FP enforcement, does anyone know why?

[AquaDame]

I hate getting pulled into these threads but here goes...

If people with FPs in the afternoon don't use their FPs during the specified windows - and come back in the evening - then what happens? What happens is the midday standby lines are shorter because standby gets to move faster. If afternoon standby is shorter what does that mean? It means the evening standby is shorter by the same amount. In other words, people who ride standby during the evening enter a shorter line than would otherwise exist because the midday lines were shorter.

If extra FP folks return late in the evening the standby folks have not lost any ground. Their line was shorter in the first place. If it gets longer because of late FP usage they are just back to where they would have been in the first place.

The main issue that I have /seen/ with this is that the FP line is the one that suffers the most at night, and once that line gets long the Standby does as well since they are trying desperately to catch back up with the line.During the day, sure, maybe it is slightly less crowded although that all comes down to the whims of the public that day and what their ride preferences/timing is, but the backlog at night can be a killer. I waited in a 40 minute FP line last time I was at Disneyland trying to use it during my hour and standby was well into 90 minutes. The people around me at least were not within their window.

I just got back from a week at WDW and I can assure you that adhering to the window in no way affected our touring the parks. We did less grabbing of FPes we MAY use later IF we were still in the park since we knew we couldn't use them if we were absolutely there, but that was the only difference. We had a GREAT time regardless!

 

[dmband]

we did less grabbing of FPes we MAY use later IF we were still in the park since we knew we couldn't use them if we were absolutely there, but that was the only difference. We had a GREAT time regardless!

and in turn more people get to ride

Think about a ride like toy story mania where fast passes are gone at 11
If even 20% of those people don't show back up that's a lot of others who may to ride because they can't/don't want to stand in line for a couple hrs

 

[Patrick in Oregon]

Yes, sorry, this is all rumor still. There is no official word that this will happen or when it will. I didn't mean to make it sound like it was imminent, but rather, was just discussing the reasoning behind doing it.

 

[Rebekkap]

I'm not the one who initially insulted someone. Enough said.

Seriously, lighten up, it was a joke - and socialist isn't an insult.

 

[HMANSION LOVER]

Seriously, lighten up, it was a joke - and socialist isn't an insult.

I apologize for the chucklehead comment, sometimes I get hot headed. But really I think almost anyone living in USA would consider being called a socialist an insult. That being said I again apologize and will lighten up.

Always enjoy the Magic of the parks

 

[Rebekkap]

I apologize for the chucklehead comment, sometimes I get hot headed. But really I think almost anyone living in USA would consider being called a socialist an insult. That being said I again apologize and will lighten up.

Always enjoy the Magic of the parks

I'm sorry too - where I'm from socialist isn't an insult, and I did think it was kind of like a parody of socialism, suggesting Disney shouldn't give people different benefits depending on their ability to pay (socialists generally think people shouldn't get different educational opportunities/medical care etc depending on ability to pay, not that people shouldn't get different holiday experiences!)

 

[HMANSION LOVER]

I'm sorry too - where I'm from socialist isn't an insult, and I did think it was kind of like a parody of socialism, suggesting Disney shouldn't give people different benefits depending on their ability to pay (socialists generally think people shouldn't get different educational opportunities/medical care etc depending on ability to pay, not that people shouldn't get different holiday experiences!)

Hope you and your family enjoy Vegas and Disney, although I could never do Vegas. Have never won a thing in my life except the occasiona; ballgame or soccergame LOL

 

[lucysmom]

Okay folks, so the upshot of all this is that maybe the fastpass window will be enforced this holiday season and maybe not. Is that right? Will someone there keep us posted when it happens?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Okay folks, so the upshot of all this is that maybe the fastpass window will be enforced this holiday season and maybe not. Is that right? Will someone there keep us posted when it happens?

Ohhhhhh, I'm sure we'll hear about it, if it happens.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Ohhhhhh, I'm sure we'll hear about it, if it happens.

ROFLMHO!!!

You think?

 

[HydroGuy]

Two problems with that logic:
1. It assumes an even flow of people throughout the day
2 It assumes FPs return times are evenly distributed throughout the day.

When FPs are used the way they were intended, wait times decrease all around. That's the entire idea behind the program.

I don't think so. It does however assume that the ride runs with a standby line all day. If that happens - and it always does - then delayed FP usage lets the standby line move faster until the delayed FP is actually used.

As I said, I do not especially enjoy these FP discussions - and I suspect you don't either - so I do not feel the need to vigorously defend my point. I was just throwing another line of thought into this discussion.

 

[sheetz]

I don't think so. It does however assume that the ride runs with a standby line all day. If that happens - and it always does - then delayed FP usage lets the standby line move faster until the delayed FP is actually used.

In general this is correct assuming there is always a standby line during the day. If that is the case and guests are loaded onto the attraction at a constant rate then the number of people who get to experience an attraction remains the same regardless of when people choose to use their fastpasses.

