long lines and fastpass+

[waymickey]

Just got back from the world today. The lines were very long. Epcot and MK were very crowded and AK and DHS was not super crowded but still long lines. I stayed for 10 days for the first few days the lines were ok normal wait times. Then we noticed more and more magic bands and the wait times got longer. Some which never have a wait time now had absurd wait times. For example 120 minutes for the Great Movie Ride? The lines were not so long but the wait time was very high. Even Fast Pass had to wait at least 20 minutes to get on some rides, BTMR, SM, TSM,ToT ect.
We had a fast pass for TSM and noticed no line outside for standby and no line inside the first room either. I asked the CM if the 120 minute wait time was correct and he said "it is probably longer". The standby line was shorter than the fast pass line but taking 3-4 times longer??? This is the reason given to me by that CM. Fast pass and Fastpass+ go on first with few standby people getting filtered in every couple of minutes. For TSM their are 4 lines with the tiers being as follows- first on FP+ then FP then Single riders, and last standby.
The FP+ in MHO has made all lines longer and if you do not have it getting on some of your favorite attractions is not likely.

[VWL Mom]

Oh joy, not exactly what I wanted to hear. Hopefully the normally low crowds the last week in August will help us out.

[joonyer]

It's simple math. The more people using FPs of any nature (regular or FP+), the longer the standby lines will be. Disney wants guests to use the FP system, so making standby waits longer is a great way to make guests choose to use it. There's a reason that Disney wants guests to become "hooked" on using the FP+ system as it becomes fully implemented. It will become apparent in a year or two, once everyone is addicted to them.

[Reedy Creek Buccaneer]

The Great Movie Ride was the longest line we stood in at DHS in June, but no where near 2 hours, more like 20 minutes. I really find that hard to believe it was that long.

[Aurora]

The Great Movie Ride was the longest line we stood in at DHS in June, but no where near 2 hours, more like 20 minutes. I really find that hard to believe it was that long.

Me too. For it to be that long would require people continuing to get in it, and at a certain point, they'd bypass it. I highly doubt that point is at 120 minutes for GMR.

[mgmnut]

I hope this is not going to become the norm now. We leave in 5 days, not testing fastpass+ and not looking forward to standby times like that.

[waymickey]

It's simple math. The more people using FPs of any nature (regular or FP+), the longer the standby lines will be. Disney wants guests to use the FP system, so making standby waits longer is a great way to make guests choose to use it. There's a reason that Disney wants guests to become "hooked" on using the FP+ system as it becomes fully implemented. It will become apparent in a year or two, once everyone is addicted to them.

I don't understand why Disney wants people to use fast pass when it just causes long lines and frustrated guests. I use the fast pass system but you can only hold one and if that time is hours away you have to wait in long standby lines. I got a FP for the boat ride in Norway!? I never had to do that before.
I stayed at BC and did not have a choice to use the magic band. I talked to a lot of people on the bus who had the band and they were not thrilled with having them. Also I felt a twinge of something watching people with the bands get right onto rides.

[PirateLover]

This is what confuses me about regular FastPass continuing to run with the FastPass+ system. Perhaps a CM can come along and shed more light, or maybe this was addressed in another thread that I missed, but are there now MORE FastPasses given out because the two systems are running, or are the numbers of regular ones reduced? If it was the same amount, you wouldn't think it would affect the lines in such a drastic way. I would think, like waymickey said, that Disney DOESN'T want you waiting in line because you can't spend money in the line.

[WDWdriver]

WDW continues to be a dynamic place with many influences on park attendance and attraction wait times. The Disney management bean counters can probably tell you exactly why the parks seem crowded and the lines are long and what effect Fast Pass Plus has had on wait times. I have a much more limited view, but I can at least pass on a few observations.

First of all, the parks seem more crowded than usual because they are. I'm not allowed to discuss attendance numbers, but I can tell you that they are up. Resort occupancy is up, merchandise revenue is up, and dining ADRs are hard to get.

