Do Fastpasses expire?

[Mariposa]

You know, I got dumped from TGM's program for suggesting he might be wrong to tell people they can return ANY TIME after their FP time. So, as long as there's these "experts" out there telling people they should do this, people are going to do it. No need to call them "morons", though...they're only doing what the "experts" are telling them is acceptable.

Actually, my family was doing what multiple CMs told us was fine, including a supervisor... so.. Just because certain people here have deemed it an unacceptable practice doesn't make it one. When Disney tells me I'm not allowed to do it, then I'll stop- however, so long as I'm being assured by EVERY SINGLE CM I'VE ASKED that it's perfectly within the rules, I'll take their word for it.

And, with regards to the person here who called people who use FPs this way a moron? I wouldn't say planning my day in a way that allows me to see more while staying well within Disney's guidelines- while others feel the need to bind themselves with rules that either don't exist or only exist with the occassional CM and therefore may not be able to do as much- hardly makes me a moron.

I'm a pretty big fan of rules, I don't reuse mugs, I don't pool hop, I don't shove my way in front of people at parades.. but when I've been told that the return time is a suggestion, NOT a rule, I'm not going to feel bad for picking a different time to return.

 

[emmabelle]

Well these theories of collecting fast passes during the day and then using them well after the expiration kind of bugs me. The whole idea of the fast pass is to regulate the people in the line to reduce wait time. If everyone starts using the fast passes whenever they want, this idea will not work and it will just be two lines of waiting. I am sick of this society that thinks rules are for everyone else's family, not ours. I mean, this whole fast pass idea is a great idea. Why do the few morons insist on ruining it for everyone? Go ahead, use the fastpass whenever your heart desires. You deserve it! You should be ahead of everyone else. Go! Go!

Sorry to the families who by accident make it to the other side of the park 20 minutes after thier fastpass to get to the attraction. I'm not talking about the honestly I'm late type.

Wow, opened up a can of worms Skroops. I think your theory would be true if it was a group of thirty who showed up at the wrong time, otherwise I think that your theory doesn't hold water, sorry.

 

[jarestel]

Actually, my family was doing what multiple CMs told us was fine, including a supervisor... so.. Just because certain people here have deemed it an unacceptable practice doesn't make it one. When Disney tells me I'm not allowed to do it, then I'll stop- however, so long as I'm being assured by EVERY SINGLE CM I'VE ASKED that it's perfectly within the rules, I'll take their word for it.

Actually, this is the same argument the mug re-users always use. The language on the FP is pretty specific... return between xx:xx and yy:yy. If the FP was meant to be open-ended on one side, there would be no reason to print a yy:yy value on the FP, they could just say return after xx:xx.

As with mug re-using, most CMs probably don't care right now whether someone uses the FP after the window has expired. So, if they are going to allow this, people are going to take advantage of it and I don't blame them at all. However, one day the CMs may be instructed to adhere more closely to the FP windows and if that time comes, it wouldn't be appropriate for people who have gotten used to using their FPs after expiration to argue or complain to the CMs.

 

[puffkin]

Don't really want to add fuel to the fire, but....

On the back of the fast pass it specifically states about not being allowed admittance before the stated time. It doesn't mention anything about if you come back after your time window. So while some CM's may not allow you to ride (I imagine that would be the case at busy times of the year) the Fast Pass doesn't specifically prohibit it.

 

[jmsvss]

I had no idea when I started this thread that it would be so contentious. I apologize for any ill feeling generated here. I was honestly unclear concerning Fastpass expiration - but I think I get it now. Good vibes to all!!

 

[Dznefreek]

From the back of a 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 dose temporarily without notice. Not valid for admission to any theme park.

All posted height restrictions apply for each attraction.

Nontranaferable NOT FOR SALE


Note that it does not say any time after the start time.

 

[jarestel]

I had no idea when I started this thread that it would be so contentious. I apologize for any ill feeling generated here. I was honestly unclear concerning Fastpass expiration - but I think I get it now. Good vibes to all!!

I don't have the impression there is any ill feeling, just differing opinions on your question. No need to feel bad.

 

[puffkin]

From the back of a 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 dose temporarily without notice. Not valid for admission to any theme park.

All posted height restrictions apply for each attraction.

Nontranaferable NOT FOR SALE


Note that it does not say any time after the start time.

Exactly my point. If late arrivals were such an issue, they would specifically exclude them in the language just like they do early arrivals. So, yes, they WANT you to enter between the times but do not preclude you from entering after.

