Disney's Test of Centralized FastPass Distribution at Animal Kingdom

[Figment!]

Disney's Test of Centralized FastPass Distribution at Animal Kingdom

by Dewayne Bevil
Orlando Sentinel's Theme Park Rangers
July 24, 2009

Disney currently is testing the concept of centralized FastPass station at Animal Kingdom. When I visited yesterday afternoon, there were six machines in operation in the area that once was the FastPass distribution area for It's Tough to Be a Bug. Three attractions were available at two stations apiece. You could get passes for Dinosaur, Expedition Everest and the Kilimanjaro Safaris. You could still get FastPasses at those individual attractions as well.

Remember, this is a test and a work in progress. Certainly, signage would be better and it would be listed on guide maps were it to become reality.

Another bugaboo, to me, was that you could not tell what time you were going to get BEFORE you put your ticket into the machine or what the current wait time was at that attraction. (The cast member there was happy to tell me the times it was currently distrubting, but that's labor-intensive.).

I liked that the machines were designated by logo of the attraction, although the Dino Institute design doesn't scream DINOSAUR like the Everest or Safaris signs. And they were low to the ground and hard to see if someone were actually using the machine.

FastPass is confusing enough to newbies, and the cast members spent a lot of time there explaining how it works and how this test is working. Of course, there were people trying to get FastPasses for It's a Bug's Life there still.

I got a FastPass for Everest, and it told me to arrive at 12:40 p.m. I think walked over to Everest, which took five minutes or so, and the FastPasses there were being distributed for 12:55. Made sense.

I'm not a huge FastPass fan, though my fellow Rangers can't live without it. What exactly Disney is testing for is not clear. However, a front-line cast member pal of mine is totally in favor of centralizing FastPass. He says he spends untold hours at the entrance explaining to guests how FP works (and measuring the height of kids, but that's another problem, one that he wants to wristband kids for.).

[fupresti]

Have we really become so lazy as a society that walking to the attraction to get a FastPass is that much trouble? How about they just issue motorized scooters to everyone and get it over with.

Unless this is some grand plan to get people into shops and restaurants by staging the machines close to these areas.

[Dsnygirl]

I thought at first this sounded like a wonderful idea when it was first mentioned, but when I got talking about it with my DH, we both realized that if the idea is to make the "travelling" for a FP easier on guests, it'd be a total waste of time. Sure, when you first get there it'd be cool to not have to run for an EE or Dinosaur FP, but once you're out into the continents, you'd have to run to the Tree of Life for your next one anyway, just like you'd have to run to the continent that has the ride you want a FP for. So really, I guess I don't get the point, esp. if the times aren't going to be listed and you need a CM staffed there for that, anyway.

Not sure what they're looking to change... everyone's just used to the "FP sprint" by now!

[Marker]

Not really sure I like this idea, but I'll be interested in hearing how it plays out. For me, the decision to get a fast pass is quite often based on the length of the standby time. If they were to remove the fast pass machines that are near the attraction, you would not be able to make that comparison. And, while it would seem convenient to have one central location near the front of the park, I can see that becoming a serious bottleneck with everyone flocking there when they first enter making it almost unusable first thing in the morning. Also, if I think of the times when I've grabbed a fast pass and then gotten in line for standby so I could use the fast pass for a second ride, I think this set up would alter that plan.

I think the effect will be quite a bit different depending on if the plan is to close the other kiosks, or to operate both locations.

It will be really interesting to see what happens. And that's why they call it a test, so they can see how it effects traffic and what guests think.

[Marker]

Unless this is some grand plan to get people into shops and restaurants by staging the machines close to these areas.

OR, maybe it's in an attempt to improve traffic patterns. I know it gets really congested back by the Expedition Everest Fast Past kiosk and stand by lines. Or perhaps it could even be in response to guest comments.

[Tink1]

Universal had a centralized fast pass years ago, it was a mess.

Nanc

[JPL]

Universal had a centralized fast pass years ago, it was a mess.

Nanc

I remember that well and they gave people the choice of times as well as attractions. Talk about waiting forever as people discussed what works best for them


I'm not sure how I feel about this since I can imagine the long lines and bottlenecks of people trying to get their FPs. I would imagine this is why they are testing it but I think after this initial test it will take a few month in full operation to get the real results. Once people are aware of the new system and actually plan on using it, the success level will be known.

[Fantasmic]

I think it's a terrible Idea that will cause even more queues and riots!

[Beach Club Babe]

They were testing this while we were there 8/1 through 8/10. It seems like a pretty good idea. However, if I did not turn my head at that exact moment, I would have never known that was there. I was in the mindset to walk over to Everest and that was keeping me occupied. I just happened to turn just as we were passing. At 1st I just assumed it was for ITTBAB, but for whatever reason I looked a little closer and noticed the attraction emblems. I stopped dead and darted in and got our fp's for Everest. Saved me walking over there and back again. Instead, we just walked over to Dinosaur and rode, toured, used the fp's and got more for KS. Worked out for us.

