Reviews of FastPass+ (Retired)
Reviewed by annebill Review Date: 09/24/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
I have been to Disneyworld many, many times but our trip to the magic last week was our first experience with the wristbands & fastpass+....I was very apprehensive after reading all the negativity, but this reviewer was totally impressed.
I booked all the fast passes for our trip at the 60 day mark prior to leaving and what a relief it was to know that we no longer needed to be in the midst of the maddening crowd in order to rush to to popular rides such as Toy Story Midway Mania....our timing was already taken care of....
True, there is no way some attractions even remotely require a fast pass...but do your research and make the best of the choices.....for example, we set up our day at Epcot for an EMH morning...we had ridden Soarin' twice before 9am and then headed over to move right onto Test Track with our prebooked fast pass....cut out some major backtrack walking.
At the Magic Kingdom, we had our original 3 passes scheduled, then were able to book an additional 3 more during that same day. We were able to basically, register the pass timing, then head directly to the attraction and hop on....and these were all rides that had a posted wait of 30 to 45 minutes....bonus!!!
Some of the lines at the kiosks were a bit long, but the cast members staffing them were watchful to move things along and the waits were certainly nothing like the queues at some attractions...there was always staff available who were very helpful with the process..but for this non-techie, the system is incredibly user friendly...
The entire process was nothing but positive for us:)
Pros:
pre planning organizationCons:
—Reviewed by featheredbuddy Review Date: 09/02/2014
Rating: (5) Recommended
We found that if we had to change plans all of the fast passes we would want were gone for the day. Rides were down during our fast pass time and since we had a tight schedule it made it hard to get back to the rides. We had two rides down one day and you can't get another pass till you use all your passes. We also couldn't figure were the kiosk to help with the passes were.
Pros:
Don't have to run ahead to get passesCons:
not easy to changeReviewed by bellebookworm9 Review Date: 08/23/2014
Rating: (5) Recommended
I have a love/hate relationship with FP+. This was the first trip where I was able to make my choices 60 days out. The "tiers" at Epcot and DHS don't even bother me that much, because both Test Track and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster have single rider lines, and I travel by myself quite often. Only downside for Test Track is that you can't truly design your own car in the singles line.
It is nearly impossible to make day of changes, and the touted ability to make more than 3 FP choices per day is a joke. By the time you've finished your three options, it's already noon at the earliest and you're left with ridiculous choices like Figment and Captain EO.
I made my FP+ choices 60 days out and scored a prime Anna & Elsa FP for 9:20am...but then I had to change my dates and literally the only one available for them in a 7 day span was 6:20pm on an EMH night. Certainly not ideal but I wasn't going to wait 90+ minutes either.
While it is gratifying to see that Mickey head turn green, there has to be a way to make some changes. I wish there was a compromise between the old and new systems-such as tapping your band to get a return time, rather than a paper ticket. And judging by the "Standby" tickets that have recently been instituted at the A&E meet and greet and BOG lunch, Disney has also realized that guests are unhappy and changes need to be made.
Pros:
Planning in advanceCons:
Planning in advance, difficult to make same day changes, problems getting more than 3 FPsReviewed by xxjess10 Review Date: 08/21/2014
Rating: (8) Recommended
We were really impressed with the new system. As a family that LOVES to plan ahead and has been to WDW many times, we knew exactly what we wanted to do and had already picked our fastpasses out well in advance of the actual date to create them. On said date, we were a little disappointed to find that you can really only pick one major attraction to Fastpass, but we found that once we were in the park it didn't matter! With the time that we saved running from ride to ride to make new Fastpasses, we were able to spend more time running to rides to ride them instead. We did find, however, that after using our three fastpasses it was tedious to find a kiosk to make another one. There aren't many of these in the parks, and there was almost always a line. I know it is a work in progress, and I'm excited to see what Disney will come up with regarding this new system.
Pros:
Planning ahead of time,, no more wasting time getting fastpassesCons:
Can't make new fastpasses from My Disney Experience, can't choose 3 major ridesReviewed by StacyLovesDisney Review Date: 07/20/2014
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
I am a planner by nature and thought I would love this product. However, after using the FastPass+ system twice, I have decided this is not a great addition to Walt Disney World.
