Fastpass Grace Period Denial Poll

[hiroMYhero]

What's an anytime fastpast?

It’s as @AngiTN described and is a “bonus” FP. It doesn’t take the place of a pre-booked FP; it’s a bonus to compensate you for an issue that’s arisen.

 

[10MoreMinutes]

I've been let in earlier than the 5 minute grace period, although that has only happened once. We were at AK and I misread the time of our safari FP+...I thought it was an hour earlier than it was and thus showed up about 45 minutes before our window opened...but the CM waved all four of us through.

Other than that one incident, I've always been either within my FP+ timeframe or I've successfully used the grace period.

 

[WrongLeverrrr]

I’ve used the grace period successfully a few times, but managed to get into Kilimanjaro Safari a couple hours after our FP expired last fall. We (3 of us total) decided to wait in line for FoP which obviously took a while. When we got to the safari later, the cast members were clearly in a good mood and let us in after thinking about it for a second (I also mentioned where we had been which may have played a factor). Worked out great because I prefer the safari at dusk/night anyway.

 

[JETSDAD]

We almost always use the 5 minutes early grace period for our FP's. The only time the standard grace periods hasn't worked is for shows (obviously because the theatre is either in use or the show has started).

 

[linznjody]

The only time I’ve been denied the grace period was earlier today - the fastpass line for SDMT was ridiculous and cast members were clearly telling everyone you must be within your time, not even 5 min early. Lots of people still waited in the line and were turned away.

 

[AngiTN]

The only time I’ve been denied the grace period was earlier today - the fastpass line for SDMT was ridiculous and cast members were clearly telling everyone you must be within your time, not even 5 min early. Lots of people still waited in the line and were turned away.

Did you see Mickey turn blue? Would mean they reprogrammed the FP system, which knowing their IT, seems so unlikely, not impossible but really out of the ordinary. A CM can say it but that doesn't mean the Mickey scanner would "listen"

 

[linznjody]

Did you see Mickey turn blue? Would mean they reprogrammed the FP system, which knowing their IT, seems so unlikely, not impossible but really out of the ordinary. A CM can say it but that doesn't mean the Mickey scanner would "listen"

We didn’t chance it. When i said we were denied early entry,I meant we listened and didn’t try to scan in early. The line stretched around the corner to near Enchanted Tales. We got in line at 2:09 with a fastpass for 2:15. It was closer to 2:20 by the time we got up to the scanner. There were at least 3 families turned away while we were in line, but I don’t know why. A CM was walking the line as we were leaving, saying you will be turned away if you’re even 5 min early, but definitely 20 min early- you could tell he was annoyed.

It could easily be they were just saying it or meant 5 min before the grace period, but I’ve just never heard them be as strict, especially the CM at the end of the line telling you as you got in the line and another walking the line saying the same. Granted, I’ve also never been when it’s this busy, either.

 

[disneylover102]

On our last trip, I was late twice that I can think of. One time I was one minute late for Everest and I had absolutely no trouble. Another time when I had FP for Space I was about 16 minutes late. The circle did not turn green and the cast member asked if I had a reason I was late. I told him yes but that it was ok (it was my fault and I was fully aware of the 15 minute grace period) and he still let me through. It was a little embarrassing though, so I always try now to make sure to go within the regular time.

 

[AngiTN]

We didn’t chance it. When i said we were denied early entry,I meant we listened and didn’t try to scan in early. The line stretched around the corner to near Enchanted Tales. We got in line at 2:09 with a fastpass for 2:15. It was closer to 2:20 by the time we got up to the scanner. There were at least 3 families turned away while we were in line, but I don’t know why. A CM was walking the line as we were leaving, saying you will be turned away if you’re even 5 min early, but definitely 20 min early- you could tell he was annoyed.

It could easily be they were just saying it or meant 5 min before the grace period, but I’ve just never heard them be as strict, especially the CM at the end of the line telling you as you got in the line and another walking the line saying the same. Granted, I’ve also never been when it’s this busy, either.

Interesting. Unless someone else is there and has seen that they have in some way turned off the automatic green when you scan I'm going to bet the CM was trying to get people to get out of line and had someone actually tried, they'd have gotten a green Mickey, not a blue one. Though that's purely my guess, nothing more. I'll admit though, I am very curious to know if they can and would have stayed in line to find out myself (fully understand why others wouldn't of course). When we were there earlier in March the FP lines were very excessive, as in at LwtL the FP line wrapped all the way throughout Seasons restaurant. Something I didn't even see on NYE. And they were still allowing grace period then.

 

[a1tinkfans]

We ve gotten in earlier than 5 minutes, we didn’t not go green but they waved us through. Perhaps because other family was already inside and they were just being kind? Either way, we appreciated it.
We ve also ran really late, and got in at Soar’n last year. Before we even scanned, we explained that we had an issue and that’s why late..and were told okay and they allowed us in.
I’ll just call it all pixie dust and be thankful for it.
I think ..I may recall them actually changing the mickey to green for us.

