Fastpass Enforcement coming?

[KigerKat]

DH came across a possible motivation for the FP changes that I never even thought of. When we walk up to the line to use our FPs, what do we do with them? We hand them to a CM and enter the line. What the CM does with the FP after that, we don't know. Here's someone's account of what happens to those FPs the CM collects:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/popkid/6841410905/

So, perhaps there are a few things on both sides (guests and CMs) that have motivated Disney to change their policies. Of course, management will have to audit the CMs managing the FP lines and I'm sure some people have/will lose their jobs over this. We don't know what other kind of changes/enhancement will also come with this, like FP scanners or something similar to ensure time windows are being enforced.

 

[origin62]

The significance of the impact is debatable. Where did you get 25% from? My poll? My poll does NOT reflect WDW guests as a whole, only those on the DIS, which even I have said does not reflect the WDW guest population as a whole, and if it was really that high, the lines at park close would be a DISASTER.

Numbers that have been batted around (but unverified) also don't really support it to be that high.

No, that number didn't come from your poll. From another source. But I do wonder now if it might include the ever-increasing number of people (and their entourages) who enter the FP queue without a FP, such as GACs, No Strings, scooters, etc.

 

[kellyw8863]

[/I]

You don't have to beg. If you've missed your FP window, just step right into the SB line. Voila!

Agree completely. What gets me is that there's absolutely no legitimate excuse for missing a fast pass return time.[/QUOTE]

There is when you're traveling with people who have unpredictable medical needs. Unless you're on a Wish Trip, a GAC does nothing in terms of maximizing time in the parks. Instead, we are told to use a good touring plan and Fast Passes.

I'm not against enforcing FP return times - I totally understand the logic - but I'm not sure how we would be able to return to Disney without some type of accommodation for this. When we were there in 2010 for our younger daughter's Wish Trip, we had maybe four hours/day to do and see everything - stress to her body (heat, fatigue, hunger, thirst, pain, etc.) results in life threatening metabolic crisis. It just wouldn't be worth the money for us without more flexibility to meet our needs, and I'm sure there are many others out there who would be in a similar situation. I'm not whining about it, it's just unfortunate where Disney has had such a wonderful reputation for meeting people's special needs.

 

[Wadecool]

No, that number didn't come from your poll. From another source.

An unnamed source? It would probably be best to save the quotes from "unnamed sources" for the tabloids...

 

[origin62]

An unnamed source? It would probably be best to save the quotes from "unnamed sources" for the tabloids...

What? You don't find tabloids credible?

 

[hookedonears]

Where ya been? We've been missing you!

My favorite: no legitimate excuse. As in none, nada, zip, zilch, and zero? You missed the bulletproof golden ticket one pages and pages back.

Yep. None, nada, zip, zilch, and zero. If and I say IF that infinitesimal remote chance ever happened, (and I still contend that it would never) Disney would compensate you for that missed FP. The only possibility is that if you were actually stuck on a ride for an HOUR, or longer. IF that ever happened, and I've never heard of it ever happening, Disney would hand out complementary FP's. The point being, if you have a FP return time from 6:30 to 7:30 and you have a ADR at a restaurant, it better be no later than 5-5:30 (depending on the restaurant), and it better be in the park where your FP is. And if you have a 5:00 ADR, you better be there by 4:45, (because that’s what they ask you to do) to make sure you’re seated on time. This is all about planning.

 

[Wadecool]

What? You don't find tabloids credible?

The credibility of the "unnamed sources" of tabloids is right up there with Wikipedia.

 

[mesaboy2]

Hello, Best DIS Avatar ever,

Friend was told at a staff meeting, just prior to the March 7 announcement.
My guess, though is this: On March 7, what will actually happen, are a lot of statements like this: (at the FP entrances) "Today, as a courtesy, we can admit you beyond your designated time. However, in the future, please return at the time indicated on your FP."

You're just trying to sweet-talk me now. :

Whatever happens, love it or hate it or something in-between, it will be interesting to see how the apparent upcoming changes impact things.

