Excellent Fast Pass tip

[lc1965]

DisneyJunkie, I agree w/ the person who posted that just because you can doesn't mean you should. Bad form.

 

[disneyjunkie]

There are cases when the CM will tell you to use the FP at a later time. If not during that visit, when you return to WDW.

This happened to us twice during our 2001 visit. Space Mountain broke down while we were riding it and Dinosaur broke down during our FP time. Both times the CM told us we could use the FP later that day, later during our trip, on during our next trip.

The CM at Space Mountain gave us a FP slip that did not have a time on it. It just had the date, the number of people that could use it (in our case just 2) and then he signed it.

When we returned this April, I told each CM that I had a FP from 2001 and why. They each looked it over and then told us to go on.

I used old FPs several times during that trip. Each time I pointed the DATE out to the first CM. I'd tell them why we didn't use them during the stated time and then ASK them if it was ok for us to use them. Each time they said yes. If anyone would have said no, I would have been fine with that.

I guess this one of those things that you can do, that some people feel you shouldn't do. Much like reusing refillable mugs, using a child's AP to book a room...

 

[The Great Baboo]

When we were in DW in December parked outside Buzz Lightyear another guest told us this very tip....it does sound very tempting but whatever fast passes we got, we used them during the timeframe that they were for.....I do believe this system would not operate properly if people used them outside the time allotted.....What we usually do at the end of the day when we've had enough and want to go back to the pool, we'll get FPs for Buzz LY or Splash Mountain and on the way out we'll look for a family of 4 (which matches up to our family size) and give them away...I guess you could argue that this isn't fair, but it's just a couple of FPs passed onto to another family to enjoy the magic of Disney.....

 

[RachelTori]

That I think is a great tip! If you can't use them, why not share. I call that a random act of kindness!

 

[TammyC]

I would think that if too many people do this and it does cause the lines to back up for people that hold passes for those times, that Disney would put a stop to it.

 

[lc1965]

I agree w/ the folks who point out that too much abuse of the system shuts it down. Besides, when a ride breaks down allowing expanded use of the FP is a courtesy to the guests who missed out, not carte blache to use the FP whenever it's convenient for you. And, to the person who posted that the tip was a random act of kindness, I don't think anyone is judging the postor for intent in sharing, just questionable judgment in the actual advice.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by lc1965
And, to the person who posted that the tip was a random act of kindness, I don't think anyone is judging the postor for intent in sharing, just questionable judgment in the actual advice.

The person, RachelTori who said the 'tip' is "a random act of kindness" was replying to this post byThe Great Baboo:

What we usually do at the end of the day when we've had enough and want to go back to the pool, we'll get FPs for Buzz LY or Splash Mountain and on the way out we'll look for a family of 4 (which matches up to our family size) and give them away...I guess you could argue that this isn't fair, but it's just a couple of FPs passed onto to another family to enjoy the magic of Disney.....[/quote}

Nothing wrong with that IMHO (as long as it's still in the return window) and we've given people FPs we can't use and we've had people give them to us too! To me that IS a random act of kindness.

 

[phamton]

Originally posted by beskeptical
Just check out the Universal version. You have to buy your way in, no time frame. Of course you may still stand in line for 30 minutes.

You don't have to buy your way in. Universal has an express pass system like WDW. It is free and gives you two choices of return times. You pick one time and the express pass is printed up. Once again, this is free for any valid ticket.

They do have an express pass plus booklet you can buy that has express passes for every ride with no return time. Maybe this is what you are referring to. These booklets are limited by the crowds. If there is a large crowd, there are less booklets sold. Same with the free express passes, they are also limited. They also have front of the line for onsite hotel guests. All of these are calculated for numbers to adjust the number of express passes available for the day.

I have never waited longer than 10 minutes in the express pass line at Universal unless a ride has broken down. Most of the time it is a walk on. I am at Universal at least once a week even during the busy summer months and have yet to wait long in an express line, even for the extremely popular Revenge of the Mummy ride.

 

[RachelTori]

Thanks for backing me up, Beattyfamily! That IS what I meant. If you pass the FP's along and they're used in the alloted time frame, that's not going to have any negative impact on the system. And what a nice thing to do - spread that Disney Magic!

 

[RachelTori]

I still believe that it's not OK to hoard FP's and try to use them at your convenience.

