FP crackdowns???

[disneydreams29]

Both of which can be hard to find. (Not a reference to any poster in this thread, just a general observation.)

well i can't argue with that!

 

[flipflop]

please verb, pleased, pleas·ing.
–adverb 1. (used as a polite addition to requests, commands, etc.) if you would be so obliging; kindly: Please come here. Will you please turn the radio off?

Please as it is used on the back of the FP is an adverb. Please is not synonymous with "You may chose to enter between....." The use of the term "please" does not indicate that one has a choice - it is used to be polite. If Disney had intended to give one a choice about when to return, I would venture that the back of the ticket would explicitly state so, or, in the alternative an end time would not be given.

If Disney's intent is to allow late returns, they need to craft better language for the back of the FPs. The current language is a lawyer's dream b/c it can be argued both ways - as evidenced by this thread.

That being said, it defeats the purpose of the system to have people returning late consistently - just like it would defeat the purpose to have people return and enter early.

I have used FPs late. I don't think Disney's practice in general matches up with the language on the FP. I don't, however, ever count on being able to use them late. I don't want to rely on winning an argument with a CM about the meaning of the lack of specific language on the back of my FP re returning late and the language specifically prohibiting early entry.

 

[wendyinaustin]

I'm with Sleepin' Becca on this one. It does say "Please enter between...", and also makes the point to say "Cannot accept early arrivals." but makes no mention of late arrivals, only that the FP must be used on the date printed. Maybe the newer FP's are worded differently?

Okay, I'm new and I'm scared to type this!
I totally get all the reasoning behind the "please" argument that leaves one to infer that it is not an absolute "do it or else". And I see that they listed "cannot accept early arrivals" and how it leaves room for intepretation regarding late arrivals. Bad move on Disney's part and setting themselves up for failure, IMO.

However, I just look at the sentence "Please enter between 9:05am and 10:05am" as pretty much enter between those two times. Why would they bother to put those times on there if they didn't want you to enter during those times?

AND, I totally think that if it meant enter anytime after this time, wouldn't it just defeat the purpose of crowd control all together? I'm new so this has been beaten to death I'm sure. My sincere hope is that Disney will just print "no early and no late arrivals" on the passes and just enforce it. (or come up with a better system) And, I also hope that people will just read the front of their passes and just go during those times. It would be SO AWESOME if you could just get a fastpass and go back whenever you wanted to. That would rock! But, I really don't think the system was meant to work like that.

Please don't hurt me!!!

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Wendy I am posting this for you.

Originally Posted by Dawgdad
WOW
This just always seems to rear it's ugly head. Now we have people wanting the "rules" enforced. Where do I start??? I always try to respond to these posts because I do feel like I have some worthwhile info that comes from actual Disney management (see below). First of all, if you don't believe you should use the FP's past the time, then don't. The fact is this: If I choose to not ride during the 2 hour window, it only means that someone else will fill my magical spot on the ride (someone from the standby line). If I did enter during the 2 hr time, that same person (theoretically) will ride AFTER me. You see, when I use my FP does not affect 1)the number of people in the park, or 2)the number of people who choose to ride a certain ride. This is not a rationalization, it is just basic theme park logistics. FP's do not expire (on that day, of course) and I know that for a fact.

My cousin, Scott Bowden works in Anaheim as a Senior Vice President in the Department of Planning, Revenue Management and Strategic Pricing (how would you like that on your business card?) We have spoken so many times on this subject that many times when I call him, the first thing he says is "Wassup, Fastpasses don't expire"

Remember, FP's are not intended to move you to the front of the line, they are to allow you to spend your waiting time somewhere else (like buying food or merchandise). Disney is a business and people can not spend their money in line. FP is a win-win idea that reduces your standing in line time. When you use it does not affect the flow of the ride or the dynamics of the wait for ANYONE else. Now, there is one more thing. When we adopted our child from China 2 years ago, one of the other fathers in our travel group works for the company in Buffalo that (among other things) worked with Disney on the design and implementation of the fastpass. Trust me when I say that the idea was not to reduce your wait time, but to reduce your "non-buying" time in the parks. It is not an accident that the Fastpass does not specifically prohibit late arrivals. In the original patent for the fastpass (and machine), there is a specific statement that details this "late" use. It is not only OK, it has zero bearing on the flow of the park or the wait times for anyone. Yes, you could argue that if everyone held their fastpass for 1 hour then flooded the ride, there may be some fluctuations in wait times, but that is simply not realistic. Additionally, if everyone did that, many more standby riders than normal would get to ride earlier. Remember, how or when you use your FP does not affect the number of people in the park or how many people ride the ride.

Fastpasses DO NOT expire. If a castmember tells you otherwise, politely ask them to speak with a supervisor - you are not asking for a favor, you are asking for something that is specifically allowed under the fastpass.

Fastpasses DO NOT expire.

Please everyone, stay nice - this is all about vacation stuff after all.

This was orginally posted by Dawgdad, an extremely reliable poster, and then reposted by Knox a DIS moderater.

So again, if you feel that you must use the FP within the window, then do so. I just wanted to inform you that using a FP late has no affect of crowd distribution or wait time. By using a FP late you actually allowed folks to ride earlier, and the folks behind you will ride at the same time if you had used the FP in the window.

 

[dcherry]

Well, I had planned to collect all my fp in the morning. Go to the resort for several hours and then use them when I returned. I seem to remember some discussion about how the fast passes have wording on the back that imply you can use them anytime after the window has started..some kind of loophole. I'll see if I can find that.

Christine

That is exactly what we did two weeks ago for most of our FP's.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

That is exactly what we did two weeks ago for most of our FP's.

This is also what we do when we visit.

Except Soarin, and I won't try it for TSM, because I don't want to risk not being able to get on.

