ANyone at Animal Kingdom? Fast Pass Machine locations?

[danceintherain]

I think it's a decent idea, but obviously not perfected yet as the pictures I've seen don't show the Fastpass return times. I'm sure they would make it a better system if they decide to implement it in all the parks.

In January, they had the ITTBAB FP machines giving EE FPs, and that was nice, because it saved us a trip to the back of the park, so I do think it would work if the FP return times were posted.

If the stand-by wait times were posted as well, then it would be even more convenient, because then you could immediately get a FP for the ride with the longer standby, and ride the other without wasting the energy.

 

[kjs1976]

Does anyone know how long they plan to do these? We are going to the World on Sat and will be at AK on Sunday...would be great to get Safari passes there instead of running all the way back!!!!

 

[Robo]

Does anyone know how long they plan to do these? We are going to the World on Sat and will be at AK on Sunday...would be great to get Safari passes there instead of running all the way back!!!!

I have read that it will continue until "the end of the week."

It all depends on when Disney thinks the week ends and whether they wish to continue the test.

You'll have to wait and see... and please report back with what you find.

 

[RllngRckBrw]

I have not heard about this. I immagine it will make fastpasses dissappear faster, however it would be so convienient. Hopefully WDW gives it a go.

 

[g-dad66]

One person reported that the machines weren't operating until about 9:15 a.m. If that's the case, the Rope Drop crowd is going to be better off heading straight to an attraction, rather than hanging around Discovery Island for 15 minutes.

 

[Incredimom3]

This is one of the things I love about Disney. They are always looking for ways to make your day easier and more fun. Here in Atlanta, we have a Six Flags theme park. You have to pay for the privilege of fast passing - and it's not cheap. Also, it's so frustrating for those who can't pay, b/c the people who do pay for the privilege always are allowed in front. You may be at the front of the line for 10 minutes waiting for those who strolled up to ride ahead of you. At WDW, everyone has an opportunity to utilize fastpasses.

 

[kjs1976]

No kidding! How can they get an accurate "test" if they don't have them up and running at rope drop? I was hoping this would make my divide and conquer routine a bit easier!

 

[Robo]

One person reported that the machines weren't operating until about 9:15 a.m. If that's the case, the Rope Drop crowd is going to


be better off heading straight to an attraction, rather than hanging around Discovery Island for 15 minutes.

That's my motto!



What's a motto?

Nothing. What's a motto w'you??

 

[dhdozier]

We were at Ak this past Fri. and made it about 10am. There were several CM's standing behind the machines but no lines when we were there. The CM's were chatting and greeting guests , making sure folks knew how to work the machines. We got a FP for the Safari ride but there were no lines for any of the other machines. Didn't go back by to check it out later to see how it was going in the afternoon.

 

[Iris]

I think this has the potential to be a great thing. If you have ever traveled with young kids or someone in a wheelchair, you can understand how difficult it can be to run all over to get FPs. If you are traveling alone with your kids, you just can't leave them alone to run and get FPs.

I used to love entering Animal Kingdom and just taking pictures and taking it all in. Ever since EE opened, we now make a mad dash over there to get some FPs. If the line is short, we will get the FP for later and go ahead and ride it. I don't have a big problem with it, but if I could just take my time and not run, it would be awesome. We also travel with people who can't ride EE, so having the option of doing things together first, and then going to our attraction is much more appealing.

The same thing now happens over DHS. We have to make a frenzied run over to TSM for FP before they are gone. Sometimes we just don't want to ride anything first thing but are forced to either do that or get FP if we want to ride it at all.


The idea of having a centralized FP machine over at Epcot would be awesome too. Again the wheelchair issue comes into play and usually one of us has to run with all our tickets over to Soarin' to get the FPs. After a while it does get old.


I know they will have to work out the bugs. Testing is just that, testing to see what might work and doesn't work.

 

[praline3001]

I have been gone for 2 weeks so not sure if this has been posted as we got back last night...

They started a new FP machine area in front of Outfitters...all of the FP rides are together with a FP machine for each one. That way you don't have to run through the park to grab your FPs!!! They don't open those machines until 9:15 ...so the initial rope drop crowd still needs to run to the ride to get those early morning FP times but once the initial rush goes through ..they open them up. The CM told me they have only been doing it for 4 days and I thought it was kind of cool.... and wanted to share for those who don't like backtracking through the park for FPs.

