FP - allowed returns later than 1, 2 or more hours??

[mom2rtk]

But you should have planned for all of those eventualities, don't you know? This poster sounds eerily familiar....

Hmmmm..... gonna have to go re-read some posts.......

 

[UNCFanatik]

Have you BEEN to CP lately? Seating generally takes a long time. And many times I have been stuck waiting for a check. NOTE TO ALL: When doing a buffet, ALWAYS ask for the check FAR in advance, as this has been an issue for us at many such locations. This is SOP for us at all buffets now.

Another issue beyond their control is how long it takes for the characters to come around. If you pay the big bucks for a character meal, you really should not feel like you need to leave before all the characters make it to your table.

What is in their direct control is pulling a Fastpass and seeing when the return window is. With the new enforcement, people have to plan accordingly. Poor planning shouldnt equate to Disney making FP exceptions. And if there are LONG delays in seating at CP, then a party member can go and pull new FPs for the party. Again, totally within their control.

Disney shouldnt make FP exceptions based on people's choices of when they CHOOSE to dine. Otherwise, the system will be abused again.

Nor do I want to wait to enter the FP line when I return at my allotted time but be delayed by people arguing with the CM as to why they are so special and should be allowed to enter late.

 

[mom2rtk]

What is in their direct control is pulling a Fastpass and seeing when the return window is. With the new enforcement, people have to plan accordingly. Poor planning shouldnt equate to Disney making FP exceptions. And if there are LONG delays in seating at CP, then a party member can go and pull new FPs for the party. Again, totally within their control.

Disney shouldnt make FP exceptions based on people's choices of when they CHOOSE to dine. Otherwise, the system will be abused again.

Nor do I want to wait to enter the FP line when I return at my allotted time but be delayed by people arguing with the CM as to why they are so special and should be allowed to enter late.

You're right. Nobody should expect to eat AND do rides. How silly of me. So what's the cutoff of reasonable? I would have thougth 2 1/2 hours would be enough, but clearly you don't. So what..... no FP within 3 hours of an ADR? 4? 5?

If the times are close, I'm pulling the FP. And if dinner takes 2 1/2 hours, yes, I'm asking for an exception. I won't fuss or fume. That's not my style. But I'll ask nicely and hope for a reasonable outcome.

 

[Balt ravens fan]

What is in their direct control is pulling a Fastpass and seeing when the return window is. With the new enforcement, people have to plan accordingly. Poor planning shouldnt equate to Disney making FP exceptions. And if there are LONG delays in seating at CP, then a party member can go and pull new FPs for the party. Again, totally within their control.

Disney shouldnt make FP exceptions based on people's choices of when they CHOOSE to dine. Otherwise, the system will be abused again.

Nor do I want to wait to enter the FP line when I return at my allotted time but be delayed by people arguing with the CM as to why they are so special and should be allowed to enter late.

Disagree....

1) You can't just go pull new Fast Passes, for several reasons:

A) Your window might not be open
B) All the Fastpasses for that attraction might be gone.

-----

On other levels I disagree as well.. First of all for CP you are paying a good amount of money to have nice food and interact with the characters, you aren't going to "rush" through that to get to a FP. If they don't seat you for an hour, and then they don't give your check for an hour, you had NO CONTROL over that. Could you have predicted that? Maybe ... IF you have eaten there before... IF you visit the disboards.. IF you have magical powers...

Would I expect that to happen NO.

Would I pull a Fastpass before my meal YES.

Would I pissed if I just paid 120 dollars for a great time for my family and then I couldn't use my FastPass .. YES.

Also if you "pull" another Fast Pass like you say above, then you just "lost" another ride. Because Disney can't run their restaurant correctly, you lose valuable time in the restaurant (2 hours) you lose a ride.. then you may or may not get a FP for the same ride, and that FP will be much later...

Ok yeah, I can see people NOT coming back to Disney after that expierence.

I would HOPE HOPE HOPE that Disney would give these people a pass and let them ride the ride.

What would be great is if the Restaurant staff would know a person has been there for 2+ hours (due to their fault) and be able to automatically extend their FastPass time through a Stamp.

UNC - you and I are going to have disagree on this one!

Anyway this thread should be about expierences - I would like to hear expierences and how Disney handles it.

We heard one about the Boat and Guest Services. If people use these expierences to cheat the system then they are scammers, and I feel sorry for them, but some of us just want to know if we come across an "expierence" like slow boat, slow dinner, first aid emergency, (sounded like someone even posted taking their daughter to the bathroom!) ... then what happens.

Ok I will stop ranting.

 

[popsynic]

What is in their direct control is pulling a Fastpass and seeing when the return window is. With the new enforcement, people have to plan accordingly. Poor planning shouldnt equate to Disney making FP exceptions. And if there are LONG delays in seating at CP, then a party member can go and pull new FPs for the party. Again, totally within their control.

