Animal Kingdom Testing Centralized Fastpasses

http://blog.mousekingdom.com/2009/07/27/fastpass-centralized-location-tests/

 

Interesting idea, except that it is going to make the crowds WORSE. ; I personally still think the FP system needs a major overhaul, like turning off during certain times when a certain # have been issued. ; That way you could go to the park midday and have a chance at getting FP for Soarin' for example. ; Right now you wouldn't have a chance because they could be all gone (for the day!) by then.

 

you're right.... there isn't enough room at the entrance of TTBAB to handle such a new influx of people, is there?
here's an idea.... ; just nix fastpass altogether. ; i have friends who have done studies for the company and they say it actually makes the wait times WORSE for everyone (factor in distribution lines, redemption lines, merge points, etc.)

 

If this takes off, it may be a full circle return to the original days of Magic Kingdom in the early 70's and before. ; Remember back in the ticket book days, there were throughout the parks little kiosks where you could buy your ticket books, since guests were running out of D and E tickets quickly. ; There were spots in Tomorroland, Fantasyland, etc where you could grab more. ; I can see if this FastPass idea takes off, having FastPass kiosks set up again throughout the parks - maybe even bringing back the original little kiosks and converting them for FastPass purposes. ; In one way, it would be fun to see the little ticket booths back in MK, and maybe the WorldKey kiosks brought back to Epcot for this purpose. ; Ak and HS of course would have to have new fitments made...but it could be a futuristic way to link to the past.

As a non-FastPass user, this shouldn't really affect me - I've used maybe 5 FastPasses in my life - falling more into the second group they mentioned that think FastPasses are too much an example of modern society's need to rush-rush-rush and not stop to smell the flowers. ; In this case, the flowers being Disney's brilliant queue theming, which on some rides is as worth seeing as the ride itself. ; I couldn't imagine running past all the queue theming at POTC, or Haunted Mansion, or Everest, or Kali Rapids, or Kilimanjaro. ; Sure, when the parks are empty, I've walked past them enjoying that the line wasn't there...but when there is a line, I enjoy the slow move forward that gives me the time to look at all the little details in the queue, take photos of them, and admire the attention to detail reading all the posters, signs, looking at things placed on desks and shelves, listening to various music, voice recordings, messages, and sound effects, and looking for hidden Mickeys.

 

Well this is also the first step towards "Disney hotel guests" get first dibs at FP, which is coming sooner than you'd think.

Don't forget WHO was running the parks when FP began. ; I'm not going to bash Eisner, because I believe it was someone who came from another part of the company that ran with the idea that if you take the guests out of the lines they would go into the stores.

Unfortunately, for the little theme park in Anaheim, there just isn't the room for those guests to go, so the park seems crowded all the time now, even if it isn't.


FP won't go away now. ; Everyone else has their own version. ; Universal. ; Sea World makes you pay for it, and they call it Quick Queue. ; At least with that version, it's like buying your own Dream Fastpass. ; (I'm surprised that hasn't come about for certain hotel guests......spend that much on a room they should throw in a Dream FP)

 

I think just like the bag check line gives guests a false sense of security, the Fast Passes give guests a false sense of moving through the line faster.

Tim's friend is also a friend of mine and was there when he was told about the studies. ; I think it was determined that if you cut out FP all together then the wait times to get on an attraction would go back to what it currently is for a fast pass. ; Just like how someone tapping their breaks on a highway during rush hour creates gridlock several miles back, those pauses to allow FP guests to merge into the queue cause ripple effects to the overall wait time for the standby line.

I hate when a company does something just because everyone else does it. ; Disney used to be about educating their guests on how to have fun. ; They just need to educate their guests that the FP system doesn't work.

But, I heard from a different CM on a boat to the boardwalk one night that premium FP perks have been in development for awhile for resort guests based on how deluxe they go. ; One of their hindrances is what to do with DVC members who are considered to be some of the most deluxe guests, but are prepaid and needing no encouragement to come to the parks

 

I still think FP *could* work, if it was done as it's supposed to have been. ; To "hold your place" in line.

So if the line is 90 mins long, the FP should be to return in 90 mins. ; However, if all the FPs for that time have been issued, you're out of luck, and there are no FP being issued. ; The programming for that would be interesting since the line time has so many factors, some of which can't be included, like unscheduled 101s.

And given Disney's luck for new systems[nb]SAP rollout was fun at DL. ; When they took the humans out of the break rotation system and let the computers run it, everything went amok. ; Employees worked hours without a break, some worked 30 mins, got a break, went back for 30 mins, then got their lunch....[/nb].....I'm sure a new FP system is going to be interesting to watch.

Popcorn?

 

This should be interesting to see how it works out. ; I will see next Thursday when I am in AK. ; I will let you all know.