FP crackdowns???

[inkkognito]

Then why do so many say they have been turned away from Soarin' with an expired FP?

Are there large numbers of actual posts from people who have been turned away, or is this possibly an urban legend? I have used 'em late at Soarin' multiple times...after reading that here (always "I heard that..." not "I myself got turned away"), that's why I finally asked a CM who told me I would NOT be turned away.

 

[lugnut33]

I'll go for this rule when Disney actually seats you for your ADR's within 5 minutes.

Denise in MI

Low blow, but poignant.

 

[TPCShauna]

I really think it depends who is taken the fast pass at the time because this past May there was a family of 6 who came back with there fast passes 90 min. past the window time at soarin and the cm would not let them in. I was pretty suprised because a lot of people on this board say they do it all the time. Anyway this family held up the fast pass line yelling that they have come back at the end of the day and it's never been a problem-well this cm (an older gentleman would not waiver) another cm started checking every one elses fast pass while they stood on the side stating their case but we were in line for 15 min and never seen them so I really don't think they got in

There is no reason to get upset with the Line CM. I have been questioned once when using a late FP and I very politely asked the CM to check with a supervisor on the policy. They did check and they let us through. It's in the Operations guides to allow late FPs and I know this because my BIL worked for DL and read the guide.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll admit it. DH and I get FPs for every ride we want to with absolutely no intention of even attempting to return during the designated window. We get the FP, often ride stand-by (if it is early and the line is short) and then go on our merry way to enjoy the park OUR way rather than having to constantly watch the clock. It is not fun to stand around waiting for a window to open up and Disney would much prefer that I be using that time to shop, eat, snack or enjoy myself elsewhere.

The idea of the FP is to keep the stand-by queue from getting ridiculously long. It is a "promise" that you can come back at a later time with a shorter ride in exchange for not riding right then. The "Return between X and Y times" is written for the benefit of the masses who will follow the directions exactly as stated. The masses will feel that they got a deal because they didn't have to wait in the stand-by line and got to "cut" when their window rolls around.

Yes, I think a lot of people arrive back late for their windows but I'm sure the percentage is more in the 5-10% range. Most do follow their times. In over a dozen trips to WDW and DL in the past 5 years, we have been questioned TWICE about returning late to a ride. Once was at DL for Indy and is the situation I referenced above. The other was at Tower of Terror at MGM and all that entailed was a rather snide comment from the CM to the tune of "Running a little late are we?" This FP was easily used 6 hours after the window closed. We rode Soarin' at Epcot a full 9 hours after obtaining our FPs on two different days on our last trip and didn't even get an eyebrow raise.

It's my opinion that the late Soarin' arrivals being turned away is an urban legend and I'll believe when I get a first hand account. Until then, I will continue to collect my passes and use them when I want to, provided of course that it is AFTER the beginning of my return window (like it says on my FP.)

 

[mickeyluv'r]

If you're there at rope drop and obtain a set of FP's right away, your next FP oppourtunity will usually be around 10:00 am or just after. Then another set a bit after 12:00. If you leave the park by lunch or just after, you could have at least three sets of FP's.

Ho Hum...another fastpass window debate.....and the usuals line up on each side of the debate...

Honestly, I only got as far as page five...

I dunno...so someone got three sets of fastpasses, and didn't use any of them when they could have. I dunno, that seems kind of silly to me. When I get a fastpass, it's because I want to go on that ride. This seems like kind of a silly idea to me. What are you doing in the park for those three hours if you aren't going on any fastpass attractions? It seems kind of lame to spend so much effort just so you can use them later. Especially since the time window for the first two fastpasses is often under the two hour limit. So you are waiting an extra hour just so you can hold onto it? (as opposed to using it and being able to get another FP sooner)

On the flip side, if I'm holding a fastpass for BTMRR, and I go on Splash and get stuck on the ride- which has happened to our family a number of times - and then I go over to BTMRR half an hour after window expired - and they won't let me on - I'm gonna be very angry. Last time my sister got stuck on Splash for over an hour, several of us had to wait around for her (me, mom, all the small kids). The CM's gave her a single fastpass. The CM's didn't have to do anything, but a single fastpass was kind of lame, especially as all of us who had to wait for her got nothing, except a lost hour of park time. It was hardly a "dream" experience.

