Animal Kingdom Testing New Central Fastpass Technique.

[Imagineer2802]

Disney currently is testing the concept of a centralized FastPass station at Animal Kingdom. There are six machines in operation in the area that once was the FastPass distribution area for It's Tough to Be a Bug. Three attractions were available at two stations apiece. You can get passes for Dinosaur, Expedition Everest and the Kilimanjaro Safaris. You can still get FastPasses at those individual attractions as well.

Another "fault" is that you cannot tell what time you are going to get BEFORE you put your ticket into the machine or what the current wait time is at that attraction. (The machines will always be manned by a cast member, happy to tell you the times currently distrubting, but that's labour-intensive.).

The machines were designated by logo of the attraction, although the Dino Institute design doesn't scream DINOSAUR like the Everest or Safari signs. And they were low to the ground and hard to see if someone were actually using the machine.

[Imagineer2802]

FastPass is confusing enough to first timers, and the cast members spent a lot of time there explaining how it works and how this test is working. Of course, there are returning guests still trying to get FastPasses for It's a Bug's Life there still.
What exactly Disney is testing for is not clear. However, a front-line cast member (manning the machines) is totally in favour of centralizing FastPass. He says he spends untold hours at the entrance explaining to guests how FP works (and measuring the height of kids, but that's another problem, one that he wants to wristband kids for.)
What do you think? Would centralization help or cause an even bigger logjam? Or do you believe something ELSE is in the works?
Remember, this is a test and a work in progress. Certainly, signage would be better and it would be listed on guide maps were it to become reality.

[sha9]

This is a great idea (if they can get it to work properly). I've often lamented trailing to a ride for a fast pass then halfway across the park to another ride then back again to use the fast pass. As long as they continue to have fastpass distribution at each ride too. Be great if you could collect them for multiple rides!

[Guest]

Does that mean that you get 3 fastpasses at one time then? i.e. put in MY park ticket and get a FP for Everest, Dino AND Safari? or is is just that the Central distribution point is alternate place to get an FP without going out of the way since Everest & Safari are quite far out if you are in the middle of the park?

If it's just an alternate place to collect them then I suppose it would cut down on Disney's overheads as they should need less CMs at the ride FP collection points (or see this as a way to do away with them in the future maybe in favour of the 2 or 3 central zones around the park) BUT would prefer to see an FP that allowed you to do say 3 rides on the 1 ticket (with say the CM punching a hole in your ticket next to the ride name once you have ridden that ride and therefore used your FP for that ride).

Just my blearly eyed first reaction ...

[BriarRose]

It would be great if you could get more than one FP at a time but doubt that is what they are doing. If you don't know what time the FP return is until the ticket is printed, then potentially you might not be able to get another FP until the end of the day - which wouldn't be too great!

[Guest]

Been thinking (dangerous I know!) - would they not put up one of those boards that they have that has the current wait times and hook that into a return time type thing maybe (you know, the one that has ALL the rides and the wait times on it)? Wouldn't necessarily do that during the testing phase due to the costs and in case they don't decide to keep the system, but if it was a perm thing then they may implement something like that that shows the wait & current return times for the FPs

[DisneyPlanner73]

Sure that dh will favour this - he is the one who has to do all the running from one attraction to the other getting the passes for the next ride.

This is one thing that we are so grateful that Disney do and not charge extra for.

When we went in 2006 during the school hols (and before ds gac) we had this down to a fine art as we knew that ds would not be able to handle the wait times.

Also, like the sound of height wrist bands as again this could help to move the lines quicker.

[Guest]

I think it sounds brilliant as last year we got split up between running for fast passes (the men in our cases as FIL to be is a pro) and getting in line at other attractions. Slightly off point but Dinosaur scared my 23 year old self and I never plan to go on it again xx FP central area a great idea though xx

[Guest]

all sounds a bit confusing to me, but if it works better than im all for it

[BevS97]

does this mean it's tough to be a bug no longer has Fastpass? As it sounds from the article that you can't get a Fastpass for ITTBAB at this location.