Expired Fastpasses Refused

[bicker]

Jim Hill is accurate when he quotes historical information. He's less reliable when he prognosticates about projections.

How much they spent actually no longer matters. (I did my masters thesis on Sunk Cost Analysis.) What matters is whether they can capitalize on the asset today in a constructive manner.

 

[DisneyDadof3]

This is critical. It was indeed made clear, from the beginning of the FastPass program, that the intention was to relieve guests of having to wait in queue, and instead they could browse shops or have a bite to eat while waiting for their reserved FastPass return time. I cannot honesty say that I, myself, use it in that manner. As such, FastPass has unquestionably failed to live up to its expectations, and as such, is ripe for consideration of changes to help it better satisfy its original objectives.


As we would be here, if we were not consistently addressing that misconception!

They are making plenty of money as I would not come to disney and spend thousands of dollars if it meant I had to stand in long line. The FASTPASS in the main reason my family has continued to come to WDW - otherwise we would have brought the kids once and not returned. The magic is being able to enjoy the parks, eat the food, visit with characters etc. - not stand in line. The FASTPASS as currently done allows my family to do this. If it were not for this, my money would be going elsewhere

 

[bicker]

The issue isn't how much money they're making, but rather how much money they could make. The folks who run WDW have a legal obligation to make all their decisions in the best long-term interests of the owners, not the guests. Often there is some correlation; just as often there is not.

Folks visited WDW before FastPass, and folks would still visit WDW if they had to do something specific to be able to get FastPasses.

 

[Kick Save]

Hehe... wishful thinking. It was never a rule, written or otherwise. It was what a lot of opportunistic folks wanted to be true, and something many CMs let slide, and may continue to let slide, but the program description is very clear that you must use your FPs during the designated time.

An "unwritten rule" wouldn't appear in the program description...that's why it's unwritten.

Just passing on what I've heard from more than one source.

 

[Sammie]

That's the case with anything, really, whether it be FastPasses, the Dining Plan, room discount codes, "waking Tink", etc. The more people try to work the system (I think "beat" is too harsh of a word), the more the system has to be reconstituted in a more restrictive and less customer-friendly way. The folks who really get hurt are the folks who, as Lewis suggests, are polite, and aren't "persistent" about asking for an exception.

Definitely and why is this so prevalent at Disney. Does Disney just bring out the worst in people instead of the best, or do they only post on here so we know more about it. I truly wonder at times. And yes this behavior has a name, it's moral economics.

There was an episode on 20/20 about it. How one's morals or lack of them affects the economics of businesses that rely on an elment of trust and honesty.

 

[Minnie824]

Expired fastpasses should not be able to be used. Period. 5 min or 5 days. Theres a limited number of fastpasses for a reason, not for people to try to scam and use them to cut in line, which, essentially, it is doing. If you can't make it back during your fastpass window, get another one, or wait in line like everyone else. Just my opinion.

 

[bicker]

An "unwritten rule" wouldn't appear in the program description...that's why it's unwritten.

A "rule" (written or unwritten) is something that folks can rely on being actual. In thise case, sometimes it is true, sometimes it is false. So rather than a "rule" it is special pixie dust that sometimes rains down on some guests.

Just passing on what I've heard from more than one source.

Okay, understood. I'm just trying to keep it real, dawg.

 

[beattyfamily]

An FYI: we had two instances during our recent trip where day-plus-old FPs were refused; once on TofT and again on Soarin', and in each case despite our polite but persistent questioning.

That's great news! Thanks for sharing. Good to hear the CM are cracking down on this "unwritten rule".

 

[CarnotaurDad]

Personally, as much as I love Fast Pass, I would be just as happy if it were to go away. I miss the old days of:

(a) Look at wait time for ride/attraction
(b) If wait time looks good, stand in line
(c) If wait time looks bad, move on to next ride/attraction

JMHO

 

[wdwguide]

The issue isn't how much money they're making, but rather how much money they could make. The folks who run WDW have a legal obligation to make all their decisions in the best long-term interests of the owners, not the guests. Often there is some correlation; just as often there is not.

Folks visited WDW before FastPass, and folks would still visit WDW if they had to do something specific to be able to get FastPasses.

What's good for the guests is that the system, while expensive to develop, costs next to nothing to operate. There is little chance that it will be removed anytime soon.

 

[bicker]

Removed? Gosh no. That won't happen for sure. The question is whether or not it will be changed -- whether specific enhancements (from Disney's standpoint) will be applied, or not...

