Knott's Berry Farm introduces line-cutting pass

I average 3-5 Disneyland trips per year. Do 1-2 Disneyworld/Universal trips every 2 years. In 10 years plus there was one time I waited 5 minutes to get an Indiana Jones Fastpass. Every other time was immediate or less than a minute. I always wait longer in food lines than ride lines because I use Fastpass to its fullest. I will hop parks just to get my next Fastpass if it will save me time later in the day. This is real easy in California. In fact my morning routine at any Disney park is just Fastpass collecting to set up an awesome evening/night. I prefer night atmosphere...

I've gone enough that I actually enjoy "gaming" the Faspass system more than riding the rides. :) Friends and family love to come with me. I send them on their way to "stand-by" rides they can all morning while I collect their tickets and go Fastpass fishing. After a morning of collection we go back to our rooms to rest/relax. We typically come back to the parks in the evening with a pocket full of passes for every major ride at our primary park and a couple at a secondary park. I can't remember the last time I've even used every Fastpass in my pocket. I just find a nice family and hand passes to them when I leave.

The point is that if you go enough and learn the system you can have an awesome day with 15 minute wait max (Indy in CA and Soarin in FL are notorious for having 15-20 minute waits with a Fastpass). Those that refuse to use it to its fullest are missing out...

Of course not everybody has somebody in their party willing to "sit it out" for most/all of the morning. But IF you have somebody with you sitting out a ride, put them to work. I've found an hour or two worth of collecting in the morning can save you up to 6 hours of wait time later in the evening, especially on busy days. I think the payoff is more than worth it!

Was nosing around the On Demand selections on my TV and found this...

How To Avoid Long Lines At The Amusement Park

Had to chuckle at Step 2. It really has become just another part of the experience listed right along classic staples like going midweek and heading to the back first.

I'm pretty much fine with a high priced, use it once system like this one. My only real experience with any line cutting systems was this past summer at Great Adventure. I did buy one of the passes, but in my opinion, they should have been much higher priced. It was a busy day, and it seemed way too many people were using the system. Add in the fact that many rides had extremely poor flash pass integration, and the people waiting in "standby" really got screwed. Maybe it's just the anti-capitalist in me, but I'm not ok with that. I don't think wait times should double (and they were easily doubled on at least a few rides the day I was there) just because they can't or won't pay a a huge additional fee after they already paid to enter the park. I get more ok with it if that additional fee is big enough to keep the impact to everyone else small, such as CP's VIP tours, but this isn't the case for SF's system.

I am really curious how well this would go over at a place like CP. They already have a pretty bad reputation within the region for being a poor value that leaves lots of guests feeling nickle and dimed. I don't necessarily have that opinion, but most people I know and talk to do. I think most people would view it as a fee they have to pay if they want to ride anything after they've already paid to enter the park. Plus this is the park who's free line pass system failed a few years ago because it was unfair to people who like to sleep in.

Aamilj said:

The point is that if you go enough and learn the system you can have an awesome day with 15 minute wait max (Indy in CA and Soarin in FL are notorious for having 15-20 minute waits with a Fastpass). Those that refuse to use it to its fullest are missing out...

I've been to Disney parks twice since the introduction of Fastpass. Because my wife and I are both teachers there are 11 weeks a year where we have a shared vacation. 10 of those weeks are in the summer and the other is the week between Christmas and New Year's. All of those weeks are during peak times for crowds.

One of our trips was in December 2005. Lines to get a Fastpass were a minimum of 30 minutes on most attractions. So we're already over 15 minutes. It's not just a matter of knowledge of the system but timing.

I prefer the pay system because it is an add-on perk that could have value. Disney's system isn't free...it's just marketed that way.

*Only Disney Geek interested in Fastpass strategies should read this!

Mulf:

I hear you buddy. Believe me, I have been there at the times you have mentioned more than once. No doubt there are difficulties. If you are telling me that you had to wait 30 minutes to get a Fastpass, I am telling you that you got there too late in the day!

While busy times suck...they have one HUGE advantage. The parks open ridiculously early. People are LAZY! Use that to your advantage! Magic Kingdom advertises 7:00 am, but they open stuff earlier...for example. You HAVE to be there early for multiple reasons.