Disney shouldnt make FP exceptions based on people's choices of when they CHOOSE to dine. Otherwise, the system will be abused again.

Nor do I want to wait to enter the FP line when I return at my allotted time but be delayed by people arguing with the CM as to why they are so special and should be allowed to enter late.

I equally don't want to have to miss out on an ADR, because dining locations had no availability when I tried to make an ADR, and then find out too late that there were actually empty tables, because people in fear of missing their fastspass time didn't turn up to restaurants or didn't show up to their ADR's. I think this is equally (or slightly more) bothersome than having FP people from a slightly earlier timeslot ahead of me in line.

 

[UNCFanatik]

Disagree....

1) You can't just go pull new Fast Passes, for several reasons:

A) Your window might not be open
B) All the Fastpasses for that attraction might be gone.

-----

On other levels I disagree as well.. First of all for CP you are paying a good amount of money to have nice food and interact with the characters, you aren't going to "rush" through that to get to a FP. If they don't seat you for an hour, and then they don't give your check for an hour, you had NO CONTROL over that. Could you have predicted that? Maybe ... IF you have eaten there before... IF you visit the disboards.. IF you have magical powers...

Would I expect that to happen NO.

Would I pull a Fastpass before my meal YES.

Would I pissed if I just paid 120 dollars for a great time for my family and then I couldn't use my FastPass .. YES.

Also if you "pull" another Fast Pass like you say above, then you just "lost" another ride. Because Disney can't run their restaurant correctly, you lose valuable time in the restaurant (2 hours) you lose a ride.. then you may or may not get a FP for the same ride, and that FP will be much later...

Ok yeah, I can see people NOT coming back to Disney after that expierence.

I would HOPE HOPE HOPE that Disney would give these people a pass and let them ride the ride.

What would be great is if the Restaurant staff would know a person has been there for 2+ hours (due to their fault) and be able to automatically extend their FastPass time through a Stamp.

UNC - you and I are going to have disagree on this one!

Anyway this thread should be about expierences - I would like to hear expierences and how Disney handles it.

We heard one about the Boat and Guest Services. If people use these expierences to cheat the system then they are scammers, and I feel sorry for them, but some of us just want to know if we come across an "expierence" like slow boat, slow dinner, first aid emergency, (sounded like someone even posted taking their daughter to the bathroom!) ... then what happens.

Ok I will stop ranting.

Let me clarify, if you go to an attraction and see that the FP time might conflict with your reservations, then you could pull FP tickets while waiting to be seated.

Again, why should Disney give people FP exceptions because those people poorly planned. If you make a lunch ADR at CP, you should understand how long that will take especially at busier times of the year. If you choose to prioritize lunch over attractions...again YOUR choice and YOUR control.

And again, why should I have to be stuck behind a group of people arguing about missing their FP window and begging/whining/pleading to be let in?

I understand LEGIT emergencies and fully support FP exceptions. However, poor planning should not warrant FP exceptions because it will lead to rampant abuse. If you are pushing it with a FP return window then dont pull the FP. Its that simple

 

[WDSearcher]

I'm interested in hearing about people's experiences in the parks, too, but not because I am bemoaning the enforcement (we happily return w/in the window) or trying to find a way around the rules. I am interested in learning how certain situations are being handled.

For instance, we once had a lunch at CP take more than 2.5 hours-- at least an hour longer than it should have-- and we missed our FP window as a result. We *should* have had plenty of time to both eat and make the FP window, but due to some circumstances beyond our control (v.e.r.y. long delay in being seated, v.e.r.y slow server, etc.), we wound up outside the FP window. At the time, it wasn't an issue, because we knew we would be permitted to use the FP late. Now, that would not be the case. What I would like to know, in this instance, is how this is being handled. Would I get my FP's stamped at the restaurant? Would I just explain the situation to the CM at the ride entrance? Would I have to schlep up to guest services?

All I really want is to get practical information on what I will need to do if I miss the window as a result of circumstances beyond my control.

Unfortunately, until this exact scenario happens to someone, we won't know. And even then, we may not get solid info. Disney has made it known that exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis. What one CM allows you to do in this situation may be different than what another CM allows someone else to do in this situation. There are no real answers to "how will Disney handle situations out of my control?" because each situation is unique.

Basically, you plan the best you can. If something goes wrong and you end up late for your FP window and a CM says, "I'm sorry", then you have the choice of either asking for an exception or hopping over to the standby line. If you ask for an exception and the CM listens to your situation and says, "I'm sorry", then you have the choice of asking for a manager or hopping over to the standby line. And so on up the line.

