Collecting Fastpasses?

[Robo]

Yes but CMs are a part of the source.

Anyone can just throw out whatever they want and add saying it's policy... "You must wear yellow shorts at WDW every third Sunday, it's Disney policy."

I don't mind when there's just a discussion about what people have experienced but when people start throwing words in there like "policy" I want to say... remember one of the BASIC English class rules, cite your sources.

The meaning of the word "policy" indicates that it is a procedure based primarily on material interest that is commonly followed.

I quoted the actual Merriam-Webster definition.

If you just don't like the word "policy," I'll state it in a different way.

It is a normal procedure that Disney will accept "late, same-day" FastPasses.

 

[drinkoj]

Ok, I'm confused. I've always thought you had to use your fastpass in the hour printed on it- but it seems that you can use it anytime after that hour as well? Is this true and has anyone had any problems with it?

I just got back from Disney World, April 4th - April 8th, and they are ABSOLUTELY checking times on the Fast Passes on ALL rides. We were turned away, told too late, and told to wait 15 minutes until our FPs were eligible. You had to show up for the printed times on the FPs or you were just out of luck.

I won't speak for the rest of the year, but they did it to more than just me, as I watched it happen to lots of other groups also.

 

[jaysmom4285]

Were you past the FP return time, or were you early? If you were told to return in 15 minutes, it would appear that you went to the attraction too early. The CMs are absolute sticklers about not letting someone into the FP line before the return window, and they will make people wait until the exact minute printed, but they have never in my experience been sticklers about returning late.

 

[mom2aandj]

I just got back from Disney World, April 4th - April 8th, and they are ABSOLUTELY checking times on the Fast Passes on ALL rides. We were turned away, told too late, and told to wait 15 minutes until our FPs were eligible. You had to show up for the printed times on the FPs or you were just out of luck.

I won't speak for the rest of the year, but they did it to more than just me, as I watched it happen to lots of other groups also.

you were told you were too LATE or you were told you were too early and had to wait 15 minutes for your time to come up? Very different issues. Everyone agrees, you can NOT use a FP early.

 

[BoogasMom]

Ok, I'm confused. I've always thought you had to use your fastpass in the hour printed on it- but it seems that you can use it anytime after that hour as well? Is this true and has anyone had any problems with it?

We found it to be true. We used it a couple of times that way and are only sorry that we didn't find that tip out before we went to DW. We found that out the day before our last day in the parks!!!

 

[HGD24]

I just got back from Disney World, April 4th - April 8th, and they are ABSOLUTELY checking times on the Fast Passes on ALL rides. We were turned away, told too late, and told to wait 15 minutes until our FPs were eligible. You had to show up for the printed times on the FPs or you were just out of luck.

I won't speak for the rest of the year, but they did it to more than just me, as I watched it happen to lots of other groups also.

Maybe they were more strict about riding during the timeframe stated on the pass given the large crowd levels they've been experiencing these last couple of weeks

 

[doconeill]

drinkoj may have been correct about not being able to use late FPs this past week. Although no mention of park or attraction, this past week has had some ridiculous crowds and was at least partially closed on Monday and Tuesday - and I believe it was a level 4 closure on Monday (i.e. total capacity - no one gets in). They MAY have needed to deny late FPs.

HOWEVER, the number of FPs given out during the day does not vary based on crowd level. Well, I suppose Disney could change it if they wanted, although I can't think of a great reason since it would only be detrimental to the Fastpass line itself, as well as slowing down the movement of the standby line.

Or they could have thrown a lot more untrained CMs in front of the lines due to the unexpected crowds.

 

[Tbelle1976]

I just got back from Disney World, April 4th - April 8th, and they are ABSOLUTELY checking times on the Fast Passes on ALL rides. We were turned away, told too late, and told to wait 15 minutes until our FPs were eligible. You had to show up for the printed times on the FPs or you were just out of luck.

I won't speak for the rest of the year, but they did it to more than just me, as I watched it happen to lots of other groups also.

So it seems that Disney has changed their "policy" for the time that you were there?

 

[jaysmom4285]

It would be good if drinkoj could clarify whether he/she tried to use the FP before or after the return window time, since the post was unclear about this. That's the only way we'll know if there has been a policy shift.

 

[Tbelle1976]

I just got back from Disney World, April 4th - April 8th, and they are ABSOLUTELY checking times on the Fast Passes on ALL rides. We were turned away, told too late, and told to wait 15 minutes until our FPs were eligible. You had to show up for the printed times on the FPs or you were just out of luck.

I won't speak for the rest of the year, but they did it to more than just me, as I watched it happen to lots of other groups also.

It would be good if drinkoj could clarify whether he/she tried to use the FP before or after the return window time, since the post was unclear about this. That's the only way we'll know if there has been a policy shift.

