Do FastPasses Expire?

[BrerRabbit28]

You really should not because when peole start to cheat the system they're going to change it. On a seperate thread there is a rumour saying they may change the FP system, already, making it better for those staying at deluxe resorts and hurting the people staying at POP or AllStars. There is a printed time for a reason, do not abuse it.

 

[Synonymous]

If that change happens (and it is nothing at all but the wildest speculation by Jim Hill) it will be because of money, not people "abusing" the system. There obviously is not a printed time "for a reason," because Disney's policy is to ignore it. It's not abuse if Disney says it's okay.

 

[Mymatisse]

I just don't understand the entire point of this thread! Why after looking at a fast pass and seeing that it is for a specific ride,time, and date would you even ask the question?

Okay.. maybe if you are a few minutes late I could see you asking the CM, and maybe they would fudge it a little, but hours.. days...? Come on now, that's a little excessive. Should I use my passes from September to skip all the other people who are honest and waiting in line? The thought of it really irks me.

 

[shirleyb]

We used late fast passes several times during our trip. Always from the same day, but maybe an hour or two expired. We were never questioned about it.

 

[Synonymous]

I just don't understand the entire point of this thread! Why after looking at a fast pass and seeing that it is for a specific ride,time, and date would you even ask the question?

Because Disney's policy is that you can use them. So why shouldn't you?

 

[Lawshark]

Because Disney's policy is that you can use them. So why shouldn't you?

Synonymous...apparently some people are simply impervious to reality...I banged my head against this wall with some people in another thread who simply can't comprehend that Disney allows this practice. Not as a special treat. Not as a bending of the rules. AS AN OFFICIAL POLICY.

I frankly don't see what is so hard to understand.

But hey...if they don't want to come late...fine with me! Go ahead and continue worrying about getting back within that one hour window. Don't let us stop you!

As for the wails of "but it's not fair!"...why? Show us where it tells you "Thou Shall Not Be Late".

Ummm...it doesn't. Here's what it actually says on the FP...


PLEASE ENTER THE FASTPASS ENTRANCE AT THE ATTRACTION BETWEEN THE TIMES NOTED ON THE OTHER SIDE.

CANNOT ACCEPT EARLY ARRIVALS. VALID ONLY ON DATE PRINTED.

OPERATING HOURS OF THE ATTRACTION ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

ATTRACTION MAY CLOSE TEMPORARILY WITHOUT NOTICE.

NOT VALID FOR ADMISSION TO ANY THEME PARK.

ALL POSTED HEIGHT RESTRICITONS APPLY FOR EACH ATTRACTION.

NONTRANSFERABLE. NOT FOR SALE.

This is what is printed on the back of a Fastpass. It asks that you return between the times printed, but does not say it won't be accepted after your times.

"But aren't you depriving other poor woeful people from their rightful spot in line????"

No again...another red herring.

The FP simply acts like a "placeholder" for you in line.

Here's the analogy...

The FP you receive acts as your "stand in" who gets in the line at the attraction and starts waiting in line for you. You then get to head off and do something different while your FP doppleganger "waits in line" for you. The number of FPs are limited, so there are only so many virtual placeholders in line during the day.

Now...if your window expires and you come back later...it's really no different than if you really were standing in line...arrive at the front and said to the people behind you, "Please, go ahead of me...you too...you too..." etc. The FP has already saved your place in line for the day...and will only save so many spots. You're not "taking" away anyone's spot in line.

That's why the FP DOES say it's only good on the date issued...they haven't saved you a spot in line on other days.

 

[bicker]

Is this a significant problem? In other words, do folks often note that there is a significant back-up on the FastPass queue later in the day, perhaps traceable to folks using FastPasses late?

Until that is a frequent scenario, I don't see Disney upsetting a guest standing there in front of them. When a number of guests start complaining that they have to wait an extraordinarily long time, even though they had a FastPass, and Disney tracks the problem to the practice/policy of letting folks using their FastPasses late, they'll probably/hopefully do something about it.