Look at all the people on the DIS who were not even aware they COULD use FP past their stated times. Those folks managed to make it through WDW just fine, real life situations and all. I'm sure it won't be nearly as much of a problem as so many people are making it out to be.

 

[Balt ravens fan]

Let me clarify, if you go to an attraction and see that the FP time might conflict with your reservations, then you could pull FP tickets while waiting to be seated.

Again, why should Disney give people FP exceptions because those people poorly planned. If you make a lunch ADR at CP, you should understand how long that will take especially at busier times of the year. If you choose to prioritize lunch over attractions...again YOUR choice and YOUR control.

And again, why should I have to be stuck behind a group of people arguing about missing their FP window and begging/whining/pleading to be let in?

I understand LEGIT emergencies and fully support FP exceptions. However, poor planning should not warrant FP exceptions because it will lead to rampant abuse. If you are pushing it with a FP return window then dont pull the FP. Its that simple

You are just dead WRONG. Sorry. You cannot plan for getting in 1 hour past your ADR time, and having a terrible server who takes you an extra hour.

You cannot plan for a travel time to EPCOT that takes 4 times longer than usual (1 hour and 20 minutes instead of 20 minutes).

DISNEY has to take responsibility for its service (or LACK of Service) in these cases and grant the Fastpass use to the Customer OR said paying customer will 1) not come back to Disney and 2) not spend money at Disney... yeah that's a good plan. NOT.

 

[mom2rtk]

At the very least Disney needs to step up and allow people waiting for an ADR more than X (whatever, maybe 45 minutes???) to be released from their CC hold if they want to bail and move on.

 

[Balt ravens fan]

If you combine the FP penalty with the 10$ penalty, this could end up hurting attendance at the Sit Down restaurants. Which might not be bad for those of us who really enjoy the sit down restaurants .

 

[popsynic]

Let me clarify, if you go to an attraction and see that the FP time might conflict with your reservations, then you could pull FP tickets while waiting to be seated.

Again, why should Disney give people FP exceptions because those people poorly planned. If you make a lunch ADR at CP, you should understand how long that will take especially at busier times of the year. If you choose to prioritize lunch over attractions...again YOUR choice and YOUR control.

And again, why should I have to be stuck behind a group of people arguing about missing their FP window and begging/whining/pleading to be let in?

I understand LEGIT emergencies and fully support FP exceptions. However, poor planning should not warrant FP exceptions because it will lead to rampant abuse. If you are pushing it with a FP return window then dont pull the FP. Its that simple

To be fair, most average people/families that visit WDW, and who are simply 'on vacation' and simply haven't thought it through the way you have - it's not about poor planning being at fault here, and I don't quite believe its ignorance either

It's just simply not realistic that the average person is expected to understand the reality of what its like waiting to be seated at a character meal in busier months, or how long character meals take, or the intricacies of the fastpass system -

Most people are not the 'diser' type that most of us are here. Fact is most visitors enter 'the happiest place on earth' oblivious to all of this detail.

Should they have planned better? - Well, to the likes of us who know Disney a bit better than they do, then perhaps it would have been wise to have done a bit more research.

But they didn't really commit a crime if they didn't happen to have the knowledge that they needed to align the moon with the stars when they booked their ADR and pulled a fastpass.

Why should they be expected to understand all of this? Most people are simply 'on vacation'. I believe there is a stat somewhere which shows that a large percentage of visitors, despite the info available, do not fully understand fastpass, and think it's something you have to buy extra.

If someone is actively abusing the system, that's one thing. but a family being a 'bit late' cuz they were seated late to an ADR and had a slow server, or that were waiting for characters to visit their table having paid $150 for the privilege, is another - and I am sure Disney understands the difference and uses their discretion accordingly

By the way, - you don't have to be stuck behind anyone arguing with the cast member. There's often crowd of people 'blocking the entrance' anyway or 'discussing fastpass return times' with the CM at the more popular attractions. Just say excuse me, wave your legit fastpass, and move past them and enjoy!

 

[Sydnerella]

I think this month is not a good guage as to how well the enforcement will run..It is spring break time and it is busy and there is going to be issues right now

I get current practice might not be a good gauge of the future - but I leave in 11 days as I said in the thread topic so that is why I am asking for the details now

I appreciate the additional scoop for recent experiences - brettcw23! And to Corwin for trying to get back on topic!

Time's a tickin' guys and I appreciate the spirited debate but wanted to avoid that here. Like anything else, some people will utilize info for the light side and others for the dark. And the definition of either is an entirely new debate that I dont want to start.

I'm just trying to plan some smooth park days for the 5 people I am playing tour guide for next week! I am so excited to be there soon!

so many emoticons for me today - i am happy!

