Fastpass Enforcement coming?

[cigar95]

Well then that's silly... Most rides go down for one reason or another during the day, or at least are held up creating delays. So then there'd be FPs that are good all day and some that aren't, with no way of knowing which are which.

this accommodation was originally intended for those guests who returned during their FP window to find the attraction closed. One possibility would have been to give such guests some sort of a "make-good" FP, allowing them to return any time.

Instead, the decision was made to take the operationally-simpler approach of just letting *anyone* come back late. The guest who really needs to be aware of the "open FP" is the one who *did* return to find the attraction closed, so these guests will know. It should actually work out pretty well in this regard.

 

[momtoccc]

Awww man.. we arrive on March 7! Our first day in the parks is on the 8th.. so I won't get a chance to find out what really is going on until we get there!

I was counting on using the late FPs. I guess people will have to pay attention to return times so they don't coincide with ADRs. It will be a bummer to walk all the way over to an attraction to find out the FP return time won't work for you.

This has me thinking.. is there a phone app with FastPass return times listed?

 

[Tropical Wilds]

There will be some effect just as a result of a larger fraction of FPs now going unused. Fewer guests will ride with FP, hence more guests will be able to ride via standby.

Unless, of course, the system is adjusted to issue more FPs based on the no-show rate, the way the ADR system does similarly.

But it's STANDBY, meaning, they fill in the space for the primary line which is the FP line. Making it harder for FP people to use the service so that the people in standby don't have to wait as long is the same as the airlines deciding to make it harder for ticketholders with reservations to get on the plane to make it easier for people flying standby to get a seat.

You're standby. By definition, your seating isn't the priority. You got there late, didn't use the system, now you have to wait. That's how it works for airplanes, concerts, events, dinners... Everything. That is what standby is, that's how it works, that's the whole point of it. Changing the actual ride line to allow more people to use standby and get on penalizes the folks who are using the system correctly and as it's intended and should not be Disney's priority, especially since their repeated and express purpose in putting in FP was so that as a FP guest, you could do other things.

 

[Pikezh638]

Why? Can you give a reason why this will be an improvement?

The current system of accepting late FP rewards people for knowing what they are doing and working to acquire the FP because they ride more and rarely wait in lines. People who think that enforcing the deadlines does anything to benefit the non late returners just don't understand basic math.

Dumbing things down is never a good idea. All this does imo is make it easier to be lazy - shouldn't we be rewarding people for making an effort, especially when it does nothing to harm the experience of the general public?

I didn't say it would be an improvement I just said I would like it. I believe they say to return between a certain time span, so you should return in that time span. You can use any logic or method to defend the late arrival "policy" but it doesn't matter to me. I feel if you get a fastpass for 10:50-11:50, you either use it by 11:50 or you lose it. After all you were the one that couldn't do the basic math that was needed to get back to the attraction at the right time.

 

[dawgsgirl]

Using FP after the return window will be the least of worries. NexGen = Advance FP's = less FP's as we know now = total mess.

 

[lroger01]

I'm seeing a lot of complaints about what happens if you're delayed at a restaurant or ride breakdown. I'm thinking Disney will have a solution for this. Maybe the'll distribute "Let-me-in-late" cards. These can be given by ride attendents or servers or any manager if something beyond a guests control makes them late. They could be given out as you are escorted off a broken ride, or you can request one from a server if you had to wait for your meal. You could then give the card and your late fast pass to a ride attendant and be let in. The cards could be coded for a specific day making them hard to sell.

I can also see this opening up more Fast Passes for later riders. If you knew you couldn't use it after you returned from a mid day break, you wouldn't pick one up before you left, thus freeing it up for someone else coming in later. This could mean that Fast Passes might still be available when you return from that break anyway. Of course you wouldn't have a stack of them...grrr.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

this accommodation was originally intended for those guests who returned during their FP window to find the attraction closed. One possibility would have been to give such guests some sort of a "make-good" FP, allowing them to return any time.

Instead, the decision was made to take the operationally-simpler approach of just letting *anyone* come back late. The guest who really needs to be aware of the "open FP" is the one who *did* return to find the attraction closed, so these guests will know. It should actually work out pretty well in this regard.

Not if the new system goes into effect... It means that you could have two FPs, one with a restricted ride time and one with a non-restricted ride time, and no way of knowing which was which until you went to redeem it. With the current system, everybody knows that the issued FP good for the remainder of the day. And it makes no accomidations or differentiation for those made late by other rides delays.