First, the reason most people do not understand...early Fastpass distributions do not have nearly as long a wait until you can get the next Fastpass. For example...go to Hollywood Studios as the gates open...EVEN on New Years Day...Fastpass ToT...it may only be 30 minutes before you are allowed to get another. You can ride ToT and Rock-n-Roller a couple times in those 30 minutes. Collect Fastpasses from Rock-n-Roller before you leave...Voila...you have done both major rides in the park at least once...probably more...AND STILL have Fastpasses in your pocket for evening.

Now you hop the boat or bus to EPCOT. You go straight to Soarin and Fastpass that for the evening. Lots of times EPCOT opens an hour after Hollywood Studios...this is to your benefit as you always want to be one of the first through the gates of any park. Staggered opening times give you the opportunity to be first through the gates of at least two parks in ONE morning. When you see this opportunity, you should take it!

**almost always works at Disneyland and California Adventure as the latter always opens at least an hour or two later.

After getting a Soarin Fastpass (probably around 10:00 am during busy seasons)...you probably will have a one-two hour window before you are allowed to get another Fastpass. Go enjoy EPCOT for that one-two hours. Do stuff that has no lines, or walk the World Showcase, etc. The moment you are able...get Test Track Fastpasses.

You are now holding in your pocket Fastpasses for ToT, Rock-n-Roller, Soarin, and Test Track! Not bad for a busy day! You have already ridden Rock-n-Roller and ToT (possible multiple times). You had an hour or two to enjoy Epcot. Probably got a couple other rides in that time...Mission Space/Nemo, etc. And it is probably noon to 1:00 pm!

Now you can choose your destiny. I choose to go back to the hotel and relax/rest. I'll eat dinner off site before returning. Now here is the great part. The parks are open way later during the busy season. You come back recharged...knowing AT WORST you are going to get to ride ToT, Rock-n-Roller, Soarin, and Test Track. You can catch a show or two at Hollywood Studio's...then go ride. You hop the boat back to Epcot. You can experience World Showcase at night...in all its glory. You can ride the two major rides in that park...and probably do another minor attraction too!

In one day...on the busiest day of the entire year if need be...this strategy will work! You will experience parts of two parks in daytime and nighttime atmospheres! You will have rested so you are not stressed, etc.

The next day you can do it all again. Go Magic Kingdom/Animal Kingdom...OR you can go back to Hollywood Studios to ride/Fastpass Toy Story...and head back to EPCOT for repeats OR do stuff you did not do the day before.

In two days you can knock out two parks...see all the stuff you want to see. Ride most (all?) the major stuff multiple times. What is not to like?

Notice in the scenario I have given you I never wait for a ride. I either ride first thing when there is no wait, use a Fastpass in the evening, or catch the less popular attractions/shows (that have no wait) while the rest of the crowd is stand-bying the stuff I have Fastpasses for.

Disney is not a place you can just show up to and expect it to be magical (yet?). This is why I say you have to study and learn the system. What I describe may seem like a lot of work and effort, but I guarantee you what I describe is much less taxing than wondering through one park on one day hoping to luck into short lines. How many of those folks get to go back to their hotel for a nap? They stand in line all day complaining. They do half the stuff I get done in a day while taking twice the time to do it. A lot of them tire and never make it to the evening to see the parks at their best.

Fastpass is your friend. Learn to use it. In fact, I could make an argument that the busy season is the BEST time to go IF you know what you are doing. Extended hours make Fastpass strategies even more valuable.

^Aamlij's best post to date... :)

The only real issue I have with your strategy...no mention of TSMM...the best attraction anywhere...EVER! ;)

When we did WDW a couple of years ago I purchased Ridemax. It was by far the best $20 I spent on that trip. We had a plan and fastpass strategy that worked extremely well. I know that some prefer to go with the flow, but if you want to maximize your time at the park, this is a great way to go.

After our trip, we spoke with several neighbors that were down at a similar time that had a horrible trip. They had no plan, and no idea what they were in for. They only got to do 10% of what we did and spent more time doing it.

Disney is a world unto itself, your not going to bend it to fit your style, you have to learn the Disney way and adapt to it for the magic to happen.