I've also had dining experiences, like at CP, where I had to wait a considerable amount of time before I go t my table. I hika across the park to be 15minnutes early for my ADR, then wait 30min for a table - and WDW isn't going to honor my FP because I'm half an hour late for my ADR. I'm gonna be very angry.

Seems to me many of you are arguing that WDW should have a double standard: Guests must arrive early for ADR's, plus wait up to 30 minutes beyond their ADR time to get a table - yet WDW shouldn't make any allowances for guest to arrive late for a Fastpass window? Seems to me if Disney doesn't have to be on time giving me a table - a table I reserved 180days ahead of my meal (like that isn't enough time for them to plan my arrival?) then they should be flexible enough to allow for guests who underestimate the time it takes to walk across the park.

I'm not saying WDW has to honor a FP days later, but they should allow for a few hours. Period.

 

[zumfelde]

Why is it so many people think that they only have to follow the rules they want? Disney is very lax on enforcing rules so as not to upset these people but it only hurts the people that follow the rules. Disney needs to enforce all its rules for the enjoyment of ALL guests.

Please Disney stop allowing

Line jumping
late fast passes
people parking at resorts they are not staying at
people going to pools at resorts they are not paying to stay at
people using buses at ssr to get to and from DTD

 

[TPCShauna]

Why is it so many people think that they only have to follow the rules they want? Disney is very lax on enforcing rules so as not to upset these people but it only hurts the people that follow the rules. Disney needs to enforce all its rules for the enjoyment of ALL guests.

Please Disney stop allowing

Line jumping
late fast passes
people parking at resorts they are not staying at
people going to pools at resorts they are not paying to stay at
people using buses at ssr to get to and from DTD

There is no "rule" regarding late fast passes. All of the attraction guides state that guests may not be admitted to the FP Queue before their window but there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING regarding not allowing someone in past the time.

However, I do know that Disney has stated policies regarding parking at resorts where they are not guests and pool hopping. I can't speak for the other two.

 

[Schmeck]

When we were at WDW in June (with a school group) I asked at Soarin' if we could use our FPs later on in the day, and all 3 CMs that I asked said Yes we could, and we did. And yes, I did ask 3 different CMs, the one at the FP machines, the one at the counter, and the one collecting the FPs. Actually, there were two CMs at the counter, and one said yes, and one nodded, LOL!

 

[vicki_c]

Especially since the time window for the first two fastpasses is often under the two hour limit. So you are waiting an extra hour just so you can hold onto it? (as opposed to using it and being able to get another FP sooner)

Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're saying ...(and I might be) ...

When you use your FP has nothing to do with when you can get another one. When you can get another one is solely dependent on the time that it says on the FP.


And just to add ... I've never used a Soarin' FP on time yet, and used 2 at TSM in June beyond their windows (maybe 30 minutes late for the first and about 1.5 for the other - it would have been longer but we weren't staying long that day!).

 

[2ndstartotheright]

Especially since the time window for the first two fastpasses is often under the two hour limit. So you are waiting an extra hour just so you can hold onto it? (as opposed to using it and being able to get another FP sooner

This statement makes no sense.

Nobody is waiting any extra time just to hold on to a FP to use it later. Most are moving along to other rides during this time- at least that is what they should be doing- instead of standing around at the FP entrance waiting for their return window to open.

You can get another FP when the FP tells you too- "next FP available at..." it has nothing to do with when you use your current FP. It can be within an hour or anywhere up to 2 hours at most. The FP machines have no way of knowing if you have ever used any of the FPs you have collected.

Not even sure why I am posting to this thread. It's a dead horse.
Disney's policy is to accept FP til the end of the day it was issued. It is not expired and it is not late until park closing of that day. Period.

 

[TPCShauna]

Not even sure why I am posting to this thread. It's a dead horse.
Disney's policy is to accept FP til the end of the day it was issued. It is not expired and it is not late until park closing of that day. Period.

