270 minutes... no problem! Unless you recently bought your tickets and are staying off property. 270 minutes doesn't sound so bad... oh...wait... that's 4 1/2 hours for 1 attraction/ride.
But then there's the FastPass system.
Disney over the past several years has seen lots of changes to the "FastPass" system.
During its early years, the playing field was completely level for the "FastPass" program, not favoring anyone, regardless of financial ability. You would go to the many different FastPass distribution points, located near the attractions entrance, obtain a FastPass at be used at a specific time frame, generally 30-90 minutes away. You would return to the attraction, use you FastPass to bypass the standby lines, and then you were eligible to get another FastPass ... then repeat the process for other attractions. All very fair, everyone on a level playing field.
There was, and probably still is, a VIP access to everything, reserved for high profile "well to do" guests like celebrities. Personally guided tours of the park, special seating to the best restaurants, guided FastPass entrance, and a no wait concept was all inclusive. This was extremely quiet and conservative in nature so you would even notice it as a regular guest.
Then there's the all inclusive, extremely exclusive Club 33 guests... that get the keys to the kingdom for all the magic they want. Where Money can buy you all the magic you could ever want.
Then, over time, the new electronic FastPass system evolved, and things changed. The changes was presented as a technology advancement to make things easier.
First rolled out to Disney resort guests only ( to get the bugs out ), resort guests could aquire FastPasses in advance of going into the parks. As a result, many if the FastPasses for popular attractions were gone for the entire day before the parks even opened to people staying off property, locals, annual pass holders, and cast members. Everyone had to either wait in longer lines or simply not enjoy those attractions because the passes were all gone for that day... having all gone to Disney resort guests. A huge plus for resorts guests and an incentive to stay on property, thus, a further financial beneficial to Disney. This roll out program lasted a little over a year... great for guests staying in Disney Resorts.
Then the extra money making light bulb went off at Disney.
Disney began to sell special dining packages that included special passes to attractions, rides, or shows. Buying several packages during your visit got you extra passes to the most popular attractions.
If you stayed off property or waited to buy your last minute entrance tickets on the day you arrived... well... You had better prepare for long waits or missed attractions despite the price of admission that always went up. You could easily spend the bulk of your day just waiting to get on 3-4 popular rides or attractions.
Next, passes were electronically available to more people, but resort guests got to aquire them in a longer opportunity window, so they could have first crack at them.
Later came the selling of passes, and guests that stayed in preferred resort accommodations got to buy extra passes. It's probably only a matter of time before Disney sells FastPasses to anyone with the money, over the price of admission.
So there have been lots of changes, and if you have the extra money to take advantage of all the FastPass packages, and plan ahead, you can have quite the enjoyable vacation, virtually wait free. Otherwise be prepared to wait in longer lines. But there is always the off season times where attendance is lower, and lines are not as long... and you happen to hit them just at the right time.
Myself, I'm entirety pleased that the bulk of our Disney visits were from 2004-2010... when money didn't talk so much and buy extra privileges and benefits. When the price of admission was all you needed and the FassPass system was on a level playing field for everyone. Our average wait time back then was generally 30 minutes for more popular attractions and rides, with most being virtual walk on or a short wait of 5 - 10 minutes.
Yep... Everything changes over time. New generations of guests will never know how it was in the past verses how things are now.
Still... Disney is Magical... ya just have to wait for it. Key word being "wait".
But despite all this... There is still nothing like the magic of a Disney vacation.
Wow...300 minute standby wait... Simply can not imagine waiting 5 hours for 1 attraction.
