Expired Fastpass

[surferrat]

The fast pass system is this..

The window gives you a time to come back....the REASON for the window is for a start time and also allows you to get another fast pass at another time..they need a system in place so that you don't get multiple fast passes at the same time.....THAT is the reason for the window....

On the back it tells you when you can come back....It does not allow you to go earlier...There is no reason for them to state don't come back after because you can....

I have never been back to a ride at the time on the window...Soarin', TT, SM Everest....All they care about is having a system in place which allows a person to go get a fast pass and then not getting one at the same time...Just like the system of not being able to use a ticket for someone who has not entered the park....

The only issue is using a Fast Pass that is not the same date...Can you use them if they are not on the date when it is given? No...Can it be done ....yes....Is it wrong? Who the heck cares....I don't complain about it because it is up to the CM....

For those who use a fast pass and they are denied because it is pass the time...politely ask for a supervisor because sometimes the CM may not know....They could be new and following only what they see on the ticket...

 

[sknydave]

It does only have "Cannot accept early arrivals" written, but it also states "Please enter the FASTPASS entrance at the attraction between the times noted on the other side."

 

[TnTsParty]

good to know that you were able to use "expired" fast passes on Soarin. We don't have a problem on Test Track or Expedition Everest since we use the single rider lines for both these attractions. Its just the rides that don't offer the single rider lines and a fast pass is normally needed for.

 

[surferrat]

It does only have "Cannot accept early arrivals" written, but it also states "Please enter the FASTPASS entrance at the attraction between the times noted on the other side."

But it does not say " ONLY enter the FASTPASS entrance at the attraction between the times noted on the other side...It is a general guide line for when you can start entering..

So is it misleading? Possibly...should the wording be changed...that is up to Disney...

So for those who like to enter in the designated times go for it!!!

For those who go after ( like my family)..No biggie...

Get bent out of shape for other things besides using a fast pass when it is an hour later or even 5 hours later...Like maybe ohhh I don't know....They forget to open the park right on time and it is 3 min later...

 

[Robo]

good to know that you were able to use "expired" fast passes on Soarin.

I just want to be clear that I was just giving you my experiences.
I have read that on certain days/times that some guests have been denied entry with an expired FP at Soarin' (and other popular rides).

I was really just TRYING them to see if they would work... and they did... on the various days that I had them.

Again, they may not ALWAYS take them late at Soarin', but they will SOMETIMES (often?) take them.

 

[Robo]

...for those who like to enter in the designated times go for it!!!

For those who go after ( like my family)..No biggie...

Get bent out of shape for other things besides using a fast pass when it is an hour later or even 5 hours later...

Here's some (very subjective) math I did on why taking a "late/expired" FP will not necessarily CLOG the FP lines...

------------------------------------------------

Here are some FP numbers to play with.

Let's assume a given round number of FP Distributed for Big Thunder Mountain (100 FP's given out).

35 will be used at the beginning (within the first 5 minutes) of the Return Time "window."

40 will be used at some later time, but still within in the specified Return Time "window."

15 will be used outside (later than) the specified Return Time "window."

10 will be pocketed and never used (guests got busy elsewhere, left the park, etc.)

Those not ever using FP and those using FP outside the window (late) can virtually cancel-out each other in the FP waiting-line.

Jockey any of those numbers a bit, if you like, but they should be very close.

The FP system works very well, and with proper "policing" by CM's (if the FP lines do get "too long" during a busy run-like Soarin' or EE- they can refuse a "late" FP at that time) the lines move along quite nicely.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Robo - I think you have it figured right. I know for every so many Fast Passes I get, there are some I use as soon as I can, some I use late, and some I don't use. I know I have a half-dozen Fast Passes in my room that I got last month that I never used.

 

[surferrat]

Here's some (very subjective) math I did on why taking a "late/expired" FP will not necessarily CLOG the FP lines...

------------------------------------------------

Here are some FP numbers to play with.

Let's assume a given round number of FP Distributed for Big Thunder Mountain (100 FP's given out).

35 will be used at the beginning (within the first 5 minutes) of the Return Time "window."

40 will be used at some later time, but still within in the specified Return Time "window."

15 will be used outside (later than) the specified Return Time "window."

10 will be pocketed and never used (guests got busy elsewhere, left the park, etc.)

Those not ever using FP and those using FP outside the window (late) can virtually cancel-out each other in the FP waiting-line.

Jockey any of those numbers a bit, if you like, but they should be very close.

The FP system works very well, and with proper "policing" by CM's (if the FP lines do get "too long" during a busy run-like Soarin' or EE- they can refuse a "late" FP at that time) the lines move along quite nicely.

hahaha..very nice I think you did great on the guessing on numbers and agree...The only time I saw the Fast Pass line get clogged was this weekend (which was to me unusually slow for MLK weekend)..when the Thunder Mountain Fast Pass was past the entrance gates, and I heard the CM ask another what he needed to do and they told him to call up top and let them know to let the Fast Pass clear up...This was because the person up top was new..

