gamerfreak
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February 18th, 2020 at 3:23:13 PM permalink
Quote: darkoz

This whole thread got hijacked by Disneyland

I have a lot of advantage play secrets to make a Disneyland/Disneyworld vacation more fun when it comes to the long lines (that's not a joke) People who don't follow my techniques are definitely Disneyland ploppies.

Do I have permission to start a Disney park advantage play thread? (Might cause an Exodus of Disneyites)


Quote: gamerfreak

Used to be you could get an unlimited fast pass if you claimed you had anxiety and could not deal with lines.

I think they put an end to that as it was getting abused.



I have also heard dropping a random name at the fast pass entrance has a high rate of success.

Something really generic like “Kevin said to say he sent me”. Better success rate if you get the name from someone’s name tag who looks like a mid level manager.

I’ve never done these things personally though, there’s no reason. You don’t wait in line for more than 10-15 minutes if you plan your trip out properly.
darkoz
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February 18th, 2020 at 5:34:05 PM permalink
Well since someone started it for me here goes.

Since the fast pass is mentioned here is the lowdown

The Disney Fast pass is different from most other amusement parks which all have front of the line passes these days.

The majority are "Capitalistic" and require a somewhat pricey add-on charge. This was the simple solution to the long line problem. If everyone could get to the front of the line suddenly there would be just the same long line as the regular line. Instead only wealthier patrons can afford it and even then they usually have a quota for sale.

Disney Fast passes are more socialist in style. Everyone has access to the fast pass. It comes with entry to the park. Here is how it works.

You have three fast pass rides you can schedule at a time. Once doing so, you are given a time window (usually one hour) to skip to the front of the line. This really serves more as a reservation type of service. You reserve your opportunity to return for front of the line while you go off and do other attractions.

Generally the human who stands guard at the FastPass entrance and checks the time on your reservations will give you a five minute early/late window so really you have about 70 minutes to make the attractions

Once you have finished your third FastPass reservation you can make more.

FastPass planning can be tricky. The queue for any given rides FastPass is also quota driven. If you try too late to get your favorite rides you may find your reservations ending for 4pm and it's only 10:15 am. Now you are stuck unable to add more FastPass rides for most of the afternoon.

Trick:. Buy your Disney tickets online a few weeks or even months early. You can add the FastPass rides to your account online weeks before you even step foot inside the park. This step is huge. Don't be surprised if you arrive at 10am and discover the FastPass rides are all reserved until the evening. A lot of people do this.

Plan your FastPass using a Disney map. Do not schedule the first ride on the East side of the park at 10:15, the second on the west side at 10:30, etc. You won't make them all in time. This means not scheduling by what rides you find attractive but location and logistics

While you want the rides near to each other remember these are reservations. In between the FastPass rides schedule the intermediary rides you want to hop on to eliminate plenty of walking.

If you are in a family group it's important to share the FastPass decisions. For example don't FastPass for your favorite rollercoaster and your significant other won't go on coasters. Try to FastPass her ticket for a different ride nearby she will enjoy. It's okay to separate for a ride of two.

Next post I will discuss the "wheelchair AP" that was mentioned. Yes, it is a real FastPass move of its own. A real Grey Zone type of move depending on how you approach it
For Whom the bus tolls; The bus tolls for thee
heatmap
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February 18th, 2020 at 6:14:57 PM permalink
Quote: darkoz


Next post I will discuss the "wheelchair AP" that was mentioned. Yes, it is a real FastPass move of its own. A real Grey Zone type of move depending on how you approach it



You couldn't lead out with that? I'm kind of giggling and confused by that last statement because I believe you are serious but... you go to a ride in a wheelchair get in quick, and then get up in front of everyone and show them you can walk? Maybe someone picks you up and puts you in the ride because you better be all in if you lie about being in a wheelchair. Although not all people in wheelchairs are people who cant walk. You see what you did to my drunk mind?
billryan
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February 18th, 2020 at 6:39:18 PM permalink
There is a lot of walking and waiting in line at Disney. Many older people will do better if they take a wheelchair. If you bring Grandma and get her a wheelchair, you are doing her a favor, rides or no rides.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
darkoz
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February 19th, 2020 at 6:49:39 AM permalink
The "wheelchair AP"

This was easier to hustle about 20 years ago. I don't know how many people did but it got a write-up in a book

If you were in a wheelchair you would have access to the rides thru a separate line which basically operated like a FastPass line. And as a courtesy to not splitting up groups everyone who was accompanying the handicapped person could join him on this FastPass

I used it (legitimately) in 2004 when on the first day of vacation I twisted my ankle exacerbating an arthritic condition. My foot was so swollen I couldn't even put my foot in my shoe.

