At WDW Now - Used GAD Fastpass for Epcot & DHS

[Meteora]

My father told my I should call Disney and ask about this--but I guess the frustrating part is that, thanks to Anal Annie, I already know what they will say, and it probably gets me no closer to the truth. Maybe I'll email anyway, just to see if the answer is consistent. I don't want to have my sister sign up and do a day if it turns out it won't work out--that would be so frustrating--but it would be so valuable to us if we COULD get those FPs. Oh, decisions, decisions.

 

[Anal Annie]

OK FOLKS!! I also sent an email to the GAD email address the other day but then got ansy & I called too. I JUST NOW got a reply to my email. I will copy the part from their response below that pertains to the blackout dates:

....Regarding the block-out periods, there are two alternate options available.


The first option is a FASTPASS exchange card. The number of FASTPASS

exchange cards issued per day is limited and may not be available after 11am.

The number of attractions the exchange card is valid for may change

based on a number of factors and therefore is unspecified. Details can

be give upon arrival. The FASTPASS benefit is for the volunteer and up

to 5 members of his/her party.


The second option is an Ear Hat figurine. The Ear Hat figurine is not Vinylmation.

It is a figurine shaped like Mickey Mouse's ears and has a round patch on the

front stating "Honorary Volunteer" on it. In addition, it has six unique Disney

Character trading pins attached to it....

....Thank you for celebrating volunteerism with us.


Sincerely,


Andrew Shepard

“Give A Day. Get A Disney Day.” Support Team


So you can bet that I will be printing this email out to bring with me "just in case"! But I think the CM's that C.F. is talking to may not necessarily have the final say.

 

[doconeill]

Well, hopefully they are thinking about it now and leaving some options open. The Fastpass option could be HUGE during those times...

 

[Meteora]

Thanks for sharing the email, Annie; I'm assuming I will get a similar one in a few days.

doconeill or Chesire Figment, in your professional opinions , would having an email from guest relations with that information allow one to use the vouchers as stated in the email even if the Guest Service Managers have directed that the blackout dates are blackout for ALL options? I'm still conflicted about what to do. I mean, worse comes to worst and they won't accept vouchers from people during that time at all, we could just donate our "extras." But it would make so much sense for my touring plan to use my voucher for FPs mid-week, instead of that Saturday (the 28th, last day before the blackout). But I don't want to risk it if there's a chance they won't take it then! In conclusion, as my grandmother would say: oy vey.

 

[doconeill]

I cannot provide a professional opinion about anything Disney says.

I think information is likely to be concrete closer to the time in question. Or at least as concrete as any information we get can be. Unfortunately, this might mean some flexibility in planning, and for those who can't have a backup plan (vacation doesn't span the end of the block-out period), probably a tough decision.

 

[Cdn Gal]

Thank you to everybody that has helped answer some of the fast pass questions. It is truly appreciated!

 

[Petraman]

My new plans are RD everyday, normal FPs in the morning and saving getting my special FPs for later on. Since that special FP machine will always be open, I'll just wait until I want to ride to get the FP ticket. This way, blonde that I am, I won't lose them if I get them too early.

The key is to make sure I am doing the same park in the AM that I am in the PM. Because you need to get the GAD card before 11 am.

It is kind of fun doing "Special GAD FP touring plans".

I have been working on this for weeks! I know I need help!

We are going to do RD each day, then go directly to fav e-ticket ride, get FP and Special FP, then try to get on through standby. Then use the GAD FP immediately for second ride. Then use FP later for a total of 3x for those key rides. We plan on using the special FP right away for each ride unless the standby is less than 10 mins.

This is going to make our trip so nice.... more free time for the pool!

 

[BradyBz12]

More fuel for the "can you use vouchers for FP on blockout dates" debate posted today on another thread....

I had to call WDS today for another question about our upcoming trip and I asked about the blackout dates. The CM I spoke with had to put me on hold and ask and came back and said that the vouchers weren't good for anything during the blackout dates. I guess it makes sense to bring your voucher along and ask and see, in case there has been a change.

 

[Meteora]

And the confusion continues. It would really be nice for them to get on the same page over there. If the vouchers aren't good for anything during the blackout dates, that's fine. But it's not fine if that's the case and they are sending emails and answering calls and saying otherwise.

Yesterday, I was pretty eager to get my other family members signed up. Today I'm feeling skeptical again.

 

[Petraman]

And the confusion continues. It would really be nice for them to get on the same page over there. If the vouchers aren't good for anything during the blackout dates, that's fine. But it's not fine if that's the case and they are sending emails and answering calls and saying otherwise.

Yesterday, I was pretty eager to get my other family members signed up. Today I'm feeling skeptical again.

Here's the thing. You mentioned you were expecting an e-mail like Annie got. If you actually have an e-mail from them with evidence that they sent it (e-mail address on the e-mail), they are basically going to have to honor it. They may hesitate and drag it out, but stay firm until they honor the promise they made. I agree though, why all of this has to be so mysterious and one place has no idea what the other place is saying id frustrating and downright unprofessional.

 

[ohlas]

Hi Again, It's Miss Confused

I wanted to ask about once you redeem your tickets from will call and you choose a ride to FP how do you go about Fast Passing the actual ride? Do you go to the FP window thingie and they give you a FP ticket for that very min? or do you still have to wait for an available time?

