State of Fast Pass Return (or replacement)

[kc51570]

Looks like FOP has finally hit the 3 hr mark today. It'll be interesting to see if it gets any higher. Does Disney ever close lines due to excessive waits?

Last week it seemed as if they may have closed Mine Train very close to closing time. I am guessing due to long waits. We got in line during fireworks and it was “temporarily closed” when we got off, but still actually running with a huge line. Also, we were in a 40 minute line for Gran Fiesta last week during the day. It said temporarily closed on the app but was still running. I’m guessing the Mexico pavilion could not handle anymore people in it between that line and the line for margaritas, plus the people at the restaurant.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Looks like FOP has finally hit the 3 hr mark today. It'll be interesting to see if it gets any higher. Does Disney ever close lines due to excessive waits?

FoP was well into 4-5 hours pretty consistently for a few months after it opened. And I've seen it that time during big holidays over the last couple years too. FEA was the same.

 

[cakebaker]

FoP was well into 4-5 hours pretty consistently for a few months after it opened. And I've seen it that time during big holidays over the last couple years too. FEA was the same.

Right, except it isn't newly opened and it's not a holiday and FP+ allowed you to avoid that kind of wait no matter when it happened. I hate to think that the summer is going to run wait times at big holiday levels, but sure looks like it.

 

[::danielle::]

Looks like FOP has finally hit the 3 hr mark today. It'll be interesting to see if it gets any higher. Does Disney ever close lines due to excessive waits?

When we went in March 2018, FOP had 3 hour waits until park closing. Yes they had the FP system but if you weren’t lucky enough to get one (which was most people) you either had to get to the park 60 minutes before opening and make a mad dash or accept your fate and wait.

7DMT wait times weren’t much less.

My point is this - the people on this board who are used to a streamlined experience are a small percentage of visitors. Many people go to Disney and wait in 3 hour lines and don’t know any different. Their guest experience hasn’t changed without FP.

edit: typos

 

[Mac30188]

When we went in March 2018, FOP had 3 hour waits until park closing. Yes they had the FP system but if you weren’t lucky enough to get one (which was most people) you either had to get to the park 60 minutes before opening and make a mad dash or accept your fate and wait.

7DMT wait times weren’t much less.

My point is this - the people on this boars who are used to a streamlined experience are a small percentage of visitors. Many people go to Disney and wait in3 hour lines and don’t know any different. Their guest experience hasn’t changed without FP.

edit: typos

I think the big difference is unless you completely blow off the FastPass, every guest will get at least 3 low wait rides a day (optimized or not). Having a few short rides squeezed in between the long waits helps tremendously and ensures your day does not feel like you are just walking from one line to the next line. You still will be doing some rides with long waits, but your experience is guaranteed to provide at least some that are not. While not waiting 40 minutes for Buzz Lightyear may not be a big deal to the optimized 12 fast pass a day user, it may make a huge difference to that casual guest. In the end your enjoyment is more about what you did, not what you didn't get to do. If you enjoyed the time you spent at the park, you had a good day.

 

[glocker]

When we went in March 2018, FOP had 3 hour waits until park closing. Yes they had the FP system but if you weren’t lucky enough to get one (which was most people) you either had to get to the park 60 minutes before opening and make a mad dash or accept your fate and wait.

7DMT wait times weren’t much less.

My point is this - the people on this board who are used to a streamlined experience are a small percentage of visitors. Many people go to Disney and wait in 3 hour lines and don’t know any different. Their guest experience hasn’t changed without FP.

edit: typos

But that doesn't excuse Disney. FP WAS an option and this idea that "most" did not book fastpass is unfounded. I have yet to experience FOP In the regular queue. I made my FO+ reservations at 60 days. If someone chooses to wait 3hrs, that's on them. Disney has taken away my ability to ride without an oppressive wait. Shame in them for continuing to increase capacity at each park.

