Fast Pass Return Times to be Enforced In Spring

[brianpinsky]

I think enforcing fastpass times will make me use it less and less. I am just wondering how will the park handle days when the attractions are open at park opening, than brakes down for 4-5 hours (durring the bulk of fastpass returns) and then reopens at the end of the day. Would the CM not enfore fastpass for that day. If the occurs day after day would that attraction then be not enforcing the rules? And besides I love using my pass at the end of the day when I don't want to wait in the still 45 minute ride and there is no fastpass line at all.

[calsig31]

I think enforcing fastpass times will make me use it less and less. I am just wondering how will the park handle days when the attractions are open at park opening, than brakes down for 4-5 hours (durring the bulk of fastpass returns) and then reopens at the end of the day. Would the CM not enfore fastpass for that day. If the occurs day after day would that attraction then be not enforcing the rules? And besides I love using my pass at the end of the day when I don't want to wait in the still 45 minute ride and there is no fastpass line at all.

I’m sure there will be a work around for breakdown situations.

Although, when you think about it, there really doesn’t need to be. Since fastpass acts like a virtual person holding your place in line, if you switch that to a real person holding your place and a ride broke down you wouldn’t get your place back hours later when the ride was working again. It shouldn’t be any different for a virtual system. Either another fastpass should be collected or the standby line should be used. I really don’t see why people think they can just reclaim their place in line if a ride breaks down.

[Tinkbelle]

Is there some place in Disney's official explanation of fastpass that states that your fastpass is a virtual person standing in line for you? I don't think I've ever read that anywhere.

I certainly don't see it that way at all. I see it as a ticket for a completely different line for the attraction.

[Monorail Man]

Is there some place in Disney's official explanation of fastpass that states that your fastpass is a virtual person standing in line for you? I don't think I've ever read that anywhere.

Correct. Even the patent calls it a 'second queue'.

[adventure]

Is there some place in Disney's official explanation of fastpass that states that your fastpass is a virtual person standing in line for you? I don't think I've ever read that anywhere.

I certainly don't see it that way at all. I see it as a ticket for a completely different line for the attraction.

At one point (way back when), something along the lines of that was said during the spiel on the tram ("...Disney's Fastpass- A service that saves your place in line at some of our most popular attractions...").

Also, hi there everyone- New member/current cast member here. We have been told nothing about the enforced fastpass times as of now. Don't know if that was mentioned at all in previous posts, but this is all rumor on our side of the curtain as well (not that it may not be true).

[calsig31]

Is there some place in Disney's official explanation of fastpass that states that your fastpass is a virtual person standing in line for you? I don't think I've ever read that anywhere.

I certainly don't see it that way at all. I see it as a ticket for a completely different line for the attraction.

From one page of the Disney website

Disney FASTPASS Service
Select attractions offer Disney FASTPASS Service, a complimentary program that allows Guests to save their place in line while they enjoy the rest of the Park. Subject to availability.

And another:

Disney FASTPASS® Service

Disney FASTPASS Service is a complimentary benefit to all park Guests that allows you to enjoy the rest of the Disneyland Resort while your place in line is saved. Check the complete list of FASTPASS attractions below or use the map at the top of this page.

[OliviaVonDrake]

I certainly don't see it that way at all. I see it as a ticket for a completely different line for the attraction.

It doesn't matter if you don't see it that way. You can't redefine what it is.

[flynnibus]

It doesn't matter if you don't see it that way. You can't redefine what it is.

It is a separate line - as observed by the fact that line moves at different paces than the standby line.

The 'virtual' part is that you are allowed to 'wait' your turn without actually standing in the line itself.

It's far more about distributing demand than it is about who is in line or not in line physically. The whole model is predicated on the idea that you shape demand into a steady, predictable (within reason) stream.. thus allowing a certain ratio of people to go right to the front while managing a reasonable traditional queue as well.

The problem is the model breaks down with the FP return is no longer predictable (like when you don't enforce return times).

FP is a demand shaper.. with the benefit that you don't wait in line, and Disney's benefit that you aren't trapped in a line.

[kirstenh]

If Disneyland enforces FP endtimes, people will whine, complain, stomp their feet and threatedn to hold their breath until they turn blue. Once they realize that DL will not change the rules for them they will (grudgingly) abide by them, as they will have no choice. And they will still come back to Disneyland and pay admission and go on the rides and the earth will still turn. Of course Disneyland will get complainers, but I highly doubt than an annual passholder will refuse to renew their pass because of this or that people will change their vacation plans.

As long as it doesn't cause Disney a loss of revenue (and it won't) there is no reason for them NOT to enforce it, should they choose to do so.

