Fast Pass Return Time Enforcement

[mouseymommy]

We were there last week and a few times our FP return time expired before we were able to get back. We asked the CM if they were ok to use and they all said it was ok. Just thought I would let you all know.

 

[DCDisney]

I was there this weekend and no probs using them even hours late.

 

[iheartdisney]

That is so funny, because the local media was even talking about the big change- I saw reports on Good Day L.A., KTLA and at least two hosts on KFI were commenting on it. I guess the word hasn't gotten out to the CMs?

 

[larina]

It seems as though West Coast news has picked up the East Coast story even though it doesn't apply here yet.

 

[helenb]

As of this past weekend (March 16-18) it did not apply. We were not denied late use of FP anywhere... not een a warning. And we used them MULTIPLE times a day.

 

[CMHusband]

Two things:
1) Would it be okay if I saved up fast passes over a few days and then tried to use them all a week later and decided that since I had "waited" to use them, they should all be valid at anytime all day now?


2) My son is a CM on Star Tours - he has "heard talk" by leads of FP enforcement here at Disneyland but other than that nothing official - training or otherwise.

 

[Gisele]

CM,


I believe your first question is purely rhetorical? If not, then no, because, in the event others might wonder about it, the fast passes are for the current day only.
Now as for your second statement goes; I would be interested in knowing what the "talk" is. For it might just shed some light on the subject or of course perhaps not.

~~ I love you Phil and you will forever be with me! Forever my very best and most special friend! I love you to no end. ~~​

 

[farmfresh]

Have been lurking on the WDW board as due there in April and was really surprised to find they had changed policy there! So first things first,it was great to read about it here before we arrived. Chances are we would have been turned away.

I would say that we are only returning to WDW because of Harry potter at Universal - otherwise its not on my must return list because its just so hard to tour there compared with DLR (yes I know it has lions too, but...) this just adds to that feeling....

I agree 100% with Hydroguy - its impossible to know what effect late FPS have. In many visits to DLR, we have never really struck a bad FP queue - maybe Indiana jOnes - but that was just as likely to be the result of a ride malfunction as anything else. You just can't tell.

But would anyone on this side of things be kind enough offer a few succinct tips for the new WDW system... (its soo involved on the other board....)

I'd appreciate it

 

[HydroGuy]

Have been lurking on the WDW board as due there in April and was really surprised to find they had changed policy there! So first things first,it was great to read about it here before we arrived. Chances are we would have been turned away.

I would say that we are only returning to WDW because of Harry potter at Universal - otherwise its not on my must return list because its just so hard to tour there compared with DLR (yes I know it has lions too, but...) this just adds to that feeling....

I agree 100% with Hydroguy - its impossible to know what effect late FPS have. In many visits to DLR, we have never really struck a bad FP queue - maybe Indiana jOnes - but that was just as likely to be the result of a ride malfunction as anything else. You just can't tell.

But would anyone on this side of things be kind enough offer a few succinct tips for the new WDW system... (its soo involved on the other board....)

I'd appreciate it

Not sure if I understand, but you are asking advice here on the DLR forum about how to best work with the WDW policy of enforcing FP? I think the only real difference now is that you need to plan to return within the FP window at WDW. Did I miss something?

 

[skier_pete]

Have been lurking on the WDW board as due there in April and was really surprised to find they had changed policy there! So first things first,it was great to read about it here before we arrived. Chances are we would have been turned away.

I would say that we are only returning to WDW because of Harry potter at Universal - otherwise its not on my must return list because its just so hard to tour there compared with DLR (yes I know it has lions too, but...) this just adds to that feeling....

I agree 100% with Hydroguy - its impossible to know what effect late FPS have. In many visits to DLR, we have never really struck a bad FP queue - maybe Indiana jOnes - but that was just as likely to be the result of a ride malfunction as anything else. You just can't tell.

But would anyone on this side of things be kind enough offer a few succinct tips for the new WDW system... (its soo involved on the other board....)

I'd appreciate it

I'm A WDW guy. We always used FPs late there, and built that into touring plans. I really don't think it will be that hard a change, but will affect our use of FP as we would (especially at MK) save up our FP for the afternoon/evening. The difference would be instead of anticipating what you want to do in the afternoon, you will need to anticipate a few hours ahead. When touring in the AM when it's not that busy, the FP times will be only an hour or so ahead of real time. This will lead picking FP in the area you are in or in the next land you are heading to. Later in the day when the return windows get out to 3+ hours is a little trickier. At that point, I tend to FP the rides that I want to ride, and then plan our park touring around the return times. Having a mobile phone with the "Mobile Magic" APP can help with this as it list actual return times.

I do find it kind of fascinating that the two parks are really going to have different FP policies. As said above, I always took advantage of using them late, but I have no problem with having to use them as advertised, because that is really how it was designed.

 

[farmfresh]

Thank you! We will be there round Easter (so busy!). My initial thought was just to do what we would do anyway- collect Fps as soon as possible (absolutely no diff from the other strategy , and with exactly the same impact on FP window return times BTW).

It's the pm touring that worries me - in a busy park it may not be worth coming back in if we take a lunch break. Or maybe it's where EMH maybe useful?

Anyway, we'll give it a try. And we'll definitely take a wait times app.

 

[helenb]

My tried and true strategy is to arrive early enough to be at the gate/rope drop at park opening (whether that's regular park hours or Magic Morning) and then go on as many rides as possible, making use of FPs by collecting as many as possible. Usually we can get 3 hours of low line levels and pick up 3-4 sets of FPs before lunch. Then we have a sit-down lunch. After lunch we pick up FPs and see a 'show' or two (attractions that accommodate many people at once) or visit Tom Sawyer Island, then 'surf our FP' by visiting all of the rides we picked up FP for earlier in the day. This usually takes us to dinnertime, when we head back to our hotel. Even on busy days this strategy works well, but the key is that you HAVE to be at the parks early.