LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Feb. 17, 2003) – Walt Disney World Resort today celebrated distribution of the 100 millionth FASTPASS ticket – the revolutionary, skip-the-line innovation that has changed the way people visit theme parks.
Walt Disney World guests had reason to celebrate the FASTPASS milestone, too, because those 100 million FASTPASS tickets have allowed them to avoid 60 million hours of standing in line – and apply that time to other theme park fun.
To commemorate the occasion, Mary Dillon of Atlanta, Ga., was the surprise recipient of a Golden FASTPASS that provided her and her family with FASTPASS entry to all 23 attractions currently offering the time-saving innovation in the four Walt Disney World theme parks. Mrs. Dillon was visiting Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World Resort with her husband, Mike, and their three children: Claire, 10; Tess, 7; and Olivia, 4.
The milestone celebration began as Mary obtained a Disney’s FASTPASS at the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith attraction. That set off music and a shower of silver streamers. Walt Disney World President Al Weiss presented Mrs. Dillon with the Golden FASTPASS. As part of the surprise, the family was also presented commemorative jackets and was provided with a personal Disney Tour Guide to whisk them to favorite attractions and shows in the Disney theme parks.
Disney’s FASTPASS, introduced in 1999, is an industry-leading, breakthrough concept that allows guests to avoid waiting in lines at many of the most popular Disney theme park attractions.
“It is exciting to see how our guests have embraced this innovation,” Weiss said. “Reaching 100 million FASTPASS tickets in just 3½ years is a testament to the popularity of the program with our guests.”
The program was developed in response to guest feedback – which indicated that the No. 1 concern of theme park visitors was waiting in line.
Disney’s FASTPASS is available at no additional charge to all guests at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It assigns a one-hour time period when a guest may return to experience attractions with little or no waiting. Essentially, guests are given an opportunity to spend time enjoying other aspects of the park instead of waiting in a line.
One hundred million FASTPASS tickets add up to a staggering amount of reallocated time: cumulatively 60 million hours–6,849 years–by Disney estimates.
And what have Disney guests gained by virtue of “Disney Savings Time”? Guests using Disney’s FASTPASS are experiencing approximately 25 percent more rides and attractions during their theme park visit.
Both the scientific and entertainment communities have applauded Disney’s FASTPASS. It earned a Themed Entertainment Association “Thea Award” for Breakthrough Innovation in 2001 and the Florida Engineering Society “Governor’s New Product Award” in 2000.
Globally, Disney’s FASTPASS is offered on 58 attractions at 10 Disney theme parks on three continents. Total FASTPASS tickets distributed worldwide to date: In excess of 215 million.
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