Anyone there now that can comment on FP enforcement

[magicbob]

I know of course that all these rides have standby queues, and that many others used FPs inside the window religiously. But when you knew you didn't have to and recognized how much freedom that allowed, you really miss it in practice.

I feel your pain. I'll be doing my best not to stress about making FP times, but trying to ensure we're not cutting it close could prove to be stressful in and of itself.

 

[tj4disney]

It was 12:30p when I eventually got my group in the gates. That'll do it every time. At one point the posted wait was 150 mins. No thanks.

I know of course that all these rides have standby queues, and that many others used FPs inside the window religiously. But when you knew you didn't have to and recognized how much freedom that allowed, you really miss it in practice.

I already know I would feel like you...hence the reason I'm not sure when I'll be back. Eventually, I'm sure...but not seeing it for awhile.

 

[Pine View]

I guess I picked the wrong time to try to take two small kids to WDW by my self. I had planed to use FT to at least get them on the rides they want to hit once. No way can I be draging them running to get them and then get back. I will be spending the whole time watching the clock and fretting about finding my way back in time.

 

[Karpkg]

Did DHS today. FPs for RnRC, ToT, and Star Tours only. Sailed through ToT and ST, but took probably 15 minutes to get through RnRC's up to the recording studio preshow video. ST standby wasn't bad though either, only 10 minutes standby during our FP window in early evening, ToT was posted 40. Crowds not quite as heavy today compared to MK yesterday, but still pretty bad.

Sweated getting to all of them before the windows expired, windows for all three overlapped a bit, and immediately followed Characterpalooza which we had to hit. Definitely a more rigid approach to touring and more stressful than I like. I know plenty did it this way unnecessarily in the past, but I didn't. Oh well--it's not like I'm gonna quit going.

It was 12:30p when I eventually got my group in the gates. That'll do it every time. At one point the posted wait was 150 mins. No thanks.

I know of course that all these rides have standby queues, and that many others used FPs inside the window religiously. But when you knew you didn't have to and recognized how much freedom that allowed, you really miss it in practice.

Same here with minor differences. Got into MK late because monorail broke down for 30 min. just before RD. Then the family had to stop at Main Street Bakery(scrimmage helped to conceal it a bit, so lines were not bad)In either case, the later the FP's, the longer the return times in between. Where we normally can use 4,5 fast passes a day, we only managed two that day. Constantly checking that watch, having to watch that we stay within that area vs. cris crossing the areas was a bit stressful. Also not knowing if the ride was going to be back up in time for your fast pass window. Using the lines ap proved to be invaluable at this point, if you're in Tomorrowland wondering if Splash Mtn will be back up; you can check it rather than hustling the family back and then finding the ride was still down. That area was crowded as people went there not knowing BTMRR was being refurbished and they were wandering around consulting maps wondering what to do. We spent more time at Tom Sawyer Island and skipping Space Mtn. I didn't re work my strategies before this trip; this required more thought than I wanted. Let me tell you, I really appreciated going to IOA and Universal midway this trip.

 

[seashoreCM]

Also not knowing if the ride was going to be back up in time for your fast pass window.

(repeat) If the ride is down or the fastpass line really long during your fastpass window then they should let you come back any time later. This was a rule from the very start of fast passes. This point is worth taking to Guest Relations if needed.

A current or future fastpass revalidation procedure may require that you go or have gone to the ride at some point during your window.

 

[kaytieeldr]

That makes sense if the ride is down, but not if it's "really long". Out if service is an absolute - either it's working or not. A 'really long' line is just too subjective for that to have ever been a standard exception to the FastPass window

 

[conniehar90]

Thanks for the live update mesaboy. We will be there in 5 days and I am really bummed about this. I know we will be fine, but it will be less relaxing having to keep on schedule.

 

[seashoreCM]

It does make sense to be able to choose to come back later to use your fastpass if the wait to use it now is going to be long. Remember that the billing of fast passes is to be able to return and ride with little or no additional wait.

