Fast Passes from DVC Guide

[nifferearly]

It can't hurt to ask your guide! I bought my 2nd contract over the phone. My guide gave me the wrong price, which I suspected was wrong and questioned him on it repeatedly. When he called back to tell me my price had increased, he said to call him the next time we were there and he'd give me some fast passes. Our next trip was about 3 months later with a group of 8. I called him the week before and he let me pick up FP's for all of us at the SSR sales center (we were at THV).

He screwed something else up on the contract (after our THV trip), so I mentioned that he could give me FP's to make up for it. That time, he had them delivered to our room at BLT.

We usually travel when it's not that busy so I don't really need them. But I'm planning to call and ask before our trip over President's Weekend this year.

 

[rondesj]

I was not offered a fast pass either. What is a fast pass?

 

[fall08CP]

If I recall correctly, the ones we received didn't start "ticking" until first use. Once we used one the first time, the three day timer started.

Nope- they are actually activated each morning and expire 3 days from when they are scanned, not from first use.

Fastpasses are used as an incentive for buying, not just to make members happy. If your guide feels gracious enough to provide you with them for a future visit, make sure they will be in office that day to come meet you. Otherwise you'll walk in and no one will have any idea what you're talking about, and your guide may be impossible to reach. They don't hand them out like candy anymore.

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

Obviously DVC doesn't give them out willy nilly. That's why I'm asking if anyone has been successful in having their guide give them when they didn't do a tour.

I think if you asked they will give them to you. Especially if you stopped by to see him in person and give him 3 names of people to call who might have an interest in DVC. If he does give you fastpasses though I don't recommend announcing it on the Disboards. I would keep that info to yourself.

Jason

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

I was not offered a fast pass either. What is a fast pass?

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/fastpass.htm

Disney's FASTPASS allows guests to make 'reservations' for a popular ride to avoid waiting in long lines.

As you approach the attraction that uses the FASTPASS system, you will see three lines. One is the FASTPASS distribution line (where you get your FASTPASS ticket ), the second is the FASTPASS entrance (when you're returning to ride after making your FASTPASS reservation), and the third is the Standby entrance for guests not using FASTPASS.

The FASTPASS distribution line features a clock showing what times the tickets are being issued for. A clock with the current time is displayed outside the FASTPASS attraction entrance. The Standby line will have the current wait time posted.

Let's see how this all works. It's 11:00am and you want to go on Kali River Rapids but there's a 60 minutes wait posted outside the Standby line. You take a look at the FASTPASS distribution and see that passes are being issued with a return time of 1:00 - 2:00pm. You get your FASTPASS and instead of waiting on a one hour line, you have two free hours before coming back, bypassing the standby line and getting on Kali with little or no wait.

For the attractions, the assigned time will give you a 1 hour window to return, so you don't have to run back to be there the minute it goes into effect. With the theater attractions, you'll have a FASTPASS for a specific performance.

One thing to keep in mind, there are restrictions as to how many passes you can have at once. Your FASTPASS will have the time that you can get your next FASTPASS printed on it. (Usually this is when your current FASTPASS can be used or after two hours have elapsed.) Don't plan on going from one FASTPASS attraction to another gathering up slips. These machines are smart and won't issue another until your current pass allows it.

Every one in your party will be expected to turn in a FASTPASS at the attraction. And please don't return before your scheduled time because you will not be allowed to enter. There's nothing like weaving through a crowd of guests who are blocking the FASTPASS entrance because they're too early. Another no-no is trying to use a FASTPASS that wasn't issued that day. Don't bother, they can't accept it. Jumping off the standby line into the FASTPASS line isn't cool. There will be a Cast Member waiting for you to turn in your non-existent pass who will send you right back to where the Standby line begins.

FASTPASS is available to everyone and works with all admission media. There's no charge for using it.

 

[australiankaren]

hey
we were given fast passes when we bought at BLT, then at the presentation at BLT in the afternoon, and our agent has put on our file to have fast passes available when we go again to WDW next year.
Awesome things they are....shame they expire after 3 days.
hope that helps

 

[SteffM]

We got 6 FP cards and ice cream for going on the tour. DH and the kiddos loved it !

 

[Jenn4615]

We got 6 fast pass cards and 100 dollar gift card!!

 

[clarkinstlouis]

Its funny about those fast passes. We were just there, took the tour, received a $100 gift card from a promotion going on, and we were real close to buying. Spent 2 hours there but wanted to think about it overnight, as I wanted to check these boards

As we were leaving I heard another family talking about fastpasses to make up for the time we had spent, our guide said no way, you already got the gift card

It doesnt cost disney anything to give away fastpasses and would have left a better taste in my mouth than to refuse us as we really asked a lot of questions and were interested.
Just our experience

 

[Jenn4615]

they should really get that aspect together! We were just there also... Wed actually.. we had not asked for any of it... she just loaded us up... with all kinds of things actually! PINs... tons of them, luggage tags, coloring books (which are very nice!) fast passes, the gift cards.... bags, etc.. It felt like christmas!

 

[rsimon]

We have done the BLT tour twice and got the fast passes. We have also always negotiated for fast passes when we visit our guide even if we don't purchase.

One trip, we did the BLT tour AND purchased points, we got fast passes both times. Actually, I can't remember a trip to WDW that we didn't get fast passes for doing something with DVC.

It can be done, just ask when you go see your guide or purchase points. Worst case, the BLT tour is fun and makes for a nice afternoon activity if you want to easily get fast passes.

 

[DVC Tink]

We became great friends with our Guide since day one. I used to email him from time to time to keep in touch. Whenever we come down there is something waiting for us, This includes our daughter who honeymooned at WLV. He has opened many special door at the happiest place on earth. Be good to you guide and they will be good to you

 

[mom3sonstt]

We bought our initial points 12 years ago over the phone. We added on once right away, then a few years ago we added on again when we were at the Doorway To Dreams in Schaumburg. Following that add-on we visited our guide for the first time, he didn't offer us anything, although at the end of our visit we requested pricing and wound up adding on more after we got home. Later that year we called to add 50 more points over at Beach Club. He wasn't able to get us any in our use year, but got us some at Boardwalk. When he called to offer us the Boardwalk ones he said "maybe I can throw in some fastpasses next time you're down". So last summer we went out to see him and he said that he "owed" us some fastpasses and gave us 6 (there were 6 in our group that trip). After we got home we bought 50 more points. DH asked me to call him to see if we could get more fastpasses for our trip in Nov. Our guide pulled up my name and said that he had given us some in June and wouldn't be able to get us any more.

So of the 510 points that we bought over 6 different contracts - the only time we received anything other than the points (and whatever discount they may have been offering at the time) was our 5th purchase and he only offered the fastpasses when he was unable to find points at our first choice resort.