Fastpass Woes

[Yeti Chaser]

If they didn't let through as many FPs, the line would be shorter therefore helping to eliminate the need for FP. Am I missing something?

This is a Catch-22 situation. You eliminate FP and the "old timers" folks who last visited 10-12 years ago are happy. Not to mention the folks who show up at 2pm at an e-ticket attraction and complain because FP tickets have run out. Then you tick off the AP's because that 70 minute wait in Standby now goes through the roof to maybe 100 - 120 minutes.

No matter what is done, no one will be happy 100%. My take............ leave it alone

[Morticia]

FPs may be a headache, but they can be a beautiful thing. Having been to parks that don't have them, and having to stand in line for an hour for a "C" attraction, I am a huge fan of FPs.

I think part of the problem is with people not realizing how the system works, and I think it would work a lot better if both ends of the window were enforced. Someone shouldn't be able to come back 3 hours after their window ended and join the FP queue, because the allotment for that time is made up of others peoples' passes. If the ride's down during your window, you should need a stamp to validate a later ride. Maybe that would solve some of the problems. I know Test Track's FP line is frequently 45 minutes, and I'm wondering how much of that is from the schedule being thrown off-kilter.

[Kwahati]

I think part of the problem is with people not realizing how the system works, and I think it would work a lot better if both ends of the window were enforced. Someone shouldn't be able to come back 3 hours after their window ended and join the FP queue, because the allotment for that time is made up of others peoples' passes. If the ride's down during your window, you should need a stamp to validate a later ride. Maybe that would solve some of the problems. I know Test Track's FP line is frequently 45 minutes, and I'm wondering how much of that is from the schedule being thrown off-kilter.

I once missed a fast pass time because I didn't realize exactly how long my party would linger over dinner at Victoria & Alberts (the service actually seemed slow too, but we didn't care: it's a spectacular restaurant!). We were only about a half hour late for our Splash FP's, but I really appreciated the CM's honoring them...especially when the reason is that I was in the middle of dropping $400 after tax & tip for 3 dinners at Disney's premier restaurant (And I guess we were pretty believable: who else would ride splash in sport coats & ties or a dress? And for the record: I know spending a butt-load on a dinner doesn't make me anymore special than every other guest, so I didn't make any arguments to give the CM headaches, I just briefly explained where we were and asked if the FP's could still be honored, if he said no, we would have understood, but it was nice of him to say yes, and he couldn't have known it-because we didn't tell him-but we probably would not have stood in standby at that time of night with that much food in our bellies, so that was magical for us because it was one last trip on our favorite ride.) :D:

[Morticia]

I once missed a fast pass time because I didn't realize exactly how long my party would linger over dinner at Victoria & Alberts (the service actually seemed slow too, but we didn't care: it's a spectacular restaurant!). We were only about a half hour late for our Splash FP's, but I really appreciated the CM's honoring them...especially when the reason is that I was in the middle of dropping $400 after tax & tip for 3 dinners at Disney's premier restaurant (And I guess we were pretty believable: who else would ride splash in sport coats & ties or a dress? And for the record: I know spending a butt-load on a dinner doesn't make me anymore special than every other guest, so I didn't make any arguments to give the CM headaches, I just briefly explained where we were and asked if the FP's could still be honored, if he said no, we would have understood, but it was nice of him to say yes, and he couldn't have known it-because we didn't tell him-but we probably would not have stood in standby at that time of night with that much food in our bellies, so that was magical for us because it was one last trip on our favorite ride.) :D:

I wasn't really thinking of that scenario, and your story was easily verifiable. What I had in mind was the discussions from another board advising people that the end window was never enforced, so people could use their fast passes hours later. This has actually been advocated as a touring strategy. The odd person who finishes a meal much later than expected, and wanting to use their fast pass half an hour late is a little different from someone who decides that 4 hours after their window ends fits in with their plans much better.

[lady ulrike]

I wasn't really thinking of that scenario, and your story was easily verifiable. What I had in mind was the discussions from another board advising people that the end window was never enforced, so people could use their fast passes hours later. This has actually been advocated as a touring strategy. The odd person who finishes a meal much later than expected, and wanting to use their fast pass half an hour late is a little different from someone who decides that 4 hours after their window ends fits in with their plans much better.

However, from a CM perspective, I prefer the ones that come hours later over the ones that get there early and form a line of people waiting for their time. Honestly they're the ones who bog the line down more. The ones that show up hours later show up sporadically and are just a trickle, the ones that are waiting for the beginning of their window are a bunch all at once, granted it's generally a small bunch but a bunch nonetheless. Plus, people with earlier return times sometimes think it's the fastpass line and wait in it which adds a bigger bunch of people all at once. With fastpass, it's designed to be a constant trickle having large groups come in all at once backs the stand by line up more because that large FP group takes up the space where stand by could go so they now have to wait until the line has cleared and in the between time, the trickle is continuing.

[Morticia]

I also agree that guests returning early and blocking up the entrance are irksome. Especially since the point of the FastPass is that they can go somewhere else. I also have been stuck behind these people, and would like to figure out some solid deterrent. Hmmm.... Maybe have a designated area where they have to wait that's away from the queue. Clearly marked. Maybe signs that say "Early fastpass return waiting area". Then you could have dire consequences for people who don't go there (or at least leave) when you tell them it's not time yet. Like confiscating their FPs. :twisted:

[leftcoaster]

I also agree that guests returning early and blocking up the entrance are irksome. Especially since the point of the FastPass is that they can go somewhere else. I also have been stuck behind these people, and would like to figure out some solid deterrent. Hmmm.... Maybe have a designated area where they have to wait that's away from the queue. Clearly marked. Maybe signs that say "Early fastpass return waiting area". Then you could have dire consequences for people who don't go there (or at least leave) when you tell them it's not time yet. Like confiscating their FPs. :twisted:

Ummm....are you sure about this? Theoretically, it should work. But we are talking about guests who a) don't really understand how to use FP in the first place. b) get in line early to wait for their return window. And now you want them to read and comprehend a sign and actually stand and wait in a desnated "early FP return area" for their FP return window ?

[M Nad]

I sent you a PM.

[Morticia]

Ummm....are you sure about this? Theoretically, it should work. But we are talking about guests who a) don't really understand how to use FP in the first place. b) get in line early to wait for their return window. And now you want them to read and comprehend a sign and actually stand and wait in a desnated "early FP return area" for their FP return window ?

Actually my response was somewhat tongue in cheek. The bit I'm sure about is that you should be able to confiscate FPs of people who block the entry to the FP return line. That way, the average moron would only make the mistake a couple of times before learning to wait somewhere else until the correct time to return.

[Kwahati]

you should be able to confiscate FPs of people who block the entry to the FP return line. That way, the average moron would only make the mistake a couple of times before learning to wait somewhere else until the correct time to return.

Hmm...good idea in theory, but I heard somewhere goldfish have a memory of only about three seconds (actually tested with negative stimuli...I don't think any FP's were taken from the fish, but situationally similar none the less) If you figure the average goldfish is lightyears ahead of the average SG--we'd need a pretty big fleet of short busses to haul away the repeat offenders... :duh:

Ohh! That's a good idea for an attraction suitable for most guests! Come visit Mickey's Magical Short Bus Ride! (The only attraction in the World where the FP's always have an immediate return time!) *BYOH: Bring Your Own Helmet!