Thanks Aamilj. I'll keep that in mind when we visit Disneyland in 2013 and Disney World in 2014. I think the kids will be up early enough to get to the parks when they open.

Thanks, Aamilj. I have always been interested in how others play the Fastpass game.

Getting to the parks early and Fastpass are a great combo. I was amazed at how few people were at the parks early in the morning when we were there a couple of summers ago. I think with a lot of little kids, you either pick the early morning or night. There is a lot to do at night so parents with young kids skip the mornings. And there are a lot of folks who refuse to get up early while on vacation.

That would be my wife and I. When we're on vacation, when we get up is when we get up. Personally, I like it that way.

I just don't see a need to game anything or try hard to work the system. Am I the only one who just shows up at WDW and goes with it? Maybe it's because I only go at non-peak times (which still seem crowded to me). I get in the park when I do, get a pass if I want to ride something, park hop for dinner, and I just... roll with it. Restaurant reservations aside, I planned ahead once for the Candlelight Processional at Epcot (with a dinner/tickets deal). That's about it as far as planning goes.

The only real issue I have with your strategy...no mention of TSMM...the best attraction anywhere...EVER!

I thought it was in there for day #2. But it was too long...I didn't read what I wrote! :)

For the record...TSMM is indeed the best of Disney. They have a mad rush to their Fastpass first thing...which indeed leads to lines. I have found that the best way to attack Hollywood Studio's is to break it into two mornings. One morning go the ToT and Rock-n-Roller Route in terms of Fastpasses and morning rides. The second morning concentrate on a quick ride on Toy Story plus a Fastpass for this ride. Then get the heck out of there.

Hollywood Studio's is best observed at night. However, to enjoy the night, you have to go first thing to get your passes. Most stuff there involves shows, which can be done at any time (Fantasmic excluded...get there early for that one).

I could talk for hours on Disney strategy. But I'll throw out a few more general concepts that have worked for YEARS for me...I assume that most people are doing at minimum a 4-day hopper...but 5 days is recommended.

1. Never let EPCOT be the first park you go to in the morning. It is a wonderful second park (late morning) park to show up and get Fastpasses. You do have to get there before 2:00 pm IF ONLY to get your Fastpass(s) because Test Track and Soarin are known to run out of these things mid day. However, EPCOT should ALWAYS be considered a good evening park. There are only two (three if you actually like Mission space) MAJOR rides. I have no less than 30 times traveled to EPCOT after morning power-riding/Fastpass collecting at one of the other 3 parks just to get Fastpasses and then leave. At night that place comes alive.
   
2. Animal Kingdom can be enjoyed in half day increments, either morning or afternoon. I prefer morning because the animals are more active on the Safari. Never Fastpass the Safari first thing in the morning UNLESS you love it and want to do it in the evening (remember AK always closes early). Best strategy is to Fastpass/Ride Everest first thing and go straight to Safari and wait for anything less than 20 minutes. AK is another park that is great to piggy-back with EPCOT for a dual morning/evening strategy.
3. Probably should have been first...NEVER go to just one park and plan to stay there the whole day. You are wasting time and time is fun!
4. Magic Kingdom is ALWAYS the most crowded. If you are not there first thing in the morning to grab a couple rides and collect a couple Fastpasses...Don't GO! Showing up at 11:00 am expecting a fun day is lambs to the slaughter. Magic Kingdom is also the most known for opening BEFORE they say they will. Go at least 30 minutes before they tell you it is opening. I've often knocked out all the Mountains in the first 30 minutes when they open early. This is more likely the more crowded the day as they tend to open early on days they expect mass crowds. The feeling of superiority you get LEAVING MK at 9:00 am while everybody else is arriving...knowing you already did all 3 Mountains and have Fastpasses to come back and ride 2 of three later that night is PRICELESS. I do it ALL the time. At 9:00 am I KNOW I can go to any of the other parks and get Fastpasses for that park too.
   

Summary: Always two parks twice a day. Should go through the entrance gate four times. EPCOT should NEVER be the first park. With a four day hopper this gives you a chance to morning power-ride the other three parks, PLUS pick the fourth day to do the park you like best. You can do all the big stuff at least once...probably twice. On a 5-day hopper...the week between Christmas and New Years you can expect to be able to ride EVERY MAJOR attraction at all 4 parks at least twice. You can expect that you can do at least 80% of the shows/minor attractions. You can expect that food lines will be way more annoying than ride lines.