THANKS!
Sydnerella's Mama

 

[mom2rtk]

I get current practice might not be a good gauge of the future - but I leave in 11 days as I said in the thread topic so that is why I am asking for the details now

I appreciate the additional scoop for recent experiences - brettcw23! And to Corwin for trying to get back on topic!

Time's a tickin' guys and I appreciate the spirited debate but wanted to avoid that here. Like anything else, some people will utilize info for the light side and others for the dark. And the definition of either is an entirely new debate that I dont want to start.

I'm just trying to plan some smooth park days for the 5 people I am playing tour guide for next week! I am so excited to be there soon!

so many emoticons for me today - i am happy!

THANKS!
Sydnerella's Mama

I hope you have a great trip and will report your own experiences back here when you return!

 

[Wadecool]

But you should have planned for all of those eventualities, don't you know? This poster sounds eerily familiar....

Our old friend TD perhaps?

 

[mesaboy2]

Our old friend TD perhaps?

No, no, no--my past late-FP archnemesis. We've buried the hatchet, or rather the hatchet was buried for us.

 

[Sandy321]

You are just dead WRONG. Sorry. You cannot plan for getting in 1 hour past your ADR time, and having a terrible server who takes you an extra hour.

You cannot plan for a travel time to EPCOT that takes 4 times longer than usual (1 hour and 20 minutes instead of 20 minutes).

DISNEY has to take responsibility for its service (or LACK of Service) in these cases and grant the Fastpass use to the Customer OR said paying customer will 1) not come back to Disney and 2) not spend money at Disney... yeah that's a good plan. NOT.

(bold mine)

I'm wondering if Disney isnt using a calculated risk here - I'm wondering how many people really do return to Disney?

and I'm wondering - does Disney really have "empty" rooms? I'm thinking with all the hype for Brazillian Tourists, and European travelers -- Disney is not hurting for paying customers, and frankly, they want to change FP (maybe its the tour groups that pull 100 FP at a time, maybe its getting back to their algorithm - maybe its the "change to come" that Disney is prepping for)

However, that being said IF - IF there is enough outcry - letters, complaints while in WDW then, just like the Big Banks wanting to charge fees for ATMs or checking accounts - the Big Banks pulled back -

there just needs to be a bigger outcry to disney - and NOT just griping on message boards all over the 'net..

imho

 

[WDSearcher]

At the very least Disney needs to step up and allow people waiting for an ADR more than X (whatever, maybe 45 minutes???) to be released from their CC hold if they want to bail and move on.

Saying Disney "needs to step up" implies that they've been doing something wrong up until this point or that scores of people have been hampered by this scenario and Disney has been turning a blind eye. It's been, what ... a week since the "new FP" went into effect? Let's see if it actually becomes a problem first.

Because unless the type of situation you describe becomes common, I don't see why the concept of "case-by-case basis" isn't sufficient.

 

[mom2rtk]

Saying Disney "needs to step up" implies that they've been doing something wrong up until this point or that scores of people have been hampered by this scenario and Disney has been turning a blind eye. It's been, what ... a week since the "new FP" went into effect? Let's see if it actually becomes a problem first.

Because unless the type of situation you describe becomes common, I don't see why the concept of "case-by-case basis" isn't sufficient.

I see your point. And "case by case" is fine if it works. But I'm referring to more than the FP issue here. The CC hold on character meals has been in effect and the reports back for a while have been that people were told they could not be released from their credit card hold to eat elsewhere even after waiting for an hour.

I said early on that they needed to institute a CC hold on many of these restaurants. So I'm glad it's there. But there needs to be some reasonabloe give and take on this piece of the issue.

 

[mjp12831]

To be honest, I'm rooting for this change to be a disaster to the point where they reconsider the strategy of enforcement. I'm thrilled with reports of long FP lines. Math has already told me that this would have NO impact on SB lines.

This said, some have worried about being stuck in a restaurant and missing a FP window - using it as an argument why they shouldn't have changed, however it's not really an issue.

We were SEATED 1:15 late for a Momma Melrose ADR last year, and 1:00 late for a Tusker ADR. In both cases as a "sorry" the restaurant gave us a FP that we could use on any attraction.

Point is that if you have a situation in a restaurant with an expiring FP that's the fault of the restaurant, I'm guessing they will be able to issue you these (especially if you show them an expiring FP).

I still hate this change and think it really stinks (will definately make the trip less fun this year), but I want to be fair to the facts.

Judgemental posts on when people should or should not be pulling FP are silly.

 

[eranwolf]

Well to respond to the OP. I was at the parks last week and talked to several CMs in each park and they all said the same thing. On March 7-9 they were allowing return times later then the 15 minute window but were telling the FP holder about the new rules as they entered and that there will be no leniency starting on Monday March 12.

Also, I saw absolutely no difference in FP line times at all. In fact we walked on most rides using FP. The only exception was TSM and the Safari.