Fast-Pass: Yay or Nay?

[BrandonH]

Since Fastpass started, I have almost never waited longer than an hour for an attraction with that option, and most attractions without Fastpass don't really need it. That is a far cry from my childhood of waiting 60-80 minutes for Space and Splash Mountains.

If it was feasible, I'd like to see the same kind of thing at the Six Flags parks.

[Lucylover1986]

I like the fastpass system.

[Disney Princess Ariellen]

IIt 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!

DisneyFan, you just nailed it. If the person taking the FastPasses is doing the job right, the system can be great. However, I had a few really really bad experiences at WDW's Splash Mountain where the 'FastPass Taker' would let 20-some FP people go and then about 6 standby...and some would even not let the standby line move, even if there was no one approaching in the FP line. The result was a horrendously long, slow-moving standby line getting very cranky. I was surprised by how often I noticed circumstances like this, although Splash Mountain was the only WDW ride where I thought the system really seemed to be working poorly on a regular basis. At any other attraction, it seems to work just dandy, and in crowded seasons, FP is your best friend. It CAN have a negative effect on the length of the standby line, but I think that overall, the system works well enough so that this is not the case. Love it or hate it, it's definitely worth using!

[I am the Doctor]

My first experience with Fast Pass was last year, when I visited Disneyland in late August. With the exception of two rides (Splash and Space Mountains), I didn't really see the need for Fast-Pass. Of course, by the time that I went, school was already back in session so the crowds were much more tolerable than they would be otherwise.

Fast-pass seemed like an okay system, although I do feel that Disney could tweak the system some. Particularly at Space Mountain, there were those who would grab a fast-pass, ride, come out and grab yet another fast-pass. Disney should set-up the system so that all that a single person would get is one fast-pass, per ride, per day. This system may already be in place for all I know, but it certainly isn't being enforced if it is. By doing this, however, it would eliminate those grabbing multiple fast-passes for a single ride. If you want to ride Space Mountain repeatedly, I think one needs to wait in the regular, standby line.

My thoughts on the system were that Fastpass wasn't really worth it unless the standby line was at least an hour wait. So with the exception of Splash and Space Mountains, I didn't really bother with Fastpass. And with the exception of Soarin' and Grizzly River Run, lines at DCA were more or less non-existant.

Fast-pass probably works best during summer and holiday periods, when the crowds and the lines are monstrous. However, from what I've heard, on really busy days the fast-passes run out which IMO kind of defeats the entire system. What's the point of having a system like fast-pass if you can't even get one? Any thoughts on those who've visited a Disney park during a busy season and having fast-passes run out on you?

[memnv]

I think getting more then one fast pass per ride per day is fine, Just because they would come off of Space Mountain and grab another fast pass is fine. Chances are they did not have the fast pass the first time they rode it. You can only get 1 fast pass every hour or 90 minutes, so it is not like you can just go around and collect them

[Karushifa]

I'm talking mostly about WDW here, since I've only been to Disney Land Anaheim once.

Fast Pass is definitely a boon for people who don't like to putz around until noon or so and then mosey into the parks around lunch (BAD idea...trust me). You don't have to have special one-hour-early clearance to get in: just go reasonably early, say, around 10 AM or so, and you should be able to get passes for all the rides you want and be able to relax and go on some less crowded rides and attractions before-hand. It's more than not waiting in line for two hours; it helps greatly with time management, which is crucial in keeping your group from getting too tired or cranky before you get to go on your favorite rides.

[memnv]

When I went to DisneyLand the park opened at 9Am and was packed right away. We even had a day on our tickets where we got to go at 8 Am. But when we were there they had 70,000 people per day. We jumped in Line for Space Mountain when we got there one day first thing and we still where in line for an hour, then when we were in the last part of the line the ride broke down and we had to wait another 20 minutes while they reset it

[AwallaceUNC]

With the exception of two rides (Splash and Space Mountains), I didn't really see the need for Fast-Pass.

Yes, that's a good point. Fast Pass is really only worth using if it's going to save you more than 30 minutes on a given attraction, but for major E-tickets and busier times of the year, that's a big deal.

-Aaron