What that means, operationally, for us is that we're not entitled to use FastPasses late, but the folks at Disney are so nice that they pretty much, for now, always will let us. We just shouldn't be surprised or upset if they stop being so generous, sometime in the future. To be honest, for me personally, I wouldn't have even thought to use a FastPass late. I don't like to impose on folks' generosity like that, as a matter of practice.

 

[tjmw2727]

Is this a significant problem? In other words, do folks often note that there is a significant back-up on the FastPass queue later in the day, perhaps traceable to folks using FastPasses late?

Until that is a frequent scenario, I don't see Disney upsetting a guest standing there in front of them. When a number of guests start complaining that they have to wait an extraordinarily long time, even though they had a FastPass, and Disney tracks the problem to the practice/policy of letting folks using their FastPasses late, they'll probably/hopefully do something about it.

What that means, operationally, for us is that we're not entitled to use FastPasses late, but the folks at Disney are so nice that they pretty much, for now, always will let us. We just shouldn't be surprised or upset if they stop being so generous, sometime in the future. To be honest, for me personally, I wouldn't have even thought to use a FastPass late. I don't like to impose on folks' generosity like that, as a matter of practice.

Ahh - ITA and definately could not have said it as well!

The only time I see significant back up in the FP line is RnRc and Peter Pan.

I imagine though that the effect of people using FP late will be on the standby line rather than the FP line. If the FP line starts to build it seems that the CM's adjust the number of FP riders vs standby line riders until the FP line is back to a reasonable size.

Again - as one who has been turned away with an unintentionally late FP and who has seen others have this experience, I won't use it as a touring strategy.

What would be dissapointing is the newbie who reads the tip here and counts on using a late FP only to be turned away. I still suggest that if an attraction is a must do then just return during the window.

TJ

 

[Lewisc]

I'm not even sure if these are FP attractions but you might have a problem with shows like Indian Jones and LMA in which your FP is really for a particular show or a popular attraction like Soarin. I've never gone more than a few minutes over the time but I just tell the CM the truth. We were delayed at dinner, the standby line in _____said it was 30 minutes and I waited 60 minutes. Whatever happened.

I'd even go to a restaurant if I missed my PS. It's not a reservation, all they're doing is putting you in the queue for a table. Obviously I wouldn't try that a dinner show or CRT.

Now I wouldn't ask where the FP says I MUST return during the window. If they let me in great if not it's not the end of the world.

 

[bicker]

I imagine though that the effect of people using FP late will be on the standby line rather than the FP line.

And, of course, in order for there to be that effect on the standby line, there would have had to have been an earlier beneficial effect on the standby line, when the person who is using their FastPass late didn't show.

What would be dissapointing is the newbie who reads the tip here and counts on using a late FP only to be turned away.

This is always my biggest concern. The DIS is a wonderful resource -- we should all help make the information it provides as accurate and realistic as possible, so we don't inadvertently set unreasonable expectations.

 

[rlnlandal]

I just came back form 10 days at WDW on Sunday and we ran into this problem several times because of DS (age 2). We had a FP to Peter Pan to be used from 2:45-3:45. We headed over there at 2:30ish and by the time we got there DS was asleep. We didn't want to take turns because this was a ride we all could go on, so we talked to a CM about using a FP AFTER the time window, her answer "A FP can be used anytime AFTER the first time printed on the FP, BUT if you use it AFTEr the 2nd time printewd on the FP you might have to wait a little longer than if you went during your window, because you have a spot "reserved" for yoiu during that window, but afterwards you don't, BUT you can still use it, and still go in the fast pass line.

That said we never waited in any lines all the days we were there in any of the 4 parks because of FP and going to the right place at the right time, except for a 20 min wait on Astro Orbitor. And we did it all, SPace Mountain 5 times, mission psace (no FP no wait either), test track (again no FP and no wait). Walked into Tough to be a bug, Dinosaur, everyting. It was an awesome time to go!!

