Disney is about to start charging for its Fastpass system

[calisota]

Disney is about to start charging for its Fastpass system

Worth the money?


Greg

[mushu mama]

so what they already do in WDW for free is now at a cost in DLR and if its a success will be rolled out across the globe... I'm undecided... I think it takes away the ability to spontaneously change tack, which was my biggest annoyance at WDW - the need to be so tightly scheduled or miss out on stuff you want to do.  Not sure I like the suggestion of things being booked out before you get there in DLR as well... oh well, I guess it was always going to happen... I just wish they'd bring in a front of line pass like Universal and then I'd happily hand over the cash.  

[calisota]

I don't think I've ever used fastpass myself. Not being there for the rides I tend to just wander around and if something takes my fancy and if the line isn't too long I queue up.

I can see this as an extension of pre-booking your meals etc in the park but it feels like it would become a "tour" rather than an exploration of the Park.


Greg

[Mel]

I don't see how it's going to work for international guests without wifi in the parks.  We found it very frustrating that there wasn't wifi yet in DL when it's so good across the WDW parks.  We also much preferred the old fashioned paper fastpass at DL to the MDE FP+ at WDW, but whether it was because DL is our 'home' park and we're more familiar with it or not might be an issue.   We really didn't like FP+ much at all - we NEVER got a fourth FP and we found it quite restrictive.  At DL we often would have numerous FPs at once which is impossible under the FP+ system.

[KeithS]

I'm nervous about the roll-out of electronic FP at DL too.  The lack of park wifi basically rules out international guests from using the new system so we have to continue with the old paper version for the time being - which I hope doesn't end up with us being excluded from certain things.

I don't mind the WDW system - if you are visiting from overseas during busy periods, then you can at least ensure you get on the rides you want at some point during your visit - although as Mel points out, it was hard to use the FP+ system efficiently.  We probably only used one or two a day because of difficulties booking some attractions - and sometimes we'd prebook a FP only to find out it was a walk-on and we could have used it elsewhere.  I also don't like how it forces you to pre-plan your parks on any given day as we also used to be more spontaneous with where we used to visit.

[calisota]

I also don't like how it forces you to pre-plan your parks on any given day as we also used to be more spontaneous with where we used to visit.

Yep, it's the risk of losing the spontaneity of it that worries me too. Exploring and discovering  with no set agenda is half the fun.
Greg