I so know what you mean. I was trying to figure out why I even posted. I guess I just get frustrated with the people who say I don't follow the "rules" when I return late when there isn't one. I should just leave or I will make myself

 

[Sk8Leigh]

There is no reason to get upset with the Line CM. I have been questioned once when using a late FP and I very politely asked the CM to check with a supervisor on the policy. They did check and they let us through. It's in the Operations guides to allow late FPs and I know this because my BIL worked for DL and read the guide.

Good to know!

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Are there large numbers of actual posts from people who have been turned away, or is this possibly an urban legend? I have used 'em late at Soarin' multiple times...after reading that here (always "I heard that..." not "I myself got turned away"), that's why I finally asked a CM who told me I would NOT be turned away.

I am apt to think that the whole Soarin late FP thing may be an urban legend. On the other hand I'm not willing to test it. So even though I'm not totally sold on the veracity of the notorious late FP rejection over at Soarin, I will still go within the window for that attraction.

I will also use my TSM FP within the window. I have not heard of anyone being denied entry with a late FP over there. I just really don't want to risk it, because it is new and I really want to ride.

 

[Robo]

Ho Hum...another fastpass window debate.....and the usuals line up on each side of the debate...

Honestly, I only got as far as page five...

There was some great stuff on page 5 and 7, 6 was smooth as silk, but page 8 was a dud.

 

[patsal]

No problem using fP at Space yesterday in MK--it broke down during our FP window we wer able to ride later in the day with no problem. However a FP cheater was caught at Splash and escorted out with his son--he was denied entrance ahead fo us, went ot regular line and jumped the divider after lifting his son ove and was in front of us again as he attempted to enter several hours prior to his fastpass being good. They refused entrance and escorted tthem out of the line .

 

[skater]

I am apt to think that the whole Soarin late FP thing may be an urban legend. On the other hand I'm not willing to test it. So even though I'm not totally sold on the veracity of the notorious late FP rejection over at Soarin, I will still go within the window for that attraction.

I will also use my TSM FP within the window. I have not heard of anyone being denied entry with a late FP over there. I just really don't want to risk it, because it is new and I really want to ride.

I was personally turned away with a late FP at Soarin - but that was 2 years ago. I'm way too chicken to try that one again .

 

[Brian Noble]

Soarin' had two periods where late FPs were not accepted. One was "official" (during the tile re-do in the pre-show rooms---during this time, FP return was through the exit). The other was at the iniative of the opening crew. Eventually, the area mgr got wind of it, and "reassigned" a few folks, which put an end to that.

 

[Mom2twinboys]

There was some great stuff on page 5 and 7, 6 was smooth as silk, but page 8 was a dud.

Good to know I skipped 6,7 and 8 myself

I am surprised that I am actually posting but after reading through
the thread I can't find THE post where someone has actually been impacted by the use of a late fastpass

 

[Robo]

I am surprised that I am actually posting but after reading through
the thread I can't find THE post where someone has actually been impacted by the use of a late fastpass

And, therein lies the HEART of the discussion.

 

[inkkognito]

I am surprised that I am actually posting but after reading through the thread I can't find THE post where someone has actually been impacted by the use of a late fastpass

The closest I can even imagine is what the CM warned of at Soarin' when I asked, i.e. saying that he couldn't guarantee the wait time. I took that to mean that more people than usual use late FPs on that ride because the FPs go so quickly in the summer, so therefore it's more common to have more riding it late. Can't say I've actually experienced that in person tho', and I do ride it in the evening fairly often. But hey, maybe the CM has actually seen it...I just can't imagine that the impact is all that major tho'.

 

[BamaFan121s]

Are there large numbers of actual posts from people who have been turned away, or is this possibly an urban legend? I have used 'em late at Soarin' multiple times...after reading that here (always "I heard that..." not "I myself got turned away"), that's why I finally asked a CM who told me I would NOT be turned away.

I am apt to think that the whole Soarin late FP thing may be an urban legend. On the other hand I'm not willing to test it. So even though I'm not totally sold on the veracity of the notorious late FP rejection over at Soarin, I will still go within the window for that attraction.

I have PERSONALLY been turned away from Soarin' (twice July 07) AND Space Mt (once) for trying to use a FP outside the assigned times. That being said, I have also been allowed on both those rides on different occasions w/ late FPs. No rhyme or reason...who knows!