 minutes, but there is still a 10 minute wait after the line merges with the FP line, then the true wait time that is saved by not going standby is only 15 minutes) It's not always easy to know how long the wait is after the lines merge, especially if you are not familiar with a park. However, I think FP has not been an overall detrement to my park experience and it has allowed me to get in an extra ride on favorite attractions that I'd normally skip during peak hrs due to the excessive waits. <<The last time I was at the MK, both Cartoon Spin and Stitch's Great Escape had FP machines turned off.>> MK has Cartoon Spin?