 

[mesaboy2]

I didn't say it would be an improvement I just said I would like it. I believe they say to return between a certain time span, so you should return in that time span. You can use any logic or method to defend the late arrival "policy" but it doesn't matter to me. I feel if you get a fastpass for 10:50-11:50, you either use it by 11:50 or you lose it. After all you were the one that couldn't do the basic math that was needed to get back to the attraction at the right time.

As I thought. I'm not a "rule-follower" and should be punished.

Read the front and back. It says to "please" return between the times listed on the front. On the back, it says they cannot be accepted before the window, but nothing about after. I find that very interesting.

 

[pumpkinfish]

Wow...this just makes me sad. I really liked my regular touring plan...now I will feel rushed to get to certain attractions in time for the FP window.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

I'm seeing a lot of complaints about what happens if you're delayed at a restaurant or ride breakdown. I'm thinking Disney will have a solution for this. Maybe the'll distribute "Let-me-in-late" cards. These can be given by ride attendents or servers or any manager if something beyond a guests control makes them late. They could be given out as you are escorted off a broken ride, or you can request one from a server if you had to wait for your meal. You could then give the card and your late fast pass to a ride attendant and be let in. The cards could be coded for a specific day making them hard to sell.

I can also see this opening up more Fast Passes for later riders. If you knew you couldn't use it after you returned from a mid day break, you wouldn't pick one up before you left, thus freeing it up for someone else coming in later. This could mean that Fast Passes might still be available when you return from that break anyway. Of course you wouldn't have a stack of them...grrr.

Then anybody with a dinner reservation could get passes regardless of if they could come back, then ask a CM for a new FP, meaning the system would work like it does now where people can return whenever, only this being more of a hassle for all CMs, not just ones assigned to rides.

 

[carrie6466]

This would not be the dealbreaker for me on a WDW vacation. It would stop me from buying the DDP or the DxDP again, especially for the character or signature meals you have to guarantee with a cc. If my dd wants to eat at Chef Mickey's in July, I have to make an ADR, usually at the 6 month mark. If she wants to ride Slash Mountain I then have a choice of losing my $10 ADR fee or a 1 1/2-hour (not impossible) wait? Seriously? Money wins no question. Why on earth pay the money for the DDP or DxDP if you don't plan on signature or character meals, which are the ones that fill up fast?

 

[MVC1225]

The subtlety is that the return time is actually from the beginning of the window until the end of the day. So, I do use it during the return time.

Time to whip this out again, and is at least the current policy. Note the third situation/action.

This is not actually correct. You have in fact not used it within the return time. The return time is not "until the end of the day". The return time is the one printed on the FP ticket. Disney's policy is to allow you to still use your FP even though you have missed your return time and that is what number 3 actually states. It is what to do when a guest "misses the return time window"; therefore, it is not accurate to state that return times don't exist it is accurate to state that return times are not (as of now) enforced.

As for the new policy, if accurate, it will affect me very little. I rarely use late FP (maybe once or twice during a trip) so honestly I will just make sure to return to those few within the FP time. If I have an ADR, I will simply make sure to not get a FP with a return time close to my ADR time. They show the return time before you get the FP so that is simple enough to gauge.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

I didn't say it would be an improvement I just said I would like it. I believe they say to return between a certain time span, so you should return in that time span. You can use any logic or method to defend the late arrival "policy" but it doesn't matter to me. I feel if you get a fastpass for 10:50-11:50, you either use it by 11:50 or you lose it. After all you were the one that couldn't do the basic math that was needed to get back to the attraction at the right time.

Wow, seriously?

Sometimes it's not about math, it's about life. A line at a store that takes longer then you thought, a character who popped out that you want to see, a dinner that ran late, a FP line that ran long, a parade you didn't anticipate, a bathroom break that you needed to take, a distraction (which Disney furnishes in abundance) that you wanted to take part in, a show a kid wanted to see and got picked to particpate in, a break that needed to be taken... Or, frankly, the desire to be on a vacation and enjoy the park as the experiences pop up, using the FP system as it was intended (because in the end it makes more $$$ for Disney to give me the option to go wander around as opposed to wait in a line), and not be one of those families who do Disney under duress with the promise of very scheduled, perfectly planned out moments where enjoyment can, will, and should occur.

 

[doconeill]

That CMs appear to be hearing this internally makes it seem more likely that it is happening - yet some things don't make sense.

Why allow 5 minutes early AT ALL? What problem does this solve? And why not just make the return time 5 minutes earlier on the pass (and that still doesn't make sense...) And why have the late leeway, why not extend the window? It's like Disney is saying, "We're going to enforce it...sorta...mostly..."

