Your FP says 9:40...it's 6:15..

[mousefan]

Or judge time? The number of times I've had guests swear the sign said "20 minutes" when they entered and that they waited 90 minutes when I know the wait time sign hadn't gone below 45 minutes since that morning and that in reality they waited 45 to 60 minutes.

Guilty!! Got in a line, thought it was a 90 minute line, got an eye roll, and we timed it - 20 minutes!! BUT it was so crowded at WDW - the line was filled snaking back and forth - no way was it 20 min, we pulled out watches, phone timers, and 20 minutes it was!! (this was Big Thunder MT RR)

[mikmouse]

You still have to organize your day to first even get a FP, especially to popular rides like TSM, so that's a job in itself. So it's perfectly fair. It is not cutting in. Rules are the same for everyone. If you want it bad enough, you get up early and get your FP.

[Main Streeter]

If you want it bad enough, you get up early and get your FP.

This is why I NEVER get a FP. Early is not done in my world.

[Freak]

What is this word you speak of? "Early," what does it mean? :p:

Not a morning person myself, either.

[mapo]

This is why I NEVER get a FP. Early is not done in my world.

Ahhhh...yes, my world does not exist on early. Unless you count an early closing of the park(s). LOL

MAPO

[GaTechGal]

And just to balance things out, we're ALL about being early in the parks. We like it when things are less crowded and we feel less pressured. Plus it gives us the security of having enough time to see everything we want and STILL being able to get that afternoon rest in.

[tlbwriter]

Let's just say that I went to standby for Soarin last year and the signs all said that the wait time was 20 minutes. One hour and 45 minutes later I got on the ride. That in itself is bad enough, but when you wait that long and then watch others skip on past you...it isn't a pleasant experience no matter how well educated you are about the system.

I like FP. I like to get to the parks early. If you get an unpleasant feeling watching me walk past you, well, I'm sorry you feel that way, but it's not my problem. If you paid rack rate for your room I'm sure you'd also get an unpleasant feeling seeing my discount, but again, it's not my problem.

So the question...is it a great thing for those that have a FP? You bet it is. Does it suck for those that do not? Yes again. Are those without going to have pleasant memories of their trip to Disney...highly doubtful. Will a large number of those people never return to Disney? Quite possible! Will the 30% that are happy be able to support the parks well enough to keep it in operation? Time will tell!

Look at the other side. Using FP makes the parks more enjoyable for me. If it wasn't available, I might find the parks, and my whole vacation, so frustrating that I'd choose not to go back at all. So either way you're going to disenchant, and possibly lose, a percentage of customers. I'd rather lose customers by making some of them happy than by making all of them miserable. :p: If you don't have FPs, it's because you don't know about them (which means you didn't do even the *minimum* amount of research into this rather expensive trip) or because you don't want to get up early enough to get them (which means that perhaps you shouldn't choose a vacation destination where getting up early is an issue). Either way, you are reaping the results of the choice you made. If your choice doesn't make you happy, that's too bad.

[Goofyernmost]

Look at the other side. Using FP makes the parks more enjoyable for me. If it wasn't available, I might find the parks, and my whole vacation, so frustrating that I'd choose not to go back at all. So either way you're going to disenchant, and possibly lose, a percentage of customers.

At the risk of letting on that I am older than dirt, I was one of those that used to wait out lines before FP. We were never frustrated. It was part of the experience. We talked to people in line, we anticipated the experience, we compared notes with others. Sometimes we did wait for awhile but frustration was not part of the scenario. Frustration comes when something is happening that you can do nothing about. The line moved along at whatever pace it was moving, we could see how far we had to go and knew that when we got to the front...we were next.

I never heard swearing or nasty comments. We were all in the same proverbial boat but no one really complained. It was just fun. Even with my knowledge of FP and how it works and in spite of the fact that I, in affect, volunteered to be in stand-by...it became frustrating because the wait was increased by considerable time because of FP.

You can all sputter about how the same number go through the lines so it doesn't change anything...Well that is garbage. It is all contingent upon timing.

I don't expect FP to go away, but I wish it would, so let me dream about the good old days.

[disneydreamer21]

I understand what you are saying, but I have seen groups of 30 FP people all get there at the same time and all be put on first. At least on the highway I can nose my vehicle up close and not let someone in if I want. At Disney, I am helpless.

Anyway, the whole thing is that I have seen the anger in the standby lines. Is it justified, probably not, but it is there. In the long haul it is causing many, many people to be unhappy and frustrated. Regardless if that frustration is cause by ignorance of the possibilities offered them or just bad timing...they are not people that are having a magical experience. It may not show right away but, believe me, it eventually will. Who wants to go and spend that kind of money to just feel frustrated. The first impression is a lasting one. That is my complaint...the future of the theme park experience when people decide not to return for any other visit and not tell there friends about how positive the experience was. And remember that number is approximately 70% or the ride capacity. That's a lot of unhappy people.

I have witnessed the anger in the standby lines, I have to deal with the angry guests who have to watch as I have to (by policy) let in 80 FP and 20 SB...If everyone decides to come back at once, there is nothing we can do about it....that's why there is an hour where you can come back...yes even if your FP says an earlier time....you can come back an when that happens..our standby line gets a little longer....

Besides technically it's not Free it's included in your park ticket, so everyone pays for it just not everyone has the brains to use it....

[disneydreamer21]

This brings up a question I had. Signed some family in the other day when I worked a shift at the MK. They went to Epcot where I met them for dinner. I was thinking, if they got Fast Passes for Captain EO or Soarin', what is the chance I could ride with them? Would you let me on? (I don't work with attractions so I'm curious.)

See it depends...normally if it's one person and they lost their FP or they didn't get one for some reason..I let them on but there a lot of people who abuse that (the scammers) who know that we can write a plus one on there and let them in (haha not) so that's what I have to deal with....