I just wanted to share what happened to me last week re: Fastpass
We arrived at RnR at our specified time window to ride RnR and much to our dismay, about 30 seconds before we got there, a VERY large tour group arrived. There were literally over 100 people in this group and they all had a Fastpasses. When I asked the CM how long the wait would now be she said over 45 minutes (standby was only 30). I asked how they all managed to get a Fastpass for the same time she replied "They didn't, it just so happens all of their return times have already occurred and they hold on to them knowing that most of them can arrive late and ride together." The CM also informed me that one leader from the group will take all of the tickets and get Fastpasses for all of them at the same time.
Sooo as far as my experience goes I am in favor of the enforcement. I admit that I too have held on to Fastpasses knowing we can show up late with no problem but really, is that fair?? We would never expect to arrive 2 or 3 hours late for an ADR and expect to be seated, why is the Fastpass system any different? Personally, I think enforcement will better regulate crowd control and make everyone's experience more magical.
This issue wouldn't be "solved" with the window. First off, if they were collected at the same time, the windows for all 100 would overlap. Since they're part of a group, the earliest FP window would be honored for the whole, so even if the last person's FP in the group was for an hour later, they would be allowed to board with the early group. Secondly, this won't stop large groups from going through or dictate that they can't come back as a window since Disney clearly (and rightly) won't divide a tour group of children, even a large one of mostly teenagers, when they come through. FP wasn't designed to do that, nor should it be, because doing so would make supervision a nightmare. Thirdly, when a huge window of people hit the FP at the same time, the FP ride does get longer, but it also is served almost continuously until the ride line is knocked down... And a group of 95 students hitting the ride means that they would occupy 4 vehicles... Getting them loaded in 4 vehicles plus the normal flow of people doesn't take 45 minutes while having the standby take only 30 with how they operate RRC's FP line.
That said, I know last week RRC was having issues and was being frequently stopped. I should know, I got stuck in the tunnel by the red carpet for 30 minutes, LoL! If that issue was going on, that would impact the ride wait, not the 95 kids in front of you.
As far as ADRs go, no, nobody would expect to have their seat if they show up 2-3 hours late. But then again, nobody at Disney tells you that if you do, you can be seated, nor do they tell you that the policy is to seat everybody to eat as long as they show up after their window like they do with FPs.
Seriously?! You're going to stop going to Disney because they are finally enforcing the guidelines that people have been taking advantage of? Were you dropped on your head?! That's like saying you're never going grocery shopping again because they won't accept your expired coupons! I've gone to Disney at least once a year since I was born and I've never had a problem getting on all of the rides while following the fast pass windows. I understand that in their handbook they have a section that states that they should let people in past their window, but that was placed in as a courtousy for people who ran into an issue and absolutely couldn't make their time. The point of it was to help make someone's experience magical, not for people to store up on fast passes like a squirrel stores up on nuts and use them at the end of the day. I have no problem with the new rule and in fact I'm excited that they will finally be enforcing it as it will finally allow the fast pass system to work that way that it was meant to.
Well, I wasn't "dropped on my head," but changing how FP operates will certainly make me think about taking a Disney vacation during certain times of the year, absolutely. When any place changes a practice, rule, or policy related to how you access it's features, naturally it's going to make you re-evaluate if you want to accept the trip under the new conditions. Under the old FP system, I didn't think anything of going at the end of Sept, when it was still hot and somewhat crowded, because I knew that if I got a FP early in the day for an attraction and, for whatever reason, couldn't make it, that I could still do the ride at some point. We did it more than once actually... We got FP's for Soarin and I think TT, but during the window they were valid the heat was getting to me and we went to the hotel to rest knowing that when we went back later, we could get on. I only had to schedule 1 stop... The stop to get the FP. The rest works itself out.
If the policy changes, now I know if I want to do any FP ride, I have to plan, make, and keep two times... A time to come where I know I will get a window that I can ride the ride, plus the actual ride window. I don't even begin to know how to chart or check how many people will show up to the FP thing to tick the ride window to a point in the day where I can actually ride the ride and honestly, I don't want to do that kind of planning. Structured Disney fun isn't my thing and calculating out crowd levels and guessing when the FP for Space Mountain is going to land at the 4p-6p window so as to not be missed because my lunch ran late or missed because a ride before it ran long or I was doing something else and now have to make ADRs and have to choose between dinners and rides... Not fun, not worth my time, certainly not how I want to spend my money when my goal is to relax. Honestly, it makes me rethink bringing my young son for his first trip next Oct (and makes me rethink next Oct's trip period) because goodness knows how he will do at any given moment... He's 2, you can't plan things that strictly.
As to your coupon analogy, it doesn't hold water. The analogy is more like a grocery store telling you that you can use coupons, then reversing it's decision to allow any coupons because the people who chose not to use the coupons complained they weren't getting as good a deal as those who were, inspite of the fact that the coupons were available to all and that group of people opted not to use them. It's like being a ticketed customer on a plane who's told they can't have their seat because the guy flying standby thinks it's unfair he has to wait for the next flight and you get to take this one, inspite of the fact that you planned and got a ticket he could have gotten too if he'd decided to do so.
FPs are available to all, if you don't use them and opt to use the standby, that means you're the filler in the cracks for the primary line, which is the FP line. But if you want to be seated faster, get a FP. The priority isn't nor should it be the standby line. The very line tells you that you're riding standby... There are no illusions about how it works. The fact that FP people get seated faster than standby doesn't mean the system is broken, it means the system works as it should. That was the very point of said system, and it's worked fabulously for the better part of a decade. Honestly, the only people I ever see get mad are those who don't get FPs, don't understand how they work, think that FP means no line or front of line, and those who can't figure out basic math ("Why would I come back in 2 hours to ride this ride when if I wait for 1 hour I can get on? Fastpass is stupid, I'll get on the ride first if I wait in line...").
None of those examples take an hour... if you plan accordingly you'll make it back to use your fast pass within your window. If not, there's always next time.
Some of those examples do take an hour, or more. We were seated late to dinner, 30 minutes late in one circumstance, a ride was delayed significantly due to shutdowns (as was our line). Even multiple little issues, such as a delay to load handicapped passengers, a parade, and a late seating for dinner can equal one long delay. And there may not always be a "next time," especially with the big rides. If you don't hit the headliners first thing, you'll miss it and that's it. Parks with multiple headliners, you're now picking and choosing what you want more with the knowledge you probably won't get them all. That is not what the FP was supposed to be about.
Trust me I'm not a planner and even when forcing myself to use my FP within the given window all the time I can still have a relaxing vacation. Just enjoy the fact that Disney bent the rules for the past couple years. I think we only see stage one of the bigger next gen plan with this change.
Honestly, my vacation isn't relaxing knowing that I have to be at A at X time for dinner, B at Y time to get a FP, then back at B at Z time to ride otherwise you miss out, hoping that D and E don't run long, while wondering if you'll have enough time to zip back for F before the window for that FP during the time you want is gone. Too regimented, not at all fun or relaxing.
I'm glad they did it the way they did, I wish they'd keep it, and kind of glad I have memories of doing it the way we did. If the new FP system is going to be as regimented as I think it is, I'm also probably going to pass on Disney as a vacation spot. I have no desire to do standby for rides, I have less of a desire to plan what ride I'm riding at what time how many times 6 months in advance, now competing for good rides like I do for good dining reservations. It would mean any trip not made prior to the 180 day mark would be absolutely pointless.