 

[ErinInCT]

It's me, the original poster. I came to check tips & was surprised to see my tip still at the top of the list!
Boy do I feel stupid! I humbly apologize for my tip. I have not been to WDW since the 70's (way b4 FP) & have never used a FP so I am not all that familiar with them. I guess I should only post a "tip" unless I am a bit more of an expert.
I am not a rule breaker by nature - I will not even use the 10 item line in the grocery store if I have 11 items!! But I was concerned about how long my CRT breakfast would take & was glad to see that I would not have to push us out of the restaurant to make our FP time.
So please forgive me for passing along info that sounded good on paper! I think we get the message that this is not "kosher" so PLEASE stop posting. Everytime a new reply is made it puts this tip right back to the top of the board. Let's let it get buried back a few pages so no one will see it anymore. Saves me some embarrasment too!
Sorry folks! I really value the info I've gotten from these boards and I want to stay in your good graces!
Erin

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

We held fastpasses for Space Mountain on our trip - first year they were available, in 1999. The ride was closed when we were next to board. The CM pointed out that we could come back LATER THAT DAY and take advantage of the FP.

In the beginning you could only have one FP at a time. I think the policy was later changed to allow a second pass be obtained when the first FP window opened. Has this changed? I noticed a post where a guest had a second FP that had just 10 minutes remaining after the first. I don't see how that's possible if one is following the "rules".

 

[iceskatejen]

Sometimes if you FP window is several hours away, you can get one sooner than when you window is. Say you get a TOT FP at 12 and the return time is between 3 and 4--you can usually get another around 2. I think you can get one at the time of your return window or in 2 hours, whichever is first.

 

[Ilovestitch]

Originally posted by iNTeNSeBLue98
Has this changed? I noticed a post where a guest had a second FP that had just 10 minutes remaining after the first. I don't see how that's possible if one is following the "rules".

When you get a fastpass it says at the bottom "Another FASTPASS ticket will be availiable after XX:XX" It is possible to have two at the same time.

 

[beskeptical]

I held four passes at one time (involved a two for one surprise pass). Generally speaking you can get an additional fast pass every hour or when you previous pass was used or expired. Sometimes the window between additional passes is longer. But in my experience it is almost always just over an hour.

 

[umbluegray]

I'm not saying it's OK to horde FPs and use them whenever, but keep in mind the software engineers more than likely use a levelling algorithm.

For example, they know that not everybody who gets a FP will use it for whatever reason. Personally on our last trip, of all the FPs we got, we didn't use 2 of them because we were on the other side of the park when our time frame came up.

They also know that a certain percentage will, for various reasons, show up outside of their time frame.

Granted, they may not have thought of those scenarios at the time they were designing the FP system, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did. Being a software engineer myself, it's just part of the job to think of the most bizarre scenarios and see if it makes sense (practical and monetary) to include them in the software.

I'm sure they use average park attendance figures for given seasons to determine how many FPs can be distributed within each time frame. They probably factor all other kinds of cool data in the algorithm, too.

I'd love to see the design of the system from the perspective of professional curiosity. I view this as a logistical problem -- using a process to move people through an attraction. I just happen to work for a F500 logists company in Memphis which used to sponsor Space Mountain. (hint, hint) Because of that, I'd love to see how they built the system.

Their goal is to please the customer at (almost) all costs.

 

[Efastpitch]

b

 

[Amirah95]

I found that with using fast passes that it keeps our little family on track with rides. We grab a fast pass and run to another ride and after we're done with that ride we go to another ride and grab a fast pass and run back to the first ride where we picked up a fast pass, ride that and then run to the ride where we gotten the 2nd fast pass.

I know it sounds like we were going crazy (we weren't) but I planned it all out in my Palm months before we left for Disney (lol) and everything worked smoothly. I love fast pass and I hope they never ever take it away.

I never thought to get all the fast passes and to use them whenever we wanted. I'm trying to dump that notion out of my mind because it is a bad habit, plus it takes away from the excitment (my opinion).

 

[LuvindisCruiser]

Hey Erin-
You never know what topics are going to take off, do you? I thought your tip was a pretty good one too, until I saw all the post under it. It was nice of you to try to help others out with your fastpass tip. You had a great vacation, and that is all that matters now !!!!!! Enjoy your pictures and memories.....

 

[Efastpitch]

me too