We rented a wheelchair from Disney guest services. My family was upset they had to push me around on their vacation until that first rollercoaster where we skipped the two hour wait and got right on. I had saved everyone painful walking and standing feet (at the expense of my own)

Last year everything was done differently

A family friend came along with an autistic child. We asked if he qualified for the handicapped FastPass and were told absolutely. (this family friend would have come along anyway but it was an added perk)

This time we had to go to guest services. They had us fill out documents including the names of everyone in our party, ages, and the handicap of the person in question. They did a bit of an informal questioning including the autistic child (it became immediately apparent we were for real. His autism at six years old is difficult to miss)

The FastPass was coded onto our tickets (which are like plastic credit cards).

The FastPass still required reservations to be made for later visits to the ride. You could not simply show up. The main difference is the three ride limitation was lifted so you could reserve pretty much all the rides you needed.

If you plan on taking a handicapped person (not necessarily a wheelchair person as you can see) along for the FastPass aspects (paying for someone's Disney trip can't be considered too evil) be aware you are arranging for an easier time of something that already comes for free with your park entrance). All you are getting is an easier convenience aspect

Also be aware of the restrictions that go along with the handicap fastpass. In our case the autistic child was six years old. Our FastPass was restricted from height requirements that surpassed our child's height (the teenagers in our group were sorely disappointed the handicap fastpass did not work on rollercoasters.

Remember they ask for information up front. If your handicap person is in a wheelchair from a slipped disk in his back your FastPass will be restricted from rides with neck and back injury warnings.

I believe the handicapped person needed to at least be in the park every day. This was his FastPass with a courtesy to his group. It's not your FastPass. If you do work out some deal with a handicap person make certain they commit to going every day

Next post I will discuss a much overlooked FastPass which requires NO reservations
For Whom the bus tolls; The bus tolls for thee
TigerWu
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February 19th, 2020 at 8:42:31 AM permalink
If you're staying at a Disney hotel, you can schedule all your Fast Passes 60 days ahead of time. As soon as you've used up your three Fast Passes for the day, you can immediately schedule an additional one. When that one is used up, you can schedule another one, and so on until the park closes.

Restaurant reservations can be made 180 days in advance. You'll want to do this if you're eating at a more popular restaurant.

Don't go to Disney in the summer, on major holidays, or around Spring Break (like EB mistakenly did). The best times to go are basically whenever schools are in session, and during the week. If you go during these off seasons, and do all your scheduling ahead of time for Fast Passes, you'll never have to wait more than 20 or so minutes for a ride. Usually it's more like 5-10 minutes. At certain times of day, and if you're paying attention, you can literally walk onto rides with zero wait time.

Don't get Park Hopper tickets. They're a scam. Just do one park per day. There's plenty to do. The more days you pay for ahead of time, the cheaper it is. If you just show up at the gate and buy a ticket for that day, you'll be paying over $110, easily. But if you schedule a 5 day trip, tickets break down to under $90 a day. If you can somehow swing a 10 day trip to Disney World, it breaks down to a little over $50 a day for tickets. I think it all gets even a little cheaper if you bundle in a hotel with your ticket purchase.

Don't drive to Disney World if you can help it. You'll have to pay for parking, and you won't need a car anyway. There are multiple forms of free transportation to get you anywhere in the parks. They even have free transportation to and from the airport if you're staying at a hotel. Even some off-site non-Disney owned hotels off free shuttles to the parks.

Once you're in the parks, food and souvenirs aren't really any more expensive than any other major vacation spot. Epcot is a food and alcohol lover's paradise. Hollywood Studios also has some decent eats and drinks. Magic Kingdom is mostly dry, but a couple restaurants serve alcohol. Not sure about Animal Kingdom. Don't get the Disney Dining Plan unless you like to eat a lot of expensive food. It's just not worth it.

Unfortunately, Disney World is not an amusement park where you can just "show up." If you do, you'll be spending way too much money and waiting in lines for hours. Nowadays you really need to plan for a Disney trip months ahead of time. Personally, I think this is half the fun, but I can see how a lot of people are turned off by that.
IndyJeffrey
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February 19th, 2020 at 9:08:37 AM permalink
Quote: TigerWu

Unfortunately, Disney World is not an amusement park where you can just "show up."