It is unDisneylike for CM's to escalate subjective arguments although it is fair for the guest to receive a good explanation of Disney's point of view on the spot.

 

[mom2rtk]

Did DHS today. FPs for RnRC, ToT, and Star Tours only. Sailed through ToT and ST, but took probably 15 minutes to get through RnRC's up to the recording studio preshow video. ST standby wasn't bad though either, only 10 minutes standby during our FP window in early evening, ToT was posted 40. Crowds not quite as heavy today compared to MK yesterday, but still pretty bad.

Sweated getting to all of them before the windows expired, windows for all three overlapped a bit, and immediately followed Characterpalooza which we had to hit. Definitely a more rigid approach to touring and more stressful than I like. I know plenty did it this way unnecessarily in the past, but I didn't. Oh well--it's not like I'm gonna quit going.

Well, you KNOW you didn't have to TAKE all those fastpasses, right?

Appreciating all the live feedback. So nice of you to take one for the team like that and go on a fact-finding mission.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It does make sense to be able to choose to come back later to use your fastpass if the wait to use it now is going to be long. Remember that the billing of fast passes is to be able to return and ride with little or no additional wait.

No, it never was. Yes, you have a line that gets you to a certain point faster than the people you pass in the standby line, because your FastPass is a reservation to wait in a virtual line. Never little or no additional wait. Man, Soarin' owes me HOURS of wasted time if that's the case Test Track owes me some time as well.

 

[WDSearcher]

I guess I picked the wrong time to try to take two small kids to WDW by my self. I had planed to use FT to at least get them on the rides they want to hit once. No way can I be draging them running to get them and then get back. I will be spending the whole time watching the clock and fretting about finding my way back in time.

I bet you won't. I bet you'll be spending the whole time watching those kids have a great time at WDW.

The very second you get a FP, you know what time you have to be back. There's no reason why you have to "drag them running" to get to rides and FPs and back unless you never look at a clock.

 

[origin62]

I bet you won't. I bet you'll be spending the whole time watching those kids have a great time at WDW.

The very second you get a FP, you know what time you have to be back. There's no reason why you have to "drag them running" to get to rides and FPs and back unless you never look at a clock.

Plus you'll have an 80 minute window to use your FP! Have a great time!

 

[KellyNY]

Plus you'll have an 80 minute window to use your FP! Have a great time!

And it is enough to cross park 5 times.

 

[magicbob]

Well, you KNOW you didn't have to TAKE all those fastpasses, right?

Of course someone doesn't HAVE to take the FPs. And I get your point (at least what seems to be implied) that any stress induced by having to watch the clock in order to make it back within FP window is by choice because the individual chooses to use FP.

But, by that logic, I guess the only way to enjoy Disney stress-free is to simply do less? We take a much more relaxed approach now than we did years ago. But I still liked to maximize FP, which allowed for even more relaxing touring. For some, who maybe don't get to visit often, they want to do as much as possible. That means using as many FPs as they can, so I guess they are just stuck with the stress of watching the clock, etc.

And before anyone starts spouting that you can still get in the standby line. Yes, of course, you can. But more time spent in line equals less time to do other things. No matter how you slice it, the net result of this change is that things got worse for some, stayed the same for others, and got better for NO ONE.

 

[WDSearcher]

Of course someone doesn't HAVE to take the FPs. And I get your point (at least what seems to be implied) that any stress induced by having to watch the clock in order to make it back within FP window is by choice because the individual chooses to use FP.

But, by that logic, I guess the only way to enjoy Disney stress-free is to simply do less? We take a much more relaxed approach now than we did years ago. But I still liked to maximize FP, which allowed for even more relaxing touring. For some, who maybe don't get to visit often, they want to do as much as possible. That means using as many FPs as they can, so I guess they are just stuck with the stress of watching the clock, etc.