Work has gotten in the way of the board. You missed my post a page or so back. It was especially for you.

I think on March 8 I'd like to team up and fight for the same cause for a change. How do you feel about ten-year-olds in strollers or parking at the Contempo? :

ETA: And congrats and Post 2000. What were the odds it'd be about late FP use?

 

[Traveliz]

DH came across a possible motivation for the FP changes that I never even thought of. When we walk up to the line to use our FPs, what do we do with them? We hand them to a CM and enter the line. What the CM does with the FP after that, we don't know. Here's someone's account of what happens to those FPs the CM collects:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/popkid/6841410905/

So, perhaps there are a few things on both sides (guests and CMs) that have motivated Disney to change their policies. Of course, management will have to audit the CMs managing the FP lines and I'm sure some people have/will lose their jobs over this. We don't know what other kind of changes/enhancement will also come with this, like FP scanners or something similar to ensure time windows are being enforced.

They put them in a box - at some rides the box is in an area that has a camera on it - I don't know about all of them.

Liz

 

[kellyw8863]

Yep. None, nada, zip, zilch, and zero. If and I say IF that infinitesimal remote chance ever happened, (and I still contend that it would never) Disney would compensate you for that missed FP. The only possibility is that if you were actually stuck on a ride for an HOUR, or longer. IF that ever happened, and I've never that it has, Disney would hand out complementary FP's. The point being, if you have a FP return time from 6:30 to 7:30 and you have a ADR at a restaurant, it better be no later than 5-5:30 (depending on the restaurant), and it better be in the park where your FP is. And if you have a 5:00 ADR, you better be there by 4:45, (because that’s what they ask you to do) to make sure you’re seated on time. This is all about planning.

But this doesn't take into consideration unplanned medical needs and because Disney has a reputation for being so "special need" friendly, there are a lot of us out there. When you have a child with g-tubes, j-tubes, central lines, gastrointestinal issues, pain issues, blood sugar issues, autonomic issues, and the list goes on, things come up and they come up frequently. You can't plan for a blown g-tube extension that then requires massive clean-up and resetting of a feeding pump. You can't plan for a sudden onset of uncontrollable stomach/gut issues brought on by autonomic dysfunction. So to say that there is "never" an excuse and that the chances are "infinitesimal" that something excusable would come up just is not true for many of us who go there and have to rely on the current flexibility of the FP system to make a trip financially worth it. I just hope that the powers that be take this into consideration as they make their changes.

 

[KigerKat]

They put them in a box - at some rides the box is in an area that has a camera on it - I don't know about all of them.

Liz

It looks like some of those cameras have blind spots, or not all of the FPs are making their way into the box.

 

[mesaboy2]

Yep. None, nada, zip, zilch, and zero. If and I say IF that infinitesimal remote chance ever happened, (and I still contend that it would never) Disney would compensate you for that missed FP. The only possibility is that if you were actually stuck on a ride for an HOUR, or longer. IF that ever happened, and I've never heard of it ever happening, Disney would hand out complementary FP's. The point being, if you have a FP return time from 6:30 to 7:30 and you have a ADR at a restaurant, it better be no later than 5-5:30 (depending on the restaurant), and it better be in the park where your FP is. And if you have a 5:00 ADR, you better be there by 4:45, (because that’s what they ask you to do) to make sure you’re seated on time. This is all about planning.

Since we last sparred, I was stuck on Splash for nearly an hour. Had to be led through the bowels of the ride, and it was for me. They also handed us FPs that could be used anywhere in WDW for the next six days--no lie. It was our last day, so I just kept it as a souvie. But it happens.

 

[doconeill]

DH came across a possible motivation for the FP changes that I never even thought of. When we walk up to the line to use our FPs, what do we do with them? We hand them to a CM and enter the line. What the CM does with the FP after that, we don't know. Here's someone's account of what happens to those FPs the CM collects:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/popkid/6841410905/

So, perhaps there are a few things on both sides (guests and CMs) that have motivated Disney to change their policies. Of course, management will have to audit the CMs managing the FP lines and I'm sure some people have/will lose their jobs over this. We don't know what other kind of changes/enhancement will also come with this, like FP scanners or something similar to ensure time windows are being enforced.