 

[bighunter]

Robo - I think you have it figured right. I know for every so many Fast Passes I get, there are some I use as soon as I can, some I use late, and some I don't use. I know I have a half-dozen Fast Passes in my room that I got last month that I never used.

We do too, Things come up and we come home with them for one reason or another.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

NO, sorry, "please clean your room now" means exactly the same thing as "clean your room now".

For some reason my son thinks that if I say "please" it's a question not an order!

I use expired FPs all the time and have never had a CM say anything about it. I try to make it on time, but I am on vacation afterall! I even had a CM tell me to use our FPs the next day when Dinosaur was down late in the afternoon and we had FPs for it.

 

[DizzKneeGeek]

I still want someone to explain to me why the second time is printed on the fast pass? Did they just need to fill in space and thought maybe they'd just print some random numbers?

 

[Robo]

I still want someone to explain to me why the second time is printed on the fast pass?

The overall point being made by many in this thread is "don't WORRY about it."

If you want to use the FP in the first 5 minutes of the window... then you CAN, and you can be very sure that it will be honored.

I have found that I use most of my FP within the "window" but if I find I must try to use it later in the day, that seems to work fine, too.

MANY times, when I return later in the evening to some attactions (say, BTM or Splash) they are simply not operating the FP line by then, so even if I have a FP, I must enter the Standby line with everyone else at that time.

Its not a big deal.

 

[surferrat]

I still want someone to explain to me why the second time is printed on the fast pass? Did they just need to fill in space and thought maybe they'd just print some random numbers?

It is a time range that the system uses so that you can pick up a next fast pass. The next time is listed a bit earlier than
but that is the way the program works...

 

[DizzKneeGeek]

It is a time range that the system uses so that you can pick up a next fast pass. The next time is listed a bit earlier than
but that is the way the program works...

I'm talking about the return between 'this time' and 'this time' times. Since there is a second time there; that means the fast pass does, in fact, expire. Keep rationalizing.

 

[surferrat]

I'm talking about the return between 'this time' and 'this time' times. Since there is a second time there; that means the fast pass does, in fact, expire. Keep rationalizing.

yep sure does...your right...it expires that is why it works even after the time...

great observation....

Done Rationalizing!!!!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I'm talking about the return between 'this time' and 'this time' times. Since there is a second time there; that means the fast pass does, in fact, expire. Keep rationalizing.

I'm not arguing with you that it does not expire. It's just that it is Disney's policy to accept late / expired Fast Passes.

 

[AdamsPrincess]

I want to know where it says it is Disney's "policy" to accept late fast passes. Is it proof or is it so and so said so. What is the point of the fastpass if people are not going to use it correctly.

 

[Dreamseeker]

The cast member has every right to deny acess with an expired FP.
Most CMs will try to accommodate you, but that is the cast member being nice, not an entitlement.
The Fast Pass system works by assigning a one hour time period for your ride. This is how it works. I'm not saying this is what the OP did, but many guests will wait for the most convenient time to return (after parades, shows, the main dinner times...yadda yadda) and then people end up complaining because the Fast Pass return line is getting too long. So, if a CM makes an exception for you (which they often will) be grateful, but don't expect them to do it and get mad if they don't (Again, I'm not saying that's what the OP did)! Try to be on time for your return, and don't "misuse" the concept of FP unless you absolutely have to.

 

[KyDerbyMan]

Very simple solution to all of this mess.

Those of you who feel it is a moral imperative to abide by that rigid one-hour window for the return time on a FastPass, you keep right on living by that golden rule.

The rest of us who, through employment, first-hand experience, conversations with CMs, reading threads on other boards, etc. have found that using a FastPass after the "expiration time" is NOT A CONCERN with Disney will continue to do so and not strap ourselves to being in certain areas of the parks at certain times of the day. Rather, we will roam freely about the parks, skipping along in a carefree style and smiling broadly handing our 10:30 - 11:30am FastPass to a CM at 8:43pm.

mmmkay?


Okay.

 

[Robo]

I want to know where it says it is Disney's "policy" to accept late fast passes. Is it proof or is it so and so said so. What is the point of the fastpass if people are not going to use it correctly.

It works well mainly because a FP can only used ONE TIME each.

Its not possible to severely clog the FP line using "expired" FP's because once you USE it, its gone.
If you use it INSIDE the window, its gone (can't use it then outside the window).
If you use it OUTSIDE the window, its gone (didn't use it then inside the window).

One person, one FP ride.
So WHEN you choose to use it is largely (mathmatically) unimportant.

Consider this (I KNOW I'm going to REGRET this...)
The new YoaMD "Dream FP" is a "universal" FP, that is given to selected families and can be used by the holder for one FP ride, per FP attraction, at any time of day.
That doesn't seem to clog the FP line.