And before anyone starts spouting that you can still get in the standby line. Yes, of course, you can. But more time spent in line equals less time to do other things. No matter how you slice it, the net result of this change is that things got worse for some, stayed the same for others, and got better for NO ONE.

I don't know about that. People will be congnizant of when the return window is now. So instead of just grabbing the first FP they see in the AM and using it 'whenever', they'll only take ones for times that fit their day.

The old way, you could pull a FP for, say 1pm, knowing full well that you weren't going to be able to use it during the window because you'd be eating then. Now, if you know 1pm conflicts, you'll wait for a better time or choose standby, thereby allowing someone who can use a FP at 1pm to pull it when they may not have been able to before.

Things also just got better for the people who have always followed the return window and always thought that people who didn't were wrong.

 

[magicbob]

Things also just got better for the people who have always followed the return window and always thought that people who didn't were wrong.

Things didn't really get better for them at the parks. FP "abusers" will still pull FPs. There will be occasional times where someone waits a little longer to pull a FP because of an ADR, but that probably won't be enough to notice. And that just means the FP they pull is for a different time, meaning there's still one less FP for someone else. Now, people will come back during the window to use them instead of using them later, but that will only affect the former late users and not those who "always followed the rules." They're just using this change as an excuse to feel falsely vindicated.

So, I guess if that makes them feel better then, technically, things DID get better for them.

 

[KellyNY]

I don't know about that. People will be congnizant of when the return window is now. So instead of just grabbing the first FP they see in the AM and using it 'whenever', they'll only take ones for times that fit their day.

The old way, you could pull a FP for, say 1pm, knowing full well that you weren't going to be able to use it during the window because you'd be eating then. Now, if you know 1pm conflicts, you'll wait for a better time or choose standby, thereby allowing someone who can use a FP at 1pm to pull it when they may not have been able to before.

Things also just got better for the people who have always followed the return window and always thought that people who didn't were wrong.

So very true, those arriving later should also have a chance to get FP and use it on time.
BTW, I find all this talk about being stressed by watching clock a bit funny. Who ever promissed walk on every ride, it is a theme park with limited number of rides and lots and lots of people. Obviously you will stand in lines from time to time even with FP.

 

[WillAustin]

I don't know about that. People will be congnizant of when the return window is now. So instead of just grabbing the first FP they see in the AM and using it 'whenever', they'll only take ones for times that fit their day.

The old way, you could pull a FP for, say 1pm, knowing full well that you weren't going to be able to use it during the window because you'd be eating then. Now, if you know 1pm conflicts, you'll wait for a better time or choose standby, thereby allowing someone who can use a FP at 1pm to pull it when they may not have been able to before.

Things also just got better for the people who have always followed the return window and always thought that people who didn't were wrong.

Count me as one who's going to pull the FPs anyway in order to maximize how many we can get in a day. We always get them immediately when we can. I don't see that changing for us. If anything conflicts, I'm quite sure we can trade our FPs with a family that has a later time.

 

[maxiesmom]

Maybe people need to remember that even when you could collect fastpasses all day long and use them later, you still couldn't see and do everything there is in the parks. It is just not possible. So if someone goes to WDW and judges how successful their trip is by how many rides they ride, they are bound to be disappointed. There is simply no way to do them all! And there really never was, unless you were running your family into the ground.

 

[KellyNY]

Things didn't really get better for them at the parks. FP "abusers" will still pull FPs. There will be occasional times where someone waits a little longer to pull a FP because of an ADR, but that probably won't be enough to notice. And that just means the FP they pull is for a different time, meaning there's still one less FP for someone else. Now, people will come back during the window to use them instead of using them later, but that will only affect the former late users and not those who "always followed the rules." They're just using this change as an excuse to feel falsely vindicated.

So, I guess if that makes them feel better then, technically, things DID get better for them.

Don't we all love vindication talk?
If you get there and FP is not right time for you and you will not pull it, someone else will have a chance to get it, instead of getting FP for later time or not getting it at all. Sorry if you do not see it but better change for us is very real.