FastPass

[figmentaholic]

I do not wish for any changes other than I'd like to be able to get fast passes as per smartphone.

Getting a Fastpass through a Smartphone would be cool, but I am not sure how the logistics would work. How can you make sure that they only get one at a time? And how could you make sure that people wouldn't take pics of other people's screens? And the pics would have to change with times like the machines do.

I am sure the technology is coming soon,, but for right now there are too many questions about how it would work I think. But I would be surprised if they weren't looking into it/working on it.

[rphillips14]

Here's how it would work:

On my phone I recieve 5 fast passes for a general admission. the guy who sits at the fastpass entryway would also have a smart device that would also have 5 fast passes under my name-he would then "delete" one when I scanned my ID card for him. I think it can be done and with the current technology.

Interestingly, most people don't use their fast passes efficiently anyhow. We didn't get it down till our second trip.

[Wizzard419]

We were talking about the possibility for it and a few of the reasons they probably won't do the smart phone thing is that they don't have as much market penetration as you might think, it probably would cost a lot to develop, international guests would get raped on data fees (if you've ever traveled abroad and used your cell you know it's bad even with the discounted rate), not all phones scan well, and of course, the system would be gamed easily since the coding for the fastpasses isn't NSA level encryption.

[figmentaholic]

Here's how it would work:

On my phone I recieve 5 fast passes for a general admission. the guy who sits at the fastpass entryway would also have a smart device that would also have 5 fast passes under my name-he would then "delete" one when I scanned my ID card for him. I think it can be done and with the current technology.

Interestingly, most people don't use their fast passes efficiently anyhow. We didn't get it down till our second trip.

An interesting concept, but there are still ways to cheat that system.

[Mr.ToadWildRider]

When using the Universal Express Plus pass, you are free to ride whatever time you choose. Purchased passes can only be used once per attraction while Universal Resort guests have unlimited ride access (certain restrictions may apply during peak travel times.)

Universal Express PLUS Passes range in price from $19.99 to $55.99 + tax per person, per day, per park. (1/04/09 - $19.99). For a family of four, this could cost around $200 for one day at each park.

I don't like the idea of paying for them either, but I think as I may have posted earlier I've used the service at UO before because it was actually cheaper for us. Instead of needing to buy a second park ticket and use a second precious vacation day we bought a single day 2-park hop pass and the 1-day 2-park Express Pass and we were able to do essentially everything we wanted at least once in both parks in one day (the only thing we missed was the Terminator 3-D attraction). It was the perfect solution as it gave us a day to enjoy Typhoon Lagoon and saved us like $25+/person.

[figmentaholic]

When using the Universal Express Plus pass, you are free to ride whatever time you choose. Purchased passes can only be used once per attraction while Universal Resort guests have unlimited ride access (certain restrictions may apply during peak travel times.)

Universal Express PLUS Passes range in price from $19.99 to $55.99 + tax per person, per day, per park. (1/04/09 - $19.99). For a family of four, this could cost around $200 for one day at each park.

I don't like the idea of paying for them either, but I think as I may have posted earlier I've used the service at UO before because it was actually cheaper for us. Instead of needing to buy a second park ticket and use a second precious vacation day we bought a single day 2-park hop pass and the 1-day 2-park Express Pass and we were able to do essentially everything we wanted at least once in both parks in one day (the only thing we missed was the Terminator 3-D attraction). It was the perfect solution as it gave us a day to enjoy Typhoon Lagoon and saved us like $25+/person.

Actually, that is an angle that I hadn't previously thought about, using the ticket if you only had one day in the parks and wanted to do everything. That is very interesting, and I could see that depending on where you go in the year (because apparently the price depends on the time of year, if I read the website right) it really could save you money and time if you had a very limited time to see the two Universal parks.
Thanks for bringing a new perspective to that, I think you figured out something kind of brilliant!

[Pluto23]

I like the FP - and is saves us tons of wait time. What I think Disney should do is enforce the return time. It would be painful, because I certainly take advantage of the return when you want. By enforcing the return time, the crowds would be distributed in the manner intended.

[Amy]

I like the FP - and is saves us tons of wait time. What I think Disney should do is enforce the return time. It would be painful, because I certainly take advantage of the return when you want. By enforcing the return time, the crowds would be distributed in the manner intended.

Or they could at least reinforce it a little better, say within a few hours or so, instead of letting people return many, many moons after their return time...

[Wizzard419]

I think one of the reasons they don't really enforce the return times is that they don't want to punish the guests for going off and using other disney attractions or spending money. That and it also doesn't matter as much since the "seats" on the ride were already given out and cannot be returned to the pool of passes.

[jacobcary1]

They have always been very open about coming up later than your time. I have to agree with wizard on this one though. If people are spending money even if its just on a $6 ice cream bar. Thats still a $5 Disney profit.

[Amy]

I think one of the reasons they don't really enforce the return times is that they don't want to punish the guests for going off and using other disney attractions or spending money. That and it also doesn't matter as much since the "seats" on the ride were already given out and cannot be returned to the pool of passes.

They have always been very open about coming up later than your time. I have to agree with wizard on this one though. If people are spending money even if its just on a $6 ice cream bar. Thats still a $5 Disney profit.

Good point...I hadn't thought of it that way. But it does tend to make a mess of attractions late in the evening...

[rphillips14]

Hmmmm...a master fast pass that would allow you a golden ticket to ride as a fast pass any ride, as many times as you wish.....what would that be worth???

[jacobcary1]

Hmmmm...a master fast pass that would allow you a golden ticket to ride as a fast pass any ride, as many times as you wish.....what would that be worth???

I'm sure you could get $25 to $30 bucks for it. But I am cheap and wont pay it. But some people who are better off would. Although that takes away from the happiest place on earth because MR Money Bags should be treated equally within the parks, to treat everyone the same to a certain extent.

[Wizzard419]

Yeah, it would totally suck if there were some elite, member's only club that offered services to tiny portion of guests.

[Amy]

Yeah, it would totally suck if there were some elite, member's only club that offered services to tiny portion of guests.

Are you a Club 33 member Wizzard?!