So it's no surprise to me that the attraction wait times are also up. This summer the wait times where I work have often been 90 minutes or more. We have seen many waits in excess of 120 minutes, which was unheard of just a couple of years ago.

So how much of an impact has MyMagic+ and FP+ had on all of this? Not much, as far as I can tell. Remember that FP+ is still in a test phase, and a pretty limited test at that. The only participants so far are those staying at a handful of Disney resorts, and then only those guests who have bothered to set up an MDE account. Will you see guests with wristbands in the parks? Sure, they tend to stand out. But I'm not seeing much of an impact.

Earlier this week I worked the Fast Pass Return position at a major AK attraction. We were running the familiar old FP system and also accepting FP+ wristbands. In an hour's time I admitted perhaps 30 guests with the wristbands, not enough to cause even a small blip in the standby wait time. The only impact that I noticed was that the Fast Pass Return entrance was sometimes jammed up because of problems with the wristbands. So, if anything, the FP line was affected, not the standby.

I can't speak for every WDW attraction, but at ours guests with the wristbands are not given any entrance priority over those holding the paper FPs. There has been no change to the ratio of standbys vs FPs at the merge point.

So far the number of available paper FPs has not been reduced to compensate for those with wristbands. That may change as FP+ users become more numerous. And eventually the paper FPs and their distribution machines will go away completely.

As the CMs know only too well, the only thing constant at WDW is change.

[AvonleaCF]

FP+ is the one thing in all my planning I haven't been paying much attention to. What's the current deal with it? Which resorts and dates? Every time I log into MDE it gives me a popup about "linking" my reservations, but nothing happens. There are also links to manage wristbands and choose FP+, but nothing happens when you click on them.

[waymickey]

First of all, the parks seem more crowded than usual because they are. I'm not allowed to discuss attendance numbers, but I can tell you that they are up. Resort occupancy is up, merchandise revenue is up, and dining ADRs are hard to get.

I don't doubt this at all. The parks especially MK were jammed when I was there last week. MY resort was hopping and the bus lines were also very long. But I spent much LESS money this vacation then I have in the past. I did not spend money on dinning since I could not get ADRs and I did not spend money on merchandise because it was all the same nothing new. I spent half of what I normally do and left thinking that next year I would either just go on the Disney cruise or go to the beach.
Honestly the lines just ruined for me. I waited in line for Splash Mtn and it broke down before I got on, I waited in line for BTM and it broke before I got on, I waited in line for jungle cruise and lightening caused all outdoor rides to shut down before I got on. I spent more time in lines then on attractions and even with a a fast pass for BTM I did not get on since the weather forced it to close for the night.

[We LOVE Disney]

First of all, the parks seem more crowded than usual because they are. I'm not allowed to discuss attendance numbers, but I can tell you that they are up. Resort occupancy is up, merchandise revenue is up, and dining ADRs are hard to get.

I'm just curious as to why you aren't allowed to discuss attendance numbers?

[Hammer]

First of all, the parks seem more crowded than usual because they are. I'm not allowed to discuss attendance numbers, but I can tell you that they are up. Resort occupancy is up, merchandise revenue is up, and dining ADRs are hard to get.

I'm just curious as to why you aren't allowed to discuss attendance numbers?

Ron probably has to sign forms saying he will not divulge any company information that is not put out for public record. I sign similar forms with Comcast NBC Universal. Violating these policies are grounds for termination.

[We LOVE Disney]

Ron probably has to sign forms saying he will not divulge any company information that is not put out for public record. I sign similar forms with Comcast NBC Universal. Violating these policies are grounds for termination.

Ok. Makes sense. Thanks

[WDWdriver]

Ron probably has to sign forms saying he will not divulge any company information that is not put out for public record. I sign similar forms with Comcast NBC Universal. Violating these policies are grounds for termination.

Right. Disney does not make park attendance information public. Neither does Universal Studios or Seaworld. The numbers are considered proprietary.