 

[CAS239]

Interesting. Unless someone else is there and has seen that they have in some way turned off the automatic green when you scan I'm going to bet the CM was trying to get people to get out of line and had someone actually tried, they'd have gotten a green Mickey, not a blue one. Though that's purely my guess, nothing more. I'll admit though, I am very curious to know if they can and would have stayed in line to find out myself (fully understand why others wouldn't of course). When we were there earlier in March the FP lines were very excessive, as in at LwtL the FP line wrapped all the way throughout Seasons restaurant. Something I didn't even see on NYE. And they were still allowing grace period then.

I'd guess he was saying it to make people double check their return time and not try to enter 15 or 20 min early. I'm sure all day they deal with people trying to enter the line way before their time, whether intentional or by accident.

Probably just wanted everyone to be within their window so they didn't have people standing off too the side at the entrance waiting for their exact time.

I was in line at Dinosaur a few weeks ago..a guy and his family tried to enter and I heard the CM tell them they were 3 hours early. He gave some reason or excuse as to why and the CM let them through. So I'm sure they deal with it daily

 

[ChristineOH]

We have used the five minutes early and fifteen minutes late grace periods with no issue.

On our last trip, my son was traveling with his high school marching band. I made FP for his friends "day of," because they didn't get their tickets early. As a result, I had to do lots of overlapping windows. Several times, one of the group of six had a FP that was already past the grace period by the time they arrived, but they politely explained why they were late and asked if the one person could go in with the other five, and the CM allowed it in each case.

The most extreme case was for FoP. We had FoP FP booked for my family (we were staying onsite, but the band was offsite,) and we decided to let the kids use them. We used the change party function and switched them over, but there was one more kid than I had FP for. The night before, I found a FoP FP for 8:15 to 9:15 am. I knew there was zero chance of the band getting there that early, but I booked it in hopes that the CM would be gracious and let the kid with the expired FP go through, which she did, even though it was 10:15 am. FoP and 7DMT would be the riskiest rides to do this on, and I wouldn't recommend it, but it was really my only shot for this kid.

Speaking of FoP, I managed to find two sets of two FP for our arrival night, but there was 25 minutes between the windows. (Five minutes if you counted the grace periods.) We all went at the end of the first window, not during the grace period but the actual window, and asked if the later two might be able to go in early so we could all ride together. We were prepared to be told no and would have been totally okay with waiting, but the CM allowed us all to go on together.

 

[rexmism]

I was in line at Dinosaur a few weeks ago..a guy and his family tried to enter and I heard the CM tell them they were 3 hours early. He gave some reason or excuse as to why and the CM let them through. So I'm sure they deal with it daily

Wow! What's the acceptable excuse for being 3 hours early??

 

[CAS239]

Wow! What's the acceptable excuse for being 3 hours early??

I wish I could've heard. I could've been completely wrong as I could barely hear the guy talking but what I took from it was one of them was suppose to be having surgery later when I guess the fast pass time would be.

Like Disney just forces you to take FP times and you're not allowed to modify lol

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

We've gone through during the grace periods without incident. Once on the last trip, part of our group went on Soarin at the beginning of the fastpass time. We had to wait until they were done to ride so we could pass off our toddler (didn't do rider swap since we all chose to get fastpasses). They took FOREVER on Soarin and I managed to scan in right at the end of the 15 minute grace period. DS and DD scanned after me by it turned blue for them. The CM just waved us all through as they had been watching us waiting and pass of the toddler. So we had one experience being allowed right past the grace period.

 

[Ladyfish77]

Was at WDW in March. Tried to tap in 6 minutes early (my watch was fast) and got blue circle of death. CM said I had no FP left for the day. I thought that was weird because I knew I had a FP. Waited a minute, then tapped in and got the Green happy circle! I guess the screen doesn't show additional FP? The one I was using was one I got after my initial 3 were used.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

We used the up to 5 mins early grace period multiple times in September. No issues.

 

[rexmism]

I wish I could've heard. I could've been completely wrong as I could barely hear the guy talking but what I took from it was one of them was suppose to be having surgery later when I guess the fast pass time would be.

Ah, I'm having surgery later today. Oldest trick in the book...

 

[AngiTN]

Wow! What's the acceptable excuse for being 3 hours early??

One of the most common is to pretend they don't speak English, or any language the CM happens to know

 

[ArielSRL]

We were allowed in after the 15 min grace period but not by much. There was a long line to check in at the FP turnstile for Splash. We got in line during the 15 min grace period but it was past that by the time we were able to scan. It turned blue and I explained what happened so they let us through.