FastPass+ Day - unexpected glitch (CM was great!)

[ww52]

We secured our FP+'s on Saturday as that was the 60 day mark. We expected something might go wrong - but by definition you can't prepare for unexpected issues.

This one was subtle - and it cost us 15 minutes which cost us some of our choices.

My son was the one getting the FPs and we talking on the phone while he was picking them off one by one (after a very detailed plan we put together - and I was adjusting on the fly).

What happened? Five of us in our party of 7 have 5 day hoppers. All went smooth there.

But two people each had 4 days left on a non-expiring hopper - and so they bought a one day park ticket (non-MK, since it was cheaper.)

We couldn't tell the system to use that one day ticket the day we arrive (which is how our schedule has it - for Epcot). I have no idea how the system handled it - but it didn't work. Because as we were procuring FPs, we hit brick wall on our first MK day.

We weren't able to get FPs for the two people with the 4-day plus 1-day combination. The only thing I could think of was the system was applying the one-day ticket. The message said something that alluded to their not having media for that day for MK.

A call to the help line put me on hold (estimated wait time of less than 13 minutes I was told). It was less than 10 - and as my subject line says, the CM was great. (As every call to them has proven every one of them to be).

I knew FPs were disappearing as we spoke, but stuff happens. Getting upset wasn't going to help. The CM saw what I suspect and he had to escalate - apologized several times - got someone to remove the block - and we were still able to get several good ones for our MK morning - though not our choices around the times we wanted.

But again, stuff happens.

(Traveling with 2 small children in the hot July weather, we thought it best to get FPs even for attractions where it may not be necessary. We can always adjust as we see fit once we are there.)

I do wonder if the system at the park will be smart enough to use up the 1 day ticket our first day (once it sees we didn't "hop" that day.) I'll check with Disney on that before we go.

 

[Alesia]

You will need to go to guest services before you enter the park for the first time and have the tickets prioritized.

 

[verleniahall]

You will need to go to Guest Services and have them prioritize your tickets

 

[ww52]

Did not know that - thanks for the tip! We're staying at the Dolphin - I wonder if they can do that there. Or for that matter, can they do it before we get there?

We're all linked up using MDE - we'll have Magic Bands (that we have to purchase separately)

 

[Alesia]

Did not know that - thanks for the tip! We're staying at the Dolphin - I wonder if they can do that there. Or for that matter, can they do it before we get there?

We're all linked up using MDE - we'll have Magic Bands (that we have to purchase separately)

You cannot do it at the hotel and you cannot do it online or over the phone. You will have to go to a guest services location.

 

[ww52]

QQ - is there a guest services location at the international entrance to Epcot? That's where we are beginning. It would have to be before we go in, right?

I sure hope this doesn't turn into a day by day hassle. While we are not real tight for time in our schedule, with a party of 8 total I sure don't want to spend time every day and evening in a guest service line.

 

[Alesia]

Yes, there's a guest services location outside of the international gateway. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes to prioritize the tickets

 

[ww52]

Sorry - answered my own question. Yes - right at the International Gateway.

EDIT - thanks Alesia. Saw your post as I was writing.

 

[jpeterson]

QQ - is there a guest services location at the international entrance to Epcot? That's where we are beginning. It would have to be before we go in, right?

There definitely is, although it took us way too long to find it. I expected it to be in the building that is right there, but instead it is in a booth next to the ticket booth. I honestly assumed it was just a ticket booth as well.

 

[FLPrincessMom]

If they have the physical ticket they could just use that to enter the park the first day. Once they are in the first day, there would not be any need to have to go to guest services (the one day ticket would be used and the rest would be the non-expiration hopper). It would just save you a stop at guest services.

 

[lynnzrae]

We secured our FP+'s on Saturday as that was the 60 day mark. We expected something might go wrong - but by definition you can't prepare for unexpected issues.

This one was subtle - and it cost us 15 minutes which cost us some of our choices.

My son was the one getting the FPs and we talking on the phone while he was picking them off one by one (after a very detailed plan we put together - and I was adjusting on the fly).

What happened? Five of us in our party of 7 have 5 day hoppers. All went smooth there.

But two people each had 4 days left on a non-expiring hopper - and so they bought a one day park ticket (non-MK, since it was cheaper.)

