My family first experienced Fastpass when we went to Disney World in 2000 for their Millennium Celebration. Back then, it was a paper pass and if I remember correctly (I was 13 and not exactly paying attention to trip planning) the passes were sort of on a one-at-a-time basis. There were kiosks that would dispense them. I believe the kiosks were gold, at least some of them… And I remember thinking that it was so cool that we got to skip the line on at least a few rides.
I don’t remember my family utilizing Fastpasses as much as we probably should have. Disney World has always meant waiting in long lines. That’s part of the deal. Whenever the lines moved quickly or weren’t that long, it was considered exciting and special. The night when my dad and I went from the Haunted Mansion to Pirates and back again was a truly great memory partially because there were no lines. Bonus, right?
There has been a lot of talk about Fastpass this week, due to Disney’s finally announcing their new Genie system (with Genie+ being the real source of controversy.) Fastpass went away during the Covid pandemic last year, and a lot of people hoped it would return now that the parks are back open and capacities are creeping back to normal. But this new Fastpass comes with a price tag, and a pretty hefty one if you’re traveling with your whole family. Should wealthier people be allowed quicker entry to the attractions? Should I have to pay $30 for me and my husband to skip the line at the Haunted Mansion, or pay $40 for a “more popular” ride?
There’s a lot that I find irksome about Genie+, as I’m sure is the case for many other Disney fans. But I’ve been trying to stay positive and look at the bright side of this new situation as well. I love Disney and going to their parks too much to just call it quits because some people get to go in before me. I don’t like being patient, but I’ve learned to get used to being a little patient. Going to Disney World or Land is and has always been a privilege. Not everyone can afford to go once, let alone every year or seasonally like some lucky ducks. The fact that I can go at all, especially during these crazy times… It’s not lost on me.
I feel grateful. Even to stand in line for an hour in the sun.
As you might be able to glean from this blog, I have always been a planner. I like staying organized — at least with my own system — and a large part of my excitement for trips and other plans is this planning. In that way, I’ve always liked Disney’s Fastpass. I like having structure to my days, so I know what to be ready for. Sure, some spontaneity is fine but I like knowing at least generally what to expect when I’m going somewhere. This is why my husband and I have a Google Doc of all of our plans for our upcoming visit. And this is why I think the core function of Genie will be helpful for me. Maybe. We’ll see.
The main Genie system is an optional add-on to the My Disney Experience app. It’s a free (at least for now) planning tool that will help guests organize their days while they’re in the parks, catered specifically to each guest’s needs. This I am excited about and I hope I have the chance to put it to use when planning our trip this October, even though most of our planning has been carried out because, well, see the paragraph above.
I think there is a lot to be excited about with the new changes coming to Disney this fall. As long as they don’t announce that Jack Skellington is taking over my Haunted Mansion, the Mouse and I can stay friends. 😉
after the laughter 