Also what if you want to fast pass one ride 3 times, can you do that? Or are you limited to one FP per ride in the group?
Thanks so much! =)

1.you go to park

2. inside park you go to customer service counter

3. they hand you id card that is the plastic special fast pass

4. you go on your way in disney

5. you enjoy walking directly onto rides.

it looks like the passes have tabs on the side if you look at the picture, and you still can get fp from the machines if you like.


No its like you can just walk on instant fast pass. no home directly to jail opps i meant ride lol

i hope im not wrong this is how i understand it

my question is how many a day are they giving out do i have to be at customer services before 11 am when the park opens and how many fast pass for each voucher> i have a party of 4 we have 3 voucher coming.

 

[hygienejean]

Where can I see a picture of the GAD fastpass card?

 

[la79al]

I am just wondering how many FPs everyone is getting. I know the number can vary from 2-4, I'm just wondering if most people are getting 3. Thanks. Oh, also, I know that they state FP cards may be gone by 11 but I'm wondering whether anyone has had success getting them after that.

 

[doconeill]

Where can I see a picture of the GAD fastpass card?

I haven't seen a picture of the current ones, or if they are any different than the Birthday cards. If you search on the boards for "birthday fastpass", you might find some threads with the pictures.

I am just wondering how many FPs everyone is getting. I know the number can vary from 2-4, I'm just wondering if most people are getting 3. Thanks.

Everyone has reported 3 so far, although no one has reported anything from AK yet that I have seen.

 

[doconeill]

1.you go to park

2. inside park you go to customer service counter

3. they hand you id card that is the plastic special fast pass

4. you go on your way in disney

5. you enjoy walking directly onto rides.

it looks like the passes have tabs on the side if you look at the picture, and you still can get fp from the machines if you like.


No its like you can just walk on instant fast pass. no home directly to jail opps i meant ride lol

i hope im not wrong this is how i understand it

my question is how many a day are they giving out do i have to be at customer services before 11 am when the park opens and how many fast pass for each voucher> i have a party of 4 we have 3 voucher coming.

Unfortunately you are incorrect on several of these points.

First, you do not go into the park, you go to the will call window outside the park - it is one of the ticket booths, or in the case of the MK entrance, usually the Guest Relations window. You turn in your GAD voucher there, provide proof (photo ID, multi-day ticket) and choose the FP option.

More details on the card and how to use to can be found here.

It sounds like you are remember the Dream Fastpass, one of the prizes during the Year Of A Million Dreams, which had the break-off tabs on the sides. They don't use those any more.

For your question specifically, there is no set number that Disney will tell us. They will only say that they MAY run out, and they MAY not give them out after 11am, although no one has reported problems getting them later in the day.

For ONE voucher, all four of you will get a FPXC, so long as all of you are present at the will call window. So you can take your three vouchers and do the same on different days at the same or different parks. Some have talked about using more than one at the same park, although it is uncertain if the CM will balk at giving out more than one set to a group.

 

[hygienejean]

Hi all, Great thread, thanks for all of the info!

I have 2 breakfasts that will be in either MK and AK before the parks open. Is the will call window open at those parks at that time? Will I have to go back to the entrance later in the morning?

thanks!

 

[ohlas]

Unfortunately you are incorrect on several of these points.

First, you do not go into the park, you go to the will call window outside the park - it is one of the ticket booths, or in the case of the MK entrance, usually the Guest Relations window. You turn in your GAD voucher there, provide proof (photo ID, multi-day ticket) and choose the FP option.

More details on the card and how to use to can be found here.

It sounds like you are remember the Dream Fastpass, one of the prizes during the Year Of A Million Dreams, which had the break-off tabs on the sides. They don't use those any more.

For your question specifically, there is no set number that Disney will tell us. They will only say that they MAY run out, and they MAY not give them out after 11am, although no one has reported problems getting them later in the day.

For ONE voucher, all four of you will get a FPXC, so long as all of you are present at the will call window. So you can take your three vouchers and do the same on different days at the same or different parks. Some have talked about using more than one at the same park, although it is uncertain if the CM will balk at giving out more than one set to a group.

ty and yes the last one we had where blue and had taps im old ok so how do they keep track of how many times you go on space mountain then

 

[doconeill]

ty and yes the last one we had where blue and had taps im old ok so how do they keep track of how many times you go on space mountain then

The card has "credits" on it. You have X Donald credits and X Daisy credits, with X commonly being 3. You have to keep track yourself - someone recommended using a Sharpie and marking the card as you used it.

 

[doconeill]

Hi all, Great thread, thanks for all of the info!

I have 2 breakfasts that will be in either MK and AK before the parks open. Is the will call window open at those parks at that time? Will I have to go back to the entrance later in the morning?

thanks!

In general, the will call window would be open AT LEAST 30 minutes before park open, and I would expect that either it and/or the Guest Relations window will be open before you can get into the park even with early ADRs. If the will call window is open, go there first. If not, try Guest Relations.

At the MK, it is often the same window

 

[ohlas]

now im wondering u get the pass they are plastic with swipe thing, but dont you just flash them and walk on to the fast pass line and get on the ride.