 

[rmontgo892]

Is this a significant problem? In other words, do folks often note that there is a significant back-up on the FastPass queue later in the day, perhaps traceable to folks using FastPasses late?

Until that is a frequent scenario, I don't see Disney upsetting a guest standing there in front of them. When a number of guests start complaining that they have to wait an extraordinarily long time, even though they had a FastPass, and Disney tracks the problem to the practice/policy of letting folks using their FastPasses late, they'll probably/hopefully do something about it.

What that means, operationally, for us is that we're not entitled to use FastPasses late, but the folks at Disney are so nice that they pretty much, for now, always will let us. We just shouldn't be surprised or upset if they stop being so generous, sometime in the future. To be honest, for me personally, I wouldn't have even thought to use a FastPass late. I don't like to impose on folks' generosity like that, as a matter of practice.

I had never even thought of it either! Apparently we are the misguided ones. Some people have also posted that they were turned away by CM's with an "expired" FP...that seems to go unnoticed. Guess if there was no such rule...either the posters are making it up or the CM's must be super mean.

 

[beattyfamily]

Oh man, now these FP threads keep popping up! The latest tip to scam the system.

I can understand being a little late for your FP time but days, weeks, months, years later...that's just rediculous.

I only hope that Disney cracks down on this soon so it doesn't start to affect the FP lines and FP can work the way it was intended.

 

[Lawshark]

We all get a little misguided at times...so no worries! I try not to get overwrought over such things. Why...I was wrong once, but then I realized I was mistaken!

 

[tzvdmd]

I like to spend the last day stocking up on Fast Passes for my next trip. Then I go back to my resort and refill my mug from my 92 trip!

 

[rmontgo892]

...and although we are in the process of phone tag...I'll post the response.

I sent an e-mail to guest communications a while back and of course received the immediate canned response but this morning I got an e-mail saying "they" (won't post name) want to discuss the FASTPASS issue and have had a problem getting a hold of me.

OK...weird...as I was writing this I got the call back!

It appears that it's just another Disney policy that can go back and forth! The official tag line is Disney prefers guests to use the FASTPASS system with the time and date stamp. In other words, 11am-12noon. That's when they want guests to use the FP. The incorrect date, is a no no.

However, I was told that if your late arriving after time stamp(12noon) "most" CM's "should" let you on. The analogy given to me was this...if a FP was say time stamped between 3-4 and your family is watching the parade then "most" CM's understand and would wave you through. But, with 50,000 CM's (executive's words) everyone can have an off day and may NOT permit late arrivals. It was explained to me that it is understood that "some" people may not make it back exactly as stamped due to extenuating circumstances.

As far as FP's NOT affecting the queue...I was told yes it does. It affects the standby line (never thought of that one) and can back it up hence Disney "prefers" guests to use the FP as time stamped. That's why they "prefer" guests to use the time stamped FP as given. I then asked if CM's make allowances won't that affect standby by lines. I was told only if every guest does not follow the time stamped FP.

A tad contradictory, no?

My bottom line is this...if we are a bit late, I know now that I can ask a CM to allow us the privilege of entering LATE but just like a request...it is subject to availability. I will continue using the FP system as intended and not abuse it but will maybe ask once in a while for an exception.

So, this subject may potentially help my family in the future. The problem I see as always, is those that abuse it and care less about anyone else are those that can potentially ruin it for everyone else. If your purposefully NOT using the FP time stamp then, yea, your causing a back up for other guests. If you once in a while cannot make it back then that is fine but be warned that some CM's may NOT allow you entry.

A CM is supposed to enforce the time stamp but can make allowances. If every FP user abuses the system then it breaks down, so to speak. The reason for the time stamp is so that the standby line isn't backed up by FP users all arriving at certain times instead of the spaced out intervals required to keep the stand by line moving.

My communication was from someone in the Executive Offices.

Nice that they cared enough to write and call, huh? I was even thanked. That's the magic I am talking about although contradictory...

 

[bicker]

A tad contradictory, no?

What you call "contradictory" I call balancing variables to maximize overall guest satisfaction.