 

[wdwguide]

Removed? Gosh no. That won't happen for sure. The question is whether or not it will be changed -- whether specific enhancements (from Disney's standpoint) will be applied, or not...

I am actually surprised they haven't done that yet. Sure, there were the upgrades during the system's early days which were mainly abuse-prevention (by networking the machines within each park) and user-friendliness tweaks (4-way ticket readers, Surprise FastPasses, modified time-to-next-FastPass rules).
But the long-rumored resort guest bonus features, day guest usage caps and/or a-la-carte payment for unlimited FastPass usage have never really been implemented.

 

[LK03]

I'm sorry but when one goes to the fast pass ticket machine and sees the time above it you have to decide are you going to come back at that time. If it says 8 pm and I know DH and I plan on being at another park I'm not going to get those tickets and hope maybe at 10 pm I can ride the ride. If you don't like the times than forget it. Hoping to use a FP hours later than the designated time is asking to be on some sort of reservation list. Or, for the people who are using FPs from previous trips, good god, give me a break.

 

[tinkerbell1967]

We have used the FP the next day when a ride has broken down, example Test Track broke down around 1 and never was fixed by the time the park closed. We were told by CM at the entrance to the line that we could use them the next day, we did and no problem. I do think though that the FP are to be used the same day you get them, I have never tried to use them the next day expect for what I stated above.

 

[DisneyDadof3]

The issue isn't how much money they're making, but rather how much money they could make. The folks who run WDW have a legal obligation to make all their decisions in the best long-term interests of the owners, not the guests. Often there is some correlation; just as often there is not.

Folks visited WDW before FastPass, and folks would still visit WDW if they had to do something specific to be able to get FastPasses.

When I visited in 2003, I brought my daughter because I thought she would enjoy MK, but the thought of standing in lines was something I dreaded. However, when we arrived and figured out the fastpasses, I was thrilled and have returned several times and am coming again in June and December - in fact thrilled so much that I can ride rides, eat etc. without standing in line that I purchased annual passes. Disney is making a lot of money on me. Without fastpasses (and I'm not willing to pay extra like Universal did - i haven't been back there since), I would not be willing to spend 15-20 days per year with my money at disney parks.

 

[fabumouse]

I'm sorry but when one goes to the fast pass ticket machine and sees the time above it you have to decide are you going to come back at that time.

I'm normally the big rule enforcer - but I'm just not understanding this fuss. If the CM's tell guests that one can be late for their fast pass times, and in one instance on this post, the CM actually handed expired fast passes to some guests, then why should some people follow "the rules" and give up their chance to ride, fully knowing that other people are not going to follow these same "rules", when they don't appear to be rules at all?

I have no problem with Disney being strict with the FastPass times, but then they should be equally enforced for everyone. Until then, why would one deprive their family of the glories of Soarin' just because they know the current times conflict with a lunch reservation? Especially since you've already walked across the park to pick them up - seems silly to turn around and disappoint everyone when there's no need.

 

[jbdreamer]

Ask any CM - FPs can be used anytime after the start time of the FP for that day. If Disney says it's OK, then how can you be mad when people do it?

I have even had a CM on Main Street give me a FP for Buzz with an expired time, and he said it didn't matter.

Although it never occured to me to use FPs on a differnent day. They are usually different colors. I think I would feel bad even asking.

 

[bicker]

they should be equally enforced for everyone

This is the crux of the matter. We have a reasonable expectation of equality, but that flies in the face of pixie dust. When pixie dust actually causes other guests to have a lesser experience (waiting longer in queue) is it really pixie dust?

 

[QueenT]

prognosticates about projections.

How much they spent actually no longer matters. (I did my masters thesis on Sunk Cost Analysis.) What matters is whether they can capitalize on the asset today in a constructive manner.

OK, bicker, "prognosticates about projections", love that phrase

Anyway, I can see why they wouldn't care how much they originally spent on the FP system, since they already spent it, but wouldn't they still be spending a significant amount on maintenance, that could conceivably cause them to discontinue the program if they were in a cost-cutting mode? (Not that I want that to happen, love the FP, can't figure out why some don't use it)

 

[bicker]

but wouldn't they still be spending a significant amount on maintenance

I agree with wdwguide that the FastPass system, now that it is deployed, costs very little to operate. While extreme austerity (another 9/11) could prompt digging down deep enough to warrant considering the expense of maintaining FastPass, I doubt much short of that could.