AJ, Mike, and Chris guarantee you will never hear a more lively conversation about the creation, implementation, and existence of the FastPass system used across all Disney theme parks. Introduced in 1999 (or was it?), the FastPass system allowed guests to stay out of the line and in the parks. We learn about the father of the FastPass, Greg Hale, and his journey from curious interviewee to the current day VP and Chief Safety Officer. We investigate when the fist tests were done, how the system worked at launch, and how FastPass has evolved at the various parks. So scan your park tickets before that five minute increment jump up, note your return time, and join us!
Patent # US6173209B1
https://patents.google.com/patent/US6173209B1/en
Keeping A Watchful Eye Over the Fun - How 2017 IAAPA Chairman Greg Hale is bringing Disney’s reputation for creativity, technology, and innovation to his new role
https://web.archive.org/web/20170701114300/http://www.iaapa.org/news/newsroom/news-articles/keeping-a-watchful-eye-over-the-fun---november-2016
rec.arts.disney.parks or RADP Posts related to FastPass
Post from Feb 18, 1999 by someone who got to try the new virtual queue system on Countdown to Extinction
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/rec.arts.disney.parks/virtual$20queue|sort:date/rec.arts.disney.parks/DTbm-3qxo-M/ChLjLPykBx8J
Post from April 16, 1999 asking if virtual queue was STILL being used with a reply that it was not working on Space Mountain or Countdown to Ext since this past Friday
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/rec.arts.disney.parks/virtual$20queue|sort:date/rec.arts.disney.parks/Zu4EwA0DVkw/tz7BLzbn5gcJ
Post from March 31, 1999 mentioning an Orange County Register newspaper article about the system currently undergoing in park testing
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/rec.arts.disney.parks/virtual$20queue|sort:date/rec.arts.disney.parks/M1KewrezMOU/vdXcG_M___QJ
Post from Jan 19, 1999 discussing the system being used on Space Mountain “last Christmas” which puts it at December 1998 https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.arts.disney.parks/JI3TpFeAISg%5B1-25%5D
Park Hopping - The Source of the RADP posts
https://parkhopping.com/category/fastpass/
Scott Ertz and Nicholas DiMeo from F5 Live: Refreshing Technology talk with Greg Hale, Chief
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yctvwzNNYq8
The History of Disney's FastPass System
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqCxV8m6HsU
Want to reach out? Email us at 90sDisneyPodcast@gmail.com!