Fast Pass Return Time Enforcement

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I am very well aware of the above.

CMs have confirmed that it isn't happening since that release.

And you still feel the need to repeat yourself multiple times. We get that you don't think its happening.

 

[lilpooh108]

While I hate to argue with someone who is on my side in the Fastpass debate, your post might be the most hateful thing I have read all month!
Sorry, but locals have just as much right to a Disney Day as tourists. My California money is just as green as Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Japanese, Australian or otherwise.
In fact given the difference in park attendance during peak and non-peak season, I would have to say it is not all locals packing the parks and keeping the lines long. In fact during the summer when all the "cheapo" passes are blacked out and the line for Space Mountain is 90 minutes I wonder if you will be in favor of Disney "driving the tourists away."

I totally agree.

In in response to the earlier PP slamming those with "cheapo" passes... You know what I do with my "cheapo" pass (which is over $300 w/parking) . . . I go in and enjoy parades, shows, spend money at the restaurants (sometimes just go for dinner) and ride NON FP rides because usually by the time I get there all the FPs are out.

I don't hoard FPs to use later in the day, because I can't be there in the mornings. Most locals work, and don't go in the mornings, hoard FPs, then return in the evenings. In fact, I think more day trippers and non-locals do this. Know why? Because they "need" to fit all the rides in. I don't.

I've had an AP since 1996 and I don't understand the hate for SoCal passes. I don't see this much hate on the WDW boards for Floridian resident passes or their seasonal passes or after 4pm passes or even those who buy APs w/DVC discounts.

Regarding the FP policy--it is not "abuse" if CMs tell guests that FPs are usable after the designated time slot. It is DLR's policy that FPs may be used. If they change the policy, so be it.

I'm sure all of us would just like confirmation either way.

 

[skier_pete]

Can I just say as a non-local coming for the first time...I do not HATE, or HATE ON locals. I may be a tad jealous that you have an annual pass for less than twice what my 3-day ticket will cost, but I don't begrudge anyone else that will be in the park while I will be there. It is as much "your" park as "mine". (OK, really its Disney's park, and any proprietariness you feel would be misguided.)

I do hope they continue to let me use the FP late come July, but if they don't I will cope and plan accordingly.

 

[lilpooh108]

Can I just say as a non-local coming for the first time...I do not HATE, or HATE ON locals. I may be a tad jealous that you have an annual pass for less than twice what my 3-day ticket will cost, but I don't begrudge anyone else that will be in the park while I will be there. It is as much "your" park as "mine". (OK, really its Disney's park, and any proprietariness you feel would be misguided.)

I do hope they continue to let me use the FP late come July, but if they don't I will cope and plan accordingly.

 

[calsig31]

Now, I am curious to see if they will extend the timeframe.

They are extending the time by allowing you to enter 5 minutes before your time, and extending the grace period from the hour that is printed on the ticket by an extra 15 minutes.

Sometimes it is difficult to get back to an attraction within a timeframe especially if your window is soon but not soon enough to sit and wait for it.

It really shouldn’t be that hard for one to budget their time to fit into the time allotted. If you shoot for a target time to get back to the ride of five minutes prior to the time printed on the ticket, that gives you a grace period of an hour and twenty minutes that allows for any unforeseen things that may happen along the way.

Not sure if this happens a lot at Dl but it could at WDW...
What happens if you stand in line for Toy Story FP and by the time it is your turn, you get at 5pm window ...when you have a dining reservation across the park? Which can you go to?

The fastpass lines all say what time they are currently issuing fastpasses for. If you know your dinner reservations are during that time, don’t get the fastpass. Come back when they are being offered for a later return time or go standby. If you had 5pm dinner reservations and you showed up to the ride at 4:30 with a standby line that was an hour long, you wouldn’t get in line, why would you get a fastpass with a window that expires while you are at dinner?

 

[shells4]

It is amazing the number of threads and responses on this subject. Honestly, I don't really care either way. I would just like to say that I have been to Disney many, many times and I never realized that I could use my fast pass after the time on the ticket until I found this site. It simply never occurred to me that you would be allowed in the fast pass line if your ticket had expired. It has NEVER been an issue. We just plan around it and we still have time to see everything in the park. Twice we have had conflicting dinner reservations. One time we gave our tickets to someone who could use them and one time we heard another party complaining about their time and we switched tickets, it worked great for all of us. It is unbelievable how bent out of shape people get about this subject. A little bit of flexibility goes a long way.

 

[Malcon10t]

Not sure if this happens a lot at Dl but it could at WDW...
What happens if you stand in line for Toy Story FP and by the time it is your turn, you get at 5pm window ...when you have a dining reservation across the park? Which can you go to?

Not a WDW goer, but at Disneyland, I have never stood in a FP line and had the time change by more than 5 mins.

 

[indimom3]

Not a WDW goer, but at Disneyland, I have never stood in a FP line and had the time change by more than 5 mins.