I respectively disagree. Went to Disney World a couple days prior to Christmas 2019. One day at Magic Kingdom, one day at Hollywood Studios.
I didn't have any restaurant reservations, I made fast pass reservations a day or two in advance. We rode on every ride we wanted to ride; a couple rides, multiple times. We even made it on the new Star Wars ride (Galaxy's Edge) while obtaining our group number after we walked into the park.
I cannot think of one thing we wanted to do and did not do.

Here is my Disney AP move: "relax"

There are so many folks who spend hours planning and/or stressing over fastpasses and lines and food and characters -- books, blogs, podcasts. There are tips and cheets and secrets. Good grief.

And, please, don't join the lowest level of society and use some bs story just to game the system in order to jump the line. And, yes, I believe in karma for those folks.
Mosca
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beachbumbabsECoaster
February 19th, 2020 at 9:20:12 AM permalink
Quote: IndyJeffrey

I respectively disagree. Went to Disney World a couple days prior to Christmas 2019. One day at Magic Kingdom, one day at Hollywood Studios.
I didn't have any restaurant reservations, I made fast pass reservations a day or two in advance. We rode on every ride we wanted to ride; a couple rides, multiple times. We even made it on the new Star Wars ride (Galaxy's Edge) while obtaining our group number after we walked into the park.
I cannot think of one thing we wanted to do and did not do.

Here is my Disney AP move: "relax"

There are so many folks who spend hours planning and/or stressing over fastpasses and lines and food and characters -- books, blogs, podcasts. There are tips and cheets and secrets. Good grief.

And, please, don't join the lowest level of society and use some bs story just to game the system in order to jump the line. And, yes, I believe in karma for those folks.



Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I’m tellin’ ya.

Organization helps. But relaxing should be your attitude anyhow. Things don’t always go as planned? Don’t worry. There’s something else going on. And don’t try to see and do everything all at once; it’s not going anywhere, it will still be there next year. (Except The Great Movie Ride is gone. We loved that.)
A falling knife has no handle.
TigerWu
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February 19th, 2020 at 9:41:10 AM permalink
Quote: IndyJeffrey

I respectively disagree. Went to Disney World a couple days prior to Christmas 2019. One day at Magic Kingdom, one day at Hollywood Studios.
I didn't have any restaurant reservations, I made fast pass reservations a day or two in advance. We rode on every ride we wanted to ride; a couple rides, multiple times. We even made it on the new Star Wars ride (Galaxy's Edge) while obtaining our group number after we walked into the park.
I cannot think of one thing we wanted to do and did not do.

Here is my Disney AP move: "relax"

There are so many folks who spend hours planning and/or stressing over fastpasses and lines and food and characters -- books, blogs, podcasts. There are tips and cheets and secrets. Good grief.



Cool... I'm sure you can do it, if you just want to do a day or two, especially during an off-season. I'm generally talking more like a bigger vacation where you'll be spending several days to a week or more. It that case I still think you'll get way more out of it and save time and money if you do a lot of planning. I'm personally not taking any chances like reserving a hotel barely two weeks ahead of time and just showing up at the gate with nothing set in stone for my whole vacation. THAT would give me anxiety. THAT would not be "relaxing."

Like I said above, planning over the minutiae like fast pass times and reservations down to the minute months ahead of time is half the fun for my wife and I. We enjoy reading the books and watching the videos, and it certainly doesn't stress us out. If it ever did, I don't think I would do it anymore.

Quote: Mosca

(Except The Great Movie Ride is gone. We loved that.)



Still can't believe they got rid of that. I understand that most of it was dated, but it's a very modular ride; they could have easily swapped out the irrelevant scenes for more modern stuff, and updated the animatronics in everything else. They could have kept it going forever.

And why the heck is Rock'n'Rollercoaster still around??? Talk about dated and irrelevant....
Mosca
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February 19th, 2020 at 12:19:23 PM permalink
Quote: TigerWu


Still can't believe they got rid of that. I understand that most of it was dated, but it's a very modular ride; they could have easily swapped out the irrelevant scenes for more modern stuff, and updated the animatronics in everything else. They could have kept it going forever.

And why the heck is Rock'n'Rollercoaster still around??? Talk about dated and irrelevant....



It was huge, and could move a lot of people through a long line. Then you got to sit for about 15 minutes in air conditioning. It was dated, but so what? Part of growing up with art is learning about what preceded your own time. I watched Casablanca the other night. It was dated, and silly in parts, and still absolutely great.
A falling knife has no handle.
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