Fastpass late entry to finish 7th March

[Rach78]

Apparently this has been rumored before but now really seems to be changing. How will this affect people touring the parks? I have made plans based on being able to collect FP and use them anytime. However as this will be first trip I suppose I don't really know any different. I do realise it will mean a lot more to-ing and fro-ing and not being able to plan as much as you don't know what time you will have to return to rides. Does any one take advantage of this usually? How will it affect you?

http://www.wdwmagic.com/Other/FASTPASS/News/06Feb2012-Big-changes-coming-to-FASTPASS-in-March.htm

Sorry didn't know how to hyperlink it

 

[Rach78]

Oh looks like it worked!!

However I tried to also make a ticker and didn't know where to paste the code thing. Apparently not where I put it

 

[2Tiggies]

You need to make sure you paste the correct code for the ticker as there are different codes for different 'places' online and only the right one will show. I can never remember off the top of my head which one it is.

Regarding the FastPass return time enforcement, they did announce this a while back. As FastPass hoarders, this is going to change our approach to touring significantly. Last trip it was not uncommon by mid afternoon for DD and I to have 10 - 12 Fastpasses each which we had accumulated for use later in the day, having ridden the rides while they were walk on early in the morning. Less of an issue in the quieter times but during peak seasons I think we would feel it!

 

[Rach78]

Thanks for ticker advice. Will try again!

We go for the first time in October and I planned to take advantage of this as I have two dd's one is 4 one is 12 and they obviously like different things so I hoped we could go to Fantasyland first thing and collect FP for the rides my older DD would like such as BTMR and Splash and then use them later. Being unable to do this would probably mean the family splitting up more than I would like and also rushing about more to get back to rides for time slots. Not good.

 

[cliveywolves]

Well you learn something new... Been 3 times and didnt even know that you could use your fast passes before the end of the same day even after your time slot had gone !!! So this wont effect us as we have never used them on this basis before.. Now I understand why so many of the major rides would be out of fast passes after a few hours of park being open !!

 

[wayneg]

Won't make a lot of difference to us, we do use them late because we can, if we know the rules have changed and they are sticking to the times then we will work to that no problem. We are more for being there waiting for the time to start than go back later.
Main difference to us will probably be any we had left we used to give to someone entering the park to use later, now they will go in the bin.

 

[wayneg]

Thanks for ticker advice. Will try again!

We go for the first time in October and I planned to take advantage of this as I have two dd's one is 4 one is 12 and they obviously like different things so I hoped we could go to Fantasyland first thing and collect FP for the rides my older DD would like such as BTMR and Splash and then use them later. Being unable to do this would probably mean the family splitting up more than I would like and also rushing about more to get back to rides for time slots. Not good.

Not as easy as it sounds, you have to leave 2 hours from getting 1 FP to the next unless your 1st one has a time less than 2 hours then you can get another from that time. So its not easy to get multiple FP's.

 

[Rach78]

As I said we don't really know any different, and it was only from these boards that I learned you could do it at all! However I can see that not enforcing end time has its benefits but as you said wanyeg, we will just adjust our plans accordingly. I think it's just because this is a one off trip and I just want to do as much as possible and I liked the idea of being able to use FP whenever rather than being tied to a certain time

 

[wayneg]

Best thing you can do is get to the parks as they open, you won't need FP's for most rides.

 

[Cyrano]

Saw this rumour elsewhere and agree somewhat with Wayne.

Disneyland Paris have always been very rigid about the operation of FP where guests had to arrive within their window.

For WDW holidays though we have got very used to the flexibility of FP. It is great to pick up a FP for a ride and when you are back in the parks for fireworks/evening parades later to have the bonus of knowing you can get on your favourite ride, without having to wait a long time.

The biggest concern I have about this rumour is the suggestion that this is related to the nexgen updates. The ability of those guests paying for deluxe stays will be able to pre-book their FP times.
So in order that the "premium" guests times are not corrupted by the great unwashed the FP times will be more rigidly enforced. Therefore FPs available at the machines will not be spread to later in the day, just that there will be less passes available for distribution.

IMHO this changes the whole flavour of Disney being a park for all families.
In recent times many of the changes e.g. increase in stroller rentals are making an already expensive holiday beyond the reach of many families.


I foresee the poor CMs at City Hall being given a hard time if the FP rumour is true.
So my plea is don't take it out on the CMs. Tell them clearly that you want them to give your message to management.

 

[disneyholic family]

oh no - that completely changes how we'll move through a park.

I really don't like this change.

 

[Cyrano]

oh no - that completely changes how we'll move through a park.

I really don't like this change.

It will definitely have an impact on the return visit back to the park in an evening.

I suspect some of the threads on the US boards will get very hot after the 7th

 

[wideeyes]

I have always used the fastpasses at the time given anyway.

 

[Disneymad]

Ditto. I knew you could (officially) bend the rules but I never did and always used my FP at hour window on the ticket anyhow, so won't be changing anything for me personally.

 

[2Tiggies]

Not as easy as it sounds, you have to leave 2 hours from getting 1 FP to the next unless your 1st one has a time less than 2 hours then you can get another from that time. So its not easy to get multiple FP's.

This is true and I think this is what we loved about it - it wasn't easy for everyone to do, but we loved the challenge of the race back and forth across the park for the first part of the day to see how many we could get, knowing there was little competition As you say, not practical for anyone in a fair sized group or with young children, but it was fun while it lasted.

oh no - that completely changes how we'll move through a park.

I really don't like this change.

However ..... I am still very much with Beth on this one - no like!!

 

[mikki.young]

I don't understand really why they didn't enforce the times from the beginning. Not much point having them otherwise. People using them late can also explain why you sometimes turn up within your slot and find a long line even at fastpass. I can understand peoples frustration if they have got used to using them this way, Disney have created their own problem. I'm not sure what I think about 'deluxe' resorts booking fastpass slots ahead of time (going the way of Universal).

On the stroller front John from owners locker rents them BUT he doesn't store them as he says people can buy bucket strollers for about $10 or so and then chuck them at the end of a trip. If you don't like disney's prices for strollers then look at Owners locker for them, they are getting great feedback.

 

[irenep]

That is going to be so annoying. I really liked the way you could get a few fast passes together and have a more leisurely day without having to worry about exactly where we needed to be.

It's hard enough making it to ADRs on time without having to take into account that your FP time is up and you need to get to the other side of the park.

There's so many things that can make you late - on our last trip we got stuck on both Splash Mountain and BTMRR for ages before being walked off. If we had missed out on another ride because of this I would not have been at all happy.

I can see this causing more problems than it solves

 

[Cyrano]

This is true and I think this is what we loved about it - it wasn't easy for everyone to do, but we loved the challenge of the race back and forth across the park for the first part of the day to see how many we could get, knowing there was little competition As you say, not practical for anyone in a fair sized group or with young children, but it was fun while it lasted.



However ..... I am still very much with Beth on this one - no like!!

This is very much how we use FP throughout the day. Though with the latitude that we could save our FP for later if we were coming back into the same park.
Most times we gave them away to other families as we got a thrill out of doing something nice for other guests.

I suspect that in most things in life I will grumble about the change but be compliant if that is the rules

 

[flortlebap]

I thought it sucked when Universal put in the paying system, but as its only for a day or two, it won't kill me to pay if it's busy. I sure as hell wouldn't be able to afford a deluxe just for FP privileges, though. I'd be very disappointed if Disney did indeed go down that route.

 

[stephensmum]

oh no - that completely changes how we'll move through a park.

I really don't like this change.

I agree, we used this a lot by taking a afternoon break then going back to the same park & using the stored fast passes.