What exactly is unclear about it? Seems like they showed up both early AND late for FP and was turned away both times (we all know about not being able to use the FP before the time printed though).
I guess the whole thing seems VERY clear to me. There is a time frame printed on your ticket. It's there for a purpose, to use it during that time. If your a little late because things happen in the parks that might cause you to be late for the time on the FP that is understandable. However, if your grabbing FP with the intention on using them later in the day because you want to go back to your resort and nap then that's just plain LAZY! Suck it up and just realize that if your going to nap or swim for a couple hours then your going to miss out on some things.

 

[Robo]

We have had one person report that the FP's were refused...
in how many thousands of guests (and Dissers there) in the over-full parks?

 

[bwilcox]

I have read these boards daily since I started planning my trip almost a year ago. At least weekly, there is a question about fastpasses and responses form people saying they used theirs late without a problem. Also, I have read posts from CMs saying they are trained to accept fastpasses late, and from people who were told by CMs that fastpasses may be used late. Now here is one person who couldn't use hers late (however no info about how many times she was denied late entry or what rides it was). I think I will use the hundreds of first hand accounts that Disney accepts late fastpasses rather than the one vague one that couldn't. Whether you want to call it a "policy" or not, Disney is definitely in the practice of accepting late fastpasses. If you think that is morally wrong, don't do it. More fastpasses for me to hold on to!

 

[Robo]

Recently, we had one person reporting that they had difficulty upgrading a "4/3 Pkg." ticket and getting full value for it... and threw these boards into apoplexy for a few days... until Cheshire Figment finally reported it was
an overzealous ill-informed CM that was the problem.

Let's sit back and see who else reports in before the entire ship gets abandoned.

EDIT:
bwilcox beat me to it.

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

Disney's 'policy' is right there, on the FP itself.

No, it's not. WDW's FP policy is in various CM training manuals. From what I've read, those manuals are available online if you search hard enough. The verbiage printed on the FP's is intentionally "loose"/vague to allow for enforcement when necessary.

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

FWIW, I've been reading reports on another site that people have been using "late" FP's all week.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I just got back late last night. We were in AK, DHS and MK. Our park days were April 5, 6 and 7th.

I witnessed one person being turned away at TSMM in DHS because they showed up past their return time. I was the next person in line behind them. I bet if those people went back later when there was a different CM manning the FP return area, they would have been fine.

At EE, they were checking times because alot of people were trying to get in BEFORE their FP return time. I didn't witness anyone being turned away because they were after their FP return time.

What I noticed was that it was so busy most of the FP return line CM's were just looking at the dates - not the times.

 

[2ndstartotheright]

Disney's 'policy' is right there, on the FP itself. It tells you when to return..between the hours of such and such. That IS the policy.

The policy is not on the FP. The policy would be in Disney's training manuals, etc.

The usage rules- for lack of a better term is printed on the FP.

Nowhere does it say on the Fast Pass that you cannot use it after the return window- only that you cannot use it before.

It says “Please enter the Fastpass entrance at the attraction between the times noted on the other side.”
It does not say you MUST enter between those times.
Nor does it say you may ONLY enter between those times.

It says “Cannot accept early arrivals”
It does not say CANNOT accept late arrivals.

It says - "Valid only on date printed" which implies the FP is good til park closes that day.
If it was meant to expire at end of return window it would say “Valid only between times noted”

There is a reason for that very specific lanaguage.
Those that read that language as FP only being good during the return window are reading something more into it that is simply not there.

This whole discussion simply beating a dead horse.

 

[drinkoj]

It would be good if drinkoj could clarify whether he/she tried to use the FP before or after the return window time, since the post was unclear about this. That's the only way we'll know if there has been a policy shift.

BOTH

As for me being only one of a thousand, again, I'll repeat, I watched others turned away also. I sat around waiting for our FP time to come and watched the attendant at Splash Mountain turn away more than three groups (cannot say early or late though) and Space Mountain, both cast members were checking times of each ticket individually (didn't see anyone turned away as everyone had good tickets).

They must have been put on high alert just for this week, since it was mad crazy by Tuesday, April 7th.

 

[doconeill]

Nevermind...I see the "BOTH" now...missed it for some reason.

Was this at a particular attraction or attractions that you were refused for a late? The CMs are ALWAYS checking times (at least they are supposed to), mainly for attempts to use them early or FPs from previous days.

 

[mom2aandj]

BOTH

As for me being only one of a thousand, again, I'll repeat, I watched others turned away also. I sat around waiting for our FP time to come and watched the attendant at Splash Mountain turn away more than three groups (cannot say early or late though) and Space Mountain, both cast members were checking times of each ticket individually (didn't see anyone turned away as everyone had good tickets).

They must have been put on high alert just for this week, since it was mad crazy by Tuesday, April 7th.

thanks for clarifying that you were turned away with a late fast pass, I'm curious as well at which ride?

I don't think anyone was disputing that the CMs do always check everyone's fast passes. They do also turn people away frequently as people try to use the fast pass early and that is never allowed.