Problem #1--My family got the flu as soon as we arrived to WDW--domino style. First son, then me. I had to spend a day and a half in the hotel room. This meant all of my fast passes for Tues. were unusable. I had to switch around my park days to accommodate a must do breakfast at Hollywood Studios. What did this mean?
*Some attractions were already "sold out" because people get to choose what they want before arrival. We missed a few of our favs.
*When the grandpa got the flu, grandma had to switch around her days to join my kids and me. She had to go wait at Guest Relations for them to change around her Fast Passes.
*The grandma's fast pass times did not sync up with what we had scheduled.
*All the fast passes that were wasted and unused on the days the family couldn't make it to the theme parks could have been used by others who were actually at the parks.
Problem#2 I do not have a smart phone. I have to carry around return times on a piece of paper. Terrible on the day when I forgot my sheet of paper with the times.
Problem #3 The portable iPads would not work on my MagicBand, so I was told I'd have to go to Guest Services at the FRONT of each park to have a Fast Pass modified.
Problem #4 Waiting in Line to get a Fast Pass at a Kiosk. LONG LINES!!! I did the parks a couple of days w/ 2 kids, age 8 and age5-by myself w/o adult help. They couldn't last in a long line in the heat.
Problem #5--My husband decided at the last minute to join us at MK on our last day (he had been golfing each day minus the sick days) When we got to MK NONE of our Fast Pass times would sync with our band. Here we go again. He could not ride any of those rides with us---one of which was Splash Mountain. Kids disappointed Daddy couldn't go with them.
Problem #6--We finish our day in the parks around 2-3pm so kids can go enjoy resort pool. When one has to modify a fast pass the morning times or early afternoon times have been taken. So, we either didn't get to ride some of them. We had to leave Hollywood Studios in the early afternoon and return at 5:45 just so we could ride Toy Story Mania!
Problem 7# --A couple of times we arrived to use our fast pass and there was only a 0-15 minute wait! For example, Character Greetings at Epcot for Mickey was a 5 minute wait! We could have used that fast pass for something else. Yet, more waste.
Problem #8 -I was thinking about going to Disney at the last minute in a couple of weeks. (I've been so many times I don't need that much time for planning....) Then I remembered about the new fast pass system. Because guests can reserve their attractions so far in advance, I bet the fast passes have already been taken.
Here is my suggestion....BRING BACK the old Fast Pass system and modify it so you can tap your Magic Band and get a fast pass return time on the spot. The old system let you plan SOOOO much better by actually not really letting people plan that much into the future.
Pros:
NoneCons:
inability to change attractions when plans change, waiting for more fast passes after 3 are used, sometimes I did NOT need to use fast pass because line was short--waste!!!Reviewed by DonLSJ Review Date: 07/10/2014
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
The old Fastpass system worked well. This new FP+ system is totally messed up. They SAY you can make a 4th FP+ pick after the using the first 3, but by that time the ones for major attractions are all taken. I had my 3 FP+ picks used by 1pm at MK on 6/18... then after a 45 min wait at a kiosk, none were left for the big rides. My kids are used to doing Splash Mt 3 or 4 times, it's their fav. Can't do that now. If they don't fix this, I doubt we will return.
Pros:
can choose 3 in advanceCons:
everything elseReviewed by dailey71 Review Date: 06/15/2014
Rating: (0) Recommended
While it was nice to not have to make a mad dash for a fast pass kiosk as soon as the park gate opened, you were limited to which rides you could reserve them. The system also wouldn't let you get passes for only certain members of your group. It was all or nothing. We did find that if you let your pass time expire, you could then set up any fast pass you wanted to replace it.
Pros:
no having to run for fast pass kiosks when park opensCons:
limited amount of fast passes, ride categoriesReviewed by Time2Talk Review Date: 06/15/2014
Rating: (7) Recommended
I just returned from WDW. I've been to WDW before and knew what rides I wanted to ride. I can't imagine how overwhelming it must have been to someone who didn't pre-book their major rides.