That was from YEARS ago. There was a big black market on eBay, etc. for expired Fastpasses, because there was very lax checking of the dates on the Fastpasses - partly because the date was down the bottom and smaller until around 2008 when Disney became more aware of the issues and changed the printing to put it right on the ticket.

Using past-day tickets was even encouraged by some sites and podcasts, until Disney reminded the CMs to check the date and made it easier.

However, sometimes CMs do give "used" Fastpasses to guests as a recovery measure for issues, rather than print out more Attraction Re-Entry passes if they've run out. That's what they did at Test Track once for us, after they had already taken our original Fastpasses and then it broke down while we were waiting. And they'd remind you that you can use them any time later that day. They didn't need to mark them, or anything like that - because the CM later would merrily take them later since that was the policy.

Of course, they won't be able to even do that any more, so they'd better have a good supply of Re-Entry passes on hand

 

[MELSMICE]

But this doesn't take into consideration unplanned medical needs and because Disney has a reputation for being so "special need" friendly, there are a lot of us out there. When you have a child with g-tubes, j-tubes, central lines, gastrointestinal issues, pain issues, blood sugar issues, autonomic issues, and the list goes on, things come up and they come up frequently. You can't plan for a blown g-tube extension that then requires massive clean-up and resetting of a feeding pump. You can't plan for a sudden onset of uncontrollable stomach/gut issues brought on by autonomic dysfunction. So to say that there is "never" an excuse and that the chances are "infinitesimal" that something excusable would come up just is not true for many of us who go there and have to rely on the current flexibility of the FP system to make a trip financially worth it. I just hope that the powers that be take this into consideration as they make their changes.

I would hope so to, for someone in your situation.

We've taken advantage of the late FP leniency & it will stink not to have that option, but we'll deal. Your situation is completely different and I would hope there is some kind of "special needs" pass or something that would accommodate for different situations.

 

[mesaboy2]

I forgot to mention - I actually HELD one of the REAL Wonka's Golden Tickets, the one that belonged to Julie Dawn Cole. So I get unlimited Fastpasses for life, right?

This original image is large, here is a thumbnail, but click for the whole thing. I stupidly didn't get a picture of me holding it...

Cool, I believe you!

 

[doconeill]

Since we last sparred, I was stuck on Splash for nearly an hour. Had to be led through the bowels of the ride, and it was for me. They also handed us FPs that could be used anywhere in WDW for the next six days--no lie. It was our last day, so I just kept it as a souvie. But it happens.

These "No Strings" passes seem to be the new form of the Attraction Re-Entry pass, but better.

 

[larryz]

Finally - I'm caught up on all 74 pages.

I'm hungry for some real information here. Any bootlegs of the "Next-Gen" park map copy, or any brochures anyone want to anonymously share?

 

[mattsdragon]

I think on March 8 I'd like to team up and fight for the same cause for a change. How do you feel about ten-year-olds in strollers or parking at the Contempo? :

ETA: And congrats and Post 2000. What were the odds it'd be about late FP use?

Haven't seen a good "chair saving at the water park" thread lately.

 

[mesaboy2]

Haven't seen a good "chair saving at the water park" thread lately.

Good suggestion, but since I've never stepped foot in either BB or TL, I'd have no cred. Nada, zip, zilch, and zero.

 

[hookedonears]

You're just trying to sweet-talk me now. :

Whatever happens, love it or hate it or something in-between, it will be interesting to see how the apparent upcoming changes impact things.



I think on March 8 I'd like to team up and fight for the same cause for a change. How do you feel about ten-year-olds in strollers or parking at the Contempo? :

ETA: And congrats and Post 2000. What were the odds it'd be about late FP use?

Non-Resort guest with ADR's at any Disney Resort restarurant should be given a 2 hour parking pass. At the end of the 2 hour period, a boot should be placed on a wheel and the owner charged about $100 to get it off.

As much as we hate older kids in strollers, this is an impossible thing to control.