The only place I've seen this happen in WDW is with TSMM. The FPs for that ride can run out in just a few hours, so the time ticks by pretty fast as you wait in long lines just to get a FP. It makes rope drop at DHS scary.
I am sad to see this go at WDW (and hope it doesn't change at DL since we're finally getting back there), but we'll just have to change the way we plan our days and tour.
I do wonder whether it will make the lines easier to predict and manage? Is that Disney's motivation for doing it?

 

[Disney Dreams]

Can I just say as a non-local coming for the first time...I do not HATE, or HATE ON locals. I may be a tad jealous that you have an annual pass for less than twice what my 3-day ticket will cost, ...

While this is true, if you plan on going to the Park on a Saturday or any of the 150 days that the So Cal pass is not valid, it's not a comparable comparison. I think people don't take that into account when blaming the "locals." (I know you specifically were not, I am saying "people" in general.)

That said, a 3-day parkhoppers is $215. If you think you are going to end up buying two of those in one year, you could purchase a Deluxe for less and open up 315 days of the year for less than the two 3-dayers. Heck, for $69 you could get an unlimited AP, which includes a shopping discount and parking.

...I would just like to say that I have been to Disney many, many times and I never realized that I could use my fast pass after the time on the ticket until I found this site. It simply never occurred to me that you would be allowed in the fast pass line if your ticket had expired. It has NEVER been an issue...

And I think you are in the majority. I think most people DO use FPs within the window. Those who know otherwise are the exception.

- Dreams

 

[aussietravellers]

I would just like to say that I have been to Disney many, many times and I never realized that I could use my fast pass after the time on the ticket until I found this site. It simply never occurred to me that you would be allowed in the fast pass line if your ticket had expired.

And I think you are in the majority. I think most people DO use FPs within the window. Those who know otherwise are the exception.

- Dreams

I have been to DL and WDW many times. Gosh the last two trips to WDW were for at least 3 weeks each trip. I've been on these boards for years and I never knew the return fastpass time secret

I'm kicking myself because we have had many fastpasses that the window came and went and we just missed it or have been at dinner or lunch and it took longer than expected and we missed it and we never realised that we could still use them. We would just throw them out!

So it's not something that we will miss, but in saying that, I had found out about it recently and was planning on going after the time on our next trip. But now I guess we will just keep doing what we have been doing when we were oblivious to secret.

 

[Disney Dreams]

... I still think they will get a lot of angry customers if they do not give any "warning" that things are changing. I can't complain about not being able to use them late if I know ahead of time, but if I wasn't told of the change, I would be pretty upset if I held my FP expecting to use them late and then was told I can't only after they were expired. You can say that was my fault for "abusing the system" but again Disney has set up to allow that "abuse" with no reprocussions, so if it changes without my knowledge, why wouldn't I be upset?

As I mentioned somewhere up there, our neighborhood has ALWAYS had Street Sweeping and signs posting saying that ticketing will occur if you park on the street on Day X between X:00am and Y:00pm.

For FIVE years they NEVER ticketed. Then one day we ALL got tickets. What? Huh? But... you have never ticketed. Ever. The reply? "It has always been a rule and whether we choose to enforce it or not is our choice. Do you have any questions on how to pay your ticket?"

It had always been a rule, they just chose to start enforcing it. And we all learned quickly --- the hard way. No notice given, except for the signs that had been posted for several years.

- Dreams

 

[Kittyskyfish]

We've learned to use our Fastpasses late and enjoyed it as a luxury, but for many years we abided by the time window and planned our Fastpasses accordingly. Going by the stated timeframe didn't hinder our plans one bit because we had an idea what timeframes we would be going to take a break at the hotel, or dining, etc. If Splash Mountain's window was going to overlap with our break, we either flexed our break or picked a different ride with a better FP window. Since the timeframe windows are clearly displayed you don't need to put your pass into the machine to find out.

I do wonder whether it will make the lines easier to predict and manage? Is that Disney's motivation for doing it?

This is what I believe. My understanding is that Fastpasses are distributed according to a percentage of rider volume per hour. If 20% of Fastpass holders decided to return at a time different than what the park anticipates, their returns may be disproportionate and further slow the loading pace of the stand-by line.

 

[iheartdisney]

As I mentioned somewhere up there, our neighborhood has ALWAYS had Street Sweeping and signs posting saying that ticketing will occur if you park on the street on Day X between X:00am and Y:00pm.

For FIVE years they NEVER ticketed. Then one day we ALL got tickets. What? Huh? But... you have never ticketed. Ever. The reply? "It has always been a rule and whether we choose to enforce it or not is our choice. Do you have any questions on how to pay your ticket?"

It had always been a rule, they just chose to start enforcing it. And we all learned quickly --- the hard way. No notice given, except for the signs that had been posted for several years.

- Dreams

Yes, but I would hope that Disney is shooting for better customer service than your local parking authority.