I just don't see a need to game anything or try hard to work the system.

That is because you don't understand that the rush from gaming the system is way superior to the rush you get on a ride :)

That would be my wife and I. When we're on vacation, when we get up is when we get up. Personally, I like it that way.

This is why I do a lot of other trips that are not Disney-related. This attitude (which I agree with on every other vacation I take) does not mesh with what Disney offers.

I know on a site like this it is hard to fathom, but there are a lot of people that HATE Disney. Almost all of those are people who can't bring themselves to get up early and do what it takes suck in all that magic pixie dust.

Which brings us full circle...a pass like Knott's is offering would be perfect for you. You could show up at noon, pay your up-charge, and get on every ride with the shortest of waits. Guys like me who get there early and game the system will become obsolete. My years of Disney training will be as useful as a degree in Latin.

By the way...when Fastpass first came out I hated it. I still miss the democratic way of old in what is left of my scarred heart. I just realized I could either learn to work the system, or spend my day waiting or skipping rides. I decided that learning the system was the better option for what I like to do.

Aamilj said:

This is why I do a lot of other trips that are not Disney-related. This attitude (which I agree with on every other vacation I take) does not mesh with what Disney offers.

Which brings us full circle...a pass like Knott's is offering would be perfect for you. You could show up at noon, pay your up-charge, and get on every ride with the shortest of waits.

I do believe you have me all wrong, sir. :)

I don't care that much about rides. Knott's is fun, and I enjoy the atmosphere, but I'm all Disney.

I prefer to stay at a nicer resort, sleep in, hang around in the hammock, then make my way to EPCOT for the day. We always make it a point to get the dining plan, and get reservations as far ahead in advance as we can, but that's about as much planning as it takes for us.

I prefer to stroll around and take pictures (a couple of which wound up in an Orlando vacation guide this year, FYI), eat my awesome food, and enjoy my favorite place(s) on earth before catching the evening's show, wherever park that may be. I, too, enjoy HS at night. The atmosphere is incredible, and the shopping there is some of the best on property.

edit: I absolutely believe that 100% meshes with that Disney offers. That is our vacation destination of choice, and the way we prefer it, is a relaxing getaway. I've seen most everything Disney has to offer and then some.

I wake up early on vacation because that is just what I do. No alarms are ever set. I got prepaid sleep in college so I am good to go now.

We planned our visit out to Disney because it was the first time my wife and kids had been there and the first time I had been there since Epcot was new. There were a lot of things that we wanted to see. Wife and kids did the planning. I just made sure that the things that I wanted to do were on the list. If I visited regularly (or even semi regularly), I wouldn't plan nearly as much (if at all). We kept to the plan for the most part but varied it as we saw fit.

Disney World is a photographer's dream. Amazing photo opportunities everywhere you turn in the parks and resorts.

I don't care that much about rides. Knott's is fun, and I enjoy the atmosphere, but I'm all Disney.

I prefer to stay at a nicer resort, sleep in, hang around in the hammock, then make my way to EPCOT for the day. We always make it a point to get the dining plan, and get reservations as far ahead in advance as we can, but that's about as much planning as it takes for us.

That is funny, because I have evolved to this attitude myself. Too bad my kids and folks we go with have not! :( I have done all the rides so much that I can take it or leave it. I just enjoy setting up a "magical" day for the kids and people we go with. My rush is watching them have fun. I also enjoy walking the parks and people watching, etc.

I just do my relaxing mid-day! Once the kids are old enough to go it alone...I'll sleep in and hang at the resort myself.

But anyhow, my purpose for posting was to show people that "it can" be done. With a little effort, Disney is always doable with a 4 or 5 day hopper.

P.S. What has been your favorite restaurant? I like Jiko and Boma at AKL.

Ohana.

FYI - EPCOT is now Epcot. Circa 1994.

TerraCoaster said:
Ohana.

FYI - EPCOT is now Epcot. Circa 1994.

Your point? Much like "purists" refer to rides by their original names, I prefer to capitalize.