Fast Pass enforcement and 15 minute grace period?

[fishacura]

I know they are now enforcing the fast pass return times. Is it true there is a 15 minute grace period. For example, if return time is 12-1, they'll let you on until 1:15???

 

[mesaboy2]

I know they are now enforcing the fast pass return times. Is it true there is a 15 minute grace period. For example, if return time is 12-1, they'll let you on until 1:15???

Most CMs do. I've heard some here report the rare "no". The GP is printed in small print in the lower right of the FP. If you want to be sure, don't be late at all.

 

[suemom2kay]

Yes.

If you look on the lower right corner of the fast pass the GP return time is there.


photo by Disneyslave, on Flickr

 

[vicki_c]

Someone just took a (small) poll on this the other day:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2936316

 

[LilyWDW]

There does seem to be a sort of grace period of 15 minutes on the Fast Pass. However, it also seems like you can be denied during that time period.

So, if it is important for you to ride that attraction, don't risk being outside of the one hour return.

 

[lmogs]

We just went to DL in April - and were never denied access to a ride!! We used FPs that were hours old . . . is this just a new thing at WDW??

 

[DebbieB]

We just went to DL in April - and were never denied access to a ride!! We used FPs that were hours old . . . is this just a new thing at WDW??

It is only being enforced at WDW starting last March.

 

[KimR]

We just returned on Sunday and let me tell you, they are not kidding about enforcement of the return times. We had a return time of 10 - 11 for RNRC and when we returned at 10:20, the ride was down and we were given no estimate as to when it would come back up. We figured there would be no problem returning to ride outside our window in this case, but we were wrong.

I came back around noon and was initially denied entry. I explained about the ride being down and she said that since it came back up at 10:30, we couldn't get on the ride. So I guess I was supposed to just stand around and wait for the ride to POSSIBLY come back up? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of fastpass? At any rate, she eventually let us on, but did let us know that it was against policy. That just doesn't seem right to me.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

FYI, there appears to be a grace period for BEFORE the window, too. We were let into one of our FastPass rides (I forget which) 5 minutes early in late April. I'm thinking maybe it was Space Mountain, but I can't say for sure that was right.

 

[jonimce]

I feel kind of out of the loop here. We will be at WDW in August for 12 nights. Our last trip was 2006 and anytime we used fast pass if we didn't get back with in the hour we just tossed it. Or gave it away if we knew we would miss it. I never knew you could go outside your hour time frame. Is this something recent?

 

[Franziska]

I just got back from Disney yesterday and we found that they were very lax with the FP policy. We got on rides early (just once, but it was raining heavily and the CM was kind enough to let us enter the queue early to get out of the rain) and late. Now, I'm talking 7 - 10 minutes late, not an hour late. I never tried to use a FP that was older than 15 minutes.

On one ride, Soarin', I think it was, they didn't even collect my FP ticket. I found that the CMs were not very strict.

 

[makingsmiles]

We just returned from this years Disney trip and yes they are strictly enforcing the return time with many CMs not allowing any grace period after or before. We were able a few times able to get on 5-2 min prior to time. If you want to be sure you get on pay attention to your hour window given. They are checking now.

 

[skater]

We just returned on Sunday and let me tell you, they are not kidding about enforcement of the return times. We had a return time of 10 - 11 for RNRC and when we returned at 10:20, the ride was down and we were given no estimate as to when it would come back up. We figured there would be no problem returning to ride outside our window in this case, but we were wrong.

I came back around noon and was initially denied entry. I explained about the ride being down and she said that since it came back up at 10:30, we couldn't get on the ride. So I guess I was supposed to just stand around and wait for the ride to POSSIBLY come back up? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of fastpass? At any rate, she eventually let us on, but did let us know that it was against policy. That just doesn't seem right to me.

I would be a little upset by this. Who wants to keep checking back if a ride will re-open? The many ride break-downs get annoying as it is. That was part of the beauty of the old system. If a ride was down when I returned, I knew I could come back when it was convenient.

 

[jar]

We just returned on Sunday and let me tell you, they are not kidding about enforcement of the return times. We had a return time of 10 - 11 for RNRC and when we returned at 10:20, the ride was down and we were given no estimate as to when it would come back up. We figured there would be no problem returning to ride outside our window in this case, but we were wrong.

I came back around noon and was initially denied entry. I explained about the ride being down and she said that since it came back up at 10:30, we couldn't get on the ride. So I guess I was supposed to just stand around and wait for the ride to POSSIBLY come back up? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of fastpass? At any rate, she eventually let us on, but did let us know that it was against policy. That just doesn't seem right to me.

I also returned Sunday from a trip and found that there was flexibility when a ride went down. We used a TSMM FP that was an hour past the window because it had gone down during the window. We also used a Splash Mtn FP an hour or so past the window -- it had been open the whole time during the window, but due to some serious miscounting or something, the FP line was 25 minutes long and I thought that defeated the whole purpose. The FP collector said I wouldn't be able to use it late if I didn't wait on the 25 minute line, but when we returned, the collector who was there let us without hesitation.

Otherwise, we didn't try to use anything outside the window. For what it's worth, though, I hate the new enforcement of FP times. When I get a FP, I want to wander somewhere else and not kill an hour or two right near the attraction or have to trek back and forth across some of the bigger parks. I know it's controversial, but I will really look forward to the new system and getting to book FP's before entering the park so I don't have to go back and forth twice each time I want to collect and then use a FP.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

This is the wording that was missing from the old Fastpasses "Not able to accommodate late arrivals". If they had only included this is the first place, there never would have been an issue with late arrivals.

If an attraction goes down and you are holding a FP, the CM is supposed to offer you a replacement FP date stamped for that day only. (come back anytime) Glad the PP spoke up. However, next time get a replacement FP before leaving the attraction. I never trust a CM anymore saying it will work later and then the CM later has no idea what you are talking about. This has happened numerous times to our family. Live and learn.

 

[sunkissed4]

We've used FP early on many occasions, but they were all for Buzz so I'm not sure it's a huge deal! Usually about 5 minutes early and once I was checking the clock and told my DS we were 15 mins early so we would have to wait, but the CM overheard and let us on anyway.

We've never tried a late FP, had to throw a few away already... my kids are still napping so it's very difficult to plan it perfectly. Oh well!

 

[estherhead]

I also returned Sunday from a trip and found that there was flexibility when a ride went down. We used a TSMM FP that was an hour past the window because it had gone down during the window. We also used a Splash Mtn FP an hour or so past the window -- it had been open the whole time during the window, but due to some serious miscounting or something, the FP line was 25 minutes long and I thought that defeated the whole purpose. The FP collector said I wouldn't be able to use it late if I didn't wait on the 25 minute line, but when we returned, the collector who was there let us without hesitation.

Otherwise, we didn't try to use anything outside the window. For what it's worth, though, I hate the new enforcement of FP times. When I get a FP, I want to wander somewhere else and not kill an hour or two right near the attraction or have to trek back and forth across some of the bigger parks. I know it's controversial, but I will really look forward to the new system and getting to book FP's before entering the park so I don't have to go back and forth twice each time I want to collect and then use a FP.

We just got back from DL and I got in a conversation with a CM there who said that they don't give out FPs when a ride is broken, so it's no big deal to let FP users ride on expired FP's since the amount of FP's handed out is less.

He also said they aren't enforcing FP's at DL yet as they are just waiting to see the crowd patterns after Carsland opens. But by the end of the year they will be in sync with WDW. Or at least that is the goal.