 

[jade1]

My point is this - the people on this board who are used to a streamlined experience are a small percentage of visitors. Many people go to Disney and wait in 3 hour lines and don’t know any different. Their guest experience hasn’t changed without FP.

edit: typos

I've heard as many as 80% of riders have had FP+. So only 20% (or even 50%) were waiting in SB.

Currently 100% of riders are waiting 3 hours.

 

[SarahWI]

I've heard as many as 80% of riders have had FP+. So only 20% (or even 50%) were waiting in SB.

Source for your data?

 

[Brocktoon]

Looks like FOP has finally hit the 3 hr mark today. It'll be interesting to see if it gets any higher. Does Disney ever close lines due to excessive waits?

I think FOP has pushed close to 6 hours in 2019 and they didn't close the line ... so the 3 hour mark may not be a big deal to Disney

 

[Wandering Oaken]

Source for your data?

He's quoting a policy manual that says there should be 80 FP guests for every 20 standby guests. I think that is a load of bull anyway because it has never been even close to that in reality.

 

[cakebaker]

My point is this - the people on this board who are used to a streamlined experience are a small percentage of visitors.

I don't think you can say that at all. FP+ was an option anyone could use. If you prefer standing in long lines, that's great, but FP+ was an option for a great many people, not just those on these boards or the more savvy WDW visitor.

And those who don't use Fp+ have had their experience changed. There are more people in the standby lines, it's why we're seeing 3 hr waits in the summer on a weekday. Lines rarely ever got to that point before. So much for FP+ making standby longer.

 

[cakebaker]

I think FOP has pushed close to 6 hours in 2019

I'd have to see the stats on that to believe that FP was the reason for a 6 hr wait. Honestly, I don't recall ever hearing of that kind of wait, even when it was brand new.

 

[Wandering Oaken]

I'd have to see the stats on that to believe that FP was the reason for a 6 hr wait. Honestly, I don't recall ever hearing of that kind of wait, even when it was brand new.

I'm not sure that is what they meant. I do seem to remember a 6 hour wait for that ride being mentioned before but they are not saying FP+ was involved in making that wait. There is a member on another forum that would blatantly make that sill of a statement though. He does it all the time in an attempt to justify his weak argument that FP caused long wait times.

 

[Brocktoon]

I'd have to see the stats on that to believe that FP was the reason for a 6 hr wait. Honestly, I don't recall ever hearing of that kind of wait, even when it was brand new.

Yeah ... I agree that there is probably some sort of asterisk associated with that record, but I found an old reference:

https://allears.net/2019/02/18/flig...at-does-this-mean-for-star-wars-galaxys-edge/

 

[jade1]

Source for your data?

You don't believe 100% (give or take rider swap etc) are waiting 3 hours SB currently?

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

From a Feb 2019 article

 

[cakebaker]

I'm not sure that is what they meant. I do seem to remember a 6 hour wait for that ride being mentioned before but they are not saying FP+ was involved in making that wait. There is a member on another forum that would blatantly make that sill of a statement though. He does it all the time in an attempt to justify his weak argument that FP caused long wait times.

LOL I mis-read the post. But other than when they first opened ( and I'm not sure it hit 6 hrs then, could have) I don't recall 6 hour waits. I'd love to know when it did that though.

 

[Karin1984]

Didn't the first meets with Anna & Elsa in 2013 also get to the 6-8 hours marks?

 

[Wandering Oaken]

View attachment 589439
From a Feb 2019 article

HEY!! They said it was a 6 hour wait. That only shows 5 hours and 45 minutes!! Fake news!!

 

[cakebaker]

Yeah ... I agree that there is probably some sort of asterisk associated with that record, but I found an old reference:

https://allears.net/2019/02/18/flig...at-does-this-mean-for-star-wars-galaxys-edge/

Presidents weekend can be incredibly crowded,we were there in 2018 and I was shocked at how crowded it was. But even the writer of that article was amazed at the near 6 hr wait- there had to be something else going on. Clearly, we must not have been doing AK on that particular day. I would've remembered that wait time!

Btw, having FP+ saved us that trip.