DVDizzy Forum

RyGuy wrote:I'm probably in the minority, but I like the new system.

I grew up going to Disneyland all the time. When they introduced FastPass there, it seemed like the lines just got longer and longer for everything. Prior to FastPass, on a very busy summer day, you might wait 50 minutes for Splash Mountain. The only time it was longer than that might be the week before and after Christmas. I was even there on the official opening day for Splash Mountain and the line was no more than an hour.

However, once they rolled out FastPass, the lines got longer all the way around. Last year, I took my son to Disneyland in May. It was a slow day, and we waited probably 70-80 minutes for Splash Mountain because they kept closing the line to let all the FastPassers through.

Sure, FastPass is great when you have one, but it sucks when you have to use stand by.

Time will tell whether these limits will smooth things out a bit. But when I was at WDW a few weeks ago, the standby lines were all pretty light (15-20 minutes) except for Soarin, Peter Pan and Toy Story Midway Mania (all of which we FastPassed).

Tangled wrote:

Walter wrote:So has anyone used the new Fastpass system in the Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios? How was it in those parks so far?

Magic Kingdom here. We reserved our Fastpasses at a kiosk in Tomorrowland, where a Cast Member quickly explained the system and suggested rides and times. Went on Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean (there is no tier system in place in Magic Kingdom, or at least when I went) with the system. Haunted Mansion was the earliest ride, and by far the longest wait. When we got there around 3-ish, the Fastpass line was mobbed with entire tour groups who had just arrived at the ride before we did and had no clue how to use the system. The line in front of the turnsiles where you scan your ticket/Magicband ended in the middle of Liberty Square, sparking complaints from people who were just walking by the ride. That's what the biggest problem with this system is, I believe. People don't understand how to use it without being briefed by a Cast Member or researching before getting into the park. Heck, even I'm still somewhat confused by it, and I'm a Disney fan who tries to update herself on these things. There was at least one group who wandered into the line without a Fastpass reservation (probably assuming that the longer looking line was the one to join) and that held us back. Thankfully, the bottleneck was smoothed out professionally by efficient and calm Cast Members, and once we got through "the pre-line line" after about 10 minutes of waiting the entire Fastpass line was swallowed at once into the stretch room pre-show area ahead of the normal line. The normal line hardly seemed to move during those 10 minutes in favor of sorting out Fastpass users, from what I could tell.

POTC and Space Mountain went on without a hitch, probably due to our later reservation times (around dinnertime for Pirates and just before Wishes for Space Mountain). We walked through the lines and were seated immediately.

Overall, the biggest con of Fastpass+ is it's efficiency during peak times, which will probably improve once Cast Members and guests become more used to the system. A huge con for those who are not relying on the Fastpass+ system seems to be longer wait times, since Fastpass+ guests are a huge priority. Expect to wait for an entire line of Fastpass+ guests to be let on a ride at a much faster and higher rate than the normal line guests, but that shouldn't be a surprise. The original Fastpass had that problem too on it's more popular rides. Now, there's just more rides on the system, and less Fastpasses are allowed. Fastpass lines should usually be shorter now, which I guess is a big pro for both people in the Fastpass and normal lines.

Nala wrote:

RyGuy wrote:I'm probably in the minority, but I like the new system.

I grew up going to Disneyland all the time. When they introduced FastPass there, it seemed like the lines just got longer and longer for everything. Prior to FastPass, on a very busy summer day, you might wait 50 minutes for Splash Mountain. The only time it was longer than that might be the week before and after Christmas. I was even there on the official opening day for Splash Mountain and the line was no more than an hour.

However, once they rolled out FastPass, the lines got longer all the way around. Last year, I took my son to Disneyland in May. It was a slow day, and we waited probably 70-80 minutes for Splash Mountain because they kept closing the line to let all the FastPassers through.

Sure, FastPass is great when you have one, but it sucks when you have to use stand by.

Time will tell whether these limits will smooth things out a bit. But when I was at WDW a few weeks ago, the standby lines were all pretty light (15-20 minutes) except for Soarin, Peter Pan and Toy Story Midway Mania (all of which we FastPassed).

You're not alone. We're at WDW right now and the cast members say that the people like it. Once you use all your FastPass+ 3 original you can go back and get more if available one at a time. I actually really like it.

The_Iceflash wrote:

Nala wrote:You're not alone. We're at WDW right now and the cast members say that the people like it. Once you use all your FastPass+ 3 original you can go back and get more if available one at a time. I actually really like it.

Provided you want to do all three you are originally given. There were times my only options for attractions I got them for included attractions I didn't want to go on.

Avaitor wrote:If you're just going to one park for the day or haven't set up any FP+'s, there are a couple of kiosks with cast members who will help you set them up. I think you should still be able to set them up online if you buy them then, as well.

Nala wrote:

Avaitor wrote:If you're just going to one park for the day or haven't set up any FP+'s, there are a couple of kiosks with cast members who will help you set them up. I think you should still be able to set them up online if you buy them then, as well.

If you want to get Soarin', you can get them on the day you get there as we did.

blackcauldron85 wrote:So, we found the FP kiosks, and a cast member helped us out with the machine. We had chosen Test Track, Mission: Space, and Maelstrom, but then as the cast member showed us Options A, B, and C for return times... He said to take a photo of the end screen with our final choices, so we did, but we did to pay attention to what it said; we ended up with Nemo instead of Maelstrom. It ended up not being a huge deal, as Maelstrom's line was shorter at night, but I wonder what happened in the computer to switch the attractions like that.