Fast-Pass: Yay or Nay?

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

Hello all!

Just searching a theme park thread I used to be a apart of, and I saw that Universal got rid of their "Express Pass" (their version of the "Fast-Pass", Universal is such a rip-off of Disney. ) Anyway, many people on that site were not only happy Universal was doing it, but they wanted Disney to do the same!

I was surprised, and when I read their reasons, they said that the Fast-Pass system doesn't get rid of crowds, and that it just make the other lines longer.

Do you agree with that? Personally I vote Yes as I love Fast Pass and I don't really think enough people use it to make other lines crowded IMO. Also since I've been to Disneyland ALOT I can say that I've done almost every "highlight" along with some of the under-appreaciated rides all the time, and I think the Fast-Pass is a big help for that.

So what do you think?

[AwallaceUNC]

I've seen zero negative effects from Fast Pass. It's one of the best ideas Disney has ever had and has completely revolutionized the park experience for the better. The people who think the standby lines are longer now clearly look back on the pre-fast pass days through rose-colored glasses, or they are among those who can't figure out Fast Pass and/or just don't like the idea of seeing people move ahead of them when they didn't take advantage of it.

Interesting that Universal has ditched their system, but then it was never a true Fast Pass and did seem a bit dumb and troublesome. As you said, they're nothing but lame rip-offs over there.

-Aaron

[Loomis]

While I never had to use the FastPass system (I was SOOOO lucky over there, and managed to walk on to most rides or had a 10-15 minute wait at most...walked on to Indy and Star Tours twice in fact), I think it is a brilliant service.

As Aaron said, it has changed the way people plan their days. If you are really only there for a particular attraction, which I will be in a few years, then it saves you the hassle of lining up and you can just plan your day around the fact that you KNOW when you will be on the ride.

Generally, I like the idea. However, as I am yet to experience it in practice, I can't comment too much! (Although I have just spent three paragraphs not commenting).

[memnv]

I thought the Fast Pass was great when I went to DisneyLAnd in November, I got to ride 3 times as many rides because I did not have to wait in lines. It was also nice when you could get a fast pass, go eat and get right after the ride after it. Another thing I found nice was even though the pass may have said return between 1:20 and 1:40 to ride the ride you could come back 5 hours later and still use it

[CJ]

I'm a big fan of the fast pass system. It wasn't in place during my first WDW trip, and I spent a lot of time waiting in line. It was in place during my last trip, and I could see the difference. I rode way more rides, and I got to ride my favorites more often. And since I spent less time in line, I got to see things I missed during the first trip.

[stlewis75]

I love the Fast Pass system! Sometimes it works better than others, but it's never felt like it slowed me down. If you use it well, it's great. If you don't, I can see why you'd dislike it... watching other people pass you while you stand in the stand-by line. That would get frustrating... that's why you get Fast Passes. If you use them, they're great.

[AwallaceUNC]

That would get frustrating... that's why you get Fast Passes. If you use them, they're great.

Yeah, and even if you didn't get a FP for that ride, you should be thinking "Wow- all these people who got a Fast Pass would have been ahead of me in this same standby line if it wasn't for Fast Pass."

Fast Pass doesn't just help those who pick one up for themselves, it keeps crowd flows regulated park-wide, thanks to some sophisticated computer matrices that I won't pretend to understand.

-Aaron

[Escapay]

FastPasses are a blessing for people that know how to use them. You have NO idea how many guests get into standby lines because they think FastPass is for "special" guests, like you need a special card or something. And even guests who know how to use it somehow screw it up sometimes.

But for castmembers, FastPasses are great as a little sub-currency. We barter with them. We trade different fastpasses like baseball cards.

A: Hey, I've got 5 fastpasses for Splash Mountain.
B: Sweet, I've got 3 for Tower of Terror.
C: Can I take 2 of the Splash Mountain?
A: What do I get?
C: Well, I've got two rider-switch passes for Mission Space...
B: I'll take a rider-switch, want 2 Tower of Terrors?
C: Sure.
A: I'll give you the 2 Splash Mountains for your 2 Tower of Terrors.
C: Okay.
(Trading occurs)

Escapay

[jwa1107]

Fast Pass is wonderful; there is no doubt my entire theme park experience would have been less enjoyable if not for Fast Pass.

As for rides and attractions that are not FP, timing is the key issue. You can do a lot while waiting for your FP timeslot!

[MickeyMousePal]

Sorry guys but I have to disagree with you since I usally want to go on Splash Moutain and Space Mountain the Fast Pass gave me the time of 10 p.m. or later that night. During that time I love to go shopping or walk around the park not go on some ride.
Other then that the fast passes are great.

[AwallaceUNC]

Sorry guys but I have to disagree with you since I usally want to go on Splash Moutain and Space Mountain the Fast Pass gave me the time of 10 p.m. or later that night. During that time I love to go shopping or walk around the park not go on some ride.
Other then that the fast passes are great.

Then go wait in the stand-by line, which is going to be shorter than it used to be before FastPass. Or get a FP earlier.

-Aaron

[MickeyMousePal]

I usually got at Disneyland around 10 a.m. and 12 (noon) and I get the fast past until 10 p.m. at night so usually I just go in the 2 hour wait line.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

Sorry guys but I have to disagree with you since I usally want to go on Splash Moutain and Space Mountain the Fast Pass gave me the time of 10 p.m. or later that night. During that time I love to go shopping or walk around the park not go on some ride.
Other then that the fast passes are great.

