Don't take away the magic (FP Window Enforcement)!

[quantumottle]

I certainly hope the rumors of a coming enforcement for return window time on fastpasses does not come to fruition at DL. One of the hilights of my day is handing a stack of otherwise unused FP's to someone just arriving at the park. It's always been my way of "Sharing the Magic". You may be surprised at the incredible reactions I've received over the years. It's an amazing feeling.

My favorite; Once I noticed a family debating if they really wanted to ride Space Mountain enough to wait an hour in line. It was late in the evening, FP's were long gone, and they only had a couple hours to be in the park.

I handed my 8 yr old DD a stack of unused SM FP's and told her to go and hand them to this family. She did, the kids started jumping up and down and yelling, and the two girls hugged my daughter and thanked her. My DD was smiling ear to ear as she walked back to me. Years later, she still remembers this fondly, and looks forward to doing it everytime we go.

Enforcing the return window will change the way my family tours the parks, which is unfortunate, but the worst part for me will be missing out on my little exercise in "Sharing the Magic".

 

[indimom3]

I hadn't thought about that during the other thread on this topic, but you're right. We did this many times in WDW, handing our FPs off to an excited group of people when we boarding the ferry at the end of our day.
You're right, that is a little sad.

 

[SarafinaPink]

I do this too, and I love seeing people be surprised that a complete stranger gives them some FP. I usually like to find people wearing their first time button, just to give them a bit of extra magic.

 

[tamiandryan]

You guys are awesome! That would make someones day.

I agree. I hope this is not ever implemented.

 

[disneymom0104]

We have done this as well and it does truly make people's day! It also happened to us our very first time at WDW. We were given FP for Splash Mountain- even before we really understood what FP was! It was great and I love doing that for people as well.

(We have also used our fair share of FP after the printed window, and it would definitely change the way we tour the parks, but hopefully it won't be too bad!)

 

[Geemo]

I have always given our un-used FP's to people as we are leaving the park too. It sure gets a BIG smile when the realize what they have! SCORE....

We like the way DL and CA fast passes currently work. I vote to keep things just as they are.

 

[OKW Lover]

I can understand why they might start enforcing this. Especially at DL where so many of the guests are local and know more of the ins and outs of the system. Its simple math. If a lot of people wait until after their FP window you can evenutally run into a situation where there isn't enough capacity on the attraction to accept them all before closing time.

 

[Homemom]

I can understand why they might start enforcing this. Especially at DL where so many of the guests are local and know more of the ins and outs of the system. Its simple math. If a lot of people wait until after their FP window you can evenutally run into a situation where there isn't enough capacity on the attraction to accept them all before closing time.

I agree. I read about it here and thought we could try it a few weeks ago for Soaring'. We didn't have any luck, everyone else must've thought the same thing. Every night the fastpass return line was out the doors and way past the cm that takes the tickets. It was almost as bad as the standby line.

 

[GEB@okw]

Why not put them in a trash can so the ones who still in the parks can enjoy the FP line the way it was intended?

 

[Lissame]

My friend, who just got back yesterday from a week at DL, said they were definitely enforcing the fastpass return times on Friday. They didn't try to use them outside of the time window the other days, because the lines were walk on for most rides, but on Friday it was busier and they were enforcing.

 

[wenrob]

My friend, who just got back yesterday from a week at DL, said they were definitely enforcing the fastpass return times on Friday. They didn't try to use them outside of the time window the other days, because the lines were walk on for most rides, but on Friday it was busier and they were enforcing.

My daughter was there on Friday and said they were not. She had a conference she was required to go to so did not get a chance to get many before that but the ones she did get she didn't have a problem using.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

When I heard about how people were returning whenever they wanted I used to get a little miffed. I guess I just didn't get what the point of FP was.

I don't have a problem returning when it says, but I never got into the FP game either. I'm sorry for those who have made a habit of it tho..that'd be hard to lose that probably.

As for us, we'll keep being naive and returning when it says I guess LOL

ETA- When we won our fastpasses with the dream suite thing we gave away most of them to families who could use them. We loved that little bit of magic too

 

[Lissame]

My daughter was there on Friday and said they were not. She had a conference she was required to go to so did not get a chance to get many before that but the ones she did get she didn't have a problem using.

Maybe it was only certain rides. I know that last summer when we were there, they were enforcing the FP return times for GRR.

 

[quantumottle]

So glad to hear that others have done the same thing with their unused FP's that we've enjoyed in the past. Why throw them away when you can help spread the magic around to others?

... I'm sorry for those who have made a habit of it tho..that'd be hard to lose that probably.

Yes, it will be an incredible adjustment for my family. If you learn to maximize FP's you wait 10 to 20 minutes for rides max, even during the absolute busiest time of year like Christmas/New Years. My kids have no idea how well they've had it for years.

Why not put them in a trash can so the ones who still in the parks can enjoy the FP line the way it was intended?

 

[Lissame]

Something I would love to know...I wonder how many of the FP that are taken actually get redeemed? And what percentage are during that specified time and what percentage are later?

You'd think they would do a study like that to see if it's truly a problem or just a perception of a problem.

 

[Geemo]

My kids have no idea how well they've had it for years.

Same for my grandkids. I have taken then 5 times over the past ten years, in January and once in October. They have no idea what it would be like in Peak Season.

Having grown up in So.Cal. and been too many times to count, I know first hand!

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Something I would love to know...I wonder how many of the FP that are taken actually get redeemed? And what percentage are during that specified time and what percentage are later?

You'd think they would do a study like that to see if it's truly a problem or just a perception of a problem.

I agree, and would be interested in the figures. But I know as a newbie learning these boards and about the FP system over the past year, it sure feels like people have no regard whatsoever a) for the window in the FP or b) WHY there is a window, what it is intended to produce. So, when I hear of people wiaitng 30 minutes in a FP line, it sounds like the system needs to be tightened, because the entire point of FPs should be for a much quicker road to getting on a ride. I know if I had a 7pm FP, I would be annoyed to be in line with people whose FPs expired hours and hours ago, and who were now clogging up the line to that everyone in my window had to wait twice as long because of all the extra, LATE people. Aren't they a two-hour window? That seems generous enough for you to get caught up in a long line for a different ride, or need extra time after lunch, etc.

It sounds lovely to give away the FPs to others--but those others are then jumping into the lines with people who might have waited for hours for their window to come up. It will definitely change how I plan my trip, but it changes it for everyone, so that the overall effect might be quite nice if FP lines actually keep the "F" part true!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I understand the disappointment that the Fastpass window is going to be enforced, but I can remember the days when there was no Fastpass, the days when Fastpass was first introduced and pretty much everyone abided by the return times on the passes, and the days when people realized that the times weren't enforced and could return at any time.

I agree with the above poster that the people whose times really are 7pm might have shorter lines now that people whose FP return times say noon, will be using them at noon, and not at 7pm with the people who have those times. Yes, it's an adjustment, but I don't think it is a bad decision.

I realize that as a local I can go on these attractions anytime, but I'm a tourist when I go to WDW, and have always returned at the set time at WDW, and not waited until after, so I can relate.

 

[murcor]

Didnt even know you could use them outside your return time

That would make having a printed return time meaningless

If we cant use them.......We have given them away to someone in the line and made someones day

 

[SGDisneyFam]

I have always given our un-used FP's to people as we are leaving the park too. It sure gets a BIG smile when the realize what they have! SCORE....

We like the way DL and CA fast passes currently work. I vote to keep things just as they are.

We always do the same thing. Especially when we are there with the kids since we are usually back at the hotel by 7 lol