[KatrinaJ91]

Have we really become so lazy as a society that walking to the attraction to get a FastPass is that much trouble? How about they just issue motorized scooters to everyone and get it over with.

Unless this is some grand plan to get people into shops and restaurants by staging the machines close to these areas.

It's not a matter of being lazy at all. When we were there recently, we wore our pedometers. In one day, we walked a little over 12 miles....mainly because we would get a fast pass for one attraction and then head to a different part of the park, then have to come back. Once we got another fast pass, we would have to bounce around again. Fast passes are great, but it eliminates the ability to follow a route around the park and not bounce around. Definitely more walking....not laziness!

[Granny Jill A]

Have we really become so lazy as a society that walking to the attraction to get a FastPass is that much trouble?

I wouldn't call people lazy if they don't want to spend time (aka money) walking to an attraction only to find there is a very long wait. It would be nice to know there is X number of minutes for stand-by at an attraction so I can use my fast passes more wisely. I know there are boards that give the times for the top attractions, but by the time you drag yourself across the park, those times may not be accurate.

[joelkfla]

The testing will end 8/31. At this time, nothing has been announced about doing this in the future.

[FamilyBand1]

Have we really become so lazy as a society that walking to the attraction to get a FastPass is that much trouble? How about they just issue motorized scooters to everyone and get it over with.

Unless this is some grand plan to get people into shops and restaurants by staging the machines close to these areas.

NICE! LOL

(We're not far from the motorized scooter. Remember how many there were at MK in the 70's and 80's?...exactly)

[joonyer]

NICE! LOL

(We're not far from the motorized scooter. Remember how many there were at MK in the 70's and 80's?...exactly)

This idea (everybody being non-mobile) has been briefly explored by Disney in Wall-E. Interesting; someday, with enough "evolution", none of us will be able to walk.

[Patricia]

Hmm.. I don't see how adding centralized fast pass is labeling anyone lazy. First of all, I'm a person that walks 5 miles a day at home.. I also run. I'm not lazy and I think this is a great idea. As the fast pass grabber, I have a lot better things (gift shopping, eating, soaking up the details?) to be doing with my time then running to and from machines to keep my family happy. Especially in Animal Kingdom which is very spread out.

The average family walks around 50- 60 miles on a 6 day trip to WDW. I don't see how setting up fast passes in one spot is going to cause the world to stop walking. If they had of done this in the first place, we wouldn't be having this conversation.. they just didn't have their thing caps on that day. Now, suddenly, someone had a great idea and they are sharing it. I love it.

[lockedoutlogic]

Hmm.. I don't see how adding centralized fast pass is labeling anyone lazy. First of all, I'm a person that walks 5 miles a day at home.. I also run. I'm not lazy and I think this is a great idea. As the fast pass grabber, I have a lot better things (gift shopping, eating, soaking up the details?) to be doing with my time then running to and from machines to keep my family happy. Especially in Animal Kingdom which is very spread out.

The average family walks around 50- 60 miles on a 6 day trip to WDW. I don't see how setting up fast passes in one spot is going to cause the world to stop walking. If they had of done this in the first place, we wouldn't be having this conversation.. they just didn't have their thing caps on that day. Now, suddenly, someone had a great idea and they are sharing it. I love it.

The fast pass thing isn't to promote laziness...

It is a managment decision for financial purposes...

You know why? Because all their decisions are made for that purpose these days...

I think concentration near the "oasis" is an attempt to boost food and merchandise sales there....

I also think that this is the first step towards "streamlining" the labor and operational cost of fastpass distribution...because that is always the goal.

I would think in the future they will have centralized distribution...especially as almost all new attractions will have fastpass...and they will be able to handle the distribution with cheaper maintenance, staffing costs...

And don't rule out the possibility of paid fastpasses in the future...centralized helps that...as they can just attach a cash register to the kiosks nice and easy if they are in all one spot.

[BluewaterBrad]

Thanks for the info Figment!

[nicster]

I think it would work if you could get a fp for any attraction that has fp availability, with, of course, info on the current wait times etc. This way I could get a fp for EE near the queue for the Kilimanjaro Safaris.

[DizneyFreak2002]

I can only see mayhem and worse from doing a centralized fast pass area.. Bad idea..

Disney, I know you read these boards.. DON'T DO THIS.. IT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA!!!!

[broadway315]

I actually love the idea of a centralized FP system, but not in the way they are currently implementing it. In many ways they are cutting corners. Instead of rethinking the system, they are just putting machines similar to their current ones in a central location. What I pictured when I thought of a centralized FP system was completely different. I picture a touch screen where you can get a fastpass for any FP ride, similar to the touchscreens at the movie theaters. It can show you stand by and FP times for all the attractions, and then you select which one you want. It would work the same as the other system, where you could only get one at a time and a second fastpass at a designated time, but allow people to plan better. I also don't picture one centralized location, but a few scattered throughout the parks, similar to the wait time boards. You could have one in Liberty Square, one between Toontown and Fantasyland and one just before the castle.

I'm sure there would be drawbacks, but I do think Disney could pull this off. But in the current economic climate, its too much of an investment with very little monetary value to them. I would love to see it myself.