Breaking fastpass rules

[Robo]

I don't see that it's a big deal, seeing that many people don't even know about it, and I personally have never seen a FP line that was much longer than should be.

Statistically, it would never work out that the FP lines would "clog up" anyway.

With a larger universe of "return times" (meaning NOT having to go back within a given frame of time), holders of FP for, say BTMRR, would not be "forced" to return at a "specific" time.

That means that any of them could choose to return at ANY time... a much larger window to fill (nearly "infinite" in WDW terms).

That would diffuse the the focus on the return at any PARTICULAR time.

Furthermore, the biggest factor holding down the number of FP riders in the queue is... when you DO finally USE the FP... its gone.
You'd have to get another one, and it starts over again.

The statistical chances that "all" or "most" of the holders of a FP for BTM would be coming into the park and back to the queue to ride BTM at the "same time" would be incredibly small.
Consider how most FP are USED... most riders come back quickly... they want to ride NOW! The small number who pocket the tix and don't return until a later time pales by comparison.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) If the ride is not too busy, the CM might let you in.
2) However, they do stop people with expired fastpasses.
3) I saw one guy go ballistic because they wouldn't honor a fastpass.
4) His excuse was he was riding other rides.

 

[runner26.2]

Umm, this doesn't make sense to me - I believe the fastpass will be honored that day, you are asked to come back later when the ride is up and running, so it WILL be honored?

I agree it will be honoured. What I was attempting to explain was that even after the ride is back up and running you may be told to come back later. When a ride comes back on line there is often a very long line of riders and if you show up with an expired fast pass they may simply decide to not let you enter the line right then but suggest you come back in an hour or two once the lines have subsided.

 

[karrit2000]

Test Track is notorious for shutting itself down numerous times in a day. I have never had a problem returning later with an expired fast pass to this line. The CM's at this ride will tell you they will honor the fast pass any future time on that day when the ride is back up & running. That being said I would think that certain CM's at particular rides will pay more attention to the date on the Fast Pass if it is a ride that shuts itself down frequently. I've never been turned down for returning beyond the time on the fast pass. I've never tried to use one with an expired date but I know people who have. Sometimes the less said to the CM the more likely it will go unnoticed but I wouldn't make a habit of trying to circumvent the system.

 

[dizprincess717]

When I worked at Splash my trainer and a few managers told me that it's fine to let Guests in with an expired FP, but when the time is expiered I automatically check the date because sometimes Guests try to pull a fast one on us CMs...

My theory is you got the FP, waited all that time for an attraction, so why turn you away if you're 10 minutes, an hour, heck even 3 hours late? You got the FP and then waited in the other stand-by lines because you weren't able to get another FP... it's all gravy.

Every Guest who came late was let in by me. Also, depending if the line wasn't too long, I would let Guests in that were 5 minutes early. That rarely happened once it started to get warmer outside because Splash was always so busy and the FP line was always backed up.

 

[°O°Joe]

Statistically, it would never work out that the FP lines would "clog up" anyway.

With a larger universe of "return times" (meaning NOT having to go back within a given frame of time), holders of FP for, say BTMRR, would not be "forced" to return at a "specific" time.

That means that any of them could choose to return at ANY time... a much larger window to fill (nearly "infinite" in WDW terms).

That would diffuse the the focus on the return at any PARTICULAR time.

Furthermore, the biggest factor holding down the number of FP riders in the queue is... when you DO finally USE the FP... its gone.
You'd have to get another one, and it starts over again.

The statistical chances that "all" or "most" of the holders of a FP for BTM would be coming into the park and back to the queue to ride BTM at the "same time" would be incredibly small.
Consider how most FP are USED... most riders come back quickly... they want to ride NOW! The small number who pocket the tix and don't return until a later time pales by comparison.

That might be the smartest thing I've heard anybody say on the debate. Unfortunately, there are others who strongly dissagree and think that the few people that "take advantage" of the "unwritten rule" of non-expiring Fast Passes are going to ruin the whole Fast Pass concept for everyone.

 

[°O°Joe]

When I worked at Splash my trainer and a few managers told me that it's fine to let Guests in with an expired FP, but when the time is expiered I automatically check the date because sometimes Guests try to pull a fast one on us CMs...

My theory is you got the FP, waited all that time for an attraction, so why turn you away if you're 10 minutes, an hour, heck even 3 hours late? You got the FP and then waited in the other stand-by lines because you weren't able to get another FP... it's all gravy.

Every Guest who came late was let in by me. Also, depending if the line wasn't too long, I would let Guests in that were 5 minutes early. That rarely happened once it started to get warmer outside because Splash was always so busy and the FP line was always backed up.

Good to hear a former CMs perspective on it... And it really makes for a better guest experience (IMO) for people like me that don't like to tour the parks in the Comando style or by a set schedule. I just kind of mosy around and do whatever I / kids / wife feel like doing at the time.

I applaud Disney for this "unwritten rule" and trust that they know what they're doing.