If you really are being that stringent with the rules, I guess if the attraction shuts down during your hour window for some reason (weather, break down, maintenance) you can't come back later because it will be AFTER your window

Judging from typical fast pass usage observed on all my visits to the parks, I really think this is a moot point anyway. Most people get a fast pass and stand outside the entrance for 10 minutes waiting for their window to open up which bugs the daylights out of me and kind of defeats the whole purpose. I think the large majority of people use their fast passes right after their window opens up.......

 

[sames1]

It seems to depend on the cast member. I have had them give me a 5 minute or 10 minute grace period. Heck, my watch might not agree with their watch.

Another tip I found out. If you haven't used your ticket to get in the park, the fast pass machine won't give you a fast pass. How do I know?
My fiance wanted to sleep in, and asked me to go get fast passes while she showered and got ready. I entered the park, got my fast pass, then tried to get hers. Surprise! You can't do that. The fastpass just printed something like " Ticket was not used for park entry today"

 

[DisneyDotty]

Hey, I'm just quoting what many on the DIS have claimed they've done. I've read many many threads on this subject...just do a search. I'm certainly not making it up.

I believe you. I'm just surprised the CM accepted the FP, as the pass does state it's valid only on day issued...
This thread is starting to go the way of pool-hopping and mugs...

 

[mill4023]

From the back of a 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 dose temporarily without notice. Not valid for admission to any theme park.

All posted height restrictions apply for each attraction.

Nontranaferable NOT FOR SALE


Note that it does not say any time after the start time.

I think it's pretty clear what Disney is doing here. They want most of the people who get FP's to come back within the time frame listed, because being able to control the number of FP guests that enter the attraction each hour is what allows the FP system to work and keep FP line waits to a minimum. That's why they say "Please enter the FASTPASS entrance at the attraction between the times noted on the other side."

On the other hand, they don't want to punish people who miss their FP time because they took longer than expected while shopping, eating, or seeing other attractions. They don't want guests who have gotten FP's to feel like they wasted them. This is why they make the explicit statement about early entries, but NOT about late entries. Disney knows that the majority of people will return within the time window and the minority that return late are a small enough minority that it won't have a significant impact on the FP wait times. As long as that minority remains small enough, they aren't likely to change their policy of allowing late arrivals. Most people want to ride attractions sooner rather than later, so I seriously doubt this will become a big issue.

 

[jmsvss]

It seems to depend on the cast member. I have had them give me a 5 minute or 10 minute grace period. Heck, my watch might not agree with their watch.

Another tip I found out. If you haven't used your ticket to get in the park, the fast pass machine won't give you a fast pass. How do I know?
My fiance wanted to sleep in, and asked me to go get fast passes while she showered and got ready. I entered the park, got my fast pass, then tried to get hers. Surprise! You can't do that. The fastpass just printed something like " Ticket was not used for park entry today"

Oh! This is a real bummer. I just started a new thread trying to figure out how to tour and ride with my DH who will be in a conference half the day. I thought this might be one option (taking his ticket and get FPs with a late afternoon return time). I can see now why WDW wouldn't let this happen - What technology!!!

 

[jarestel]

I think it's pretty clear what Disney is doing here. They want most of the people who get FP's to come back within the time frame listed, because being able to control the number of FP guests that enter the attraction each hour is what allows the FP system to work and keep FP line waits to a minimum. That's why they say "Please enter the FASTPASS entrance at the attraction between the times noted on the other side."

On the other hand, they don't want to punish people who miss their FP time because they took longer than expected while shopping, eating, or seeing other attractions. They don't want guests who have gotten FP's to feel like they wasted them. This is why they make the explicit statement about early entries, but NOT about late entries. Disney knows that the majority of people will return within the time window and the minority that return late are a small enough minority that it won't have a significant impact on the FP wait times. As long as that minority remains small enough, they aren't likely to change their policy of allowing late arrivals. Most people want to ride attractions sooner rather than later, so I seriously doubt this will become a big issue.

The only thing that is clear here is the language that explicitly states "Please enter the FASTPASS entrance at the attraction between the times noted on the other side." The rest is speculation and supposition about what Disney "really" wanted when they printed that message on the FPs. Anecdotal evidence indicates that enforcement of the FP window isn't a high priority right now, but should it become so, it's not likely that personal interpretations of the FP conditions of use will have any validity.

But for now, enjoy!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Most people get a fast pass and stand outside the entrance for 10 minutes waiting for their window to open up which bugs the daylights out of me and kind of defeats the whole purpose. I think the large majority of people use their fast passes right after their window opens up.......