 

[CandleontheWater]

Sleeping Becca- let me say I 150% agree with you!

Second, let me say I've spent 15 weekends in the parks so far this year, and every weekend, even multiple times a day, I've used fastpasses beyond the window and I have never been turned away. I've also never seen anyone that has been turned away for late fastpasses, so I think this is a pretty random, isolated occurance. I wouldn't worry too much about it, or get your panties in a bind over making the window. As stated above, Disney would much rather you buy a churro and then lesiurely menander into the fastpass line late, than skip the churro and be right on time.

 

[dburg30]

Yep you have those people that follow the spirit of the rules (ie:return between the times listed) and then people that will read and bend words to fit what THEY want it to mean (ie: it just says you cant get there early, the times it says to return doesnt mean anything).

I know what supposed 'reliable people' have said, and if that's the case, just change it to say Valid this park date only, after this time. And be done with it.

 

[wendyinaustin]

Wendy I am posting this for you.

Thank you! It didn't hurt!
A really interesting read. I won't lose any sleep over the fastpass debate - I really like hearing how we all interpret things differently. Again, my family and I will go during the timeframe that is printed on the fastpass and I'm not worried about nor will I make judgement on the other folks who don't. It all works out in the end and we will get on the ride at some point!

 

[FOV]

I know that Disney is lenient about accepting fast passes way beyond the later time (but on the same day) when a ride has been shut down. This happens a lot for Test Track.

One time we returned 5 mins before our time was up and the FP line for TT was huge because of earlier thunder showers. We asked the CM if we could come back when it quieted down and he said no problem.

 

[LadyZolt]

All this talk about using a FP after the window makes me ask -- am I the *only one* who uses mine the minute the window opens? If it says "enter between 10:05 and 11:05," I'm standing there at 10:04 and as soon as the clock switches, I show it to the CM and head in. If I got a fastpass, it's to a ride I want to do, so I'm doing it as soon as the FP lets me.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[Markstudy]

I was always on time for my fastpass window.

But then people started talking about how you didn't have to follow the window...so I showed up late (because of a meal that ran long) and it was no problem.

Now, I've started stretching the windows return times, to get more done.

THE PROBLEM IS...DISNEY LETS THE RULES SLIDE ( I would have liked it iron-clad, like I started with ).... BUT THEY LET THE RULES SLIDE AND PEOPLE START WORKING WITH THE NEW SOFTER RULES.

Now when Disney tries to "put the cat back in the bag" and enforcing the fastpass end-time window.... you get surprised by on-and-off enforcement by different cast members at different attractions.

 

[BamaFan121s]

The ride entrances are all closed at the start of IllumiNations (unless it is PM EMH.)

Yes, it was a PM EMH.
(Obviously, otherwise they wouldn't have been letting ANYONE in.)

 

[inkkognito]

I asked this specific question to a Soarin' CM the other day, i.e. could I use my Fastpass later than the window. Since it's the peak season and I've heard about the crackdown, I was interested to hear their response. He said yes, I could, but he couldn't guarantee what the wait time would be. Basically he was saying that lots of people do that with Soarin' and they will let you, but it can mean a loooong FP line so don't complain!

 

[Sleeping Becca]

All this talk about using a FP after the window makes me ask -- am I the *only one* who uses mine the minute the window opens? If it says "enter between 10:05 and 11:05," I'm standing there at 10:04 and as soon as the clock switches, I show it to the CM and head in. If I got a fastpass, it's to a ride I want to do, so I'm doing it as soon as the FP lets me.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

Most people who use FP use it immediately or shortly there after. Which is one of the reasons that people using it late have no affect on the line.

90 % use it in the window
5% don't use it
5% use it late

 

[BamaFan121s]

I was always on time for my fastpass window.

But then people started talking about how you didn't have to follow the window...so I showed up late (because of a meal that ran long) and it was no problem.

Now, I've started stretching the windows return times, to get more done.

THE PROBLEM IS...THAT DISNEY LETS THE RULES SLIDE ( I would have liked it iron clad, like I started with ).... BUT THEY LET THE RULSE SLIDE AND PEOPLE START WORKING WITH THE NEW SOFTER RULES.

Now when Disney tries to- put the cat back in the bag, and enforcing the fastpass window.... you get screwed.

I agree!
IMO, in life you will find those who will stretch things and interpret them to better suit their needs, an as long as it is allowed, why shouldn't they? I've used FPs after the return time before, but at the same time, I've been turned away and instead of getting mad at the CM or demaning antoher answer, I shrug it off, like an adult and accept that as a risk I took that didn't work out to my advantage. Then I go on as if it never happened with a little souvenier for my scrapbook.

 

[dburg30]

This is also what we do when we visit.

Except Soarin, and I won't try it for TSM, because I don't want to risk not being able to get on.

But according to a CM, they wont turn you away, so why worry about it?

 

[Robo]

But according to a CM, they wont turn you away, so why worry about it?

If the lines get really backed up on the most-popular attractions, the entry CMs can deny the late entry at the time you arrive.

You can try and return later, if things calm down.

But, on most attractions, at most times of day, it isn't an issue.

 

[MNWDWMANIAC]

The information is the same on the newer fast passes as it was on the older style. On thing I noticed was that the rider switch passes use the same standard as a normal FP. The wording on the back doesn't change.

 

[dburg30]

I asked this specific question to a Soarin' CM the other day, i.e. could I use my Fastpass later than the window. Since it's the peak season and I've heard about the crackdown, I was interested to hear their response. He said yes, I could, but he couldn't guarantee what the wait time would be. Basically he was saying that lots of people do that with Soarin' and they will let you, but it can mean a loooong FP line so don't complain!

So what they REALLY were saying is lots of people do this, which screws it up for the people coming back when they were supposed to..