[Aurora]

WDW continues to be a dynamic place with many influences on park attendance and attraction wait times. The Disney management bean counters can probably tell you exactly why the parks seem crowded and the lines are long and what effect Fast Pass Plus has had on wait times. I have a much more limited view, but I can at least pass on a few observations.

First of all, the parks seem more crowded than usual because they are. I'm not allowed to discuss attendance numbers, but I can tell you that they are up. Resort occupancy is up, merchandise revenue is up, and dining ADRs are hard to get.

So it's no surprise to me that the attraction wait times are also up. This summer the wait times where I work have often been 90 minutes or more. We have seen many waits in excess of 120 minutes, which was unheard of just a couple of years ago.

So how much of an impact has MyMagic+ and FP+ had on all of this? Not much, as far as I can tell. Remember that FP+ is still in a test phase, and a pretty limited test at that. The only participants so far are those staying at a handful of Disney resorts, and then only those guests who have bothered to set up an MDE account. Will you see guests with wristbands in the parks? Sure, they tend to stand out. But I'm not seeing much of an impact.

Earlier this week I worked the Fast Pass Return position at a major AK attraction. We were running the familiar old FP system and also accepting FP+ wristbands. In an hour's time I admitted perhaps 30 guests with the wristbands, not enough to cause even a small blip in the standby wait time. The only impact that I noticed was that the Fast Pass Return entrance was sometimes jammed up because of problems with the wristbands. So, if anything, the FP line was affected, not the standby.

I can't speak for every WDW attraction, but at ours guests with the wristbands are not given any entrance priority over those holding the paper FPs. There has been no change to the ratio of standbys vs FPs at the merge point.

So far the number of available paper FPs has not been reduced to compensate for those with wristbands. That may change as FP+ users become more numerous. And eventually the paper FPs and their distribution machines will go away completely.

As the CMs know only too well, the only thing constant at WDW is change.

Thanks for the explanation. I'm sure when FP+ is out of test phase and running throughout the park that many people will complain that it's making standby lines too long. But I continue to be skeptical for many reasons that I've already detailed elsewhere. Thanks for validating an earlier comment I made that when lines are long, it's because there are more people in the parks.

[Aurora]

I don't doubt this at all. The parks especially MK were jammed when I was there last week. MY resort was hopping and the bus lines were also very long. But I spent much LESS money this vacation then I have in the past. I did not spend money on dinning since I could not get ADRs and I did not spend money on merchandise because it was all the same nothing new. I spent half of what I normally do and left thinking that next year I would either just go on the Disney cruise or go to the beach.
Honestly the lines just ruined for me. I waited in line for Splash Mtn and it broke down before I got on, I waited in line for BTM and it broke before I got on, I waited in line for jungle cruise and lightening caused all outdoor rides to shut down before I got on. I spent more time in lines then on attractions and even with a a fast pass for BTM I did not get on since the weather forced it to close for the night.

Sorry you had such bad luck for the rides, and I know how frustrating crowded parks can be. Our trip two years ago was timed to avoid crowds, but we saw some of the biggest crowds we had in years for reasons we hadn't known about beforehand. Crowds alone can really put a damper on a vacation.

[GoBlueLacheta]

Keep track of wait times on the Apps on my phone at Disney and Universal just out of curiosity usually. It is the last week before a lot of schools go back in session, so it may be a slight jump in attendance these last few weeks.

A week or two ago, I also saw much more manageable wait times even mid-day in some park. I know these are user-generated but they tend to be fairly accurate. 60 for SM at 1:30pm isn't terrible during the summer, but other days it is easily 120, so clearly a lot of factors.

[FaithTrustPixieDust]

FP+ is the one thing in all my planning I haven't been paying much attention to. What's the current deal with it? Which resorts and dates? Every time I log into MDE it gives me a popup about "linking" my reservations, but nothing happens. There are also links to manage wristbands and choose FP+, but nothing happens when you click on them.

I've wondered the same thing. Can anyone else provide some answers?
Thanks

[Daisy'sMom]

What will be the impact on passholders? We sometimes get up in the morning and decide to drive over for the day. Will all fast passes have to be prebooked?