 

[g-dad66]

They don't open those machines until 9:15 ....

Dang, that doesn't help those of us who don't like fritters in the morning...

Seriously, thanks for the update.

 

[doconeill]

I think I'm suffering from Thread Merge Dyslexia again...

 

[Robo]

Dang, that doesn't help those of us who don't like fritters in the morning...

 

[praline3001]

Dang, that doesn't help those of us who don't like fritters in the morning...

Seriously, thanks for the update.

It doesn't help with the first fp grab ~ but its a HUGE help for that second set on the way to seeing lion king show or trying to cross the park .... or if your old and slow

heck it was a huge help on our last day as there was NO way I was making that EE run for my ungrateful children after 9 days in the parks

 

[g-dad66]

What's a motto?
Nothing. What's a motto w'you??

heck it was a huge help on our last day as there was NO way I was making that EE run for my ungrateful children after 9 days in the parks

I think I'm suffering from Thread Merge Dyslexia again...

Laughing so hard that I'm in pain too...

 

[tiggerplus5]

To take that thought one step further, why couldn't you have one or two FP kiosks dedicated to each attraction at each attraction? Does that make sense--instead of 6 FP machines for EE in front of EE, have two for EE, one for the Safari, one for Dinosaur, one for Primeval Whirl, etc (go ahead and put one for ITTBAB there, too. Just make sure you have a CM dust it occasionally). They wouldn't even have to put in new equipment because the kiosks are already there.

It's brilliant because you're usually at the attraction you currently have a FP for when your window opens; which is also when you can get your next FP. So you could grab a FP for the Safari just before you ride EE. It might even make it more feasible for people to actually return during their one hour window. The more I think about it, the more I like this idea.

Great minds think alike. This is exactly what I thought when we were there last week.

We were at AK on July 19 and it looks like it might have been the first day. We were delayed by the lines to enter the park so we got there around 9:30 a.m. I saw all these fast pass machines lined up with no signs so I went over and asked the castmembers what they were for. He told me they were for Dinosaur and I said "Dinosaur? What you really need here is EE fast passes. That would be a great idea." He was beaming from ear to ear and escorted me to the next machine and showed me the little sign on the front. Of course it was EE. I was so psyched!! Turned out to be a great day. He was printing out a bunch of the Dinosaur fast passes while we were getting EE FP. He said he would make a deal with me. If we went on ITTBAB right now, he would give me Dinosaur fastpasses too! Don't have to ask me twice. And the return time to get a new fast pass was only 10:40 a.m. so we got Kali fast passes around 11 and went back to EE later to get another fp. No line for the safari so we really breezed through the park that day.

It worked out great for us because there was no line since no one really knew what it was and we were late getting to the parks. But if they continue to do this it would be a great idea to have all the different fp machines at each major attraction so there wouldn't be such a long line right there in the morning.

Huffing it way to the back of the park for EE FP is not fun in the summer heat.

 

[michaeldorn1]

Great minds think alike. This is exactly what I thought when we were there last week.

We were at AK on July 19 and it looks like it might have been the first day. We were delayed by the lines to enter the park so we got there around 9:30 a.m. I saw all these fast pass machines lined up with no signs so I went over and asked the castmembers what they were for. He told me they were for Dinosaur and I said "Dinosaur? What you really need here is EE fast passes. That would be a great idea." He was beaming from ear to ear and escorted me to the next machine and showed me the little sign on the front. Of course it was EE. I was so psyched!! Turned out to be a great day. He was printing out a bunch of the Dinosaur fast passes while we were getting EE FP. He said he would make a deal with me. If we went on ITTBAB right now, he would give me Dinosaur fastpasses too! Don't have to ask me twice. And the return time to get a new fast pass was only 10:40 a.m. so we got Kali fast passes around 11 and went back to EE later to get another fp. No line for the safari so we really breezed through the park that day.

It worked out great for us because there was no line since no one really knew what it was and we were late getting to the parks. But if they continue to do this it would be a great idea to have all the different fp machines at each major attraction so there wouldn't be such a long line right there in the morning.

Huffing it way to the back of the park for EE FP is not fun in the summer heat.

WOW!!! Talk about Disney Magic! Sprinkle some of that Pixie Dust Our way!!

 

[captinhookedondisney]

I hate this idea, it is fun to go around in the morning to get FP, I hope this test fails!

 

[vleeth]

So now that the week is over, are the FP machines gone?