 

[AquaDame]

I think there was a time I would have been upset if this were true, but after my most recent visit over the tinkerbell weekend I'm not anymore. All the fastpasses were snagged early in the day, why not since you can use them whenever after you have them, and when we went back to Star Tours to use our fast passes there was a 45 minute wait for the fast pass line due to all the people lined up with expired fast passes. (thats me assuming that they don't hand out so many that we were all "on time" so to speak). I've certainly come back late before, but it seems lately if you wait you are bound to get stuck in longer and longer lines as the day wears on. I would much rather they enforce the rule for the system that was meant to cut down on wait times than let it become horribly inefficient as it is becoming.

Plus, it seems that people are becoming more and more entitled too. I saw a family demand that a CM let them use a Fast Pass from the day before, and people giving the CMs a hard time about not letting them use their passes very early as well. Yes, there will be more upset families at first but over time having no gray area will make their lives MUCH simpler. After awhile perhaps they will extend the window from an hour to two or something if people have a hard time - its Disney, Im certain they will hit upon something that will work.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

I forgot to add: If they do start enforcing the time window, they should have it in writing for the CM to refer to when a guest gets upset. Then it won't be the CM's Word against the Word of the customer. Easiest way would be to change the text on the passes stating that returning after the time frame is not allowed. I'm sure a 30 minute grace period is fine for wiggle room, especially if you can bring a receipt from a PS dining experience, but (as I self-reflect guiltily) coming 2+ hours late should be something a CM has the power to say "No" to.

 

[jetskigrl]

Yes, but I would hope that Disney is shooting for better customer service than your local parking authority.

And I'm pretty sure that the parking authority wasn't telling people to go ahead and park there anyway, it is OK with them (as DLR CMs have been telling people regarding using the FPs after the time printed).

But I do agree with the point made. It is their policy and they can choose to enforce it now even if they haven't been enforcing it (by they own doing) for years.

I do think the 5 minute before and 15 minute after is a slippery slope though. At least with the end of the day, there was a definite stop time. But if they are going to say 15 minutes, what happens when people start showing up 16 minutes late and they have to explain that even though that isn't what is printed on the ticket, 15 minutes late is OK but 16 isn't? And when people show up 6 minutes early they have to only wait 1 minute (even though he ticket says they should be waiting 6). Again, then you have people wondering why it was OK one time but not the other. Plus it puts too much on the CM checking the tickets to have to calculate out 15 minutes exactly from the end time, each time someone is a few minutes late.

So what happens is they start to "guesstimate" 15 minutes, which becomes 17, which becomes 20, etc, etc, etc.

I think if they really are going to enforce it, they should lengthen the window a bit (to 2 hours) and keep it firm to what is printed on the ticket.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

CMs should have the ability to allow a small grace period to those who have valid reasons and not for those who walk up late, and it should not be a "known" policy.

It shouldn't be a rubber stamp policy where anyone can say "oh, it's only a few minutes, let me pass" and the CM says go ahead. Getting in past the stated time should be a special priviledge based on a real need and an act of Disney magic, not an entitlement that people can count on to skirt the rules.

 

[gmi3804]

CMs should have the ability to allow a small grace period to those who have valid reasons and not for those who walk up late, and it should not be a "known" policy.

I vote that the policy should read, "If George asks for any reason, it's OK to let him through. All others must absolutely adhere to the return times." Sounds fair to me.

OK: Fight!

 

[zoey9797]

The only place I've seen this happen in WDW is with TSMM. The FPs for that ride can run out in just a few hours, so the time ticks by pretty fast as you wait in long lines just to get a FP. It makes rope drop at DHS scary.

Thanks! This is exactly what I was talking about- although some people may never have seen this depending on when and where they typically go.

In fact, once there was a 30-40 minute wait in the FAST PASS line!! And, by the time the person got to the front, the passes were at 5pm. This was getting there shortly after rope drop.

We typically make dining arrangements 180 days in advance so switching dining would not be practical (or even possible most days) if your FP time fell into that same window. There would be no way to plan for that.

I was simply pondering what one would do in that case especially with Cars Land opening and it is bound to be a hit!! It would make sense to open the window a little wider if they plan to enforce it.

In our case, I used FP after the window more than a few times. However, I politely asked the CM every time at the entrance of the line if the FP would still be accepted even though it was past the time and every time they said yes.
I didn't argue, plead or any of the above. I asked and they said yes with a smile. I said thank you and went on my way. If they would have said no, that would have been fine too.

Nothing sneaky about it.

(I never, ever have encountered a long wait in the actual FP line of an attraction though...maybe 15 minutes tops. I would think if the line was too long already they would not let in expired FP- maybe not though?)

If they enforce it, so be it. But I will be sad to see that little bit of flexibility go.

 

[todzwife]

Not to totally beat a dead horse here, but we'll be there March 7-10...is this confirmed that it's starting then? With 3 kids, I'll admit, we've been grateful for the leeway before, but I'm not opposed to it being enforced, I just need to know if it is or not because it will change the way we tour.