Fastpass Enforcement coming?

[KellyNY]

Well, if Disney is beginning to enforce rules... Maybe, there's hope, DCL's "no shorts' policy will be upheld.

Now you just being cruel.

 

[Mich Mouse]

Already nutshelled in the other thread you asked in, but I'll repeat here - and since you are going next week, it's not a problem:

Starting 3/7, no late FPs allowed, period. There is talk of a grace period but it is not 100% certain.

Thank you. Last August we were refused entry for Soarin' with a late arrival fastpass. They would not budge- even for my upset three year old.

The winds are changing.

How was this information acquired?

 

[doconeill]

Thank you. Last August we were refused entry for Soarin' with a late arrival fastpass. They would not budge- even for my upset three year old.

The winds are changing.

How was this information acquired?

I bet if you returned a short time later when a different CM was there, they would have let you in. Most cases of late FP refusal appears to be more of a CM not following the documented procedures than an operational change. There are instances that an attraction manager can direct the CMs to refuse, but I haven't heard any reliable reports of that having actually happened in years.

The information on the change was originally posted to a reliable web site, but it appears they got it from a CM who got it from internal information. Other CMs confirmed, and another memo went out to all CMs a couple days ago.

 

[larryz]

How was this information acquired?

I get that your time may be too important to you to read 70+ pages, but did you think of at least reading post #1?

 

[nytimez]

How was this information acquired?

Many Bothans died to bring us this information...

 

[WillAustin]

.
Disney is famous for being accomadating, they are also famous for really not enforcing a lot of their policies. So imo (and my opinion only) is that for disney to really crack down and let cm's know to start enforcing this policy some thing went wrong or a great majority of folks began to complain.

or it might be they are just preparing for the new system that will require better forecasting of actual return times.

 

[doconeill]

Many Bothans died to bring us this information...

 

[KellifromCanada]

Many Bothans died to bring us this information...

OMG I laughed and laughed. Thank you. (I have in fact read all 70 pages but that is by FAR the funniest thing I have read all week.

Kelli

 

[doconeill]

or it might be they are just preparing for the new system that will require better forecasting of actual return times.

I'm not even sure it's a need to forecast - I think it is to have a single rule for everyone using the Fastpass line, whether it's with a FP or X-Pass, from what the CMs seem to be saying.

 

[hookedonears]

If the FP change is true, that will really be a shame. One of the really interesting topics to debate on this board will be moot.

Unfortunately, work has gotten in the way of this board and I've missed the coup de gras of this topic. That's really a shame.

 

[WillAustin]

I'm not even sure it's a need to forecast - I think it is to have a single rule for everyone using the Fastpass line, whether it's with a FP or X-Pass, from what the CMs seem to be saying.

I guess that makes sense. I see the X-Pass causing more problems if people could show up anytime after their window. I think the numbers of people possibly involved in the X-Pass advance reservations create a different situation than the current FastPass system.

 

[hookedonears]

If the FP change is true, that will really be a shame. One of the really interesting topics to debate on this board will be moot.

Unfortunately, work has gotten in the way of this board and I've missed the coup de gras of this topic. That's really a shame.

Sorry, double post.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Fastpasses, as they exist, are actually a total failure.

One reason they were inaugurated was the expectation that instead of lining up for an attraction, people would go to food service or merchandise locations and spend money. However, after a year it was found that the only increase in sales was due to price increases and not an actual increase in volume.

Also, the Parks were designed with the expectation that (other than for parades and fireworks) a certain percentage of Guests would be in queues for the attractions at all times. Since the advent of the Fastpass, there are more people aimlessly wandering the Parks making them appear to be more crowded.

So if Disney were to totally eliminate the Fastpass, average waits for attractions would remain about the same or even go down, and the Parks would not appear to be as crowded.

 

[mattsdragon]

Fastpasses, as they exist, are actually a total failure.

One reason they were inaugurated was the expectation that instead of lining up for an attraction, people would go to food service or merchandise locations and spend money. However, after a year it was found that the only increase in sales was due to price increases and not an actual increase in volume.

Also, the Parks were designed with the expectation that (other than for parades and fireworks) a certain percentage of Guests would be in queues for the attractions at all times. Since the advent of the Fastpass, there are more people aimlessly wandering the Parks making them appear to be more crowded.

So if Disney were to totally eliminate the Fastpass, average waits for attractions would remain about the same or even go down, and the Parks would not appear to be as crowded.

I can't wait to see the reactions to this one CF. That is a better pot stirring than I could ever do.

 

[KellyNY]

Fastpasses, as they exist, are actually a total failure.