What is it about X-Pass that makes FP enforcement a requirement?

What is a valid "exception" to be allowed to use them late? And how late? If an exception is made, wouldn't that mess things up?

As far as the wait in the standby line goes, if they start enforcing FP return times, you should actually expect the standby wait times to go UP by some degree. Why? Because FP holders who otherwise would have waited until later will now be in the FP line earlier, pushing back the standby line by the appropriate number of guests. It won't be until the end of the day that a positive effect on the standby line will be seen.

The number of FPs refused entry will likely not be a significant change, as people will only likely obtain the FPs where the window is good for them.

The one bright spot? It might allow FPs to not get gobbled up so soon, as people may choose not to get them if the window is too far out of their plans...

 

[Tropical Wilds]

This would not be the dealbreaker for me on a WDW vacation. It would stop me from buying the DDP or the DxDP again, especially for the character or signature meals you have to guarantee with a cc. If my dd wants to eat at Chef Mickey's in July, I have to make an ADR, usually at the 6 month mark. If she wants to ride Slash Mountain I then have a choice of losing my $10 ADR fee or a 1 1/2-hour (not impossible) wait? Seriously? Money wins no question. Why on earth pay the money for the DDP or DxDP if you don't plan on signature or character meals, which are the ones that fill up fast?

I agree. I'd drop *everything* to ride Slash Mountain.

 

[seashoreCM]

Here is why letting people use fastpasses late will lengthen the wait time for standby riders, and perhaps even fastpass riders as a whole, late in the day.

When guests must use their fastpasses within the time window, most will have gone through the system sooner leaving fewer outstanding fastpasses (fewer guests still in virtual line) ahead of the standby guest just arriving at a ride.

Should a ride break down, that particular ride goes into "accept late fastpasses" mode. Should Disney put in fastpass scanners then it would be possible to designate only fastpasses whose window is in the breakdown time as good all day.

I think that if'/when guests can sign up for fastpasses before arriving at the park then the ability to get more fastpasses at the machines should be significantly delayed. For example if you reserve two fastpasses in advance then there would be a 4 hour delay after entering the park before you can use fastpass machines. (Perhaps less if the overall park attendance is less)

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

The can of worms has been opened and is being eaten...

 

[mesaboy2]

This is not actually correct. You have in fact not used it within the return time. The return time is not "until the end of the day". The return time is the one printed on the FP ticket. Disney's policy is to allow you to still use your FP even though you have missed your return time and that is what number 3 actually states. It is what to do when a guest "misses the return time window"; therefore, it is not accurate to state that return times don't exist it is accurate to state that return times are not (as of now) enforced.

As for the new policy, if accurate, it will affect me very little. I rarely use late FP (maybe once or twice during a trip) so honestly I will just make sure to return to those few within the FP time. If I have an ADR, I will simply make sure to not get a FP with a return time close to my ADR time. They show the return time before you get the FP so that is simple enough to gauge.

We're talking tomayto tomahto here. My point is that current policy is that they are good for the period I stated.

 

[doconeill]

This is not actually correct. You have in fact not used it within the return time. The return time is not "until the end of the day". The return time is the one printed on the FP ticket. Disney's policy is to allow you to still use your FP even though you have missed your return time and that is what number 3 actually states. It is what to do when a guest "misses the return time window"; therefore, it is not accurate to state that return times don't exist it is accurate to state that return times are not (as of now) enforced.

Semantics. If the policy is to allow it to be used until the end of the day, then it is good until the end of the day. You may not have used it during the return time stated, but it does not mean the FP is not "good".

 

[mom2rtk]

You know, every now and then I get a wild hare and think.... maybe I COULD spend Christmas at Disney. I know my way around and how to tour the parks in peak season. With smart fastpass use, I actually think I could handle it.

NO WAY ON GREEN EARTH would I do it if they make this change. The ability to gather some FP's in the morning to use when lines peak in the afternoon are the only way to cope with said crowds.

If this is true, it will be a sad day.

I won't even discuss the NexGen system. It's pointless until we know the details. For all we know, each party might get to book only 1 or 2 times in advance. And remember, the easier it is to get the FP, the harder it will be to get one. Meaning that if everyone can just book TSMM from home ahead of time, they're going to need a lottery system to distribute them. Getting there early will no longer be of any help.

Remember the days of needing to synchronize your clock with the one in the naval observatory to get into CRT? That situation was made better by increasing it from 1 character meal a day to 3. The same thing cannot happen with ride FP's. The number will be static.