[9oldmen]

If Disneyland enforces FP endtimes, people will whine, complain, stomp their feet and threatedn to hold their breath until they turn blue.

The worst thing that could happen is that they will become physically violent, at which point they might be escorted out of the park, and have their passports confiscated/invalidated. No more rides then, huh?!

[9oldmen]

I’m sure there will be a work around for breakdown situations.

Although, when you think about it, there really doesn’t need to be. Since fastpass acts like a virtual person holding your place in line, if you switch that to a real person holding your place and a ride broke down you wouldn’t get your place back hours later when the ride was working again. .

But sometimes you do get your place back. If the ride breaks down, and you've been in the standby line for a signifigant time, they do have guest recovery in the form of a readmission ticket, sometimes good for the respective attraction, or for another one. Or even a "wild card" one, good for any attraction. This is only done as a courtesy, and is not something that's guaranteed. It would work the same way with FastPass. If the attraction is not working during your window(and realistically, how often does that happen?), you would get one of those recovery tickets, if you physically report to the attraction entrance during the window! "But I have an APP on my iphone that lets me know what attractions are not working! Why should I have to waste a trip across the park to get my recovery?". A smartphone app is a convenience for you, not a thing that entitles you to special treatment.
It's not that complicated, people. Some of you act as if every attraction breaks down every hour! Sometimes they break down, and sometimes that will occur during your window. That does not justify allowing you to waltz on to any attraction any time you want after your window opens.
BTW, for those of you who keep bringing up breakdowns in this topic, and who like to wait until the last hours of the operating day to use all your expired passes, I have a question. What happens if the attraction breaks down at the end of the day? There's sort of an unwritten rule that if a ride breaks down an hour or less before park closing, it's probably not going to open up again that day.

[calsig31]

But sometimes you do get your place back. If the ride breaks down, and you've been in the standby line for a signifigant time, they do have guest recovery in the form of a readmission ticket, sometimes good for the respective attraction, or for another one. Or even a "wild card" one, good for any attraction. This is only done as a courtesy, and is not something that's guaranteed. It would work the same way with FastPass.

I don’t think it should. Those courtesy passes are usually only given out when someone has invested a considerable amount of time waiting in line for an attraction only to have it close down when they were near the front. The fastpass user hasn’t really invested any amount of time waiting for the attraction.

In addition, if someone had a friend holding a spot in line for them and the ride broke down before they got back, the friend would get a pass for themselves, but the person who was off doing something else would not get a pass. It should work the same way with a virtual system. It is the chance you take having someone holding your spot for you, whether it be a warm body or a computer.

What happens if the attraction breaks down at the end of the day? There's sort of an unwritten rule that if a ride breaks down an hour or less before park closing, it's probably not going to open up again that day.

Excellent point!

[loungefly97]

Just the other Wednesday I as in the FP queue for Soarin'. The right side theater was at diminished capacity (the center ride portion wasnt working) and then the left theater broke down entirely. An announcement was made that there were technical difficulties and wait times would double. A large exodus occurred from the left side towards the main gate. They were turned away there and headed back down the hallway. The cast member who actually TAKES your FP was supposed to tell them to exit out the normal exits so they could receive a return pass, but didn't. So the people who were told they couldn't exit through the main gate started entering the line for the right theater. This is when another cast member came down to exert control.

My point is, when people in the stand-by line asked her questions, she told them that "technically" these people--she pointed at us in the FP line--had been in line for hours and therefore had priority, just most people don't see it that way. I'd never heard a CM say that before, but the stand-by people took it fine, understanding.

[Westsider]

Disneyland Park Attraction Leads (not sure about DCA) have now been told that Fastpass enforcement is coming in "mid March". There will be new signs created for the Fastpass machines, new wording in the guidemaps, and communication to AP's via the Disney Parks Blog and Twitter feeds. All Attractions CM's will be formally trained on the new rules later this winter. Anaheim is getting ready for NextGen!

[Stormy]

Disneyland Park Attraction Leads (not sure about DCA) have now been told that Fastpass enforcement is coming in "mid March". There will be new signs created for the Fastpass machines, new wording in the guidemaps, and communication to AP's via the Disney Parks Blog and Twitter feeds. All Attractions CM's will be formally trained on the new rules later this winter. Anaheim is getting ready for NextGen!

Well, at least that's after my trip in February. I'm kinda surprised that they would be starting in right at Spring Break time. I had kind of been holding my breath expecting it to start in February when crowds were lower & any 'negativity' by guests may have had a lower impact on other guests & CMs might have had an easier time of it.