 

[Ljbadfan]

Some of you are also forgetting the 2nd rule of fast pass. I remember when it came out, you had the time you had to be back at, but also everyone in your party had to have a fast pass ticket to get on the ride. I have seen cast e,bers also don't follow this 100% of time either. One person might make you have a pass for each person In you group, or 1 cast,ember might let you use one pass for everyone in your group. They need to enforce the fast pass the way it was designed. I'm for one of them enforcing the wait times. Maybe if they make each person get a pass like they are suppose to, it will help with them not being abused either. I'm glad Disney is starting to enforce rules

 

[HydroGuy]

Some of you are also forgetting the 2nd rule of fast pass. I remember when it came out, you had the time you had to be back at, but also everyone in your party had to have a fast pass ticket to get on the ride. I have seen cast e,bers also don't follow this 100% of time either. One person might make you have a pass for each person In you group, or 1 cast,ember might let you use one pass for everyone in your group. They need to enforce the fast pass the way it was designed. I'm for one of them enforcing the wait times. Maybe if they make each person get a pass like they are suppose to, it will help with them not being abused either. I'm glad Disney is starting to enforce rules

I have never heard of people using a single FP for a group or some lesser number of FPs for a larger group - and would be surprised if it happened with any regularity. Can guests fool busy and distracted CMs collecting FPs? Sure. Do CMs look the other way on this? Not in my experience.

 

[Michelina]

Just to follow up, we went back to RSR at 7:00, I explained to the cast member that we missed our return window because of a meltdown. She couldn't have been any sweeter, seemed more concerned that our little guy was feeling better than anything else.
This is our first time at DLR and I definitely feel the magic

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[furb & dez]

While my family would probably be in a category that could afford it if we wanted too it would be really unfair to the folks that can't. At least the fastpass system is equal opportunity.

First off, LIFE'S NOT FAIR. If your (general 'you') parents didn't tell you that at least twice a day then they were utter failures.

Second, FastPass will still be available. The new service is a value-added service; you are paying more for extra product. It's as simple as that.

I really don't get the reason behind the apparent class warfare arguing on this topic. Disney isn't a charity, it is and always has been a business, and I certainly don't begrudge them a chance to earn more money by adding new services. The fact is, the more money you have, the more often you can vacation, and the more lavish your vacations can be. That's simple fact. Pissing and moaning about other people being able to spend their own money on extra perks makes one look childish and petulant.

 

[Rebekkap]

Hope you and your family enjoy Vegas and Disney, although I could never do Vegas. Have never won a thing in my life except the occasiona; ballgame or soccergame LOL

We're not big gamblers - we just want to see the place, and my partner's a chef, so he's interested to see (and eat!) the buffets, and we're going to see the Grand Canyon and the nuclear museum

 

[cmwade77]

Whether or not its anti-Disney is a matter of opinion, pro or con.

But OP asks a legitimate question...why now? Can anyone shed some light other than to say, "Well, its about time!"?

There are a couple of reasons, first off it is in preparation for the NextGen technology. From what we have heard this is the primary reason.

That being said, there is a secondary reason that many people do not discuss. The waits for the FP return queues have been getting longer and longer. For example, I recently saw the FP return queue for Soarin' go almost all the way down to Grizzly river run. In talking with the CMs working the FP return line, it seems they had A LOT of people with expired FPs coming back at that time for some reason at that moment. At the time the ride had been running at full capacity all day with no breakdowns, so that wasn't an issue.

Since this is the entrance that many with GACs use, this essentially makes the attraction inaccessible to them until this queue dies down. Now, there are indeed those who abuse the GAC system, so Disney is taling about modifications to the system. I unfortunately have to use a GAC myself and think it needs some changes to make it work for those that need it again, while being fair to everyone. My suggestion (and I hear Disney is planning on something similar to this) is to use Universal Studio's system. They scan your GAC when you first get in line for an attraction, then they let you in through Gate A (sort of their equivalent of FP) but say that you must wait the length of the line before using it on the next attraction. This maintains accessibility, but keeps everything fair for all. Another way is to use Return Time passes, but this would not make it as accessible for those with limited mobility that either can't or won't rent a wheelchair/ECV for whatever reasons.

With any solutions, the FP queues will need to be used at most locations, so if the FP queue is backed up, then the attraction will not be considered accessible despite the fact that reasonable accommodations could be made. Disney could potentially have lawsuits filed against them over this. Now I am not saying Disney would lose, but it does cost money to fight the lawsuits and if Disney can avoid lawsuits by a simple policy change and make the experience better for the 90% of people who do honor the return times, why wouldn't they do it?

By the way, I have inquired as to if NextGen technology would only be for those staying onsite with Disney and have been told emphatically that it will NOT be. Now, they could say that you get extra FPs ahead of time if you are staying onsite, but from what I have been told is everyone will be able to get some.

Also, if the attraction does break down during your FP return time or you get stuck on an attraction, they will make an exception to the return time rule.

 

[bonedoc]

There are a couple of reasons, first off it is in preparation for the NextGen technology. From what we have heard this is the primary reason.

Last time we happen to ask this question from upper management, we were told that it was probably inevitable, but the timing will not be under the control of anyone in California. Since the restructuring of the resorts, these decisions are all made in Florida.

And last time I checked, the decision has not been made. So we can speculate all we want, but no answers are forthcoming. It'll happen when they decide and they haven't decided.

 

[Ljbadfan]

I have never heard of people using a single FP for a group or some lesser number of FPs for a larger group - and would be surprised if it happened with any regularity. Can guests fool busy and distracted CMs collecting FPs? Sure. Do CMs look the other way on this? Not in my experience.

i have had that happen. my cousin and i got one fast pass for a ride, when we went back to ride for that time, the lady told me both of us needed a pass per person. so he didnt get to ride at that time. the next time we had a pass for a different ride, a younger cast member let both of us ride the ride with only one fastpass per group. they dont follow this rule that well either. it just depends on what castmember you get, that wants to follow the rules