NOTE: This Editorial feature was written before the COVID-19 pandemic saw Walt Disney World’s phased reopening in July 2020 with FastPass disabled. It’s being presented in its original form here, but consider how Walt Disney World’s virtual queue system now has the opportunity for a “hard reset.” Will FastPass come out the other end at all? There’s a lot that remains to be seen… but we sure hope Disney recognizes these seven factors that made FastPass a pretty frustrating experience…
There’s almost nothing that can compare with the endorphine-drenched sensation of sailing past a full queue for your favorite E-Ticket with a FastPass in hand (or in-app). Since 1999, Disney’s FastPass service has truly redefined a day at the parks for a generation of Disney fans. The problem is that the ways it’s changed your favorite park aren’t always for the better.
FastPass has become so deeply engrained in Disney Parks operations, it’s hard to imagine visiting a park without it. And yet, there’s an argument to be made that if FastPass flashed out of existence, a visit to the happiest place on Earth may be happier. I know what you’re thinking, but hear me out… Let’s start at the beginning to see why Disney created FastPass, then dissect the seven ways that FastPass might be making your day at Disney Parks worse…