I liked the convenience of the new system, but just wanted more passes. I wish the system would allow you to schedule fast passes in different parks not just one park at a time. By the time I used my 3 fast passes, it was too late to get more passes on the major rides. They were all gone for the day. You can get more fast passes after the 3 uses, but you need to get it from a kiosk in a Disney Park. Really don't understand why you can book more passes on the disney app or online after you use the first 3. Crazy! It would have been more convenient than finding a kiosk.
I couldn't get fast passes to both Tower of Terror and Rockin' Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios. Bummer! But, I rode Rockin' Roller Coaster as a single rider with no problem. In fact, I highly recommend riding Rockin' Roller Coaster and Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom) as a single rider. It's much quicker and you can ride them numerous times in a row.
The extra magic hours for resort guests helped with riding the major rides with the exception of the new Snow White mine ride in Magic Kingdom (the wait was as long as 180 minutes). I was never able to get another fast pass because they were gone so quickly. Also, the magic bands really made it quicker for the extra magic hours.
I found that some stand-by lines were shorter in some rides because of the fast passes.
There were a few times that my disney experience online indicated a different time than my disney experience app on my phone. When I showed the disney cast members, they overrode the system and let me in. Also, you will be let in 5 minutes before the start time on the fast pass.
The cell phone app is very convenient and you can view wait times for rides. People were constantly engrossed in their cell phones while waiting for lines. Not a problem until the line wasn't moving because they didn't look up. It really made me want to pass them in line, especially when I waited for over an hour for a few rides. Even though I didn't pass anyone, I really don't think the folks would have even noticed.
The magic bands are waterproof, however I had a black residue on my wrist after wearing it all day.
Pros:
ConvenienceCons:
Must use 3 fast passes before getting more from a kiosk in a disney parkReviewed by hello12345 Review Date: 06/02/2014
Rating: (2) Not Recommended
This system is still a failure in my opinion. The only positive is that it allows you to reserve three rides ahead of time. Even in July I was able to score up to 5 fastpasses before 3pm using the old paper system. Did it require some walking and park criss-crossing? Yes. The new concept of getting additional fastpasses once you have used the 3 is also flawed. I have to schedule my 3 fastpasses in the morning when you don't need them as much. If you don't get to the kiosk by 11am forget about getting fastpasses for any rides other than Small World or Figment. The line for Test Track's Fastpass was still 30+ minutes and stretched 200 feet passed the entrance both times we visited. It appears Disney is giving too many fastpasses for this ride. I am not a fan of spending all the $$$$ to stay on the resort and I still only get the same number of passes as non-resort guests. Disney resort guests should get more choices end of story. Deluxe resort guests should get even more. I am all for non-resort folks getting 1-2 or even none. There should be a benefit to paying the $$$$ to stay on resort. The only exception should be Annual Pass holders.
Pros:
Getting a little better, but not muchCons:
Too manyReviewed by jserianni Review Date: 06/01/2014
Rating: (7) Recommended
Long before I heard about Faspass+ I always wondered why Disney did not have a more adaptable fastpass system. When I heard about fastpass+ I was excited and still am.
I love that you can book fastpasses ahead of time whether that be at home or in the morning before you head to the park. I love that with the phone app you do not need to run to each ride to get the pass. I really love that you can pick your own time.
What I do not like are the restrictions. I like to park-hop but you cannot get passes in multiple parks on the same day. I really do not like the category limitations. It is really bad in Hollywood Studios where you can only get one from the big three attractions (Rockin Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror and Toy Story Mainia). I get that Disney does not want the system bogged down with people hogging up passes for one ride, however, I do not see why the new system cannot put the same limitations as the old as it pertains to fastpasses. I have to imagine that Disney has the technology to limit fastpasses to one per attraction at a time and once you use a pass for a particular ride, you could immediately get another one in an available time slot. As far as logistics go I don't see why it can't be the same as the old system in that once a time-frame is booked up, you can no longer get a pass for it. This is a big deal to me because most of my Disney trips are when I chaperone trips our school makes. I know that the teens like to hit Tower of Terror and Rockin Roller Coaster over and over. I'd like to see that ability restored in fastpass+ I also do not like that you have to use all three passes before you can get a new one and it still has to be in the same park.
Here is what I would like to see out of the fastpass+ system in the future. No limitations on parks. No ride category restrictions. The ability to always hold three passes at one time.