Oh man that bugs me, too. So then there is whole mass huddled in front of the fast pass line that you have to walk through. The point is you don't have to wait in line.

 

[Becky2005]

You know, it's kind of iffy I guess.

I'm thinking they must not care too much unless say the stand by line is 3 hours long or something BECAUSE we were on a guided tour and one of the "bonuses" was a FP given to all of us as a reward in the middle of the tour at breaktime. The tour ENDED after the FP window had expired.

So, it would have been physically impossible to go on the ride during that FP window. We went on it after the tour ended which was about an hour or so after the window expired.

Then again, we were late for *everything* on our trip, no matter how hard we tried (PS, FP, you name it, we were late - somehow someone always had to use the restroom or who knows what happened).

 

[Cmbar]

This thread is starting to go the way of pool-hopping and mugs...

You forgot the Dining Plan Credits-- using those kids credits for other meals......

 

[mill4023]

The only thing that is clear here is the language that explicitly states "Please enter the FASTPASS entrance at the attraction between the times noted on the other side." The rest is speculation and supposition about what Disney "really" wanted when they printed that message on the FPs. Anecdotal evidence indicates that enforcement of the FP window isn't a high priority right now, but should it become so, it's not likely that personal interpretations of the FP conditions of use will have any validity.

But for now, enjoy!

Actually, it's not speculation. It's based on information from CM's that supposedly Disney's OFFICIAL policy is to allow guests to use FP's after the designated return window as long as it is on the same day.

 

[jarestel]

Don't misunderstand, mill4023. I'm not saying people can't or shouldn't take advantage of the fact that Disney currently allows people to use FPs after they have technically expired. I like the current system too, since it's not always convenient to make the FP window on time. I'm just saying it seems the official policy is printed on the FP, and is subject to enforcement at any time by the park officials. If Disney decided tomorrow they would no longer permit FPs to be used outside of the time window, I don't think anyone could argue with any force that this was unfair based on the conditions of use printed on the FP itself.

 

[Valentine]

Actually, my family was doing what multiple CMs told us was fine, including a supervisor... so.. Just because certain people here have deemed it an unacceptable practice doesn't make it one. When Disney tells me I'm not allowed to do it, then I'll stop- however, so long as I'm being assured by EVERY SINGLE CM I'VE ASKED that it's perfectly within the rules, I'll take their word for it.

And, with regards to the person here who called people who use FPs this way a moron? I wouldn't say planning my day in a way that allows me to see more while staying well within Disney's guidelines- while others feel the need to bind themselves with rules that either don't exist or only exist with the occassional CM and therefore may not be able to do as much- hardly makes me a moron.

I'm a pretty big fan of rules, I don't reuse mugs, I don't pool hop, I don't shove my way in front of people at parades.. but when I've been told that the return time is a suggestion, NOT a rule, I'm not going to feel bad for picking a different time to return.

Well said. I completely concur. In addition, I will add.. NOT only do I follow the rules.. but I take time out of my Disney days to make magic for many people. I stop and give directions to those who are lost... I hand out little trinkets to the kids I see... I offer helpful tips to families who are visiting for the first time.. I point out hidden mickeys and explain the concept of them to many folks... and most importantly.. I suggest that they frequent these boards when they return home to make their NEXT trip even more magical!! However.. I do frequently return after the time has expired on my FP... and never have I been turned away. I too asked several CM's if this practice was okay.. and they all said that it was perfectly fine. So.... I don't feel that I ever impeded on the system.. or anyone's trip...

Kathy

 

[eeyore45]

Actually, it's not speculation. It's based on information from CM's that supposedly Disney's OFFICIAL policy is to allow guests to use FP's after the designated return window as long as it is on the same day.

I always felt that too - always had that information...

but in October of '05 went to get on Soarin (crazy busy - they always run out of FP - guests arguing with CM about the fact they ran out of FP!!)

it was pass time for our FP usage, and the CM would not let me on, mind you I was in an ECV due to a fall at disney that gave me severe ankle sprains... I almost cried - and she shrugged and said, only if the manager says ok - the manager was listening to the above guest...

I showed him the FP and said "I thought it was ok to return later, I didnt have the stamina earlier today..." (and I truly didnt) and then he looked at the FP noted the time, and then initialed it then wrote "OK" ... then I was allowed on...

So, for the already stated reasons, perhaps it doesnt necessarily depend on the CM, but the popularity of the ride? or if they run out of FP that day??

Just thought I'd add my experience in October, fwiw