One reason they were inaugurated was the expectation that instead of lining up for an attraction, people would go to food service or merchandise locations and spend money. However, after a year it was found that the only increase in sales was due to price increases and not an actual increase in volume.

Also, the Parks were designed with the expectation that (other than for parades and fireworks) a certain percentage of Guests would be in queues for the attractions at all times. Since the advent of the Fastpass, there are more people aimlessly wandering the Parks making them appear to be more crowded.

So if Disney were to totally eliminate the Fastpass, average waits for attractions would remain about the same or even go down, and the Parks would not appear to be as crowded.

Very interesting. Then I assume NextGen will be nothing like present system.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Spinning, spinning, spinning, spinning....

So, why bring the XPass? ( pick me, I know)

Funny thing...I was one of "those", who spent my "extra" time eating or shopping.

 

[chmurf]

40-80% of DISers who felt like answering the poll has nothing to do with the actual % of guests who use FPs late, which is most likely in the single digits.

DISers represent only a fraction (very tiny) of guests.
There are many ways a guest could have learned of the FP "loophole"
The guest might have run late for a FP and realised that late FP worked. He could have been told by a friend or someone in the know. He could have been informed by a caring guest at the FP machines. Or he could have read it anywhere over the internet, and even get to this info by mere accident while browsing for something totally unrelated.

And even if DISers represent a tiny fraction of guests, they still represent a pretty good snapshot of the guests using FPs
Using FP require at least a tiny bit of preparation and planning. Want proof ? Read the threads here and there on DIS, you'll come across accounts of guests not even knowing FPs were free and not daring to use them at all.
So you need to get information before using FPs, and if you get such information, the late return perk becomes obvious pretty soon, as it the info is all over the internet.

So I would question your "single digit" asumption. And even if we consider that DIS is a "special place on planet Mickey" if might be a safe bet to say that half of FP users do actually intend on using them later than the scheduled return time

 

[TisBit]

Fastpasses, as they exist, are actually a total failure.

One reason they were inaugurated was the expectation that instead of lining up for an attraction, people would go to food service or merchandise locations and spend money. However, after a year it was found that the only increase in sales was due to price increases and not an actual increase in volume.

Also, the Parks were designed with the expectation that (other than for parades and fireworks) a certain percentage of Guests would be in queues for the attractions at all times. Since the advent of the Fastpass, there are more people aimlessly wandering the Parks making them appear to be more crowded.

So if Disney were to totally eliminate the Fastpass, average waits for attractions would remain about the same or even go down, and the Parks would not appear to be as crowded.

Sorry, don't see how that one passes the basic logic test. If you have 20k guest in the park, regardless if they are in one line or another, you have the same number of guests in the park. If FP makes them "wander aimlessy" and the park appear more crowded, that means the wait times are actually less. So eliminating the FP would make wait times increase and the park seem less crowded. If FP system helps reduce wait times by making people "wander aimlessly" that is a customer service bonus because while the park might seem crowded in public areas, guest wait times are reduced.

I do agree that FP did not create a revenue boost as originally expected, but it has been a good public relations tool, because it is something WDW does not charge for, but almost all other theme parks do.

 

[angelmav]

Sorry, don't see how that one passes the basic logic test. If you have 20k guest in the park, regardless if they are in one line or another, you have the same number of guests in the park. If FP makes them "wander aimlessy" and the park appear more crowded, that means the wait times are actually less. So eliminating the FP would make wait times increase and the park seem less crowded. If FP system helps reduce wait times by making people "wander aimlessly" that is a customer service bonus because while the park might seem crowded in public areas, guest wait times are reduced.

I do agree that FP did not create a revenue boost as originally expected, but it has been a good public relations tool, because it is something WDW does not charge for, but almost all other theme parks do.

It's a poor expectation anyway. Most people are already traveling on a budget. They have x $$$ of snack/souveniere dollars and the only thing that could change with FP is the times they are spending said $$$, not the overall amount. People are not going to spend thousands more than they would have otherwise because they are not waiting in line. The resource well is not infinite.

 

[OB1]

I can't believe this thread has grown to 71 pages already. Personally, I'm glad that Disney will start to enforce the times. FP are given out to manage the crowds on an attraction, and when people grab them during the day, then flock to attractions later in the day, the wait times expand much too quickly. A large group returning at a different time can really throw off wait times.

It will be difficult to manage at first, because we have all grown used to just returning when it is convenient. Sure is nice when you have a FP to Splash Mtn, and you are in Tomorrow Land. We'll adapt and find ways to make it work. I might use a different strategy to try and stay in an area until my FP time.