Well I'm not sure about Space Mountain, but that happened to me for Splash Mountain last time I went to Disneyland as well. I had to wait until 10:00 to go on it! But guess what? I decided to go ride Splash Mountain at 10:00 at night!

Then go wait in the stand-by line, which is going to be shorter than it used to be before FastPass. Or get a FP earlier.

But then if you wait in line, that kills the point of the Fast-Pass doesn't it? But the good thing is that you can get another Fast-Pass if you have another Fast-Pass with that long of a wait. Oh well, nobody said "Fast-Pass" was perfect, but I still think they're great.

[MickeyMousePal]

I don't like to get wet at night also Space Mountain had fast passes before it closed for repairs.

[Kram Nebuer]

I think the fast pass system is wonderful because it turns people away from the standby line. Had there been no such system, I can barely imagine how long lines would be!

Part of the reason people may not like it is because they don't understand the complexity of the seemingly simple system. Jane McCoy told us how it works and its usually impatient or ignorant guests that make it seem like its a bad system. There's a certain ratio of how the Attractions Hosts let people on. They are supposed to put on 1 standby party for every 4 fast pass parties or something like that. It varies from attraction to attraction, except for some of the big ones like Space Mountain which has its own line and loading dock for Fast Pass holders. Anyhow, the guests will mess this up when their return time is say 12:05 and they arrive in packs at 12:05:00:00:01. Then the Attractions host has no choice but to abandon the ratio and only let the Fast Pass people in to keep the "little to no wait" guarantee. That's when impatient Stand By guests as well as impatient Fast Pass Guests think the system isn't working. It's all in the numbers!!

My advice to future fast pass users: definitely to not arrive around the initial return times. You'll probably have plenty of time to wait in StandBy for another big ride and by the time your done, your fast pass is ready to be used! For example, you could grab some fast passes for Rockin Roller Coaster and stand by on Tower of Terror and if you're not to shaken from dropping 13 stories, you can go on and redeem your RRC fast passes. Or if you like a certain ride a lot, get a fast pass then head straight to stand by and then ride again with your fast pass. And as memnv stated, it is perfectly fine to come back even if your return time is up. Escapay got me and my friends some fast passes from like February and we were able to use them during our March senior trip so long as we went after the times. That window is more like an ideal return time to keep the system running smoothly. Thankfully, not many people realize this and people returning waaaaay later hasn't become a problem...yet.

[memnv]

When I went to DisneyLand in November, Space Mountain had the fast pass, But you had to get them first thing in the morning.We went on it at 9AM and the fast pass was already at 9 pm, by the time we got off it was done for the day.

[Fidget1234]

Universal axed their express pass cuz it wasnt as organized as Disneys is.

True u may have to wait a while to go on the attraction u want @ Disney- but in the meantime go do something else that u know wont have a huge wait like anything in adventureland, or liberty square- or u can go see the gang in toontown, get a bite to eat, park a good seat for the parade if its near the time.

if u want to get a fastpass for an earlytime- then get to the attraction early so u will have an early time.

Fastpass rules- & better yet- its included in your theme park admission so its no extra cost (i think six flags offers something that is similar & costs money-not sure if i heard that right or not). When i used to work there- i couldnt understand why people would complain..."I want a fast pass for now, not a few hours from now" ect...
Why complain about something that is free? Thats like complaining about the free transportation disney offers to the parks/resorts/and now even the airport. or complaining about the extra magic hours-true its for resort guests only...but its free & u get a few extra hours to ride the big ones w/ like no wait time.

Keep in mind that alot of guests want to ride the big attractions- get to the park/attraction early instead of afternoon.

yay for fastpass! helping save wait time everyday!

[AwallaceUNC]

But then if you wait in line, that kills the point of the Fast-Pass doesn't it? But the good thing is that you can get another Fast-Pass if you have another Fast-Pass with that long of a wait. Oh well, nobody said "Fast-Pass" was perfect, but I still think they're great.

Fast Pass is pretty close to perfect, at least at accomplishing what it aims to. The goal of FP is not to make sure you never wait in any line ever or that you get to hop right on at the very second that you want to. It is to make stand-by lines smaller and crowds more evenly dispersed throughou the entire park by allowing guests to pick a few attractions that they would like to have small waits for and visit other attractions in the meantime. And even if you do wait in the stand-by line, it's still shorter under the Fast Pass system than the typical stand-by lines were/would be without it. So whether you are using a Fast Pass for a particular attraction or not, you're still benefitting from it. So no, it doesn't kill the point of Fast Pass.

-Aaron

[JEANYLASER]

i vote yes because i use fasspass in soarin'.

[Disney-Fan]

I think Fast Pass is extremely good! Though it may increase line waiting for those in standby, the overall result is EXTREMELY effective. Guests get to go on at least a few big rides with hardly any wait. By the time they need to wait in line for something, they'll already be happy campers that they got to do a few major attractions in a flash. Besides, it seems that it hardly increases normal waiting at all. It depends on the operator really, and how much FastPass goers he pulls in. If all is done correctly, then the ratio is 75% standby, 25% FastPass, meaning it hardly effects the wait at all. My answer... Yay!