We couldn't tell the system to use that one day ticket the day we arrive (which is how our schedule has it - for Epcot). I have no idea how the system handled it - but it didn't work. Because as we were procuring FPs, we hit brick wall on our first MK day.

We weren't able to get FPs for the two people with the 4-day plus 1-day combination. The only thing I could think of was the system was applying the one-day ticket. The message said something that alluded to their not having media for that day for MK.

A call to the help line put me on hold (estimated wait time of less than 13 minutes I was told). It was less than 10 - and as my subject line says, the CM was great. (As every call to them has proven every one of them to be).

I knew FPs were disappearing as we spoke, but stuff happens. Getting upset wasn't going to help. The CM saw what I suspect and he had to escalate - apologized several times - got someone to remove the block - and we were still able to get several good ones for our MK morning - though not our choices around the times we wanted.

But again, stuff happens.

(Traveling with 2 small children in the hot July weather, we thought it best to get FPs even for attractions where it may not be necessary. We can always adjust as we see fit once we are there.)

I do wonder if the system at the park will be smart enough to use up the 1 day ticket our first day (once it sees we didn't "hop" that day.) I'll check with Disney on that before we go.

We have a 5-day hopper and a 1-day non-MK ticket for our upcoming trip in September. Does anyone know if this is a regular occurrence and if we can do something beforehand with Disney to remove any blocker that may cause us to have this same issue?

Thanks in advance.

 

[lynnzrae]

You will need to go to guest services before you enter the park for the first time and have the tickets prioritized.

When I was on the phone with Disney a few months ago, I was just told that they cast member at the ticket gates will be able to see both tickets and I will just have to tell them which ticket to use. But based on everyone else's comments this is not the case? I have to go to guest services on the first day anyway since our 5-day tickets are military "tickets"/vouchers. Luckily our non-MK ticket day is the first day so that should limit any glitches in this instance.

 

[Alesia]

When I was on the phone with Disney a few months ago, I was just told that they cast member at the ticket gates will be able to see both tickets and I will just have to tell them which ticket to use. But based on everyone else's comments this is not the case? I have to go to guest services on the first day anyway since our 5-day tickets are military "tickets"/vouchers. Luckily our non-MK ticket day is the first day so that should limit any glitches in this instance.

Never trust anything a phone CM tells you. Also, never trust anything a CM at the park tells you unless it is directly related to their job.

 

[ww52]

lynnzrae:
I don't know what can be done ahead of time, but I would call and explain the situation; apparently the CM was able to do something for us on the fly (once he escalated it).

Regarding what happens at the gate - what has changed is Magic Bands. If you have physical tickets, I assume (as was suggested) you simply choose which one to use for entrance.

My son and daughter in law don't have physical one day tickets - and I think I might suggest they get them so they get used up the first night.

But now I have a new concern. What if the Fast Passes we have for that first night are somehow tied to the hopper and not the one day ticket? What if they get into Epcot with the one day ticket, try to get on Frozen with the Magic Band, only to find out the system doesn't think they are in the park?

Having more than one media for a given person complicates things - apparently beyond what Disney expected with the advanced FP reservations.

 

[Alesia]

lynnzrae:
I don't know what can be done ahead of time, but I would call and explain the situation; apparently the CM was able to do something for us on the fly (once he escalated it).

Regarding what happens at the gate - what has changed is Magic Bands. If you have physical tickets, I assume (as was suggested) you simply choose which one to use for entrance.

My son and daughter in law don't have physical one day tickets - and I think I might suggest they get them so they get used up the first night.

But now I have a new concern. What is the Fast Passes we have for that first night are somehow tied to the hopper and not the one day ticket? What if they get into Epcot with the one day ticket, try to get on Frozen with the Magic Band, only to find out the system doesn't think they are in the park?

Having more than one media for a given person complicates things - apparently beyond what Disney expected with the advanced FP reservations.

Don't worry, fastpasses are tied to your MDE profile, not individual tickets.

Since they don't already have physical tickets, the only way they can get them is by picking them up in person. They may as well just get the tickets prioritized. There's no reason to overcomplicate things.

 

[ww52]

THanks, Alesia!