Big changes coming to FASTPASS in March

[HauntedGabe]

Starting March 7 2012 big changes are coming to FASTPASS, WDW Magic is reporting.

FASTPASS news - Big changes coming to FASTPASS in March

[arielfan316]

won't effect me personally to much since I always use my Fastpasses within the window, but then again I travel alone so my touring plans are extremely flexible. I can see how this would be a bad thing for larger groups.

[Keasmom]

I could live with those rules, we only use a few fastpasses.

[HauntedGabe]

I can live with this just so the reason I miss the window is of my own doing not Disney's. What if the ADR's are running behind, service is slow,etc.? Stuck on a different attraction?

Now if the rumors of NextGen Fastpass are somewhat accurate this will be annoying. I find it difficult enough to plan ADR's in advance or being told sorry no openings. I'd be really annoyed not to be able to get Fastpasses at all for "E" ticket attractions because they are booked out way in advance.

I also can't imagine trying to meet up with friends at WDW and try and coordinate NextGen Fastpasses.

[NC_WDW_Daddy]

Will have to adjust our touring plans as we normally "bank" our FPs until we are back in the area or land to use them. We never come back early, but are usually "late" for our window.

[DopeyDancer87]

I'm glad they are enforcing this actually. I always use my fast pass in the window provided, that's why it is there.

[GAN]

I'm all for it ...we've always used them within the window

[Zipadeedooda]

I always use my fastpass in the window. I plan around it... if something else gets in the way then I don't ride that ride at that time and wait to ride it later with a shorter line or get another fastpass if available. Good thing they are enforcing

[norman]

I LOVE the new rules, people always take advantage of things, that's why rules like this have to be put into place. I Love it!

[norman]

Fastpasses shouldn't be something to work in around your meals, it's enough time to go another ride and come back and enjoy a ride with a shorter wait tiime. period.

[joanna71985]

About time!

[JNota0005DakMC]

this is a huge decision... it won't affect me as i always seem to be inside the window... but it will make attractions like Soarin' more legitimate...

[doconeill]

I'm hearing this through channels that are pretty reliable from the inside, so something is definitely afoot. I've got moderately high confidence that at least some level of change is right on the horizon, if not exactly what is beong reported.

I'm glad they are enforcing this actually. I always use my fast pass in the window provided, that's why it is there.

Actually, one thing I've learned over the years of studying Fastpass, queuing theories, etc. is that the reason the window is there wasn't really because Disney wanted you to return during it. Otherwise they'd be enforcing it a LOT more than they do now. And now they NEVER enforce the end time (start time is ALWAYS enforced). In fact, it is operational procedure to always accept a late FP, as long as it was from that day. (I've seen the document, and if you know where to look, an image of it is out in the wild now) There are VERY RARE circumstances that the attraction manager can direct for CMs to enforce the return times, but to my knowledge it has never actually come up. (Sporadic reports of enforcement are usually on the part of CMs who didn't pay attention to how they are supposed to handle FPs).

The reason why they put an end time? Psychology. During testing it was discovered that if they just put a "return after time", most of the people showed up early or right on time for the first moment they could use it. When they put an end time, it spread things out much further as people seemed to understand the flexibility better.

Still, a number I recently heard was that 80% of all FPS are used within the first 10 minutes of the window, with most of the rest within the hour. Very few are actually used later. Although I don't have verification of this number, it actually fits within observations.

I LOVE the new rules, people always take advantage of things, that's why rules like this have to be put into place. I Love it!

This is actually NOT being driven by anyone taking advantage of anything. This is in advance of introduction of the NextGen/X-Pass system, which will involve something similar but different that Fastpasses, and likely in conjunction with them, but the details are still not well known. That system will follow later, but the changes are coming now to acclimatize not only the guests but the CMs.

Managers will be on hand at the attractions to deal with the guests that get refused. To start, there will probably be a lot of exceptions made, but word will spread.

[HauntedGabe]

About time!

Was wondering what you thought about it.

[TXTaylors5]

At first, when I read about this, I was a little disappointed. Our touring style was gather FPs in the AM, ride non-FP attractions and then use our FPs when the park started to get busier. We're probably 50/50 on using them during the noted timeframe. If/when the CMs do start enforcing the timeframe, it will take some getting used to. However, it won't throw my whole vacation out of whack. We'll adjust and still have fun. Who knows, it may make touring the parks more efficient for us if we're not backtracking throughout the parks all day.